Anticipation swirled within her heart. The only room for dread was being caught. She was so close to her goal, so very close. Nothing should be able to jeopardize what she had worked so hard for, nor would she let anyone get in her way. What ever it took, she would have her revenge. One way or another. Of that she would make certain. She had gone great lengths for this day, she would not be denied now.

Her hand absentmindedly went to her scarred forearm. She could still recall how she had gotten it, the pain she was forced to suffer. As if her memories were not bad enough, she had to carry the proof of her pain, her suffering, on her person. A painful reminder of what she was, what she became, and if what she lost. She would make him go through as much suffering as she did, and twice over.

Hatred, loathing and pain all swirled within her. Becoming one with her very being, as if those emotion's fueled the blood which ran through her veins. She hated everyone, everything. She couldn't stand to see anyone happy. If she couldn't have happiness, nor could anyone else. She wouldn't suffer alone.

Corriane's cold, calculating gaze stared at the dungeons she had prepared. No one would think twice to come down there. Not even her own men knew of it's existence, how would he? And by far, they were not easy to find. A person would meet death before they found their way out of these caves. They were a true work of nature, just for her.

A slow, unmerciful smile curled her lips. Just a few more days and she would have everything she planned, everything she had wanted since that fateful night. Everything she had planned, in a few short days.

A shudder ran down her spine as she recalled being discovered by none other than Fredrick. He would have tossed her aside just like the rest if it were not for her quick thinking. For she was more than a pretty face. A fact men did not know, and one she used to her advantage. They thought they could use her as they pleased, but oh how very wrong they were. For she used them, tossing them aside when her task was complete.

She loathed the male kind, in fact, she hated everyone. She wanted to be left alone. There was a time she lavished in the way men would watch her, stare at her alone. The envious glares of women were very welcomed. She had encouraged them. But now, she cared for naught. She wanted her revenge and everything to be over with. The sooner she had what she wanted, the sooner she would be at peace.

And so would her child, her poor, poor child. He did not deserve such a cruel fate. He was to be a great man, a great lord of the castle. One who was to be admired and respected above all. He may have become king one day as well. But he couldn't! All because of ....of.....

Her body shook with the rage she tried in vain to suppress. She hated him. Hated him with every fiber of her being. She wanted him to suffer. Death would be only too easy for him. She wanted him to be tortured slowly, she wanted him to beg for death, only to be denied.....

Her brows furrowed slightly. Would she be able to recognize him? Would he her? Would she go soft at seeing him? Corriane scoffed at the very idea. She wasn't soft with him before and she was not to begin now! He was nothing to her! He never was, never would be. A hindrance, a burden. One she should have gotten ridden the moment he had taken breathe, a fact she regretted deeply.

She didn't care about him! He took everything away from her and it was high time she did the same. He would pay dearly for what he had done. After she was threw with him, she would make Fredrick pay, and then she would be at complete ease. She was no common whore, and because of Fredrick, she was forced to act like one, to live such as one.

Corriane's lips curled into a sneer. Mayhap she would not have to worry about Fredrick. If the meddlesome lord Rivers were to interfere, and no doubt he would, he would take care of Fredrick. If what she had gathered was true, Rivers would be alongside Tristan.

The good for nothing git! He was another one who aggravated her to no end! Arrogant and egotistic, she had never met the likes of him before.

She remembered their conversation as if it were yesterday....

He had stormed into her castle, a look of outrage on his face, as if he had any right to! Shouting and screaming obscenities at her as if he was a commoner and not a respected lord, in presence of a lady no less! He thought she was no lady, he was of the opinion she did not deserve to be a lady.

His outrage has been comical, telling her she did not know how to raise a child! She had raised her son to be a noble man, his nobility is what had gotten him murdered......

Corriane shook herself away from the memory, not wanting to recall it.

Perhaps she should deal with the meddling lord as well, two birds with one stone.....

Yes, she thought, perhaps she will.......

***

Sapphire woke with a jolt. Where was Tristan? He had woken up! She could have sworn he had.... She had seen him with her own eyes, he was teasing her, as if..... as if he hadn't been unconscious for the past three nights.

Sapphire looked around the room frantically, her heart beating a tattoo in her chest, her eyes wide, breathing slightly uneven.

Sapphire ran a hand through her damp, tangled tresses, she had walked out of her bathing chambers and hugged him.... After that she couldn't recall anything... She could feel herself begin to panic...

"It's alright, think clearly. No need to overwork yourself." She told herself in a deceivingly calm voice. She had felt like this only once before...

"When did you start the habit of speaking to yourself? You sound delirious."

Sapphire looked up at the sound of Tristan's amused voice. He stood next to the bathing chamber, the door slightly ajar. Sapphire took in his wet hair, his small, amused smile.

"I was merely speaking out loud, my lord." Sapphire sniffed, looking anywhere but at the object of her distress.

"I was merely jesting, no need to be upset." Tristan said as he walked towards her, a small frown on his beautiful face. Sitting besides her, he took her hand in his, gently running his thumb over it.

Sapphire signed.

"I am not upset with you." Sapphire mumbled, refusing to look at him.

Tristan grasped her chin, tilting her face towards him for a kiss. His lips softly brushed against hers before applying more pressure. He bit her bottom lip softly, swiping his tongue over it to take away the slight pain.

Tristan pulled back frowning.

"Why are you not kissing me?"

"I was..I...I....." Sapphire trailed off at a lost for words.

"I understand, love. No need to fret." Tristan cooed as he brushed the hair back from her face.

"Don't you dare, ever, to give me such a scare again!" Sapphire whispered, her voice shaking slightly. Her courage back in her person.

"I will see what I can do." Tristan said with a smirk.

Sapphire's eyes narrowed into slits, she opened her mouth to retort only to have Tristan quickly place his hand over it.

"I was jesting."

"You have jested more in this past hour or two than you have your entire life." Sapphire mumbled from behind his hand.

Tristan shrugged his well formed shoulders.

"Perhaps, but I have someone worth jesting with."

Sapphire's eyes softened at his words. The unreasonable anger she had felt melted away. He was being so sweet towards her, she could hardly stay angry, no matter that it was unjust to begin with.

"Are you laughing at your wife?" Sapphire asked, attempting to keep a straight face.

" I believe I am." Tristan a answered with a smile, his eyes alight with laughter.

"That is a horrible offense, my lord." Sapphire said, pretending to be outraged.

"Is it now? I didn't realize. I offer my most humble apologies."

Sapphire looked into his silver orbs which she had missed dearly. His small scar above his brow, his straight nose, his high cheek bones, even his cheeky mouth. She thanked God he was here with her.

"It is not polite to stare." Tristan whispered, his lips pulling into an amused smile.

"There is naught wrong with staring at ones husband, it is my right to do so." Sapphire retorted, her own smile coming forth. She was feeling much better now, the horrible thoughts and feelings far from her mind.

"Then I dare say-" Tristan whispered as he pushed Sapphire until she lay flat on the bed, his body covering her own.

"A husband should do with fulfilling his own rights, am I right, my lady wife?" Tristan husked in Sapphire's ear, his breath fanning across her face as their bodies touched intimately, the only barrier being their clothing.

"Your right?" Sapphire asked with a raise of her brow.

"Yes, my right as a husband. Well, it is your right as well." Tristan said softly as he began to trail butterfly kisses along Sapphire's jaw.

Her body responded immediately to his caress, completely bewitched by him. A serpent dancing to it's call.

"You must go meet the rest of the castle, everyone awaits." Sapphire attempted to say through her muddled thoughts.

"My wife compliant regarding her rights, I must make sure she is fully satisfied before fulfilling the rights of others." Tristan whispered against her lips before capturing them with his own.

He kissed her lazily, as if he had all the time in the world. Ever so slowly, he sought entrance. Once his tongue invaded her mouth, he slowly explored it, like a man who had naught else to do, but quench an unyielding hunger.

Sapphire's retort turned into a soft moan. Her body seemed to think him gone for centuries and not merely three nights. She was behaving as a harlot, and not a lady.

"I suppose your wife can wait." Sapphire gasped as he slightly bit down where shoulder met neck, licking away the sting.

"I beg to differ, her delicate fingers are digging into my arm. One can be quite deceived. I didn't think such delicate hands were capable of such harm."

And true to his words, Sapphire realized she was clutching his upper arms, her nails digging into his skin.

"You...are.... very..... rude, my lord." Sapphire managed to breath out as his callused hand began to gently rub the flare of her hip. Despite her clothing hindering skin to skin contact, she could feel her skin begin to heat where his palm lay.

"I am very, very kind, and thoughtful." Tristan said as he began to trail kisses along her collarbone.

"We should go downstairs."

Sapphire said as she clutched his arms tighter, his hand slightly brushing past her breast, her actions contradicting her words.

"We should stay here." Tristan said as his hand began to snake downward.

"You should see everyone." Sapphire gasped, arching into him as his tongue dipped into the valley of her breast. She should not have worn a low cut dress today. Her mind had been too preoccupied to see what she had picked, hence her current predicament.

"I would like to see more skin." Tristan growled as he finally managed to lift her skirts, his hand free to touch the skin of her leg.

"You can see skin later, my lord. Cook has...." Her breathing hitched as his callused hand trailed along her thigh.

"Ha..has outdone.... himself in....in....making..... a splendid meal."

"You promised we would bathe together, you bathed alone. How am I to believe your words?" Tristan said sulkily while watching her through hooded eyes.

Sapphire lifted her own lust filled gaze towards his.

"My promise would have been fulfilled if you, my lord, had not decided to fall off your horse." Sapphire said tartly.

Tristan's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I never, never, have fallen off my horse, or any horse for that matter." His voice was a low, husky drawl.

"If you can manage the feast, you will have...." Sapphire trailed off as her cheeks stained with color, she was to be very crude, a fact that had her reddening further. Her dear husband was not good company.

Tristan smirked.

"If I manage the feast downstairs, I get rewarded with a feast within our chamber walls."

Sapphire stared, her brows knitted together in confusion before the meaning of his words became clear to her.

"I...I.. My lord!" Sapphire stuttered.

"You are my wife, are you not?"

"But...we...do...you....do...speak.." Sapphire gave up on speaking and covered her blazing face.

"I will stop teasing you, do not hide from me." Tristan said as he tried to pull her hands away from her face, chuckling softly to himself, his eyes glowing with harmless mischief.

He sat atop her, staring down. As much as he would love to ravish her then and there, he knew he couldn't. But there was something else he could do....

Ever so slowly, he brought his hands to her sides, and with great delight, he began to tickle her.

"Tristan! Stop! Please!" Sapphire shrieked as she twisted left and right, trying to buck him off of her, all in vain. She was laughing so hard tears were trailing down her cheeks, her breathing coming in pants.

Tristan sat atop her, tickling her mercilessly but all the same, a dazed look upon his face. A beautiful, silly smile covered his handsome features as he watched her wither beneath him. She looked beautiful, radiant. The sound of her laughter, had Tristan laughing himself. He was enchanted, bewitched.

Soon, he forgot about tickling her and simply stared. Sapphire's breathing was harsh as she held his hands with hers, trying to prevent him from further assault.

"That, my lord, was uncalled for." Sapphire said once her breathing had returned to normal.

Tristan grinned boyishly, playing with her fingers.

"It was entertaining."

"Does your wife look like entertainment to you?"

"I dare say she does."

"My lord!"

"My lady!" Tristan said, mimicking her.

They stared at each other before bursting into fits of laughter. Tristan spun them around so their positions were reversed, Sapphire on top, while Tristan lay beneath her, both laughing.

"I do not sound like...like.."

"Like this?" Tristan said, once again talking in a slightly high pitched voice.

"My lord!"

This time, she was not alone to say it. Tristan already predicting her words, had joined in.

A knock on the door had their laughter subsiding.

"Tristan! Sapphire!"

Lord Rivers voice could be heard through the door.

Tristan muttered darkly under his breath before lifting Sapphire off of him, placing her gently on the bed, and heading towards the door.

"I see you learned to knock." Tristan said in way of greeting.

Lord Rivers smirked and walked into the room.

"Of course I knocked, with all the noise you two were making.....I care for my eyesight."

A light shade of pink covered Tristan's scowling face while Sapphire burned a brilliant scarlet.

"Why are you here?" Tristan barked, not at all pleased with lord Rivers attempt at a jest.

"I merely wished to see you." Lord Rivers said with an innocence which fooled none.

Tristan grunted, his ever brooding expression back in place.

"Alright, do not believe me. Everyone is waiting for you downstairs. I had restrained them coming up here, there's only so much I can do. They're growing impatient."

Tristan's dark look increased.

"Everyone is downstairs, waiting for me?" His voice was even, low. A lesser person would not have noticed the tension, or rather danger, radiating from Tristan.

"Do not be ridiculous. Everyone is dealing with their own affairs, albeit in the great hall. They anxiously await their lords presence." Lord Rivers said, a small smirk present upon his face. He knew how much Tristan loathed attention, despised it. But something's were inevitable, this being one of them.

Tristan visibly relaxed, his expression foreboding. He didn't fancy going downstairs. He knew it was his obligation to do so, apparently, he had given everyone a scare.

"I will go as long as you do not announce me." Tristan said sulkily. He could already feel the number of eyes on him.

"Walk downstairs as you normally were to do so, my boy. None would see the difference." Lord Rivers said chirpily. A tad bit too amused with Tristan's discomfort.

"Is the village here as well?" Tristan asked as he walked towards his armoire before walking back towards his bed.

"Nay, just the knights and castle dwellers. You may see the villagers when you deem fit. They wanted to come, but Margaret told them to give you some time."

Tristan nodded his head, some of his tension eased.

"Shall we go then?" Sapphire questioned as she finished brushing her hair, her eyes alight with humor and mischief.

***

Tristan drank from his cup of water, listening to the conversations around him. True to lord Rivers words, no one stared.

Xavier sat to his right, a cup of ale in his hand as he drank merrily, grinning goofily at Tristan. Tristan suppressed a smile. Xavier had pulled him aside and had given him a brotherly hug, which was followed by a swift, ill aimed punch. Tristan had laughed it off. Xavier seemed to be rather emotional. Tristan could swear he saw the man tearing.

Isabella had actually pecked him on the cheek, muttering something along the lines of 'happy to have you with us.'

Gerald had given him a one armed hug, speaking gruffly, his voice had been rather muffled.

Alexander had grinned slyly at him the whole evening, making lewd comments every opportunity he could seize.

The rest of the men were their usual selfs, talking about battle techniques as if nothing had been amiss.

Sarah had given him a blow to the head with one of Cook's utensils, red eyed, scolding him about his bad habits.

Cook had taken Tristan by surprise. As he had walked into the kitchens, Cook began to yell at the top of his lungs. For a thin man, he had a very loud voice.

"I have been waiting three days for ye! My food has gotten cold! No one would eat! And what does his lordship do? Sleep! Even I could not eat! Do ye know what not eating does to me? Do ye? It drives me insane!"

Tristan had merely chuckled, grabbed some cookies, and had quickly fled the kitchens, much to lord Rivers amusement.