Much love to all who read (although more love to those who review)! You guys make me want to write more and more; keep being amazing people.

Ch. 12

Rose never felt more panic in her entire life. She could literally feel her entire world crashing before her as she stood outside the stable. Tristan, the only man she actually thought was interesting, not to mention handsome, was probably dead. It broke her like nothing before. She felt faint but Dagonet noticed and quickly supported her before she totally lost it.

The other Roman, who had been with Harol only minutes before his decapitation, scattered off; no doubt to tell the other Romans in her town about what had just happened. However, Dagonet took no notice of that and neither did Rose. Her mind was already racing through the possibilities of what likely happened to Tristan. Was he still alive? What did the Roman do to him? Was he alone in the woods, bleeding and suffering with no one to help? Or, even worse, what if the Saxons stumbled upon him? Rose was determined to think of every logical situation that Tristan was in except for the worst one; his death.

"Quick…" Rose's tongue felt abnormally large and sluggish, "...Arthur..." she said trying to snatch Dagonet's attention which seemed fixated on absolutely nothing.

Dagonet seemed to jerk awake and looked at her. He nodded, speaking without words, and together they sprinted back to the inn.

They reached the inn's door in seconds and Dagonet broke it down, which brought Arthur's and Reya's attention immediately onto them; along with the inn keeper's, who was not happy with the destruction that Dagonet had just caused.

"Tristan!" Rose shouted as if he was in the room. "The Romans…they drugged him!"

"What?" Arthur stood up rapidly; Reya tried to stand also, but did not succeed.

"Where is he? Did the Romans say? Is he dead? What did they do to him?" Arthur's questions flooded the room angrily.

Rose shifted, not wanting to talk about what as going on anymore, and looked around the inn anxiously. Where were the other knights?

"One of the Romans took him out to the woods after he drugged Tristan. It lies three miles east of this town." Dagonet answered.

Arthur nodded and latched his sword on to his side. "We're leaving. Now." Dagonet made a move to get their stuff that laid upstairs but Arthur stopped him. "Forget it! Go find the other knights! Meet us in the forest! Hurry!"

Dagonet dashed out the entrance leaving Rose and Reya with Arthur. Arthur turned to Rose. "You're coming with me." He said and started to walk away but then looked back at Reya who had finally made it to her feet while they were discussing. Arthur paused and Reya gave him a small smile. "I'll watch your stuff." She said deciding his plan for her herself. Arthur muttered thanks and he and Rose ran off towards the stable.

Running made Rose feel better; like she was doing something useful. But the sprint didn't last long enough to clear her mind. They reached the stable quickly but Rose was thankful that the other Roman wasn't back yet; or anyone else for that matter.

Arthur yanked the door open and a musty horse-ish smell came floating out. Rose remembered back before the knights came; she would have found this smell comforting and relaxing.

But now was not a time to relax. Rose grabbed the first horse that was closest to the door and snapped a bridle on in record time. She led the horse out of its stall and watched as Arthur latched on a saddle to his own horse. He seemed to notice Rose wasn't fastening anything and he looked up surprised. "Bareback?" he asked while finished up with the girth.

"It's faster." Rose guided her horse out of the stable and mounted up. Arthur was not far behind her.

He looked at her expectantly, once he had exited the stable safely with his horse, and she piloted her horse to the east and pushed it into a gallop.

The wind whipped lightly through her light brown hair and if she wasn't riding in such a dire emergency, she would have enjoyed it. The horses' hooves made a steady rhythm; it was so constant and balanced, you could have banged your head to it (Head Bangers Ball, anyone? Okay, sorry). She tried to be as calm as Arthur who looked worried but still in charge as he sat galloping beside her.

Rose struggled under the circumstances but took a deep breath evenly and waited. It would be awhile before she and Arthur would reach the forest. And then god knows how long until they find Tristan; dead or alive.