Tale of Four

Looking ahead, Tristan frowned, seeing the meeting point Mabel had given for the party. Although he could see a tent in the distance, it was separate from the main tournament ground by a little walk. Lifting a foot, he paused and took a sharp breath, slamming his foot on the ground when he felt himself about to fall. ”Tristan. Are you not better yet? Still afraid.” Annabell asked with worry.

”I know. I thought it got a little better, but I just replaced the palace with the tourney grounds.

”You did get better.” Annabell screeched in reply to Tristan in a self-deprecating tone, ”Where are we right now. Outside. Even if it’s only because you feel safe on the tournament grounds, you still managed to come out here.” With a thin smile, Tristan rubbed the top of the bird’s head and went to turn around, giving up the offer Mabel had given him.

Annabell watched for a moment and shook her head, shooting up. ”Annabell.” Turning to face the bird, he watched her fly towards the tent where he was meant to go. Taking the first step forward, he stopped and took a deep breath.

’What is she doing?’ Standing still, unable to take a step forward but not wishing to leave the dove behind, Tristan waited. A minute turned to five, and five to ten. Finally, he saw the tent flap open and a woman with golden hair walking over. ’Oh god.’ Grabbing his head and rubbing his temples, he waited for Mabel to come over.

Crossing her arms, she looked Tristan up and down with an annoyed expression and scoffed, ”Why do I have to pick you up?”

”What did Annabell say?” Tristan nervously asked, not going unnoticed by Mabel. Lifting an eyebrow, she glanced at the white dove which landed on Tristan’s head.

”Her exact words. Silly Tristan needs someone to collect him, or he won’t come.” With a fake light laugh, she tilted her head and frowned, ”Just because we danced doesn’t mean I appreciate being ordered around to do things that you can do yourself.” Stepping forward, she slammed a finger into his chest. ”So why am I here?”

Tristan looked down in embarrassment, biting the inside of his cheek, as he debated what to say. The truth would have been easy, soemthing that even if stupid could be understood. But it was the stupidity of his fear that kept him silent. If he said it and was judged to be worthless because of it, then everything he had done would have been for nothing. All his scheming and plans evaporated in one quick move.

The silence was heavy as Mabel waited. There was a part of her that wanted to hit him and walk off for wasting her time, but looking at Tristan, she could see he was genuinely struggling to say why he needed help coming to the party, something being held back by a pure desire not to be embaressed.

’I asked the wrong person.’ Looking up at Annabell, she sweetly smiled, ”Why does he need me to collect him?” Tristan’s head shot up, and before Annabell could talk, he grabbed the bird and held a hand over her beak.

”Don’t.” Annabell fought free and flew into the sky, fiercely glaring at Tristan for his actions.

”Don’t hold me like that!” Snapping at her partner, Annabell turned to Mable, ”He’s scared of the outside.”

”ANNABELL!” Tristan’s voice rang out, echoing through the trees and through the nearby forest where the tent was hidden. Onlookers walking past shot confused glances but said nothing, seeing the two hair. From the tent, someone peeked out, noticing Mabel missing and the sudden cry. Mablel took a step back, having never expected such raw anger from Tristan. Annabell flew up in the sky, before meekly landing on his shoulder, making herself small and nudging her head into his neck.

”I’m sorry.” Her echoing childish voice sounded like it was crying as she continued to nudge into Tristan’s neck until he finally stroked her to accept her apology. ”I’m sorry, Tristan. I just got mad becuase you held me so tight and wanted to let her know so she could help you.”

Tristan’s lip twitched as he took a deep breath and picked up the bird. Holding it before him, he saw her trying to curl up whilst standing to hide her face and appear pitiful. ”Annabell.” Saying her name, she revealed her head for a split second. When she did a fast flick of the finger, hit it, and he carried on, ”I understand, but all I ask is you don’t tell people my secrets when I don’t want you to. They are embarrassing and...” Looking up at Mabel, she saw a flash of cold light run through his eyes for a second, ”A danger to my life.”

”Scared of the outside, but you can look at me like that.” Mabel stepped forward and smirked, ”Are you brave at the wrong moments or just incredibly stupid?” Tristan looked at her and realised he had glared for a split second. Half smiling, he politely chuckled.

”I would wager the latter. After all, what person is afraid of the outside? Although.” Looking back at the tourney grounds, he bitterly chuckled to himself, ”I think that fear was wrong. In reality, I’m afraid of going somewhere I can’t predict. This is still the court in a sense.” Mabel rolled her eyes and looked at the tent behind her that was less than a minute’s walk away.

”Tristan, I’m not going to make fun of you even if I find it ridiculous, but the tent is just there.” Tristan frowned and looked around.

”And I have to walk through a forest to get through. A fox could attack me, maybe a drunk attacks me, or even I trip on a stone and crack my skull open.” Mabel stood frozen, staring at him in disbelief, the silence only broken by the wind.

Rubbing her forehead for a few seconds, she thought about his fears and chuckled, ”What?” Looking back up at him, she saw he was completely serious and let out a half laugh, ”You’re completely insane if that’s what you’re scared about, you know. You’re a Cosmaton, and you’re scared of a rock that may not exist.”

Tristan tilted his head and smiled, ”I don’t think it is crazy. People live and die by mere chance.”

”There is a difference between that and whatever is wrong with you, Tristan.” Mabel shook her head, ”Sure, you can die becuase you fall over there, I won’t deny that. But a normal person will see that risk and do it anyway, becuase it is so small, so insignificant and trapping. What is the point in living if you’re scared of walking for thirty seconds in the dark?” Shaking her head, she covered her mouth and exhaled in disbelief, ”You live in one of the most dangerous places in Veston, and you’re scared of what’s outside it.”

”I’m scared of a future I can’t control to keep me alive, Mabel.” Tristan earnestly answered, ”I am terrified of leaving my life up to mere chance again.”

”What are you on about?” Mabel spat the question out and looked at Tristan. From all she knew, he was a nobody, someone who had no enemies who would willingly risk their own life to kill him. Yet the certainty with which he spoke showed that he had survived something that would have killed him.

”My parents died when I was two. You know this. I was meant to be with them, Mabel, and I survived becuase of chance. I don’t have the luxury of surviving because of chance; I never have.” Mabel narrowed her gaze, and Tristan quickly realised he had let too much slip.

”What?” Her body tensed up as she stepped forward, ”What do you mean you don’t have the luxury to leave it to chance. That is rather strange to say.”

”Why’s that? I’m pretty sure I just explained why.” Mabel shook her head.

”No. There’s something more in what you just said, Tristan.” Her body relaxed as she stepped forward again, leaving only half a pace between them, ”You obviously have no ambition, but you must survive.” Reaching out, she grabbed his face, her fingers coiling behind his cheek, and dragged him forward, staring deep into his eyes. With one hand, she rested a thumb under his eyes, ”Your eyes are different up close.” Tristan could feel the warmth of her breath on his face as she spoke, ”There is a weight in them, a burden.”

”Don’t ask or say anymore, Mabel.” Tristan quietly said, ”I can’t explain anything without it sounding like treason.” Her gaze sharpened. Her hand, like a serpent, fell down his face and rested over his neck. Her thumb rested atop his artery, and through it she felt his calm heartbeat.

”Treason? I didn’t think you had that in you, Tristan.”

”I don’t, but there is no way to explain without it sounding like treason. So drop it. I have already been questioned by the chancellor on this, and the fact that I still walk should be enough proof that he deems me innocent.” The two stared into one another’s eyes for a moment before Mabel released his neck and stepped back.

”So that’s why there were so many people hiding around you. It was strange when they suddenly appeared.” Mabel took a deep breath. ”I won’t push, but I expect you to tell me if you wish to serve Elias. Anyway, come, I have been gone for too long.”

”You still want me to come?” Mabel rolled her eyes and said nothing, walking back ot the tent.