Sorry about the delay guys, unfortunately internet is not as stable in the country as I had hoped! Well it's back now! Also, if anyone has any questions or ideas they would like me to consider, or even just some general advice I would be very happy to hear it! Just review!

Enjoy!

Mary looked over to where Meadhbh was standing, defiantly refusing to get up onto Tristan's horse. She, on the other hand, was happily snuggled against Dag, with his Iron arm wrapped securely around her waist. She sighed in bliss before turning around to the man of her dreams, "Sir Dagonet, I think I should go help Tristan slap some sense into my ridiculous sister!" smiling up at him, she noticed that he seemed less than inclined to let her go now that she was seated in front of him. She smiled again. "It will take two minutes, for I have more than enough experience with petulant children!" nodding in agreement, Dagonet moved his horse to where Tristan and Meadhbh stood staring each other down. Mary, with the help of Dagonet, slithered to the ground.

"Now now Meadhbh, what is going on?" She approached her sister carefully and laid a hand on her arm. Her twin stiffened, but did not move from her spot. "Look I will be riding with Dag, why cant you just spend a couple of hours on Tristan's saddle?" Meadhbh finally turned and looked into Mary's eyes, with haunted fear. "I can't, because…. I'm terrified of horses.." Mary's eyes widened with her sister's raw confession. "But I don't understand" Mary began, "I've seen you near horses. I must have seen you riding one?!" .Meadhbh looked away then and instead of her usual bravado, she stared at her scuffed boots. "I always rode in the cart… Father never forced me to ride, even though it probably would have benefited everyone if I had just gotten over my silly childish fears…I'm sorry, but you can leave me behind and I can walk the rest. I made it this far, I can make the rest alone." Her voice was barely a whisper and Mary was struck dumb, unable to comfort her in any way.

After a moment of shocked silence, a hand took Meadhbh's and led her slowly to the horse. She looked down expecting her sister's dainty hand to be encased in her own ragged one. What she saw though, made her heard give a few extra thumps. A mighty warrior's hand, had hers wrapped firmly inside of his. Her hand practically disappeared into the warm depths of the tanned skin and she looked up at the owner. Tristan was leading her very slowly to his horse. He was walking backwards never taking his eyes off her face. She began to protest, but he just rubbed a thumb over the back of her hand, looking at her with imploring eyes. Meadhbh swallowed. And allowed herself to be led towards this frightening creature. For some reason she trusted Tristan not to be malicious, she felt a bigger connection with this practical stranger than she did with her own twin sister.

After fifteen minutes of Tristan silently persuading Meadhbh to give the horse a chance, Mary found herself once again in Dag's arms, while her sister found herself in Tristan's. But where Mary was taking this opportunity to be as close to this man as she could, Meadhbh was hanging on for dear life, her knuckles white as her hands held onto Tristan's forearm and the pommel. She seemed to be taking it well, mused Mary. Now if she would only open her eyes, she would be able to overcome her fear. Although, when the blacksmith's son, tried to cure her fear of spiders… Mary shuddered. Maybe Meadhbh needed a little more time. She twisted in her seat looking away from the two that lagged behind and leaned a little closer to Dag's chest. "This should be killing Tristan… going this slow… but he seems to be taking it better than I ever could have imagined." Dag's innocent observation made Mary smile. Of course Tristan didn't mind. Her smile grew calculating. Oh yes. Forming plans in her mind she turned to look up at Dag. "They won't know what hit them!"

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Meadhbh was extremely proud of herself. So far she had managed to get up on the horse and not only was she in Tristan's arms, but they were currently cantering across an open portion of land. Dag had come alongside at one stage and said that once they had reached the top of the hill, they would be able to see the wall. But this meant that the horses had to ride upwards and as the horse went up, Meadhbh went back. Harder in to Tristan's chest. She swallowed. This whole journey had been one big pit of roiling emotions. She was practically sitting on his lap and every time their hips moved with the horse's movements, they would grind against each other. She began to feel a liquid heat building low in her belly and she knew that once she got off this horse, she would have lost the use of her legs. She turned to look up at Tristan, hoping maybe he was feeling all this too, but he refused to meet her eyes. He stared straight ahead with a look of pure anger on his face. Since then she had been trying hard to avoid touching him, and with her pride battered this much in one day, she spent the rest of the trip up the hill trying to hold back the tears that for the second time in her life, tried to come forth in a single day.

They reached the top of the hill and what greeted them made the twins gasp in awe. They had finally reached their destination. This is where their father had ordered them to flee to if he should die. Two hours later, the twins watched as their father fell to Saxon swords. Mary was visibly trying to hold on to her composure, and Meadhbh could feel an unbelievable weight lifting off her shoulders. She sagged back against Tristan's chest, for once happy that someone so strong was holding her in a way that was alien to her own father. His arm tightened around her waist and she gripped his wrist as it curled around her ribcage, squeezing it in a silent thanks. Closing her eyes at the feeling of being free, she turned her face towards the sun. For the first time in many years, Meadhbh smiled a full, happy smile.

They stopped at the top of the hill to distribute the food to the riders. It would take another few hours to reach the wall, so Mary had put her foot down ordering about the beginning of her picnic. Tristan had growled like an unruly bear and glared at Dag on his horse. Finally, Dag came up with the idea to have a moving picnic. With many grumblings and a great show of obvious disappointment, Mary finally acquiesced and began to separate the portions to give out. Meadhbh reached out and grabbed both meals for her and Tristan as he seemed disinclined to let go of her or the horse. Meadhbh began to wonder if he would want her to feed him too. She shuddered with promise. Maybe she could force him to eat from her fingers. Meadhbh shook her head. Where had that thought come from?

Tristan had, at this point, nearly expired from the efforts preventing himself from turning his horse, galloping into the woods then laying Meadhbh down and… he inwardly shook himself out of his own musings. Maybe this is why his brothers talked so much. Did they always have a need to distract them from their baser urges. He looked down at the source of his troubles. Every time she moved that elusive scent that he just could not name would flow up into his nostrils from her fragrant hair. She was really a beauty. Someone real who had seen the world. The evil side at least. As the horse stumbled over a loose rock, Tristan's hips were thrust once again into Meadhbh's rather tempting buttocks. He clenched his jaw as he felt all the blood rush to his now already towering erection. He looked down at her with lowered lids and tilted his head in thought. Maybe I could make her feed me the food from those tempting fingers. Then when she was done he could get her to use her fingers on a far bigger problem than his hunger. Eyes widening, he choked on his own breath. What was becoming of him? He could not risk thinking this way while he was a scout. Frowning he decided that when he got back to the wall, he would distance himself from her for the rest of her stay. Looking down at his very obvious problem, he twisted his lips wryly. Maybe he would visit one of the tavern wenches tonight to rid him of his new constant companion.

Taking a deep breath, he felt Meadhbh shift in response. He leaned forward ever so slightly, and watched how she ate. The way her jaw moved and her throat worked as she chewed and swallowed. Her mouth was unbelievably tempting. Imagine what could be done with those lips open and… he mentally shook himself again. No, he would not be able to be around her for much longer. He had a rule against virgins. He was a rough man, who often lost control in the throes of sex, and he would not risk hurting this small person. Well, she must be a virgin, for she had no idea what the hardness digging into her behind was. Or at least she made no obvious show of it. Ok, he would admit to himself that those gasps and small whimpers were not the kind one made when afraid. Everytime he ground against her, she would gasp or make some other delightful noise that made Tristan want to explode. He pulsed in response to his thoughts. Time to change his musings. Looking around, he found himself becoming more and more aware of his hunger. Looking at the small bundle in Meadhbh's hands he tried to think of the best way to get the food. With a sly grin Tristan decided that a wolf was allowed to play once in a while. He leant forwards so his chin almost rested on her shoulder.

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Meadhbh stiffened as she felt Tristan's beard graze the side of her neck, as he leant forward. His right hand that held the reins of the horse, pushed them into her own. Hand free of the ropes, he brought his hand to her lap where the food was resting and began fishing through the fabric, for his lunch. He picked out a large chunk of bread and holding against her left hand, she took hold of it so that he could tear off a sizeable chunk to put in his mouth. Meadhbh found herself extremely aware of Tristan. From the fact that he gave her the reins instead of taking his arm from her waist, the way he ate and the delicious way his chest moved as he swallowed. He continued to pick at the selection of rabbit, bread and a piece of cheese that Dag had found in his saddlebag. He ate almost everything, seeming oblivious to the way Meadhbh was sitting in front of him practically melting into his embrace. When all that was left was a few pieces of rabbit meat, he opened the fabric wide displaying it openly as if offering it to someone. Meadhbh hoped it wasn't her because at the way her belly was heating up, she was too afraid to eat more. Her thoughts were interrupted when a loud whistle pierced the air. It had come from Tristan and her ears were still ringing when the whistling stopped. She maintained her death grip on the reins however, praying that Tristan planned to take them back soon. The way this horse chomped at the metal piece in his mouth and pulled at the reins was making Meadhbh nervous.

There was a cry that caused all four of the travellers to turn and look up at the sky. A large bird was seemingly floating towards them gliding at a downward angle. Tristan raised his right arm with a piece of meat held between his forefinger and thumb and Meadhbh watched in complete awe as the bird swooped down and landed neatly onto Tristan's arms. "Meadhbh," his deep voice played with her senses as he addressed her. "I would like you to meet the most intelligent thing in my acquaintance. Intelligent Thing, meet Meadhbh."