Galahad and I
By: SarmatianKnight13
Chapter One
Life on the wall was interesting. That is the best word I could describe it with. Artorius Castus or Arthur had long since become our king, and he ruled over the wall. Well, all of Britain but he was stationed at the wall. With him were his faithful knights: Gawain, Galahad, and Bors. And of course with Bors came his 'little bastards' which he has long since given names. I had seen many of the brave Knights of the Round Table in my twenty-five years of life, and I had known all of them. My favorite by far had been Lancelot. He had been my replacement brother since my brother had died many years ago. But that was only how I looked at him: as a brother. When I saw his death I wouldn't leave my little room for days after the battle. He had seemed like my own flesh and blood, and he was gone. Arthur had stopped by and given me Lancelot's swords. I have them hanging on my wall. It's not exactly the best place for weapons of a brave knight like Lancelot, but I'm sure he doesn't mind seeing as how he is probably scattered about the world by now.
I worked at the tavern in the wall that all the knights had frequented. Now, only three came. My mother and father owned the tavern, and I work alongside Vanora, Bors' wife. Yes, they finally got married.
That's where I was the fine day that my life began to change. For the better I should think. It was after sunset and I knew that our usual patrons would soon begin to arrive. Some came to gamble, some came to drink and be merry, and some came to drink their sorrows away.
The first patrons began to arrive and I was swept up in the work that I enjoy doing. Yes, I actually do like to serve ale and the like to men. I know that it is strange, but it is the only thing that a woman could do around here.
Galahad and Gawain soon came and I strolled over to where they had sat.
"What can I get you tonight boys?" I asked.
"The usual please, Rhoslyn, My fair rose." Gawain joked. Yes, my name did mean fair rose, but I sure did not live up to that name.
"That is amusing Gawain. I will get you your drinks, sirs." And I turned and swept off to the bar. When I had gotten two mugs filled with the knights' orders I looked up into the mirror my parents had salvaged on the wall. Through the dirt and grime I saw a plump, mouse brown haired, green eyed girl. That was me, and I was not at all like a fair rose.
I swept back over to Gawain and Galahad and plopped their drinks down in front of them. I turned to go but a hand shot out and grabbed my wrists.
"Would you stay with us for a moment please, Rhoslyn?" Galahad asked. I looked around and saw that we weren't to busy yet, so I sat in the seat next to him.
"You do know what today is, don't you fair rose?" Gawain asked, sadly.
"I was trying to forget it." I answered gravely.
"You can't forget the past." Gawain said, wisely. My face fell. Today marked the two year anniversary of Lancelot's death, and Tristan's.
Just then Arthur walked over to the table with Bors in tow. Both sat at the table. Everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing and bowed when the King had entered. Arthur brushed it off. He hated having people bow to him.
"May I get you anything, sire?" I asked him. He gave me a look.
"Rhoslyn, how many times have I asked you to call me Arthur? You did before I was king, and I still ask for you to do it."
I bowed by head. "Yes, Arthur."
He strained a smile. "Good, and no, thank you I am just fine." I nodded and looked to Bors but Vanora had already set down a mug in front of him.
"Thanks love." He grunted before starting to chug the contents of the mug.
There was silence at the table. That was interrupted though when Bors had finished chugging and let out a loud belch. Everyone glared.
"Sorry lads and lass." And there was quiet again. Soon, Queen Guinevere came to join us. I had grown to be good friends with the young woman during the past few years. For some reason she had told me that she felt connected to me some how. That was probably because my mother was a woad, and my father had come over from Rome, as a soldier, trying to make a new life here.
"Guinevere." I greeted as she sat beside me. And there was more quiet. It was a time of grieving for our lost knights.
"Well, we all know what day it is." Arthur finally spoke. "And I suppose we all must grieve together. It seems only right."
"But Lancelot and Tristan both wouldn't want us sitting here and sulking over them." I responded. Everyone smiled slightly.
"No, they wouldn't want that would they. Dagonet neither." Bors said. There was a moment of silence for the lost knight, but they had just done that a few nights back on his actual death day.
Then Bors continued more jovially. "Well, I'll go honor their wishes and get drunk so bad that I can't piss straight." He thumped the table for emphasis and was off to badger Vanora for more ale. We all chuckled.
"Arthur, May I go and visit the cemetery?" I asked.
"Yes, so long as you take an escort with you." He replied.
"I will go with her." Galahad volunteered. I nodded, stood, and went in search for my parents to see if it was alright. They said yes. I returned to the table where Galahad stood strapping his sword to his waist.
"Are you ready to go?" He asked. I nodded.
"Guinevere if you are not here by the time I get back, then I shall speak with you later." I said. She nodded.
"Yes, I would love for you too visit me tomorrow." I smiled.
"I shall." I bid a good night to Arthur and Gawain, and then Galahad and I were off.
It was a bright night with the moon being full and millions of stars were out. It was also chilly outside but I didn't seem to notice. All I focused on was the vague outline of the burial mounds to the left.
Galahad and I trekked to the cemetery in silence and with haste. I did not like to be outside the wall at night even with a knight. A knight whom I loved in fact. Yes, I loved Galahad. I remember when I first realized it too. It was during the battle with the Saxons, and the realization that I would never seen Galahad again for he was leaving for his homeland, and I was in the safety of my mothers people. My father fought in the battle, but my mother and I stayed sheltered in the trees. We had no fear of being seen by a Saxon because we believed that we would win this battle. Lancelot died in front of my eyes. I saw him from my spot up in a tree. The look on his face when the arrow pierced his heart had ripped my heart to shreds. I would have preferred a real arrow.
Yes I did love Galahad; down to his fiery temper and his curly hair and his bluish-grey eyes. I did not show these feelings in public but Vanora, Guinevere and my parents knew. They could read my emotions and face easily. I believe they knew even before I myself knew. My skin still tingled at where he had held my wrist, and when he had volunteered to escort me to the cemetery my heart did a back flip. Gods how I loved this man. To bad he doesn't love me back.
We finally reached our destination. I approached Tristan's grave, and kneeled beside it. I touched my finger tips to his sword, and then I felt on the ground next to him where I knew there would be scorch marks. The earth still was stained with them after two years. Silent tears began to fall.
"Why did they have to leave Galahad?" I asked, sniffling. I felt him kneel beside me and he placed and arm around my shoulders. My stomach turned.
"They chose their own fate. And I know that they wouldn't want you to be here crying because of their choice. Especially Lancelot, he would not want it."
I tried to stop the tears, but they wouldn't. They kept on flowing.
"He was like a brother to me Galahad. You all are, but him more so." It pained me to say that Galahad was like a brother to me, which he wasn't, he was more then that but I didn't want him to feel left out. I didn't want him to find out.
"I know. I know how you feel." That was all he said. Then I cried harder. I wanted to be strong in front of Galahad so he wouldn't think me weak, but I cried. And he held me. I'm not sure how long I cried, but I vaguely remembered Galahad leading me back to the wall, where he handed me over to my father with a good night, and my father in turn led me to my room to sleep. And I did. I fell right asleep. I don't know how I could have slept because I kept seeing the arrow entering Lancelot's heart over and over again.
