109.
The entourage of
Sir Galahad with the knights rode along the river and then they came upon a
boat that was docked there. There was a banner by the boat that said ‘only the
deserving can reach the Grail.’
A lady appeared
on the river bank and spoke to the knights.
“Only the
deserving ones may board the boat to seek the Grail.” The lady looked to the
knights. “My name is Dindraine. I am the guardian of the boat that will take
you on the journey to seek the Grail.”
Dindraine looked
again to the knights and then she stopped at Percival.
“Your faith is
in questioned and if you board the boat you may not returned.” Dindraine then
looked at Lancelot. “Your faith is stained. You may not board the boat. Your
journey ends here. Return to Camelot.”
“My faith is not
to be questioned. I have being through the trials and worthy in my name.”
Percival challenged the lady and took his step onto the boat. Dindrane stopped
him there and then she cautioned him once more.
“You may die and
not return to Camelot.” Percival ignored her and proceeded onto the boat
followed by Galahad and the other three knights he had selected. Lancelot
stayed behind on the river bank.
“I am not coming
on. I will return to Camelot with the other knights.” Lancelot told Percival.
“Have a good journey and bring back the Grail.”
Percival was to
protest but he gave in then. Dindraine then took her turn to board the boat.
She led them into the boat and into the boat interior. They found a large bed
that was surrounded by three wooden bed posts. It was not the posts that amused
the knights but the sword in the scabbard on the bedding. The sword was
inscribed with words from the hilt to the blade and also on the scabbard. The
words on it were prophesies.
“The prophecies
wrote that only one knight many hold it. It also prophecies that only a virgin
and of royal birth may replace the belt with a new one.”
Percival reached
for it but he found the sword not suited to him. He held it firm and yet it
slipped from his hand. He gave up and others tried but none could hold it. When
Galahad was not keen to own another sword but he was drawn to it. He held the
scabbard with his left hand and then held the hilt with the right hand. Once he
had his right hand on the hilt, he picked up the sword.
“The first
prophesy has spoken.” Dindraine voiced out. “Now you musty fulfilled the second
one.”
Dindraine then
reached for the hemp belt she had woven with threads of gold and silk alongside
with strands of her hair. The belt was studded with precious stones and jewels.
She handed the hemp belt to Galahad.
“Please put the
scabbard onto the belt.” Galahad did as he was told. It was then Dindraine told
the knights of the sword.
“The sword is
called the Sword of the Strange Belt while the scabbard was called the Memory
of Blood. The sword was once used by King Varlan when he fought against King
Lambor who was the custodian of the Grail then. Varlan killed Lambor and caused
the Grail to be hidden.”
“Now that you
are beholden to the sword, you will continue to your journey. The sword will
direct you from now.” Dindraine told Galahad. They set sail on the boat along
the river. It was a spell binding journey from the wide plains to the hills and
then into the valleys. It was a pretty sight to the knights where the woes of
the wars were forgotten.
If only it was
that simple at Camelot.
The amorous
affair of Lamorak with Morgause took on
more apparent visibility and the rumours were rife. It even reached the ears of
Guinevere who then cautioned her half-sister when they met at her chamber in
Camelot.
“You must be
discreet.” Guinevere used her words sparingly. “I…”
“Discreet? I am
not like you, Guinevere.” Morgause then mocked the half-sister. “I am the Queen
and widower but I held no need to hide behind the veil of secrecy with my
lover. He may be King one day.”
“You must be
discreet. You are a Queen and many depended on you. How could you flirt with
him when your own lands are of Gaul? What does Mordred think of your choice?”
“As much as
dislike it, I am still the Queen.” Morgause replied. “He knows I am part of
this land and of Gaul. So I can be who I want on these lands. After all, our lands
will be one soon.”
“Hush your
words, Morgause. The walls have ears.” Guinevere snapped at Morgause. She then
asked the pertinent question. “What is holding your army from marching? Arthur
has half his knights with him. Lancelot is away. So is Percival. And the
Ceredig brothers.”
“I am not in
charge of the arymy. Mordred is the one. He will decide and when he does, he
will come marching here.” Morgause replied. “For me, I am just contented with
my love.”
With that
Morgause took off for her next rendezvous with Lamorak. She was to meet him at
an old castle place that once belonged to Gawain but the later have been away
for some time then. Unknown to the
lovers, the brothers were nearby.
“Gaheris, I am
in need of some of own items at my castle.” Gawain rode towards the castle. It
was once their home away from Ceredig. They spend a lot of great time there
with rounds of celebrations. It was all fine until they went back to Ceredig
and then there were no more brothers.
Only Gaheris and
Gawain.
They were drawn
apart for the love of some ladies.
His was Lynette
and it tore Galahad away. If only Galahad only knew, Lynette was no longer with
him. She had left him for a trader and he was alone.
They were all
alone.
To Lamorak and
Morgause they were the only persons then.
“Yes!” Lamorak
moaned out while his hands held the Queen closer to his groin. Her
ministrations with the tongue were the cause of his pleasure. His knees buckled
when she bit him with her teeth on him. He was so engrossed with the feeling
then that he did not hear the doorway to the chamber open.
“I was…” Gaheris
was taken aback by the sight of the nude couple inside the Gawain’s chamber
inside the castle. He drew his sword while the lady jumped off the bedding and
the man took for his sword.
“Gaheris?”
Lamorak remembered the younger knight. He then took to cover his body with the
bedding sheets while Morgause had then struggled to get on her gown. “I was not
expecting you.”
It was then
Gawain stepped in and he was infuriated that the other had used his chamber for
such an illicit affair. He drew his sword and approached Lamorak.
“What sins have
you brought upon me? Upon my home? I ought to kill you now.” Gawain held his
sword levelled at Lamorak. “You are despicable.”
“Me despicable?
I will not have you call me such names.” Lamorak sprang from the bedding and
crossed his sword with Gawain. “Fight me if you dare.”
Morgause in
shame then had dressed and found a scarf to cover her face. She remained seated
on the flooring next to the bed and watched the two men argued.
“I will fight
you but the law of the land says I am to surrender you to Arthur for his
punishment.” Gawain retreated and then he looked at the seated lady. “She must
come with you. The King will judge the two of you.”
“No one can
judged me!” Lamorak shouted out. It was then Morgause had then stood up and
withdrew the dagger hidden on her gown. She then rushed at Gawain.
“Knaves! How
dare you judge me?” Gawain had seen her approaching and retreated. Gaheris saw
the brother in danger reacted with his sword swinging in from the outside. The
blade cut into the lady on the side of her neck.
“Morgause!”
Lamorak called out in pain when the head of his love fell onto the bedding.
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