Sorry for the long wait but exams got in the way


"Father how do you know you're in love?"

Ruby eyes had widened at his son's voice and Lancelot turned to find the boy gazing down at the floor "What was that Galahad?"

Slowly the young hedgehog met his father's gaze "I asked you how you know you're in love?"

Fortunately Camelot's bravest knight was saved from answering as a blue streak flashed past. The King quickly skidded to a halt and grinned at the pair as a weary Gawain limped his way along the corridor.

"There you two are!" Emerald eyes shone "I figured I'd spend some time with my loyal knights and find out what passes the time round here"

Frowning as what he deemed important conversation was put aside, Galahad was still too tempted by the concept of learning more about the Knight of the wind's world to resist falling into step with his new monarch.

Cheerily Gawain fell in with Lancelot "You look as though you've seen a ghost"

Slowly the ebony furred knight sighed "The day I most feared has arrived"

Uncertain violet eyes rested on the other knight "What do you mean?"

"Galahad is in love" was the reply

Gawain frowned; it couldn't be right certainly Galahad had a spring in his step and a gleam in his eyes and…

"Lancelot we have to stop this!" cried the echidna.

Wearily ruby eyes rolled in his direction "It's not that bad, it simply means we will have to educate him in how to talk to women"

Frantically shaking his head, Gawain pulled Lancelot aside "Women are dangerous, they'll have the fool risking his life in impossible quests to prove his love, trick him about their natures"

"Carry his child through an act of unspeakable deception" ruby eyes held a look of pure horror "Gawain we must find this witch and ensure she never lays her hands on Galahad!"

Silently pondering his comrade's statement Gawain frowned "What kind of woman would Galahad find to his taste?"

Lancelot opened his mouth to speak the shook his head "I-I do not know"

A determined gleam filled Violet eyes "then we shall simply have to find out"

A few minutes later Lancelot, Gawain, Galahad, Lamorak and Sonic were seated, or in the latter's case reclining, in the chairs that surrounded the Round Table.

"No Caliburn?" Lamorak inquired half-heartedly. It was clear no one truly missed the sword's presence.

Stretching out across his chair, the king grinned "Not this time"

"What about Percival?" the question this time came from Gawain.

"She said she'd come later" her green feathered brother muttered.

Lazily a pair of emerald eyes moved to meet Lancelot's gaze "So what did I interrupt between you and Galahad?"

Surprisingly Galahad answered "Nothing much I was just asking Father about women"

Before the youngest hedgehog had finished speaking Sonic and Lamorak were standing behind him.

"You've got a girl then?" laughed the king as he ruffled the other's upwards growing quills

Practically bouncing in excitement Lamorak leaned closer "Who is she?"

Blushing, Galahad absently began to trace a pattern on the table's surface "I don't even know if I am in love"

The king gave a low whistle "Hey Lancelot you want to take this one?"

With a defeated sigh Lancelot spoke " I suppose love is where you can think of no other, when no matter how beautiful a woman is she cannot compare to yours… Ultimately you feel incomplete without her and you would let nothing stand in the way of her happiness even if it means you yourself do not get what you want."

"You're thinking of Mother aren't you?" Teased the silvery hedgehog; Galahad alone missed the shadow that darkened Lancelot's eyes at those words.

"So who is she?" Lamorak was probing again

Gawain smirked "Bet you've picked a beauty"

Laughing Sonic joined in the teasing "You going to sweep her off her feet?"

"No girl can resist a knight" cooed the hawk

A loud crash echoed through the hall as the doors were flung open. Amber eyes narrowed in irritation as Percival saw her sparring partner surrounded by their elders.

"Well I had come to join the discussion but it seems you children are at it again" stubbornly the female knight muscled her way through the trio of males and extended a hand to her friend "Let's go Galahad; we're the only mature ones here"

As he took her hand an unmistakable blush crossed the youngest knight's tan muzzle. As the door swung back on the pair's heels the remaining knights and their king stood in astonishment.

"It's Percival he loves?" Gawain was the first to speak.

Sonic shook his head wistfully "They grow up so fast" When he felt Lancelot's angry eyes burning holes in his back the cobalt hedgehog sighed "I miss Tails"

"Hey Lancelot what was with that funny look you had when Galahad asked if you were thinking about his mother?" For once Lamorak was all business.

Lancelot groaned and uncharacteristically let himself slump in the chair he occupied "Elaine used sorcery to make me think she was another; I spared her only because of Galahad" ruby eyes closed "Twice she has deceived me but she has saved me and so done me kindness also."

"And your son" a concerned Gawain added "she gave you Galahad"

Exposing his fangs in a bitter growl Lancelot replied "One of her few redeeming qualities"

Frowning Lamorak regarded his ally "Why didn't you tell that to Galahad?"

Three pairs of eyes locked on to the avian knight.

"You can't do that!" Gawain cried

"Why don't you tell Percival you had no idea she even existed until you ran into her?" Snarled the ebony hedgehog

Puffing up his feathers in rage, the hawk's icy eyes narrowed "That's low Lancelot. Besides it's different; Percival is the result of my parents actions not mine and therefore not my responsibility"

Dryly Gawain cut in "Your children must adore you Lamorak"

"I have no children!" The hawk's screech was primal.

A ruby flash cut the room and Ddraig Goch, Lancelot's strongest sword, stood embedded in the table.

"At least Caliburn isn't here to mock me for losing control and scold me for letting Lancelot break the table" Sonic sighed as he watched the pair.

Diving across the room Lancelot pinned Lamorak against the wall "Clearly! If you had children Lamorak you would understand why I can't tell my son he is a by-product of sorcery!"

There was a soft clunk as one of the great wooden doors was allowed to fall back in place and in silence blue, violet, crimson and emerald eyes all turned towards it.

"You don't think…" Gawain began

Swallowing hard Sonic nodded "they've been there…"

"The whole time?" Lamorak whispered as the iron grip on his shoulders tightened.

The room fell into a silence that was punctured regularly by Lancelot's sharp drawn breaths until

"Lamorak!"