Arthur: The Legend and Myth Chapter 43

43.

Lancelot dismounted from the saddle and slid off it. His legs were stiff from the long rides. He leaned against the creature that was his companion for the last few days and nights. He looked around and saw the others were also tired like him. He was leading a group of ten knights towards the far coast to fetch a relation of Lady Igraine. It was the later who bestowed him the task then.

“You will fetch my relation here.” Lady Igraine told him. “You will then go to Camelot. Be careful on the roads. The Camelot reign may be peaceful to many but there are few who are willing to kill it. And you are included in the list.”

With those words, Lancelot took on his task. During the ride, he encountered no hostile parties but upon nearing the castle where the lady was in waiting, his scouts told him of a group of knights and foot soldiers that were in a camp by the creek not far from the castle. The scout claims that they are of King Bagdemagus.

“Post our sentries and have the scout observe them.” Lancelot told his knights. “I do not want surprises.”

Unknown to Arthur, there was a surprise in the castle where the lady in waiting was holding her accommodation then.

“I meant you no harm.” Sir Meleagant having gained access to the castle by deceit and bribery had appeared in the day chamber of the right wing where a particular lady was having her reading session. The young man bowed to the lady who was startled by his unannounced visit.

“You must leave, dear Sir.” Guinevere seated on the high back chair with the book case as her backdrop. She was alone but the servant bell was within her reach. “It’s not appropriate for you to be here. It’s improper.”

“Improper? Oh my beloved darling, it’s me you are talking to. Do you recall the times we hid in the towers or swims we had at the hidden pool?” Meleagant approached the lady in question but she berated for bringing up the past.

“We were …young then. We were kids then.” Guinevere red in the cheeks told the other. “You must not take the musings of our childhood to …”

“To reflect to you that I am still in love with you. No…. it was not still. I have never stopped loving you.” Meleagant stood before the lady. “I do. I have searched for you after you were taken away. I have concerned on your well-being.”

“Sir, I must ask you to leave.” Guinevere was insistent then and rang the bell. The servant appeared out of the adjacent chamber and was seen with a horrified expression. The cries went out and the chamber was soon filled with the presence of five armed guards holding their spears. A bosomy elderly lady in a pumped up dress approached the young man.

“Sir, you are intruding upon a ladies’ privacy. I would suggest you leave now.” With that remark, the guards approached Meleagant. The later resigned to his expulsion request took leave but not before he gave Guinevere another look of his grieving expression. The bosomy elderly lady then approached Guinevere when the place was cleared. Her expression was of anger and irritation.

“Guinevere, am I to remind me of the reason you are placed at my care?” The bosomy elderly lady glared at her care. “He was not to be here. He was to be …”

“He found me. I don’t know how. I have been here and did everything you told me.” Guinevere replied. “It has been five years now.”

“I was your prisoner here. Then and now.” Guinevere shouted back.

At the break of the new dawn Lancelot rode up with five knights to the castle gate. He left the others at the camp with the scouts on the other group. The castle was a four tower shaped in design with the high walls and the deeper moat. He approached then and was challenged by the sentries there.

“Who’s go there? State your business or leave.” Lancelot stated his name and business. The castle bridge over the moat was lowered and the gates opened. Soon he found himself faced with the Lord of the castle.

“I am Duke Cador of Cornwall. I welcome you to my castle as the guest here. You will stay here until the lady is ready to travel.” That was not a request of the Duke but his command. “Lady Guinevere had been a long time guest of mine and a slight delay may not affect her new plans.”

With that Lancelot was given a chamber to rest while his knights were sent back to their camp. He was kept in his chamber which resembled more like a dungeon with the four walls and the guarded doorway. The opening of the window was to the stables and when he looked at the walls, it was decorated with a horrid painting on one side and decorated with the dusty drapes. He was kept there for days until that day he heard the alarm sounded. He was dressed in his knee length tunic and laced up sandals rushed to his sword in the scabbard hung by the chair. He rushed to the doorway and found the guard missing. He ran along the corridors and taking turns before he came upon the lady who was coming out of a doorway. She screamed when she saw him. He stopped then and was surprised by the arrival of a bosomy lady. The later was holding a dagger in the right hand.

“I am not an …. I am Lancelot, the guest of the Duke.” Lancelot lowered his sword and pleaded with the lady. “I am looking for the exit.”

The bosomy lady pointed to the right and then Lancelot rushed towards the direction. He saw another turning and then he reached the main hall. He recalled the main doors were to the end of the main hall. He went for it and opened the doors. He was greeted by the three guards there armed with the spears. He saw the courtyard was filled with more guards and there were guards on the palisades. There were confusion then in the courtyard and he could not find any leaders among them. Then there were more commotions when the drawbridge went down with a loud noise outside.

“They are at the gates.” The warning came in late for the guards at the courtyard who were running for shelter. The gates broke open then and the enemies came pouring in. They were dressed in the bear fur skins and held the battle axes. There were a hundred of them rushing in and were outnumbered two to one.

“There are traitors here.” One of the guards shouted before rushing at the enemies.

“Where is the Duke? Who opened the gates?” Lancelot called out but no one replied. He drew out his sword and charged towards the gates. He saw some of the guards were fighting for the enemies then. They were losing the battle and the only wise thing to do was to retreat.

“Pull back!” Lancelot called out. “Pull back to the hall.”

The surviving guards numbering then not more than twenty had joined in the hall. Lancelot was the last to join before they barricaded the hall gates. The wood was thick oak and the door that reached over the height of a Man and was thicker than the forearm of his. He rushed to assist the others in barricading the doorway. The heavy furniture was all stacked there and even the wall openings were not spared. The servants who were there had assisted and later were cowering at the end of the hall. Two ladies were there to calm them down while Lancelot spoke to the guards.

“I want the other two doors there and there all barricaded. They will swarm in and we cannot hold them with our numbers. We have to stop them coming in here until the ….others return.” Lancelot called out. He looked around and found the shields adorned on the walls. “Take those down and be ready for a fight.”

The side doors were all barricaded and the guards took their positions but nothing was happening. There was no battering at the doors but there were noises outside. Lancelot peeked through the narrow opening and looked outside. He saw the invaders had taken to looting then and some of the servants were killed. He knew that the invaders will either leave when the others arrived. He was curious to know why Duke left his castle unattended with so little guards. He was also curious to raise his own knights but they were not in sight.

Lancelot then saw the one that was leading them.

It was a figure with a huge bear head on the shoulder. The figure was also holding a gladius with the hand crafted hilt that showed the soaring eagle.

“Father’s gladius…..”