So, I'm very sorry to all of you who were reading this story. It's been way too long since I updated! But here it is, Chapter 9. I hope all of you who were reading are not too mad at me and will continue to read. And maybe there are some newcomers out there who will become interested, also! Some of you continued to comment, which was great, because it encouraged me to get back to writing, so thank you to those of you who did. Anyways, enjoy! And please review!

Chapter 9: Love

The sun was coming through the windows much too brightly. Carina groaned and rolled over. She reached over for Tristan but found the other half of the bed empty. She got up slowly to see him kneeling next to the fire, poking at it with a metal stick.

"Good morning," she said softly, a smile creeping across her face.

Tristan turned to find her awake. "Good morning." He returned her smile.

She is most beautiful in the morning, he thought, his eyes looking over her appearance. Her eyes were still half-closed with sleep. Her hair was ruffled and had fallen from its usual bun at the back of her head. It hung in brown waves past her shoulders. The dress she had been wearing yesterday was now rumpled and wrinkled, and she was attempting to straighten it. She glanced up at Tristan, noticing him staring at her. Her face began to turn red.

"What?" Carina asked.

"Nothing," Tristan laughed. He got up and walked over to the bed, leaning over it and kissing her gently on the lips. "Did you sleep well?" he asked as he pulled away and sat on the bed next to her.

"Yes, very well," Carina answered, a smile playing across her face.

There was a knock at the door. "Tristan, breakfast," Jols called, opening the door slightly. He blushed and bowed his head when he saw Carina. "Oh, I'm sorry, milady."

Carina laughed. "It's alright, Jols. We'll be at breakfast in a few minutes."

Tristan began to laugh as Jols hurriedly shut the door. He turned and looked at Carina. "Rumors will fly."

She merely laughed, swinging her legs to the floor and making herself presentable for breakfast.

The other knights were already gathered when Carina and Tristan arrived. They received some bemused glances, but otherwise breakfast was a somber affair. The deaths of two comrades were still heavy on their hearts. Gawain and Bors looked like they had spent most of the night drinking.

Carina did her normal activities of the following days, helping with the children, making sure all were fed and clothed properly, but she did it with a renewed joy in her heart. Tristan had returned; he still wanted to be with her. She wasn't sure if he loved her, but at least she was certain he wanted her more than just to take her to his bed. He would have left her alone a long time ago should that be the case.

She hummed quietly as she helped with some of the other tasks as well, such as laundry for the knights and cooking and cleaning. Even Arabela joined in with some of the chores. All were happy to have the knights home, and though Kay and Geraint would never be forgotten, they wanted to make the surviving knights return as joyous as possible.

Once again the weeks were passing quickly. The snow melted, the weather began to warm. Spring was rushing towards them. Carina's days were spent at Bors' and Vanora's house, and her evenings were spent with Tristan when he was there. Sometimes he would go to scout and not return until long after darkness had fallen. She would sit up those long nights waiting for him, her concern not allowing her to sleep. He would always return to her, though, kissing her, letting her know he was safe before retiring to his bed.

"You love him, don't you?" Arabela asked. She was sitting in a chair, carefully stitching together a new shirt for Vanora's eldest son, now a strapping boy of ten. Arabela was still growing in beauty as well, now nine years old, as she was born in the spring. Vanora had taught the Arabela to sew, and since she loved it so much, it was now her job to sew new clothes for the growing children.

Carina smiled at her younger sister. What a heartbreaker she will be someday, she thought.

"Yes, Arabela, I love him," she answered, looking back to the baby she was feeding, number Ten.

"And he loves you?" Her brown eyes were curious, searching.

"I suppose he does," Carina replied, her heart stinging. Tristan had never actually told her how he felt about her. He showed it with his actions, and she could feel it with the way he would hold her and kiss her. But he had never said it.

"You don't know if he loves you?" Arabela asked.

"He's never actually said anything about it," Carina answered truthfully, carrying on her father's tradition of no secrets.

"Maybe you should ask him."

"Ask him?" the older sister laughed. "And I wonder how he would react to that?"

Arabela shrugged. "You'll never know until you try." She turned back to her sewing, lost once again in concentration. Carina stared at her sister, her mouth hanging open with the truth of younger girl's words still ringing in her ears.

As Carina left the house and walked through the village, she couldn't help but marvel at the beauty spring brought with it. The sun was low and was shooting out rays of purple and deep red across the sky. The air was crisp and cool. Green was returning to the brown fields and forest. Carina happily hummed a song her mother had taught her many years ago. As she crossed into the fort, however, she remembered Arabela's simple statement. Should she ask him? But what if he did not love her?

Even if she did ask him, what would he think of her? What would he think she expected of him? Marriage? Carina frowned. Marriage was something she wanted deeply. Ever since she was little she had imagined the man she would marry, and although she had never pictured anyone like Tristan, she now knew he was the only man she would ever love. So why not marriage?

Tristan will not want to get married. He is a scout; he spends his time alone. Why would he want to commit his life to another person? Carina scolded herself silently.

She had reached her room and closed the door behind her, frustrated. She threw herself on the bed and closed her eyes, willing her churning thoughts to disappear. However, they only came faster. Carina groaned and sat up to see Tristan peeking his head in at her.

"Are you alright?" he asked with an amused expression on his face.

"No," Carina answered with a sigh. Tristan frowned and walked up to her, sitting next to her on the bed.

"What is it?" he asked expectantly.

She drew in a long breath, trying to decide what to do. Finally, she mustered her courage and turned to him, looking him straight in the eyes. "Do you love me?"

He returned her gaze, his eyes showing no signs of wavering. He was silent for a few minutes before standing up slowly. "Follow me."

Carina nervously stood up and followed him out the door. They walked to the stables where he saddled his horse.

"Where are we going?" she asked. He had not spoken a word since they had been in her bedroom.

"You'll see," was his simple reply.

Tristan helped her onto the horse then climbed up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and grabbing the reins. He steered the horse out of the stables, through the village, and finally out the south gate. Once they were in the open fields, they turned to the east and he pushed his heels into the horse, making it go faster. She had never been east before, and her interest was only heightened. Soon they were racing towards the tree line.

He slowed the pace when they entered the forest but they were still moving relatively quickly. Carina asked no more questions despite the curiosity leaping through her.

After riding several hours through the forest, they finally came to a clearing. Just beyond the clearing was a steep cliff which fell hundreds of feet to a beach. The moon was rising in front of them, shining on a glassy ocean. They had reached the coast, the end of Britain where it faded underneath icy waters.

Carina breathed in sharply, taking in the beauty. "How did you find this place?" she asked softly.

"I found it when we first arrived over thirteen years ago. I was exploring and went too far, as wasn't unusual," Tristan stopped to chuckle. "It was nighttime, just like it is now, when I first discovered it. It gave me a sense of peace after being torn from my family and all I had ever known."

Carina turned in her seat and smiled tenderly at him. This was the most he had spoken of home since the day out in the forest when she had asked him about it. Tristan returned her smile briefly before climbing off the horse. He reached up and placed his hands underneath her arms, helping her down. Tristan took her hands in his and walked with her to the edge of the cliff.

"It's beautiful," Carina said, her eyes scanning the beach below, the light of the moon cascading on them, the smooth, still waters.

"Marry me."

Carina faced Tristan, his words shocking her. "What?"

"I love you, Carina…very much. Please will you marry me?"

Tristan's voice was low, but she could make out the tremble that crept into it. Carina searched his eyes and found the love she had questioned him about, the love she was hoping to find in him. Her heart leapt for joy. There was also something else in his eyes…fear. He was scared of the same rejection she had been scared of.

Carina smiled broadly, the love and happiness glowing from her face. "Of course," she said softly.

Tristan grinned, a look of relief passing across his face. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her off the ground and spinning her around. Carina threw her head back and laughed, their happiness filling the night.