Hello everybody! Sorry about the longer wait than usual. This weekend has been a little busy with Christmas shopping and Christmas musicals, but things are almost back to normal, so hopefully I can get back to quicker updates. I am updating just as soon as I can, I promise! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! I loved receiving them and reading your thoughts. You guys keep me writing! Anyways, here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 4: Recovery

She woke with a start, leaping up from the bed. Bed? Carina's eyes scanned the dimly lit room. Yes, she was in a bed, a very comfortable and large bed, much like her one back home. There were two windows to her right side but the sun shining through was shut out by heavily drawn curtains. A fire burned in a fireplace on the other side of the room. There was an armoire, a few chairs scattered about, and a desk thrown against the wall by the windows.

Whose room is this? Carina wondered. Where am I?

A flood of memories suddenly filled her mind. The raiding Saxon army, her father, the long ride here, Arabela.

Arabela! Where was she?

Carina got out of bed, grimacing to find her legs were not yet ready to bear her weight. She fell to the floor with a thump.

The door opened behind her. She heard loud footsteps walking quickly over to her. She looked up, afraid of what she might see. A large man stood over, tall and with a long scar crawling down his face. Carina stared in shock and fear.

"I am Dagonet," the man said, bending down to her. "I am a Sarmatian knight. You need not fear me."

Carina tried to speak, but found her voice had faltered.

"You are at Hadrian's Wall," Dagonet continued. "Tristan found you and brought you here a few days ago with your sister, who is sleeping in the next room."

"Arabela," Carina finally managed to muster, her voice barely more than a whisper. "How is she?"

Dagonet smiled. "She had quite a bad fever, but I think it is breaking. She should be fine."

Carina sighed with relief. "How long did you say I've been here?" she asked.

"About three days," Dagonet answered, pulling her up and placing her back in the bed.

"And you have been taking care of me?"

"Yes, but I have had lots of help. There are more knights. And Arthur, our commander, has been coming to see how you and your sister fare."

Dagonet was turning to leave, but Carina stopped him. "Tristan? Has he come to visit?" she asked cautiously.

The large knight smiled. "Yes, he has visited many times. Now rest." And he walked out of the room without another word.

Carina slept soundly the rest of the day and into the night. She woke again in the darkness of night, a single flickering candle on the bedside table was all to light the room. A man was sitting in a chair pulled up next to her bed; his feet kicked up on one of the wooden posts.

She raised up cautiously, and he glanced over at her.

"Dagonet said you might wake up tonight. You have been sleeping for quite some time." It was hard to see his face in the darkness, but she knew who it was: Tristan.

"Here, eat." He picked up a bowl of soup from the floor and handed it to her. It was a little cold but she ate it hungrily.

After slurping up the soup, Carina glanced up at Tristan. He was watching her, an unreadable expression on his face.

"I don't think I ever thanked you…for saving us," she said softly.

Tristan shook his head. "No thanks required."

"Yes, it is. We would have died out there in the forest if you had not come along. Arabela!" Carina gasped. "How is she doing?"

"She is doing fine. She sleeps in the next room."

"May I go see her?"

Tristan shrugged. "If should be okay if Dagonet doesn't have a problem with it."

Carina smiled slightly and began to get up carefully, remembering her last attempt to stand. She was happy to find her legs more stable. Tristan took a step towards her, regarding her carefully. She moved slowly to the door.

"Which room is she in?" Carina asked.

"Just to your left," Tristan answered, following closely to help her if she stumbled.

Carina ran her hand along the chilly stone wall, her bare feet cold on the floor. She was in her undergarments, no less, but it was too late to care now. Her hand found the warmth of a wooden door, then found the knob. She turned it carefully, opening the door.

Inside, a fire raged in the fireplace. Dagonet was sitting next to the bed, his eyes staring at them as they entered, a small smile creasing his face. He nodded his head slightly towards the bed, where a small figure lay. Carina breathed a sigh of relief, walking as quickly as she could over to her sister.

Arabela was sleeping soundly. Her pale skin looked slightly flushed, but the shivers were gone and her forehead was not nearly as hot. Carina knelt by the bed, silent tears falling.

"We did it," she whispered. "We made it."

The young girl stirred but did not wake. Carina grasped her sister's hand, so happy she was okay. She looked up at the two knights. "May I stay with her?"

Dagonet frowned. "I'm not sure if it's a good idea. Your sister is still sick and you are still weak. If you contracted the illness also, it could be the death of you."

Carina sighed, looking back at her sister. She looked so peaceful, almost angelic.

"We will take good care of her," Dagonet said softly.

"I know you will," the older sister replied. "You have already done more for us when are mere strangers. Thank you for your kindness."

She stood up wearily, using the bed as a support to lift herself. Tristan took her arm and guided her back to her room, where she collapsed back on the bed, falling asleep once more.

Tristan watched her sleep, so many questions milling through his head. Did she have family? Did she have a home? Why had she ridden here? He sighed heavily, knowing there was no way to get any answers until she woke again, and he must let her sleep. She was still so weak. He propped his feet back up on the bedpost, leaning his head back but not falling asleep, allowing his mind to wander.

"Who is she?"

It was morning and the knights had gathered for breakfast. There were nine of them sitting around the round table: Arthur, Lancelot, Bors, Dagonet, Tristan, Galahad, Gawain, Kay, and Geraint. Arthur, who had asked the question, waited expectantly for Dagonet to answer.

"I do not know her name," the large knight replied, shaking his head.

"Carina," Tristan spoke up. "And her sister's name is Arabela."

"Where do they come from?" Arthur asked.

Both knights shook their heads. "The older girl has only been awake for a few minutes, and the younger one has slept constantly," Dagonet answered.

Arthur sighed. He had looked in on the girls a few times, seeing if there was anything he could do. He wished he knew more about them and their plight.

"Well," he began, "should either of them wake again, try to get some answers."

Carina was roused later in the morning. Nobody was in her room, but one of the curtains had been thrown back to let some light enter. She squinted her eyes until she got used to the brightness.

She rolled out of bed and planted her feet firmly on the floor, standing up. Her legs felt good, strong. She walked steadily over to the window, looking out. Below her lay a small village. People were moving to and fro, going about daily business. Children played in the streets. Their laughter filled the air.

Carina stretched her arms, yawning slightly. She watched them with wonderment for a few minutes. Did she used to laugh and play like that? The past few days had made her feel so much older than her sixteen years.

She shook her head, not wanting the memories to flood back quite yet. She just wanted to revel in the fact that she and her sister were safe for a little while.

Carina found her dress thrown over the back of a chair. It had obviously been washed as the mud stains were gone. After putting it on quickly, she walked next door to visit her sister.

Arabela was still sleeping, but her skin was cool. The fever had finally broken. Carina sat in the chair that was still pulled up to the bed. She was sure Dagonet had stayed with the young girl all night. She took her sister's small hand in her own, patting it gently.

Dagonet entered just then, bringing in a bowl of fresh water. He smiled when he saw Carina.

"Her fever broke early this morning," he said, setting the bowl down on a nearby table.

"That's very good," Carina replied, smiling widely for the first time in almost a week.

Arabela groaned and rolled over, her eyes fluttering open. "Carina?" she asked weakly.

Tears flowed down the older sister's cheeks. "Yes, babe, I'm here."

"Where are we?"

"We are at Hadrian's Wall."

Arabela sat up slowly. "Where's father?"

Carina looked away, biting her lip. She had forgotten about the lie she had told her sister. She could put off the truth no longer. Dagonet, seeing her pained expression, left the room knowingly.

"Arabela, father is not here. He will not be here," Carina began.

"But you said he was going to meet us at Hadrian's Wall. Where is he?" Arabela interjected, her voice rising.

"Shhh," Carina hushed her, pulling their clasped hands tighter into her body. She did not know how else to tell her. "Father is dead. He was killed by the Saxons."

Arabela's eyes welled up, confusion crossing her face. "But…but you said he would meet us here."

"I know, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Carina looked down, unable to control the sobs that were now escaping from her throat. She reached for her younger sister, but Arabela moved away from her touch, sliding to the other side of the bed.

"Arabela…" Carina said softly.

"You lied to me."

"I didn't do it to hurt you," the older sister replied. "I did it to protect you."

"You lied to me!"

Carina cringed at her sister's loud shriek. "I'm sorry." She kept her voice soft, calming, trying to soothe her sister. "What else do you want me to say?"

Arabela laid her head back down on the pillows, turning her backto Carina. "Leave me."

Carina, pained tears sliding down her face, unwillingly obeyed. She went back to her room and laid down on the bed, sobbing.