Chapter 1

 

'Tristan, what has happened to you? You look and seem different.'

Theresa was shocked as she looked at the tired, half-vacant expression of her childhood friend and lover. She ran to embrace him with concern.

Tristan responded by holding her very tightly, as if he never wanted to let her go. 'Did anyone follow you here?' he demanded.

'No, I was not followed. Tristan, why do you ask me such a question? Why did you bring me to this secret location? What's going on? Nothing is making sense. Tristan!'

She looked around at the room. Apart from a bed in the corner and a chamber pot, it was bare. She had received a message from Tristan as soon as she had arrived back from her travels. The letter told her to meet him at a location unfamiliar to her, at a room on top of a tavern. The letter had immediately alerted her to the fact that something was wrong, and meeting him now and seeing how worn out he looked confirmed her suspicions.

'Theresa, my love, why did you leave for so long?' Tristan sighed. 'I missed you so very much when you were gone. Not being able to speak to you, hear you, smell you drove me crazy. I feared something might have happened to you, when I did not hear from you for months on end.'

She stood up on her toes to kiss Tristan on his lips. 'I am sorry, my love,' she said. 'I had some family business I had to attend to; it could not be helped. But that will be my last big trip without you. I will need to fill you in on all the details at some point. I think it is due time I told you everything. But for now, let us be happy we are together once more, and I will ensure that we are not parted like that again.'

At the sound of her words, Tristan withdrew from their physical contact, no longer able to look into her eyes directly.

'Tristan, what is it?'

'I am afraid it will no longer be possible for us to be together-not at this time, anyway.' He spoke with sadness clear to hear in his voice.