Aria walked around the vast Roman estate. One moment Tristan had been right before her his hand on her cheek a longing look in his eyes. It had happened so fast and it was so unexpected she had been caught off guard. Before she could say anything other than his name the next moment he was gone, in the blink of an eye he had stormed off. She stopped outside the rose gardens and looked around before spotting a familiar figure at the back of the property near a lake. She took a deep breath, and mustered all the bravery she possessed before letting her feet take her the short distance to Tristan.
Tristan's jaw clenched as he stared out at the water. He couldn't believe he had pulled what he had just pulled. He couldn't believe his lips had almost taken Arias as their own. He wasn't even sure why he did it. Other than seeing Lancelot so close to Aria had driven him into a frenzy, and even then he wasn't sure why he been driven into a frenzy.
Aria was his closest friend after all. In fact she was his only friend. In truth she was more than a friend. She was a confidant someone who he could thoroughly rely on. Still he had felt his feelings for her change as of recently. He wanted to be near her always. Touch her always. To the point he looked forward to minor wounds she sustained so he could tend to them and lay his hands on her smooth skin. He shook his head quickly.
"No…" He said softly before he felt a presence. He slowly turned to see Aria who stood under the moon her blonde hair being tossed by a cool winters breeze.
"We have to stop meeting this way…" She said softly as she walked to him. "You know… By a lake… It seems we're by a lake a lot lately…" she shook her head not sure why she had said something so foolish.
"The water is calming, and we have been having intense discussions as of late…" he said and she smiled softly. Only Tristan could make sense out of her words that barely made sense to herself.
"Are we about to have another one?" She inquired softly.
"I am sorry." He said and she looked off.
"For what?"
"You know for what." Her jaw clenched she wasn't sure why but the thought of him being sorry for what he had nearly done made an ache rise into her chest.
"Can…" She walked closer to him, and Tristan took a deep breath as her calming scent filled his senses. "Can I ask what made you try to k-."
"I don't know." He said cutting her off before she could say the word.
"You must know…" She said. "I'm not angry Trist-."
"You should be angry!" He snapped and she jumped. "What I almost did was wrong, Aria, very wrong."
"I'm not angry." He shook his head.
"Damn it Aria-."
"Why should I be angry?" She asked with a wide eyed look.
"Because of what I almost did."
"Tristan in my life more men then I would like to say have tried to force themselves upon me… Kiss me, with out my permission… I stopped them every time they tried…" She said now standing right before him. "Did it ever occur to you that I never once tried to stop you?" his eyes slowly raised to hers. "Why did you almost do what you did?" She asked softly.
"When I saw Lancelot…" he said his eyes locked on hers. "With his hand on your hip…" Tristan reached forward and his hand on her waist. "And his hand on your cheek…" He said softly as his hand slowly rested on the side of her face. "His lips… So close to yours…" Aria took a small breath as his neared hers. "All I could think was I had to stop him… I had to because he wasn't supposed to have his hand on your hip or his hand on your cheek… I was."
"Tristan…" She said softly.
"You're my oldest friend Aria…"
"I know…"
"You are a female knight…"
"I know…"
"It's forbidden…"
"I know Tristan…" she said softly.
"There are a hundred more reasons I shouldn't but… There's nothing I want more…" He went to kiss her and she moved back slightly. His eyes searched hers.
"I don't want to stop you…" a tear rolled down her cheek and cascaded over the hand that cupped the side of her face. "Tristan if anyone found out…"
"They won't…" he said.
"Have we ever been able to hide anything from the Romans?" she asked softly.
"Yes…" he said feeling the pull to her body more than he ever had before. "We hid the fact you were a woman…"
"No we didn't, they found out eventually and they'll find this out…"
"No…" He said his forehead resting against hers.
"Yes…" She said. "They always find out… This is just a temporary thing…"
"No…" He said and her eyes searched his. "It's been years for me…" he said softly. "Since that day with the Romans whip… Ariadne…" her eyes drifted closed as he spoke her true full name. She took a deep breath as she felt his lips capture hers. Electricity shot between them and in that moment Aria knew there was no going back. If she wasn't his before, she was now.
The passion that flew between them was undeniable. As their mouths moved perfectly together, Tristan couldn't believe it had taken him so long to try such an act before. His arm wrapped around her waist bringing her closer than ever before. Aria slowly pulled away and he instantly missed the contact. She took a deep breath her eyes still closed as he rested his forehead against hers.
"What have we done?" she asked softly with such dread etched on her beautiful face it made Tristan's heart quiver. "What have I done?" he kissed her softly and she slowly backed away from him. "This… It can't happen again…"
"No…" he reached for her hand which she pulled away. "Ariadne…" He said softly as she continued to back up away from him. "Please don't-."
"Thank you though… You really are a great friend." She turned and ran off. He went to go after her but stopped seeing Gawain and Galahad walked by.
"Hey there!" They cheered in a drunken stupor.
"Oi Aria where are you going!?" Gawain called.
"Off to bed I'm tired!" She called.
"Night!" They chimed and she waved at them with a smile.
"Oi Tristan come drink!" They said pulling him away from the lake and this time he obliged finding in that moment that drowning his uncertainty in a goblet of wine was the only option he had.
-o-
Aria walked down the hallway, her mind continuously going to what had just occurred with Tristan. She could have cut off her own hand in that moment, even her whole arm. What had just allowed to happen was a crime. A crime that could put both herself and Tristan to death. She didn't so much care about her life so much as she did about Tristan's. She had wanted nothing more in life then to keep him safe and in one heated moment she had condemned him. She stopped at a door and looked to see it lay cracked open. She peeked in to see Arthur at a desk with a book in hand. She slowly knocked and he looked up before smiling.
"Ah Aria come on in…" She slowly walked in and looked around with a smile.
"Nice room." She said. "Looks like mine, bunks and all." He smiled as she walked over.
"Are you here about Lancelot?" he inquired.
"Lancelot?" he quirked an eyebrow.
"He told me about his innocent kiss gift." She laughed.
"Yeah he's kind of a vain good ball that way." She said and he laughed.
"You're not angry with him anymore or about the near kiss? Or about before?"
"I haven't been angry at him for a while I just like giving him a bit of hell." She said and he smiled. "As for the kiss it was pretty funny…"
"So if you aren't here about the would be kiss why are you here not that I don't welcome the company." He said.
"Well the would be kiss got me thinking." He nodded. "Normally I wouldn't ask but you're the commanding officer and the boss of me so you would know."
"Go on."
"It's just I want to be sure where I stand with my freedoms…" she said quietly as she looked down at her hands. "I understand that I am to remain… Pure, and I am happy to do so." He nodded. "It's just, we live a dangerous life, and none of us can be sure of what tomorrow holds… I can die without ever having consummated a partnership… That's probably one of the good things about being pure I don't know what I'm missing." He smiled at her sensibility. "But…" She slowly looked to him "Arthur I don't know if I can die without ever having loved someone and be loved back…" He slowly nodded. "I hope I don't sound like a true woman when I say that."
"No you sound like a poet." He said and she gave a soft expression. "We can't risk you ever being with child…"
"I know…" she said softly as her head bowed. "I am grateful for what I am allowed." He looked her over to see her soft expression. "So very grateful…"
"If you find someone you love, you love them and be loved back." She slowly looked to him. "You have my blessing… But please I ask you never become with child… The consequences…" he shook his head. "Aria even I could not protect you from them…" She smiled softly.
"Thank you Arthur…" she said before she slowly stood and walked to the door. "Aria?" she slowly turned and looked to him. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight…" She said with a soft expression before walking out.
-o-
Aria rode alongside Arthur. Her discussion with him two nights before had given her a lot to think about. She cared deeply for Tristan, and by the way the kiss had felt with him, he too cared for her. Still she was afraid, what if something happened. What if lines were crossed? What if a child was made? The consequences she could only guess was death. And she wouldn't want that for Tristan. She glanced to her right to see him far off in the flank by Jameson.
He hadn't talked to her since that night, he hadn't even given her an apple. At least not out in the open. He had been sneaking them into her saddle bags for her to find. She wondered if he had decided to not go along with what they had started. She wondered if he was just faking distance as to not rouse suspicion. Then she wondered if he no longer wanted anything to do with her. Little did she know Tristan was thinking the same thing.
"Are you always this quiet?" Jameson asked him and he chose to ignore the twin.
His mind was many miles away. Back at the roman estate. Back at the lake in the back of the property. Back with his arm around Aria's waist and his lips against hers. In all his time walking the earth nothing had ever felt right until that moment. He slowly looked to her to see she was smiling at something Arthur was saying. He hadn't spoken to her since she broke their kiss.
"What have we done?" she asked softly with such dread etched on her beautiful face it made Tristan's heart quiver. "What have I done?" he kissed her softly and she slowly backed away from him. "This… It can't happen again…"
"No…" he reached for her hand which she pulled away. "Ariadne…" He said softly.
"Thank you though… You really are a great friend."
What did she even mean by that? When he looked to Aria he stopped to see she was looking back to him. She held his gaze for a long moment before slowly looking ahead. He had realized that in that moment he had stopped breathing.
"There it is…" Aria said as they came to a stop. "Badon hill, home sweet…" She stopped before shrugging. "Well post." The men smiled even Tristan.
"We shall have the grand feast tonight with the parents of Rosaline the girl you rescued." Arthur said as they headed forward.
"I didn't rescue her I brought back her head…" She said.
"You did something you didn't have to do under the circumstances." Arthur stated.
"You should be commended Aria." Jameson said and she smiled at him.
"You must be looking forward to getting back to the hill, I bet Lucan is up and walking around."
"Yes I can't wait to see him, he'll be sorry he missed such a battle." Jameson said with an excited look. "It was good of you Arthur to let him stay behind for rest."
"It was the least I could do for him, besides I wouldn't have made the journey if we had pushed him so soon." Arthur stated.
"Most commanders would, we're lucky to have you." Aria said and Arthur smiled. They got into town and rode into the fort before hopping off her horse as they did. Teleri was led away as Aria stretched. It would be nice to rest for a few nights she just hope they would get a chance. Lately the orders had been coming one right after another.
"I thought he would come down to see us." Jameson said looking around for his brother.
"He didn't know when we were coming back, I bet he's at your place of rest." She said with a smile as the others allowed their horses to be led away.
"Arthur?" Arthur turned to see the fort physician.
"Marius…" He said with a smile as he walked to him.
"How many days off do you think we'll have this time?" Aria inquired with a smile as she walked to the boys.
"No idea we should live it up tonight after the feast with the parents." Lancelot said. "Watering hole, Aria you're coming?"
"No I don't think so." She said with a smile.
"You never come to the watering holes with us." Gawain said.
"Yeah that's because you boys get all crazy like when you drink and I end up helping you home and cleaning up your vomit so no." She said and they laughed.
"Knights." They turned to look to Arthur. "Round table." With that he walked away.
"So much for festivities." Aria said. "Looks like we have another mission…" In truth she was a little excited to get back on the road. Time down meant time to think of what happened between her and Tristan.
They walked down the stone hallways before getting to their meeting room. Aria took her normal spot beside Tristan as they stood around the table and looked to Arthur whose jaw was set in a firm line. His hands were planted on the table. His jaw clenching as his head bowed and he stared at the floor.
"Arthur?" Aria asked and he slowly looked to her. "What has happened?"
"Something has happened?" Lancelot asked.
"I can see it in his eyes…" She said quietly.
"Knights…" Arthur said. "I have… Failed you." Aria looked him over.
"Failed us?" Bors inquired.
"We have lost one of our own…" He said and they looked around.
"We are all right here Arthur." Lancelot said before Aria slowly looked to Jameson.
"Not all of us…" She said softly and Jameson slowly looked to her before looking to Arthur.
"No…" He said his jaw clenching.
"Last night Lucan was overcome by fever…" Arthur said.
"No…" He shook his head.
"He has passed and is waiting for burial…" Aria jumped as Jameson swiped his arms across the table sending plates and goblets flying.
"No!" He yelled. Aria rushed to him as he kicked a chair. "Lucan!" He bellowed. She wrapped her arms around him and brought him in close as he let out a guttural sound of rage.
"Shhh…" She said holding him close. "Shhh…." He sunk to the floor Aria going down with him. "It's alright Jameson…" Everyone watched as he wrapped his arms around her and bowed his head into her shoulder. She rocked him back and forth as he let out a guttural sob. "Shh love…"
"Lucan…" he said quietly as he gripped onto her. She looked to the other knights and motioned for them to leave.
"Come on Arthur." Lancelot said as he pulled his friend from the room. When they left the doors closed and they heard the sound of a cry of anguish.
"Let her do this…" Dag said to Arthur. "She has a gift for solace…"
"You'll need to cancel the banquet tonight…" Gawain said.
"I was going to but why?" He asked.
"Aria…" Lancelot said.
"What about Aria?"
"You'll see." Tristan said.
-o-
The others sat in the chapel around the body of Lucan. It was surreal seeing him. He didn't even look dead. Just resting. They still couldn't believe they had lost one of their own. When they had left, Lucan was well on his way to recovery. Now he was gone, like he had never even been. They heard a noise and slowly looked up to see Aria walking in.
"How is Jameson?" Arthur inquired.
"Sleeping in my room… I didn't want him back at the room him and Lucan shared…" She said.
"Of course." Arthur said.
"It's late you should all get some rest." She said as she pulled a chair over to Lucans body and sat down.
"What about you?" Arthur asked as they stood.
"I will wait up with Lucan." She said looking to him.
"Wait up with him?" Arthur asked.
"The burial isn't until tomorrow… And… He shouldn't be alone." He looked at her for a long moment. "Go… You have a big day tomorrow with the burial…" he nodded before the men slowly walked away. Tristan stopped at the door and peered into the dimly lit room. Aria took a hold of Lucans hand and bowed her head as a tear fell down her cheek.
"She's crying…" Arthur said softly and they looked into the room that Tristan still held the door open to. He slowly closed it and he looked to Arthur.
"A few years ago we lost a comrade." Lancelot said making his friend look to him. "He died of illness in our cell. Aria sat up with the body for two days until the romans finally came for him. Unlike they would have done, she prepared the body for burial. Cleaned his skin, straightened his hair and even his robes."
"Was she fond of him?" Arthur asked.
"We all were he was a good boy." Dag said. "Young, a new recruit…"
"So why did Aria do such a thing?" Arthur asked.
"We asked her the same question after the boy was given a poppers burial." Bors said.
"Her answer?" Arthur inquired.
"She said it was the right thing to do and promised that if anything ever happened to us she would do the same." Galahad said.
"Aria says that because we don't have wives lovers or even mothers to miss us when we're gone that she would take their place and hold those we've lost in her hearts for all time." Dag said and Arthur looked back to the door. "We should leave her to her work…"
-o-
The next day the knights went to the chapel room along with Jameson whose head was hung. They opened the door and watched as Aria picked up one of Lucan's arms and cleaned it with a silk cloth. They were quiet as they took seats and watched as Aria slowly moved around the body, fixing Lucan's armor and wiping his skin clean. When she was done she looked over the body for a long moment as a single tear cascaded down her cheek. She walked to the head of the table in which he lay and took a hold of a cotton cloth before slowly bringing it up over the body to cover his face. Jameson let out a pained noise as he looked off his fists clenched.
Aria maliciously began to wrap the body in layers of cloth, braiding it close as to keep the body safe. Between every layer she would set one of his weapons and wrapped it up once more. Aria took a deep breath as she braided the last layer close. She took a hold of his sword and slowly rested it over the body before taking a step back and looking him over.
"He is ready…" She said softly. The men moved forward except for Jameson. They picked the body up by the gurney and slowly began to carry it out. Aria walked to Jameson's side and took his hand in hers. "Come on…" she said and he slowly nodded as they began to follow.
When they got to the burial ground. He men moved forward and began to dig a grave. Not wanting to take the one dug by the Roman soldiers. When it was dug the men came out and slowly picked Lucans body off the gurney. Aria moved forward and supported the head as they slowly lowered it into the grave. When the body was rested they slowly backed up out of the grave and Aria took Jameson's hand.
"This is the moment where I am supposed to say something." Arthur said and his knights looked to him. "Something to make this right… But the fact of the matter is, is that we have lost one of our own… And there is nothing that could make that right… So instead I will say this. We must honor young Lucan. Keep going because he no longer can and live in such a way that would make him proud…" they all nodded as they took a hold of earth and slowly tossed it on the body.
"Aria?" Galahad asked and she looked to him.
"Yes?" she asked softly.
"Will you sing the song?" He inquired with a soft expression.
"Yes sing the song for us." Gawain asked and she slowly looked to Jameson.
"Lucan liked songs…" he said softly.
"Alright…" She said softly as she looked down at the body. "Do not stand at my grave and weep… I am not there I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow… I am the diamond glints on snow… I am the sunlight on ripened grain… I am the gentle autumn rain." She sang softly. "When you awaken in the morning's hush. I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet bird in circled in flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night… Do not stand at my grave and cry… I am not there… I did not die…" She finished softly as she wiped a tear away.
"Once more please?" Jameson asked softly as they slowly began put dirt over the body.
"Do not stand at my grave and weep… I am not there I do not sleep…" Tristan watched as Aria singed softly. If there was ever a doubt she was truly a woman it was wiped away at the sound of her soft voice. "I am a thousand winds that blow… I am the diamond glints on snow… I am the sunlight on ripened grain… I am the gentle autumn rain." She sang softly as her eyes slowly raised to Tristan who held her gaze. "When you awaken in the morning's hush. I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet bird in circled in flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night… Do not stand at my grave and cry… I am not there… I did not die…"
-o-
Tristan sat on his bed. Glider rested on the window sill. Festivities had been called off for the night. To give the knights adequate time to grieve. Still in that time he did not think of Lucan, after all he hadn't had much time to get to know the knight. His mind instead went to Aria. She had stood at the grave and sang softly as she held onto Jameson's hand.
He knew how hard she took death. And knowing Aria the way he did. He knew that she would blaming herself. Probably telling herself that she should have done more to keep him safe while they were trying to keep the woads at bay. He wanted nothing more than to go to her, to check on her, but he doubted that she would want to see him after everything that had transpired.
"Tristan?" he stood up quickly seeing Aria at his door. He couldn't believe she had come to him.
"Aria…" He said softly.
"May I come in?" she inquired.
"Yes." He said and she slowly walked in.
"Can I close the door?" He nodded. She slowly turned and closed the door her hand planted against it as she did. She stared at the old grain for a long while before slowly turning and looking to him. "Well… Hello…"
"Hello." He said back with a kind expression.
"For the first time ever I'm unsure of what to say to you…" She said.
"You're angry."
"No of course not." She said her expression softer than he had ever seen. "I already told you I wasn't before…"
"Then why are you here?"
"Is it wrong that I am?" she inquired.
"No." he said. "No I like that you're here… I thought you wouldn't want to be."
"Of course I want to be… More than ever actually…"
"More than ever?" he inquired.
"It's just… One day Lucan was here and the next he wasn't… And it got me thinking." She said walking to him. "It got me thinking that none of us know how much time we have, especially us knights…" he nodded. "I talked to Arthur about how I wanted to get the chance to cherish someone and be cherished back before anything were to happen to me, and he gave the okay… With some rules of course…" She looked off. "He doesn't know it's you…"
"Me?" He inquired.
"That I want to cherish…" She looked to him. "If you'll allow me too… You don't have to answer now… Just think on it…" she went to walk away and stopped feeling her hand get pulled back. Tristan slowly turned her around cupped her cheek.
"I've thought on it…" he said before his lips slowly captured hers. Arias eyes drifted closed as she set a hand on his chest his arm snaking around her waist as she did. A knock sounded and Aria slowly pulled away as Tristan gave an irritated sigh.
"Who is it?" he called.
"It's Galahad and Gawain open up."
"We don't tell them…" She said softly. "I need them to think of me as the same."
"Agreed." He said as they broke apart.
"Bloody open up!" Gawain said as Tristan walked to the door.
"Took you long enough." Galahad said with a smile before looking over his shoulder and spotting Aria with Tristans bird Glider. "Oh Aria Lancelot was going to find you in your room…" he said as he and Gawain walked in.
"Come in…" Tristan drawled.
"What are you doing here?" Gawain asked. "Alone in Tristan's room?"
"Visiting with Glider of course." She said with a smile as she petted the bird and Tristan tilted his head. The last time Gawain or Galahad tried to pet glider it had bit them. Though there he perched for Aria unmoving and content. "So what do you boys need that you would intrude on Tristan so?"
"Jameson came to us, he wants to go drinking tonight… Says it's what Lucan would have wanted." Galahad said.
"Will you say no as you normally do?" Gawain inquired.
"No seeing as it is Jameson's wish I will attend tonight." She said with a nod.
"Oi you guys coming?" Bors asked walking to the room. "Oh Aria joining us tonight?"
"Seems so, let's head off." She said with a smile walking past them, Tristan instantly following her.
"Close up when you leave." He muttered as he walked past Gawain Galahad and Bors.
-o-
Aria smiled as she sipped on a goblet of wine and watched the boys dance around with some barmaids. Even Jameson was having a good time. As much as he could without his brother. Then again she figured he was taking into account Athurs words about living for Lucan and making him proud. From what she knew about Lucan, he was a bit of a party animal, and in truth he would want them to celebrate his life not mourn it.
"Aria…" She looked up to see Tristan holding out an apple. She smiled as she took it in hand.
"Thank you." She said as she tossed up a pear which she caught. "Thanks for sneaking these into my saddle bags when we were avoiding one another." He nodded.
"Thanks for sneaking the pears." He said and she nodded with a smile.
"I'm going to get more wine, want some more?"
"Let me." He said taking her glass and his and walking off.
"Hello lovely." Arias jaw clenched as a roman soldier stumbled over to her.
"Tristan." Galahad greeted with a smile as he took a sip of wine.
"Where's Aria?" Gawain asked.
"Over their chatting up a soldier." Lancelot said and the men looked.
"More like the soldier is chatting up Aria." Bors said with a snort.
"She looks like she's going to stab him." Arthur said and Tristan couldn't help but smile.
"I give it five minutes before she does." Gawain said and they laughed.
"What is it about Aria that draws men to her I wonder." Arthur said.
"Don't you see it man?" Gawain asked making Tristan look to him. "She's a bloody vision."
"How those soldiers ever thought she was a boy still makes me scratch my head." Bors stated.
"Still I can't pin point what makes her so perfect…" Lancelot muttered.
"It's her hair." Gawain said. "Almost glows it's so blonde."
"Aye and her eyes." Dag said. "Dark with knowledge."
"Sometimes she doesn't even look real with that skin…" Jameson added.
"If I didn't know better I'd think you all were in love with her." Arthur said with a smile.
"Ah but we are." Lancelot said.
"Honestly everyone who comes in contact with Aria tends to fall a bit in love with her." Dag said.
"Admit it even you have a shining to her." Lancelot said nudging Arthur.
"It's like Dag said she enchants those she comes in contact with." Aria pulled out a dagger and slammed it down between the roman soldiers fingers.
"I win." Gawain said with a smile.
"What do you win again?" Galahad asked.
"You bitch!" They watched as the Soldier rushed at Aria who just kicked his legs out from under him and tilted her head as she watched him crash down to the ground.
"Aria play nice!" Arthur called and she just gave a cheeky smile. Tristan walked over and handed Aria her goblet of wine.
"Thanks much." She said with a smile. "You know tonight has been pretty fun." She said as the boys walked over. "I mean I've already kicked a Roman on his ass, I love this place." Arthur smiled.
"I'll ignore that comment." Arthur said.
"Oh you're only half Roman Arthur, the way I see it you belong to the mother land of your mother." She said with a smile. "Womb trumps you ever time." He laughed.
"Hello hello." Bors smiled as a woman walked over with another round.
"Come sit love." Bors said pulling her into his lap.
"You must be Venora." Aria said.
"Ah and you must be Aria the brave knightess everyone has been chatting about, nice to meet you love." She said reaching out a hand which Aria shook. "How did you know about me though?"
"Bors talks about you all the time."
"Shut it." He said with a stern glare and Aria just smiled.
"Well glad to know he thinks of me when he's on his adventures." She kissed his cheek before walking off.
"I like her." Aria said.
"Oh so glad you approve mum." He said as she pinched his cheek, making the men laugh. Aria smiled as she looked off before she sat up straight.
"What is it?" Arthur asked.
"Thought I saw a familiar face." She said. Arthur looked up straight and looked around. "You see that man with the braids."
"Yes… Yes I do." He said.
"I know his face…" She said and Arthur slowly stood. "What is it Arthur?"
"It's one of the knights who fled." He said before moving forward. Aria stood as she watched Arthur grab the young man and reel him around.
"What's he going to do?" She asked as the other knights stood.
"He'll clap him in Irons and take him to the dungeons…" Lancelot said. "He deserves to be put to death on the spot the coward."
"You are under arrest for crimes against the Roman Empire." Arthur said. The man twisted out of his Irons and pulled a dagger. Before he could stab Arthur in the neck a hand reached out and gripped onto his wrist. Arthur looked to see Aria.
"I don't think so." She said before back fisting him across the face.
"How'd she get over there so fast?" Gawain asked.
"She's tiny she moves quicker." Lancelot said with a smile as he watched Aria dodge two hits before the man rushed at her. She slammed her hands against his shoulders and spun him around before kicking out his legs and placing him in a chokehold as Arthur clapped irons on him.
"You bitch!" The man yelled. "My friends are coming!" She looked to Arthur.
"Take him to the dungeon I will join you shortly." Arthur said.
"Right." She nodded. "Get up." She pulled him to his feet and led him away. Arthur walked back to the table.
"Tristan she's headed to the dungeon." Arthur said and he nodded before grabbing his things and going after her. He got to the fort and headed down a stairwell.
"Bitch!" He heard a man yell fallowed by a sound of pain. Tristan quickly ran down the rest of the stairs and came just in time to watch Aria slam the ex knights head into a table before placing her knife against his throat.
"You come at me again and I will cut you down." She said and the man instantly stopped struggling. "Thank you." She threw him against the wall. "Tristan." He moved forward and chained his hands above his head securing him to the wall. The man moved forward and spit at Tristan who dodged it before Aria kicked him in the stomach.
"Aria!" Arthur yelled.
"What he had it coming?" She asked and the other knights just smiled. "He tried to spit on Tristan." She said as she walked out of the cell.
"Stupid cunt!" Tristan punched him in the stomach.
"Tristan!" Arthur yelled. He said nothing just walked to Aria who nudged him.
"That might just be the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me." She said and the men just laughed while Tristan nodded.
"You said your friends are coming am I to take from that there are ex knights coming…" Arthur said.
"They were never knights to begin with." Aria said and the man looked to her. "So there for he isn't an ex knight, just a coward." His eyes narrowed.
"Who's coming?" Arthur asked.
"Blow it up your ass."
"Arthur." Aria said and he walked to her. "Let me ask the questions one of the things I was taught by the soldiers was how to interrogate."
"They chose you out of the group for interrogation tactics?" He asked.
"I thought none of us were chosen." Dag said.
"No I was, it only took two lessons I caught on quick." She said.
"What are you going to do to him?" Arthur asked.
"Maybe nothing, maybe a lot, that's up to him." She said.
"I don't know."
"Arthur he was to be one of your knights, he may have betrayed you, but I know how you must feel for him and even understand why he ran…" he looked her over. "Doing what needs to be done to make him talk isn't an easy thing especially when you feel the person you're doing those things to… So Arthur, my noble and brave commander… Please… Let me do this for you." He slowly nodded.
"I need to know who is coming and when, and if he knows where they are held up."
"Okay…" She said before walking up to the man hung up on the wall. "What's your name coward?" she asked and the others settled into the shadows out of sight but where they could still keep an eye on Aria.
"Agnos." He said.
"Agnos, sounds like a female name…"
"Who are you?" he asked. "And why does Arthur listen to you?"
"Aria." He looked at her for a long moment.
"I knew a boy in training named Aria…" he said.
"Not a boy…" he looked her over.
"By the gods…" He said as his eyes roamed over her. "I always thought you were… Different."
"Now you can see why I have no sympathy towards you and running away from the duty we were given. I a woman stepped up to the plate while you a man ran from it." He looked off. "But maybe I shouldn't judge you right away…" he looked to her slowly. "Why did you do what you did?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yes." She said.
"You call it a duty Aria, to be a knight… I call it a death sentence." Agnos said with fierce eyes.
"So you ran?" She asked.
"Oh I'm doing more than that…"
"What's your plan?"
"You're a knight there's no way I'm going to tell you, besides you'll just run to Arthur… You were always so loyal to the Romans."
"Was there any other choice?"
"Revolt against them…"
"Which you never did, until now I'm guessing." His jaw set in a firm line. "So what you're going to attack the fort?" She asked. "It's the only thing that makes sense. This is the largest roman outpost on this side of the island… Take this posting out you deal quite a blow to the Romans."
"Don't you want to be free Aria?"
"I am free Agnos." She said.
"No you're not… Let's be honest you have less freedom then your male knights. I mean you must be treated special… I know how the Romans love purity in women…" he looked her over. "And I can tell you haven't had your dimple knees spread." She laughed surprising the other knights.
"Was that an attempt to shock me? You forget I lived in a cell with Lancelot for years." The man in question smiled as the man in front of her glared.
"You were always so keen to be a knight…" Agnos said. "Now that I know your gender I have to wonder why you were so keen."
"My father was a knight so was my uncle… It's in my blood."
"You see it as an honor."
"Yes a great honor." She said.
"You're going to die young Aria, and very bloody."
"And I can say the same thing about you." She said with a smile.
"No my friends are coming."
"So they are coming to attack the fort splendid."
"She's good." Arthur said with a smile.
"How many of your friends?" she asked.
"Enough." He said.
"I'm not going to get anything more out of you being nice am I?" She asked and his eyes narrowed. "Yeah I thought so…" She looked over her shoulder. "Tristan? Do you have an apple I know it isn't the usual time but… I need it." It came flying out of the shadows and she caught it easily. "Thank you." She smiled as she looked it over.
"You're going to eat?" Agnos asked.
"I have been given one of these apples nearly every day twice a day since I first came to Badon hill when I was a small child. In that time I have found many ways to eat them… Slicing them… Dicing them… skinning them…" her eyes connected with his and she watched as Agnos gave a gulp. She smiled softly before glancing back down at the apple. "Skinning is my favorite." She said as she began to walk around the cell. "I like the sound…" she started to skin the apple in one long strip. "Like the smell…" She said with a soft smile. "Like the feeling… If you do it gentle enough the juice doesn't escape the fruit…" the skin fell to the ground in one long curl. "Well would you look at that… I did in one long strip…" She took a bite of apple as she walked to him. "Think I could do the same to you?" She set the dagger against his cheek and his nostrils flared as he smelled the fresh apple on the blade.
"You wouldn't… You couldn't… Women don't possess the same sort of cruelty men do…"
"You're wrong about that… Women are capable of much cruelty especially when those they love are put in danger… Lancelot, Dag, Bors, Gawain, Galahad, Jameson, Arthur, and Tristan… I love them very very much." She said as she gripped onto his face making him take in a sharp breath. "I would do anything for them…" She said her voice shaking. "Anything to protect them… And honestly skinning you alive in one long strip wouldn't be that fucking difficult in the cause to save their lives." She knife cut into his cheek and he yelled out in pain as she began to cut his skin away. "How many are coming Agnos!?"
"Forty five all from different posts!" he yelled.
"When is the attack!?"
"A week!"
"Where are your men hiding!?"
"North of the wall by the Caste river!" she ripped the skin from his cheek and he screamed in pain as she looked it over.
"Thank you for your cooperation…" she said before tossing the flesh aside and walking away.
"You bitch!" He yelled.
"Nicely done." Arthur said as she reached him.
"You really love us that much you'd skin him alive in one long strip?" Bors asked.
"Of course I would." She said squeezing his cheek with a motherly look that made them smile. "I'm going upstairs… Night you all."
"I think we all should get some rest for tomorrow we head to the river." Arthur said as Tristan watched Aria leave. Tristan headed up the stairs and walked to the outside of the fort. He stared up at Arias window for a long time. There had been something strange about the way she had left.
Aria sat on her bed her long blonde hair laying over her shoulder. Her eyes were casted on the apple she had peeled. It sat on her dresser smeared in blood. She didn't know why, but she had a feeling that the blood spattered fruit was mocking her. Asking her questions she did not know how to answer.
"Aria?" she looked over her shoulder to see Tristan standing before her window.
"I got blood on my apple…" She said with a soft expression. Tristan looked to the peeled apple on her dresser. He slowly glanced back to Aria to see she had returned to staring at it. He walked over to the bed and slowly sat down at her side.
"Here…" He held out another and she looked down at it before smiling softly.
"Thanks." She said taking it in hand. She looked down at the fruit for a long moment. "I was never too loyal to the Romans was I?" She looked to him.
"No." He said. "You stood up to them when you could… You have the scars to prove it…" She slowly nodded.
"Do you think I was too keen to be a Knight?"
"I think you accepted your fate with honor."
"It's only fate if I die…" He nodded.
"Good way to think about it…"
"I feel bad for skinning Agnos face…" He looked to her. "I mean he's just doing what he feels he has to."
"He's a coward." He said.
"But is what he's doing wrong?" He looked over her honest expression. "I hail from this land… So did my mother and father… I belong to it… Brittan that is… Yet every day I help the roman empire enslave it… Tristan our people, the great Sarmatian people, fought the romans we fought them for control of our own land our own people… Now what do we do but keep them enslaved?"
"You think what the men are fighting for is right?"
"Yes, I sometimes even think the woads are right, I know how terrible that is especially now after Lucan… But there is this feeling deep down within me, and it says that everything the woads and the rebels do is right and everything I we as knights do is wrong…"
"We survive… That isn't wrong." He said as she thumbed the apple.
"We survive while this island suffers under the tyranny of Roman rule… That is wrong." He looked her over for a long moment.
"It isn't wise to speak of these things Aria." He said softly.
"Tristan you're not one to be taken control of." She said. "You're a force of nature…" he stood up. "One that can't be contained and yet you let the Romans contain you..."
"What would you have me do?" He asked reeling on her and she stood.
"Nothing Tristan, I would never force you to do anything, or ask you to do anything you wouldn't want to do."
"Then what are you asking me now?"
"Why you who is one of the most dangerous men I know takes orders from people who are far beneath him?"
"Why do you do it?" He asked and she blinked.
"What?" She inquired.
"You are the force of nature-."
"I'm not like you-."
"You're better." He said and she stared at him. "So why don't you take the freedom you so desperately want?"
"Because that would mean leaving you and the others."
"You wouldn't leave me if you chose too I would go with you."
"The others would not."
"How do you know, have you asked?"
"I can't talk about things like this with them…"
"What about Arthur? You've already talked to him about us why not this."
"I didn't talk to him about us, I talked to him about me and what I wanted which was you but I didn't say it was you, can we get back on topic?" She asked.
"So what tomorrow you want to join the rebels instead of destroy them?" He asked and she stared at him for a long moment.
"Why are you getting hostile?" He shifted on his feet.
"I wasn't meaning to come across that way."
"Well you are." She said her arms crossing over her chest.
"What you're talking about is dangerous." He said. "If someone heard you-."
"You've never been scared Tristan."
"I'm not scared for me." He said and she looked at him for a long moment. "You need to just keep doing what you've been doing, working for the Romans and staying alive… No more talk about rebellion…" She looked off. "15 years of service… 15 years of service and then we can do whatever we want, we can take on the Romans then."
"I'll be an old woman then."
"You'll only be 31-."
"Again I say an old woman." He shook his head with a smile as he looked her over. "I'm only 16 or seventeen I'm still unsure on the age thanks to the Romans but I already feel like an old woman…" She stretched and her body popped. "Did you hear that? That is the sound of an old womans body."
"That's the sound of a tired body, you were up all night with Lucan."
"It was the least I could do…" she said looking off. "I can't believe he's dead, he was fine when we left."
"It's not your fault."
"I know that."
"But you still think it." He said and she looked to him.
"You know me so well, it's scary." She said with a smile. Tristan reached out and cupped her cheek as his thumb brushed over her smiling lips. He took a step towards her as he tilted her chin up. Before his lips could connect to hers a knock sounded and she sighed softly.
"Good night Tristan…" she said softly.
"Good night Aria…" he kissed her softly before walking to her window as she walked to her bedroom door which gave another knock. She looked over her shoulder to the window to see Tristan was gone. She smiled softly before opening the door and looking at one of her guards.
"I heard talking." He said.
"I talk out loud when I write." She said holding up a wax slab from her dresser. He eyed her for a long moment before she set it aside.
"If you'll excuse me I need to check on my horse." He stepped aside and she grabbed her cloak as she left.
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