Tristan's Peace - Chapter 4
Disclaimer - Sorry, don't own anyone you may recognize. Only playing with them. Making no money.
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"Lady Teagan." Lucan bowed as he opened the door.
Laughing, Teagan curtseyed in return. "Sir Lucan." She stood and gave Dagonet a quick hug. "Dag, are you sure you don't mind?"
"No, it will do him good to get out." He gave her a questioning look. "Are you all right?"
She smiled at him. "I'm fine Dag. It's not so bad." She turned to the young man. "Okay, Sir Lucan, let us go for a walk." She offered her hand to his and was glad that he took it.
Both stopped at the door before leaving.
"Good day, Father. I will see you when we return." Dagonet's eyes sparkled at the term the boy gave him.
Teagan's heart melted. "Bye, Dag. I'm in good hands."
The pair walked hand in hand to the stables, talking about different things happening at the fort. Lucan was settling in nicely. Attending schooling classes with Bors' children. Arthur had insisted that they all learn to read.
As they entered the stables, Lucan dropped her hand and immediately ran to Aodh's stall. The horse nickering in welcome.
Teagan stood by the stall, rubbing the horse on his head, near the ears. She watched as Lucan cleaned out his stall and refreshed his water. He wasn't paying any attention to Teagan at all. She cleared her throat to get his attention. "I understand I have you to thank for taking such good care of Aodh."
Lucan blushed. "Sir Gawain helped me. He and Gilly are teaching me how to be a horseman."
Teagan nodded. Gawain was a good one to teach the boy. "Have you ridden him yet?" She knew he hadn't. The stallion didn't let anyone but a select few on his back.
Lucan shook his head sadly. "No, my Lady. Sir Gawain said he was only for you."
"He is right. Would you like to? Today?" The little boy's lit with excitement. He was nodding so furiously that he couldn't speak.
Quickly, Teagan bridled the horse and put on a light saddle. Normally she rode without one. But with Lucan, it was needed.
Giving the reins to Lucan, she led him outside the fort's walls. She knew there were knights on watch and would keep an eye on them. Letting out a screech, Tristan's hawk swooped down, flying low, near Teagan and Lucan.
"Oi! Teagan!" Lancelot call from high on the wall.
She waved at her friend. "Lancelot! Is it clear for us to ride?"
He waved back. "Yes, my lady. Just stay clear of the wood."
The hawk cried again. Circling. She wasn't trying to harm them, Teagan knew. But she didn't want the bird to upset the horse.
"Tristan!" She called. "Tristan! I know you are there." His head appeared over the wall next to Lancelot. Teagan noticed that he was looking as sullen as ever. He said not a word. "Call off your bird. I won't have her harassing my horse."
Tristan whistled and the bird flew off. "She only watches over Teagan."
Lancelot grinned at his friend. "I know, my friend. I know." He was making an effort. And being very patient about it.
After returning from Isca, Teagan had become almost as silent as Tristan. Not talking to many. And she had yet to move in with him.
And as she wasn't talking, no one knew why. Most suspected it was because of the attack. That more had happened than she would say.
Had it been him, Lancelot would have dragged her kicking and screaming to his bed. The thought of doing just that with a certain blonde came filtering into his head, causing him to smile.
Not many knew that he had married Cassandra while in Isca. The whole thing being as sudden as it was. Arthur had decided to have a banquet celebrating it this night.
"Listen my friend. Our watch is over. Go ride out to them. You can watch out for her then." He smiled as he watched his friend descend the wall and make his way to the stables.
0o0o0o
Tristan didn't approach them, he just stood apart watching. He watched as the normally spirited horse stood absolutely still as Teagan helped Lucan to mount. He watched her patience as she explained what to do while astride. The horse looked as though he were listening intently as well. He saw her pride when Lucan led Aodh around, getting him to do simple commands. He watched this go on for about an hour, before Lucan started showing signs fatigue. His small arms starting to hang limply in his lap. Teagan must have noticed also, as she helped the boy to dismount.
Giving his horse a gentle kick, he rode up to them.
"Lucan." He nodded to the boy. "Teagan." He was rewarded with a brilliant smile.
"Sir Tristan, did you see? Aodh let me ride him." He was virtually bouncing with excitement. Both Tristan and Teagan laughed at the boy's uncontrollable excitement.
Teagan began unlatching the saddle from Aodh. "Tristan, can you watch Lucan for a bit?" She slipped the saddle off her horse, setting it on the ground. "After this slow pace, I must let him run."
"Of course."
Teagan swung easily onto the back of the stallion. "Thank you." She turned the horse away. "Come on little man, let's go." She urged and they were off like the wind.
Teagan let Aodh run as fast as he wanted, letting him unwind. The wind unraveling the braid she had put into her hair. Her clothes flying about her.
Finally coming back to Tristan and Lucan, she slid off when the horse came to a halt. Absently, she pushed an errant strand of hair behind her ears.
"Lucan, will you take him back? Settle him in?" She said, not quite out of breath.
Lucan said nothing, he was just happy that the lady trusted him with her horse. And he enjoyed taking care of her horse. He was so beautiful. Sir Gawain had bred him with one of his mares, the foal was due to come in mere months. Gawain had said that Lucan would be in charge of the foal's care, and that if Lucan wanted, he could have the horse when it was old enough.
He took the reins and led the horse to the stables, leaving Teagan and Tristan to stand alone.
Smiling, she bent to pick up the saddle, but Tristan beat her to it. "Let me." His brown eyes met her blue ones and he smiled.
Smiling back, Teagan stood upright and took the reins of Tristan's horse. "If you are going to be gallant and hold the saddle, I can at least lead your horse."
The two walked back to the stable in comfortable silence.
0o0o0o
By the time they arrived, Lucan had Aodh settled into his stall with fresh feed and water. Tristan wandered off to take of his own horse.
"Lucan? I have to talk to you." She tried to sound stern, but couldn't. She couldn't help but smile at the boy.
"My lady?"
She handed him a coin. "Lucan. If you would like, I can pay you one gold piece every two weeks if you help me take care of Aodh."
The boy was jumping up and down. "Oh! Yes! Lady Teagan! I will take very good care of him."
She looked at the boy. "This includes taking him out for exercise. And rides. Now, you can only do it if I am with you or one of the other knights."
"Including Sir Tristan?" He knew that these two were having difficulties at the moment.Everyone did. And like everyone, he wondered when they would get their act together and get together. Again.
Teagan smiled at Lucan. "Especially Tristan." She ruffled his hair. "Now go run off and boast that you have a real job."
Laughing, Lucan ran out of the stables as fast as he could. Number three would be so jealous.
"That was nice." Tristan said as he came close to Teagan.
He was so close, her breath caught. "What was?"
He came closer, so close that they were almost touching. "You. Helping the boy. He will be a squire yet." He came closer, bringing his hand to tangle in Teagan's hair.
Teagan's mind said to pull away, but her body decided to revolt. "Tristan...no..."
"Yes." He whispered as his lips claimed hers. His tongue asking entrance. She sighed, and he drove in, drinking her. Claiming her.
When they pulled away, Tristan brought her close. Teagan rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. She smiled to herself at the quickness of it, knowing she had made it that way.
"I want you to be my wife." He said out of the blue.
"Tristan..." Teagan tried to pull away.
He let her go, but only so far. "You don't have to let me know now." He gave her a kiss on her neck, feeling her tremble. He strode out of the stables. "I will see you this evening." He called as he disappeared around the corner, leaving a stunned Teagan.
A/N: Here's your first Flashback chapter. I'll lable them as I go.