Thanks, as always, to all my wonderful reviewers!

I woke slowly, opening my eyes. It was dark outside, but a flickering lamp provided a little light. There were low voices talking nearby, outside the circle of light cast by the torch.

'-she was brave,' someone said. I struggled to remember whose voice it was.

'Yeah. I've never seen Tristan fight like that – he went crazy.'

'I think he always has been crazy,' the first voice said dryly.

Galahad and Gawain. I turned slightly, noticing for the first time a severe and irritating sting in my left arm. Most of it was bandaged – herbs had been put on my wounds. The knights realised I was awake.

'Tristan left not long ago,' Gawain said lightly, sitting down. 'He's been with you since we carried you in.'

I nodded, still a little dazed. Galahad smiled tightly, but there was nothing at all amused in the action.

'He also found someone called Raury,' he said slowly. 'I didn't stay and watch, but the last I saw was the man running. He didn't get far.'

I shivered, although there were warm blankets covering me. I knew that Tristan could be brutal and vicious when he wanted to be.

'We killed the Saxons, if you're wondering,' Gawain said, stretching his arms. 'None survived.'

I nodded, too tired to answer. I yawned. Gawain noticed and nudged Galahad as he stood.

'We'll leave you in peace. Sleep well.'

They were at the door when he turned around. His blue eyes were serious.

'Thank you, Aderyn. Although you didn't get back to Arthur, you still effectively saved us. The Saxons were going to execute us at dawn and send our heads back to Arthur.'

He and Galahad left, shutting the door behind him. I was left alone with my thoughts, which were decidedly grim. When I finally slept, I dreamt of severed heads that talked in words I couldn't understand.

The next morning I woke to find breakfast on a tray beside my bed, and also clean clothes. Smiling and making a mental note to thank Vanora, I got up and dressed. I planned to visit the baths and wash off the dirt and blood that was encrusted on my skin, but first I would eat.

I made my way to the baths, stopping first to thank Vanora and return the tray. It was wonderful to be clean again, but I had to hold my left arm out of the water. The large wound from the arrow was painful, and I couldn't use my left hand.

When I returned to the tavern for lunch, I found the knights sitting around. Lancelot was, as usual, gambling – he was pretty bad, and rarely won. Gawain and Galahad were tossing knives, joking and teasing.

Tristan saw me, and motioned with one hand for me to come over. I sat down beside him, and he touched my cheek with a long finger.

'How are you?' he asked, dark eyes boring into mine.

I shrugged. 'As well as can be expected.'

I still wasn't used to the fact that I was now twenty-four. On a sudden impulse I turned to Tristan.

'How old are you?' I asked softly.

He glanced at me, but answered readily enough. 'Thirty-one,' he said. He didn't say anything else, but I could tell by the slightly raised eyebrow that he wanted me to explain.

'I was just wondering,' I shrugged, turning back to the bread in front of me.

I was acutely aware of him next to me. I hated to admit it, even to myself, but I was attracted to him. It was impossible for me not to be – I knew him so well, and he knew me.

I loved the hair that obscured his dark eyes, the tattoos that accented his fine cheekbones. I loved him – that was it. But there was no way I would act on those feelings. Unless…

I pushed those thoughts out of my head as Lancelot left his game and sat down at the table. I was slightly paranoid that Tristan could read my mind – he could certainly read my face as well as I could read his. But, luckily, he was talking with Arthur and mercifully hadn't noticed me watching him out of the corner of my eye.

Gawain and Galahad came over and sat down, their game obviously finished. Gawain looked disgruntled while Galahad had the innocently evil look on his face that said as clearly as a flashing neon pink sign that he was teasing his closest friend. Gawain sat with a thump, looking irritated.

'-there's no point trying to deny it,' Galahad said sagely, dark eyes gleaming wickedly. 'You lost, fair and square.'

'You distracted me,' Gawain grumbled.

Galahad shook his head, the picture of innocence. 'I did no such thing. Stop trying to discredit me.'

Lancelot rolled his eyes. 'Don't you two do anything other than squabble?' he asked testily.

'Ooh, someone has their knickers in a knot,' Galahad said, immediately focusing on his new target. 'What's up with you?'

'His ego was dented when a serving girl refused to kiss him. He's suffering,' Gawain said with a grin, joining in.

'At least I can throw a knife at a target and not kill someone standing ten feet away,' Lancelot snapped.

I gasped in mock surprise, leaning towards him. 'Is that a white hair?' I asked innocently, pointing towards his mop of curls.

Lancelot's face changed from one of mild irritation to horror. His hand flew up towards his mop of curls, then he noticed me, Galahad and Gawain laughing. He frowned again.

'Oh, grow up,' he said irritably.

He stood and left, stalking out past where Guinevere and Arthur sitting. I think that I was the only one who noticed his eyes lingered on the queen. I bit my lip, worried. Still, I was fairly confident that Lancelot wouldn't touch Guinevere. For one, the queen loved Arthur – and two, Lancelot cared too much for his friendship with Arthur to risk it.

But as I looked around the tavern, I noticed Dagonet looking in the direction Lancelot had gone, his forehead creased in worry. It seemed I wasn't the only one concerned.

I watched Lancelot closely for the next week or so, but he didn't glance to Guinevere, much less try to do anything that could be taken the wrong way – which was a relief. It was one thing to read about the fall of Arthur, and another to actually live it.

I spent my time doing nothing. Tristan was fiercely protective, and wouldn't let me do a thing for as long as my arm was bound up – which was a long time.

About four weeks after I was rescued by Tristan, I went down to the stables. I was sick of sitting around, and when Jols refused to let me near a horse my temper snapped.

'It's not for Tristan to say what I can and can't do!' I yelled, knowing my face was an angry red. 'Either saddle a horse for me, or I'll do it myself. But get out of my way!'

Jols blinked, then grinned. He had almost no temper, and wasn't at all daunted by my screaming fit.

'Yes, Aderyn,' he said with a smile, bowing his head slightly. 'But make sure Tristan doesn't have my head for this.'

I smiled in return and let him saddle a horse for me. I refused a saddle – I wasn't going to ride sidesaddle like a lady!

At last I was ready, and I mounted a red roan mare Jols had bridled for me. She had a calm, sweet disposition, but was in no way a slouch. At the touch of my heels she broke into a trot – I was reminded of Ebony, and couldn't help but wonder how she was.

I rode at a canter through the fort. Many stared, obviously not used to the sight of a girl riding bareback like a man, her dress pulled up past her knees.

Soon we were out among the farms. A man working near the road straightened when he saw me, and smiled. He was slightly older than me – twenty five or twenty six. I slowed the mare as he walked forward to speak to me.

'Don't see many riding like you are,' he laughed, brown eyes gleaming with intelligence and humour.

He had pale blond hair and skin browned by the sun. He was very handsome, and white teeth flashed as he smiled. I was acutely aware of my legs, bare from mid-thigh down. The mare, sensing my sudden discomfort, sidled and tossed her head.

'I'm Will,' he continued. 'What's your name?'

'Jenny.' Something was telling me not to give my new name, the name I now thought of as mine.

Will nodded, still smiling. His warm brown eyes held mine, and I couldn't look away. The sound of galloping hooves behind us startled the mare as much as me.

The roan reared and wheeled, sending me flying over her shoulder. I hit the dirt and rolled, leaping to my feet even as Will started forward to help me.

I swore heavily in English, using every curse I knew as I saw what had startled the mare. Tristan slowed his horse to a trot and halted in front of me. His dark eyes flicked from me to Will, who was standing close beside me with an arm around my waist.

Will seemed to realise what Tristan was glaring about, and moved quickly away. I could see the dark fire burning in Tristan's eyes – anger and jealousy perhaps? Then he blinked, and all expression was gone.

'Hello Aderyn,' he said frostily. I had to stop myself from flinching at his icy tone.

'Aderyn?' Will said, surprised. He glanced at me. 'I thought you said your name was-'

'Doesn't matter,' I snapped, suddenly irritated. 'Any particular reason you just startled the hell out of me?' I said to Tristan.

He raised an eyebrow. 'I rode after you out of concern. And it's a good thing I did. You obviously need help.'

'If you hadn't startled my horse I wouldn't have fallen,' I said hotly, my temper building.

'I wasn't talking about falling off a horse,' Tristan snapped. He turned to Will. 'Good day.'

Will, confused, nodded to him and then to me as Tristan grabbed me and swung me up onto the saddle in front of him. The roan mare cantered alongside as Tristan turned his horse back to the fort. I could feel the tension in his body that spoke of his anger, but he still wound one arm around my waist to hold me on the horse.

'Enjoying yourself there?' he asked hotly.

'I was, until you came along,' I snapped, regretting it the instant it left my mouth. Tristan stiffened even further.

'Oh, I'm so sorry that I interrupted,' Tristan said, anger coursing through his usually calm voice. 'You should have told me you wanted some privacy with your lover.'

'Lover?' I gasped, outraged. 'Is that what you think? Bloody hell, Tristan, I just met him as I rode past!'

Tristan snorted. I turned my head so that I could see his face.

'What's it to you, anyway?' I demanded.

I felt the arm around my waist tighten, and regretted what I had said. I had practically dared him to say that he liked me more than as a friend. I was about to face the front again when he kissed me.

I was so surprised that I opened my mouth to speak, but he took that as an invitation to take the kiss deeper. For a moment I was stunned, then I felt his other arm wrap around me. I pushed him away, even though I was shaking and desperately wanted to kiss him back.

I slid off Tristan's horse and mounted the mare who had followed. I didn't look at him as I took the lead, cantering back up to the fort. I felt as though my heart was going to burst out of my chest, it was beating so hard.

I didn't look back, but I could hear Tristan's horse just behind mine. When I got to the stable, I dismounted and gave the roan's reins to Jols with a pat on the mare's nose and the promise of a carrot later. I left without glancing at Tristan.

I made it to my room without meeting anyone else. I had just closed the door and leant against it when there was a knock.

'Aderyn, open the door. We have to talk.' It was Tristan – well, who else would it be? 'Please.'

I had been going to refuse, but he had added "please". I knew how rare it was for him to say that, so I opened the door – after I was sure that there was no expression on my face.

Tristan stood in the doorway, his dark eyes overbright. He looked at me – I held his gaze.

'I'm sorry,' he said softly. 'I've wanted to tell you this for so long…'

My heart was hammering in my ears. I had wanted so much to hear him say this… he sighed and continued speaking when I didn't answer.

'Aderyn, please…I have to know.'

His last few words were a whisper. It cost him a lot to say that, to ask, to plead for me to understand. Something exploded inside me – happiness. I had wanted this for so long.

I leapt forwards, wrapping my arms around his neck as I pressed my lips to his. He immediately wound his arms around me, stroking my back as I ran a hand through his hair.

At last he let me go, his eyes glowing. He ran his tongue over his lips as I blushed. At last he smiled.

'Coming to lunch?'

I laughed and walked with him down to the tavern. Yes, Will may have been handsome and charming, but Tristan was Tristan, and I loved him with all of my hawk's heart.