The Borderlands The Memoirs Of Lord Tristan

Chapter IV

The next morning I was awakened by Pamella. I was barely stiff which told me my back was healing at an incredible rate.
"What is it Pamella?" I asked.
Her face wore a look of urgency. "Make yourself presentable, Genevah dear," was all she said. I brushed my hair, put it in a rather messy bun, attempted to flatten out the wrinkles in my tunic, and slipped on my only pair of shoes. Then I allowed Pamella to lead me away. She led me outside to the front of the Manor where Avan stood, he held a stiff piece of parchment and a purse in one hand, and a rather tightly packed sack in the other.
"Congratulations Genevah," said Avan.
"What, sir?" I asked.
He handed the piece of parchment to me in answer. I took it gingerly. The words on the parchment are written in a bold, neat script. I gasped, it was too good to be true! It was a signed certificate freeing me from slavery! Tears flooded my eyes, and I cried, tears of happiness of course.
"Lord Tristan did this?" I asked still trying to take it all in.
"Yes Genevah, he did indeed I was there when he did it. See?" he said, pointing to a line on the parchment. It read 'Witness' and his name was written beside it.
"Ah, I see," I confirmed. "But why would Lord Tristan do this, has he a reason you know of?" I asked.
He shook his head. "You would know better than I," he replied. I stared at the grass for a minute trying to think of what I would do.
"May I see Lord Tristan?" I asked.
"I don't see why not," replied Avan.

"My Lord Tristan, Genevah wishes to speak to you," said Avan. I entered the room and Tristan scrambled to his feet.
"Genevah," he said, inclining his head slightly. His use of my name struck me, it was no longer Gena, but Genevah. Did that mean he no longer cared for me, or he didn't want to?
"My Lord," I said, doing my best curtsey. "May I ask why you freed me?"
He sighed deeply. I wasn't sure if a weight had just been lifted from his shoulders, or settled there.
"I freed you because no one is safe around here anymore, it would be best for you to take the remaining accessories from Avan and return to your family," said Tristan, stoically.
"But why did you only free me?" I asked.
"Because I care about you, you aren't a nobody to me Gena, so please, go...for me," said Tristan, tears glistening in his eyes.
"I can't," I said.
By this point Avan had taken initiative and left the room, leaving the two of us alone.
"Why?! Do this for me Gena!" said Tristan, brokenly, tears starting to flow.
"I can't, because I cannot leave my heart behind," I said, gravely.
His protests stopped and he looked into my eyes, hopefully.
"You love me?" he asked.
"How could one not?" I asked, simply.
"Before you make up your mind to stay know this," said Tristan. "The only army I have to fight back against the Raiders, are my personal guards, the soldiers at the outposts, several squadrons of soldiers to put down a mob or riot, and the fifty that exercise the law in the villages. At best that's 500, the odds are not in our favour Gena. And though I have sent out messengers calling for aid and more men, if they are answered the men won't come in time. I have received news that the Raiders intend to attack in a week's time," said Tristan. He looked into my eyes imploringly, "How can an army of 500 defeat one of over 20,000?" he asked.
His brow was furrowed and his eyes vacant of hope.
"Tristan, we can—and will—do this. They depend on their brawn and number, we can set a trap for them, who knows, brain might beat strength," I said, optimistically.
"That's the spirit Gena," said Tristan. "But what do we have that they don't?"