a/n: This was very laborious to write, but I'm pretty pleased with it. I hope you are too! I'm trying to get more written, and post more frequently. I hope to have another chapter up this weekend, but send me your feedback! Thanks!

The Follow

Bors grumbled as he roved deeper through the woods. He could care less what Arthur said to do. He wasn't just going to sit around and wait for Tristan to pop up when he wanted to.

"Cocky scout," he muttered. He urged his horse ahead, and tried a glance at the ground. With the fresh snow, there was no way he could track the scout or the intruders. Even if the snow wasn't there, Bors was the worst at tracking.

He growled at the ground, as if it were the reason he was in this trouble.

A branch snapped around the ridge of a hill. Bors halted his horse, and drew his curved hand blades. He could think of several ways to dice those men who'd taken his Vanora. Whoever it was rustled through the forest, and that was reason enough for Bors.

His horse darted forward, and Bors roared as he saw a figure. His fists, covered in his blades, were raised and ready.

And then, with a small glimpse, he saw the sweet, red-haired beauty that could stop him in his tracks with a single look or command. Instead of scolding him though, she held her arms out to him.

"Bors!"

The bald knight jumped off his horse and dropped his blades along the way. He wrapped his arms around Vanora and kissed her hard. His kisses rained over her repeatedly, until she pushed him away.

"There's no time!" she said breathlessly. "They still have Jaelynn, and Tristan too!"

-0-0-

Tristan hasn't said much, Jaelynn thought to herself. Immediately she realized how stupid that was. Of course he hasn't. That's normal for him. But she couldn't forget how she woke up.

He was shivering. It was just a little jerk here and there, and glancing at him when she woke up, she could tell he was trying to stop the shaking. Their eyes met, him looking down at her—and that's when she realized her face was pressed against his cold, naked chest.

She pushed against his chest with her hands and sat upright. The blush crept over her face and she hated herself for it! Thankfully, he'd saved her from some of her mortification.

"You sleep all right?" he asked. She nodded and will the embarrassment away. "They're coming." He nodded once behind her.

And then Korab grabbed her and hauled her to her feet. She gasped, but saw Tristan's body tense.

"Eh!" It was enough to draw a look from Korab, and a kick from another marauder. Jaelynn flinched.

His shirt and coat were returned to him, but not his armor. The marauders left it in the snow, something that made the scout scowl. As they resumed their forced journey with the marauders, Jaelynn saw Tristan shivering. He coughed a few times, and Jaelynn frowned.

She'd never heard him cough like this. Suddenly he sneezed, and Jaelynn's heart ached for him. Have I ever heard him sneeze before?

She glanced back at him. He was shaking his head, slightly disoriented. Tristan looked ahead and nodded at her. She offered back a weak, worried smile. I hope he's okay. The sky was clear now, but without the clouds, the air felt even chillier. That wouldn't help Tristan. Surprisingly Jaelynn felt okay. The constant pace the marauders forced kept her more than warm enough.

Where are we going? They were headed south, she knew that. But if they kept going south, they'd only hit the ocean. Did they plan to leave Britain? If so, why take her and Tristan with them?

"Move!" Korab suddenly barked at her. Jaelynn cast a glare over her shoulder, but complied.

-0-0-

"Could you all please shut your traps?"

Arthur had said many things over the years, much more forcefully and eloquently, but somehow, the tiredness and bluntness of these words made everyone obey. The knights, Guinevere, Britons, and Arthur had been arguing for a good half hour. Only Bors wasn't currently involved—he was hovering over Vanora and making sure she was all right.

The mixed council quieted, and Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe he was king after all.

"With Tristan captured, we can't just sit back and wait. We will pursue them, even if it is perilous for them both," Arthur said calmly. "I think we all agree their threat is void. Jaelynn and Tristan will only suffer the longer we delay."

"Let's go then," Gawain said, standing. Arthur shot him a look that made Gawain reclaim his seat.

"If we're not careful though," Arthur continued, "we will only hasten the deaths of those we care for. We must ensure we're following the right trail, and charge when we can seize victory and save Tristan and Jaelynn."

The king turned to Guinevere, and his expression softened.

"Two Woads will lead the way, scout the path to get us to the marauders as quickly as possible." Gawain and Galahad bustled at that, but one look from both Guinevere and Arthur kept them silent. "Lennor and Nasica, how soon can you be ready?"

All eyes turned to two Britons—a man and a woman—who stood when called. Lennor, a man with long hair tied back, didn't say anything but looked to the woman. Nasica, as she was called, had lighter hair, nearly blonde. Her eyes looked steely as they bore into Arthur.

"Fifteen minutes."

Arthur nodded to her and the man, and they both left the room. To the rest, Arthur merely said:

"Knights, get Bors, and be ready to leave in time."

-0-0-

They were headed to the sea. Tristan knew where they were, but it didn't make sense. There was no port or town from which to leave. There was nothing in the direction they were going. But the salt was definitely in the air, and Tristan expected to hear the waves any moment now.

Maybe we'll stop soon then.

He hated to even think about stopping. Was he really that weak, that he wanted to stop?

Yes.

He scowled at himself. His head felt thick and his throat swollen. He couldn't breathe very well either. He hated being sick. Even with all his scouting trips, he didn't fall prey to the elements and simple colds often. Of all the times, though, it had to happen now.

His mind drifted from its foggy state to Jaelynn. She felt so warm against him overnight. For a long time, he'd just stared down at her. How could she be so calm, knowing her situation now? He was a prisoner now, and yet she wasn't afraid of having no one near to save her. Did she trust him that much, maybe thinking he would get them out of this like he sort of had when they were captured by the Saxons?

No, she wasn't so misguided. He had to admit, Jaelynn was smart. And she had courage that few women, or people, had. He thought again about how she looked when they awoke. He'd felt so awkward and tense, especially when she'd blushed and he could only imagine what she was thinking.

You have to be careful. She'll think there's more between you if you keep this up. That was the last thing he wanted.

Right. He only wanted to keep her safe. Focus then.

He glanced at each marauder. There were several who just glared at him but they followed the easterner's commands. Korab did too, but Tristan didn't like how close he was to Jaelynn. Estho wasn't much better, but Tristan suspected Estho would try to make him as uncomfortable as possible. Hopefully that would deter him from bothering Jaelynn.

The easterner was Tristan's main concern. He was a controlled one, a definite leader, but this anger towards him . . . Who did I kill that drove him to this? The revenge seemed out of place for the easterner.

He coughed, and launched into a whole fit. His lungs produced a wet, garbled noise. Behind him, someone moved closer and shoved him ahead. Tristan stumbled briefly. He would have glared coldly at whoever shoved him, but he just didn't have the energy.

A roar and crash sounded ahead, and then he felt the strong gusts of wind that so often accompanied the coast. The wind blew his twisted strands of hair around. He looked ahead and saw the ocean gleaming back at him.

Jaelynn was staring at it too. He wondered if she'd ever seen it before.

There was no vessel on the ocean, nothing waiting on the beach. The marauders just marched them ahead, down to the sandy shore, and towards a rocky cliff.

The water lapped slightly over their feet, adding to Tristan's discomfort and coldness. Why they were walking so close to the water, he didn't know. But it was when they rounded the edge of the rocky cliffs that he saw why.

A cave lay within the rocks, with a bit of seawater lapping at the entrance. The marauders entered, their wet footsteps sloshing and echoing off the stone walls. The daylight faded quickly as they went further and further into the cave.

The form of the cave stunned Tristan. Moisture glistened on the rocky face in the dim light, and dripped down. The cave was all natural, but split off into levels as they went deeper. The first level was a flatter piece of rock that was a few feet off the cave floor. Above it was another flat rock, and then off to one side and a little high was another level. It was amazing, really. Even more so were the black holes that showed cavernous tunnels. Tristan wondered where those led, and maybe, if they led to a way out.

The marauders led him and Jaelynn to the first ledge, and Tristan followed as he was shoved ahead. They climbed the second rock level, and then went down the dark cavern. Tristan couldn't see anything, but the marauders moved with ease. Suddenly Estho, who was behind him, pushed him to the side. Tristan fully expected to hit the hard rocks, but instead found himself falling past everyone, and hitting the floor.

Down the tunnel they'd walked through came a light, and it was the easterner who appeared with the lit torch in his hand. The orangey glow lit up the area, and Tristan glanced around. The tunnel had opened into a large, round room. He saw no way out but the way they'd come.

Estho bent towards Tristan and seized him by his clothes. He muttered something and then chucked him to the side. The easterner objected, but then the marauders all started arguing.

Tristan winced slightly as he shifted around. He glanced to Jaelynn. Korab watched her closely, but allowed her to move closer to Tristan.

"What are they fighting about?" she whispered to him. "Are you okay?"

Tristan chose to completely ignore the second question. One of the marauders drew his sword and gestured angrily towards the scout. A few of the other marauders sneered in his direction too. Tristan sighed.

"What?" Jaelynn asked. She glanced from the marauders and then to Tristan. "Do you think they'll hurt us?"

Her question reminded him of something similar that she asked when the Saxons captured him two years ago. He considered his words briefly.

"Yes." Jaelynn looked sharply at him, and Tristan shrugged. "Me, at least. You want me to lie?"

Jaelynn sighed worriedly, and tried to ignore the bluntness of his reply. "How are we going to escape?"

Tristan stared at her. Her eyes were focused on the feuding marauders. Her light brown hair was heavy-laden from her ordeal, and the slight curls mangled. Her skin was dirty, but she still looked well. For all his failures in attempting to save her and Vanora, he was glad she was all right.

"If you have the chance," he said in his mumbled accent, "leave. Run and don't come back." Jaelynn looked at him reprovingly.

"Do you mean—"

"You know what I mean," Tristan said. Jaelynn drew a shaky breath. "Will you do it?"

"No," she said without hesitation. "How could you—"

"Jaelynn, please." The soft pleading of his quiet voice was foreign even to him, but at least it made Jaelynn listen. "Just do it."

-0-0-

Nasica knelt on the ground. Her gray eyes saw definite tracks. She looked over her shoulder to Lennor.

He nodded at another spot, and then towards the south, ahead of them. Both Woads stood, and ran.

Nasica's eyes stayed on the ground. She kept a bow and arrow in her hands, a precaution. Lennor was the same way. Suddenly they both slowed down. Up on a slight rise in the land, she could see bodies.

She frowned, and readied her bow. She covered Lennor as he started to look over the dead.

"Marauders," he said shortly. "This is where the scout must have met them."

Nasica eyed the ground, specifically the blood. She made a face.

"Vanora left from here," she said. She glanced over her shoulder again, and saw horses and the King coming their way. She sent a wiry smile at Lennor.

"At least they're keeping up," she said. Lennor snorted, and the two Woads charged ahead.

It didn't take them long to reach where the marauders must have camped. Nasica sorted around, not really seeing anything she thought important.

"Nasica," Lennor called. He was by a tree, his fingers touching the bark. Armor lay by the tree as well, but there was no surprise of whom it belonged to. Nasica went to his side, and then saw beyond the armor. There were rubbings in the tree bark. Marring. The marks weren't too sharp or deep, but something had been wrapped around the tree.

"The girl or the scout?" Lennor thought aloud. Nasica shrugged.

"Does it matter?"

She rose, and checked back down the way they'd come. Arthur and his knights were riding towards them. She frowned at the urgent expression on Arthur's face.

"The hawk is here," the king said as soon as he was near. Nasica cocked her head to the side.

"What?"

Gawain, riding behind the king, pointed up to the sky. She looked, and sure enough, there was a hawk, circling rapidly.

"It's Tristan's hawk," Arthur explained. "And she's waiting for us to follow."

Nasica shot a skeptical glance to Lennor. "You would have us follow the hawk?"

Arthur hesitated briefly. "The hawk has done this before."

"Circled in the sky?" She couldn't hide the smugness in her voice, and earned a reproving glare from both Arthur and Lennor.

"Don't disregard the direction the hawk takes," Arthur warned. With that, he spurred his horse forward, and the knights followed after him. Nasica didn't miss the glares she was receiving, but it didn't bother her. She knew her skills and she trusted herself over a bird.

The knights and Arthur headed off in one direction, and Lennor shifted around nervously.

"Who are we following?" Lennor asked. The wind blew wisps of hair from the tie that held back most of Lennor's locks. Nasica sighed, and turned to the trail leading from the camp. It was the same direction as the hawk's flight, and where the knights had ridden.

"The trail," she said.

-0-0-

The arguing among the marauders didn't take long to turn to something worse. Korab tied Jaelynn to a stake buried in the rocks. She couldn't move far, and was helpless to watch as they all focused on Tristan.

The scout's eyes were dark and threatening, defiant as always. A coughing fit seized him though, and it only showed how weak he was becoming. Jaelynn hated to think of him as anything but the strong, silent warrior, but he was ill, no thanks to the marauders' treatment. They laughed at him, and one of the marauders kicked Tristan in the chest.

Tristan's struggle to breathe increased. His lungs produced a garbled sound as he wheezed to get enough air. Korab grabbed Tristan by the hair, yanking his head back.

He said something in some foreign tongue, and then spit on Tristan. Jaelynn felt rage go through her, and she saw the same go through Tristan. He strained against the man's hold. Another marauder came and held him fast.

The easterner took the moment to step forward.

"Do you know why you're here?" he asked. Tristan glared for a long time before finally shaking his head. The easterner's lip curled up, disgusted. He hit the scout across the face.

Jaelynn gasped. The easterner hit Tristan again.

"No!" Jaelynn yelled. The easterner didn't even turn to acknowledge her. "Please, he's done nothing!" Korab moved to her side, and slapped her. She saw nothing for a brief moment, and then as her vision returned, she felt her face stinging.

"Wait," Tristan said, drawing Korab away from Jaelynn. "I know I killed someone you care for. But I don't know who."

The marauders just stared at him, and then to each other. And then they laughed. Jaelynn frowned. What is he talking about? Who did he kill that would have this mix of men so vengeful?

Footsteps sounded down the tunnel, and the marauders all turned to wait. It was Estho, holding something carefully in his hands. Water dripped from it onto the rocks. Jaelynn shuddered just at the malicious grin he had on his face. She glanced at Tristan. He was focused on Estho as well, but appeared indifferent. She wondered if he felt any fear at all.

As soon as she saw what Estho was carrying, Jaelynn gasped. She'd never seen such a thing, but it looked painfully evil. It was a round, dark black or purple thing, with long spikes. The spikes were more like needles, but thicker. Estho knelt by Tristan's side and held the thing close to him.

"Do you know what this is?" Tristan's body tensed, and twisted slightly away. Jaelynn doubted he even realized he'd moved at all.

"It's from the sea," Estho said. He smirked at the scout, and glanced at the easterner. "The needles have poison. And they hurt." He stood and stepped back, and the easterner nodded to the marauders.

They removed Tristan's shirt and coat. Estho took one of the needles and broke it off. The spiked sea creature recoiled and then jutted out its needles in defense. Jaelynn's eyes widened.

Estho came at Tristan with the needle, pointing it at his side. Tristan shrank back, and even though the men must have held him tightly, the scout managed to free his legs and kick Estho.

Estho fell back, cursing and hissing in anger. The easterner tore off another needle and moved to Jaelynn.

No, no, no! But she tilted her chin up and made herself be still.

The easterner came closer, and held the needle like a dagger. She could only imagine the force with which he would plunge the needle into her.

"Wait," she heard Tristan say. The easterner merely paused and then grabbed Jaelynn by the arm. Jaelynn glared at him but didn't move. "No, wait!"

The easterner stopped this time, the needle a breath away from her arm. He glared at Tristan.

"Cooperate," was all he said. Tristan gave a short nod.

"But tell me who I killed."

The easterner smiled grimly. "You did not kill her." He went to Tristan. "Gag him." Before Jaelynn could process that, the marauders took a cloth and tied it over his mouth. It was pulled tight so that it bit uncomfortably in his mouth, forcing it slightly open. Jaelynn's cheeks burned at the mere insult to Tristan that they would gag him. In another situation, it might have been humorous—the silent scout, being gagged. But now, it implied he would not handle the pain.

Jaelynn wondered if this would be so painful as to make the knight scream.

The spike hovered over his side, above his hip. The easterner laid a hand on the scout and brought the needle closer.

"You should have killed her," Estho said, speaking for all of them. The easterner's eyes saddened briefly before glazing over in anger. And then he said:

"Yes. Decia Quintas."

Tristan frowned but his eyes went wide. The easterner smirked at his reaction, and then forced the needle through Tristan's skin.

Jaelynn's stomach lurched as she heard Tristan's muffled scream. The easterner still had his hands on the needle, moving it slowly on through Tristan's side. She didn't miss the agony in the scout's screams.

She would never forget that sound.