Out of Darkness Comes the Light - Chapter 26
Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone you may recognize. I don't even own the title. If you think I have ripped you off, sorry. This came purely from my own imagination, such as it is. I don't even claim that my story is any good...
WARNING: Smut ahead! If any of you are squicked out by sexual situations, quickly skip this first part. It isn't bad. At least I don't think so.
A/N: How do I describe this chapter. This is mostly about Tristan. His thoughts. His feelings. This chapter is one that I blame on Cardeia. She mentioned something about Tristan learning. Slowly. I felt compelled to write this. Gah! Again I hope it fits.
Melosine - Yes, there are a few things I need to clear up. But, I'm getting there. I just took a slight detour with these next few chapters. And I will review your chapters. I promise. I've just got sucked into this chapter. Just know that I love your story to pieces.
Cardeia - This chapter is your fault. Well, not really. Something you said in your last review about Tristan learning to love. Well, I started typing this today after an awful day at work and this is what came out.
Oh - I love your 'Vegas' idea. Should I do that to them?
KnightMaiden - Thank you so much! I hope you like this as well.
op - Thank you also! I'm really not that good.
Again Tristan woke. Only this time is was still dark and there were no peering faces. He hadn't been asleep long. This he knew.
All around him he could hear the sounds of others sleeping, the crackling of fires. The soft movements of the horses as they ate.
This time it was Teagan who woke him.
She was close beside him, her hand had found it's way under the leather tunic, under the linen under tunic he wore when riding.
He kept his eyes closed, not sure what was happening, his mind becoming muddled with what he was feeling.
Her hands were warm, tracing the scars, winding their way down his ribs toward the waistband of his trousers. He groaned slightly. Her hands felt so good on his body.
He shifted slightly, his mind still groggy with sleep. The movement of her hands were doing things to his body that he couldn't control.
His eyes popped open when Teagan's lips found his neck. Her warm lips tracing a path along the edge of his beard, down his neck. He felt his body respond more to her touch.
Tristan still didn't trust himself around her. He tried to push her away. She only clutched him tighter.
"Tristan. Please." She whispered, her breath on his neck causing involuntary shivers.
"No." It didn't sound convincing, even to him.
"Please." There was hardly any sound when she said it.
Visions of what happened last time he took her came flooding back to him. "I can't. I won't hurt you again."
Teagan fairly crawled into his lap, bringing her lips to his. "You won't." Her body was shaking. Her movements quick.
She needed this. For some reason, Tristan knew she needed this.
Tristan couldn't help it, he responded to her, deepening the kiss. As her hands traveled further down, he felt his body respond, tighten with need for this woman.
Tentatively her tongue met his, asking. He responded by forcing his into her mouth, drinking her in, his arms pulling her closer to him, his hands pulling at her clothes.
Teagan didn't wait until he had taken his trousers off before she eased herself onto him, groaning softly as she did.
By instinct, he wanted to turn her over, to lay her down, but she put her hands on his chest, holding him still. Leaning forward, she kissed him again, her hips moving in a slow, even rhythm.
It was all Tristan could do, to let her take control like this. His body was responding so fast, he found it hard to control. He wanted nothing more that to flip her, to take her. Hard.
But, his mind was telling him to just enjoy it. That this was what she needed. That she should take what she needed.
So Tristan simply let her lead, watching her face as her pleasure built. Watching as she bit her lip with delight. Kissing her deeply when her cries became louder.
It was all he could do to hold her as her movements became quicker, harder.
He was almost undone when she threw back her head, her hair grazing his bared legs with her movements.
Suddenly, Teagan's eyes flew open. Her blue eyes were so dark that they seemed black. Her movements stopped.
As she opened her mouth, Tristan drew her close, his kiss swallowing the scream he knew she let out.
Her body convulsing around him brought his own release.
0o0o0o
Lancelot put his hand on Tristan's shoulder, waking the scout.
"Tris, it's time."
Tristan nodded.
Lancelot inclined his head toward Teagan, who was beginning to wake up. "What about her?"
Tristan watched as Teagan woke more, sitting up while rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"Take her with you."
"You trust me with her?" Lancelot looked at his friend warily.
Tristan nodded, a quick movement.
"Aye. More than you know."
As Lancelot watched as Tristan started to bundle Teagan up, he was hard pressed not to laugh. Though he did smile a bit.
It was obvious that she wasn't going to wake up easily. Her eyes kept closing, though she fought to keep them open.
It seems that their silent, sullen scout was quite protective all of a sudden.
Lancelot wasn't sure if it was because of the threat of the Roman named Justus, or if this was a side to Tristan that was just coming out.
He doubted that Tristan even realized what he was doing.
Either way, Lancelot wasn't going to breathe a word to anyone else. Well, maybe Arthur.
"Why don't I just stay here until you get back." There was no use dragging the half asleep woman to his fire when she looked comfortable where she was. He had no trouble falling asleep. He could sleep anywhere. Even in piles of straw.
And it would give Tristan the piece of mind that someone was with her.
Tristan nodded, gathering his bow, quiver and sword.
"Thanks." He said to Lancelot as he threw more wood onto the fire.
0o0o0o
Tristan always like being on watch. As he was a cautious man anyway, this gave him a chance to make sure that people, horses and supplies were where they needed to be.
Unlike the others, he chose to walk around. Being naturally quiet, he rarely disturbed anyone's rest.
It was a quiet time. A time when one could think without the noises of the day.
This time, he walked around with a purpose. He wanted to make sure that Roman didn't come anywhere near this camp.
Justus. Who had pretended to be someone else. And that someone else who was promised to the woman he cared very much for.
No. He had to be honest with himself. He more than cared for Teagan. He loved her. He just had to tell her.
He wasn't ready yet. Nor was he so sure he ever would be.
And he found out that she had loved his brother. A brother he had left, thinking he would never see again.
Did Teagan even realize that Galen was his brother? He doubted that she did. It had been so long ago. And Galen and Tristan were nothing alike. He doubted that they even looked the same anymore.
But, she had loved Galen. This she had said. But she had also said that it was long ago.
Did she love him?
He was mulling over this when he rounded a tree, coming to the horses.
Aodh was resting next to his own stallion. The red looking so small next to his dappled war horse.
Softly, he stroked the necks of the two animals at the same time. Realizing how different they were.
Where Aodh was small and fast, his horse was huge and powerful.
Both horses were loyal, that he would say. But Aodh went so far as to follow Teagan around like a dog.
He gave his horse a gentle squeeze on his ear, theanimal snorting in protest.
No, his horse would not follow him, if given free reign, the beast would take off. Only coming back when it felt the need for war.
Tristan ran his hand over the back of the horse, remembering something Teagan had asked him so long ago.
"Why don't you name your horse?" It was an innocent question. But one that had taken him off his guard. It wasn't something he thought about. None of the knights named their horses.
Tristan looked at her, shrugging his shoulders. "Why did you name yours?"
"Because he is my friend."
"Never really thought about it. They are used for battle. This is what they are bred for. They are not our friends. Why name something that you could loose in battle?"
Tristan remembered the sadness he had seen in her eyes. It was just another reminder that horses, as well as people, fell in battle.
He pushed that thought out of his mind, giving his horse a gentle slap on his rump before moving on.
He wanted to make another turn around the camp. Another check to make sure that everything and everyone was in their place.
Out of the corner of his eye, Tristan caught movement.
It seemed that his watch went way to fast this night. He didn't realize that it was over until Gawain took his place near Arthur's tent.
"Go to sleep, friend." Gawain said softly as he settled himself near the fire.
Tristan returned to his fire to see Teagan sitting up on her bedroll, her eyes staring into the flames.
Though she looked tired, she also looked peaceful. More peaceful then she had been earlier.
As he walked closer, his footsteps caused her to turn her head toward him, her face lighting up into a smile.
Tristan knelt close to her, putting more wood onto the fire. It was still several hours until the sunrise. He wanted to get a bit more sleep.
"You should be sleeping."
Teagan smiled sleepily at him, her gaze returning to the fire.
The next day would be long and tiring for him. It would be full of people in a crowded city. Tristan didn't like the crowds nor the tedious task of ordering and organizing supplies. As one who preferred the open air and open land, cities were confining for him.
He was grateful that Arthur usually let him off on his own when they went to Isca. This time, Lancelot was going to show Gilly the ropes.
Gilly was a smart young man. Not like his father, Bors. Bors was well...Bors.
Oh, Bors was one of a kind. A masterful warrior. An impenetrable wall when it came to fighting. On the battlefield, he was ruthless.
He was loud, drank to much and had a big mouth.
But, at home, with his family, Bors was a completely different man.
Tristan envied him there. To Bors, his family came first. All of them.
And as Gilly was getting older, Bors was especially proud of his son.
At the age of 13, he was quickly becoming a man. Constantly hanging around the knights. Wanting to learn as much as he could. About everything.
Even Tristan had taken the time to teach the boy what he could. He had been impressed. Gilly was a fast learner. He would make a good knight.
This time, Arthur and Lancelot were going to teach Gilly about ordering supplies for an entire fort full of people.
This time, Arthur wanted him to stay with Teagan. She had her own supplies to order for the tavern. He was to help her when needed.
This time, Arthur wanted Tristan as Teagan's bodyguard. LikeArthur could stop him anyway.
He wanted to smile. Teagan had been so excited about this trip. The idea of running the tavern made her happy. It was something that she had wanted for such a long time. In fact, she had talked quite a bit about what she wanted to do, what she wanted to order for the place. He had listened to her talk on and on about it.
Tristan was quite proud of himself actually. Normally, he would find such talk boring, losing his interest quickly. Now, he had sat and listened to her. Actually listened to her. Right down to the number of barrels of wine she thought she needed to the kind of barley she wanted to purchase for the ale.
Now, since she had found out he truth of Justus, she had been withdrawn, quiet. She seemed lost in her own thought, memories.
Teagan had felt that it was her fault that Justus had been among them. That perhaps he would hurt an innocent.
It had taken them all quite a long time to try and convince her otherwise. That Arthur didn't blame her for the actions of that man. That it was all a matter of coincidence. That they were all quite safe from him.
Thinking back to earlier, Tristan wondered if they had succeeded at all.
"You should be sleeping." Tristan repeated. Teagan had returned her gaze to the fire.
This time though, as she looked at him, her eyes were heavy with needed rest.
Teagan nodded her head, pointing to Lancelot. "But he snores so loudly."
This time, Tristan couldn't help but laugh.
She was right. Lancelot could sleep anywhere, even in the harshest of conditions. And he did snore loudly.
Several times on patrol, he or the others would have to wake him up lest he give away their position.
Now, Lancelot lay flat out, his one leg cocked over the large log. His right arm flung out straight, his other resting over his eyes.
This time Lancelot had his mouth open.
Chuckling to himself, he stood, stretching as he did so. He gently gave his friend a nudge with his boot. The movement causing Lancelot to roll over onto his side.
It was blissfully quiet. For a while. Tristan knew it wouldn't last and hoped he would be back asleep before the noise started again.
Quickly, Tristan set his weapons near his bedroll, easing himself onto the ground. He found it was getting harder to move around.
Tristan didn't know if it was the lack of constant battle to keep his body moving or if it was that he was getting older.
He wanted to believe that it was from the lack of recent activity, not age, that made his body move slower.
At least they would be spending the next night in a bed.
He situated himself so that his back was resting against a large tree, his legs stretched out before him.
He let out a large sigh. He was more weary than he realized.
Teagan moved herself closer to him putting her head in his lap, her hand finding itself under his shirts, resting on his back. Her breathing quickly evened out as she fell asleep again.
At first Tristan was surprised at her position. At how intimate it actually was.
He let his hands find their way into her hair, feeling the softness of it.
Again Tristan let out a sigh. This time contented.
He let his own breathing even, himself finding sleep.
A/N: Does it fit? Me and the Swedish Fish hope so.