Author's Notes: And we slowly ease our way into the movie's plot with yet another update! Enjoy!
Chapter XXIV
Tristan basked in the sunlight, now that the sun finally broke free from the clouds that rolled in earlier in the day. Siria trotted down the dirt road alongside the horses of his brothers, the men leading the Bishop's carriage towards the town behind Hadrian's Wall. The chains of the tension from earlier eased up slightly, but their hold didn't loosen up. Merlin's interest in Iliana was still weighing heavily on his mind, and as he looked at the Wall, he hoped Merlin didn't send another band of Woads after her while he and the men were away.
Once he received his discharge papers, he intended to take Iliana off the island. He didn't know what Merlin exactly wanted from her, but he would not risk losing her. Merlin was an unpredictable man, and that unpredictability made him capable of just about anything.
As Siria trotted down the road, Tristan pondered about how much he had changed in the past two and a half months. His father's suicide and mother's passing led him to choose an honorable death in combat. Now, he wanted to live for Iliana's sake, the image of her smile and loving gaze warming the depths of his soul.
The sound of Galahad's voice snapped him out of the moment, and he heard the men talking.
"I don't like him, that Roman. If he's here to discharge us, why doesn't he just give us our papers?"
"Is this your happy face Cat has yet to see?" Gawain asked, making the young knight smile as his cheeks flushed slightly, to the amusement of Tristan and Bors.
"Galahad, do you still not know the Romans? They won't scratch their asses without holding a ceremony."
"Why don't you just kill him, and then discharge yourself after?" Bors asked.
"I don't kill for pleasure, unlike some," Galahad replied.
Tristan knew the young knight was directing those words at him as he turned to look at him.
"Well, you should try it someday. You might get a taste for it."
Galahad gave the scout a disgusted look, not giving him a reply.
"It's part of you. It's in your blood," Bors commented.
"No, no no. No," Galahad said with a shake of his head. "As of tomorrow, this was all just a bad memory."
"Oh," Bors said, adding some exaggeration to his reply. "Would Cat be a bad memory, too?"
"Oh no. Cat would be the only memory of this that I would want to hold on to. She accepts me for who I am, and she stays by my side, regardless of what I'm dealing with. She is truly exceptional."
"I can say the same about Estrella," Gawain said. "Though I didn't mean to hurt her, she forgave me, and I don't intend to waste this chance I have with her."
"Now that I think about it, Tristan's pleasure doesn't come from killing anymore, but from Ili whenever she's lying beneath him," Bors said.
This statement earned the rounded knight a look from Tristan and laughs from Gawain and Galahad. However, those words hit the nail on the head for Tristan. Since the first night he and Iliana made love, she took the place of the pleasure he usually received from killing and shedding blood. He imagined her blonde hair as it blew with the wind, her bright blue eyes glowing with affection when she looked his way, her smile that never ceased to warm his heart, and her slender figure as she either belly danced or straddled him in bed. Now that he was to be a free man soon, he could finally focus on her and give her the future her father wished for her all these years.
As they got closer to town, Tristan wondered what Iliana was doing at this very moment. From spending time with Vanora and the children, training either by herself or with her Sirens, taking one of her leisurely strolls around town or taking Arion out for a ride, he imagined every plausible scenario. When he looked at the trees of the nearby forest, he remembered their first meeting when he found her traveling with Arion alone, and he realized how far they had come since then. He still remembered how wary she was of him at first, and it was only through Arion's approval of him that the barrier between them came down.
The memories of her flashed throughout his mind: watching her closely from a distance, catching her half-clothed in the spring, catching her drunken, passed out self and staying with her in her quarters as she slept it off, rescuing her from Gregor, their time together at the festival, chasing after her to the coastal village, and making love to her for the first time after reuniting with her.
He made these memories with her while he was still a slave to Rome. Now that his freedom was within his grasp, he could make more memories with her without either of them worrying about Rome intervening.
He heard Talia's familiar cry from up in the sky, and with a treat between his thumb and index finger, he whistled. Talia came swooping down, perching atop his left arm and snagging the treat in her beak.
"Where you been, now? Where you been?"
Talia screeched as he scratched her chest, and she looked straight ahead as the sun shined on the other side of the plain. When he looked, he saw Iliana atop the bare back of Arion, and despite being a good fifty meters away from her, he could tell she was fighting back tears at the sight of him and the men. She was relieved to see they were safe, and she was attempting to steady her breathing so that her emotions didn't overwhelm her.
Oh, how he wanted to break away from the men and go to her. After the attempted ambush by the Woads and the knowledge that they were looking for her amongst them, he wanted to hold her. Unfortunately, he needed to stay with the men and finish the escort. Once he was free, he was going to keep her close and keep true to his promise of making deep, passionate love to her. Tonight, she would moan nothing but his name as he pulled her into that sea of desire.
She pulled on Arion's reins, making him rear up before she kicked his flank, making him take off towards town. The stallion was as majestic as ever, and she was beautiful and poised as they went on their way.
"Was that Ili just now?" Galahad asked.
"She saw us. She's relieved we're back," Gawain replied. "And so is a certain someone."
While Tristan watched Iliana take off with Arion, the men looked at him. The sooner they dropped the Bishop and got their discharge papers, the better.
"Whoa! Steady, Arion!" Iliana exclaimed, pulling on the reins to bring the stallion to a halt in the fresh grass of the plain that was just outside of town, but within the boundaries of the Wall. He snorted and shook his head as he slowed down, and once he came to a complete stop, she leaned forward slightly and patted him on the neck. She felt the tension flowing off his frame around her legs, and when he let out another snort, she leaned further until her cheek pressed against his mane.
"What the hell is troubling you, my love?" she asked, frustrated that she could not decipher her noble steed's antsy behavior. She felt her heart racing within the confines of her chest as he let out yet another snort, and she choked back tears as she attempted to keep her cool.
Jols had come to her an hour prior while she and the Sirens were relaxing in the graveyard in a panic, informing her of Arion's anxiety. This led her to taking him and riding him bareback, hoping it would ease him, like it usually did. However, it seemed to have done the opposite, and his anxiety was only getting worse. In all the years she had him, Iliana never saw him in such an antsy state like this before. One thing was for sure: he was trying to tell her something, but what was it?
Her thoughts turned to the men as she gazed up at the sky, hoping they were safe and on their way back with the Bishop right about now. She yearned to be in Tristan's arms right now, craving the comfort his warmth and scent provided for her. Were the men still far away from the Wall, or were they close to where she could run to them? This wait felt like an eternity, and the nagging feeling that was gnawing in the back of her mind didn't help to make the feeling more manageable.
"Whatever this feeling is, I'm hoping it's nothing more than coincidence, love," she said. "Something is troubling you, and I can feel it, too. I will definitely need to keep my eyes and ears open when the men return with the Bishop.
"What I really want is for my Sirens to be happy at last and live their lives away from the violence and carnage they escaped from, and I want to permit myself to be happy now that I've found my happiness in Tristan. All I can do for now is pray and hope for the best."
Arion let out a whinny, and she smiled slightly when she felt him go lax.
The sound of trumpets in the far distance made her snap out of her thoughts, prompting her to snap up and straighten her body up in full atop Arion. In response, Arion whinnied out of concern, and she patted his neck once again.
"They're back, love. The men have returned with the Bishop."
His head and ears perked up at her words, and before she had the chance to react, the stallion was taking off into a deeper stretch of the field. Iliana was quick to hold on to the reins as he galloped, anticipation running through them both as they got to a clearing in the grass.
There, trotting down the dirt road that led back into town, were Arthur and the men. The Bishop's carriage trailed right behind them, and the Roman cavalry brought up the rear. She brought one hand up to cover her mouth, tears forming in the back of her eyes at the sight of all seven of them, safe and sound.
Thank you, God. Thank you, Father, she thought, breathing out a sigh of relief.
Tristan then looked her way, with Talia also looking at her from her perch on his arm. When she felt his eyes lock with hers, Iliana took a deep breath, fighting back the tears as she stared at him.
He's okay. They're all okay. You can breathe, Ili.
Arion whinnied, relieved to see Siria, and she leaned forward to pat his neck.
"Let's get you back to the stables. The sooner I get you settled in, the sooner you'll get to see Siria, and I'll get to see Tristan."
She pulled on Arion's reins, and he reared up with a neigh. Once he was back down, Iliana kicked her heel into his flank, and he took off towards the direction of the town.
It didn't take Iliana and Arion long to get back into town, and he was eager to be settled in his stall so that he could see Siria. Once she shut the gate, Iliana removed his reins and patted his nose.
"You'll see her soon. I will see you on the morrow, love. I'm going to see Tristan."
The stallion nudged her with his nose, encouraging her to be on her way, and with another pat to his nose, Iliana gave him a smile before leaving the stables and heading towards the courtyard where the fortress hall was located.
"Open the gate!" a guard called from a far distance, and she heard galloping as she saw Arthur and the men file in with the Bishop's carriage behind them. She saw her Sirens, Vanora, and the children approach the gate, waiting for the men as the Bishop came out of the carriage. She noticed the Bishop had donned the armor of a Roman soldier, and she assumed it was a disguise just in case there was an ambush during the journey.
"Bishop, please. My quarters have been made available to you," Arthur announced.
"Oh, yes. I must rest," the Bishop said.
Iliana was quick to hide behind a nearby pillar, wanting to keep her presence concealed as she felt a shiver tear through her spine. Something about the Bishop rubbed her the wrong way, and she immediately thought of Arion's behavior from earlier. She didn't like the way he looked at the men, and she really didn't like the looks he gave her Sirens. If looks could kill, the death glare she had in her eyes would have meant his immediate death where he stood.
Once the Roman soldiers that were guarding the gate stepped aside, Iliana watched the scene unfold as her Sirens greeted their men. She smiled at the sight of Catalina, Estrella, and Sophia pouncing Galahad, Gawain, and Lancelot, respectively. Dimitra, as reserved as ever, simply approached Dagonet and kissed his cheek. Vanora smacked Bors across the face before the two kissed passionately, and then Bors scooped Gilly up in his arms. When the boy looked over his shoulder, he spotted her from behind the pillar.
"Auntie Ili!"
The call of her name had the others turning towards the pillar, and with a sigh, a small smile, and a shake of her head, Iliana came out from behind the pillar and walked towards them. Her eyes locked with Tristan's as they stared at each other, and only when she was close enough did the men notice her clothing.
"Aren't those your old clothes, Tristan?" Dagonet asked.
When she saw the surprised look in his eyes, Iliana exchanged a look with Sophia, and the two exchanged a few giggles. However, the giggles were short-lived when she saw a hint of lust in Tristan's gaze.
"They look good on her," Galahad said, to which the rest of the men nodded in agreement, making the young blonde blush.
"Knights, we'll have an hour of rest before we meet with the Bishop in the council chamber," Arthur announced. "You're all dismissed until then."
The second everyone filed out, Tristan approached Iliana and wrapped his free arm around her back, and she wrapped her arm around his waist before the two set off for Tristan's quarters.
Iliana felt the tension flowing off Tristan as they made it to his room. She took Talia from him, setting her on the sill of the window as he removed his weapons, jerkin, and coat. She fed the bird a handful of seeds and gave her a stroke on the chest, and she cried in approval while flapping her wings. Gazing at the bird affectionately, she knew something happened during their journey, and she had a hunch of what it could be.
When she pulled away from Talia, she felt Tristan's hands on her shoulders, and she turned around to look at him. Neither of them spoke a word for a moment, and unable to stand the silence and tension any longer, Iliana grabbed his face with both hands and crushed her lips to his. She surprised him with her boldness and the forcefulness of her kiss, but he reciprocated with an equally passionate kiss. He stepped forward, making her step back, and when the backs of her knees hit the edge of the bed, she allowed herself to fall back, pulling him down with her.
They exchanged several more kisses before having to pull away, the two of them staring into each other's eyes as they panted for air.
"The Woads attacked, didn't they?" Iliana asked the second she caught her breath. "It's clear by the blood on your face and hands."
"Aye. They did," he replied. "We intervened before they could get to the Bishop."
"And because you were as equally aggressive when you kissed me back, they were looking for me amongst you and the men on Merlin's orders."
Rather than speak his confirmation, Tristan leaned forward and kissed her neck. As pleasing as his mouth felt against her skin, Iliana knew his aggression towards the Woads was fueling it, and she needed to stop it.
"Hey, hey. Slow down," she cooed, putting her hands on his shoulders to push him back. "I won't let you have your wicked way with me when you're angry and frustrated. I know it's not directed at me, but you're not in the right state of mind."
When he let out a growl, she gave him a look that told him she made up her mind, and she reached up to cup his cheeks.
"We'll resume this tonight, and hopefully by then, you'll have calmed down," she announced. "For now, let's get that blood off you, and I need to wash the sweat off my skin. Do you have a wash basin we can use?"
Iliana breathed out a relieved sigh as she got comfortable atop Tristan. She was naked save for the towel wrapped around her body, and the ends of her hair were damp. Tristan was also naked with just a towel covering his waist, droplets of water coming off his hair and landing on his collarbones. She didn't miss the look in his eyes as they stared at each other, but she made up her mind, and there was no convincing her otherwise.
"Save your energy. You still have that meeting with the Bishop besides receiving your discharge papers. Patience, okay?"
He ran his fingers through her damp hair, and when he cupped her cheek, she leaned into it.
"Besides making love to me, is there anything in particular you would want to do first once you're discharged?" she asked.
Her question caught him off guard for a moment, but he allowed himself to think it over before he spoke up.
"You mentioned your home in Greece. Would you want to travel there?"
"I would love to," Iliana replied. "The last time I saw it, I was still just a child. I would like to see if it's changed at all, see some old faces if they're still around, and pay a visit to my mother's grave."
"Is your father buried in Sarmatia?" Tristan asked.
"Nay," Iliana replied with a shake of her head. "Per his last wishes, he wanted to be cremated and his ashes scattered to the wind in Sarmatia. That way, no matter where I went, if I felt the wind, I would feel his presence.
"Do you want to return to Sarmatia?"
"I would like to see it one more time, at the very least," he replied.
"An enormous sea of grass and open field with the clear, blue sky above and the mountains in the distance. That's how I describe Sarmatia," Iliana explained. "I'm betting it probably hasn't changed since I left all those months ago."
"It's how I would describe it from the few memories I still have when I used to hunt for my mother and myself," Tristan mused.
"At least you got to meet and know your mother," Iliana pointed out. "I never got that opportunity with my mother, since she died not long after I was born."
"And I could say the same thing about you with your father," he argued gently. "I barely knew my own before he took his own life, and despite the demons your father was fighting, he stayed strong for you. That's the most noble choice a man can ever make in his lifetime."
With a chuckle, Iliana leaned forward and pressed her lips to his in a gentle kiss, pressing her brow against his.
"I think the reason we complement each other so well is that we mirror each other," she explained. "We both have been through similar, but different, experiences, and yet, we know and understand each other without having to say a word to express it. We feel it in each other, and we see it through our facial expressions and in each other's eyes.
"Now I understand what my father meant when he told me I would feel it when I fell in love. I'm feeling it, even now, and I didn't fall. I crashed into it, but I have no regrets about letting it happen."
In response, Tristan closed the small gap between them, giving her another kiss. Unfortunately, a knock on the door interrupted the moment.
"Tristan, we're due in the council chamber. The Bishop is coming," Lancelot announced from the other side of the door.
"Okay. I'll be right there," Tristan called back, Iliana chuckling at the annoyed tone in his voice.
"And Lady Luck jests again," she announced with a sigh, climbing off of him and picking up his clothes, throwing them at him. "Get dressed and get going. I have to meet my Sirens at the seamstress shop and get dolled up for tonight. I'll see you later, my soon-to-be free knight."
He chuckled at her before getting up off the bed himself, and he gave her yet another kiss. Iliana happily responded in kind, and despite looking forward to enjoying herself at the tavern later, she couldn't help the nagging feeling lingering in the back of her mind. Something was going to be stirred in the pot, and she would not like it.
End Notes: Check back tomorrow for the next chapter!