Tristan

Castle of Grytia

Tristan looked down at the sweet angel sleeping within his arms, her warmth enveloping him, and her softness making his insides flutter.

What the hell had possessed his mind when he abandoned her for the long winter months, believing it was the only way he could stop thinking of her. If anything, it only made him grow more desperate for her. It was the worst winter in his life, apart from the winter that had followed Olivea's death.

Olivea... He smiled bitterly as he recalled his late wife. He had thought that he could never fall in love with anyone again. But here he was, deep down in love with an angel. He still loved Olivea of course. He would continue to love her forever. But she was dead. And he was still alive.

He closed his arms around Alina and closed his eyes. It had been over a month since he confessed his love for her. And every day he grew to love her more than he thought. But it still never seemed enough. He had thought it over and over for the past month. And every day he became more assured of his decision.

He wanted to spend the rest of his life with Alina.

A soft moan brought his attention to the girl in his arms, and he smiled down as he saw her eyes squinting against the bright sunlight that poured in through the windows.

"Is it morning yet?" she asked in a sleepy voice.

"Morning? It's almost noon, sleepyhead," Tristan chuckled and Alina groaned.

"Well it's your fault I slept that much!"

"Is it now? Like you didn't want me to do the things that made you sleep that much?" Tristan teased and Alina only buried her blushing face against his chest. He cupped her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Tsk, you don't turn your face away from me," he leered down at her.

"And you don't say naughty things in the morning."

"Well I haven't said anything yet."

"And you better not say anything," she pouted as she turned to rise, wrapping the bedsheets around her naked body.

"Even if I say that I want to marry you?"

Alina was halfway off the bed, when Tristan's words came out of nowhere, causing her to freeze. Tristan held his breath, and his heart raced. How he managed to say that, he had no idea. He had been planning on opening up the subject with her for the past few days, but he was waiting to find the right moment and the right place to do so. He had even planned to ask Edward for advice. And perhaps find her a nice gift first, a new ring or necklace. But all his plans disappeared in a moment, and he found himself blurting out the words without a second thought.

Alina slowly turned back to face him, her sweet honey eyes wide with disbelief. She stared at him for a long moment of awe before her eyes started narrowing. And she suddenly scowled.

"Don't joke about something like that!" she said, tossing a pillow at his face.

Tristan caught the pillow just in time and hurled it away. Then he turned to Alina with a dead serious face, and he noticed her cowering a bit beneath his intense gaze.

"Do I look like I am joking now?" he asked, keeping his voice stern and his face straight. Alina only shook her head in response. "Good," Tristan's voice softened, and he gently held Alina's trembling hands, securing them in his own. There was no going back now. "So... will you marry me?"

"Is that... even possible?" Alina asked timidly. "I mean, I am a slave and you're –"

"You won't remain a slave for long. And you did not answer my question."

"I... are you serious? I mean..." Alina stammered and Tristan's eyes narrowed. She paused for a moment as tears filled her eyes and suddenly, her arms flew around his neck, almost strangling him, and her soft body slammed against his chest. "Yes!" she cried out, her voice breaking with emotion. "I will marry you!"

Tristan felt his whole body melting and his soul floating. He couldn't believe he had just asked Alina to marry him. Not that he regretted it. On the contrary. It was the best thing he had ever done. And he only realized again what a fool he had been for trying to shun her those past months. He sighed and wrapped his arms around her, indulging in her warmth and breathing in her sweet scent.

"I love you..." she whispered before her lips found his. He kissed her back, doing all he could to keep things calm. His body was already heating up as she wrapped her legs around his waist, but he did not intend to remain in bed all day.

"Come on girl, time to get up," he said as he broke the kiss, sending a little slap to her backside. She gasped in surprise, while Tristan chuckled as he disentangled himself from her. He gave her a quick peck on her forehead, before he went to find his clothes.

***

A dreamy smile still lingered on his face as he walked through the corridor along the bedchambers, fully dressed up for training. But his smile soon disappeared at the sound of distant sobs coming from the opposite end of the corridor. Tristan listened carefully, following the sounds, until he reached one of the arched balconies overlooking a small garden below. While he imagined that he would find one of the girls, he was surprised to find Alexander crying as he leaned over the parapets.

"What's wrong?" Tristan asked, and Alexander turned around in alarm, his sparkling blue eyes overflowing with tears. "Is something wrong with Jared?"

"No, My Lord," Alexander wiped his face. "He's f... fine."

"Then why are you crying?" Tristan asked, but Alexander didn't answer. "Come along then, let's go see him."

"No!" Alexander cried out and Tristan frowned at him suspiciously. Alexander looked away in embarrassment and attempted to speak more calmly, "I mean... it's better if you don't see him now. He's not... really in his best mood. I mean... he's quite angry and –"

"And I am supposed to be scared?" Tristan teased and Alexander blushed. "Come on boy."

Tristan pulled Alexander along to Jared's chamber, and Alexander gasped in alarm the moment they entered. Jared was standing in the middle of the room, his face twisted in pain and his whole body shaking as he held on to a single crutch, struggling to remain on his feet.

"Jared!" Alexander hurried to support Jared, only to receive a dark glare from the towering man.

"I told you to leave me alone!" Jared growled at Alexander and the poor boy flinched. "Useless wimp!"

"Hey, calm down big bear," Tristan said as he held Jared's left arm and slowly walked him back towards the bed.

"I don't need help," Jared grunted as Tristan helped him sit down.

"Yes you do," Tristan argued. "And you need to stop yelling at my slaves."

"I will not stop yelling until that little fuck understands that I do not want him to help me," Jared hissed as he turned to scowl at a shivering Alexander. "Look at him! He really thinks he could support my full weight and help me walk around the room? He'd get crushed with the slightest wrong move."

Tristan turned to look at Alexander and frowned. The boy was a pitiful mess, his thin body shaking visibly. And despite his lowered head, Tristan could clearly see his streaming tears and his quivering lips.

"Alexander, please leave us for now," Tristan said calmly. "Go find Alina. I believe she has some news to tell you."

Alexander peeked up hesitantly at Tristan, and Tristan nodded back at him in assurance. Without a word, Alexander turned and left the room, deep hurt still showing on his sweet face.

"What the hell was that?" Tristan turned to Jared with a reproachful look. "The boy is willing to give his life for you and you just –"

"I don't want him to give his life for me!" Jared snapped, rage sparking within his hazel eyes. "I don't even want him at all!"

"What do you mean?" Tristan frowned down suspiciously at Jared.

Jared took in a deep ragged breath and lowered his head, clenching his fists. His chest heaved for a few moments as he took in a few more breaths, and Tristan could tell he was trying to calm himself down.

"He doesn't deserve this," Jared finally said, his voice though calmer now was still holding deep bitterness. "He doesn't deserve to waste his life serving a disabled man. I should ask him to leave me."

"Jared, I will not hear this nonsense," Tristan said, his face darkening. He grabbed Jared's shoulders forcing him to look up. "You are not disabled. You will get better and you will grow even stronger than you had been before. You will fight alongside me again and we will kill off fucking Northmen again. Alexander will never leave you. And I will never leave you."

Jared's eyes shone with suppressed emotion as he looked up at Tristan. Tristan only frowned with determination, before he pulled Jared in a reassuring embrace.

Of course Tristan would never leave him. He had known Jared for most of his adult life. They had both served King William together for several years before Tristan marched to Grytia the first time. And when King William appointed Tristan as Lord of Grytia, he had ordered Jared to serve as Tristan's personal guard. Since that day, Jared had become Tristan's shadow, always ready to give his own life to protect him. And that was why, Tristan could never leave him...

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Sorry for the abrupt ending again, but this is part of another super long chapter which I decided to split. The rest of the events will continue in the next part, which will be a bit longer.

So Tristan finally proposed to Alina! How do you feel about it? Was it surprising or did you expect it?

And how do you feel about the way Jared treats Alex? Does he sound too abusive, or is it apparent that he's just hurt?

If you like this chapter, don't forget to leave a comment and vote!