Arthur; The Legend and Myth Chapter 26

26. 

Lancelot was a happier person soon after the function and he displayed it with his assistance to build the castle. He was up at dawn and sought the masons. Merlin was amused at the other sudden willingness. He was also proud of the works done at the castle. The inner castle with the twin towers was almost done and the outer walls were half completed. The four towers on the outer walls were in the foundation. He was also surprised that the workers were in high moods and when he enquired, he was told that they were to finish castle for Pendragon’s daughter. 

“Pendragon’s daughter? Which one?” Arthur had asked when Merlin told him. “I merely spoke to them and who was the one who created this rumor?” 

Merlin could not answer that. Neither could Arthur but he was amused. Since the function his mind was on Morgause. He had other women in his life; when he was in the Legion. He was a faithful one with each of those women and neither was as young as Morgause. 

“I am a silly bastard.” Arthur muttered to himself. He was infatuated with a lady that half his age. During the ride back, he had not joined the others in their tales of the ladies. Percival was not without his own choice of the ladies but they were of the lesser nobility. He had his evening with the ladies in waiting thought the service room was untidy and small without a bed. Arthur had ridden ahead and without a word.

“I want to see Lancelot. Do you know where he is?” Arthur asked the druid. Merlin nodded and pointed to the castle. Arthur strolled over and saw Lancelot at the outer walls. He approached the knight who was standing there. The sword that he owned was on his back in the scabbard. Arthur told Lancelot to ride with him. They rode out to the farmland before Arthur spoke to him.

“During the function, we may have annoyed some lords.” Arthur spoke out directly. He then told Lancelot of the one named Lord Dyson of the Hedgeworth. He had a tiff with me.”

“Tiff? Hedgeworth?” Lancelot laughed. “I met the Lord of Hedgeworth. He was elderly and I doubt he could pick a fight.” 

“I met his heir, the younger Lord Dyson. The man was upset because I was with Morgause. It happened outside on the open court when I was escorting the younger lady for some air.” Arthur explained himself. “He confronted me and challenged me to a duel.”

“You did and killed him.” Lancelot added in. “And the father now seeks you.” 

“No, we did not duel. In fact, Morgause shooed him off and that embarrassed the young lord.” Arthur replied. He then withdrew the scroll from his saddle bag. “I got this from Pendragon. Apparently the young lord seeks redemption. He has complained to Pendragon and is amassing an army against me.” 

“Here against us? An army? Our castle is not ready to withstand any battle let alone a siege.” Lancelot motioned to the unfinished castle. “How big is this army?” 

“That is your task, Lancelot.” Arthur told him. “I will await your return and meanwhile I will strengthen our ….castle.” 

Lancelot rode out on his task. He knew not the whereabouts of Lord Dyson but he rode towards Pendragon castle. He arrived then when the later was away at the borders then to battle the Saxons then. He took the liberty of approaching the castle gate at the moat.

“I have come to seek Lady Elaine.” Lancelot approached the castle. He was met by an arrow in front of his horse. 

“Come no further or we will be forced to kill you.” The sentry cautioned him. Lancelot identified himself and was surprised at the reply. 

“You are no more the vassal of Pendragon. He has renounced your alliance.” The sentry sent another arrow and that time it barely missed the knight. Lancelot turned his horse and rode off but he did leave the land. He camped nearby and awaited his chance to go back in. He chanced on a rider travelling towards the castle. He stopped the rider and then clubbed him unconscious. He took the rider’s clothes and rode to the castle. 

“The Lord’s aide had returned.” The rider was to deliver the messages of the Lord to the castle. The moat doors came down and Lancelot in his disguise went in. He rode to the courtyard and was met by Lady Elaine who had come to receive news on her father. Lady Igraine then was unwell. Lancelot approached the lady with his head bowed to his chest. He handed the saddle bag and then looked up to her.

“You…” Lady Elaine was surprised to see Lancelot and immediately followed her to the inner Hall. He was then confronted by her after she had dismissed the guards. “Madness prevailed in you. How could disguise as my father’ aide and stole your way here?”

Lancelot bowed before her and offered his excuse for the boldness action of his.

“I came to see you but the sentries turned me away. They accuse me of being your father’s enemy. I am not one and will never be.” Lancelot looked into the lady’s eyes. “How could I when I am in love with the daughter?” 

Elaine’s turned red on the mention by the other and her right hand was extended to slap him but she hesitated. Lancelot saw it then as the opportune time to hold her hand and seek her forgiveness.

“I cannot forget you and begged that you forgive me.” Lancelot displayed his charms then. Unknown to the lady, Lancelot was not any man but one with charms for the ladies he met in his life. He was ever the charmer and with his looks, the former took on a predatory form that many ladies could not resist. Lady Elaine was taken aback by the charmer and then forgiven him. He soon had her swooned over before he raise the issue of Lord Dyson.

“Yes, I heard. The Lord came to state his case on my father. He was upset that Arthur had shamed him. His call to fight Arthur was not alone but echoed by a few others.” The lady explained. “There was King Lot of Orkney, Claudas of Wasteland, Rience of North Wales and a …”

“Hush my dear. Their names are known to me. “ Lancelot then stood up before he turned to walk away. 

“Eleven I was told but the others were smaller Lords.” Lady Elaine called out. “Father told them that he was not to get involved for he have his own battles at the border.” 

“Lancelot, do be careful. I can’t…” Lady Elaine sobbed into her arms and Lancelot comforted her. 

“Hush, Elaine. I will be fine. Wait for my return in victory.” With that Lancelot rode to the nearest disconcerting Lord with Arthur. King Lot of Orkney was given the title by own declaration of his forefather. He claimed a vast piece of land but swore an alliance to Pendragon. His castle was not as grand like Pendragon

for it was an older one and with the generations it had become rather unkempt but the walls were still there. Lancelot heard of the King when he was with the Legion and once had a skirmish with the King. The battle was brief and then the King surrendered to the Legion. 

Lancelot took his way to the village that was near to the castle. He had taken by stealth an old cloak with the hood over his head. He made his walk slow and with the bent back, he was soon in the tavern. He had the long sword of his still on his back and with it lent credence to his bent posture. At dusk, the tavern was patronized then by the villagers and the guards from the castle. Lancelot eyed an empty table by the corner and stole over there. He removed the sword and kept it hidden beneath the table. He motioned to the servant to fetch him a goblet of the fermented drink. He then studied the crowd there which was on the four other tables and some were by the counter. He counted ten villagers and another eight of the guards. He studied the guards and singled out the one with the loud voice and too much having of the drink. The guard had his voice raised on the treatment by the knights.

“They treated us like the lowly servants.” The drunken guard voiced out his dissatisfaction. “I would have slugged the knight had he not been the favorite of the King.” 

The four listening drunkards in the uniform in service to King Lot raised a toast to the drunken senior. The later bragged on when he found his mumbling had gained an audience. He lambasted on then about the knight and then he spoke of the pending battle.

“We marched tomorrow to battle an errant lord named Arthur.” When Lancelot heard the name his ear pricked up for more. “I am telling you that King Lot does not need to fight this battle. He does so because he wanted to be seen with the others. I heard tales that over ten of the lords are there.”

“Who’s Arthur?” One of the drunken asked out aloud. “Is he worth the fight?”

“Nay he is not but his land is primed for the picking. Its good land for the farmers and we on this forsaken land, lack such tracts. Aye, King Lot wants his own share to fill the wheat in the mill during winter.” The drunken guard then stepped back and searched his wallet for more coins. He was without and then work on the others to cough up more coins. Lancelot saw the opportune time to drop some coins on the flooring and then kicked it over towards the guards. He then got the servant to tell them that there were coins on the flooring. 

“Aye, the Gods have shone on us.” The drunken guards picked at the dropped coins. “To one is a loss but to us is the gain for more drinks.” 

“And you shall have no more of that!” Lancelot heard the voice from the doorway of the tavern. It belonged to a figure dressed in the battle armor and held a sword in the right hand. The figure had not on a head gear but the short cut on the hairlines spoke of his rank.