Arthur II Book II Chapter 19

 

19.

 

Artorius sat on the round table studying the sword. Excalibur it was named but it held a simple hilt of wood with the sewn soft leader intertwined by the tougher rough leather throngs that lent the wielder a firm grip. The crossguard was metal with the motifs of the dragon on the right and the lion on the left. The blade was three feet in length with an inch width and tapered to the end which made it resembled more like a broad sword but shorter in the blade length. He held the sword in his right hand and it was neither heavy nor lighter than his gladius. He took a few swings with it and felt the smoothness in the cuts. He then took an overhead swing and by mistake, he cut the blade into the thick round table. The blade sliced the table into two pieces without much strength needed in the swing.

“Amazing!’ Artorius looked at the sharp blade. He had wielded other blades from his battles including the curved scimitar favored by Percival then over his gladius. He had tried the broad sword of the Britons and French but they needed both hands to wield. He had tried the Parthian sword, quite similar to the gladius. He found his more liking to the Greek design with the longer blade.

“Excalibur...” Artorius did a few more swings with it.

“My Lord, am I interrupting?” It was the lady, Guinevere. She appeared there in the same dress. “I could come back another time.”

“No, I am not occupied.” Artorius invited the lady. He sheathed back Excalibur into the scabbard. “Do come in.”

Lady Guinevere strolled in and saw the broken table. She knew Artorius liked the table.

“The round table? What happened to it?”

“Oh, that table? I cut it with the new sword. It will be made with a new tree trunk. I intend to make a bigger one for the Hall where it will seat….. twelve…thirteen … around it. I will sit ….” Artorius tried to show the sword but Guinevere veered to the subject that why she was there.

“No…. Yes, I meant to say the bigger table will serve you well. I came ….”

“To see me? I am here.” Artorius was elated to see the lady.

“Not exactly. I came in to collect back the note I wrote.  I was told you have it.” Guinevere handed out her right hand.

“The note? Yes, I read it.” Artorius reached for it inside his armor vest.

“Can I have it back, please? It was written in haste and should not have…” Guinevere asked for the note.

“I read it. I can... relate to it.” Artorius pulled back his hand holding the letter. “I  ...”

“No, Artorius. It’s not appropriate…” Guinevere spoke. “I was out of line…”

“Because I am older and …” Artorius took a step towards Guinevere but she backed away.

“Today I was given two gifts. I was given the sword named Excalibur and then the other was I was named King. King Arthur of the land. I will wield the sword as the King.” Artorius looked at Guinevere. “Called me Arthur, my Queen.”

“No! You don’t understand. I need to …” Guinevere turned away. “I am not ready to be…”

“Queen? Neither is me to be King but we can learn.” Artorius tried to reach for the lady but she stepped towards the doorway.

“Artorius…”

“Call me Arthur,” Artorius called out. “That is my name from now.”

“I need to be away to think. I need to see my home. Please give me your approval to travel.” Guinevere looked at him. “I will need time to think.”

Artorius stared at her. In his heart, he wanted her to stay and be his guest in the coming banquet he was preparing. In his mind, he heard her feelings and she may need the time to work out her feelings. He nodded to her and told her that a group of legionnaires will escort her.

“No, legionnaires. I will travel with my guards. I have arranged for it.” Guinevere then left him standing there.

Lady Guinevere was met by Lady Igraine who was dressed in the mourning shade of black with the thin veil over part of her face. She was grieving at the death of Lord Pendragon whose body was returned to his castle. She had wanted to go there but the Elders have forbidden her return.

“You are not allowed to return to the Castle.” The emissary from the Castle had told her when he met her at Camelot. “The death of the Lord will have his estate divided by the Elders and the Lords.”

“Which Lords?” Lady Igraine had asked.

“Lord Ban and Bors. They have served with dedication to the Lord.” With that, the emissary took leave. Lady Igraine sighed at the serving of the message. She knew that the Elders harbored their anger at her for the death of Lord Gorlois.

“Lady Igraine, I was to see you.” The appearance of Guinevere distracted the older lady.

“It’s okay. How did you fare with your talk with Artorius?”

“Artorius is now calling himself Arthur. He held the vision that he is the appointed King. He held his standing with the sword…”

“Excalibur!” Lady Igraine cut in. “Oh, my goodness.”

“What is …the issue?”

“Excalibur is the symbol of the land. It’s fabled that the sword can only be wielded by the true King. He will unite the people.” Lady Igraine sighed. “Lord Pendragon had sought it but he never got it.”

“I don’t know about Excalibur. I cannot go to the castle to pay my last respect to my father. I will then go to see my mother's final resting place and tell her of his passing. They will meet somewhere soon.”

“Go if you must Guinevere but bear this in your mind. Without your father, your life is in peril. The Green Knight may protect you but he is alone. You need an army to protect you. For you to have it, you need to be Queen.”

“Don’t pressure me, Lady Igraine. I need time to think. I will ride at the break of the next day. I will have guards with me.”

“Whom may I ask?” Lady Igraine asked but Guinevere did not tell her.

“You want me to do escort on the lady to her home?’ It was Percival who looked at the Prime. “She is…”

“She is to be my Queen … very soon. Do it as part of your service towards me.” Artorius looked at the other. “Take the brothers. They looked restless.”

“Gawain and Gaheris? Yes, of late they have been at logger's heads. Even their brother, Galahad is at lost over it.” Percival revealed the issue with his Equities. “We will sort it out.”

“Ride them out.” Artorius gave the command.

Gawain packed his bag for the ride ahead. He was not on speaking terms with Gaheris. They were aware of their animosity arose from the lady named Elaine. Their silence had agitated the other brother, Galahad who being the eldest was keeping himself above the rift.

“We ride tomorrow but will shadow the lady. We are to leave our armor and wore borrowed mail coats beneath the cloak and to avoid any confrontation unless the lady life is threatened.” Galahad told his brothers. 

“How will she be protected?” Gaheris asked.

“She will be with a group of five guards but they are mercenaries. So, trust not them.” Galahad replied. “We are to assume the worst.”

“The land to her castle is secured by the local Lords and Chiefs.” Gawain gave his view.

“Lady Guinevere is not going back to the castle. She is going to the coast and it's mostly unexplored.” Galahad told the brothers. “We need to be alert. She holds no friends here.”

The brothers went back to their tasks.

The Green Knight came to know of Lady Guinevere’s trip in his retreat. He was in the local monastery which was a small twin building; the main hall and kitchen with the store. He was offered bedding with the three monks; two elderly and the young one was the apprentice. He had his armor wiped by the young apprentice. He stood there by the well in his tunic. He won’t remove it and took his wash in it.

“Sir, I can wash the tunic if you will remove it.” The young apprentice looked at the knight at the well, while he sponged the metal chest piece. The apprentice looked at the knight wet from head to toe with the tunic clinging to the body frame. The wet cloth outlined the scrawny frame with the gaunt facial and the deep sunken eyes.

“Thank you, young one. I am fine with it.” The Green Knight poured the water from the bucket down his chest. He felt the relief of the cold water on his chest. He felt every pore in his body dulled and where there were old wounds, the tingling of the pain was there. He had fought as a younger knight with the name of Sir Bernlak. He had even fought for Lord Gorlois and was wounded. He was tended by the care of the monks. He was saved by the monks and took the oath to battle not mortal foes but the demonic ones. He was then fed with the dark runes that were tattooed onto his back and chest. He was to wield the blade by man but the spirits in him will forge the steel with their power.

“Sir Knight. I bear news of your care. She will take to the trail to the coast.” The elderly monk told him. “Her servant had recruited the guards from the settlement.”

“The young fool!” The Knight looked at the apprentice. “Do you fight?”

“I am with the staff.” The young apprentice replied. “And my name is Jaseth.”

“Jaseth, you have your vow to be taken soon.” The elderly monk spoke to Jaseth. “You can’t leave now.”

“He will be with me. He will return to take his vow.” The Green Knight voiced out. “Or remain as my squire.”