So chapter…something! I wish to uphold my thanks to my fan's and private message friends! (That I will mention at least sometime in future chapters) love Mere888 and all that good stuff! On with the chapter! (also note, I would like to say that the horse Lancelot rode off in to fight the griffin was white but as you would like to know its actually gray, seeing as the horses skin is black its considered gray if it has pink skin then it's a white horse! But its gray!)
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"Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?" – Shrek 2 "I need a hero"
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"I swear if that beast even breaks a nail on her smallest finger!" Sir Morgana's thought back to Harriet, her face fused with horror and fear. It drove him completely mad with panic! Going and getting herself stuck in such a predicament.
"But that's Harriet" Morgana thought with a sigh, shaking himself to keep focus. "Morris! Saddle Crimson at once!" Morgana ordered his Manservant. Who was quick in assistance.
"Sire! Sire! Excuse me!" turning around Sir Morgana was met by a full head of red hair, the girl was quit curvy not fat per-say just chubby, her face covered in freckles that showed off her dark-hazel blue eyes.
"Yes?" Morgana eventually asked, tired of seeing her panting obviously from running.
"Harriet, is my friend, I wish only for her to come back alive, so please bring her back we been through much worse than this. So please bring her back." The Red head finished lamely, grinning nervously with a crooked smile.
"I shall do that and more." Sir Morgana nodded, swinging up on his horse waiting for the young Prince to hurry or else he would leave him.
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"You must do this Merlin." Gaius said, pointing out a spell.
"I never cast a spell of enchantment this powerful." Merlin said, scrolling over the magic text.
"Nothing else will kill it." Gaius explained, holding out a knife for him to practice with.
"Cum hoc et cum acuta ora ferri lamina, penetrare bestia quae praedicat se vinci magicam incantationem!" and nothing.
"Don't worry Merlin, you can do this, I know you can." Gaius assured.
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"Great Gryffindor!" Hermione couldn't focus, on anything in fact. She was always this way if one of her friends (Normally Harriet) were in trouble; her brain wouldn't stop working till she looked at all the details and solved everything in order.
But now at the moment she felt helpless, kind of how a house elf must feel. When unable to do as pleased, she always did have a passion for elf rights.
Standing in Darcy's abandon bedroom, she heard a knock at the door. Turning around she was surprised (Yet slightly disappointed) when Lancelot came through the door.
"Lancelot? What are you doing here?" Hermione questioned, wondering why Lancelot was still here when he was clearly banished.
"I'm sorry to disturb you milady, but I have no time to explain. I plan to ride out to protect Arthur; I have armor and a horse waiting for me outside." Lancelot said, gesturing to himself which Hermione then realized he was dressed as a knight.
"Your really going to go through with this aren't you?" Hermione said with awe, never before has she met such a man. He almost reminded her of Harriet, always rushing into danger it made another bubble of fear to rise up next to the one in her throat.
"Yes Milady, Harriet is my friend as well as Arthur is my prince without them I wish not to live with myself." Lancelot quickly explained his reason for going off, not that Hermione wouldn't have guessed already.
"Lancelot…there are no words to describe someone as great as you." Hermione whispered, going to take the free hand that wasn't holding his helmet.
"Hermione…if I should not return…I—"He was cut off as Hermione placed a finger over his lips, shushing him to stay quite.
"Please don't talk like that, you will return." Hermione assured him, drawing her hand off his to instead cup his face.
"You will return, I know you will." Hermione whispered, allowing them to touch foreheads as they took in the peace between them.
"I must go now." Lancelot said eventually, slipping from Hermione's hold as he turned away to leave.
"Lancelot—"Hermione didn't know what possessed her to stop him. "Yes Milady?" Lancelot asked, turning around with a sort of hopeful look in his eyes.
"It doesn't mean much but-" Hermione quickly walked up to him, lightly kissing him on the lips, then stepping back a few feet in embarrassment. "Good luck." Hermione didn't meet his eyes, just stared below his nose where his lips turned into a soft smile.
"I shall try my hardest Milady." Lancelot promised, leaving the room.
"I'm not a lady." Hermione said softly to the empty room.
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"Its time." Prince Arthur said, glancing up at Sir Morgana who didn't look at him but gave a nod that he heard.
The Knights headed out, through the lower towns and out of Camelot, all the while merlin practiced with all his might.
"Cum hoc et cum acuta ora ferri lamina, penetrare bestia quae praedicat se vinci magicam incantationem!" still again, nothing.
"Don't worry merlin, I know your trying." Gaius tried to encourage.
"And im failing, and if Arthur dies cause im not good enough—" Merlin berated himself, only for Gaius to rebuke him.
"Merlin, Lancelot is riding out to kill the Griffin!" Hermione yelled as she ran into the physician's chamber.
"He's what?" Merlin asked in surprise, well not to much surprise really. But he did run off to find him all the while Gaius called out to him.
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Running off, Merlin slowed down outside the stables where Lancelot was saddling a dapple-gray horse.
"I'm coming with you." Merlin Panted, coming to a stop in front of Lancelot.
"No your not." Lancelot rebuked, refusing to allow Merlin to risk his life. "Just try and stop me!" Merlin countered.
"Merlin you're not a solider." Lancelot pointed out. "You said it yourself Lancelot, Arthur needs all the help he can get, now let's go." Merlin retorted, using Lancelot's words against him.
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Riding at the head was none other than Prince Arthur, and not a pace behind was Sir Morgana the king's ward. They both where going to face either sudden victor or a vicious defeat, each having something totally different things on their minds but yet with a common goal.
Coming to a clearing the squad of Knights following their Prince came to a stop, it was dark only being able to see thanks to the crescent moon's glow.
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"We bank here." Prince Arthur ordered as he swung himself out of the saddle. His men, and Sir Morgana following suit.
"Arthur, I still want to—" Morgana was silenced by Arthur holding up a hand, giving him a look that spoke a million words. "You follow orders, it's honorable to go and try to find your maid, and I understand that feeling but now is not the time." Morgana begrudgingly nodded, hoping that wherever she was at the moment that she was somewhat alive.
"Who goes there?" Sir Caelius called, holding up his spear, looking to where he yelled Morgana unsheathed his own sword while seeing a dark blob come into focus.
The dark blob came closer and closer taking shape and Morgana had enough time to make out who it was, and what was behind them.
"HARRIET LOOK OUT!"
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Riding out Merlin rode in behind Lancelot who has taken the lead, they road together in silence until they heard shrieks and clanging of swords, not sparing a moment they shot off to where the racket was coming from.
Coming to a clearing Knights where scattered about, looking worse for wares then before, all clearly out for the count. Making a quick sweep of the place, Merlin checked to see most of the injuries where little to somewhat fatal if not treated.
Merlin then found Arthur, lying against a boulder. "Well?" Lancelot questioned.
"He's alive." Merlin reported. "PSST Merlin! Lancelot!" turning around Merlin saw a girl figure, waving for them to come towards them.
"Harriet?" Lancelot seemed to realize who it was before he could, coming closer they where happy to note that their friend was not dead. For the most part she looked like ghastly, what with shocking amount of blood that stained the back of her yellow dress.
She was also quite pale, looking unsteady and a little woozy (also due to the blood loss) She held Morgana's head in her lap, his temple bandaged roughly with a ripped piece of his cape.
"You're alive!" Merlin said astonished, making Harriet wheeze a little in her attempt to laugh.
"Nice to see you to Merlin." Harriet croaked, smiling slightly to push them both backwards as the griffin came out of nowhere with an angry cry, as it clawed at both Merlin and Lancelot.
"It's time." Lancelot whispered, getting a confused look from Harriet, as she saw him run off to get on his horse. She stared in slow understanding as the Hippogriff lined up on the other side of the clearing, shrieking its head off.
Lancelot was dressed in chainmail and armor; he sat atop a gray horse with a spear in his hands. Kind of like a Lance for jousting, and he planned to use it to kill the Hippogriff.
"Bloody Hell." Harriet whispered, in tense shock. Watching as Lancelot began to charge the Hippogriff, she watched in discomfort as the space between them grew shorted and shorter.
"Ok Merlin, it's now or never." Harriet barley heard Merlin say as she watched in suspense as the Hippogriff charged at Lancelot as well. "Cum hoc et cum acuta ora ferri lamina, penetrare bestia quae praedicat se vinci magicam incantationem!"
"Cum hoc et cum acuta ora ferri lamina, penetrare bestia quae praedicat se vinci magicam incantationem!" at last the tip of the spear began to glow a fire-light blue, engulfing the sides to make it look like a sprinkler on the forth of July.
Finally what seemed like an eternity, man and beast me together. Thrusting the spear upward the spell hit home on the Hippogriffs front chest sending it flying backwards throw the trees, tearing them down in his wake.
"Ha, I did it." Harriet heard Merlin whisper in excitement as Arthur began to wake, Merlin took one look at the waking Arthur and left just like that.
"L-Lancelot?" Arthur said confused, seeing as Lancelot was sitting on a gray steed, decked out in armor.
"He did it! He killed it! He killed the beast, he killed the Griffin." Harriet yelled, gaining Arthur's attention.
"You killed it?" Arthur asked amazed. "Sire." Lancelot gave a hesitant nod, looking over towards Harriet who was smiling sadly to him and to where Merlin disappeared to.
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Making his way into the Physician's chamber Merlin was met by Gaius who grinned broadly at him. "You did it?" Gaius questioned with enthusiasm.
"I did it." Merlin happily assured, getting a fatherly hug for all his troubles.
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"HARRIET!" Hermione and Ronda yelled at the exact same time, almost mowing down their friend who was situated on Sir Morgana's saddle.
"Hermione, Ronda! Did you miss me?" Harriet asked cheekily. As she was hugged tightly by her friends, almost to the point of pain but allowed it.
"We were so worried about you!" Hermione confessed, not letting go just yet. "I wasn't worried to much, I knew you could of gotten out of any situation." Ronda said, not letting go of her shoulder.
"Ya right, you where the one who thought about her getting eaten." Hermione snapped back, making Ronda's face flash red.
"Just because you've got the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean we all have." Ronda retorted, getting the stink eye from Hermione.
"Oh, please just because I was worried about Harriet doesn't prove that!" Hermione ranted, making the two glares at each other.
"Glade to see you both where worried about me." Harriet cut in, gaining back their attention.
"We really did miss you." Ronda said softly, making Harriet's heart swell.
"I'm glade to have friends like you both…but theirs something I must do." Harriet said nervously, gaining confused looks from her friends as she began to back away slowly.
"What?" Ronda questioned, but Harriet was running into the castle before they could get a word in edgewise.
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"You did it my son, you did it!" King Uther said, clasping his hands on his son's shoulders.
"Not I father, it was Lancelot." Arthur admitted, staring towards the door where Lancelot came through.
"What's he doing here?" King Uther questioned in distain. "Father I can explain." Arthur began, only for his father to ignore him.
"You, wait outside." King Uther commanded, Lancelot left without much else a word.
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"Well what are they doing?" Merlin questioned. "Deciding my fate." Lancelot replied, looking solemn and unsure of himself, unlike the man who just moments ago slain the griffin.
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"I confess it sire, I released him and I will take the consequences. But surly Lancelot's actions changed things." Arthur stated to his father, who was in disbelief that his only child would go against him.
"His actions change nothing, he broke the code." King Uther retorted in annoyance. "He laid down his life for me, he served with honor." Prince Arthur defended.
"I see you feel strongly about this Arthur, under the circumstances a pardon perhaps?" King Uther reasoned.
"No, not good enough father! You must restore Lancelot to his rightful place, as a knight of Camelot." Prince Arthur demanded.
"Never, the law is the law, the code bends for no man." King Uther stated.
"Well the code is wrong!"
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"They will restore your knighthood, you killed the griffin." Merlin tried to reassure Lancelot.
"But I didn't kill the griffin…you did." Lancelot pointed out, staring at Merlin with knowing eyes.
"Ha, that's ridicules." Merlin said, trying to play it off. "Cum hoc et cum acuta ora ferri lamina, I heard you, I saw you and I have a feeling Harriet did too but not entirely sure, but don't worry your secrets safe with me." Lancelot assured his friend.
"But I cannot take the credit where it is not due; there will be no more lies, no more deceit." Lancelot said strongly, standing by his morals.
"What are you going to do?" Merlin asked. "The only thing I can do."
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Bursting through the doors, Lancelot intruded on a private meeting between the king and his son. Getting restrained by the guards in doing so.
"What is this?" the King questioned.
"Let me speak." Lancelot said, struggling in the guards hold.
"Wait, I'll hear him." The King said, gesturing for his guards to let him go.
"Forgive me Sire; I come to bid thee Farwell."
"What is this Lancelot?" Arthur said confused at Lancelot's actions. "I lied to you both, and now theirs conflict between you, I cannot bare that burden as you should not bare mine. I must start again, far from here and maybe one day fate shall rise and give me another chance, to prove myself a worthy knight of Camelot." Lancelot said in determination.
"But, Lancelot you already proved that to us." Prince Arthur said.
"But I must prove it to myself, your highness, Prince Arthur." Lancelot finished, bidding the two royals Farwell.
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"Lancelot?" Hermione called, catching Lancelot as he finished saddling his horse.
"Hermione, I was just about to come fine you, you know to say my final goodbye." Lancelot said with regret.
"I came to tell you, that im going to miss you…is there nothing I can do to get you to stay?" Hermione whispered.
"I'm sorry milady, if things where different I would gladly have stayed." Lancelot confessed, taking her hands in his.
"I guess this is it then." Hermione said, fighting back her heartbreak. She never felt this way for any, boy or man she has ever come across until now.
"Yes, here for a short time, I hope this is something that will allow you to remember me by." Lancelot said, holding out a pink rose.
Hermione took it gently into her own hands gently; around the stem of the flower was a white ribbon that was tied tightly to it, so that it wouldn't fall off.
"Lancelot…" Hermione whispered, taking a sniff it had a lovely fragrance.
"I hope that we meet again, Milady." Lancelot said, kissing her hand and swinging himself up into the saddle, kicking the horses sides he had the horse go into a gallop.
"Goodbye Lancelot…"
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"Harriet?" Sire Morgana called, watching Harriet as she gazed out the window.
"Lancelot?" Morgana questioned, gaining Harriet's attention as she looked at him.
"Yes, he's leaving today, barley had a chance to say goodbye." Harriet said sadly.
"Sorry…do you like him?" Morgana asked, looking out the window to Lancelot's retreating form as he rode off.
"I love him." Harriet replied watching the color drain from his face.
"Leave."
"What?"
"Leave now!" Harriet was harshly pushed out of the room, colliding with Hermione who was happily yet sadly twirling a pink rose between her fingers.
"What was that all about?" Hermione asked, as she helped right Harriet.
"I don't know, Morgana asked if I liked Lancelot." Harriet admitted, confused by his sudden behavior.
"And do you?" Hermione questioned, hiding something beneath her question.
"Yes, like a brother that I never had." Harriet said in confusion.
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"What's with you?" Ronda questioned, seeing Darcy in a foul mood.
"Not now Weasley!" Darcy hissed, glaring darkly in the mirror, her thoughts on a certain potter.
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"Maybe you were right Gaius, maybe I shouldn't have gotten involved." Merlin said, watching Lancelot ride away.
"No Merlin your wrong, Lancelot needed you and you needed Lancelot, your destines were entwined."
"Will he ever return?" Merlin wondered. "That I cannot say." Gaius said honestly.
"Until next time then, Sir Lancelot." but Merlin felt as if he forgot something, something that Lancelot had told him that was important. he shrugged the thought away, following Gaius as they made their way back to the Physicians chamber.
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Man that took a long time didn't it? Shout out to my girl Mere888 I did this for you! (And myself and my fans, but mostly just for the heck of it!) But anyway look up Quest for Excalibur side series, new chapter will be uploaded soon! Based off of the Lancelot chapter!
Well until next time, review and love me!