Caeli's POV
(Right after Dwyn told her to go wait by the wall)
I nodded and headed toward the wall that surrounded Marius' estate. I was planning to wait on Dwyn, I wanted to know how Arthur knew about her being a queen. Tristan still sat on his horse, waiting for Arthur to return I supposed. I leaned against the wall with my arms crossed, watching Dwyn and Arthur with interest.
Movement to my right turned my gaze again to Tristan. He was riding toward me at a calm pace. I couldn't help but smile weakly at him as he dismounted, then nodded to me.
"You are back on your feet quickly." He said, smiling lightly, his dark brown eyes seemed to have a gleam in them.
I nodded. "I've always been a quick healer."
There was an awkward silence between us for a few long moments. I now understood what Dwyn was going through.
"This may seem an odd question…" I finally managed to say. "But where are we going?" I waved a hand at the caravan line.
"Hadrian's Wall." Tristan replied simply.
"Oh…" I said, feeling like a fool.
Another uneasy silence passed as Dwyn made her way toward us.
"I did not get your name…" He said, more of a statement than anything.
"Nor I yours."
"Tristan."
"Caeli."
He nodded goodbye to me, then easily climbed back into his saddle and rod off toward the other knights. I watched him go, amazed that I felt sadness at his leaving.
'Caeli, get a hold on yourself.' I told myself, yet my heart still leapt as he turned and looked back at me, then quickly looked away.
Tristan's POV
I quickly nodded goodbye to Caeli, feeling like I'd made a fool of myself, then mounted my horse and rod toward the other knights.
'She must think I'm a fool…or worse, like Lancelot.' I thought.
I then did the last thing I would normally have done, I turned back and looked at Caeli to see her bright violet eyes looking back at me. I quickly turned around, feeling heat rising to my cheeks.
'Damnit, now she knows I am a fool…'
Caeli's POV
I turned my gaze to Dwyn, who was standing beside me, trying to hold back a laugh.
I realized I was blushing a deep red.
"How did Arthur know you were a queen?"
Dwyn now blushed lightly. "He forced Marius to tell him…"
"Oh…" I said. "Shall we retrieve our things now?"
"Yes." She replied, and led the way through the gate.
Once I was inside the room I'd been staying in before we were thrown into the pit, I first kicked off my shoes. They were ruined and had been hurting my feet for quite some time now. Then, I went to the washing basin on the corner table and washed the layers of dirt off my face, hands, and lower legs. When I looked in the mirror, I couldn't help but smile, not only did I feel more like myself, but I looked more like myself too. I then looked to the corner by the door and saw my weapons in the exact place I'd left them.
Now that I was clean and knew my weapons were still here, I went to eh wardrobe and pulled out my teal tunic, black pants, and black boots. After I had changed out of that ridiculous dress, I put two sets of clothes (tunics and leggings obviously) into one of my saddlebags. Then, I pulled my hair back, thankful to have it out of my way at last.
I crossed the room to where my weapons sat and first placed my sword belt around my waist, the weight of AbDollins felt natural and I realized just how much difference it made to have it back at my side. I then stuck my dagger in my right boot, always a useful place to keep a blade. Last, I lifted my quiver onto my left shoulder and picked up my bow.
Exiting the room, I felt happy to finally be leaving this place. I entered Dwyn's room to wait for her to finish packing too.