Arthur; The legend and myth Chapter 70

70.

The sounds of the trumpets and the hollering roused the assembled of over ten thousand knights and foot soldier to their feet. The call to march for battle was heeded when the trumpeter rode past them holding the banner of King Arthur.

“About nigh time we are on the move. My hinds are stiff from laying down here.” An elderly foot soldier heaved himself up with the long handle of the pike he held. “Another day and I will have return to my farm and my Daisy for the bidding.”

“Sam, you old bull! You won’t leave here until you see your golden coin. How was it in the old war? You told me you were outnumbered but victory did not elude you.” The younger man who had joined the man in the quest for gold beamed out with glee. It was the first battle for the younger man.

“Kingsley, it was madness then for we were outnumbered and yet in Badon, the King rode towards them as if he was followed by thousands. He fought them singlehanded and it inspired us then. I was the second to charge then.”

“I thought you were the fourth in the lines was what Daisy told me.” Kingsley corrected the elderly neighbour. “You were with Paddy but sadly he did not make it.”

“Fourth? Yes, it was. Your paddy was in front of me and he died saving my life. I am telling you for the last time stay behind me or at worse beside me. They don’t pay god coins to the ones that died. No one will remember your name then.” Sam the Elderly recalled his good neighbour then, Fred the Short who was with him up till Badon. They had marched out of the farmlands with their lovers weeping but of the seven of them, only four of them made it back. Old Fred was on some funeral pyre at Badon but his pike was saved by Sam who was using it then.

“Let us move on. We don’t want the Sire looking for us.” Sam spoke up and dragged his pike along. He saw then from the corner of his left eye the Red Knights. The group had grown silent since the death of the Sir Perimone. The Red Knights remained seated despite the others packing their wares.

“Come along, Kingsley.” Sam took the wider detour to avoid the knights. He then saw Lancelot riding towards him and stepped aside for the knight to pass. Lancelot rode up to the Red Knights. He tossed the bag of coins at the Red Knights feet.

“There are enough gold coins for your death friend. Give it to his family as courtesy of the King. Then after choose your destiny. Return empty handed or ride for gold.” With that Lancelot rode off to rouse the other knights. Lancelot was not only seen by the foot soldier but by Arthur on the walls of Camelot.

“Arthur, does he know?” Lamorak asked. “I think it’s a wise move to leave some of the knights here at Camelot. One cannot have the home unattended when the riding distance may take days to return.”

“Why are you so keen to ask on Lancelot?” Arthur asked. “You were no real friend of his.”

“Friends we are not really there but I shan’t think what Sir Kay thought of Lancelot. If it will assured you he is a knight of the round table and for that he earned my concern.” Lamorak replied. He chose not to mention Sir Kay for he was not keen on that person. “Why did you take Percival? He is like your Optimus.”

“I need Percival here for the others listen to him while Lancelot commands their courage. The man is a hero among them.” Arthur replied.

“Yes, his shame action by the Black Knight had been forgotten.” Lamorak hissed out in contempt. “I know he has improved but…”

“Where is the Black Knight? I have not seen him for weeks now.” Arthur then asked . “And of Sir Kay.  I have not seen them for some days.”

“The Black Knight I have not seen but Sir Kay, he is around. He is at the far end of the camp with his old friends. They were gladiators of the arena but now mercenaries seeking gold. They ply their skills for the same reason. They even raised their own banner.” Lamorak smiled. “The bastards are crafty and resourceful.”

“Aye, the gladiators are brave fighters but they lack the finesse of the true knights. However I need them too.” Arthur looked at the long line of men that was part of his army. He saw the Lords and Kings with their column of knights and foots soldier followed by the servants who also carted the supplies. He counted the columns and noted the number. It was a huge army of ten thousands but he knew he needed more of these columns. He glanced to the groups that formed parallel columns with their ragged formation. Those were the mercenaries and drifters who will join in the adventure for the plunder or the chance to be with the war. The drifters will eventually trailed off when they found new trails to journey on but the mercenaries they were driven by the plunder of gold.

Arthur sought out the one he had brought to his round table but unknown to him, Sir Kay was not in the columns there. He was still in the arms of the lady who have embraced his needs willingly. His head was cradled on her thighs with her hands rummaging his hair. He was nude from the waist up but his lower body was covered by the bedding cover. He laid there with his eyes closed but his expression was calm.

“Why do you now leave with them?” The lady asked.

“Leave for what? I am happy here.” Sir Kay replied. “I am a gladiator and we are never the ones to rush to fight. When we do we fight to win or die with dignity.”

“So when do we fight, Sir Kay?” The lady asked.

“When I am ready.” Sir Kay replied. His words were further from his mind which had befall to the days when he was then in his loin cloth while wielding the pointed sword and the rounded shield. It was not his favourite but he held none among the weapons. He was adept at all and none he wielded had left his hand without blood on the blade. When one was a gladiator there was nothing to look for except for the sun rising and setting to know that another day had passed with their body wounded or slain by another. They lived for that and the cheers when they win at the arena. It was tough but fighting as a knight with Arthur was harder for they were periods of non-fighting which made him frustrated. Sir Kay disliked that but he had found the last long wait wanting but with the call to battle then, he felt the resting period too short.

Sir Kay pushed himself up from the lady and then walked naked to the bucket at the far side. It was a developed habit then and he turned to look at the lady.

“I will be gone for a long time. Could we do it one more time?” Sir Kay approached the lady.

“I will do so if only you leave yours inside me.” The lady turned to lay on the bedding. “And I want it finished there.”

Inside then was also Percival who was not seen at the walls but in his chamber. He was furious that he was left out of the war. He had got the words not from Arthur but by Lancelot.

“How could Arthur do this?” Percival asked Lancelot after he was told. “How could I be left behind?”

Lancelot did not reply for he was looking out the windows of the other’s chamber. He was looking at the other side of the structure walls which housed the chamber of Arthur. He saw from there the drawn curtains and one he knew as the Queen seated there before the candle lights. It was a bewitching look for one who was in war within himself when he discovered he fancied his Queen. It was soon after he wedded Elaine. It was not of his doing but when he saw Guinevere then at his wedding, he felt differently then. He began to compare her to Elaine and found the later on the short side.

“Lancelot, did you hear me? We are to at war but one we are without.” Percival looked to the one he had considered his closest friend.

Lancelot did not reply for he was still watching his fascination. He felt that it was his responsibility to protect their love during the war. He will do just that.

“Goodbye, Arthur. Ride with God’s faith and with that, return once more. Your Queen will be safe with me. I love her.”

King Arthur rode to war with his knights They were Lamorak, Sir Kay, Tristam, King Ban and Bors with  the returning Black Knight. He had fought his war with seven knights and he will do so while the others will be his guardians of Camelot.