The Rider's Daughter

Chapter 24

Three days passed and they were off traveling once again. Each step brought them closer and closer to Gil'ead which meant closer to the time when Tristan would depart. Despite her feeble attempts to focus on pleasant thoughts, she always managed to envision Tristan getting captured, killed, and even deny his love for her. At night, when everyone was asleep (this was during her shift to keep watch), she cried.

One night, Tristan had a hard time falling asleep and heard Selena weeping. Alarmed, he got up and approached her. Placing his hand gently on her shoulder he asked, "What's wrong?"

Startled, Selena brushed off his hand. "Nothing. I just got something in my eye."

Tristan sat down next to her. "If you say so."

Selena said nothing in response. She stared out into the darkness wishing she could just disappear.

"Look, Selena, I am sorry about the other night, I should never have kissed you."

Selena continued to stare off into space.

"Please say something."

"What do you want me to say?"

"Anything, I like hearing your voice."

"What?" Selena shot a disturbing glance towards him.

"What I mean is that you have a very beautiful voice."

"Oh…thanks?"

"You're welcome?"

Finally Selena cracked a smile.

"Yes, there is some life in you still."

"What does that mean?"

"It means, well, it means that…crap…I just lost my train of thought."

Selena stared at him blankly. Tristan, sighed. He was nervous sitting next to her. At long last, he stood up and walked back to is bedding. He lay down and stared up at the stars in the distance. Soon, he dozed off only to be awoken by Selena. "Tristan wake up." She whispered.

He rubbed his eyes and looked up at her. "What do you want?"

"It's your turn to take watch."

"Oh…Ok" He had hoped that she had awoken him to talk some more, but apparently not. With a yawn, he got up. Selena was heading for her bedding, but stopped. She could not defy her heart any longer. She spun around and ran off into the woods.

Tristan heard her run and ran after her calling her name. "Selena, where are you?"

"Over here," she said, panting.

Tristan walked until he found her next to a tree. Annoyed, he said, "What do you want from me?"

Selena stepped forward, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. "Do you love me, Tristan?"

He shook his head unsure if he heard her correctly. When she repeated the question he said, "Yes, I do."

"Why?"

"How can I not?" Tristan started to become emotional. "Selena, from the day I saw you, I swore I fell in love. Not only are you beautiful on the outside, but you are beautiful within as well. I love you because of the way you make me feel alive, you give me a reason to live and move forward in life. I want you to be happy, but lately I have failed you in that regard. For that, I am sorry, but it cannot be helped."

"Do you really mean that? Men have a way with pretty words, and I need to know that you truly feel that way."

Tristan repeated his words in the Ancient Language. When he finished, he asked, "Do you love me, Selena?"