Author's Notes: From what I have observed in the week since publishing the preface and first chapter, people are reading this story, and I have even gotten a couple kudos on Archive of Our Own. I know this isn't a fandom that has many stories written for it compared to others, but at the very least, people are reading this. I'm hoping as I publish more chapters, more people will flock to read.

As opposed to publishing one chapter a week as I originally announced, I'm considering publishing two, possibly no more than three chapters a week (if I'm feeling up to it and if you guys want to read more than the minimum) to give you all something to read. This story is written in full and edited. All I have to do is continue to publish the chapters. With the preface and first chapter, I wanted to see if at least one person would read it, and I got more hits on both here and Archive of Our Own than I had originally anticipated. If you want more, let me know! I really like to know what you guys think of this story!

Chapter II

Iliana fell silent as Arion trotted alongside the mare of the man named Tristan. His lack of harm or foul play and his status as a knight stationed at her intended destination surprised her. Arion had been her second opinion whenever it came to strangers, and despite him not tensing up when she first sensed his presence, she wanted to be absolutely sure that Tristan wasn't a foe. Everything seemed to fall in place with their encounter, and she could only wonder what else God and her father had in store for her from here on out.

She stole a few occasional glances at the man from the corner of her eye, noting his facial features. His wild, dark hair that barely brushed his shoulders had braids plaited in certain spots around his head, with one longer than the others hanging from his left cheek. While his bangs partially concealed his face, she caught a hint of the most beautiful pair of brown eyes she had ever seen in a man. His beard had a hint of grey coming in, and he had the highest of cheekbones accompanied by an identical pair of tribal tattoos that she recognized were the markings of Sarmatia's Hamaxobii tribe.

Iliana put two and two together based on what he had told her: he was a successor to Leoric and his fellow knights. There weren't that many men left in her father's circle when they reached their fifteenth year of servitude, and she could only assume that it would be a similar case here. She wondered how many of them were remaining besides Arthur, and how close they were to reaching their fifteenth year.

When he glanced at her, their eyes locked for a moment before she turned away, mentally scolding herself for getting caught.

"How do you know Arthur?" she heard him ask, breaking the silence that dragged on during the journey.

"I've heard many tales of him and his generosity, and I was told to seek him out when I arrived here," she explained, not wanting to delve into too much detail until she saw Arthur. "Why I'm here, I still have yet to figure out."

As he took her words in, she felt his eyes studying her. She knew that the eyes of a Hamaxobii were as sharp as a hawk, and considering he had an actual hawk companion of his own, she knew better than to underestimate him. She let her hair fall in front of her left cheek, hoping it would just be enough to keep her face concealed until they got to the Wall.

"How long have you been traveling?"

"A few months. It's been quite the journey to get here, but I've enjoyed the trip and getting to see the different lands and settlements along the way.

"Not to mention I got to see the ocean again after so many years."

There was a longing in her voice that she knew he caught on to, and she could only wonder what he deciphered, despite keeping her face concealed from his gaze.

"Where are you from?"

"I was born on the Greek island of Corfu. I lived in a village south of the city of Korkyra."

"So, you're of Greek heritage."

"Aye," she replied with a nod, keeping her gaze straight ahead. While it wasn't a complete lie, she didn't want to reveal her Sarmatian roots just yet.

Before he could ask another question, they came across an opening that led out of the forest, and Iliana found herself in awe when she saw the famous Hadrian's Wall before her.

"It's just like the tales I've been told. It's impressive."

"When we get inside the fort, I'll have our valet, Jols get your horse settled, and then I'll take you to Arthur," he announced.

She turned to him and nodded, and as she turned her gaze back towards the great wall before her, she could only wonder what awaited her there and what her father had in store for her.

Tristan noted the surprise on Iliana's face at the sight of Hadrian's Wall as he escorted her towards it. Despite her brief answers to his questions during the trek in the forest, he learned a lot about her. The knowledge of her Greek heritage captured his attention, but he felt that there was a lot more to her than what she revealed in the few words they exchanged.

It was the first time in his fifteen years of servitude that he had ever laid eyes on a woman of Greek blood. He believed the rumors surrounding their "ethereal beauty" were nothing more than hearsay. And here was this young, beautiful girl proving him wrong. Based on how young she looked, he had to guess that she was at least seventeen and possibly no older than nineteen. While she looked young and innocent, the look in her eyes spoke of the hardships and experiences she had dealt with up to this point.

As they entered through the open gates leading behind the Wall, he nodded to the soldiers that were on patrol. They took notice of her, but didn't say a word regarding her. He saw her eyes light up at the sight of the distant forest, making him wonder if she planned to traverse it in the future. He had never traversed that stretch himself, and while there had been no reports of Woad sightings, it didn't hurt to check it out. The thought of the Woads laying so much as a single finger on her was repulsing to him, and the feeling surprised him. He only just met this girl, and to possess a protective instinct for someone he was just getting acquainted with was completely out of character for him.

Perhaps all the time he spent countering the pain and solitude that was picking away at him was finally catching up to him. The time he spent in his corner observing from a distance, the many ales he downed, the occasional dagger throwing with Gawain and Galahad, and even the wenches he occasionally slept with. Now that he thought about it, there wasn't much for him to go back to if he returned to Sarmatia. He didn't have any family, and there weren't many left in his tribe that he could recall.

He didn't know what to do when Rome officially discharged him. He had hoped to meet what he believed was his fate in battle; in fact, he believed that death was the only way he would ever find peace in this life. As one who liked to fight and learned to kill for pleasure, he didn't deserve happiness in any form. If he didn't meet his end in a fight, he would meet it in solitude where nobody would hear or see him.

He saw her steal another look at him from the corner of his eye, and he caught a mixture of curiosity and sadness in that bright blue gaze. What was it she saw to make her look at him like that? He prided on people not being able to read him, and that included Arthur and the men. Yet, one look from this girl and it was as if that wall surrounding his heart never existed. Something about her was drawing him in like a moth to a flame, and he wanted to find out what it was.

Unfortunately, he didn't have any time to dwell on it when he saw Jols approaching the both of them with his usual jovial grin as they neared the large fountain in the main square.

"Welcome back, Tristan," he greeted, to which he responded with a nod.

"Is Arthur still in his office?"

"Nay. He has called a meeting and was just waiting for you to get back," Jols replied.

He then took notice of Iliana, who was studying him curiously.

"And who might you be, my lady?"

"I'm Iliana. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," she replied. "I was on my way to the Wall intending to seek Arthur when Tristan found me. When I told him where I was going, he offered to escort me, and here I am."

"Well then, I welcome you to Hadrian's Wall, my lady. I'm sure it's been quite the journey for you and your noble steed here," Jols said with a chuckle before turning back to Tristan. "Are you going to report to Arthur?"

"Aye. I plan to introduce her to the men and have Vanora assist her."

Once again, he caught the curious look in her eyes, but he could tell that she trusted him since he kept true to his word on bringing her to the Wall.

"Very well. Allow me to take Siria and I'll get her settled at the stables."

He then turned to Iliana.

"I can also take your steed to the knights' stables. He'll be safe there."

After a quick beat, Iliana nodded.

"That would be wonderful. Thank you."

Tristan watched as she clicked her tongue, and the stallion lied down so that she could dismount him. Once she was off, he was back up, and he and Jols soon realized the reason he had to lie down.

"My word. He's a lot larger than I had expected," Jols commented.

"Either that or I'm very tiny. It's a matter of perspective," Iliana explained as she stroked his cheeks.

"What's his name?" Jols asked.

"Arion. It's Greek for the word 'brave'," she replied.

As Tristan dismounted from atop Siria, he noted the affectionate look Iliana had in her eyes as she gave Arion her attention. She loved this horse, and he could tell that he loved her in return when he pressed his face into her chest. It reminded him of the bond he had with Siria. They weren't horse and master; they were the closest of companions that trusted each other with their lives.

Just as he was about to pull his bow, arrows and supplies from the saddle, Siria stretched her nose out to sniff Iliana. The feel of her breath startled her, tickling her neck and the back of her ear, but she petted her and stroked her cheeks.

"Your name suits a mare as gorgeous as you, Siria. Stands for 'glowing', referring to the sun, and it's of Spanish and Persian origin."

The scout saw the sun shine down on the both of them, primarily focusing on Iliana. Siria whinnied at her, gesturing to the sun with her nose, causing her to chuckle in response.

"You're very smart and perceptive. Unfortunately, I think otherwise."

She spoke the last part of her sentence in a language he didn't understand, but he assumed it was her native tongue. When Siria snorted at her in protest, Tristan could only wonder what she said to make his mare disagree with her, especially when she presented a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Let's not keep Arthur waiting any longer," Jols interjected before giving Arion a gentle stroke on the neck. "Your master will be in for quite the ride, noble steed."

Iliana wondered the meaning behind Jols's words as she stroked Arion one last time. In response, Arion pressed his face into her chest.

"Have a good rest, my handsome friend. I'll see you later."

He lifted his nose and breathed into her hair, causing her to giggle. She then reached for his reins and handed them to Jols, and he took Siria's reins.

"I'll be at the tavern later. Hope to see you soon, Iliana. It was a pleasure to meet you," he announced with a smile.

"Likewise, Jols," she said, returning the sentiment before he departed with Arion and Siria, leaving her alone with Tristan.

"Come."

His voice had a hint of authority to it, and with a quick look at him, Iliana nodded and followed behind him. She noticed a couple scantily clad women coming out of a building and heading towards what appeared to be the direction of the local tavern. They took notice of the two of them, and she didn't miss their surprised, yet disgusted looks at the sight of her with him. She scoffed internally at the potential thoughts crossing through their minds. They only just met and hardly knew each other, and it wasn't like she was looking for romance, nor was she promiscuous. She had too much pride and dignity to be in a man's sight for one evening and let him forget her come morning. She knew the right man would want her for life, but she highly doubted she would ever meet him on this path that fate had decided for her.

She shook the thought off when Tristan led her to an open iron gate guarded by a couple of Roman soldiers. Noticing the both of them, they stepped aside, and with a deep breath, Iliana continued following. He opened one of the double ornate doors so that she could go in, and once he shut the door behind them, Tristan continued to lead the way until they were at another set of doors at the end of the hallway.

"Wait here," he told her, to which she nodded before he went inside, leaving her alone.

She noted a wooden bench behind her and sat down, leaning back against the wall as she breathed. Having had the chance to glance around while following the mysterious Sarmatian, Iliana realized that Hadrian's Wall was nothing like the Greek village she grew up in and the city of Korkyra. From what she remembered, her birthplace thrived with their culture, and there was always something they offered to the neighboring countries. It was also nothing like her father's old village in Sarmatia. Except for the huts, everything there was natural with the vast stretch of grass, the clear blue sky and the sight of the mountains. While it would take some time to adapt to, at the very least, she could make a fresh start after everything she had been through.

Tristan's emergence from behind the door snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Come," he announced with a gesture of his head towards the room.

With another breath, Iliana stood up from the bench and approached the door, and he pushed it open a little more so that she could enter. Her arm barely brushed his as she walked past him, and she ignored the warm feeling the sensation gave her as she stepped inside.

The first thing she noticed was the great, round table in the middle of the room and the flame that burned in the tables' open center. About fifty to sixty chairs surrounded its perimeter, but only six people occupied them. Add the empty chair that was pulled out, and that made seven.

Her eyes took notice of the six men that were gazing at her in both awe and curiosity. A part of her felt a little unnerved, but she had expected it being the new arrival in town. After taking a moment to study each of them, her eyes fell on a man with a unique armor that she recognized was Roman. If she had to guess, this man was Arthur.

"My lady, welcome to Britain and the fort behind Hadrian's Wall," he greeted with a warm smile. "I am Arthur Castus, the commander of the fort and these merry men you see at this table."

She nodded and bowed her head.

"It's a pleasure to have an official meeting with you, my lord. I've heard many great tales surrounding you and your knights during my travels. I was told to seek you out when I arrived in Britain, and so I have."

She didn't miss the hint of curiosity and intrigue in his face and in the faces of his men as she stole glances between each of them.

"You're very kind," he said with a chuckle and a nod. "What is your name?"

"I'm Iliana," she replied.

"Iliana. Beautiful name. Greek for 'ray of light'. It suits a girl as gorgeous as you."

"And you're also very kind, not to mention that you've done your research."

"So, who was the one that sent you to me, my lady?"

She took a deep breath and let it out before she rolled the fabric of her right sleeve up to her elbow and held her wrist out, showing the bracelet her father had made. The commander's eyes widened when he saw the charm dangling from it.

"The wolf's head represents the Roxolani tribe of Sarmatia, and that's the design chosen by the legendary Leoric."

Whispers of conversation broke out amongst the men as they stared at her in awe. She had yet to learn of someone who didn't hear her father's name at least once in their lifetime.

"Are you his daughter?" Arthur asked.

She nodded.

"I am."

She couldn't help but steal a glance at Tristan, who had a look of shock in his brown gaze. It didn't come as a surprise to her; she did only reveal her Greek roots during their conversation in the forest.

There was a moment of silence before one man spoke up to her right. He had dark, curly hair, brown eyes and a mustache.

"You're Sarmatian, my lady?"

"Sarmatian is part of my blood, aye, but I am also of Greek blood from my mother's side."

She didn't miss the way he leered at her in combination with the flirtatious tone in his voice when he spoke again.

"I heard a rumor of the Greek women being as beautiful as the heavens. Didn't think I would live to see such a gorgeous one in the flesh, and your Sarmatian roots highlight your ethereal beauty."

She chuckled in response, and her face showed she saw through it.

"As flattered as I am by your kind words, sir, that flirtatious facade will only get you so far with me.

"Plus, you'll find my eyes better if you stop ogling at my chest."

She presented her sweetest smile as the other men either chuckled or laughed. The curly-haired man, however, didn't let her rejection deter him and looked up at her.

"My, my, and such a pretty pair of blue eyes to be gazing upon. It's like I'm staring at the sky gazing into them."

She noticed Arthur's unamused expression from the corner of her eye.

"Lancelot, mind your manners and treat the girl with some form of respect," he announced, a hint of warning in his tone.

"Relax, Arthur. I was just paying her the sweetest of compliments," the jovial knight said, exchanging a look with the commander.

"That may charm the wenches you probably spend most of your time being distracted by, but it sure as hell doesn't fool me," Iliana pointed out. "I'm not promiscuous, and I never will be."

She noted the intrigued looks of the other men, and she focused on Tristan for a moment before she looked away.

The next knight to speak was the one with the long, golden mane and sapphire eyes. Looking at him, Iliana was sure that they could pass off as siblings with their respective appearances.

"Prideful and all about respect. We could learn something from you, my lady."

She tilted her head, obviously intrigued by his choice of words.

"And what is your name, noble knight?"

"Gawain," he replied with a smile.

"Noble? I feel slightly insulted," Lancelot grumbled, which caused her to let out an amused chuckle while she ignored him.

"How can I expect a man to love and respect me the right way if I don't respect myself the same way, Gawain?"

The handsome, golden-haired knight chuckled and smiled at her.

"You're wise beyond your years."

"I'm eighteen, and as young as I am, I'm plenty old enough to understand."

She then looked at the man sitting next to him, whom she noticed was studying her. He had shaggy, brown hair and a boyish look to him that almost made her believe he was close to her age or a little younger, but she knew better. However, she couldn't help but want to tease him.

"You look like you want to ask me something. At the very least, tell me your name first, young one."

She caught him off guard with the use of her Greek tongue, and it took him a beat before he answered.

"Galahad is the name, my lady, and I wanted to know if you were born in Sarmatia or Greece."

"Greece. I was born on the island of Corfu, which is right across from the mainland of Greece," Iliana explained. "I lived on the coast of the Ionian Sea for the first eight years of my life."

"Really? You lived near the ocean?" the young knight asked in awe.

"Aye. The beach was my kingdom, and I considered the ocean my knight in shining armor. Once you take in the water's view, you never forget it. It's in your heart forever."

She had a longing look in her eyes as she bit her bottom lip and averted her gaze downwards before she continued.

"When my father grew homesick, I suggested we move to Sarmatia. I was curious to see the land he was born and raised in, and I spent the rest of my childhood and my whole adolescent life amongst the lands of the Roxolani, which was the tribe he came from.

"While the grassy field is nothing like the ocean, the fact that you could see so much of it from a distance reminded me of the big, blue sea in its own way."

"You expanded your horizons to know your family roots. Very noble, my lady," spoke the knight who had been mostly silent until now, which made her look up. He had a shaved head, a scar over his left eye, and despite his intimidating expression, Iliana sensed an aura of kindness lurking underneath.

"Sarmatia is beautiful, and you're very fortunate to have seen it in your lifetime. I'll bet the ocean is just as beautiful."

"It is beautiful, my lord, but you have to see it firsthand to truly appreciate it."

"Blimey, Dagonet. I wasn't expecting you to go poetic there," spoke the larger knight, who sported an identical shaved head and a scar that ran from his forehead to his scalp, causing his friend to chuckle.

"Even I have my moments, Bors. You, of all people, would know that best of all, despite the times when you can't remember how many children you have."

This statement earned a few chuckles from the men, and Iliana couldn't help but giggle.

"Wow. I have heard many tales of how fierce you men are, but this is the first time I'm noticing such chivalry and kindness. I knew there was more to the stories than what I've heard."

Except for Tristan, the men smiled warmly at her, and she couldn't help but smile back.

Another door near the back opened, and Jols and an older, redheaded woman that Iliana didn't recognize, interrupted the moment.

"Ah, Jols, Vanora," Arthur greeted with a smile.

They both nodded at him, and the woman took notice of Iliana.

"Is this the new girl?" she asked.

"Aye. That's her," Jols replied with a nod.

Bors reached for her, taking her by her hand and pulling her towards him.

"This is Vanora, my sweet little flower. Van, this is…um…I'm sorry, little lassie. I forgot your name already."

"Not surprising," Lancelot commented, earning him some laughs and making Iliana giggle in response.

"It's okay. Iliana," she replied. "To make it easier for you and everyone else, Ili."

She bowed her head, and as she lifted her head back up, the woman called Vanora was studying her from head to toe.

"You are a beautiful girl. Where are you from?"

"I was born and raised in Greece, but I'm also of Sarmatian blood, my lady," Iliana replied.

"Leoric is her father," Bors explained.

Vanora's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped.

"I've heard so many stories about him. He's basically a legend amongst Britain."

"I have yet to meet someone who has not heard of him," Iliana said with a small smile.

"I knew him from when he served under my father," Arthur chimed in. "He has kept me informed on his life after his servitude through letters, and he has talked a lot about you."

Iliana nodded, having had a hunch that the two knew each other from his time as a knight.

"Where is he now?"

Her lips formed into a thin line as she bit her bottom lip.

"Deceased. He passed away two years ago. The nasty side effect of an illness he got from a battle wound that only got worse with time.

"Unfortunately, there was nothing the healer could have done. It was to the point of no return, and I had only known he was ill. He didn't tell me he was dying until he lay on death's door."

The revelation shocked him.

"I am sorry for your loss. I was hoping to see him again at least one last time."

Iliana nodded.

"What about your mother?" Galahad asked.

"She died a few hours after giving birth to me," she replied.

"Oh. I-I'm sorry," he said, unable to help the stutter.

Iliana shook her head.

"No. Don't worry about it. It's okay. Death will find us all someday. It's just a matter of when that someday will be."

She felt everyone's eyes on her as she spoke those words, and she was sure Tristan's gaze bore right through her.

"Vanora, would you care to tend to Ili and help her get settled?" Arthur asked. "Ili, Vanora needs an extra set of hands at the tavern. Would you be willing to help her?"

The commander's words surprised the older woman.

"If it's a job, I accept if Vanora will have me," Iliana replied.

"And I happily accept," Vanora said with a smile. "Come, Ili. Let's get you settled in. You'll have some time to relax and freshen up before I open up the tavern."

Iliana nodded, and she turned to Arthur, bowing her head at him.

"Thank you, my lord. I expect I'll see you all later at the tavern, then?"

"You will," Arthur replied. "We'll see you lovely ladies later."

Iliana circled around the table, looking at each of the men one last time as she did. Her eyes fell on Tristan again, and when he looked up, they locked eyes. They stared at each other for a moment before she left the room with Vanora. As she followed behind the older redhead, she could only wonder what the evening would have in store for her when she got to the tavern.

End Notes: The introduction of the knights! Ili will be in for a treat! The next chapter will be out within a day or so! Check back!