It was becoming ever clearer to Tristan that perhaps Jillian simply just did not like him. When she was not angry with him, she was whacking him across the head with the back of her ax, and now she was looking at him as though he were the last person in the world she wanted to see. Tristan put these thoughts aside for the moment. He had gone looking for her for a reason, for answers, and he was going to get some. "You promised us Lucia Gaius. What happened to keeping your word?" he asked, purposely trying to provoke her.
Jillian glared at him. "Well, I don't know where she is," she responded.
"You're a terrible liar," Tristan said, shaking his head. Jillian shrugged and moved to walk past him back into the forest, but he stepped in front of her blocking her path. Jillian drew her sword and shot him a threatening glare. Tristan drew his sword as well, and they circled each other like two predators each looking at the other as prey.
"I understand that you want revenge against Lucia Gaius," Tristan said.
A mix of bewilderment and anger flashed in Jillian's eyes. She swung her sword at Tristan clanging her blade against his. "This has nothing to do with revenge!" she shouted, "I told you! I won't betray my people!"
"Betray?" Tristan asked, blocking another one of her swings.
"If I tell you where she is, you and the rest of the knights will go, rescue her, and then burn the entire village down! I cannot be the cause of that," she answered. She slashed her sword at his neck, but he easily ducked out of the way. Tristan pivoted and swung his sword, which once again met with hers.
"Then you do know where she is," Tristan pointed out.
Jillian shook her head angrily. "Why do you care, anyway? What are you, her great rescuer now?" Jillian asked as she blocked his sword with her own once again. It was her turn to do the provoking.
"I have a duty to Arthur and to Rome," Tristan responded simply.
"Then you understand why I can't help you," she answered, "You saved my life. I saved yours, but we're even now---and you're my enemy." Their blades clashed against each other, but Tristan maneuvered his to twist Jillian's from her hand. Jillian's sword flew from her hand into Tristan's, and he held both to her neck. Jillian stepped backward until she felt her spine press up against the rough bark of a tree. Tristan was just inches from her now, and she could feel his breath on her face.
"If that's the case, then you'll understand why I have to hand you over to Arthur," Tristan said, barely above a whisper. With that, he gripped her firmly around the arm, leading her back to where his horse stood waiting. She struggled at first, but his hold on her arm was too strong. He pulled her up in front of him into the saddle and held her tightly around the waist so that she would not try to jump off. He gave the horse a sharp kick, and they took off galloping into the forest.
Jillian's body had tensed as she felt his arm tightly encircle around her, using his free hand to control the horse's reigns. Her mind raced, and she had to remind herself to breathe. She watched as the trees whizzed by them, making her feel light-headed and dizzy; or perhaps that was not caused by the trees. Suddenly, she realized that her heart was racing, and she did not want to admit to herself the reason why.
Tristan felt Jillian's body tense as he held on to her waist. Her soft, brown hair blew in his face as they rode through the dense trees. What was he doing? He had not looked far enough into the future to have planned anything out, and now here he was carrying Jillian off to confront Arthur. It was not like him to act so brashly or impulsively. He became increasingly aware of Jillian's back pressing up against his chest, and he suddenly realized that his heart was pounding.
They finally reached the lake where Arthur and the other knights had made camp. The knights watched curiously as Tristan and Jillian rode towards them on Tristan's horse. Tristan dismounted and offered his hand to help Jillian down. She ignored his hand, and dismounted the horse on her own.
Arthur approached them and looked directly at Jillian. "You deceived us," he said, not angrily, but sternly.
"I did what I thought was right…" Jillian answered, her voice trailing off. Her eyes stayed at the ground in front of her, and Arthur could tell that she was being sincere.
Arthur put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Do what's right now," he said, "Tell us where they have taken Lucia Gaius."
"Arthur, I'll die before I betray my people," Jillian replied softly, but firmly.
"Arthur, it's a lost cause," Gawain reasoned, "Why not just let it go?"
Arthur turned to Gawain. "We will do what we can to prevent any harm from coming to an innocent Roman woman," Arthur said severely. 'Hardly innocent,' Tristan thought to himself.
"How do we know they haven't already killed her?" interjected Bors.
"If they wanted to kill her they would have done it then and there during their attack," I reasoned, trying to convince myself more than anyone else. It could not be denied that I had grown closer to Lucia than any of the others, even if it had only been in one night.
Arthur turned his attention back to Jillian. "You helped us once. Help us again," he said.
Jillian felt as though she was being backed into a corner, and she did not know what to do. She respected Arthur, but her loyalty lay with her people. Thinking of nothing else to say, she lied, "I helped you? How do you know I wasn't just trying to distract you to make their estate easier to ambush? It was a stroke of brilliance, really. I even rendered your trusted scout unconscious!"
"That's enough," Tristan spoke for the first time, his face cold and hard as stone.
"I knew it!" cried Gawain, "I knew she couldn't be trusted!"
"Stop it! All of you!" Arthur commanded, then turned back to Jillian, "At the Gaius estate, we freed those people because they were being held captive under the wrong circumstances. Now, I am asking for your help."
"Arthur, I'm sorry, but I cannot betray the tribe that took her to you," Jillian said sympathetically. Suddenly, she formulated a plan. "Look, let me go speak with them. Perhaps I can arrange some kind of bargain," she offered.
"Oh that's a great idea," Galahad retorted sarcastically, "Let her go off on her own and we'll never hear from her again."
"Tristan," Arthur addressed the scout, "You will go with her. Stay here tonight, but leave first thing in the morning." Tristan nodded, but Jillian still seemed unsure.
"Arthur," she said, "If I give you my word to bring back Lucia Gaius, do you promise not to retaliate against the tribe that took her?"
Arthur considered this for a moment, but realized Jillian could be his one chance to help Lucia. "You have my word," he answered solemnly, and Jillian nodded her thanks.
Jillian watched awkwardly as the knights resumed their seats around the fire now that everything had been settled. She saw Tristan approaching her, and she darted her eyes about her surroundings looking for a possible escape. He was the last person she wanted to speak to right now. Her eyes landed on Dagonet who sat on a log by the fire. She rushed over to him and sat next to him on the log, leaving Tristan to stand alone. "Hello," she greeted Dagonet.
"Hello," he said, returning the greeting with a smile.
"I don't believe I ever properly thanked you for tending to me in the wagon," she said, trying to make conversation.
"It was nothing," Dagonet replied.
"I'm a healer, too, you know," she said, fully aware of Tristan staring at them from across the fire.
"Is that so?" Dagonet asked.
"Yes, perhaps we could exchange tips and different methods of treatment," Jillian suggested.
"Yes, in fact, that would be a sure way to lose the scout's attention," Dagonet answered slyly. Jillian's face turned from joviality to seriousness. She had not fooled Dagonet for a second, and now she felt guilty.
"Please, Dagonet," she pleaded, "Do not think I only---I mean, that I---"
"Think no more of it," Dagonet interrupted with a chuckle.
"I'm sorry," Jillian said sincerely.
"Please, don't worry about it," Dagonet said as he stood, "Would you like to take a walk with me?"
"I would like that very much," Jillian responded with a smile.
Tristan watched them leave, but did not follow them. He knew when he was not welcome. He walked over to the fire and sat down with the other knights. "Dagonet steal your girl?" Gawain teased. Tristan glared back at him in reply.
Dagonet and Jillian strolled along the edge of the lake. Jillian enjoyed the peacefulness of Dagonet's presence. He was a kind man, and she respected him. "So what is there between you and Tristan?" he asked, suddenly breaking the silence.
"Nothing!" she replied, slightly taken aback. Dagonet looked at her skeptically. "I swear!" she assured him. Dagonet laughed. "Besides," she continued jokingly, "Lady Gaius already has her hooks in him, I believe."
"Bite your tongue," Dagonet responded with a laugh, "Anyways, I think Lancelot already took care of that."
"Oh really?" Jillian asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Either way, it wouldn't have taken her long to discover that Tristan is immune to a woman's charms," Dagonet commented, "He sees through all the flattery."
"I see," Jillian responded, "He's not one for love, is he?"
"I suppose not," Dagonet said. Why did that answer disappoint her? "Although," Dagonet added, "Perhaps if it were honest and true…"
Tristan sat by the fire sharpening his dagger. "There's not going to be a blade left on that thing by the time you finish with it," Gawain commented. Tristan sighed, and returned the dagger to his belt. Why should he care if Jillian and Dagonet took a walk by the lake? He wondered if there was anything between them. Again, why should he care? He looked up and saw Dagonet and Jillian returning from their stroll. 'But I do care,' he thought. Tristan caught Jillian staring at him. Their eyes met, but she quickly averted her glance. Tristan shrugged. He was used to being alone. A bolt of lightning illuminated the night followed by the roar of thunder. Tristan wrapped his cloak around him as the rain fell from the sky.
