Lancelot

Part Four

(Final)

I was running. The beautiful courtyard now had rubble all around it. I saw the knights facing off with the Griffin. I felt fear. I was afraid not for me, but for the innocent citizens of Camelot. I ran into Gaius's chambers to see Gaius getting things together. Obviously for the rush of injured people that would surely be filing in once the dust had settled.

"Where's Merlin?" I asked. He looked up at me.

"He went to help Arthur." Gaius said. Without reply I ran out the door. I thought I heard Gaius telling me not to go but I just kept running. I ran into Merlin in the hall.

"Where's the Griffin?" I asked.

"They scared it off for now. What are you doing here?" he said.

"I came to find you." I said.

"That was stupidly dangerous." He said.

"I know." I said. "Is Arthur alright?"

"Yeah."

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Of course." He said.

"Good." I replied.

Merlin insisted on walking me back to my chambers. I told him that I would be fine, but I took flattery in his refusal to listen to my pleas.

"Have you found a way to stop it?" I asked.

" I just have to do the spell correctly and hope it works." He said. "I've never done anything so powerful."

"When the time comes you'll be able to." I reassured him. I hoped that my words proved to be correct, even though I had not the foggiest as to how magic worked.

Aleya and I stood in the council chambers. Arthur and Uther were talking about strategies to kill the beast. I knew that I would be useless. Nothing could be done. The creature would wipe them out and then everyone in Camelot.

"They'll kill it." Aleya whispered to me.

"How?" I asked.

"Magic." She mouthed.

"Who?"

"Who do you think?"

"Really?" I asked.

"He'll be fine."

Once we were released Aleya and I walked out together. Merlin walked up behind us looking worried. He looked at Aleya.

"Lancelot is going to help the knights." He said.

"He'll be killed." I said.

"I'm going to go stop it."

"I'll come with you." Aleya said. I was surprised at the level of bravery that she had taken on in the past few days.

"I'll be fine. You need to stay here." He said. I saw on her lips that she began to argue, but stopped and nodded.

"Be careful." She said.

"Aren't I always?"

"How would I know?" she asked. I looked at her as he walked away. I had never seen such worry on someone's face.

"He'll be fine." I said. "Him and Arthur will come back, just you watch."

"I hope he is strong enough." She said.

Darkness was looming as I sat staring into the courtyard below me. I was waiting for any sign of movement, any sign that Merlin and Arthur were returning to us. Samantha and I sat in silence, her stationed at the window opposite the bed. We were both nervous and afraid for our boys. When finally a flicker of movement caught my eye I thought that my eyes were deceiving me. I saw Lancelot leading the knights to the castle. Samantha saw and a smile broke across her face, she bolted out of the room. I continued to watch the group and saw that there was no sign of Merlin. I kept watching as my heart sank, I was hoping that if I continued to watch the outcome would change.

I stood up and walked out the door and followed the path that Samantha had taken, only at a slower pace. I did not know what I would do if something had happened to Merlin when it was my job to protect him. I rounded the corner and to my great relief I saw him walking towards me. I smiled at him and he returned the smile.

"I guess….."I began.

"The griffin is dead." He said smiling.

"So you…"

"I did it." He said. My smile grew wider and I walked close enough to him that I could wrap my arms around his boney frame.

"I'm proud of you, Merlin." I said. We were interrupted by the sound of yelling that echoed from the council chambers.

As soon as Uther saw Lancelot there was no stopping his mind. Judgment had been passed no matter what the circumstances were. I looked to see Merlin and Aleya walking towards me looking curious as to what was going on.

"What happened?" Merlin asked.

"Uther and Arthur are deciding my fate." Lancelot said.

"But you killed the Griffin. You saved them." Merlin said. "Of course they will reinstate you."

"No Merlin, you saved them." Lancelot said. I saw Aleya give Merlin a look of pride.

"What? No I didn't" he said.

"I saw you. Listen it's alright. No more lies. No more deceit."

"What are you going to do?" I asked solemnly.

"The only thing I can do." He said. He pushed past the guards and into the room. We listened as he gave what was possibly the most noble speeches that I have ever heard and then he left. He walked away without a word. I knew that one day we would hear from the noblest knight of the round table again and he would receive the knighthood that he deserved.

"Lancelot will be back." I said as Merlin walked me back to my chambers. I looked at him, trying to channel my confidence into him.

"I know. When Arthur is king maybe he will be allowed to be a knight." Merlin said. What I loved about Merlin was his subtle wisdom. There were times when I believed that he was the wisest of us all.

"I get the feeling a lot will change." I said smiling. Merlin knew exactly to what I was referring and he smiled as well.

"I certainly hope so." He said.

I slept well that night, for the first time since the ordeal with the griffin had begun. It was midday when here was a knock on the door and I opened it to see Arthur. I crossed my arms and stared up at him, he had a small gash on the side of his head, but other than that he was unscathed.

"He should have been allowed to be a knight." I said to Arthur once I had assessed that he had not been harmed.

"If he ever returns I will assure that he is." Arthur said.

"You're going to be a great king." I said.

"I hope that you are right." He began, "I wanted to say thank you for what you said about him. You were right."

"I often am." I said.

"Right. I've got to go." He said.

"Alright." I said. He walked out. He was soon replaced by Aleya.

"What was that?" she asked.

"He wanted to thank me for talking some sense into him." I said.

"He needed it." She said.

"So…..Anything new?" I asked.

"No." she walked over to the window. "Who's he?" she asked. There was a man wearing a brown cloak.

"I don't know." I said attempting not to allow my curiosity to get the better of me.