Arthur: The legend and myth Chapter 62

62.

Merlin stood there at the centre of his assigned chamber. It was not his sleeping one but that of his work. He had requisition the use of the cavern below Camelot from Arthur and with the war, the request was not taken into consideration. Soon after the victory and then the wedding, Merlin made the request once more.

“Druid, you can have any place on my land short of my chamber and the main hall, why chose the cavern there?” Arthur had asked back but then his head was already with more wine than other days. “Must we discuss this on my wedding day?”

Merlin was ever persistent on the issue and pressed on. It was finally given the consent but Merlin was told to keep it discreet.

“I cannot have others asking me for ridiculous request but yes, you may and let me have my time with my bride.” Arthur was given his time and Merlin had his chamber. He had not allowed anyone in there until he had the place cleared of any unusable items but he retained the bones he found there. Then he had the servants in and the place was cleaned before it was remake into a working lab with the long tables and the shelves. The original tunnel that led out was retained but he had a wooden door built over it. He had his personal belongings brought there and cages were brought in. He had also partitioned off a section for his bedding to rest. He was looking at it and the personal momento of his earlier life.

“Do I get my own bedding?” The voice sounded behind him and it shook Merlin up. He turned to look and saw the young lady standing there. She was dressed in a green tunic and leggings with the ankle height boots.

“My lady Morgan, I was not prepared for you.” Merlin bowed to the lady but Morgan stopped him.

“How can my master bowed to me? I am yours to obey.” Morgan took her cue then to bow. Merlin was surprised and then looked sheepishly for some seats to use but there was none. It was embarrassing then and he motioned to the bedding.

“Lady Morgan, you may be seated there. I am afraid the furnishings are still bare.”

“Master Merlin, I am your apprentice and how may I be seated when you are not.” Morgna declined the offer. “Did you expect me? My mother did send over the letter?”

“Yes, she did and yes, I am ever glad to …mentor you.” Merlin replied with stammers. He was not expecting her and more to it for her to be in that chamber. He was obliging to Lady Igraine and was to mentor the child he once knew in the reading and maybe some punitive magic but she had turned up there in his personal sanctum. That was the place where Merlin would do the research on the lions and above all his personal interest in magic. There were stacks of voumes that he had acquired from his travel that finally had his calling to be read.

“Are those Ancients volumes?” Morgan rushed forth to pick up the volume but Merlin had it snatched back.

“They are from the Macedonian ages. And they…” Merlin bit at his tongue before he continued. “You may only read them when you are learned.”

“When do I start?” Morgan asked but Merlin was past listening. He had moved on looking at the items there. He then saw the bedding and motioned to her.

“Your bedding if you want or I can…” Merlin was snapped off while Morgan sat there. “You can stay here.”

In a distance away, Gawain and his brothers stood on the gates leading to their protected village of Ceredig. The villagers have not expanded much since they left. They have sent back coins to build the village and the only improvisation was the moat around it which was actually a re-routed river to flow around it. They however build a wooden wall around the moat. It was all they could do with the coins and the work force.

“Gawain, we would have done more but there was no one to assist.” The elderly man who was then the village head spoke. The elderly man was past the age most man would have died and with his age, he was given the role as the village head. He was dressed in a dark coat over his loose tunic on the frail frame.  “It protected us from the outlaws and the so named enemies.”

The villagers have not brought them to name the enemies in the wolf coat. Gawain knew that they do feared the enemy more than any others.

“How many times they have been seen?”

“A few times but none attacked us yet.” The elderly man replied. “We did not hunt them either.”

“I have been back for some days now and there are no attacks. I wondered why we were told there was and now I asked myself why we are here for.”

“I am sorry, Gawain but they made me bring you back.” The elderly man finally broke down. “There are no attacks since but we have a knight that waits there in the forest.  He built a castle there and many knights have been seen there but they never were seen again. The knight never ventured here but we have seen him riding at the forest.”

Gawain left the village and rode into the forest. He found the castle and it was a splendid one but the cemetery by the side marred the scene. He surprised that the castle could be built in such short time but it was possible given the number of crosses that were lined there. The castle held a high wall and there were two towers which overlooked the walls. There was shallow moat and then there was the drawbridge which was then lowered. Just after the moat there was the lonely knight in full white amour on a white horse.

“I am Sir Haught of the Castle.” The castle held a long spear in his right hand. “I will challenge you to a duel. Since you hold no spear, I will challenge you to the bout of swords.”

The knight dismounted and lowered the spear. He then approached Gawain with the sword drawn from the scabbard. He swung the sword out in an arc to the right.

“Sir, I did not come…” Gawain words were cut short when the other knight came at him with the sword. He retreated and then drawn his own sword. He deflected the next blow and then went on the attack. He thrust his sword then but it was blocked. Then the other knight backed off.

“You are a brave knight. I think you will do.” The knight then lowered the sword. “I am Sir Haught. Please come into Castle Haught.”

At the castle build by Lancelot, Elaine climbed out of the bedding with the sheet trailing off her body. She walked to the washing corner and squatted over the bucket there. She felt it all flowed out but she was not relief of it. She looked to the figure still on the bedding which had an hour ago pounded her with the aggression of a lion. She felt sad then for he was not the same like before. He used to treat her with kisses and nibbles but of late, he had become more selfish. She vowed that that the earlier sessions were wonderful but the later ones were tiring despite the wondrous feeling she felt inside.

“Are you finished?” Elaine heard the voice and looked at the man who asked. She nodded and then walked towards the bedding to retrieve her discarded gown. There were some seams that needed patching but it was still intact the dress despite the rough handlings. Lancelot had then stood over the bucket with his back to her. She saw the scars that had healed. She was relieved by that but how much could the body take was in her mind.

“Must you go with Arthur?” Elaine asked. “He holds such a huge army and the number of knights in the hall numbered more than a hundred now that pledged their loyalty to him.”

Lancelot smiled at the thought although only the twelve of them sits with Arthur at the round table. He stepped away while he wriggled off the last drops. He saw Elaine had gotten dress and he proceeded to get his own tunic and leggings.

“Lance”, Elaine called Lancelot by that name. “You have not answered me.”

“Me answered? Lady, you are out of line.” Lancelot struggled into the leggings had then found his tongue was looser “I find you more demanding now.”

“I…” Elaine stopped at her line. She then turned to pick up some discarded clothes. It was then she felt the urge to throw up. She rushed to the bucket but her feeling subsided. She turned to see Lancelot stepping out. She wanted to stop him but he was gone. She knew what was wrong with her or was it right. It can’t be helped when you were immersed in the pleasure of it. It was pleasure for a time but she felt the fun was out of it for some weeks.then

“I will find out. “ Elaine muttered to herself.