My Dark Knight

Chapter 29

"Do not fret."


"I let you win, love."

"No, my lord husband, I earned my victory."

"You are mistaken, my dear lady wife, I let you win."

"No, my lord husband, tis you who is mistaken. I won fairly." Sapphire said with a smirk, her eyes twinkling in wicked glee. After the match, they had raced back to Knight castle, Sapphire reaching before Tristan.
Tristan shook his head with a small smile, happiness shining from his eyes. Tristan could have easily beaten Sapphire, but he knew she would be much happier if she had won. She was fast, Tristan gave her that. She was faster than most people he had met, but he was trained differently. She wouldn't have been able to defeat him. Even though he let her win, he still liked irking her. Her eyes would dance with a unique fire.
Lord Rivers cleared his throat.

"Tristan, I suggest you not argue with the lady, they are always right."

"Aye, ye donae know a lass is always correct, no matter the situation." Duncan said with a snicker.

"Don't waste your time, my lord." Alexander smirked.

Tristan scowled at them all. They had to add their gibberish.

"Tis nothing to worry about, my lord husband, we can race again."

Sapphires eyes shined with mirth as she looked at Tristan's dark glare, his eyes softening as he looked towards her. He watched as she took a bite of food. He loved the fact that she ate. She didn't care what the other would think, when it came to food, there was no compromise. His thoughts went south as her tongue swiped over her bottom lip before biting down gently. Who knew he would be envious of a morsel of food.

Sapphire finished the last bit of food on her plate. She had been famished, no thanks to her excessive training. She had to thank cook for the wonderful food. It was brilliant. Sapphire absentmindedly planned what she would do with the remaining light there was. She had to go to the village, she missed wee Duncan and Arthur. She also had to spend time with the women. They were awfully sweet to her. The only thing stopping her from spending too much time at the village was her will to see Alexander, Duncan, and Gerald being bested by her uncle. As much as she loved watching their ego go down, she needed to see what techniques her uncle used with them.
Tristan watched as Sapphires brows crinkled in thought, his fingers itching to move them back in place. Her hair was still damp from her bath earlier, her scent creating havoc for Tristan. Perhaps they can go to bed early? He would have to persuade her, but he had no doubt of his abilities.












Lord Rivers watched from the balcony as Sapphire pointed to different stars in the sky, Tristan standing beside her. It was evident in her movements she was excited. She had no knowledge of stars, so it left him wondering what the excitement was about. One look towards Tristan's smiling, relaxed state had a soft smile forming on lord Rivers face.
Isabella had left the previous day, Xavier decided to return earlier than planned. The lad was smitten, Isabella had been ecstatic. Lord Rivers was happy for his daughters. He was even more happier for Tristan. The lad had gone through much in his short life, things he shouldn't have had to see. In a way lord Rivers always blamed himself, but he knew blaming himself would not have changed the situation.
He could still remember finding Tristan's bruised and battered body at the tender age of only eleven. The memory still fresh in his minds eye. From then on Tristan had trained with him day and night, stopping only when necessary. Shortly after that he had left. He had learned much quicker than any boy his age. Lord Rivers could still vividly recall his shock and surprise when Tristan mastered techniques in a weeks time that took men many years to grasp let alone master. He was truly exquisite. Lord Rivers thanked The Lord every single day and night, Tristan deserved every bit of happiness.













"Must you go to the village in the morn." Tristan asked as he nuzzled Sapphires neck, his arms around her waist, her back to his front. Sapphire placed her hands atop his, her head tilted to the side.

"Yes. I want to spend time with the women. It's not that cold today." Sapphire added as an after thought.

"You're shivering." Tristan retorted, his face still buried in the crook of her neck.

"I didn't say I wasn't cold, I said it wasn't as cold as it normally is."

"Are you still sore?" Tristan asked gently as he placed a kiss on her jugular before turning her around to face him.

"What makes you think I'm sore, my lord?"

Tristan raised one perfect brow at the question. Sapphire rolled her eyes before answering. There was no point of saying she was fine, he would simply remove her clothing and glower at her bruises.

"The warm bath helped a great deal, thank you."

As she expected, his scowl was back in place.

"You're in pain." It wasn't a question.

"No, some places ache more than others, but it's bearable, besides, I've had worst." Sapphire said slowly as she shrugged. Tristan smirked as he ran a finger down her nose.


"Will you tell me how you managed to break your nose?" Tristan asked before placing a kiss on said nose.
Sapphire smiled, simply staring at him.


"Only if you tell me something about yourself."


"What would you like to know."

"What ever you want to share."


"Alright."


"Where shall I begin? I was about twelve summers, and I decided to go riding in the middle of the night. It had rained the entire day and there was no light from the moon, the pathway being extremely dark. I hadn't wanted to take my stallion, else wise uncle John would know I left, so I took another horse. I was riding in the forest when something spooked the horse and it threw me over, I fell face first into a tree, braking my wrist in the process.
"I was lying there, my back hurt, I had also sprained my ankle, when my uncle came. He picked me up and took me back to the manor. Called me ten times a fool and many other words before kindly informing me he had just brought that particular horse that morning. After that night he threatened to sleep outside my room if I ever did something like that again. He was so angry, I had never seen him so angry before." Sapphire said, a small smile on her face as she recalled the incident.


"That's quite an adventure." Sarcasm clear in his voice. Sapphire rolled her eyes, she had been young.


"What did lord Rivers do afterwards, I doubt the tale ends there."


Sapphire laughed before continuing. "He attended to my wounds before going and making me soup, well, his idea of soup." Sapphire said thoughtfully, recalling how her uncles immaculate clothes had been covered in a variety of colorful splatters.


"He made sure I ate every last drop before he told me a story and fell asleep. Everything else healed, but the incident left its mark, never to be forgotten."


Tristan listened quietly, hugging her close. He could imagine her doing something as such, he would have to be more careful, it seems like his wife had a problem of wandering off.


"Now you, my lord."

"Tristan, my name is Tristan, love."


"Alright, Tristan." Sapphire said as her ear pressed against his chest, she could hear the rapid beating of his heart through his tunic.


"What would you like to know?"


"Anything, something about you."


Tristan stayed quiet for some time, thinking of what to tell her. He had nothing to tell. What does one tell a person? She had said something about himself.


"I started training with lord Rivers from an early age. I can't exactly remember when.."


Sapphire kept her tears at bay, recalling Alfred's words. Her poor Tristan...


"I had sought him out after hearing about his experiences. He would not give in easily due to my age, he wanted me to wait, but I refused. He had always been extremely patient and kind. I don't remember a single day he yelled at me. It didn't matter to him if I did the same move a hundred times, so long as I had it perfected.
"From the very first day, he worked me until I could barely walk. Asher would have to drag me back." Tristan said as he recalled the days as if it were mere moments ago, and not a decade.
"But I came back the next day, and the day after that. He had taken one look at Asher and told me we would do it together. He didn't doubt Asher or me, always training him alongside me. He didn't care that Asher could barely walk let alone train to become a war horse.
" Asher and I would be laying under the stars, barely able to get our breathing back to normal, when lord Rivers would come with food and water. In the beginning we wouldn't accept it, he would put it beside us and leave. It continued like that for a week before Asher began to accept him, I followed shortly. Before we knew it, lord Rivers began eating the evening meal with us.
"I remember when he taught me how to wield a sword with both hands at once, I nearly took his head off."
Tristan let out a small chuckles at the memory. He had no idea what he was doing and lord Rivers had been too close, it was sheer fate none of them were hurt.
Sapphire listened with a smile on her face. Tristan spoke very fondly of lord Rivers, his eyes glazing over with appreciation and gratitude. If it wasn't for him..........
Tristan ran his hand along Sapphires back, trying to add a bit of warmth to her shivering form.They remained in each others embrace, silently enjoying each others company before Tristan spoke.

"I think that's enough talking for tonight."

"I suppose so." Sapphire said with a slight yawn, her lids heavy with sleep. Tristan placed a soft kiss on her forehead before lifting her in his arms and walking towards their chambers.















"And then we lift it up like this. Very good." Sapphire said as she placed a tender kiss on wee Duncan's flour covered cheek. Sapphire, Duncan, and Arthur were in the process of trying to bake sweet bread. She was surprised when the lads came to her willingly. She thought they much rather practice with their wooden sword, a thought she voiced.
"Tis nothing wrong with helping a lass."

"Aye, lord Knight says to always help lassies, any way ye can." Wee Duncan added after Arthur had spoken.


"Did he now?" Sapphire kept her face down, a light blush stained her cheeks thinking of Tristan and the effect he had on these young lads.


"Aye, he says we should not only practice the sword, we should help our mothers and any other women, especially our woman." Arthur said proudly.
Sapphire could only smile slightly while her thoughts ran on a rampage in her mind. Arthur looked peacefully content as he tried to knead the dough, wee Duncan mimicking his actions. It shouldn't have been hard for her to grasp their words, or rather, Tristan's words and actions. The man-no, her husband, he was a truly exquisite specimen of a man. No man would think of caring or making an effort towards a woman, unless it was to get in her skirts, let alone acting upon it and telling others to do so as well. He was truly something else, Sapphire wiped away a stray tear. Tristan was so kind and considerate, if only he could realize his own value.

















"Are ye alright, my lady." Arthur asked with wide eyes as Sapphire clutched her stomach, her face slightly pale.
"I'm fine, my sweet. Just a bit of pain in my stomach. I'll see you in the morrow, aye."


Sapphire left clutching her stomach, she needed to lie down. Already she could feel her eyes begin to droop, a dull ache making itself known in her temples. She hated this time of month. The dull ache became more pronounced with each step, not letting her think of anything other than the pounding in her head. Sapphire doubled over, gasping for breath as a sharp pain radiated from her lower abdomen. She tried straightening only to fall to her knees. She could feel the contents of her stomach begin to churn .Aye, she really hated this time of month.












"Again."


"Tristan, allow me time to breath, aye?" Alexander asked as he tried to get his breathing back to normal, his usually lush blond locks damp with sweat. Gerald and Duncan not fairing any better.

Lord Rivers and Tristan drew back, their swords safely sheathed. Their well developed bare, torsos covered in a fine sheet of sweat. Lord Rivers sent a smirk towards the three knights, their faces red from exhaustion. Lord Rivers and Tristan attacked at once, striking before the opponent had a chance to think, let alone attack.
"Ye two against us, tis nae right." Duncan spoke as he straightened, cracking his back in the process.
Lord Rivers raised a brow in amusement.
"Aye? The two of us against the three of you is nay fair?"
"Ye attack like a thousand men." Gerald retorted, nursing his bruised jaw. Tristan grunted in response.
"Last time I recalled, you three were knights, when did you become young maidens?"
Duncan sent a sly smile Tristan's way. "Aye, I ken a wee lass who is nae so helpless."
"My daughter can best you three single handedly."Lord River said, pride evident in his face as well as his voice.

"Shall we have history repeat itself."

The three grunted their responses,
their faces coloring with embarrassment. Lord Rivers snickered while Tristan's usual stoic expression turned to a dark frown.

"Where is Sapphire."

"What do you mean."

"She said she wanted to go to the village today. She should have returned by now. I know she wanted to watch these berks train..."

Tristan trailed off towards the end, his silver gaze clouded with emotions.

"I saw her go in the castle some time ago." Gerald said from the side, staring at said castle.

Wordlessly, Tristan stalked towards the castle. He checked the great hall, kitchens, and gardens before finally going towards his room. All the while his mind created different scenarios. There was something wrong, he knew Sapphire, she would have come to watch the training, if only to pick up techniques for herself, but she would have come. With each step, his worry only grew.
Tristan walked into their room to see Sapphire laying on her side facing the door, her eyes closed and her face pale. He walked towards her, kneeling by her side, visibly looking for any injuries.
Sapphire slowly opened her eyes to see Tristan's worried gaze resting on her face, his sinful lips held together in displeasure.

"When did you come back from the village?"

"Some time ago."

"You're in pain." It wasn't a question, a mere statement.

"I'm fine, my lord husband."

Tristan rolled his eyes, noticing afterwards she hadn't done so.

"Tristan. My name is Tristan, my lady
wife, and there most definitely is something amiss. Were you injured in the village?" His hands tightly clutched the sides of the bed, awaiting her answer.


"Nay, nothing of the sort happened. Tis nothing, I am fine, honestly." Sapphire winced as a sharp pain assaulted her lower abdomen, her parlor turning far more paler than earlier.

"Like Hell there isn't! You're laying in bed in pain and you expect me to believe there is not anything amiss." Tristan growled, his hands running through his lush locks in frustration.
Sapphire could only stare, for more reasons than one. He looked beautiful when he was angry, stunning. She had never seen his face in such detail when he would be angry, and she regretted it. His hair was tussled from him constantly running his fingers through them. His molten silver eyes resembled dancing flames, beckoning one to test it's danger. His cheeks were lightly stained with color, his deliciously sinful lips slightly parted as he stared at her.
Her eyes moved lower.
His chest moved up and down as he breathed, his muscles tightening and un clutching at the simple action. The veins on his forearms ever so prominent, the muscles in his abdomen lightly coated in sweat.


"Stop looking at me as such."


Sapphire met his gaze at the guttural sound of his voice. His anger was still present, aye, but there was desire in his eyes. A desire which matched her own.
Sapphire licked her suddenly dry lips, his eyes following the movement. "As what?"
"You know exactly what, now tell me what is wrong." His voice softening at the end.
Sapphire closed her eyes and felt the familiar heat rise to her cheeks. He wouldn't relent until he was told. Arrogant brute.
She slowly opened her eyes, meeting his expectant gaze.
"Tis my woman's time. My stomach hurts. Are ye satisfied, ye brute."
Tristan let out an unconscious breath, the worry still present in his eyes. He got up from his crouched position to sit beside her on the bed, removing her blanket in the process.

"Tis not not normally as painful."

Tristan said softly as he pushed her on her back and began to gently massage her stomach.
"What are you doing." Sapphire said, a bit too late.
"What does it seem like, love." Tristan said with a snort.
"Ye don't have to." Her hands reached out to stop him, his one hand capturing both of hers.
"Aye, I do not, but I want to. Therefor let me be,my love." He dropped her hands and continued to rub her stomach, the action helping a great deal with the pain.
"The rubbing is supposed to ease the pain."
"Where did you learn this. I don't recall a man knowing of such things."


Tristan smirked at her teasing tone.

"When I was younger, I would often go to the village. Once when I went, there was a woman in pain. I did not know what to do. I sought out aunt Margaret and called her to the woman. After a great deal of aggravating her on my part, she told me the woman had been on her woman's time and she was in pain. Aunt Margaret had been gently rubbing her tummy and told me what to do and not.
"After that day, I would accompany her and any other woman, I wouldn't do anything, just watch. Yours is the most painful I have ever seen love, why?"
Sapphire listened, mesmerized, before she realized he had asked her a question.
"Oh, aye. The healer said tis was normal for me. There are quite a few people who are in as much pain as me or a great deal more." Sapphire answered as her eyes began to close. Tristan's skillful fingers rubbing gently against her lower abdomen. Slowly but surely the pain began to lesson, and in no time at all Sapphire had fallen asleep.
Tristan continued to massage her stomach long after she had fallen asleep. When he was satisfied that the pain had lessened, he removed her stockings and began on her feet. His mind going over how pale she had looked earlier. He bad been so afraid when he had walked in the room......
Tristan didn't like being afraid. It was an unpleasant feeling. The relief when she said it was her woman's time had been a great pleasure, but even that had been short lived when he saw the amount of pain she was in. Pain she could do nothing to hide. He stared at her as she slept. She had gained some of her color back.
Tristan frowned.
She had lost weight from when he had first brought her into these four walls. Walls he despised and loved at once.
Tristan undid the knots in her feet, making sure not to disturb her. When he was satisfied that she would feel at ease upon awaking, did he place the blanket atop her. Tristan walked towards the door, calling a maid towards him, he had her tell the cook to prepare his finest soup before quietly shutting the door.
He walked towards the bed, laying besides Sapphire, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her lower abdomen. He placed a tender kiss on her forehead, content in waiting until she would wake. Then, he would make sure she ate her fill. She wouldn't be leaving the room until she was once again well.










Hope you guys liked it!!!!! tell me what you think. And THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SWEET COMMENTS!!!! THEY MEAN A LOT TO ME;)