Arthur II Book II Chapter 12

 

12.

 

Artorius stood on the newly build palisade by the wall facing the land that was taken by the settlers and peasants. The outer wall was been constructed. He was relieved by the gift of Lord Pendragon and yet he was concerned about the implications. No one provided a gift without a desire to get one back.

“Legionnaires, take heed of my words.” Artorius has got the leaders of the legionnaires with him. Lamorak and Percival were there and have grown a short beard on their jaws.

“The visit by Lord Pendragon was not a friendly call. He is here for a reason. I heard from my other sources the Legion has withdrawn to only our own. The XX Valeria Victrix has left for the continent. Since we landed in Britannica, we had the many Legion banners; Legio II Adiutrix, Legio II Augusta, Legio IX Hispania, Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix, Legio XX Valeria Victrix and lastly ourselves.”

“We arrived in 43 AD and since then we fought off the local leaders. We fought off the Queen, Boudicca who raised a revolt against us. This year 140 AD, we will have moved north to above the Hadrian Wall to our wall the Antoinne Wall. We are at the new frontier in Britannica. We may just take up the Northern but the Romans are holding back at the Walls.” Artorius sighed at the thought. He recalled his victory at Gurnion. He had released the defeated Anglo Saxons who had surrendered.

“Go back to your homes, and return no more to his place.” Artorius offered them freedom but they must pledge to leave. They pledged but some had returned to Mount Badon to regroup. He knew that many have rallied to the call by Hengist.

“Our efforts may diminish if we do not defeat the Anglo Saxon here. I am proposing that we challenge them at their stronghold at the place they called Mount Badon”

Mount Badon was the bastion of the Anglo Saxon. They have used the fortress there on the hill as their staging for raids and recovery in between it. It was no castle but a fortified hill with the deep trenches and barricades of logs that were to take the path up the hill a maze to move in. It held about a thousand or more Anglo Saxons led by one named Cedric the Big; he who was the Chief among the Chiefs. His lair was at the top where he held his guards of fifty warriors.

“Mount Badon, Prime. I heard it’s impregnable. It’s….” Lamorak offered his advice but Prime was not to listen to excuses.

“So was the castle at Gurnion. The forest at Caledonian Forest. The …” Artorius hit back.

“I was told that at Gurnion, you held the shield of the Welsh. They rallied to your cause.” Lamorak reminded the Prime.

“Are we not the Legion? Do we not have our Eagle?” Artorius raised his tone. “Are we not the XI Victrix First Cohort?”

None dared to challenge him on that. He sensed the uneasiness of both his leaders.

“I won’t mount an attack with half the strength to the enemy. Even if I do, I will strategize that we can win.” Artorius looked to both leaders. “The First Cohort cannot do it alone. We could as the Legio VI Victrix but the other cohorts are at the wall. And I am not the Legatus.”

“Arthur, you need a symbol. And a weapon.” It was the druid again.

“How did you get here? This is a Roman fortress.” Artorius was upset. “Where is the sentry?”

“Listen to me for once, Arthur. You have been evading your destiny for too long.” Arthur shouted. Lamorak reached for the druid and was struck by the spell that the druid called out.

“I can do it again but it’s an effort to do it more than once.” Merlin sighed. “I came here for a reason.”

Percival reached for the scimitar on his waist but he was held back by Artorius.

“I will hear you…” It was then there was a commotion at the outer walls. Artorius saw the peasants running from the forest edge. He then saw the huge brown bear emerging from it. He had encountered the bears in Gaul but the ones he met were smaller. The one he saw then was huge; above the height of a man and it was snarling mad. Some hunters stepped forward but none will go near the bear.

“Get my horse.” Arthur ran down from the wall and mounted the horse saddled for him. His horse, Llamrei in the stable stirred up a protest. Arthur had got himself a pilum and rode out. He rode hard past the panicked settlers and passed the uncompleted walls. He saw the bear was still there; hurt by the arrows and roaring angrily. Two hunters have retreated with injuries to their bodies.

Artorius held the pilum firm in his right hand and charged at the bear. From his height on the mounted horse, he was leveled with the bear’s height. He struck the pilum into the bear’s snort and impacted on the left eye. The bear cried out in pain while Artorius rode around it. He saw his mount, Llamrei had broken free. The horse devoted to its master had joined the fight. It turned its flank towards the bear and kicked out. The bear was not resisting backing out lashed out with its upper limbs’ claws. Llamrei retreated and it was then Artorius called to it. It heeded the master’s call.

Artorius saw the horse was hurt at the side of the bears’ claws.

“Stay there.” Artorius looked for another weapon to strike. He saw the wood cutter’s ax. He rode towards it and retrieved the ax. Llamrei had rejoined the battle and charged at the bear. Its second time was deadly with the bear’s claws at the horse neck. By then, Artorius had ridden in with the ax swinging. He tossed the ax at the bear’s chest and caught it on the left shoulder. It went down on its four limbs groaning in pain.

Artorius went in one more attempt with the gladius drawn. He plunged it deep at the back of the bear’s neck. The blade cut in deep but the bear was not dead yet. It tried to get up but Artorius was onto it. He rode by the bear and grabbed the ax that was at the left shoulder. With the backswing of his right arm, Artorius struck the ax once more into the bear’s neck. That final blow caused the bear to fall on its limbs once more. It laid there to groan the last throes of its living moments.

Artorius dismounted and approached Llamrei. His horse was hurt with the wounds on the neck and side bleeding. He held the snort of his horse and cried. He knew that the horse will not ride with him to battle anymore.

“Llamrei, you need to rest. I will get healers…” Llamrei had then fallen on its limbs. It rolled over and snorted out heavy breaths. Artorius knew that his horse was going to die. He sat down next to it cradling the horse snort.

“Prime, we are here.” Artorius heard Percival.

“Removed the bear’s head. It will serve as the new eagle at Camelot.” Artorius told Percival. “And get me the druid.”

Merlin rushed in to see the Prime at the Hall of Camelot. He saw Prime at the wall opening looking to the lake. The Prime was not hurt and had discarded his armor. He turned to look at the druid who stood before him at the round table which could seat four persons.

“I need to get a bigger table, druid. I can smell the mead on you from there.” Artorius commented.

“Aye, get one that will seat twelve of your knights and one more seat for you,” Merlin replied.

“Thirteen seats? Won’t it be odd to have thirteen? Why not …. Ten may suffice. It’s the number for a Contubernium.” Artorius spoke.

“Eight, Arthur. You are wrong there.” Merlin corrected Prime. “The Contubernium is eight, and the Cohort is …”

“Four and Eighty Legionnaires.” Artorius had cut in. “I am aware of my senses. And mind. Do not ever correct my …. Mistakes again.”

“Truly, a wonderful thought,” Merlin added sarcasm to his reply.

“Arthur, do you know the number thirteen is a celebrated symbolic date for the Celts. If the weekday falls on a Friday, as in your Gregorian calendar, on that date, that day will be celebrated by the Celts for Freya. It’s a day of love.”

“What do you expect my…. So-named knights to love each other on the table?”  Artorius snapped back. “They are … Why am I arguing with you on this? Twelve it will be.”

“And one more for the …” Merlin voiced out.

“And none will be added. You are not a knight. You are a druid…”

“Who will advise the King and his knights?” Merlin added in. “Now what ails you to call on me, Arthur?”

“Bah….” Artorius sighed. “I called on you to …. Speak on the …”

“Excalibur. Yes, that blade would have killed the bear in a single cut.” Merlin cut in again. “Only the King could wield that blade.”

“Excalibur…. Hold on, druid. I was not talking about that.” Artorius deflected the issue. “I asked you …”

“Of Lady Guinevere then? I don’t know …” Merlin sighed.

“Yes, I am …” Artorius sighed too.

“Feeling alone? The King may be alone …. Without a Queen but the Queen…. Need to be …” Merlin struggled to find the words. Love to him was an elusive issue.

“Yes, I am lonely. I am getting older. I need to sire my own family.” Artorius blurted out. “And I don’t have …”

“The potion to make you feel young I may have, but the potion to love I feared I do not.” Merlin looked at Artorius. “However, if you are to be made King, you will need a Queen.”

“How do you woo a Celt then?” Artorius snapped out. “I find myself a mortal in my battle with the bear today. It may have killed me. Yet, I …”

“Fought it as if you were the protector of the people. You are doing your role as the King.” Merlin seized the moment. “But you are not a King. And only the King can marry a noble.”

“Noble? What of Guinevere?” Artorius asked.