Rise of the Knights
Chapter 3: Re acquaintance
Through the forests of Prydain that covered most of the kingdom Arthur's caravan party rolled onwards on the old muddy road, a company of fifty knights lead by the three great warriors Lancelot, Tristan, Connor and Pelinor strode on.
The night sky removed all possible visibility however at the front two knights held aloft candles, the moon was also out however the dark clouds above was still to pass over and it eclipsed the moon's light over the land.
Far away on Hill top stood Sir Kay and his newly acquaintance the Black Knight, mounted on their horses looked over the company of soldiers with their King in the Carriage.
"The wizard wants every man dead, bring me their king." Kay muttered his orders to the Black Knight.
Behind the metal gauntlet mask the red lights sparked from the eyes still and slowly the head nodded, drawing his sword and raising it to the sky behind the two men over one hundred men with swords, maces, clubs and axes stood ready.
On the command of the Black knight they followed him and charged down to the carriage, with the Black Knight at the head of the army on horse back he quickly gained a heavy pace ahead of the army.
Prydain castle
"That's it Taran!" Roared Coll as Taran gained the upper hand in the sword fight against Owain, the two men had been practising for the last hour and were now fighting with wooden sticks to prove the superiority.
Taran raised his sword like stick high and brought it down onto Owain, however to his dismay Owain blocked the attack rather easily and then delivered a kick to the gut of Taran forcing him back. Tending to his pained stomach Taran only had one hand on his sword to defend himself, Owain seizing the moment sent a full volley of attacks with his stick against Taran.
Taran's sword came flying out of his hand, he ducked under Owain's swing and rolled to the side, unarmed he knew it was only a matter of time for Owain to put the pressure on so he took his chances.
He jumped up high into the air and sent a powerful kick against the side of Owain's face, Owain fell to the floor however rolled near to where Taran's stick was, Owain realised this and grabbed it so now he had two weapons whilst Taran only had one.
With two sticks Owain unleashed a fury of attacks onto Taran, the ability to manoeuvre was impossible Owain could easily just follow each step Taran took, the only way was to make Owain helpless.
Taran dodged a lunge from Owain however was unable to stop the other stick swerving against the side of his head, falling to the floor Owain held the stick up into Taran's face signifying his defeat.
"Well played Owain congratulations!" Coll barked out loud, the other boys clapped their approval.
Owain raised his sword high in the sky and grinned.
Holding out a hand to Taran which the man took he lifted Taran to his feet, Taran felt slightly concerned, he felt embarrassed however half glad he was beaten by a true friend.
"You fought well Taran however Owain gained the advantage, remember it's not who you fight, where you fight but…" Coll declaimed waiting for his sentence to be finished.
"How you fight!" The boys replied back in union.
Then suddenly Taran felt something very heavy ahnd very small pound on his back, it wrerstled him to the ground and moments later Taran held it up to reveal…
"Gurgi?" Taran cried out.
"Master! Master! Gurgi so happy to see you!" Gurgi roared with a modest genuine happy smile that only the small animal could portray.
"Gurgi you silly little sod!" Taran laughed out loud and the two old friends wrestled playfully, out of the corner of his eye Taran noticed Bors on the defensive and withdraw his knife.
Taran stood up and held a hand out to his friends, "gentlemen this is a pold friend, trust he's quite harmless." Taran explained and he could feel the tension loosen.
"Master, evil men are coming here!" Gurgi cried out as if just remembering why he travelled across the country.
"What?" Coll barked at the small animal, Gurgi frightened hid behind Taran's leg.
"Gurgi please explain." Taran muttered quietly and calmly.
After a lengthy explanation from Gurgi accounting the strange men, the old wizard and the plot to kill the king the men startled immediately.
"Why the King of England is passing through the Forest right this very moment, the perfect spot for a ambush!" Coll roared and immediately turned to the stables and grabbed his armour and strapped them on.
"Boys with me, we are the only chance the King has, Thomas!" He commanded.
"Yes sir?" Thomas replied.
"Go inform the King Geraint immediately, we will need all the men we have." Coll instructed.
"Gurgi go with Thomas, go find Eilonwy!" Taran ordered Gurgi urgently.
With a parting look between the two brothers John and Thomas the company departed on horseback to the Forest.
The Forest
"Company hold!" Arthur roared as the enemy soldiers assaulted his caravan.
The soldiers defended their king valiantly, however under the countless numbers and the surrounding forest they were uneasy, Arthur took it to himself to lead his men, drawing his sword Excalibur he raised it high for his men to see him, as soon as he raised his sword the clouds in the sky parted and the moon shone its lioght down onto the battlefield.
"To the King!" The men roared and Arthur with his soldiers united and visable stepped forward and attacked the enemy.
"Lancelot take the west side and flank them! Trsitan defend the rear!" Arthur commanded, he was a strong willed leader and the last few years of training had made him ready for such events. The fear had all but left him he had learnt from Merlin how to control his emotions and direct them properly as just for any King.
Taran was at the head of his party with Coll, in the distance they could see the two armies clashing and for a moment it looked as if the English were completely over run however Coll explained he could see their King with a company of his own men hold back the invading forces.
"Draw swords!" Coll roared over the stampede of the horses.
The men did so, Taran drew his and kissed the handle feeling the cold sting of the metal touch his lips. "Give mne the strength toi see Eilonwy again." He whispered to the sword.
The Company of men clashed into the brigade of villains, on horseback the Prydain soldiers had the upper hand and quickly pushed back the invading forces.
Taran was knocked off his horse and he landed face first ito the mud, he looke dup to see a black foot wrapped in a metal gauntlet stamp down in front of him.
He looke dup to see a fearsome imposing knight dressed in black, with red eyes that shone out into the night.
Taran rolled to his feet and lunged at the Knight with his sword however the blade struck at the metal suit and did not penetrate the black metal.
"What the?" Taran dumfounded muttered but then felt the full force of the Knights punch and he fell back to the muddy floor.
"Hold Taran!" He heard Coll cry out.
He turned to see Coll lunge at the Black Knight, the two then proceeded into single combat.
That's right Taran watch, watch your leader die in front of you.
Taran felt shaky and almost vomited, he searched the area but no one had been close each to whisper those words into his head.
You fool, Pig keeper, trying to be a knight, you deserve the sty's you clean as a kingdom!
Taran roared and gotr to his feet and swung his sword out.
"Begone demon!" He roared, he had heard that voice before somewhere, in the dark dungeons of a old castle, uttered by a old demon with the face of a skeleton and the horns of the devil himself.
The Horned King.
"Ah!" He heard Coll cry.
Taran turned to see Coll on his knees in front of the Black Knight, gasping for breathe his sword on the floor next to him half buried in the mud.
The Black knight turned and returned to the mounted position on his steed, surveying the battle field he raised his fist and balled it, as if in some silent signal the soldiers fell back and retreated.
"Coll!" Taran cried and rushed to his commanders side.
"Taran…" Coll gasped and made for his sword. "Pass me my sword boy."
Taran dug through the mud and grasped the hilt of the sword, the mud had turned to water like shape and the weight of the sword had pushed the object deep down.
Grabbing the hilt Taran raised the sword up using all of his strength he raised the sword up and passed it to Coll placing it on his chest.
"Good lad, by the way… don't let a soul stop you from being with her, she's worth it friend prove to her father, you're a good soldier." And with those last few gasps of breath Coll closed his eyes, forever.
On Hill top.
"You were meant to bring me the King!" Kay barked at the Black Knight.
The Black Knight turned to Kay and stepped up to him, with out saying a word he raised a hand and pointed down to the battlefield itself.
"Couldn't handle it could you? Recuperate your men, I shall unify the armies and you shall stay here and wait for the King to reveal himself, break through the walls of the castle if you have to but kill that King!" Kay ordered and with that departed from the Hill leaving the Black Knight with the remaining soldiers of his army.
Down in the Forest.
"Excuse me, Welsh man." Arthur said hoping to strike at Taran's attention.
Taran stood up, his back to the man and turned with a darkened grimace. "Yes what do you want?" He asked, then something struck at him, he had seen that face before.
Arthur immediately realised the same thing, the hazel eyes still portrayed the same youthful tenacity he meet five years ago. "Taran?" Arthur exasperated.
"Arthur… I mean King Arthur." Taran exclaimed and stood down to one knee.
"Taran get up, you're embarrassing me." Arthur smiled and placed a hand on Taran's shoulder.
The two men embraced each as brothers and they strode across the battlefield exchanging their stories though each of their lives, Taran found a avid listener in Arthur and Arthur found a defiant ad interester learner in Taran.
Many Miles away in a small cottage.
Looking through the bowl of water depicting the event Dallbren nudged away HenWen and brought over two mugs of hot water for himself and hi sfriend.
"So then Merlin what do you think?" Dallbren asked passing the old wizened man a mug of tea.
"Well it's too early for them to meet Dallbren." Merlin muttered with some irrelevant annoyance