For those of you who can't see chapter 49, lord knows what's wrong with it...

@@@

Tristan raised his sword, plunging it in the stomach of his attacker. The weasel had decided to attack him from behind. Fool, even if Asher had not been behind him, the bastard would not have been able to attack him.

With the elegance of a serpent, Tristan struck his opponent. At the moment he fought with one sword, preferring to attack his enemies with an agility they could not match. Blood coated his torso, his tunic hung in tatters upon his person, a shallow cut above his cheek. Sweat coated his brow, he was an excellent fighter, but not an immortal.

The battle had raged for an hour or two, fatigue and weariness were making themselves known, but his men would persist. It mattered little that they had been been training since dawn, what mattered was protecting their people.

"Bastard!" Tristan growled as one of the men attacked Asher, causing him to whine. Lord Rivers sword sought retribution by removing the man's sword arm.

"I told you to rest!" Tristan snapped as he landed a kick to a burly man's side.

Asher stood closer in response.

Tristan ignored him as he concentrated on the battle. Lord Rivers fought three while Gerald held off two. His men seemed to be fairing well, nevertheless, the battle needed to end. He would not have any casualties.

"Who sent you?" Tristan demanded as his sword clashed against that of his opponent.

"Why should I tell ye?"

The man had a thick Scottish brogue, a fact which did not go amiss by Tristan.

"Scottish, are we?" Tristan asked, using his own brogue.

The man paled as he realized who he fought. Fear, itself, was one of the greatest weapons a man could yield. Destroying it's enemy without so much of a lift from his smallest finger.

"Laird Knight."

"Aye." Tristan grunted. "Now tell me who has sent ye. I shall consider sparing ye."

The man licked his lips nervously but continued to fight.

"I sell me sword arm." The man answered as if that should be explanation enough. Tristan was not to be vexed.

"Wrong answer." Tristan snarled as his sword ran along the man's throat, his head rolling to the ground as his body slowly followed in its wake. He needed someone forthcoming! That was the only way he would gain information!

A noise sounded throughout the field, the men began to retreat. Tristan's men stared in confusion. They could not attack from behind as cowards did, nor could they attack those who did not wish to battle. It was not the way if warriors.

"Capture them!" Tristan roared as he mounted Asher and went after the man who had seemed to be calling the rest back.

***

"Hurry yer arses!" Jack called. If these men did not hurry he would leave them, he had no desire to stay behind and have his neck sacrificed in the process. Nobility be damned.

He had gone to the forest just as Keith had directed him, an hour into the battle. There, he had found directions that would lead him to his mistress much quicker than he had anticipated. He was also left instructions to erase their path, a task he had preformed fairly well. Now, if only he could get away.

He was told to make sure none of the men stayed behind, he was to give them a tonic, making certain they wouldn't ever betray his mistress.

Jack watched the last of the men retreat into the forest, unaware of Tristan stalking him. He had a task to do, once that was completed, he would go to his mistress and she would reward him.

**

Tristan watched the man with eyes that of a crow. This man seemed to be the leader. Once he had him, it mattered little whether he had anyone else or not. Now, the question was, he didn't seem the type to love or be loyal to his men, why was he not only calling them back, but also waiting on them himself. Something did not bode well.

Tristan watched him from atop the tree, patiently waiting as a cat would for its prey. He would strike when the odds would be in his favor, not a moment before.

When the moment arose, Tristan took out his arrow and aimed.

Jack hadn't seen the arrow coming. It pierced his collarbone, lodging itself firmly in place. Jack screamed in pain, too cowardly to remove the arrow himself.

"Where are you going? You must help me!" Jack bellowed at the last of the men who left him.

He would make sure they all died! Leaving him at the hands of their enemies.

"I doubt your men would be much help to you now. They have all left. You are at my mercy." Tristan's voice rang loud and clear throughout the forest.

"Show yerself, ye coward." Jack called, looking around him. He couldn't see laird Knight. And perhaps that was better. He was already paralyzed with fear, if laird Knight were to show himself...

"A coward is one who hides behind his people. I am merely taunting you." Tristan's voice echoed around the empty forest. The men had left, leaving destruction in their wake, the animals hidden away from the danger. No one would be able to save him now. Tristan wiped the sweat and blood from his brow before jumping down. As he did so, his men surrounded Jack.

"Be cooperative, and I shall think of sparing you, if not..." Tristan shrugged his shoulders leaving the choice up to him.

"Ye think ye have me, have ye?" Jack questioned, fear clouding his judgement. He would not die at the hands of Knight. He wouldn't.

"I will be asking the questions." Tristan said coldly.

He walked towards Jack at his leisure. One of the greatest weapons of all time was fear. And Tristan yielded that weapon all too well.

"Your name."

Jack stared at Tristan with hatred. Refusing to answer, refusing to be bested. He had something they required, knowledge. He would not give it up easily.

Tristan smiled. A smile which should have sent shivers of warning down Jack's spine. For that smile held not an announce of warmth, but rather, a man so cold, he was incapable of conscious thought. Removing anything and everything which dared to cross it's path, uncaring of the consequences.

Tristan stared at the arrow which had placed itself in Jack's collarbone. Before anyone could blink, the arrow was out and back in again. Jack howled in pain, falling to his knees. Tristan watched him without emotion.

After letting his suffer for a moment longer, Tristan bend down until he was eye level with Jack's gasping, crippled form, Tristan whispered without remorse.

"Next time I will not be so kind. Your name."

Jack gasped in pain, tears and sweat coated his cheeks. He had learned his lesson.

"Jack."

"Very good. Who sent you?"

"Fredrick and his mistress."

"Fredrick as in the Scottish thief?" Lord Rivers questioned coming up behind Tristan. Hatred and loathing covered his features. It couldn't be possible. If it was.....

"Get up." Tristan's voice was coated with such venom, even his men took a step back. Gone was the warmth which had covered his silver gaze that very morning, in their place were cold, lifeless eyes. Jack stood up, cowering under Tristan's gaze.

"Ay....aye." Jack stammered.

If it was possible, Tristan's gaze grew colder, his stance more dangerous.

"Gerald, go see where Alexander is. See if Sapphire is with him." Tristan ordered. Although his voice was flat, an under current of urgency laced it. There was no point of him assuming things which may not be. Sapphire would be fine. She had to be.

Lord Rivers and Tristan shared a look while Jack nervously licked his lips. They couldn't believe in the worst, not yet.

"How did you manage to enter my land?" Tristan questioned, he needed a distraction.

"We...we would enter one at a time. We have been planning for some months. Yer men would think them a lone traveler buying supplies."

Tristan nodded his head, his jaw clenched. They would all pay, slowly, painfully.

"Why did you have the men retreat? The battle was far from over."

Jack was growing pale. He should have fled when he had the chance.

"Keith had left a message for me. He said to go to the forest and there he would let me know when the men had to retreat."

"If the men had to retreat, why did you attack!" Lord Rivers growled, dread clawing at his heart. He knew the answer before Jack spoke. Terror and fear covered his features. Tristan had seen hatred, loathing, triumph, compassion, and love. But never terror. Fredrick would pay for bringing that emotion anywhere near lord Rivers, of that Tristan was certain.

"I know not. Keith said he had a task to tend to, the men, the battle was a distraction." Jack answered hastily.

Terror ran through Tristan's veins, working it's way towards his heart. No! No, it simply was not what he was thinking.

"What was the task." Tristan questioned, his voice eerily quiet, not betraying the turmoil which raged within.

"Keith wouldna tell me." Jack said as he clutched at the arrow still in his body.

"Who is Keith?"

"Fredrick's man."

Tristan waited with baited breath for Gerald's return. What was taking him so damn long!

Just when Tristan could not take it any longer, heavy footsteps alerted Tristan of his arrival. Before Gerald could speak , Tristan had his answer. His face said it all. Tristan roared his fury, punching Jack unconscious.

"Alexander's unconscious."

"No!" Tristan bellowed as he made a move to attack Gerald.

"Her ladyship is nowhere to be found."

"Tristan! Stop!" Lord Rivers shouted.

"Stop?He took me wife! He took Sapphire! You want me to stop!" Tristan exploded, advancing on lord Rivers instead, not noticing his change of tongue.

"Tristan, you must think with a clear mind." Lord Rivers said. They needed Tristan's mind, his cunning.

Tristan punched Lord Rivers jaw, drawing blood.

"Sarding bastard. You want a fight? I'll give you a fight." Lord Rivers snarled. Tristan was filled with anger, he needed it let out, and lord Rivers would make certain he got what he needed.

The men stepped ahead to stop the two lords, but lord Rivers would not have it.

"Nay, he needs to get rid of his anger." Lord Rivers said grimly as he blocked a blow to his right arm.

Tristan kicked out, causing lord Rivers to fall to the ground before punching his stomach. He could see nothing but his bloodlust. They took Sapphire. How could he have been so stupid! He prided himself in his expertise in war, in understanding people. But now he had lost the one thing that meant the most to him. How was he supposed to wake up in the morning and not see her sleeping form next to him? Or how her face would be alight with passion? Or the way she would look at him, smile at him, with love. As if there could be no other for her besides him.

"Or the times he would laugh she would look like a child who was given their hearts desire, that is how pure her happiness would be. Why? Simply because he was laughing. Even if she were not the one to make him laugh. Or how she would eat to her hearts content. Not fazed by what others would say.

"How could he forget her smart mouth, her witty responses, the slight sadness which would enter her eyes when she thought of her parents or the fact that he did not love her. Love. Goddammit he could not bear to live without her.

"Stop him! He's going to kill him!" Gerald shouted as he ran to take Tristan off of lord Rivers.

"I said let him GO!" Lord Rivers snarled as they took Tristan away from him.

"Fight back!" Gerald screamed at lord Rivers. Blood ran down his chest. Gerald knew he had attained nothing more than a scratch during the battle. This was Tristan's doing and he would regret it when his senses returned. He could not have Tristan living with more demons.

Tristan bellowed his rage, pushing Gerald away from him as if he was no more than a pesky insect.

"THEY TOOK HER! HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO DAFT!"

Lord Rivers went towards Tristan, delivering a punch to his jaw. He was acting as a fool. Rather, a man who was in love.

"We will get her back." Lord Rivers promised, his eyes tightened with pain at seeing Tristan's anguish.

"I LOVE HER, GODDAMMIT!" Tristan roared as the fight left him, leaving him on his knees. He was a God damn fool! She had to be taken away from him in order for him to realize his own goddamn feelings!

"I love her. The only good thing that has ever happened to me. The only person who has ever loved me for being me. The only person to want me for me, they took her." His voice was a horse whisper, that of a man who had lost everything with no hope of getting it back, his expression bleak, hopeless, lost, his eyes broken, his soul shattered.

"Stop acting as a lass, we will get her back! As soon as that sarding bastard gains consciousness. I promise you, Tristan, we will have her back." Lord Rivers promised with conviction. They would get Sapphire back. He would not see Tristan so broken ever again.

"Right now we must plan. Get him to wake up, give the men an hour to rest and then we must set out."

Tristan stood up, giving a stiff nod. Lord Rivers was right, he couldn't sit and act as a lass. He had his woman to get back.

His men said nothing of their lords behavior, not thinking him cowardly for showing his emotions. For he was stronger than them, allowing others to see what he kept hidden.

"I need a bucket of ice cold water."

***

Andrew dug his heels into the horse's side, urging him to go faster. The men alongside him clearing his trail. Lady Knight sat before him, unconscious. The caves were a days journey, but because of the snow it would take them longer. Andrew looked towards the sky, the sun was beginning to set. He needed to travel a great distance before sun down. If laird Knight discovered him before he reached his destination.....

Andrew shook his head, he would not think of that. He needed to reach the caves. He looked at the wound on her ladyships head. The blood had ceased to flow but the gash was a wicked one. If she stayed unconscious for the remainder of the journey it would do him good. He wouldn't have to worry about her constantly trying to escape, or worst, unman him. He had seen her practice. The lady was deadly.

When not a single soul was about, he would watch her spar with her uncle, trying to memorize her techniques in vain. It seemed with the rising sun, her techniques would change. It was a most frustrating matter. And the times she would duel with her husband, a part of him which was still human, would be embarrassed to watch them. Their battle of swords seemed too intimate for his taste, as if he was intruding upon them. He did not like to have a conscious. It was best if it were to be left for the dead.

Andrew watched the snow falling around him grimly. The horses were beginning to slow down, they were in need of rest. Andrew tried looking for a secluded area, but he already knew there was none. They would need to sleep in the open.

"Stop ye horses. We shall stop for the night, but we must travel before sunrise. I will have first guard. Doona start a fire." Andrew warned as he dismounted his horses, pulling Sapphire along with him.

"Tis a bonny lassie." One of the men leered, staring at Sapphire's unconscious form with perversion.

"Aye, and she is nay to be touched. I'll have ye head if I find out." Andrew barked. He needed to lady to be whole. Fredrick wanted her unharmed, untouched. And that was the way Andrew intended on delivering her. He could not jeopardize anything right now, he was far too close, far too close.

Cold, that's what she felt. She needed her blankets. The second thing to be registered in her minds eye was the hard ground beneath her, her bed was not this hard. And thirdly, her head was pounding. Sapphire opened her eyes only to squeeze them shut. Her head felt as if it would explode. She wanted to rip her hair out, the pain was excruciating. What had happened?

Sapphire slowly opened her eyes, biting her tongue in pain, her head would be the death of her. Slowly, she sat up, taking in her surroundings. She was in a forest, a forest covered in snow. That would explain the cold. But why was she here? And where was Tristan? Instinctively, Sapphire's hand went in search of her blade, only to come empty. Where were her weapons? This did not bode well.

Sapphire stood up, a wave of nausea and dizziness assaulting her. Two men lay fast asleep some distance from her. In the darkness she could not make out their features.

As another wave of dizziness washed over her, Sapphire reached out to grab a hold of a branch, her other hand going to her head, only to come back sticky.

Blood.

There was dried blood on the side of her face, leading upwards to her head. That would explain the pain, Sapphire thought with dry humor. Not only was she stupid enough to get herself kidnapped, but she had also gotten herself injured. Wonderful.

Anger, hot with vengeance, ran through her veins as she recalled precisely how she managed to hurt herself. Andrew. Once she saw the bastard she would make certain he paid dearly.

Lord! She was a fool to have followed him so easily. Sapphire cussed at herself enough to have put a sailor to shame. Nevertheless, she could berate herself later, she needed to flee. But first, she needed weapons.

Slowly, and quietly, Sapphire walked towards the sleeping men. Their swords lay beside them as they snored in their sleep, dead to the world. Sapphire shook her head in disgust, wincing when it caused her pain. She would need to be careful. A child's mistake these men had made. They should have been able to hear her approach, despite being in the state of sleep. Or at the very least, they should have awoken when she took their weapons. No matter, it was good on her part. She wouldn't need to kill any of them. Now, where was that bastard, Andrew.

Sapphire peered at the men's faces closely. All though they were very dirty, they were not Andrew. Sapphire wrinkled her nose, they smelled foul.

Sapphire walked towards the shelter of the trees. These asinine fools did not have the sense to set camp in a hidden area. Either they were ten times a fool, or extremely arrogant. Tristan would tear them to pieces.

Tears stung her eyes at the though of her husband. He would surely have noticed her disappearance by now. She was so very unkind to him this morn, calling him a brute and lord knew what else. Tears cascaded down her cheeks at the thought of not seeing him again.

No! She would escape. Sapphire hurriedly wiped away her tears. Now was not the time to sit and cry like a helpless maiden. Yes she had made a mistake, but she was not helpless, it could still be rectified.

Taking her hair, she tied it atop her head, she would need to hurry. She had wasted too much time. Andrew would be returning soon. No doubt he thought these gormless outlaws would be able to take care of her. He had another thing coming if he thought her a damsel in distress. Sapphire thought grimly. Sarding bastard. She would make sure he paid.

Sapphire strapped the dagger to her hip while she clutched the sword in her hand. She needed to know where she was. Sapphire looked towards the tree. She could climb it and see where she had to go, giving herself a sense of direction. Simply looking at the tree made her dizzy. She couldn't climb the tree, she would cause herself more damage than good. She had to walk.