Chapter 4: Define Your Meaning of War
Author's Note: I still don't own King Arthur in any capacity. This chapter will focus mainly on Tristan and Galya. It will follow the same events as the books with a few exceptions. Like maybe one of our favorite Knights lives…..just maybe.
Galya's mind ran wild when Tristan kissed her and she felt an unfamiliar heat spreading throughout her body. She could feel the heat spread between her legs and she pressed closer to Tristan. She pulled back and fell against the tree. She pulled Tristan closer, lifting a leg to his waist. Tristan immediately started nipping and kissing her neck. She let out a moan and ran her hands down his chest. Then Tristan pulled back and away from Galya. It wasn't that he didn't want Galya. The gods knew he wanted her badly but they couldn't make love in the woods like animals. He had heard what she said about having never been touched when she was talking to her brothers and he didn't want to take her virtue anywhere other than his bed. He wouldn't treat her like some common whore.
Galya looked down slightly embarrassed about what had come over them. They were on a scouting mission in the woods and they were rubbing up against each other like animals in heat. She stepped away to straighten herself out when Tristan came up behind her. He put his hand on her shoulder, "Look at me."
Galya turned and looked him in the eye. Her eyes told him everything he wanted to know. She knew they had gone too far out here in the woods. She shook her head. She knew Tristan wanted her as much as she wanted him. She inwardly berated herself. She would have let Tristan take her in the forest.
"Tristan, I want you. The gods know I do. I…I wanted to…" She tried to get out before Tristan stopped her.
"I want you as well but not out here. Not like this. I want to make love to you as a free man in my bed. I want to make sure that it is a comfortable for you as possible. I want to make the first time you lie with me perfect." He said. He'd never said anything like that to anyone. He wanted her to be his only. He wanted her to give him children and be his wife. But he knew that if he wanted to marry her she would have to be free and he would have to ask Gawain and Galahad for her hand. He groaned at the thought. Yes, they told him he was allowed to take their sister scouting with him but they would go all overprotective brothers on his ass if they found out that he almost fucked her brains out.
Galya heard Tristan groan and was at his side in a minute, "We don't have to tell them you know."
Tristan snorted. He couldn't believe that she could read his mind like that. She was him. They were meant for each other. He pulled her close to him, "I will if I plan on making you my wife once we are free."
Galya stared forward, "If he actually frees me. I've been his slave for ten years Tristan. I know him well. He plays with everyone's lives. Mine especially. He loves to see me suffer," She said pulling his arms around her and then it hit her, "Wait, Tristan, you want to marry me?"
His only answer was the kiss he laid on the top of head. She curled up into him and they sat enjoying the night together.
The Next Morning
Galya awoke to the sound of someone moving around a few feet away. She could still feel Tristan behind her. She opened her eyes and saw 11 Saxons coming towards them. She jumped up and grabbed her sword and went from tree to tree to get closer to them. When they were close enough to her she stepped and swung upward and killed the first Saxon she came in contact with. Then all of them turned to face her. She stood ready to defeat all of them. Then one fell in front of her. Tristan stood behind him. She smiled wickedly at Tristan and went to work on the Saxons. Soon all the Saxons lay dead on the ground. Galya smiled wickedly at the bodies around her. Tristan scanned the area once and saw that there were no more, "That was foolish. You could've been killed."
"Well I wasn't and we need to go warn the others. We need to move." Galya said.
Tristan just nodded. He was worried about her yes but he was damn proud of her as well. She killed 7 of them single handedly. Then he heard a sound and then a scream. He turned and saw Galya with an arrow sticking of her leg. He ran to her, picked her up, and threw her on his horse. Then he got on behind her and whistled for her horse to follow.
When he got back a question was yelled at him before he could be seen, "Four." He said.
"Not a bad start to the day." Bors said.
"I killed seven." Galya stated as she started to slip off the horse. Tristan grabbed her and held her steady.
"Tristan, I don't feel so good." She whispered.
"That's because you've lost a lot of blood." He said holding her.
"Tristan, what happened?" Gawain said grabbing his sister and pulling her down.
"Saxons. They're close. We need to move." He said moving to help get the camp moving.
He took one last look at Galya who was arguing with her brothers and Dagonet about just letting her rip the arrow out and wrap it until they got back to the wall. Tristan knew she was lucky. The arrow didn't hit the bone so if she could get it out and stitched she would be fine. Then he heard another argument, "Gawain, I'm fine. I can ride and I can fight if I have too. I've fought with worse than this. I can do it. Don't try to stop me." She said breaking the arrow at one end and then pulling both side out. He could hear her scream of pain. Next thing he knew she was getting her leg wrapped and then she was on her horse. She still looked like she was going to fall off but if she said she was going to help none of them would be able to stop her.
Tristan had gone ahead on Arthur's orders but ordered Galya to stay with the group. She didn't argue because as she opened her mouth to say something she slipped off the horse. Gawain and Galahad picked her up and put her in one of the carriages with Guinevere, "You make sure she doesn't leave this carriage no matter how much she screams about it." Gawain said looking at her.
A While Later
They came to a frozen river. They could hear the drums closing in on them and they could hear Galya complaining that she felt well enough to ride now. Soon though her wish was coming true because they had to get out of the carriages to cross the ice. She grabbed her horse from Ganis and limped up to be with the Knights. Gawain, Galahad, and Tristan all looked at her with worried expressions, "I'm fine you overprotective lot. I promise."
They started to walk across the lake. Galya stayed very close to Tristan who had one arm around her waist and one hand holding onto his horse. He eyed her very closely to make sure she didn't fall. His eye caught a glimpse of her leg. It seemed that the bandage would need to be replaced when they crossed the river. Then they heard the Saxon drums come closer. They all looked at each other. Arthur looked at them, "Knights?"
"I'm tired of running and these Saxons are so close behind my ass is hurting." Bors said.
"It would be nice to get a look at the bastards." Galahad said looking from Arthur to Galya.
"Here, Now."
Galya looked at Tristan. She would fight beside him and her brothers. There was no question, "I'm in. You'll need an extra bow." She said.
Arthur nodded. Gawain and Galahad couldn't argue with her. They would need her help. Tristan and Galya were helping getting bows and arrows. Arthur was arguing with Ganis and Alecto about why they weren't allowed to fight. Guinevere stayed with them giving them nine bows in all. They all lined up waiting for the Saxons. Galya stood between Tristan and Galahad. She took a deep breath as the Saxons came into view.
She looked at them eyes narrowed. She wanted to kill each of them. She wanted them to die horribly so she could get back to the wall and be with Tristan. She wanted him to touch her, kiss her, to be in her. She shook the thought from her head and concentrated on the Saxons. When she looked up she saw an arrow land on the ice and slide towards them. She smiled. Sarmartians could do better than that. They made bows to shoot long distances. Then she heard Arthur order Tristan and Galahad to fire, "I think they're waiting for an invitation."
"We're too far out of range." Guinevere protested.
"Not for us, my dear." Galya said.
As she said it she watched her little brother and the man she loved release their arrows and watched them land in the chest of several Saxons. Then they were ordered to fire at them and make them cluster. The battle continued until they saw that the ice was not going to break and they had to prepare for combat. Galya fell back and pick up her sword. When she looked over she could see Dagonet fighting within himself to stay where he was. She knew what he was going to do. She could see if as if it had already happened and she wasn't going to let it. When she saw him pick up his ax and head out onto the ice she was already heading after him. She yelled back at them to cover them. Arrows were flying in both directions and she ran as fast as she could on her leg. When she got to where Dagonet was she covered him as he broke the ice. She never liked the ice. She always had a fear that she would fall through and today that fear was coming true.
She felt the cold water like a thousand knives stabbing her. She had a hold of Dagonet who was still very much alive. He'd been shot twice but he would live from those wounds if someone got them out of the water soon. Galya tried to fight to get out of the water. Then she felt someone grab her and pull her out. She gripped tightly to Dag and helped them pull him out as well. As she was lying, frozen on the ice she could see Tristan, Gawain, and Galahad coming over to her. She wanted them to stay where they were. She wanted them to not worry about her. She was fine. She had done the right thing. She saved Dag's life. She made sure he lived to gain his freedom.
Back At the Wall
When they arrived back at the Wall the Bishop was there waiting for them. When he saw that they had brought back his beloved Alecto who at this point was backing away from him with a disgusted like on his face, the Bishop was standing there praising God literally trying to chase him down. Then he turned back to the Knights and Galya and smiled. Galya was being held up by Tristan while Dag was being taken to see a Healer. The Bishop looked them all over once and then was given a box with their papers in it, "Here are your papers with safe conduct throughout the Roman Empire. Here, take them," He said and then turned to Galya and handed her something, "I hereby free you. You are no longer my property and you can go wherever you choose too." He said turning on his heel and leaving.
He wasn't happy about freeing her but he had no way to keep her now. She was going to find some way to escape and go be with her family. So just to avoid the whole thing he just let her go.
Galya smiled. It was the brightest, happiest smile they had ever seen on her face. She didn't know what to do. She had never planned a life after being a slave. Now here she was free, almost engaged and well right now in a lot of pain, "Tristan, healer, now, please."
Tristan looked down at her and then picked her up and took her to see a healer. When he got her there the healer took her and Tristan was told to wait outside. He went outside and found Gawain Galahad, "I would like to talk to you both for a minute."
They both nodded, "Go on." Gawain said.
"I know I haven't known your sister that long but I feel connected to her. I love her. I want to be with her. I wanted to ask you for her hand." Tristan said looking from Gawain to Galahad.
They both blinked. Tristan, the scout, the lone wolf was asking to marry their sister. Gawain then asked Tristan, "Have you spoken to Galya about this?"
He just nodded. What else was he going to say, 'Oh yes I talked to her about it right after I almost made love to her savagely in the dirt.'
"We will speak to her about it before we give you our answer. Our sister has been through a lot and we will not say yes for her to anything she is not comfortable with." Galahad said.
Tristan nodded. He didn't want to see Galya do anything she did not want to do. He wanted her to be happy and she seemed to be very happy with him. He hoped that she would want to be with him.
Soon Galya was limping out of the healer's room. They all looked at her. She shook her head, "I'm fine. I just need a drink." She said, laughing at the looks that she was getting.
"Galya can we speak to you for a few minutes and then we'll go get that drink?" Gawain asked.
"I guess we can do that," she said, "We'll go to my room." She started to walk off and her brothers followed her.
When they got to her room she sat down on the bed and looked at her brothers, "What is this about?"
"Tristan. He asked for your hand not ten minutes ago. We were wondering what you thought about this?" Gawain said getting straight to the point.
Galya looked him right in the eye and whispered, "I love him. I know that sounds crazy but I do. I love him. I want to marry him. I want to give him children. I want to be his wife. He and I are the same. So yes, I want to marry him."
"Alright. That was all we needed to know. We'll go give him our blessing." Gawain said as he and Galahad walked out the door and waited for her.
She walked with them to the tavern and went over and sat by Tristan. She leaned over and whispered in his ear, "They said yes."
For the first time in a very long time the Knights saw Tristan actually smile. Then Gawain and Galahad quieted everyone down to tell them the news, "My sister has agreed to marry Tristan. We give them our blessings. May they be happy."
Everyone was happy for them. Tristan pulled Galya into his lap and kissed her. Her body responded immediately and pushed him away. He knew that she would want him later. Unfortunately later was when things were going to be bad.
Later
Arthur was called to the Wall and behind him walked Guinevere. Galya scoffed. Guin was still straightening her dress as she walked up the Wall. But she was happy that Arthur had found comfort in someone even if he didn't know at the moment that he loved her. Galya was wrapped tightly in Tristan's arms; her brothers were looking over the Wall at the lights that spotted the land. The Saxons had arrived. Galya watched as Arthur looked out over the army. Then he turned to them, "Knights my journey with you must end here."
Galya held even more tightly to Tristan as he pulled her away from the scene back to his room. She looked up at him and saw the need for her in his eyes. She needed him too. She needed him to be with her to make everything alright. She needed to feel him. Right now they needed this and nothing was going to stop it.
Tristan grabbed Galya and held her close to him and he bent down and kissed her passionately. All the emotion he'd been feeling was filling that kiss. She returned the kiss wrapping her arms around him. Then they broke the kiss with a need to explore each other's bodies. Tristan started undoing the ties on her dress. He looked down at the skin that was exposed hungrily and shoved the dress off. He stared at her body. She was beautiful. Part of his mind though was angry at how scarred and battered her body had become under the service of the Bishop. He pushed it from his mind and started to kiss down her neck to her chest. He took one hand and gently massaging her breast as he took her other nipple into his mouth, sucking on it. Galya moaned. She had never experienced this much pleasure at the hand of a man before. Then he switched and gave the same attention to the other nipple. Her hands started pulling at his clothes trying to get them off. She wanted to feel his skin against hers. She wanted them to be one. Tristan pulled back and grinned as he helped her pull his shirt off. Galya's eyes scanned his chest. She looked over every scar. She then put her hand to his chest and ran her hand down it, tracing the scars. Then she leaned in and kissed down his chest. Tristan watched her kiss every scar. Tristan couldn't wait anymore. His desire overtook him and he carried Galya to the bed. He laid her down and quickly removed his pants. Galya's breathe hitched when she saw how big he was and she starred into his eyes. She was a little afraid. She knew her first time would hurt. People told her it would. But as soon as she saw the look in Tristan's eye she relaxed. He wasn't going to go fast and he wouldn't do anything until she was ready. He leaned down and kissed her running one of his hands up her thigh to her core. He gently pushed one finger into her. She broke the kiss and moaned. It was a moan of pleasure and pain. Her body was not used to this but she wanted Tristan to continue. He then made his way down her body. He looked up at her and then put his head between her legs and licked her folds. She bit her lip trying not to moan. He started to play with her clit and she arched her back and tangled one of her hands in his hair, "Tristan….I want more."
He looked up and smiled, "Are you sure?"
"Yes. Yes, Tristan, I'm sure. Please." She begged.
He positioned himself between her legs and very slowly pushed into her. He knew when he had reached her barrier because her whole body had gone tense, "Baby, relax. It will hurt less."
Galya tried to relax and when she finally did he pushed the rest of the way in. Tears flowed from Galya's eyes and Tristan leaned down to kiss them away, "I won't move until you tell me too."
She nodded and Tristan moved slowly out of her and waited. Galya was beginning to wonder if there was really pleasure on the other side of this pain. But she trusted Tristan with her whole being. Tristan slowly entered her again and got the response he was looking for. Galya relaxed and let out a quiet moan. After many more slow thrusts Galya said, "Tristan, don't hold back."
That was all Tristan was all too happy to accommodate her request. Soon he was pounding into her and she met him at every thrust. She was sure her screams of pleasure could be heard around the whole Fort and she didn't care. The things Tristan was doing to her body were amazing.
She could feel the ripples of pleasure through her body. She lost all sense of control as she screamed out her climax. It sent Tristan over the edge and he shot his seed into her and collapsed, catching himself not to crush her. He gently pulled out and rolled over pulling her so her head was on his chest, "Did I hurt you too badly?"
"No. I'll be fine in the morning. You did nothing more then give me the greatest night of my life. You gave me life again. You made it alright for me to feel." She said listening to his heart beat.
"You have done the same for me, "he said looking down at her, "Get some sleep. We ride out in the morning."
She closed her eyes. She was the happiest she had ever been and nothing was going to change that. Tonight Tristan had made her whole. Soon he would complete her life. They would raise their children in the land of their ancestors and live out their days in peace. Or so she thought.