Authur II Book II Chapter 25

 

25.   

 

Arthur rode to the fore of the army. He was dressed in the armor of the Legionnaire but he did wear the helmet. He had the legionnaires or his knights at the center. Belvedere’s army was to be left. He had left the army to his Chiefs and he had chosen to lead the local warriors where their leader was away. The Sarmatians holding the role of the cavalry to replace the Equities.

Arthur held Excalibur and the shield handed by the Belvedere. He had spent the time to get the army motivated. He looked to the hill which was named Mount Badon. He saw the defenses there; they have formed a series of trenches and barricades on the hillside. There were about five hundred there armed with the pikes and spears. He saw the pots of oils and the lighted torches. They intend to light up the oils and poured them down the hillside.

On the top of the hill, Mount Badon was not a castle but reinforced with the walls and there were the structures that were the abode of the inhabitants. He saw the main force was there. He saw Hengist was not there but at the hillside. Arthur turned his horse and rode towards the hill. He rode a new horse to replace Llamrei. He had the named Marie. It was the closest he could think of to the name Guinevere.

“Hengist Alger! Face me in battle.” Arthur called out. He had never met the other but the reputation of the Anglo Saxon was mentioned by many. He assumed the one he was calling out was the culprit.

Hengist took the challenge and grabbed a horse to ride to meet Arthur. He saw the man they called Arthur. The other did look like the Roman leader he was told on. He looked like a knight but he had no headcover. The Roman leader had sheathed the sword into the scabbard.

“Hengist Alger?”

“Are you the Roman leader?”  Hengist asked in return. “Did you kill my brother at Glein?”

“I did not but I will end the Alger’s brothers today. I challenge you to a duel.” Arthur’s horse reared its head. It sensed the impatience of its master. Hengist rode to meet Arthur. The former had discarded the outer coat of furs and wore a mail chain vest with the belt. He held the dagger on the right and the sword on the left. He also held the round shield.

They clashed at the bottom of the hill. Hengist swung the sword at Arthur who blocked it with his shield. They rode past each other, and then they turned their horses to face each other.

“Draw your sword, Roman. Fight me like a man.” Hengist called out. Arthur heard the call. He had not wanted to use Excalibur then. He felt it was to be drawn in the main battle. He rode towards the legionnaires that formed the front line.

“I need to loan a gladius and a shield. Mine is at Camelot.” Arthur called out. A legionnaire stepped out and handed him the gladius with the shield. Arthur took them with his thanks. He then rode back to face Hengist.

“I have my sword to fight you.” Arthur held the familiar sword in his right hand. He swung it a few times and then looked at Hengist. “I will fight you as a Roman. We killed your brother at Glein.”

“Bastard!” Hengist spurred his horse forward. He swung the sword from the right and Arthur had his square shield to block the sword. The legionnaire shield was heavier and not designed for the mounted rider. Arthur rode past the other and adjusted his arm on the shield. He slid it further up his arm close to the elbow. He rode towards Hengist. They met and Hengist swung his longer reach sword at Arthur from the right. The other had seen the move and stabbed with the square shield on the right thigh of Hengist.

Arthur drew blood on that blow. Hengist rode past and then reached for the wound at his right thigh. The cut was deep and it hurt. He shouted out and then charged at Arthur. The other had remained there with the gladius drawn and waited for Hengist. He ducked on the sword swung above his head and used the gladius to cut at Hengist in the back.

“Argh. Where is he?” Hengist had ridden past and did not see Arthur had turned his horse to charge at Hengist. The latter saw the galloping Roman and was to retreat when the gladius swung hard into the horse ridden by Hengist. He was thrown off the wounded horse.

“Who will kill the horse?” Hengist stepped away from the dying horse. The horse was a reveled creature who served many purposes. He saw the Roman had dismounted and approached him.

“We will fight on the feet. Like at River Glein.” Arthur heaved the shield on his left arm. It hurt his arm from the least exertion. He was not as resilient like before. Hengist bloodied on the back and thigh limped over to face the Roman.

“I had worse, Roman.”

“Arthur, Anglo Saxon. After you have died, I will go for Cedric.” Arthur called out. He turned to the hill. “Cedric, you are next.”

“Fight me first, Roman,” Hengist called towards Arthur. He then charged at Arthur. He used the shield to cover his advance and then stabbed with his sword at the other. Arthur had seen the move and blocked the sword and used the gladius to swing from the right. The gladius cut into the left forearm of Hengist and he stumbles the side dropping the round shield. Arthur followed with his shield to attack Hengist. The shield blocked the weak swing of Hengist sword and Arthur lunged the gladius into Hengist’ chest.

Hengist went down on his knees and Arthur followed through with the gladius drawn out and an overhead swing that decapitated the head from the neck.

With the death of the Anglo Saxon, Arthur approached the legionnaire that offered him the gladius and shield.

“Thank you, Son Your name please.”

“Tristan.” The legionnaire told Arthur. The latter had ridden his horse to the fore again.

“We battle now,” Arthur called out before he rode towards the hill named Mount Badon.

Meanwhile, Lancelot stood under the cover of the trees to look at the old temple that was the place of worship for the locals. Merlin had taken him there and told him Guinevere is there.

“She is under the guards of two men possessed by demons,” Merlin told him. “You will need Arondight for it.”

Lancelot drew the sword out and walked to the temple. When he was near the temple, he saw the two guards. They were like normal men but their looks were possessed with fiery red eyes. The guards were armed with shields and swords. They wore the mail chain chest suit, and have their spears stuck into the ground.

“Leave or die.” Lancelot cautioned them without stopping in his strides. One of the guards rushed at him with the sword and shield. Lancelot had his sword with both his hands on the hilt. He gripped it hard and swung it from the right. Arondight sensed the demonic presence and ignited with its blade inflamed with fire. Arondight sliced into the shield and it split into two halves. The blade of Arondight cut in further into the left arm of the possessed guard. Lancelot twisted his hand and cut the sword upwards. Arondight listened to his master and sliced into the left ribs to the heart. There the blade sliced into the dark soul and killed the guard.

The second guard charged forward and was met by Lancelot with his cold moves. The second guard went down like the first one.

“You are a brave soul, Lancelot.” It was Morgause who appeared there. “I always admire you like… my own. Do you want to know why I had her held here?”

“This was where I first met Utter Pendragon. I was a girl then, young and naïve. I was of the temple and Penelope was our patron. She was there to visit and give us aid. It was she then promises me the Lake as one of the ladies. A vow I was to take because of her. And Utter.”

“Utter and Penelope shared their vow there. Before God, I was serving daily. I swore to have my vengeance on them but I was a serving girl at the altar. I had to plan my revenge. It took me time and patience but I had to lose it out on my naivety to fall for another man.”

“Why, Morgause? You were like a mother to me.” Lancelot looked with dismay at her.

“Why she, Lancelot? Who is Guinevere to you?” Morgause asked.

“I …. I don’t know. I am here because of….” Lancelot could not find his reason. All he could recall was the call to Arthur. “Arthur…”

“You are a fool like me.” Morgause laughed “You will have her one day but you cannot keep her forever.”

Those words will remain in Lancelot for a long time.