New Surroundings
It was late in the day when the great white steed of the Roman commander galloped through the gates at Hadrian's Wall. The sun was low in the sky, and the people of the wall were now all returning from their various forms of work and trade. Some witnessed the lady and the commander enter the fortress and head in the direction of the stables, all still very confused as to exactly who she was.
Kay looked up from his place in the stable's benches, where he sat sharpening his long sword, when Arthur and Elaine entered the stable doors. They went passed him, smiling, before entering the stall that belonged to Arthur's horse. They had been gone most of the day, but the commander had informed his knights of his business with Elaine the night before. Kay had been pretty bored for the most of the day, nothing or nobody to be around. Tristan had locked himself in his chambers all day, Gawain and Galahad had been fighting the affects of the drink they had consumed the previous night, Lancelot was somewhere, and the rest of the knights had been occupied in other matters. Kay sighed and pushed a strand of his chestnut brown hair out of his face.
"Ah, it's good to see that you've finally returned," Kay said as he wandered over to the now occupied stall. He leaned up against a beam and peered into the small alcove, as Elaine emerged first, leaving Arthur to care for the animal.
"You look very pretty today, Elaine," Kay smiled, as the woman walked towards him, with her head to the ground. Kay noticed her slight trembling hands, and the shook up look that consumed her whole form.
Elaine looked up and smiled briefly, barely meeting Kay's bright green eyes, before she cast her gaze down once more. She sat down slowly on a stool facing the beam that supported Kay's tall form.
"Something wrong?"
"Oh, no."
Kay huffed, "Right, so I take it that you always enjoy wrenching your hands together like that."
Kay crossed his arms, looking down towards Elaine's hands. Elaine followed his gaze, realized what an anxious fool she looked like, than placed her hands on top of each other gently.
"Busy day, that's all."
"Oh, right."
Kay chuckled, shifting his weight from on leg to the other. Elaine suddenly become very annoyed by the knights actions.
"Must you be so aggravating."
"Whoa there, I'm not Lancelot."
Elaine paused, "Sorry, Kay."
With that Elaine pushed off the stool, nearly toppling the chair over completely, as she marched swiftly to the stable door. Kay watched her leave, the long sleeves of her dress billowing out behind her. The knight sighed and shook his head.
"Alright Arthur, what have you done now?"
Arthur's head shot up suddenly from behind the stall door. Kay chuckled at his innocent look.
"What do you mean?"
Kay sighed, "Never mind, there is something more important to tell you."
A smile appeared on the Roman's face.
"What, has Lamorak been slaughtered finally by Vanora's hand? I knew that boy would someday succumb to her wrath. Tell me, was it with a wooden spoon or other cooking utensil?"
Kay sighed as Arthur pushed past him, his sword, Excalibur in his hand. He wandered over to a large wooden table that sat opposite the stalls. Tiny little bits of stone and large red rags were thrown carelessly about the table. Arthur set down his sword and began wiping it clean, from the very hilt, slowly up to the very tip.
"Arthur," Kay came up right behind Arthur, " a message came today from Rome."
His hand paused at the words, the red rag poised at the sharpest point of the massive blade. Arthur swallowed hard, before he set down his sword, and turned slowly back to his knight. Kay cast his eyes downward, not really wanting to be the one to deliver such news. Yet, he had been the one least busy of the eight, or at least the one most alert or not hidden away. He had just emerged from a hearty supper in the tavern when he witnessed the rider come through the gates. It was a Romans carrier, sent from the Eastern shores of Briton with a sealed document for Artorious's eyes only.
Arthur tried to remain calm. "What did the message convey?"
"I do not know. The scroll remains sealed in your quarters."
Opening and closing his palms slowly at his sides, Arthur stared down at the dirt ground of the stable floor. As his eyes surveyed the dusty floor, he drew in slow breaths of air, gradually trying to calm his racing heart.
"Arthur, it can only be about Elaine, right?"
Arthur couldn't answer his friend. He continued to stare at the ground, lost in his thoughts.
Kay lifted his head slightly in realization.
"You think they'll take her."
"There is only one way to know for sure. Come with me."
Elaine sighed as she reached behind her neck, closing the clasp of her mother's pendent, letting dangle low on her chest. So many strange emotions were swarming through her mind that very moment that she could only stare at her reflection in the mirror that sat upon the vanity. Arthur had made her promise to always be by his side, not matter what, and she had vowed to do so. But she couldn't help but feel distraught. More than anything she wanted to live with her brother at the Wall, in Rome, wherever he may be. Fourteen years had taken their toll on her. Yet, at the same time, she desired to see her lands again. Shalott had been her home all those years, and its people had become her people. Could she forget them after they practically adopted her as their own?
Elaine cried out softly, as she buried her head in her hands. She had been told by Gaelan to journey to Briton only to offer a peace with the Woads, which clearly was not an option any longer. Elaine hadn't even imagined she'd ever be reunited with Arthur again, but she had.
Suddenly, Elaine remember what Isolde had told her before she left.
"Elaine, dearest daughter, I will tell you now what I told you the day you came to these golden shores. Over time your heart will learn to love this land. You will dwell here, you will fight for it, and you will thrive here. But you will never belong to this land. For it's deep forests, it's vast shores could never contain the spirit that lives within you. Your destiny is greater than any who dwell here. You are meant for greater things. Shalott will remain in your heart forever, but it will also remain in your past. Eyes forward, Elaine. Do not look back at the past, at Shalott. Look only now to your future."
Elaine looked back into her mirror. She knew than that she would keep her vow to Arthur. Even if she never saw her beloved Shalott again, Elaine would be by her brother's side from then on.
A short while later, Elaine emerged from her chamber. It was pitch black as the night set in. The hallway that held Arthur and her chambers was completely empty. Looking quickly around, Elaine made her way silently through the passage, searching her mind for the directions Jols had given her. She had decided to dress down that night, wearing a soft linen dress with a crisp white shirt underneath. Elaine wanted to be able to venture around the fortress in a little less conspicuous manner, and she new that if she wandered around wearing one of the more elaborate gowns she owned would only draw more eyes upon her.
As she traveled down the long hallways of the quarters, Elaine suddenly stopped in a large corridor. Three passageways stood before her, each leading in different directions. Spinning slightly around, Elaine realized that she was lost. She cast her eyes back at the three doors.
"Which one do I choose?"
Elaine walked slowly towards the doors, before ultimately deciding to venture through the middle one. Carefully opening the large wooden door, Elaine peered through the entrance before gradually making her way through. So caught up in her discovery of the passageways, Elaine had hardly noticed the dark figure looming in the shadows right behind her. Just moments after Elaine had gone through the middle door, the dark figure swiftly followed, closely the door mutely behind.
After she had entered through the large middle door, Elaine found herself in front of even larger wooden door. Elaine sighed, blowing a loose strand of curly brown hair out of her face in the process. She placed her hand on her hips.
"Really, is this necessary."
After tapping her toe in a strange sort of defiance, her curiosity got the best of Elaine. She sighed once more as she relented and reached to open the door. It took two hard yanks from her to finally loosen the heavy door, which Elaine noticed had large pieces of gold embedded deep in the curving designs.
The sight that lay within the large doors made Elaine freeze. Her jaw hung open in awe as her eyes scanned the ornate chamber around her. It was a grand room, larger than Elaine had ever seen before, with lush marble floors and columns, and dark green walls, darker than the leaves of the trees. Beautiful white plaster leaves and vines swerved in and around the walls, as if they had life running within them, and the room was lowly lit by sporadic bronze lamps that hung around from golden chains that entwined all the way from the high ceilings. Yet, it was what was in the very center of the room that immediately drew Elaine's attention. A vast round table was placed in the center of the great chamber, encircling a large fire pit, with many low chairs set along the outside. It's etched surfaces seemed to glow in the firelight, giving the shiny table an golden aura of importance and honor.
Elaine drew in closer to the table, hesitantly reaching her hand to touch the gleaming surfaces. She slowly followed the letters that had been etched into the table, with her fingers. Galahad. Gawain. Percival. Bors. Dagonet. Gareth. Names she knew, others she did not. Fallen knights given immortality through their existence etched into the wood of the great, round table.
"You should not be wandering around alone."
Elaine jumped and spun around. Tristan was there behind her, leaning his back against the beam of the doorframe. His dark eye bore into hers, glistening in the light.
"I…I am sorry. I know I should not have entered into a sacred chamber such as this."
Elaine made to leave, but Tristan's strong hand deftly caught her elbow, pulling her gently in front of him. Her heart pounded, as he drew in near to her, his chest inches away from hers. A slight tremble ran through her as she forced her eyes up to meet his. Tristan felt her tremors, but only drew in closer.
"Why do you fear me?"
Elaine's chest heaved up and down as she stared in the scout's deep brown eyes, that were all but hidden by a few long strands of his messy hair. Their close proximity, in addition to the emotions that were sent surging through her body simply by the look in his eyes, made her tremble harder.
"I do not fear you."
"Than why do you tremble at my sight?"
Elaine knew she was not afraid of the knight in the common sense. She was afraid of what she felt.
"I do not fear you, Tristan."
Tristan's own heart pounded harder, when she mention his name. He noticed that her eyes sparkled in the low light of the hall.
"Forgive me."
Elaine's brow furrowed in confusion. "For what?"
"For my actions," Tristan mumbled softly, " that night in the forest. I do not want you to fear me."
The smile that emerged across he soft ivory face made Tristan immediately relinquish his hold on her. He silently chided himself for acting like a fool. He turned away from her, his mask of no emotion slipping firmly upon his features.
"Tristan," Elaine whispered, placing her soft hand upon his elbow. Tristan felt her warmth radiate through the tough material of his shirt, seaping straight into his skin, warming the blood that coursed through his veins. The trembling that gently shook her before had ceased.
"I do not fear you."
Tristan turned to face her once again. Her eyes were warm and inviting, no trace of the fear that had clouded her deep orbs before. Silently, he reached out his hand, and swept away a loose strand of her silky hair out of her face. Elaine's eyes slightly closed at his touch, enjoying the strange feeling of his rough skin on her own.
"You should not be out alone."
Elaine smiled, "You know very well, Sir Knight, that I can take care of myself."
"Do you have a weapon?"
The smile that had appeared on her face fell slightly, as she bit her lip. Elaine had not even a knife on her.
"Do I need one?"
"Do you have one?"
"Will there be trouble of some sort?"
"Do you always answer a question with a question?"
"Do you?"
Tristan huffed, drawing away from the aggravating woman in front of him. "You should not wander the fortress alone and unprepared at night. There are many…lonely men about."
Elaine froze, for she hadn't thought of that notion. Isolde had long ago warned her of the treachery of some men. That the weaker ones of heart may prey on the innocence of a young maiden such as herself, attacking without warning, beyond her control, just to satisfy there own vicious lust.
Tristan reached down at his side, retrieving a sharp dagger.
"Here, carry this with you."
Elaine took the dagger, examining it with a sense of an expert. Tristan smirked.
"You give this to me?"
Tristan huffed, "To borrow."
Elaine smirked right back at the clever knight that was beginning to surface. She enjoyed learning more and more about the man whom she had loved as a child. So changed, yet so similar.
"I thank you, and I promise not to be so foolish in the future."
Tristan just nodded, before turning and leaving the great hall before Elaine could stop him. As his form disappeared into the shadows once again, Elaine tucked the dagger at her side in the tight belt that was draped around her middle. Casting one last glance at the awe-inspiring round table, Elaine too disappeared into the shadows of the hall.
Not much later into the night, Elaine found herself wandering the streets of the fortress. The darkness of night had fully set in around the tiny village, and the people ventured either into their homes for sleep, or out into the streets for other more lively entertainment. As she past by the people, Elaine smiled. They remindered her so much of the lively Celts. Some of their frequent festivals lasted well into the night, and the liveliness of the people of Hadrian's Wall seemed to match that of her own people. She passed a happy troupe of fiddlers and pipers, merrily playing their music as others moved to their rhythm.
A drunken elderly man accidentally bumped into Elaine, so much so that she had to steady him as well as herself.
"Oh, my apologies my lady."
Elaine smiled, "No harm done."
The man wobbled along his way, swaying to the music as he pasted by. Elaine chuckled as she turned in the direction in which the old man had come. She soon stood right outside an open area where many rowdy people sat, drinking and gambling. Elaine spotted a few of the knights among the throng of villagers and Romans alike, but she soon felt a sudden wave of nervousness set in once again. Elaine was quite new to such activities, especially when it came to drink, and she was quite unsure of the certain mandates and procedures of these people. Her soft palms grew sweaty, and she began to back away, slipping into the shadows from where she came.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Elaine swung around suddenly, quickly grabbing Tristan's dagger, and swiped her long leg across the ground, tripping the figure that had crept up behind her. The man fell the ground with a thud, grunting at the sudden impact and the surprise of a dagger poised directly beneath his jugular.
"Gods, woman! It's me!"
Elaine's eyes grew wide as she realized that the man she had just thrown hard to the ground was none other than Lancelot. The dark knight glared up at her from beneath his black curls. She quickly moved the blade away from his throat and offered her hand.
"Oh Lancelot."
Lancelot frowned and swatted away her outstretched hand, "No, I'll help myself up. Have I not suffered enough that you would cause me further humiliation? Gods in the heavens, woman, you're lucky no one saw."
A happy smile stretched over Elaine's face, as she bit her lip. Lancelot noticed her attempt to restrain her laughter as he dusted the dirt off his broad shoulders.
"Oh, go ahead."
Elaine burst into a fit of laughter. She had to bend over and clutch at her sides the laughter was so great.
"You should have seen your face!"
"Ha Ha."
"Oh I am sorry Lancelot. I was only trying to be careful lest some foul creature try to prey on my innocence," Elaine chuckled, wiping two tears from her cheeks.
Lancelot smirked, "And you thought I was such a creature."
"Well," Elaine crossed her arms about her chest, "perhaps your intentions were noble, but I'm pretty certain about the foul part."
Lancelot drew nearer, causing Elaine to feel nervous again, "I may be foul, but how can you be so sure of my intentions, my lady."
Elaine blinked, suddenly feeling quite intimidated by the knight. Yet, his eyes were warm and his usually smirk replaced by a genuine smile, that made his features quite handsome. Elaine felt her legs go weak as she stared up at the tall knight, his eyes light by the fires around them. His curly locks fell down his face, giving him a boyish appearance, but Lancelot was certainly no young lad. The muscles of his arms flexed slightly as he reached forward, drawing another loose strand of her hair away from her face. He let his hand linger, gently cupping her cheek.
"Come," he said just above a whisper.
Lancelot took Elaine's hand in his, staring into her eyes as he began to lead her to the tavern. As they drew closer, Elaine's enchantment of Lancelot's eyes faltered, as she remember her trepidation from before. She stopped, gently pulling against Lancelot's strong hold. A concerned look appeared on the knight's face as her neared her once more, yet never relinquishing his hold on her hand.
"What is it?"
"I…I don't know."
The famous Lancelot smirk appeared once more.
"Do not tell you are afraid? The brave Elaine, who slays Woads, gallops fiercely across the lands, and enchants the hearts of men wherever she goes, is afraid of a tavern?"
A crimson blush crept up on her cheeks, causing Lancelot to laugh heartily.
"Come."
The two slowly entered the tavern, greeted by the knights that noticed there sudden arrival. Neither of them knew that Tristan lurked in the shadows right behind them, and had witnessed their little confrontation. The scout moved slowly into the light, a stone cold look on his face. After a moment, Tristan too entered into the tavern, leaving a trail of tiny crimson droplets in his path. Blood seeped through his closed fingers, and just as he entered the tavern, Tristan paused and opened his palm. Amidst the flowing blood, small rose thorns stuck deeply in his palm.