Out of Darkness Comes the Light - Chapter 27
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...
A/N: Just a bit of fluff to get through the next few days. My work gave me a three day weekend. Besides picking up my Harry Potter book and watching the much waited for (in my case that is) Stargate Sg-1 season premeir, I plan on doing some more typing.
KnightMaiden - Here's the next chapter. A bit of fluff and a bit of fun.
op - Yes. Yes he is.
dellis - I'm glad you think it fits. And yes, even cold killers have feelings. And this one feels strongly. He just has trouble putting it in the proper places somethimes. But, he is learning. Yes, Mads did a wonderful job with him. I hope that this chapter gives you the warm fuzzies too.
Lady11Occult - Justus...Well, you have to wait I'm afraid. And I don't know how Tristan will react to Galen yet. He may surprise everyone and take it in stride.
Cardeia - Let me tell you again: you are such a great reviewer. You still give me insight that even I have missed. I take your words to heart.
Yes, Lancelot is one of a kind. And you gave me a wonderful mental picture of him. In Armani. My heart went thump when my daughter and I saw F4. Mr. Fantastic he is!
I know that this is such a huge departure for Tristan. I'm praying that it all fits. That it is making him into a better person. Or someone he would want to be. I'm worried that I've made him to fluffy. Gad! I hope not.
WARNING: Fluffiness ahead! If you like angry Tristan, skip this chapter. And the next few.
Isca itself was set on a rolling hill. A rather large hill, more like a mountain. There were plenty of small huts and farms that dotted it's slopes.
There was also a church perched nearly at it's top. It's high cross visible over the city's wall.
Everyone could see Arthur's eyes move to that symbol of his faith. He would be visiting the place before he left Isca.
Isca used to be an early Roman outpost. Early meaning that the Roman's had given up defending it so very long ago. Long before Arthur's generation of knights came to Britain. The city had grown in size and population over the many years. It becoming a hub of trade and even export.
The outlying area was surrounded by farms. Grain farms, cattle farms and even fruit was grown.
Though it wasn't located on the ocean, there was a large river that ran to it. Because of this, Isca had it's own port. Able to bring in and out huge amounts of supplies by way of barges.
It was to one of Isca's four, large main gates that were dispersed around the massive city wall, that Arthur and his company stopped.
Most of the caravan stood back as Arthur and Lancelot verified their presence in the city. Declaring that they were on the supply run for Hadrian's wall.
Teagan looked on in anticipation of entering the city of Isca. It had been so long since she had been here. So long since she had been with so many people at once.
She dearly loved living at the fort, dearly loved the people who resided in the fort.
But, in her heart, she loved the bustle of the city life.
Oh, she liked being out in the open air, riding free. But at the end of the day, she liked to be able to step outside her door at any time and say hello to her neighbor.
Glancing at Tristan, she saw the look of distaste in his face as he looked at the wall. Teagan moved her eyes away from him.
Tristan belonged in the open air. She always thought that he would live in a tree if Arthur would let him. He spent so much of his time out of doors.
No, Tristan didn't like cities at all. He was one with nature. He belonged in it.
What he was doing with her, she didn't know. They were proving to be opposites in many things.
Her eyes were bought to Guinevere and Cassandra as the two women talked softly to each other.
They both seemed nervous about being here.
Guinevere keep looking at Arthur while Cassandra's eyes kept darting to the wall.
Teagan wondered if Guinevere had even been to a city such as this. Surely she had, even being a woad. Her people had been coming here for generations, trading and selling goods.
Isca had been one of the few places that they wouldn't be persecuted. Money and goods talked.
Cass on the other hand, had probably never been so someplace like this. Her entire life had been with Saxons. And from what Cass had said about growing up, they were always on the move, fighting one group of people or the other.
This would surely be quite an experience for them both.
Lost in her memories of her time here in Isca, Teagan sat silent.
After what seemed like hours, the caravan was let inside the city walls.
0o0o0o
As the small group made it's way through the city, dozens of children were running about.
Several spotted the knights and ran over to see.
Some were brave enough to get close enough to the great war horses that the knights rode on.
But the big brutes wanted nothing to do with the small children. Arthur's horse looked at the children like he wanted to eat them, his teeth bared to them. The others just snorting or dancing, making it hard for the knights to control them. Tristan's horse going to far as to charge at one child. He was having such a hard time bringing the animal in, the vein in his neck started bulging.
They were war horses, not children's playthings.
Not to be deterred, the children gave up on the big horses and concentrated their laughter on Aodh and Cass' small bay mare, Tulip.
Cassandra had named the mare Tulip because the horse had a taste for the lovely flowers.
Though Cassandra's mare wasn't enjoying the attentions of the children, she didn't seem like she would stomp on them either. Cass was looking on in wonder, having never seen a sight like this before.
Cassandra's eyes were wide, watching the children run around the horse's legs. Their brightly painted faces laughing in delight.
Teagan's horse, Aodh, was the complete opposite of the others. In fact, the red horse looked like he was enjoying himself immensely.
He was letting the children pet and touch him. Several ran around his feet, while he stepped gingerly around them. His great head nodding with approval, whickering gently as one small girl kissed him on his soft nose.
"He so pretty." She cooed to Aodh. Who was just loving the attention.
Teagan watched from her perch on Aodh, smiling at the girl.
"It's time we get moving." Arthur's voice cut into the scene. Though he wanted his people to enjoy themselves for some of the days here, there was also business to attend to.
For Arthur, work came before play.
0o0o0o
The group finally made it to Isca's immense stables and everyone set to taking care of their own mounts. Settling up the payment of their care which included board and feed. It would be up to the individual owners to make sure that their horse was receiving it's proper care, including exercise.
Gilly had taken to arranging care of Arthur's horse and Guinevere's mare, Gawain helping him.
Gawain was perfectly happy in the company of the horses and fully intended to seek out the horse faire. He was again looking for a new mare. This time to breed to Arthur's great black stallion.
If he figured correctly, he would have enough money to buy one, if not two of the animals.
Since Arthur didn't have the care of his stallion to worry about, he made the lodging arrangements for his company.
He was lucky that all could be accommodated, including the lower of the servants, in an inn next to the tavern, The Blue Fish.
Returning to the stables, he addressed his group of people.
"Knights. Friends." Snickers were heard throughout, as Arthur always started his speeches with those words. "Lodging has been set for you all. Enjoy the rest of the day for tomorrow we need to gain our supplies." He looked to each and every face. Each one had a different look on it. He smiled, his green eyes twinkling. "We meet tomorrow at breakfast."
With a curt nod of his head, he took Guinevere by the arm, leading her out into the sunshine.
Lancelot was the first to speak. "So, what do we do today?"
Gawain raised his arm. "I am going to look at horseflesh." He put his arm around Gilly's shoulders. "Do you want to go with me?" He asked the young man.
Gilly was excited. Being in the company of these men was such an honor. Of course he would go with Gawain. The blonde knight could teach him a thing or two about horses.
He could only nod his head as Gawain led him out.
But before he left, he stopped by Tristan, placing his hand on the scout's shoulder, leaning close to his ear.
"Remember, just be with her."
Tristan nodded his head to his friend. He understood what he was saying. He would try.
Lancelot looked to Teagan and Cassandra.
"Well, Ladies?" He knew that wherever Teagan went, Tristan would follow.
The dark knight had been charged with her safety for this trip. And Lancelot knew that even if Arthur hadn't, Tristan would be hard pressed to leave her alone.
Teagan linked her arm into Cassandra's. "I think we should just walk around. See where our feet lead us."
"Yes, please. I've never been to a city such as this before." Cass' eyes were wide, her excitement showing.
Lancelot let out a dangerous grin. "Well, then. We should be off."
0o0o0o
The four friends took to wandering the city streets. The women stopping at every vender they came to, looking at many different things.
The two men were trying their hardest not to look bored. Shopping was not the strong suit for either man. And it seemed that the two women wanted to look at everything. In detail.
It was at one particular stall that the girls spent a fair amount of time. One that sold glass beads and jewelry.
Cassandra was running her fingers lightly over some glass beads. Some of them as big as the palm of her hand.
This was something she had never seen before. They were so smooth, the colors sparkled in the sunlight. She had never seen anything so beautiful as these.
One piece in particular caught her eye the most. It wasn't overly large. It was round in shape, clear with yellow and blues going through it. It hung from a long piece of leather, like a necklace.
Teagan poked Lancelot in the ribs, pointing to Cass.
"You should buy it for her."
Lancelot looked from Teagan to Tristan, who only shrugged his shoulders.
"Why would I do that?"
Teagan's eyebrow rose. Was he that dense? Cass really liked that piece of glass. And Lancelot really liked Cassandra.
To her, it was simple. But then, these were men. And Lancelot had been at a loss as how to get her to notice him.
His usual charms weren't working. Cass had taken to playing hard to get.
So Teagan nudged him toward the stand. "She likes it. You like her. You figure it out."
Lancelot stood there for a few moments, contemplating what she said. He figured that it would be a nice thing to do for her. That maybe she would like it.
Teagan pulled Cassandra away from the stall, leaving Tristan to stand with his friend.
"Come, Cass. I see some lovely fabric over there. We should go see about getting you some."
Turning, she gave both men a wink, guiding her friend towards a booth full of colorful fabrics.
0o0o0o
Tristan and Teagan were left alone. Lancelot saying that he wanted to show Cass some of the city.
He also said that he wanted to give Tristan and Teagan some time alone. After a while they found themselves in front of a booth that was selling turkey legs.
Teagan was already hungry, having not eaten anything since the fruit and dry meat from this morning.
And having had turkey legs before, she purchased one.
This was one of the things she liked about this city the most. It had the most unusual things for sale. So many different cultures congregated in one place.
Teagan held out the huge turkey leg to Tristan. Who was looking at the thing with such disgust. He wrinkled his nose at the offered meat.
She couldn't help but laugh at him. "Oh, don't be such a baby."
"I am not going to eat that." He couldn't eat it, it was an overgrown chicken.
Tristan didn't like chickens alive, what made her think that he would eat one dead. They smelled so bad.
"Are you a chicken then?"
Tristan shook his head. "No. That was. A rather large one." He made a rather weak attempt at pointing to the meat. His finger never left the height of his waist.
Again Teagan snorted. "It's a turkey." She took a bight of the leg, the juices running down her chin. She held it out to Tristan. "It's good. Try it." Her mouth full.
Tristan was still shaking his head, scooting away from Teagan.
"Hey, what's that?" Lancelot asked as he and Cass wandered to where they were sitting.
Teagan gave Tristan a look of amusement. "It's a turkey leg. Want some? Big, bad knight here is afraid of the thing."
"I am not." He was obviously pouting.
Teagan nearly fell off the bench laughing. Tristan had to grab her before she actually did fall.
"Sure." Lancelot was hungry. Hungry enough to eat anything right now. He plucked the leg out of Teagan's hand, taking a huge bite. "This is good." He said, his mouth full. He handed it to Cass who also took a bite.
Juice ran down her chin, so she only nodded in agreement as she absently wiped the juice with the back of her hand. She'd eaten turkey legs before. Turkey was a main staple of food for her tribe. They would eat anything they could get their filthy hands on.
While the two of them finished off her meat, she noticed the rumpled look of both of them.
Cassandra looked like her hair had fallen out of the braid that she had put it in, to now be in a twisted knot at the back of her head. She had quite a pretty flush to her cheeks.
Teagan smiled. Her dress looked a bit more wrinkled than when she and Lancelot had left to go shopping.
Teagan turned her head to look at her other friend, her hand absently finding Tristan's. Her fingers finding his, playing with the wide silver ring he wore on his smallest finger.
She didn't notice that Tristan was watching her fingers play along his.
Lancelot was in better shape. He would be, his clothes rarely out of order. But the laces that tied his leather tunic in front were halfway undone.
He noticed her scrutiny. "What?"
Beside him, Cassandra started to blush. They were about to be found out.
"Where were you two?" Her eyes narrowed.
Tristan let out a small snort. They were doing what Lancelot did best.
Lancelot ignored Tristan's snort. He gave Teagan his most devilish grin.
"Picking wildflowers."
"Lancelot..." He better had not used the necklace as a reason to bed her.
Lancelot bent, giving Teagan a strong hug. He knew what she was thinking, without her saying it. He hadn't even given it to Cassandra yet.
"Don't worry, I did nothing but kiss her."
Teagan hugged him back, before slapping him in the chest. "You better not have."
0o0o0o
Again the friends were roaming about, coming upon a contest for the best archer. The winner would win twenty gold pieces.
Teagan had seen this competition before. It was held for a few days every summer. It was part of the festival that Isca held. She had always wanted to compete.
Teagan knew that she would have a fair chance at winning. She didn't quite need the money, but more was always better.
"Come on." She pulled Tristan toward the judge's table. "It'll be fun."
"I don't do fun."
Behind him, Lancelot let out a hoot of laughter.
"He's right about that."
Tristan glowered at his friend. It sounded like a challenge to him. And he still had some pride. He wasn't one to back down from a challenge.
"All right." But, he wasn't about to lose.
Lancelot was pulling Cassandra toward the stands, where the spectators would sit to watch.
Teagan stopped him. "Aren't you going to try?"
The knight shook his head, his curls bouncing.
"Not against you two. I haven't a chance."
Teagan turned to Tristan. "Well, I guess it's you and me then.'
0o0o0o
There were only ten shooters who lined up for the contest.
Tristan looked around taking them all in. Teagan was the only woman of the bunch. And as he had given death stares at anyone who even thought of saying something to her, she was left alone.
He smiled to himself as he readied the bow that had been supplied. They had all been given bows and a quiver of arrows. Not the best in quality, but the judges thought that it would even the playing field if the all had the same equipment.
There would be no contest. Teagan was better than the lot of them.
Except for him.
"So, what will you do for me if I win?"
Teagan eyed Tristan warily, her mind going through plenty of things she would do to him.
Unable to hide her thoughts, she grinned at him. Her eyes flashing dark for a second.
"It's more like what you will do for me when I win."
"You think so?"
Teagan waggled her eyebrows at him. "I know so."
0o0o0o
It was nearing dusk when the last of the shooters were lined up for their final shots. The were standing at the four hundred fifty pace mark. Not hard for him, but Teagan was starting to look tired.
It hadn't taken long for both Tristan and Teagan to pick off the others.
Teagan knew it would be down to the two of them. And now he looked so smug, like he was going to win or something.
Her arms were tired and she was getting hungry again. But, she wasn't going to give that man the satisfaction of beating her.
Tristan looked around, taking the many people watching. He had never seen so many lined up, except in battle.
Not that high up in the stands, he could see their friends. Loudly yelling and cheering them on. He could even see Arthur, waving himself.
Guinevere and Cassandra were jumping up and down, calling out their names. Gawain sitting back, taking in the sights. It looking like he had a cup of wine in his hands.
Lancelot was also standing, watching the pair intently.
Tristan knew then that there was money riding on this little competition. That lot bet on everything.
Tristan never in his life thought he'd find himself in this situation.
Shooting bow. Just for the sake of fun.
He had to admit, he was enjoying himself. It had felt good to let himself relax. Not be on the lookout for trouble. Not to be expecting trouble at every turn.
Taking one last glance at Teagan, Tristan pulled back the cord on his bow, this was his last shot. So far he and Teagan were tied. Whatever he had shot, she had matched.
It looked as if neither was going to win this bet.
In a way he was happy that was the case. He wasn't to sure he would be up to whatever that woman had in mind. After foloing her around today...well, he didn't want to think about it.
Teagan moved next to Tristan, leaning close to his ear.
Very quietly she whispered in his ear.
Tristan let the arrow fly, it hitting the edge of the target. Not even close to the bull's eye. He dropped his arms, staring at the woman next to him. Did she say what he thought she said.
She looked smug. She looked...
There was a huge cry from the stands, then the crowd went silent.
Teagan quickly strung her arrow, letting hers fly.
It hit dead center.
The cheers that let out were deafening. It was clear that nobody expected a woman to win.
But, win she did.
0o0o0o
Gawain was holding his hand out, waiting on the others to dole out his winnings, when Tristan and Teagan made their way back to the group.
He had been the only one to bet on Teagan.
Lancelot was grumpy as he looked at Tristan. The man was the best. He didn't think that he'd let a woman beat him. Even one he was bedding.
"You let her win."
Teagan let out a soft giggle. "He didn't let me win." Her eyes meeting Tristan's.
"She cheated." His eyes boring into hers.
But, no one was listening to him. They were more interested in the money they had lost.
Or in Gawain's case, won.
Lancelot huffed, clearly not happy at losing the bet. "Fine then, let's go drink. Gawain is buying."
Arthur clapped him on the back.
"Tough break, Tris." He said to the scout as he passed, Guinevere on his arm, smiling broadly.
Tristan lost the bet. But, it didn't matter.
He won something else.
A/N: Well? Did you all like it? There's more if you do.