Chapter 25: The Funeral
The next day, he woke up and was covered in blood. Shadic groaned and ran back to the cave. Percival was there and looked at him.
"Kill a lot of things?" she asked. A small smile tugged at her lips. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay," Shadic said. "They're dead. Let's get out of here and go back to Camelot."
Percival nodded. "Are we going to bring Merlin and Sonic's bodies back to give them a burial?"
"Yes, we'll do that."
Percival nodded again but wondered about the kraken and the phoenix. "Should we have Lamorak bring them to the castle? It would be easier than carrying them ourselves."
Shadic nodded. "Sure. Galahad is still in his kraken form; he's exploring the ocean now."
"He will come if we call for him, right?"
"Yeah, he will."
Percival nodded. "Let's get moving, then."
The king nodded. He called for Lamorak. The phoenix flew over, landing at his side and looking at him.
"Can you carry Merlin and Sonic?" Shadic asked it. The phoenix nodded. It lifted the two and flapped its wings. It rose in the air before flying off back to Camelot. Shadic smiled and went to the ocean, calling for the Kraken. He hoped it would hear him. "Galahad!" he shouted. "We're ready to leave now!"
The kraken swam out of the water, turning back into Galahad. Shadic closed his eyes and they teleported back to Camelot.
"Once Lamorak gets back, we're going to give Sonic and Merlin a proper burial," Shadic said. "Until then, we should check on Lancelot and Gawain."
They nodded and went back inside the castle. Shadic saw the wyvern and the Cerberus in the courtyard, and looked up when they saw their king.
"How are you two doing?"
We're fine, the wyvern said. It looked at the king. How is Sonic?
Shadic looked away, biting his lower lip. "Dead."
The wyvern's eyes widened. Dead? It asked. How?
"Mordred and that other guy killed her. Percival was there; she could tell you better than I can."
Percival nodded and told them. After she had explained, everyone was in shock. The wyvern growled and flapped its wings, taking off into the air and flying into the forest. The Cerberus looked at them. It growled and followed the wyvern.
"I guess they need some time to get used to it," Shadic said.
Percival nodded and they went inside the castle. Shadic looked at Galahad, a blush appearing on his face. Galahad blushed back and smiled.
"I...I have something to ask you," Galahad said. "Do you...like me? I've seen the way you look at me, Your Majesty."
The king nodded. "Yes, you remind me of someone special to me..." A small frown came to Shadic's face. That may not have been the best way to put it. "Not that that's the only reason. I know you're your own person, and I'd like to get to know you as well..."
Galahad nodded. "I...I like you too," he said hesitantly.
Shadic smiled. "I have something to tell you, and the other knights. I...I'm...gay."
The knight blinked in surprise. So was he. "That makes things easier," Galahad laughed. "Though, I'm not sure how wise it is to tell Lancelot of this."
The king nodded. "He seemed pretty mad when Sonic revealed he was gay. So...would you like to...form a relationship?"
Galahad smiled. He'd love to. "I would be honored, Your Majesty." Grabbing Shadic's hand and pulling him over, he placed a light kiss on the knuckles. The smile was still on his face.
Shadic chuckled. "Very well, then. Let's do that."
Galahad smiled and they heard a screech. They turned around to see the phoenix flying towards them. It landed, setting down the bodies of Merlin and Sonic, and then screeched once more. The phoenix looked at the king and flapped its wings, flying into the air.
Shadic sighed as he looked down at the bodies. "We'll get a funeral prepared," he told the phoenix. "Could you go to the forest and see how Gawain and Lancelot are?"
The phoenix nodded. It screeched once more and flew towards the forest where the other two mythical creatures were.
Shadic gave Galahad a small smile. "Let's go start preparing a funeral."
Galahad nodded, and they walked off. A few hours later, the funeral had started. Everyone was there, including the phoenix, Cerberus and wyvern. Not many knew what to say beyond a farewell. The king buried their bodies in the royal graveyard, and looked at the grave of his mother. A tear ran down his face and he started to cry. He wished his father was here now. A few minutes later, Nimue appeared and walked up to him.
"Would you like me to summon your father to Camelot?" She asked.
Shadic nodded. Nimue chanted, power rising within her before shooting up to the heavens. A symbol appeared on the ground below her and soon a disturbance in energy had the clouds swirling in the sky. Lightning flashed and a shape came from the sky, feet touching the ground as though he had been carried and set down. Everything returned to normal as Shadow looked at his son.