The first guard hit the ground hard. Tristan stepped over him as the second approached. He struck out, managing to get the end of Excalibur's cross guard beneath the rim of the guard's helmet. It hit the ground with a thud as Tristan struck out with his pommel, hitting the man's bare head. The guard staggered left and Tristan followed after him, striking him a second time until he wobbled backwards and sprawled unconscious against the trunk of the nearest tree. Drawing vines from the earth with a twitch of his fingers, Tristan bound him in place; incapacitated but largely unharmed.

He'd bought himself precious seconds. Wheeling around he scanned the chaos erupting all around him. Already tents were beginning to crumple and fall. Thoth, Grayson, Bryar, Gawain. Making his decision Tristan turned on his heel and ran back into the crowd. He dodged and weaved, moving quickly, his face angled down towards the floor, trying to disguise himself the best he could. He took out one of Mordred's men by taking his legs out from underneath him with another vine, which then wrapped around him and bound him firmly to the floor. Another one safely out of harm's way.

"Thoth!" Tristan shouted as he broke free of the main melee and marched towards the paddocks. He could see the unicorns in the distance, rearing up, their nostrils flaring. Their fear washed over him, mixing with the adrenaline of his own pounding heart. They sensed the smoke before he did, before the amber glow of fire became evident through the trees. The horses couldn't stay where they were.

"Thoth?" Tristan called again, making for the gate, and then to himself, "for fuck's sake, where are you?"

His fingers closed around the fence panel as he bent his knees to lift it from the ground.

A man shouted behind him, his words unintelligible amongst the noise of the campsite. Tristan glanced back over his shoulder. He was making a beeline straight for them.

put all your faults to bed

TristaN

you can be king again