Tristan shut his study door harder than he intended.

"Sit." Tristan ordered as he placed Sapphire on one of the plush chairs which covered his study. Making his way over to the cabinet, he took out a bottle of brandy, pouring it in a glass.

A thousand different thoughts ran rampant in his mind, the letter burning a hole on his desk. He looked down at his hands to see them trembling slightly, his breathing uneven. He felt like coating his hands in blood as well as licking her in a room until he was certain it was safe. The upside was she was alright.

His agitation was due to that bloody letter. Poor Robert, he needed to make sure his solar was alright. He was afraid the lad may have soiled himself, the lad had been petrified. He hoped that was not the case, but knowing Robert, it most likely was.

"I thought you did not drink." Sapphire said, testing the waters.

"I don't, this is for your wound." Tristan said, his words spoken through gritted teeth.

Sapphire watched his every move. The way he he placed the brandy away before lifting the glass and placing it beside her. The tightness around his eyes, the strain of his jaw. The whiteness to his knuckles. He seemed relatively calmer than he was earlier, his body no longer giving off waves of death. He was a walking contradiction.

Tristan left his study to fetch warm water and towels, all the while a scowl occupied his handsome face. Returning to his study, he placed everything besides Sapphire. Taking out his dagger, he cut away the sleeve of her injured arm. The blood had the material sticking to her arm, he clenched his jaw shut, his eyes smoldering in anger. He prayed she didn't need stitches. He was glad it was not her sword arm, but she lost too much blood. He was going to murder Robert.

Sapphire winced slightly as the sleeve of her arm was gently pulled away by Tristan. She watched as his jaw grew taunt, his silver eyes dancing with anger. She couldn't comprehend why he was so angry, surely he was over reacting? Robert hadn't meant it, a fact Tristan knew.

"Why are am you so angry. It was an accident." Sapphire whispered, unable to speak any louder due to the brandy being poured in her wound, the burning sensation was not pleasant. She bit down her lip to stop any noise. She didn't need Tristan worried unnecessarily.

"You will not be needing stitches, however, you may not be able to use this arm for a weeks time. If you do so, I will need to stitch it." Tristan said, avoiding her question as well as her gaze.

Sapphire sent him a glare.

"My lord husband?" Sapphire prompted with a raise of a perfect brow.

Two could play.

The nerve of the man! By all means, he could be angry, so long he had a bloody reason! And at the moment, Sapphire didn't think he had a bloody reason at all.

Tristan stared at Sapphire. She was looking at him expectantly, waiting.

He glared. What was he supposed to say? Although, she looked breathtaking in anger, her eyes dancing with a unique fire.

Tristan pulled her towards him until they were a breath apart, not able to tolerate the distance any longer. She drove him insane.

"You shan't be able to distract me." Sapphire said, her breathless voice betraying her.

Tristan stared at her impassively, his eyes glowing in triumph, before crushing her against him, being extra careful with her arm, and seizing her lips with his own. Her surprised gasp was all he needed to join them as one.

Sapphires arms tried to grab hold of his, to no avail. He held her arms prisoner, making her immobile. Her heart beat a tattoo in her chest, she was sure he could hear it. This man never ceased to control her, her body, as well as her heart, were his to do as he pleased, as a serpent was to a flute, a moth to a flame.

Sapphire pressed herself against him, knowing it was a lost battle, for now. She craved his touch, but the brute not only wouldn't let her touch him, he wouldn't touch her either!

The kiss was different from his other caresses, but welcomed nonetheless.

His tongue explored her mouth with a brutality and harshness he did not expect, much less comprehend. He poured his anger, worry and frustration into that one kiss, willing her to see what he did. As abruptly as the kiss had began, Tristan pulled back, ending it, his breathing ragged.

"I beg to differ." Tristan husked with a slight smirk, his eyes alight with desire.

"You, sir, are an arse." Sapphire managed to get out through her harsh breathing. The kiss had left her reeling. She tried to get her breathing back to normal as she stared at his arrogant smirk.

Pompous brute!

"Shall we go to bed, you seem tired." Tristan said as he ran his hand down her thigh rather provocatively, much to her pleasure, and displeasure, finally touching her.

"I think I would prefer a conversation, my lord husband." Sapphire said as she held his hand, her hormones running rampage. She watched the desire in his eyes, his smoldering silver gaze pulling her in. His eyes were hooded, darkened by lust. As much as she loved the fact he desired her, she needed him to speak. He had been acting rather strange for a few days, especially now.

"One kiss?" Tristan asked with a small pout.

Sapphire blinked. Who would have thought? Tristan was acting very strange. The face he made had a strange effect on her, then again, everything pertaining to him held her captivated.

"Are you feeling alright, my lord?" Sapphire asked cautiously, staring at him as though he was some sort of experiment.

"It's Tristan." He growled. "And why shall anything be wrong?"

"You are acting quite peculiar."

"Desiring ones wife is called being peculiar? Strange." Tristan mused. He watched her agitation in amusement, but knew he had to get to the crux of the matter. He wanted nothing more than to be inside her, but that would need to wait.

Sapphire rolled her eyes, not giving in. With a roll of his own eyes, she watched as Tristan stood up and walked to his desk, retrieving something and then sitting besides her once more.

"You need to keep someone with you at all times." Tristan said softly, all traces of the light atmosphere from moments ago gone. He fingered the parchment, not taking his eyes off of it. Loathing it with every fiber of his being.

Sapphire noticed the change in his demeanor, altering him to be hard and distance, cold, aloof.

She despised it. His voice brought her out of her musing.

"I care not where you wish to go, it is of utmost importance someone is always with you." Tristan said in a soft, deadly voice, one that had shivers of apprehension dancing along her spine.

Tristan fingered the missive once more before handing it to her. Sapphire looked it over once and then twice.

There lived a great king, one who knew no weakness. Try as his enemies might, they could not find a way to delude him, to conquer him. That is, until the day he acquired a small bird. Within that beautiful creature, lay the life of the king. Thus, his enemies overpowered him once and for all, never having to set sight on his appalling person ever again.........

"Well, you are no king." Sapphire said with a bright smile.

"Sapphire." Tristan admonished, "that was a poor attempt at a jest."

"I do not see you trying, my lord husband." Sapphire said with a scowl.

"Infuriating woman, would you please have someone accompany you at all times? Preferably Alexander, Duncan, or Gerald." Tristan said in exasperation. He needed her to listen. He couldn't, wouldn't let anything happen to her.

"You are not an option?" Sapphire inquired innocently, too innocently.

"I am not an option because I shall always be there."

"Interesting."

"This is import, Sapphire. It is not a joking matter." Tristan spat, frustrated.

"I was trying to make light of the situation." Sapphire said wide eyed, taken aback with his harsh tone.

Tristan felt like an arse. He shouldn't have been so harsh. How could he explain to her she had to be careful because.... Because she had to. Lord Rivers would have his head if something were to happen to her.

"I apologies, but in my defense, it was poorly done." Tristan said, his voice slightly teasing.

Sapphire rolled her eyes before becoming serious.

"Why would someone send you such a note? And more importantly, who?"

"I have not the slightest of ideas." Tristan growled.

"It shouldn't be of surprise. I have accumulated a number of adversaries through out the years." Tristan muttered bitterly.

Tristan's mind ran rampant, who could it be? And why now? It was obvious why now, they thought he had a weakness. He stared at Sapphire through the corner of his eye. She was frowning, biting her delectable lower lip..........

He shook himself from his lustful stupor. Now wasn't the time to be thinking with certain parts of his anatomy. He needed to think with his head, and fast. Tristan ran one hand through his hair in irritation. When that didn't help, he ran a hand over his beard, his gray eyes as cold as steel as he began calculating.

Sapphire frowned. From all the things she had heard about him, he stayed away from people. He hardly spoke to his own staff, how was he to make enemies? She would need to ask someone, the question was, who?

"You will stay with Alexander, I need to take care of certain tasks." Tristan said as he stood up, holding his hand towards her.

Sapphire grimaced, accepting his hand.

Tristan cocked his head to the side, silently waiting for an explanation.

"I believe Alexander is indisposed at the moment." Sapphire said while a light blush covered her cheeks.

Tristan ran a single finger along said cheek, speaking softly.

"Pray tell me, why would he be indisposed."

Sapphire's blush darkened. Tristan's eyes glittered with amusement and something darker.

"He has the runs, has he not?" Sapphire questioned, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Your glorious blush betrays you."

"It is not so glorious if it betrays me."

Sapphire said warily, staring into his gaze, captivated.

"It is to me." Tristan said simply. Nothing but the stark truth in his words. She was everything to him. She was sweet, determined, kind, stubborn, beautiful, exquisite and all his.

Everything she did held him captive, bewitched him until he couldn't see anything but her. He only had to think of her sweet smile and it had him softening inside, feeling emotions he had read about, but never understood, never experienced. From the scrunch of her nose when she found something displeasing, to the way she withered in passion beneath him. Everything she did ignited an emotion in him, and he was helpless to stop it, nor did he want it to stop.

Tristan leaned in and kissed her deeply. She was...... Everything.

He didn't bother to seek entrance, he seized it, exploring her mouth and committing it to memory. No matter how many times he kissed her, touched her, it would never be enough, and so help him God, he didn't want it to be enough. He didn't want his craving, his madness to end. He was content, happy, with insanity.

Tristan pulled back, his breathing ragged, eyes still dark with hunger.

"Tell me."

Two simple words, that's all it took for her to give him the answer which he sought. Like a sirens call, she was hopeless to stop her response. It seemed her mind and body belonged solely to him, for they were not her own.

"Isabella mixed an herb with the biscuits she made to give Alexander the runs. She knew he would eat them." Sapphire breathed.

Tristan smirked. "Did she now? This will be verra entertaining."

He took her hand more firmly in his and led her out his study.

" I will have lord Rivers stay with you."

Tristan and Sapphire walked in the great hall to find lord Rivers in front of the hearth speaking to Isabella. Isabella smiled wickedly, quite proud of herself.

"Your friend seems to be very happy with herself. Go, I will be back shortly." Tristan said, he released her hand only to pull her back into his embrace for a rough, brief kiss. In their brief touch, his kiss held an urgency that should have frightened her, him, but all it did was make them clung tighter to each other.

The men and staff watched in silent awe, not wanting to ruin the moment. They had seen their lord smile and laugh over the days, and now, he was being.... simply human.

Cook watched from the kitchens, wiping away a rogue tear. They were all so very happy to see their lordship happy.

Cook had been with Tristan when he was a lad, training to become a knight. He had watched Tristan work day and night with no one but Asher by his side. When the other boys would mock the old, or anyone beneath them for that matter, Tristan would stand against them. He cared not if the person he was defending was kin or unknown. He stood for justice. When Tristan had decided to come back for his tittle, he couldn't let him go alone, he had grown fond of the boy. And now he could finally see him happy.

Sapphire walked towards her uncle, slightly dazed. Kissing her beloved husband always left her wanton. The desires he provoked in her were surreal. She was becoming quite greedy.

"Darling, I love you and Tristan, but I do not enjoy seeing his tongue down your throat." Lord Rivers said, trying, and failing to be serious.

"It is called kissing, uncle John. You should be happy he only kisses me in front of everyone, some people I know have done far more." Sapphire said while eyeing her uncle.

"Guilty." Lord Rivers smirked, not at all bashful.

Sapphire rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. She loved her uncle.

"Sapphire I am so very happy." Isabella said in delight.

"That brute of a man has had the runs the entire time."

"He looks a bit pale, darling. How much did you add?" Lord Rivers asked in slight concern as he watched Alexander race out the great hall once more.

"Say, what happened to the remainder of the sweets you made? Pray tell me, no one else had the misfortune of eating them." Lord Rivers said, his brows furrowing slightly.

"I put the rest away, uncle John. All though I feel awful about about Alexander."

"He deserves it." Isabella snipped.

"Isabella.." Lord Rivers warned.

Isabella pouted but held her tongue, knowing her father was not to be argued with.

Tristan knelt by the castle walls. There were no foot steps indicating the person had climbed the wall. The only way the parchment could have reached the other side was if someone had climbed the wall and got over, or entered the village. Which meant someone had delivered it personally.

Tristan's blood turned cold, different scenarios going through his mind. The first thought of Sapphire. He needed to keep her safe. If something were to happens to her......

A viper lay in his nest. Once he got hold of the person, he would have to pay with his life, of that Tristan would make certain.

No sooner had plans of retribution began to form in his mind, his blood warmed to a raging inferno. He wouldn't rest until that persons blood was shed. No one harmed what was his, and Sapphire was most definitely his, his alone.

A slight movement to his left drew Tristan's attention. A form he recognized far too easily hurriedly made their way amongst the trees.

"Andrew! Andrew!" Tristan growled.

Andrew froze, he couldn't feign ignorance. Making sure his face was clear from the fear which held him in its brutal clutches, he turned to face Tristan. He loathed him for making him fear him, but he naught but a fool if he didn't fear him.

"Where were you?" Tristan questioned, his gaze narrowing.

"I went hunting." Andrew answered evenly, a thin layer of sweat beginning to form on his brow. He couldn't loose now, not when he was so close. It was only a matter of days.

"Where is your game?" His voice came out softly, menacingly, beckoning a person to spare themselves. His beautiful features impassive. He looked as if he had been carved from granite, not a single emotion marred his beauty.

Andrew drew in a small breath of air.

"I was not able to catch anything."

Andrew said, looking anywhere but in Tristan's cold silver gaze. His eyes alone had Andrew rethinking his loyalties. He now knew why Tristan was so widely feared, and he despised being amongst those who feared him.

"My men and I go hunting once a week, what caused you to hunt. Has the butcher run out of meat?"

Tristan questioned impassively. He knew the butcher had an abundance of meat, he made sure of it. Tristan never let there be any shortage for his village.

Ever.

"Where is your game?" Tristan repeated with a raise of his brow.

Andrew looked down at his empty hands as if just now realizing he was empty handed, no prey what so ever. He decided on a different approach.

"I did not hunt for the flesh, I did it for the thrill."

Tristan watched him with cold calculating eyes. He needed more proof, which meant he needed Andrew to assume he let him be, for now. The man was a guile bastard. Tristan saw it in the way his shoulders were set, from the way he watched everyone, everything. There was nothing lost about this man. Tristan would have to proceed with caution.

"Very well." Tristan said, dismissing him.

"May I be of assistance?"

"No."

Tristan's answer was curt and immediate.

Andrew ground his teeth together but refrained from saying anything. He was already in a compromising position, he needed to be careful. It was all because of that bloody bitch! He wouldn't let Tristan or his hounds gain anything on him until it was too late.

"Gerald!" Tristan called, turning his back on Andrew. He felt when Andrew began to walk away, his footsteps hurried, but careful. A man familiar with running.