Chapter 6

"Good luck, my huntress," Guinevere kissed Jun's cheek in a sisterly fashion in front of everyone present. Some raised their brows at the show of affection, but most paid no mind. The other hunters were too busy double-checking their horses and supplies for the travail ahead of them. Tristan had instructed her to wait for him while he went to ready Eshoak and Dastan. So, there she stood in her new dark grey woolen tunic, pants and fur lined boots that the Queen had gifted her. They made her feel blessedly warm.

"It is only a hunt, correct?" Jun asked for clarification.

"Yes, of course, but you know these arrogant men. It has become a competition to see who will bring home the best prize for the festival. I'm glad you ride out with Tristan because the others are forming teams as well."

Jun looked dubious and Arthur laughed from his place beside his wife. He placed a fatherly hand upon Jun's shoulder. "Think of it as games before the festival. It is a time of peace and a little friendly sport will strengthen the brotherhood of our countrymen, British and Roman settlers alike."

"Oi!" Bors called out. "It's just hunt! Don't go ruining all our fun by making it into some sing-along campfire shit." Gawain and a few of the other men chuckled. They were the only other knights setting out on the expedition, although from what Jun understood, it was only because they wanted to be away from the near constant nagging of their respective women. (Vanora wanted Bors to spend more time with the children, and Lynn wanted Gawain to settle with her and her alone).

Tristan came to her then, holding the reigns of their horses. Everything after was conducted with swiftness as the sun rose behind the clouds, illuminating the world in a bright dimness that was unique to Britain. Comfortable in Dastan's saddle, Jun hardly paid any attention to the speech Arthur gave, smiling when Bors interjected with jests, though she didn't hear his words. Her mind was on her companion. Glancing to her side, Jun saw Tristan, and though he wasn't looking at her at all, she could tell that he was observing her just as much as she observed him. Ayn, at least, had the decency to make eye contact before preening her feathers.

They had not spoken of their sparring match or the kiss, but even Jun – who had very little romantic experience with men – knew that things were changing between them. It wasn't as if he suddenly began flirting with her, or seeking out her attention. In fact, he had only come to her yesterday to let her know the final details of their expedition and then promptly left. And yet, there was something in his air that pulled at her like a lodestone.

Arthur hailed the band of hunters, around twenty in all. Shouts, and a few jeers, were called out before the riders took off down the road. Having become familiar with Tristan's mare, Dastan followed Eshoak without much direction from Jun. They were headed north again, separating from the others after passing through the Wall. Tristan claimed to have seen boar tracks on their return trip over two weeks ago. His hawk soared above them and whether the bird was following or leading them, Jun could not guess.

By midday, the sun burned through the clouds and melted the snow, making their path muddy. When they came upon a grassy creek, Tristan indicated to dismount to care for the horses. While their four-legged companions rested, Jun took the time to top off their water skins. Tristan was watching her from his seat by a mostly dry tree. She tried to ignore him and was doing a good job of it until he appeared beside her. He touched her waist, drew her near to him.

"Leave the skins," he murmured. "Come eat something." His expression gave away nothing, which naturally made Jun a little nervous. Still, she let herself be led by him to the tree, where he had set aside a small bag of their provisions. He sat down once more, and before Jun could move to sit beside him, his arm reached out and jerked her down into his lap. Sputtering, she elbowed him indignantly but found her curses interrupted by a hunk of bread shoved in her mouth.

Jun glared icy daggers at her captor. Tristan returned her look with a blank stare, but she could see the smallest hint of a smile at the edges of his lips. She chewed on the bread slowly to give herself more time to piece together a sentence. Finally, she found her voice. "Was that really necessary?"

Tristan shrugged. "You are cold. This will warm you," he said, settling her legs across his laps and folding his arms around her torso so that she was even closer to him. And really, it was much warmer for her to lean into his body, especially when he drew his cloak to fall over her extended legs and feet. With nothing else to do, Jun sighed in defeat.

She pulled the bag of hard bread, cheese and nuts into her own lap. After popping a hazelnut into her mouth, she broke off a piece of bread and cheese, offering it up to the knight without looking at him. He ate it from her hands, lips brushing lightly against her fingertips. Jun pretended not to notice. She took a bite of the food for herself before holding more out for him and this time, his lips did more than just feather against her phalanges. This time, he used his tongue to pull her small fingers into his mouth and suck.

Heat pooled low in her belly, making her shift uncomfortably. The growing hardness against her hip was obvious, but easy to ignore. Instead of commenting, Jun snatched one of the thin braids woven into the knight's hair and tugged sharply, earning her a deep chuckle. She glared up at him for good measure, to which he replied with a shrug. For the rest of their repast, Tristan picked his own food from the bad in her lap and made no move to further their interactions. He was content in knowing that she was aware of his intentions and seemed to reciprocate them.

```8```

They found the boar tracks later that evening and decided to settle in for the night and begin again in the morning. While Jun tended their mounts, Tristan went in search of firewood. Upon his return, she had just finished brushing Dastan and was covering him with a wool blanket for warmth like she had with Eshoak earlier. They said nothing as they worked together to start a fire. Most of the wood was still damp, and it was dark by the time the flames were at an acceptable size. Jun watched Ayn flutter to the ground where Tristan tossed a hunk of dried meat for her. She avoided the hawk while it ate and was about to sit down next to Tristan on the bedroll she had spread out earlier, but saw his arm move, ready to pull her down like before. Rolling her eyes, she nudged his legs apart with her feet and sat between his bent knees; her back was to his chest.

She felt more than she heard the chuckle he made at her actions. He lowered his head, bringing his mouth to her ear. "Cold?"

"Aye, but don't get any ideas," she murmured while chewing on a piece of jerky. He simply hummed but said nothing else. Eventually, after they both had eaten their share of food and drank their fill, the two settled further onto the ground and under the blankets. Jun told herself that they were only doing this to stay warm on the cold winter night – just like when she was ill in Merlin's cave. But it wasn't the cold that made her turn around to face him. And it couldn't be because of the cold that he brushed aside her hair from her face, watching her with hooded eyes.

The campfire cast a warm glow upon his face and Jun's gaze was drawn to his tattoos. She knew from her time with the Eastern tribes of the Huns that such markings signified the lineage of the Khans. Royalty.

"You never answered," she said, reaching up to lightly caress the indelible ink in his skin. "Do they mean the same among the Sarmatians as with the Huns?"

Tristan closed his eyes. "Yes, but not all the tribes still acknowledge it since Rome conquered our people. My family is the only living branch left of Sarmatian royalty."

"So you are a prince," Jun teased lightly. Tristan only shrugged.

"We are little more than chieftans, and I was the second son and unlikely to inherit the title of honor. I volunteered to serve Rome so that my older brother did not have to leave his bride and unborn child."

"I see… were you close with him?"

"Not really. I barely remember him, but still think fondly of my older sister."

"What was she like?"

"Fat," he snorted, "so chubby that we always teased her."

Jun rolled her eyes. "You must have been a very sweet little brother." She watched him laugh, but there was something sad about it. "Why didn't you return when your service ended? Why did you all choose to stay?"

"There is nothing to return to. Sarmatia is no more. Between Rome, the Huns, and the Alans, our people had no chance, especially with most of their finest warriors fighting elsewhere for a land and a cause that were not their own. Rumors say that if there are any Sarmatians left, then they have fled and surrendered to the Alans for at least they were distant cousins."

No words could be said to ease the pain and resentment her comrade was feeling. Having left her own homeland before she was even five years of age, Jun could not relate to his situation. While she could not empathize with the knight, she could understand him.

"Arthur gave us a home," Tristan continued. "Bors was going to remain on this island anyway for his family – and Dagonet with him. So we just stopped making plans to leave and started making plans to fortify." He eyed her bemusedly, "then you came along."

"I do like it here, even if it is cold all the time."

"I'm sure Persia is merely hot all the time."

Jun laughed, "That it is."

After a brief silence, Tristan turned to lie on his back and pulled Jun to lay half on top of him with her head cushioned by his chest. She tried not to smile. Instead, she burrowed deeper into his side under the blankets to stay warm. His voice almost startled her.

"Why didn't you accept the Emporer?"

Jun couldn't see his face from her position, but was sure from the sound of his voice that it would be unreadable to examination. "I wasn't in love with him."

"That's it?"

"Isn't that enough?" she snorted.

"No."

"Well," she sighed, "I almost did accept him. We loved each other, but it was platonic on both sides and he only wanted to protect me… But after everything… Watching Hermozd kill JeongHwa and then killing him in turn… I couldn't stay. I saw the look on Peroz's face when I lost myself to the blood rage. Hermozd's body was only recognizable by the jewelry he wore and every inch of me was stained red with his blood. My skin looked as though I had dyed it. I couldn't stay after he saw me like that. I wasn't the same to him – or even myself – not anymore."

It was quiet again. Tristan let his hand move along her back and stroked the long braid of soft dark hair. It soothed her more than she liked to admit.

```8````

His mouth was at her neck, just below her ear, scraping with his teeth and caressing with his tongue. At first, it startled Jun awake and she flinched away with fear. But when Jun saw Tristan's face hovering above her own with hooded eyes, her apprehension melted away and she kissed him. It was early morning as far as she could tell, and bitterly cold, but the heat spreading through her gut when his hands groping beneath her clothes for her breasts and hips was more than enough to chase the chill away. She kissed him thoroughly, wrapping her arms around his neck to hold him captive to her lips. He returned her kiss with equal enthusiasm.

The need to breathe became too much. Jun broke away first with a harsh gasp and moaned aloud when Tristan returned to her neck, lavishing the flesh there with wet affection. His name erupted from her lips when he bit down and sucked hard on her pulse, making him growl and thrust his hips sharply against the junction of hers.

He wanted her. Tristan knew that. He wanted her as his woman, and he wanted everyone to know that she was his woman. He had been attracted to her ever since she fought off two soldiers that first night, even though she could barely walk in a straight line. He had foregone the company of women since then without realizing exactly why – only that the village whores were no longer appealing. It wasn't until he'd gotten her beneath him in the training hall that Tristan truly saw the extent of his desire for the exotic mercenary. And now, she was gasping his name, dragging her small nails down his back and writhing amorously against his body. He would have her.

Jun's shirt was pushed up and Tristan's lips were wrapped around her rosy nipple when they heard Ayn screech far above them. Both warriors froze. The call came again and Jun didn't need to be told what it meant. Tristan cursed, shoving himself off the ground and snatching his crossbow and bolts from their ready spot by a tall pine tree. June took up and strung her bow with steady efficiency. She was crouched by Dastan with an arrow knocked when Tristan settled onto a secure branch thirty feet up in the pine's full coverage. Ayn let loose another warning cry before all went silent.

Jun prayed silently that whoever was coming hadn't shot the bird out of the sky. The faint odor of woad war paint stung her nostrils. Five men stepped into the clearing from different directions, weapons held loosely.

"Pax Vobiscum," one of them called in Latin. "Peace." Jun eyed him wearily when he held his hands up to show that he held no weapon, even though his companions were as ready for a fight as she was – even if they weren't as frustrated as she currently was. He had a blue tattoo above his brow that looked like a horizontal crescent moon resting on a circle. She assumed he was their leader. He searched the campsite with his eyes before smiling at her again. "We are not here to fight."

"Who are you?" Jun spoke evenly.

"I am Caedwgan. My party and I have come south for the hunt and to celebrate the Winter Solstice with my uncle, Merlyn the Wise, and dear cousin the Queen of Britain."

At this, Jun stood, and lowered her bow. She didn't take her hands off it, but planted it firmly in the ground and straightened her back. "I am JeongJun of Goguryeo and I hunt for the King and Queen."

"Well met," Caedwgan's smile grew. "Where is your companion?"

"Companion?"

Caedwgan made a face that was bemused and skeptical at once. He drew closer to Eshoak brushed her muzzle, though the horse shook her head away at his presumption to pet her. Her reaction almost made Jun smile. "The Sarmatian Knight that rides the horse and owns that hawk, where is he?"

"Near."

The Woad sneered, "Not near enough." He seemed to take on a swagger that was similar to how Lancelot moved, though not as well executed. "You are a beautiful woman, Lady JeongJun." She hated that his pronunciation was near perfect. "A knight should never leave one such as you alone in the wild to tend the horses while he hunts. Why not leave you at home with the other woman?"

A bolt sank deep into the ground at Caedwgan's feet before he could step any nearer. Shouts erupted throughout the clearing as the other intruders raised their weapons and Tristan dropped down from the tree to stand between their leader and Jun. Caedwgan glared and raised one hand to silence his comrades. Tristan said nothing, but watched him with a steady, unreadable expression.

"Greetings, Lord Knight." It was said with a smile, but the voice rang with bitterness. Tristan said nothing and silence thickened the air around them. The horses fidgeted in agitation. "My apologies," Caedwgan said finally. "I can see that my words offended you and the Lady. It was not my intention. We were merely following the boar tracks and came upon yours. I thought an introduction would be wise to avoid any unfortunate accidents on the hunt. Old habits of war die hard, as you know."

Tristan nodded, accepting the words of peace, if not their sentiment, but still said nothing.

"Perhaps," the Woad continued, "we should join, and hunt the beasts together as a show of good faith and unity in this time of peace?"

More silence. Jun put her hand on Tristan's arm in a placating manner. "It would please Arthur, would it not?"

The knight turned his head to gaze down at her and his look softened. He nodded. "You go ahead. We will raise our camp and join you when it is done."

Caedwgan grinned and ordered his men out of the clearing. Once they were out of sight and hearing distance, Tristan grabbed Jun and pushed her against the nearest tree. His mouth slanted over hers with near bruising force that took her breath away. He thrust his tongue into her mouth without hesitation and did not stop his assault until hers was tangled with it. Satisfied with her reaction, Tristan reigned in his passions and slowed the kiss until their lips merely caressed each other off and on again with brief but affectionate motions. His voice whispered across her, "You and I aren't done."

```8````

It was a successful hunt. The Woads were excellent trackers and Tristan was deadly accurate with his bow. The boar went down quietly and quickly after only one more day of travel. Jun hadn't had a clear shot, much to her annoyance; one of the Woads stood between her and their prize. She tried not to pout or seem dismayed, but Tristan could see through her indifferent façade.

That night, camped beneath the forest's boughs and open sky of stars, the knight teased her in the Hunnish tongue. He was seated against a tree and held her like before, with her back to his chest. Their cloaks and blankets kept the bitter chill at bay but it was Tristan's body and words that made Jun feel warm and content throughout the night. Their peace was disturbed only once: Caedwgan insisted upon acting like a courtly representative of his people by congratulating Tristan on his kill and showering Jun with compliments. The mercenary found the latter to be the most unnerving.

Even though it had been months since she'd first arrived and revealed her feminine nature, she still wasn't used to being treated as such. In fact, she appreciated that no one at the fort, or in the village, acted like she was a fine and delicate lady that needed to be flattered and pandered to. Still, she bore it well and smiled enough to be polite.

"He thinks to anger me," Tristan whispered in Hunnish. "That symbol on his forehead is the sign of Pan, one of their gods - mark of his family line. I killed his father years ago."

"I thought there must be some reason for his obvious hate of you. I do not blame him so much now," Jun shrugged.

"Neither do I," Tristan pushed his nose into her neck. "But the second his advances toward you become serious, I will not hesitate to slit his throat. I hope you will not blame me then, either."

"What if I accept his advances willingly?"

Tristan's laugh came out as a snort when he tried to cover it with a cough so that the Woads wouldn't take amiss from his mirth. Jun tried not to smirk.

*8*

They were only half a day's ride to the wall when the sun rose. Jun held Dastan's reigns in clenched fists when Caedwgan rode next to her the whole way. She wanted nothing more than to dunk herself in a river to forgo diplomacy and tell him exactly where he should shove his sword, but this man was Guinevere's cousin. That fact alone held her tongue and pasted a bland smile on her lips.

"I have never seen anyone with features like yours, Lady Jun," he'd said. "Are you certain that you are not some fey spirit? A forest nymph mayhap?"

She replied flatly. "I assure you, Lord Caedwgan, that I am human and was born from mortal parents. This is how the people of my homeland look."

Caedwgan flashed a grin. There was no doubt in Jun's mind that he knew exactly how uncomfortable he was making her… and that he enjoyed doing so. He was shorter than the others and fair headed, with no trace of a beard to hide the handsomeness of his face. It was obvious that he thought much of his appearance from the way he carried himself upon his horse. If anything, she liked him less for it.

"I mean no disrespect. It is a singular beauty that you own. How far is your homeland? Mayhap I should go there to find a woman as enticing as you."

Jun ignored his play. "Goguryeo is far to the east where the world meets a different ocean. You would have to cross the entirety of the Roman Empire, and the Huns, to reach it."

"And yet you are here? What could have brought you so far from your home?"

"Life," Jun all but grunted. She looked at Tristan for the hundredth time but saw that he was far too amused by her current annoyance to offer assistance. "Let him flatter and flirt," the knight whispered the night before. "Like a fool too stupid to know his limitations, he jumps for the moon only to fall on his face." It was the most eloquent she had ever heard Tristan speak and the words made her blush. Now they only irked her more.

"Ah," Caedwgan sighed. "What a life you must have lived! I have never left his island. The most foreign men I've ever seen are your knight and his compatriots. You must tell me of your travels!"

"I hardly wish to bore you."

"No I insist. My men and I are starved for more than the warmth of the fire that awaits us passed Hadron's Wall."

Jun shrugged. "I am no story teller. I was raised by a mercenary. He was a good man that convinced everyone else I was his son. We lived with the Huns and killed for hire. Then we lived with the Persians and killed for hire. He died. I went to Rome and was going to kill for hire again, until Arthur and Guinevere showed me a different path. Now I live here."

"To kill for the King?"

"No," Jun smiled. "To live for him."

AN: Thank you all for reading and reviewing! I've been editing the story after finding some inconsistencies and will provide Chapter 7 soon! Please review to let me know what you think :D