Lancelot Part 4

The lads

"I am telling you again." Lancelot cautioned his sparing mate. "You need to raise your arm to make sure I do not hit you with this blade."

Lancelot swung his wooden blade used in training onto Bran' head. The later was slower in defending and the blade landed on his left ear.

"Aargh!" Bran dropped his wooden blade to hold his swollen left ear. "You are killing me."

"No, I did not." Lancelot defended his action. " If I was, then this wooden blade would be a real one and you would lose more than one ear. Your life would had been included."

"I have enough," Bran threw up his hands and walked to the water trough. He did not reached the trough before he got spanked by Smithy who was their trainer.

"Bran, you walked out one more time and I would dismissed you from this training." Smithy shout at the young lad who just turned eighteen of years. "You are fit to be a Squire only."

Smithy threw away his training stick and walked away. Bran stood there not moving seething with rage when he recount the words spoken by Smithy. He has been practicing the three years now since he met Lancelot, and with the permission of Nimue, he has moved here. All he does here is practice and spar with Lancelot under the supervision of Smithy. But in the last year, he find himself not able to improved on his skills. His strength and movement is not the issue but his skills are at their limit.

"Bran, cool down your rage." Lancelot assured his friend. "Let me teach you those moves again."

"No, Lancelot. I have enough." Bran shrugged off his friend's good intention, and walked off. He did not stop until he reached his own abode. He saw his mother crying at the doorway and in the last three years, she has aged much in looks. She is not as pretty as she was and more to it, her body is not as nubile as then. She is now not the love of any ranking officer but a lowly foot soldier.

Bran reached down to assist his mother to inside the abode where he placed her on the nearby seat. He went to fetch a cloth soaked with water, and used that to clean his mother of the dirt and grime. Then he assisted her to her bedding where he looked around for something to change her clothes. Then was he noticed the treasured box of his mother opened.

"Mother, what happened to your box?" Bran asked from his mother but she turned away from looking at him. Bran reached for the box which his mother always treasured. She never allowed him to touch the box before, and once he did looked into it. She caught him doing it and she gave him a lashing that left welts on his back for days.

"Woman, do you have any more of your trinkets?" The foot soldier who shared his mother's bedding staggered in, holding a bottle in one hand and the other holding the doorway for support. The soldier is obviously drunk and could not stand on his feet by himself.

"You!" The soldier shouted out at the young man sitting next to the woman he have just relieved of her treasured trinkets. It did not fetched much but it kept the goblets full for the most half the night.

"Do you have anything I can peddle off?" The soldier cried out in his drunker slurring speech. Bran on seeing the solider pointing at him, rushed at the drunk soldier. Bran pulled the man into the small area of their dinning table and slammed the drunken man against the wooden table top. He let the soldier slide to the ground before he picked up the wooden stool at the side of the table. Bran raised the stool high and brought it down on the drunken man. He hit the drunken man not once but several times with it.

Bran stopped when he realized the man is not moving anymore. He dropped the bloody stool and then he saw his mother looking at him. She is sitting on the bedding and holding her hands close to her heart. She is not screaming but just looking with wide eyes on the scene that just unfold before her eyes.

Bran walked over to his mother and embraced her tightly.

"Mother, it would be over soon."

"Lancelot, you have to helped me and my mother." Bran held out his hand to Lancelot as they stood by the lakeside. "I killed the bastard who stole from my mother."

Bran looked to his mother standing some distance behind. He then looked to Lancelot for the needed reply. His expression was desperate and Lancelot is in a fix as he knows he cannot just bring anyone into the lake. Not when he have not consulted his Guardians. Lancelot thought hard and then he nodded.

Bran was delighted and he hugged his friend.

"Lancelot, let me your friend and squire for life." Bran told him. " I cannot be more than that in my life."

"You are a crazy bastard." Smithy looked at the two lads. "You too."

Smithy looked to his back to see the woman now cleaning up his place. Damned! He is an Elf and now he has got a housekeeper to do his works. He is also sure that these lads did not tell the Ladies of their new guest. Smithy raised up his hand in a surrender gesture and walked off to the adjacent structure to rest. He hoped there he would find peace before the storm comes soon when the Guardian find out.

"Bringing Bran then was already an offence that I would had punished you if not my sister Vivian who stopped me." Nimue raised her voice against Lancelot. "Now you bring in the mother to the Lake."

Lancelot remember how he sneaked in Bran then and hid the lad in the garden until Vivian found out. By then, Bran was half dead with hunger but he was still smiling. Vivian took pity on the young lad and allowed him to recuperate at the palace. Soon he find himself staying there as Lancelot 's friend and on occasion servant in waiting.

"Bran, we heard your tale and now we would decide." The Guardians did but they also made a decision which would changed the events to come. Bran's mother was allowed to stay but the lads have reached their age of adulthood; requiring them to seek out their own destiny.

"Lancelot, you are of the age to leave us for the land outside of his lake." Vivian told the lads. "You would leave the Lake tomorrow at dawn."

Nimue stepped forth to seek her care for the last eighteen years.

"You learned much these years, but the best teacher is experience. From now, you would use your training to be better than what you are now. I cannot teach you anymore." Nimue told her care. She then signaled Smithy who walked up with a bundle in his arms. Smithy dropped the load in front of Lancelot. It also consist of a round shield with the crest of a flaming dragon with blue waves behind it on the front.

"Your armor, Lancelot. I made them myself. Lady Nimue told me to do it." Smithy spoke to Lancelot. He then looked to Bran. "Take care of it for him, Squire."

Vivian walked up to Lancelot.

"I have no gift for you but his advise. Be true to yourself and serve justice. Divert from it, and you would be like a fallen angel. Hold your faith to Holy Ones and do not be seduced by the Unholy Ones." Vivian walked way and then she pause in her steps. "Lancelot, not all the ladies out there are like us. They may be some who would corrupt your soul. Be cautious."

Just when Lancelot thought that all was over, Smithy walked over to Lancelot. He hands him a sword.

"It not the best but it would do. I named it Arondite. Its made from the metal at the base of this lake. Its a light metal but hard than most. More to it, the blood does not stain its surface and needs no sharpening. I made not one but a pair, the other set shorter like an extended dagger. That would be for Bran who may need it to skin the animal carcass. His sword is named Arum for short."

They all laughed at the remark made by Smithy.

It was late morning when Lancelot and Bran made their way out of the lake. They were dressed in a plain tunic and his armor was in a bundle carried by Bran.

"Lancelot, do you think we can get a pair of horses soon." Bran complained of the weight on his back.

"No, I doubt so." Lancelot smiled at his friend. "I can share your load if you think that is too heavy."

"No, its not." Bran does not want to admit on the weight as he is supposed to the squire to Lancelot. "Shall we go on?"

"Sure'" Lancelot confirmed with his friend. Its his first real visit to the outside land and he is eager to see what it has to offered. His left hand is at the scabbard of his sword, and he was tempted to draw it. Not now, he told himself. Soon it would be used.

And it did.

Just beyond the rise of the lakeside, the lads stumbled on a pair of calvary riders. The riders on seeing the two lads rode over to see them.

"So you finally came out, Bran. We have been waiting since morning, taking turns for the last three weeks." One of the riders spoke up to Bran. "You are needed to answer for the death of our senior legionnaire."

Lancelot on seeing the two oncoming riders, drew his sword out. He can feel the power that is surging from the sword into his arm. It feels great and he is raring to fight now. He swing out with the sword at the first rider and hit with the flat side of the sword on the rider in the chest. The rider fell off the horse on the impact while the horse went galloping off. The other rider rode wide of Lancelot and then dismounted. He ran over to assist his fallen colleague.

"So the young lad can fight," the recovering calvary spoke out as he drew on his sword. "Marcel, our work is move complete now. We shall killed them and hang their head over there on the rise."

Marcel who had earlier dismounted smiled and he also drew his sword. The two calvary men approached Lancelot. Marcel was the first to attack but his thrust was parry by Lancelot who returned with a swinging move from the right.

"Aha! The lad fights well, Pierre." Marcel remarked, but he did not see Bran stabbing him in the back. Bran did not stopped at there as he pulled out the short sword named Arum given to him by Smithy. Bran stabbed once more to the left waist from the side. Pierre on seeing his colleague stabbed, paused to look at Bran. Lancelot on seeing the opportunity thrust his sword at Pierre and killing him instantly as it pierced his heart.

Lancelot did pulled out his sword on seeing the man is dead but leave it there to watched the blood streaming out. It felt so different from sparing with Bran and this killing has a worthy sense to its action.

"Bran, we found our horses."

They rested in the late afternoon under a large canopied tree in a field when they saw the knight appearing over the nearby hill. He is carrying a long lance of over twenty feet like those used in the joust. The knight armor is a bright chrome like metal and he appear sitting upright on his saddle. His head cover is a top round piece with slits for his eyes.

"My name is Edward of Bright. I come to challenge you if you are a knight yourself."

"I am Lancelot of the Lake. Unfortunately, I lost my lance in the last ...joust." Lancelot feigned his way out. "Perhaps we can agreed to a duel with swords."

Lancelot drew on his Arondite to display to the knight.

"A fine weapon. I agreed to your terms. If I win, I would keep your sword." Edward laid his terms to Lancelot.

"And if you lose, I would keep your lance." Edward heard Lancelot' term and he smiled. In his mind, he knows that Lancelot does not have a lance at all. Edward does not fear Lancelot as his is ninth challenge and he have not lost any of it. Edward dismounted and laid down his lance on the ground. He then pulled out his sword and spoke to Lancelot.

"I shall await you putting on the armor. Do not haste as our fight would be short." Edward smiled at his own snide remarks.

Lancelot upon donning his armor stepped forth to face Edward. Smithy made a good fit and allowed him to grow into the armor. The top head cover he made for Lancelot represent a jumping fish with its tail end to the rear. The front of the top cover is a slit which Lancelot could see and it opens a narrow strip down the middle for the wearer to breathe and speak. On each side of the top cover near the side are thin narrow strips that acts as vent for the wearer. The armor worn on the body is not heavy or bulky but comfortable and allowed easy movement.

He swing his sword to feel the weight which there was hardly any, and then took his battle stance. Edward mocked the young impressionable knight to attack him but Lancelot just ignored him. Then without warning, Edward lunged at Lancelot aiming at his left chest but Lancelot had seen it coming. His defense was the same when attacked; move back and then tried to parry the thrust before attacking. Lancelot as trained but he he did not parry the thrust. Instead he move aside and swing the sword of his hard on the charging sword but the other has swung the flat side of his blade at Lancelot's chest.

"Aargh!" Lancelot keel over holding his chest.

"Anyone can see that move, young one." Edward gloat at Lancelot inexperiences. "Perhaps you need to declare defeat and you may still leave here intact."

Lancelot wanted to charged forward but Bran stopped him. Bran handed him the wooden sword they used in training.

"Use this one. You are familiar with it." Bran offered to Lancelot. Lancelot looked at his squire and then nodded. He handed back Arondite to the squire and took the wooden sword. He swing it for the familiar feel in his hand. He then faced the other knight.

Edward charged at Lancelot which the later casually stepped aside to bring the wooden sword on the wrist of the attacker. Edward swing in from the right with his sword and Lancelot ducked before thrusting his wooden sword at Edward' face cover. It pushed the round top over the top and exposed the head.

"Good move, Lancelot." Edward praised the young lad and he then rushed in again. This time Lancelot parry the sword and move his body in like a ram. He slammed into the knight to push him over. Lancelot followed through with his sword at the knight's open neck.

"Do you yield?"

Later in the day, Lancelot had acquired his first lance and also first victory over a knight.

Lancelot Part 3

The Lad in the Lake

"Sister, did you see Lancelot? He was playing just now at the garden." Vivian asked of her sister Nimue; they are the twin sisters of the Lake. Vivian is looking at the garden which is part of their hidden palace beneath the lake where they have dwell for some generations now.

Vivian and her sister Nimue were once mortals in this land, but they were ever desirous of learning magic. They went forth to seek many masters of the arts to learned from, but they found one which they like best was named Merlin.

Merlin taught both the sisters in his works but he held more of his teaching to one named Vivian. Merlin taught her many of his arts although he knew that one day Vivian would try to imprisoned him. That was one art that Merlin did not teach his students; the art of foresight and visions. The sisters learned their arts and on occasion indulge in Man' troubles. The sisters in order to conceal their identity and avoid contact with Man, they built their abode beneath the lake. Here its dry like the ground at the lakeside, as the magic holds the lake water above. The only way to the palace was by swimming or traveling in the boat that can magically opened a stream to the palace.

The palace they built was a large castle without walls, but surrounded by four gardens on each side. The gardens are the works of Vivian who tends to them with her servants the Elves. She grow assorted flowers and plants there and they are nourished by the sunlight that permeates through the lake surface, and the moist ground keeps it self sufficient. In the garden are the numerous creatures that once walked the land but now extinct except at these gardens. It not unusual to find a Unicorn or even a Griffin. The other twin sister Nimue is the caretaker of the castle and its defenses. She is the one who deploy the spells to avert any unwanted visitors or managed their arsenal of weapons which over the generations have grown.

One such weapon is Excalibur; the sword for the King once fashioned by an Elf who made powerful sword. The Elf name was Smithy found this dark metal stone during one of his mining excursion. He carried the metal back to his abode and tried to smelter it but the metal would not do so. In the end, he threw it away and thinking that its a useless metal. The metal piece on impact with a cluster of blades made by him broke the blades into parts. Smithy picked up the dark metal and tried to smelter it but it still would not allowed itself to be re-shaped.

This time Smithy threw the metal into a nearby pail of water. Immediately the water sizzled as if its boiling over and then it began to turned to metal silver white color. Smithy was surprised and he tried to smelter it again but this time the metal mold to his preference. He looked at the pail of water and remembered that it was taken from the nearby lake. He went over to the lake and met Nimue. Nimue made him an offer which he could not refused and since then, he had stayed at the Palace. During his stay, Smithy crafted the finest blade in his works; the Excalibur. He presented it to Lady Nimue and told her that only the right King can wield this sword.

The twin sisters were soon known as the Lady of the Lake. They lived ever peacefully here without intrusion for generations. That was to change some ten years ago. It was then when Vivian was disturbed when she was walking in the garden. She heard the sound of fights on the surface and she went up to investigate. She saw the fight at the lakeside where the lady with her sword charging at some soldiers. Vivian wanted to assist but she felt her sister holding her back.

"Sister, do you remember the last time we were involved in Man' war?" Nimue remind her sister which they were reprimanded by Merlin. Merlin told them never to get involved unless the need is established. The sisters promised Merlin and this time, they watched.

"Sister, she fought well for a lady. She is dead now. Can we go?" Nimue pulled at her sister sleeve, but Vivian spied a floating basket on the lake surface. Vivian ignored her sister and float over to the basket. She looked in and saw the young child sleeping in the basket. He is asleep with the rocking of the basket that is almost like his mother's cradling.

"Nimue, there is a child here." Vivian called to her sister. "The child is asleep. So do not alarmed it."

Nimue looked around to see if she can locate the child mother, but there is none to be seen. She tapped on her sister' shoulder.

"There is no one which we can identify as the mother." Nimue spoke up. She then looked at the lake side, and saw the dead lady there left by the soldiers.

"Could she be the one?" Nimue asked of her sister, but Vivian is not listening to her sister. She is smiling at the young child in the cradle, and dreamed of what it would be like to be a mother.

"Vivian, are you listening?" Then Nimue saw her sister looking at the child. Nimue shook her head and dragged Vivian to the side.

"Vivian, we cannot be involved. We would find a mother for the child." Nimue protest to her sister.

Vivian ignored the sister and went towards the basket. She picked up the child and floated back to the palace beneath the lake. It was to start the stay of the child with the sisters under the lake. Vivian on raising the child named the boy with the name Lancelot du Lac or 'of the Lake'. She named him as there was a leaf in the basket which was actually a unique shape of a sharp spear head. She also see his face has sharp features that marked him to grow into a dashing man.

Lancelot emerged from the bush holding a long stick in his hand on hearing his name being called out. He is growing lad and now he stands almost as tall as his Guardian. Vivian on seeing the young boy coming out floated towards him.

"Why are you holding a stick in your hand?" Vivian points to his hand.

"I was using it to scared a serpent which was in the garden." Lancelot whispered to his Guardian. "We must not alarmed it or it would bite us."

Vivian was alarmed that her care would be so reckless. She had advised him many times not to get involved in these acts but the young boy is unlike any as he always reckless. But Vivian is amazed that despite all those reckless acts of his, Lancelot have never been hurt and always emerged victorious. She used to tell Nimue that Lancelot would grow up to become a great knight. 

But Nimue never liked Lancelot as she envy him on taking to her sister side but she liked him nevertheless without showing her love. Nimue floated off to find the serpent and killed it before it can do any harm.

Lancelot saw his other Guardian floating away when he was cautioned by Vivian. In his mind, Lancelot is smiling as every time he do something reckless, he gets to enjoy the fun and most times, Vivian would be there. He felt brave on doing these acts and although he gets reprimanded but most times Vivian shows more concern for him. So does his other Guardian who also protect him.

At a later age of his life, Lancelot was taught by Nimue the arts of fighting. She felt that he needed to learn it more for his reckless acts. He was also taught by Smithy in the finer arts of blade crafting. There was one other appealing thing that Nimue noticed in Lancelot. The boy is growing up to be a dashing young man with a physique envied by many. Nimue looked at her sister, who is beaming with pride on seeing the lad grow too.

One day, she went over to see her sister who was tending the garden.

"Vivian, Lancelot is shaping up well with his fighting skills. I was wondering....." Nimue asked of her sister but she was cut short in her words.

"No, Nimue." Vivian told Nimue. "Excalibur is destined for one other. Lancelot may be a brave knight but he is the chosen one to wield the sword. His mind works fast and his heart kind but I fear for his soul. Its so innocent and fragile. He could be moved by events that could taint his soul."

"We are his Guardians, and should not we be the one to protect him." Nimue asked of her sister.

"No, Lancelot soul must never be protected but let loose to the events that he would encounter. I may not learned the art of visions and foresight from Merlin but I know that Lancelot would be a legend in his own time. But he is no leader as that leader destiny has been taken by another who would also wield the sword that is in our care. Lancelot would be his champion and maybe his nemesis."

"Sister, you scared me with those words. He is our Lancelot, and we ought to help him." Nimue spoke out in an alarming tone.

"Nimue, I have told you what was needed to be spoken Lancelot can be our care at the beginning but he rules his own destiny when he is free of us. Let us not think of then, and let the boy grow in our lake as befitting of his time here."

Nimue was not satisfied with her sister' reply that she went over to see Smithy. She told him of her request and he compiled to her request.

Unknown to the sisters or they may had pretended it did not happened, Lancelot was not only reckless in the palace area but also outside of it. He was in his early twelfth year of age when he sneak off to the far end of the lake. He waded to this section of the lake which was unexplored by him. He popped his head above the lake surface to see two riders in armor chasing a young lad like him. The lad dressed in a long tunic that reached to his knee, stopped at the edge of the lake and turned to face the riders.

"Come no nearer or I shall drowned myself." Lancelot can hear the lad shout out. The riders laughed at the lad's words and they trot their horses towards the lad. The lad on seeing the approaching riders had no choice but to stepped into the lake water. He slowly backed up as the riders approached him ever closer.

The lad looked to the rear at the large lake and was starting to tremble with fear. It was then when Lancelot swam over and pulled at the lower leg of the lad. The lad slipped and fell into the water dragged by Lancelot beneath the lake surface. The lad on feeling his leg been dragged started screaming and kicking out with his limbs but he was slowly moved to the deeper ends. The riders on seeing their prey being dragged into the lake water, turned their horse around to ride out.

The lad woke up later after his near drowning experience to find himself on the shallow end of the lake side. He sat up and saw another person of his age sitting there, but that other person is not dressed like him in a tunic but a silky one like those worn by fairies or maidens.

"You are awake." The other lad spoke up to him. "My name is Lancelot and what is yours?"

"Uh," The lad still groggy from his near death experience replied meekly. "My name is Bran of Herns."

Bran looked around and was surprised that there is a Sun in the Underworld. It looked like any other place on his land, and maybe the Underworld is not that all different.

"Am I dead?" Bran asked of Lancelot. "Is this the Underworld?"

"No, I doubt so." Lancelot replied to him. "You did put up a struggle when I dragged you into the water but later you went quiet down."

"You dragged me?" Bran was surprised at the reply. "It can't be as I was...."

"Chased by two riders who were looking to kill you." Lancelot replied. "I helped you to escape."

"By almost drowning me? You are crazy. I mean more like mad." Bran stood up to his feet but he is still recovering and he fell back on his back.

"Ouch!" Bran screamed out as his head hit the sands below the water surface. Lancelot just stared at him and wondered why the other lad would blamed him for helping him. Lancelot got up and walked back into the lake.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Bran sat up on his arms asked of the departing lad who is walking towards the lake. "You would drowned there."

"No, I would not. I am going back." Lancelot replied.

"Would I see you again?" Bran asked of Lancelot. "I mean like here."

"Sure, just give me a call when you are here." Lancelot told him and then jumped into the water. Bran on seeing the other lad disappear under the water slowly made his way to the lake side. He gathered up his strength to walked back to his abode. He stopped by to collect the rabbit he stash away when he was chased by the Frank riders.

Bran' home was half day walk from here in the place known as Hern. Its still a settlement of farmers but now there are more of them alongside with some soldiers who were stationed there. He walked past them all standing outside their improvised barrack.

"Bran, hold on there!" One of the soldier stopped him in his tracks. "Is that a rabbit I see in your hand?"

Bran looked up at the broken toothed soldier and refused to answer him. The soldier reached for the rabbit but Bran kicked him in the groin and ran past him. The other soldiers laughed at the injured soldier holding onto his groin. The soldier wanted to give chase but he was stopped by his commander. The commander is a junior rank officer but in this village he is the almost equivalent to the King.

"Stop it, Tom." The ranking officer told the broken toothed soldier. The officer then proceeded to follow the track taken by Bran. He ended up in the same abode which Bran stayed with his mother. The officer walked in without knocking and stood by the doorway. He took off his helmet and removed his scabbard to place them at the side of the door.

"You are back." The voice carried from the cooking area which is now busy skinning the rabbit off its furs. The officer did not answered her as he took to the rear of the house where the water tub is located. He stripped off his armor and tunic before he stepped into the tub.

"Bran!" He shouted out while soaking in the tub. Bran came running from the cooking area and immediately picked up  the brush. He then proceeded to scrub at the officer's back.

"You are getting to be a handful now. Today the calvary told me that you ran from them, and then just now you kicked Tom in his balls." The officer sitting with his back slightly inclined to allowed the lad to scrub his back. "I may not be there every day to protect you. So be careful."

Bran on hearing those words just nodded his head but the officer bellowed out for him to reply in words.

"Yes, sire." Bran replied in defiant. The officer then stepped out of the tub and dried himself with a cloth. He got dressed back into his earlier tunic and walked out of the wash area. Bran looked at the water in the tub and then walked back to the cooking area. Supper was a usual affair where the officer takes his share and then the Bran sits with his mother. When the dishes were cleared, Bran was sent to his bedding at the rear of the abode, while his mother accompanied the Officer to their bedding. This was the moment that Bran hated the most; this officer is the sixth or seventh since he can remember. It always the same when his mother consoled him; we need to be protected as your father is not here. Bran did asked for his father but his mother told him he left them when he was born. He never knew his name but she gave him a signet that belonged to him.

"This is your father's. You may find him one day, but he may not accept you. So be cautioned on that." But Bran insist when he is old enough, he would seek his father.

Then he saw the shadow of the person coming to his bedding. He knows who its and what he must do. Its not his first time, and although he disliked it, it would not stopped unless he is old enough. He turned over on his chest and tucked his knees under it. He awaits the onslaught that would make it difficult to him to sit for days. When it was over, he just rolled over and hid his face in the cloth to stifle his tears.

When it was near dawn, he felt the soothing hands of his mother as she place poultice on his affected parts. Its has been like this since this officer came into their life.

"Mother, have you applied the poultice?" Bran asked of his mother.

His mother nodded. Then she spoke up.

"Bran, grow up well and do not hurt others when you are older."

Bran nodded to his mother words. He would grow up and be a knight. He would removed the foul and perverted from this land. For now, he need to get up and prepare for the day.

CWE Book II Part 16 - The End

XVI

Lord Conal

Is there no decent way for warriors to fight in this war? How can they leave me here in a middle of a battle? I was told by the generals that the Outsiders has withdrawn from the field. They must had left during the night. To make matters worse, the mercenaries I hired are also leaving citing heavy losses. How could they just walked away when they have some losses deemed heavy? This is absolutely unacceptable, but they threaten to fight me if I refused to let them go. So I told them to go and leave now. I asked for an assessment of my remaining force.

They told me I have now a column of thirty thousand of army, twenty one thousands marchmen, the five thousand archers and four thousand lancers. And more than half of them are in mutiny along with their officers. If we do not march back, there will be a fight among themselves.

This is treason, and my generals allowed it. I looked at them; all five of them, and they just stood there with no expressions or emotions. This is madness, and my people are now revolting against me. I cannot have this. I withdrew my sword and looked at the ten older men who stands before me; ‘sound the withdrawal. We march back now.’

Braven

I did not retreat as he thought. I actually regrouped my men, now coming in by the columns from all over the Empire. Men who was once his servants; men whose Lord ; he or his father has assisted to remove, and above all, men who was once free now fights for it again. It took me not more than one full moon cycle to get them to meet me at the Green Plains. I have now a column of army consisting of not less than eighty thousand men; men of different backgrounds and Lords, but they shared one common enemy; Lord Conal.

The Praetorians were there too; twenty five thousand strong, but they kept their distance away. I know Prime Leader Raihan well, he will keep his distance unless the call is there.

‘Today, we march to the Lord Camlash city. And we will take down the Lord.’ The roar of eighty thousand can shake even the foundation of any city.

Prime Leader Raihan

‘We thank you, Grand Lord for your permission to see us. We are just here to tell you that Prime Leader Romus died in his sleep last night. Its sad to see him so soon when he just announce his retirement in our Prime meeting only yesterday.’ I led the two other Prime Leader to seek the Grand Lord for his audience. The Grand Lord looked sad at the new development, and so he asked who will be the next Prime Leader to takeover the role of Romus.

‘The seat will be filled soon, but for today, we are here to tell you only of Romus’s death.’I was not surprised when the Grand Lord asked me of Lord Conal’s situation.

‘Lord Conal issue will be resolved by his own people,  I heard he escaped the city that day, and Lord Camlash will return to sit on it. That is an internal matter of the Lord’s so we will not interfere.’

The Grand Lord requested for my personal audience, so I waited while the other two withdraw .

Prime Lord

‘Raihan, I am happy Romus is dead. He is an evil person always plotting and abusing this position. But tell me, what is your plan?’ I know Raihan is old like me but he keeps well with his well being. He was stabbed that day by the lancer, but it did not hit his major organs. He survived and kept his situation under wrapped. He faked his own death to Romus, who called for a replacement but the rest asked to hold on until a proper investigation was done. It was Romus who paid the lancer to kill him. I know because I sanctioned it. And I know Raihan knows it too.

‘You will sit in that seat until your turn to die. Your cousin Lord Giantus lies in the edge of death, and if you think you can call on the army of his and yours, you can also forget it. All the generals report to me now, and so are your spies. Granus and Mitchy will be Lords but they wield no power. Their lands will be under the Praetorian control.’ I looked at this old man who is more deceitful than me and Camlash.

‘Who will be Grand Lord after me? There is no Lords to vote on. Unless Camlash  be the one.’ I laughed at the thought of the crippled sitting here. I will outlive him or when he does take over me, he will too old to laugh.

‘The new Grand Lord has been selected and he will need a caretaker given his current age. You need not concerned yourself.’

I know not what to say, as my heart is not stopping its beating. I wished it would so I can come back as a spirit to torment his old man before he becomes one. As it is now, his soul torments mine.

Lord Camlash

I need to hide him before the father comes. I told Canaan to push me hard and fast back to the chambers. There we can be safe. I knew of the rebellion in the city, and Braven was even invited in with open gates. But the elusive Lord Conal has escaped and was not found. Braven took over the city and reorganized the people needs well. What Braven spies to tell him, was that the Lord Conal was on his way here to my retreat. He has escaped the mob through the help of some of his trusted servants, and they now ride here.

I could tell the guards to stopped him, but they are not my men anymore. They do not support the deposed Lord either but they would like see us fight to our death together. But Conal is not here for me; he wants his ‘son’ to be held as hostage. He knows the people likes Canaan as he is considered as innocent. His mother has a role here; her spies has been spreading stories of him being held as hostage by me. And her banishment to Lord Giantus city was the wedge that permanently separate us from her. She is now revered as the Mistress of the city.

He is here. I can hear his steps.

‘Father, where is Canaan?’ The man who stands before me calls me his father after he shut me here for these few seasons. He looks older and his clothes are those of a soldier, and not a Lord. He probably borrowed them to escape in.

‘He is away; back in the city. The servants took him there.’

‘Liar! You tell me lies from the day I was born. Now you still do it.’ Conal threw the sword he had on him to the side of the chamber. ‘I come to you in good faith, even when I was young. I begged you to let me see the sun and the city, but you said no. You said its not safe, and yet you let him go out. I asked you for mother, and you said she died. Those are all lies. I know they are. Mother is alive and so is Canaan.’

‘No, Conal. I did not lie. I did it to protect you. I needed you to be strong and you are. Your brother was weak, and I took his life. Just like his mother; they were all weak. Only you are strong. Like me.’ I was moving to my console where I can released those deadly arrows. For some reason, Conal went down on his knees and cried. I was taken by his emotions, that I wanted to hold him. But is he really doing it out of remorse or is he a liar like I am. ‘Don;t cry, son. You are a Lord. You are my son.’

He may not see my tears now as he is looking down, but I feel for him like every father for their child. But then Conal stood up and he had in his hand was a dagger. A dagger that looked very familiar. Its one of the assassin; the young lady who is missing.

Lord Conal

‘You lied!’ and I threw my dagger at him, but he was fast to react. His push cart toppled over into the wall, and arrows was coming at me. I jumped aside as when I used to train with Shiven, but three of the arrows did get me. Two of them hit the padding I had on beneath my uniform, but the third one hit my right shoulder which was not padded. I turned back to see my father’s secret compartment, but there is no opening to be seen. I turned to walk out but I was blocked by someone.

Someone I knew some time ago; someone I called on to help me. Someone who thinks I love  her.

‘Dina, you are alive. I thought you died in that last assignment. I am glad to see you.’ But her reply was a dagger in my left thigh, causing me to fall on my knees. Huh, she is talking to me yet her mouth does not move.

‘Lord Conal, you are no more my master. I have a new one. One who took care of me again. One who wished you dead.’ Her next dagger was at my chest but on the right side. I reached to remove the dagger there, and looked at her.

‘You hit the wrong spot. My heart lies in the same place as others. Goodbye.’ I plunged the dagger into my heart. As I felled down to the ground, I looked at the only woman I ever slept with. I had others to join me, but they slept on the floor next to my bedding. Only Dina shared mine.

Lancelot Part 2

Ambush

King Ban stepped into his tent after a early morning hunt with his brother and King Arthur. He still don his hunting weapons although the hunt was long over. He had stopped at another tent for his own hunt of lust before he returned to his tent. King Ban finds his Queen still dressed in her night gown with one sleeve lowered for the act of nursing their  young baby at her bosom. The sight of his Queen exposed bosom stirred his lust even though he had just released it not too long ago.

King Ban walked over to his Queen and knelt down to next to her. He reached for his young infant son' cheek and touched at it.

"He would be a fine lad and then he can joined me in these hunts." King Ban speaks as he looked up to his Queen He smiled at her and reached for her other sleeve to lower the gown. Elaine did not protest as the King nudges his mouth over her other breast to suckle at her milk.

"Yes, my Lord." Queen Elaine was all she could replied as both father and son suckled at her milk. She slowly nudged her child off her teats so that he would not be pushed by the grizzled face of the father but the child cries out in protest when he is weaned off the teats.

"My Lord, the child needs his milk." She protested and King Ban reluctantly removed himself.

"So he would. I am in need to take a bath before I am to attend to my men." King Ban politely excused himself to move towards the other side of the tent.

Queen Elaine clasped her son back her teats and let him have his fill. She looked towards her Lord who is now stripping off his hunting tunic to reveal his magnificent physique to her. Its not that she had not seen naked but every time she does, she finds her passion moving within herself. But alas since she had birthed the child, she find herself alone in the bedding as her Lord feigned excuses to step away. Its not that she is not as beautiful as before although her bosom may had build up with milk. Its just that her Lord find himself to avail on another since she was in her advanced stages.

The King may had sampled another nectar and now finds its more refreshing than the one she had to offered. Elaine remembered then when the healer cautioned the King to resist or the child may be lost during her later stages. He was clearly upset that his to command now commands him. More to it, he finds her looks a disheartening sight with the extra load on her body. He spent more nights in his own chamber or with his whores when the need arise. Soon he finds the events suits him well like before.

It was also the the time when King Arthur rallied his loyal allies to campaigned against the Franks. King Bors have joined and King Ban was asked to do so in brotherly commitment. King Ban could not declined such a great opportunity to pillage and maybe to secure more lands with his brother at his side. However his Queen asked for her exclusion as she was not fit to travel with the unborn child. King Ban gave her his consent and he then seek out in his Hall who can be his companion. It so happened to be a young lady in waiting by the name of Lady de Maris who agreed to be his companion.

So the duo traveled out in discretely so the child laden Queen would not be alarmed or aware of the companionship. Soon the news came to the ears of the Queen that her Lord was with another in the camp. Queen Elaine went into premature labor and delivered the King his heir. She made haste her recovery and took the infant to seek his father in the battle front.

It was in her journey that she heard that the Franks are countering in their attacks. King Arthur and his allies are holding up at the place near Herns. She reached their camp after some grueling travel but she happy to be reunited with her Lord. The King was ever delighted to see his son and he forgets all about his other companion. Queen Elaine was pleased with herself and she decided to stay with her Lord.

"How fare your campaign now, my Lord?" Queen Elaine asked of her Lord as she placed the sleeping infant to his cradle once he had his fill of her milk. She walked to her Lord and laid her head on his naked back.

"The Franks are withdrawing at some lands but they are holding onto some of us." King Ban told his Queen as he complete his washing. He looked down at himself and smiled as he still sports a younger body despite his age. He noted the scars of his previous fights but none was fatal at all. King Ban reached for his Queen when he felt the arousal in his groin, but his sojourn was interrupted when his senior officer came a-calling outside the tent. The King pushed his Queen away and grabbed a tunic to wear over his body. Meanwhile Queen Elaine pulled up her bodice by the sleeve and walked back to her child. King Ban called on the officer to stepped in.

"My King, I bear bad news." Sir Galad spoke up. He has risen in rank although he still sports the same armor.

"Speak up, Sir Galad." King Ban told him. "Queen Elaine is no stranger to you."

"My Queen." Sir Galad addressed the lady hidden at the inner tent. "My King, our castle at Benwick has been overrun by the Franks. They have moved on our flanks and now coming against us."

"How can that be?" King Ban shouted out causing his son to woke up in fright. The child's mother immediately ran to attend to him.

"I left a size able garrison there to guard the castle." King Ban tried to deny hearing of his castle being overran.

"We do not have the details but you must returned to Benwick." Sir Galad told his King. "We must recapture the castle."

"Call my squire. I must dressed to see Arthur and Bors." King Ban hollered for his squire to assist him.

King Ban left the army of King Arthur with his own men of five hundred strong to march back to Benwick. Arthur would continue in his campaign and defeat the Franks. Unknown to him, his movements were watched by King Claudas scouts.

"So Ban leaves for his own land." King Claudas speak to his assembled knights in the Hall of his castle. "My cousin, Pierre did well to attack the flanks,"

"Shall we take them with our army, my King?" A knight of his kingdom asked. This knight commands two hundred over foot soldiers and a hundred lancers on mounts.

"No, Sir Anton." The King pacified his knight. "King Ban travel in a haste and he is short of supply. He would need to get those from the villages and settlements. Move in on those now. We would starve Ban' army."

"Yes, my Lord." The seven knights at his Hall salutes him.

The army of King Claudas burned the villages and settlements in the path of King Ban. They did everything to starve the returning army.

"My King, as we speak now; our men are complaining of hunger and the desertion is getting higher in the ranks." Sir Galad advised his King. "I have to remove two Guards today for the same misdeed."

"How far are we from Benwick?" The King asked of his castle as he nursed his wine in the goblet.

"We are two days away and maybe three if the men does not march as expected."

It was then Queen Elaine walked into the tent. She brought news of their son who is not feeling well.

"Has he not been fed by you?" The King was to asked.

"The child is not sick but he wants his father. You have not seen him for days now." Queen Elaine told the King. "Neither have you been to my tent since we left Arthur."

"Women! I am at war here now." The King bellowed out. "My castle taken by someone and you question my whereabouts in the dark time. Do you know my mind is on my men now who needs to go home to see their families more than your thoughts of me fornicating with you in the tent."

Sir Galad who was standing there to avoid embarrassment quietly leave the tent but he was soon to see the Queen leaving in emotional state. Sir Galad thought of leaving the King to his mood but he was called to go in again.

"Galad, I want you take a small squad and ride ahead to the Castle." The King commanded. "Find out the state of my castle and then await my arrival."

Yes, my King." Sir Galad salute his King and left the tent. As he was mounting his horse, he was to see Lady de Maris walking towards the tent. He ignored her as she entered his tent, and when he was to ride away, he can hear the Lady crying out in rage. He stopped his horse and contemplating to go in to assist the King but then he reckon if the King chooses to bed with different women, then he has to accept responsibilities for them.

"No, woman." King Ban shout out in rage. "Your unborn child cannot be mine."

Lady de Maris have walked up to the King in his tent on seeing the Queen. She confronted the King on her health condition and he have just declined responsibility. She glared at him on his denial.

"Do you accuse me of being a whore, my King?" Lady de Maris spoke out in a low tone that come across as cynical. "One who lays her womb to anyone with a hardness to pierce for fun?"

"I did not say that." The King deny again.

"Do you take me for one who lay by your side and vision on another?" Lady de Maris asked him again as he avert his eyes to avoid her glare. She knows of his love for his Queen but he finds her burden looks very unpleasing to his eyes.

"I do not mean that too. Its just that we may have spent our time together but its unheard of that I may be your child's father." King Ban knows that many ladies of the court are always willing partners for hope to be attached to one of good standing.

He does not discount Lady de Maris may be one of them as she did not think twice when he asked her to joined him earlier. But to acknowledge that her unborn child could be his was like putting his neck on the block for the executioner. He fear for his young son whose mother is the rightful Queen. She may not not take kindly to him having another child with this woman although she may have condone his infidelity behind her eyes. But most of all he feared the subject matter of him having a bastard son which may challenge his rightful heir for the throne later.

"King Ban, this child is yours as I am yours." Lady de Maris told the King and she then stormed off from the tent.

"Damned woman and their lust." King Ban muttered to himself. He knows in his heart, that unborn child is his but he cannot accept that child.

King Ban camped that night at the clearing with their hungry sentries standing guards at the perimeter. At one of these posts, an older foot soldier lament to his younger counterpart.

"Jason, once before I remembered we used to marched for days without food. Then we were forced marching to overtake the enemy...." Brin the old foot solider leaning on his spear tried to cheered up the young soldier.

"Enough, old man." Jason retorted back. "When I was signing up and given the silver coin, your commander promised me good life with food, drinks and women. But now I got is hays for my food, and no women in sight unless I considered the mare as one I can fornicate with."

"So the splendor of the army now swept off from your sight, makes you re-think that perhaps toiling the hard ground from dawn to dusk maybe a better option, huh?" Brin passed on the smite remark. "But you forget the days when you donned those armor plates helped you to some loot that you never dreamed of. Or are they all forgotten like the coins in the tavern for your lust and thirst."

"Aye, it did give me some riches but they are small amount that would never buy me a farm." Jason cried out his misgivings.

"True, but it would had bought you a wife and family if you knew how to spent it instead of plundering it on whores and rum." The older man reminded him.

"I am telling you ....." Jason did not get to complete the sentence when the arrow pierced his back and into his heart. He fell on his face without seeing the adversary.

"Raid!" Brin shouted out at the top of his voice as he hold the spear tight in his hands. "Enemy at the perimeter."

Brin saw the enemies emerging from the nearby woods and charging at them. He looked to his side and find most of his peers are still shaking off their sleep stupor or exhaustion from lack of food.

"Enemies coming at us!" Brin shouts again trying to rouse the camp of their new threat. He turned to shout at the soldiers and then he decided to charge the enemies as to motivate his own to fight. He rushed out towards the enemies, but he was cut down by the riding lancers even before he could react.

King Ban roused from his rest at his tent grabbed the sword and shield. He did not donned his armor as there was no time for it but to fight like the barbarians whom he has encountered in the past. He rushed out of his tent and started to give commands to his men. He was not to wait for the enemy to come to him, but charged them himself. He blocked off an oncoming thrust by a foot soldier on a spear and used his shield to ram at the soldier. He turned back to call on more of his men to reinforced around him. He turned back to see the enemy and he was struck in the left shoulder by a spear thrusted by a foot soldier. King Ban pulled at the spear handle and drew it out with his own strength.

"Aargh!" King Ban shouted out, as he rallied his men to engaged the enemy. He was flanked by two of his officers but he brushed them off.

"Move on!" King Ban shout to his men. An arrow came at him and he managed to step back avoiding the arrow but the second volley hit at his right knee. King Ban fell on his injured knee while he used his sword to hold his body up. More of his men now roused up from the sleep began to rallied around him.

"Hold the line!" King Ban shout out at his men. As he watched his men fought the Franks, he reached for his wound at his shoulder. Its a deep wound and the spear head is unclean; the wound would be fatal. King Ban reached for the shoulder of the nearest soldier to pulled himself up. He motioned the soldier to assist him in returning to the tent.

"My Lord, who do you fare?" Queen Elaine placed the child she was carrying in her arm in the cradle. She rushed forward to tend to his wounds.

"My Lord, the wounds are deep and the poultice I placed there are not stopping the bleeding." Elaine told her Lord as she dapped on the wound with more poultice. King Ban reached up for his Queen' hand, and held it in his hand.

"Elaine, we have to leave this place. My men are being slaughtered although we numbered more. My wounds are also fatal and in need of a healer." King Ban assured his Queen. "We may be winning for now, but we cannot withstand another raid."

Elaine nod her head and she went back to the cradle. She picked up the child and turned to her Lord.

"I am ready to leave, my Lord." Elaine explained to her Lord.

King Ban placed his Queen and child on a horse., while he mount his own. They tried to make it to King Bors castle. On their way to the castle, they met up with King Bors with a small contingent of army at a nearby lake. The contingent is of twenty foot soldiers.

"Bors, what happened to you?" King Ban asked of his brother.

"The Franks are at my castle. They are strong and flanking my army, but I managed to escape with this contingent.I intend to ride for my castle and rescue my Queen." King Bors told his brother.

"My sister is safe?" Elaine asked of her sister.

"I am sure she is, Queen Elaine." King Bors addressed her formally. In his heart, he is not sure of who is safe and who in in danger. As they were about to ride on, both brothers heard the war cries of the Franks, who emerged from the woods nearby. They been following King Bors to await this opportunity.

"Protect the King!" The officer on duty called out to the foot soldiers. Both the Kings' drew their sword and joined their soldiers to fight the oncoming Franks. Elaine on seeing her Lord at battle despite his wounds, and it worried her. She need to carry the child to safety, and the only place she can find is the lake. She placed the child on a basket and covered the child with a blanket.

"My child, please don't cry. You need to be brave." Elaine looked at her child as tears come down from her eyes. "Mummy have to assist your father in battle. Once we have cleared the Franks, Mummy would come back for you."

The child she has yet to name looked up to his mother and gurgle in his voice. He reached out with his hand towards the one he know as his mother. Elaine reached forth to hold her son' hand and reached down to kiss the hand. She wanted to express her words to comfort her son on the danger she might be facing but she could not bring herself to do so. She can hear the fighting nearby and she knows the longer she spend with her son, may be detrimental to her Lord.

Elaine placed the basket on the lake and slowly pushed the basket off. She watched the basket float on the lake surface and then she got up from the lake side. She walked back to the horse and retrieved the sword there. It was given to her by her father when she was younger.

Elaine rushed to the battle field and saw her Lord standing there alone at the circle. His brother Bors lies at his feet bleeding at many places. Elaine ran to her husband but just before she reached him, she saw him charging at the Franks despite his wounds. The foot soldiers thrust their spear at King Ban from different directions and he died on his feet.

"No!" Elaine shouted out. She rushed forth with her sword swinging at the Franks. Her first blow brought down one of the soldier whose back was to her.

"Kill the mad lady!" One of the other Franks' shouted out and the others did as per orders; they charged at the lady with their spears.

Elaine in her anger did not stopped on seeing the raised spears but rushed into it without caring. She could block one spear but three others thrust into her chest; piercing her body inside.

Elaine cried out in pain before her heart stopped beating. She died near her Lord side but on her mind just before she drew her last breath was on her son floating on the lake.