Author's Notes: Feeling a little generous this week thanks to you guys. In addition to this story, I've also been getting praise for Love for Real and Contemplation (the latter only posted to Dreamwidth and Archive of Our Own), the two one shots I've posted in between chapters. So, to thank you for that and considering the fact that I have a three-day weekend coming up, I'll be posting four chapters this week as opposed to the usual two. With that, here's Chapter Six! Enjoy!

Chapter VI

Iliana didn't show any signs of being spooked by Tristan's sudden appearance as his gaze locked with hers. After she departed the stables with Arion, he saddled Siria and followed her. Since her arrival at the Wall, he had been monitoring her from a distance and out of sight. With her beauty and the fact that she wasn't married, the male patrons would have been looking for a reason to throw themselves at her. At the very least, he could ensure that she wasn't being followed by them or anyone else with ill intentions involving her.

He followed the tracks Arion left behind, and when he came across some thick brush, he dismounted Siria and used his hands to push the brush aside. Once the two of them stepped into the clearing, that was when he saw her.

While a towel covered her, the way it wrapped so tightly around her body emphasized her slender figure. Her hair was damp, droplets of water dripping from the ends, landing on her neck and running downwards to her collarbones. Add the sunlight shining down on her ivory complexion through an opening in the trees above, and she was truly a sight to behold.

Arion was lying down right behind her, keeping an eye out for all potential intruders. Yet, when he discovered his presence, he didn't go on the defensive. Perhaps he had a hunch that it was him, and he saw his gaze soften upon the sight of Siria. Iliana didn't even notice, for she was keeping her eyes locked on him, and he was certain he caught a hint of curiosity in her expression. He held her gaze for a little while longer when Talia's cry from up above snapped him out of his trance. He allowed himself one last look at her before directing Siria to turn around, proceeding to walk back to where he came from.

However, the thought of what her body looked like beneath that towel began messing with the depths of his mind.

Iliana let out the breath she held the second Tristan disappeared back into the brush with Siria. Her cheeks were as hot as a raging fire, and she hoped he didn't see how flushed they possibly were from where he stood. Her heart pounded madly, threatening to explode out of the confines of her ribcage, and how she wished she wanted to disappear from the face of the earth right at this very moment.

Foolish imbecile! You've barely known this man for nearly two days now! Cease with this lovesick passion already!

She wasn't sure how she kept a straight face and not look startled once she realized Tristan had followed her, but she did, and for that, she was grateful.

She shook her head and placed her hand on her brow, rubbing her temples with her fingertips as she thought about this intrigue she felt towards the scout of Arthur's knights. There was no sense in lying about her curiosity regarding the man, and combined with the dreams she had of him since her arrival, she wondered if they were part of a premonition regarding her future. She thought back to the first dream she had when her Greek friends from her childhood said that she would be with him. As she told herself yesterday, she wasn't looking for love; her sole purpose was to figure out her path in Britain now that she was here.

However, she couldn't help but think that Tristan possibly had a role to play regarding that said path. If that was the case, what exactly was his role? Her heart pounded even harder at the potential thought of them becoming lovers, and she breathed out a sigh as she shook her head. There was no way he thought of her in that manner, and considering he and the men were probably nearing the end of their servitude, there was no sense in her getting too attached to someone who would leave within the next few months.

As she thought of his braids, high cheekbones, tribal tattoos, and brown eyes, Iliana acknowledged how handsome Tristan really was. She noted it when they first met, but refrained herself from gawking and dwelling too much on the thought. As handsome as he looked, she didn't miss the peril lurking behind it all. Recalling what she told Vanora, "dangerous" was the primary word to describe the men of the Hamaxobii tribe. She would know, since Andres came from that tribe himself.

Despite the revelation, it was difficult for her not to be drawn to him.

If she had to guess how old he was, she would have guessed thirty-three or thirty-four by the hint of grey she saw in his beard when they first met. His status as a knight in combination with his Hamaxobii roots could ensnare any woman with just one look from that mesmerizing brown gaze. When she closed her eyes to push the thought of him out of her mind, her thoughts ended up betraying her. She felt the heat of his body engulfing her presence, his scent filling her nostrils and seeing his gaze up close beneath the bangs he concealed himself behind.

She gasped as she opened her eyes, her breathing growing heavy as she covered her mouth with her hand. What was going on with her? Why was she letting these thoughts and emotions mess with her and her mind? The pounding of her heart was so intense that she was sure it could burst out of her ribcage at any second, and even as she attempted to take deep breaths, it did little to calm her down.

She felt Arion's breath and nose tickle her ear and neck, and in response, Iliana reached behind her to pet him. The sun continued to shine brightly, slowly drying her body and hair as she relished in its warmth. She could still feel Tristan's eyes on her, and although the towel covered her, it felt as though she had been naked when he was staring at her. She wondered how much longer he would stay in Britain before they discharged him, deciding that she would not let him daunt her in that time. He had stirred up feelings in her that were absolutely foreign to her, and it was pointless to harbor feelings for someone that she may never see again.

As she stood up and changed back into her dress, Iliana hoped her acknowledgment would help her in dealing with these feelings. If this was a hint of something for which she had not adequately prepared, what would it mean for her when the time came to approach it?

Tristan wandered to an unknown destination, holding on to Siria's reins as he walked down the beaten path. He wasn't sure where he was going, but at the moment, he didn't care. All that was on his mind at that very moment was the sight of a half-covered, soaking wet Iliana.

The image of her was as clear as day: her darkened, damp, blonde hair, her ivory skin glistening under the sunlight, and the water dripping from her hair and onto her neck and collarbones, making the sight of her even more erotic. Add the way she looked at him as their eyes locked and held contact, and he would consider her to be the prettiest girl he had ever laid eyes on.

A part of him wanted to reach out and feel her skin beneath his calloused touch. Her complexion looked so flawless and smooth, and besides imagining how soft she felt, he also imagined her slender form molding perfectly with his own if he held her close to him. When he realized where his mind was wandering, he shook his head to snap himself out of his trance.

It had only been two days since they met, and he shouldn't even be thinking such barbaric thoughts about a woman. Yet, she was all he had been thinking about since then.

He pictured her in the belly dancing outfit she wore when she danced for Vanora's children and the men. He saw the way she swayed her sides and hips, and he remembered how she looked at him when she danced for him and the men. It was a smoldering gaze that penetrated right through him, slowly melting the ice that encased his heart. What was it she saw to make her look at him like that?

He eventually came across another stretch of the forest in which the trees circled the area, and as Siria helped herself to some of the fresh grass, Tristan sat down on a log and pulled out an apple and his knife. As the breeze picked up, he was almost certain he heard Iliana's voice singing amongst the wind as it hummed through the ruffling leaves. He wondered if she was actually singing now, and what kind of song it was. He leaned back against the trunk of the tree behind him, allowing himself to get lost in the moment, and with a glance at the sky, thought of the bright blue gaze that captured his attention.

The next month passed in the blink of an eye.

During the day, Iliana would head to the stables to help Jols if necessary, and even when it wasn't, it gave her an excuse to see Arion and sing for him and the horses. They had grown fond of her voice, and she feared that if she missed a day, they would trample the stables restlessly until she calmed them down. He was grateful for her help whenever she offered it. It made tending to the stables much easier when she was there, since she kept the horses occupied.

On certain occasions, if time allowed it, she would also belly dance for the children and even the knights if they weren't out on a mission or in a meeting with Arthur. It was a special reward she offered to the children as long as they behaved and listened to their mother. They delivered on their end mostly, and she delivered on her end of the bargain.

During the evenings, she would work at the tavern assisting Vanora, and not only did she pick up on her speed with serving the patrons, she got to know them as well. The vast majority of them grew to love and adore her, and to her surprise, they respected how she wasn't promiscuous. If any of them tried to flirt with her, it was Lancelot. While she had done her best to avoid him pulling her into his lap, there were a couple of instances where he was successful. Luckily, Vanora was always there to rescue her during his successful moments.

Yet, despite his flirtatious nature, Iliana realized he wasn't so bad of a person whenever he wasn't trying to flirt with her. She glimpsed the lonely man beneath the facade, and she knew it served as a distraction from what he had seen during his servitude. Despite stating her lack of interest in him, it didn't stop him from trying to get her in his lap and arms. He accepted she would never bed him, but he vowed eventually to steal a kiss from her lips before his discharge.

Besides Lancelot, she formed friendships with each of the knights, who had taken her under their wing and made her feel accepted. Arthur became a father figure to her, and she had turned to him for advice on more than one occasion. Bors adored her like no tomorrow, happy that there was another person willing to occupy his children, and Vanora never hesitated to turn to her for help regarding them. Dagonet's stoic, yet kind nature reminded her of her father, and when she shared her gained knowledge of healing and herbs, he jumped at the chance to apprentice her whenever time permitted.

If there was anyone she got close to, it was Gawain and Galahad. Because of their similarities in appearance, Iliana called Gawain her "Big Brother", often saying it in her native Greek tongue he had grown to like, and Galahad was her "Little Brother", despite him being several years older than her. She pointed out that it was because of her belief that she was more emotionally mature than he was, which earned her plenty of laughs and snickers from the rest of the men and a mutual agreement to keep the nickname. While Galahad loathed it at first, he eventually grew to like it because it came from her and she smiled over it every time.

If anything, it was the first time in what felt like forever that she could finally drop her guard and allow herself to get close to people. Two years of grieving in silence and keeping her distance felt like an eternity, and after being on her own for that long, it was time for a change of pace that was for the better.

Where Tristan was concerned, however, Iliana tried her hardest not to dwell on the thought of him too much. Despite his silent, distant nature, she got along with him, and he acknowledged her presence whenever they saw each other. When he came upon her in the stables singing to the horses one morning (not realizing he heard her the day he caught her half-clothed), he listened to her, mesmerized by her voice and how she tended to the horses at the same time. When she realized he would be out scouting more frequently because of the Woads, she made sure Siria was in tip-top condition daily. Sometimes, it wasn't easy if he was there watching her; his brown eyes never ceased to mesmerize her, and reluctantly, she grew to love that gaze and even the feel of his presence.

Whenever he had to leave, a part of her felt bereft of his departure, making her wonder if this feeling is what she had been looking for since her younger years. She had little to no experience with the opposite sex. There were boys that expressed an interest in her, but none of them really caught her eye. Add her not having her mother or another woman around to turn to for advice while she was in Sarmatia, and she was really a sitting duck. Leoric knew he couldn't fill that empty void she needed, and thus, he did the best he could with what he had.

As her thoughts lingered on the Sarmatian scout, Iliana came to realize that he was the type of man she preferred: tall, dark, handsome, and mysterious, with a hint of danger surrounding him. There was always something about the Sarmatian warriors that made a woman's head turn, and it explained why the wenches that frequented the tavern kept coming back for more. She didn't hold the men at fault for giving in to those carnal urges; there were certain instances in which a distraction was absolutely necessary, but a part of her hoped they would each find a woman to want to settle down with. Since Leoric found the one for him, she knew it was possible for them, and if she had to make it happen, she would find a way.

It was a late afternoon one day, and Iliana finished assisting Jols with the horses following a mission the knights had recently returned from a few hours prior. She spent a little extra time with Siria, grooming and cleaning her with Arion occasionally intervening to give the both of them some affection. Once she was clean, Iliana stroked her neck as she nudged her face with her nose.

"You're all cleaned up and looking beautiful, my dear. A little less for your master to worry about," she cooed to the mare in Greek, causing her to whinny in delight.

The other horses snorted, and Iliana couldn't help but giggle at their reactions as she blew them a kiss.

"I love you all just as much. Now, I'll leave you to rest. I'll sing for you another time, okay?"

When the horses whinnied in approval, Iliana smiled at them. She then gave Arion some affection and kissed his nose, and she was on her way to the tavern.

"Ili! Impeccable timing!" Vanora called as she approached her.

"Hi, Vanora. Do you need me to help set the tavern up?"

"Actually, one of the other barmaids wanted to trade her night off tonight for your shift. Would you like to do that?"

She took notice of the barmaid in question from over Vanora's shoulder, looking at her with a puppy dog expression. Glancing between the two women, she nodded.

"Sure. I don't see why not."

She smiled at the relieved look the barmaid gave her as she lipped out a "thank you" to her.

"Well, since you have the night off, head upstairs to your room. Bors and I got you a little something to thank you for your help this month."

"Oh. Vanora, you didn't have to do that," Iliana said.

"I insist, sweetheart. Between the tavern and the children, we felt it was the least we could do, and the children agreed on it too."

The gesture touched Iliana.

"Thank you. All of you."

"Hurry along and get dressed," Vanora said, ushering her towards the loft. "Bors is dying to see it, and I'm sure the rest of the men will drool over it."

With a laugh and a shake of her head, Iliana exchanged a look with her before heading upstairs with a feeling that it was going to be an interesting night tonight.

"Oh, my word. Vanora, Bors and the kids really went all out for this dress," Iliana said to herself as she studied herself in the vast mirror before her. The dress they picked out for her was a Celtic style of a royal blue color with a square neckline, bell-shaped sleeves and gold trimming on the neckline, sleeves, and waistline. It fit her perfectly, the shape emphasizing her figure and her bust. They also picked out a simple pair of black, lace-up leather boots to go with it, and with a simple pair of white stockings, she looked more like a Briton than Sarmatian or Greek.

Yet, despite that fact, she couldn't help but acknowledge and admire how beautiful she looked as she smoothed out her hair. She could hear the bustling and chatter coming from outside, showing that the tavern was now open.

"Well, let's get going before Vanora wonders what's taking so long."

Inhaling a deep breath and then letting it out, Iliana left the room, feeling her heart beginning to pound in her chest.

"She accepted the night off?" Bors asked, to which Vanora nodded as she poured each of the men a drink.

"And I told her to wear the dress that you, me and the children picked out for her," she announced.

"Ooh. I can already picture it," Bors said with glee as he downed his ale in one gulp.

"What kind of dress did you pick out for her?" Galahad asked.

Just as Vanora was about to answer, her eyes lit up when she looked in the loft's direction. The men followed her gaze, and they saw Iliana peeking around the doorway. However, she was quick to hide just as they saw her.

"I hope she isn't feeling self-conscious right now. She has no reason to be," Gawain said.

"I'll go get her," Vanora announced, making her way over to where Iliana was.

Tristan sat a bit aways from the table, cutting bits and pieces of an apple and occasionally looking up towards the direction of the loft. He was trying to see Iliana, but she hid herself well behind the wall around the corner. Vanora was standing in front of her, talking with her and probably persuading her to grace them with her presence. He was curious to find out what Bors and Vanora picked out for her; it was their gift as thanks for her help with the children.

Vanora stole a quick glance in their direction, and with another look towards Iliana, the girl peeked out from behind the wall before taking Vanora's hand and allowing her to lead the way. When she stepped out from behind the wall, Tristan was stunned silent. The dress really complimented her figure, the royal blue standing out with her ivory complexion. Her hair hung down freely and was hanging over her right shoulder, and in combination with the slight blush adorning her cheeks, she looked like a princess.

Lancelot let out a low whistle.

"Wow. You and Vanora chose a magnificent dress, Bors. She's a vision."

"I thought so too," the rounded knight said with pride.

"Our little sister looks like royalty, Galahad," Gawain said, patting the young knight on the shoulder, causing him to chuckle before he spoke.

"She deserves to be treated that way. She deserves only the best."

His words rang in Tristan's mind. Iliana deserved only the best in both life and love.

"Good evening, gentlemen," she greeted with her sweetest smile.

"Good evening to you, Ili," Dagonet greeted back, raising his mug towards her. "You look beautiful tonight."

"Thanks," she said with a smile before proceeding to give a graceful bow.

"Okay. Come sit with us and enjoy a drink, little lassie," Bors announced, gesturing with his hand to join them. "This is your first night off of work, and you are going to enjoy it."

She nodded and sat down in between Bors and Galahad. She stole a glance at Tristan from over her shoulder, whose face was as unreadable as ever, but his eyes and silence spoke a different story that she saw and heard as the two stared at each other for a moment before she turned away just as Vanora set down a cup full of ale.

"Thanks," she said with a smile, wrapping her hands around the cup.

"Cheers to the little lassie and her first official night off work, gentlemen," Bors announced, raising his cup, to which the men and Iliana raised their own cups and clicked them together. "Drink up, Ili. Let's see how fast you can down a cup."

Iliana turned to him, her eyes glowing with mischief as she stood up from her seat with her cup in hand.

"If there's one thing you should know, Big Boar, it's to never challenge a girl of Sarmatian and Greek blood to a drinking game," she said with a chuckle. "We know how to hold our liquor."

The men all said, "Ooh" in response as the rounded knight gave her a look before standing up from his seat with his cup in hand, keeping his eyes locked with hers.

"Challenge accepted. Drink up."

The two clicked their cups together before proceeding to chug them down. Cheers and whistles broke out amongst the men, and Iliana was the first to finish, setting her cup down on the table with Bors setting his own cup down right after her.

"Impressive, little lassie, and you're still standing straight."

He turned towards Vanora, who was grabbing another full pitcher of ale.

"Van! Another drink for Ili! On me!" he yelled.

She smiled as she approached the table, filling Iliana's cup first and then proceeding to top off the rest of the men. Bors raised his cup to her, and she returned the sentiment, taking yet another hearty sip before ultimately downing her second round of ale and then a third one. When she finished her fourth drink at Bors's insistence, there was a slight hint of pink in her cheeks. However, she was still standing and still able to see straight, to the surprise of the men and herself.

"Ili, think you're coherent enough for another round of dagger throwing?" asked a slightly drunk Galahad. "You may have beaten me the last time, but not this time!"

She turned to look at him, a small smirk forming on the corner of her lips at the announcement that caught the attention of not only the men, but everyone else present in the tavern.

"What? Convinced that I won't beat you again, Little Brother? I would hate to humiliate you a second time, and considering the alcohol already in your system, you'll be aiming three feet to the left of the center."

The men whistled and laughed, with Gawain and Lancelot badgering the youngest knight with a few jabs of their own. She smirked at how red Galahad turned at the top of his ears and his cheeks, and he stood, pointing at her as he locked eyes with her.

"Challenge accepted. You and me, Ili. Now."

Iliana giggled as she brought her leg up to the stool, lifting enough of her skirt to reveal her boot and the handle of the knife stashed away beneath the leather. When she pulled it out, she tossed it in the air casually, catching it by the blade without even flinching.

"Oi! The little lassie has a little spunk in her when she's drunk!" Bors exclaimed. "Love you, Ili!"

The smile on Iliana's lips widened slightly as she gave the rounded knight a wink as Galahad readied his knife and Gawain prepared the stool.

"Hope you're prepared to lose to me this time, Ili," Galahad declared, a confident expression plastered on his face.

"Actually, I'm prepared to see your pride slapped hard in the face yet again by yours truly, Little Brother," Iliana announced, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pressing her temple against his.

This jab earned her some laughs from the men, and once she pulled herself away, Galahad threw his knife. The combination of his frustration and drunkenness made him land his knife just a few inches above the center, earning him more teasing from the men.

"Watch and learn, Little Brother," Iliana said.

She took aim, using her left arm to support her right, and with a deep breath, threw the knife. Despite being slightly intoxicated, the blade landed close to the center, earning her some cheers and whistles.

"Even drunk, Little Sister can still aim," Gawain said with pride.

She smiled when he spoke Greek, taking pride in his smooth pronunciation. She taught him how to say "Little Sister" and "Little Brother", and she planned to teach him more words and phrases if he wanted to learn.

"Has she been teaching you how to speak Greek, Gawain?" Lancelot asked.

"Aye, and I've been enjoying every second of her lessons," the golden-haired knight replied with a smile.

"When are you going to teach me Greek, Ili?" Lancelot asked.

"Perhaps when you stop mindlessly flirting with me," Iliana replied. "I've made it clear many times that I'm not interested in you, but I know it won't stop you from trying."

This statement earned her a chuckle and a smirk from the curly-haired, jovial knight as everyone else laughed.

"You've figured me out fairly quickly. Consider yourself lucky you're not within my reach, for you would have been in my lap by now."

She chuckled and shook her head, smirking when Vanora smacked him upside the back of his head. When Galahad cleared his throat next to her, she turned her attention back to the game as he handed her dagger back to her. She had to stifle a giggle as she saw the frustrated look on his face, and with an annoyed huff, he threw his dagger. Iliana's surprise grew when it landed dead center, and Galahad gave her a triumphant smile. She felt a little lightheaded from the alcohol, taking her a little longer to steady herself as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Just relax and take a deep breath. You got this, my dearest daughter."

In that moment, it was as if Leoric was making her as light as a feather just as the moon broke through the clouds and shined down on her. She found her resolve, and right after letting out the breath she held, Iliana threw the blade.

It landed right in the hilt of Galahad's knife, and she saw the shocked look on his face as she turned to look at him.

"What were you saying about you beating me this time?"

The young knight let out a frustrated groan.

"Top off Ili's cup, Vanora," he announced.

The redhead nodded and grabbed her cup, filling it before handing it to her. After filling Galahad's cup, the two cheered, and they both downed their ale in unison. When he held his free arm out to her, Iliana walked straight into him, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders in a half hug.

"I don't think any less of you, Little Brother," she said.

"And I appreciate that," he said with a nod.

She pulled away, proceeding to go collect her dagger, when the world around her suddenly spun.

"Uh-oh. I think I'm going to-"

She lost consciousness before she could finish her sentence.

End Notes: The next chapter will be out in a day or so! Check back!