Chapter 28: Lady Amy's Test

"So thou seeketh the Grail." Nimue closed her eyes and sighed. "I cannot simply tell thee it's location. Thou must prove your worth first."

"Seriously?" I leaned forward. "Le Fay's army is practically on our doorstep and we need to find it before she does."

"I am aware of the situation Arthur." Nimue looked out across the lake. "But I have a sworn duty to keep it away from people unworthy of the power it holds."

I leaned back and looked out at the lake as well. It figured that she couldn't just help us. Should've known it wouldn't be that easy.

"What kind of task wouldst thou ask of us?"

"There is a village on the outskirts of the kingdom. Trolls have been terrorizing the people living there. Go help them and return to me."

"As thou wishes." I looked over at Lancelot as he stood, and followed suit.

"Thee shalt have the Grail before Le Fay. Do not worry."

So she had faith in us. Good to know. Or maybe something would go right and she'll be unable to get to it even if she did find it. Being unworthy and all. That'd be nice.

"Y'know, I know a hedgehog who looks just like Nimue," I said as we were leaving.

"What was her name?"

"Amy Rose. If only she acted a bit more like Nimue."

Not that I would've dated her, but I definitely wouldn't have avoided her like I did.

"Dost thou miss them?"

"My friends? Of course I miss 'em." I looked over at Lancelot and gave him a light punch on the arm. "As much as I do, I'm not going to leave."

"I am grateful to hear that."

He looked at me and smiled- I swear my heart runs a marathon every time he does- and I returned it with one of my own. "You have a great smile Lancelot. You should show it more often."

"For thee, perhaps I will."

Okay, that was- That's- I had to look away from him after that one. Usually I hate stuff like that but, well, I guess actually being in love can change how you feel about the cheesy stuff.

"We should hurry to that village."

"Agreed."

Both of us sped up, and I eventually took Lancelot's hand to pull him with me. It was much faster that way and if the village was having a troll problem we had to get there asap.


If I'd had any doubts about Nimue's troll story, walking into the village would've proved them wrong. The place was a mess. Destroyed houses, torn up pastures, the well was barely even a well anymore- just a half-circle of a stone where it was supposed to be with a sign standing at the side. The people weren't much better off. Regardless of race, they all had the same fearful and desperate expression. Like they expected the trolls to come back at any moment.

"What happened to thy village?" Lancelot asked the nearest villagers.

"Trolls, sir." Some kind of bird looked over at him, holding a baby against her chest as if she was afraid it was going to be taken from her. "We ain't seen anythin' like em in years, and then one day they jus' came up an started destroyin stuff."

"Would you happen to know how many there are? Where they're living?"

"Thou'd have ta ask Miss Elaine 'bout that." She pointed at one of the buildings still standing. Which was definitely a tavern.

"Thanks," I said when Lancelot didn't seem inclined to say anything. She smiled and walked away after a nod. "Something wrong Lancelot?"

"Elaine... Is Galahad's blood mother. If she's the one I'm thinking of."

"Oh. So you probably don't want to see her."

"After what she did, I would rather not. But we must if we're to take on these trolls."

And that was his decision to make. So we went to the tavern, opening the door and walking in. There weren't many people in there, of course. There was only one person behind the bar. Large breasts looking ready to fall out of her top, more bare skin than fur, bat wings folded against her back. Unsurprisingly familiar. Her ears twitched and she looked toward us with a smile that widened when she looked at Lancelot.

"Lancelot. How long's it been?"

"Not long enough."

We stopped on the other side of the bar. Lancelot seemed content to turn his back to her and lean against the bar with his arms crossed. So I decided to handle the talking and took a seat.

"We were told you can tell us something about the trolls," I said.

"That's all thou wants?"

"We're here to get rid of them for you."

"What do I call thee?" Elaine leaned over the table and put her hand on mine.

"Sonic. Now, about those trolls..."

"Thou art no fun." Elaine moved back with a pout. "The trolls live in a cave overlooking the village. In the mountains to the South. Thou can see it clearly from the village if you look."

"Any idea how many there are?"

"Five? I didn't see any others, but they could have been farther in."

"What do they look like?"

"Thou'rt seriously going to go fight them?"

"A few trolls shan't be that difficult," Lancelot said. "Let us go Sonic."

He pushed off the bar and walked away. I watched him leave the tavern and looked back at Elaine.

"Well, I'd like to know what I'm up against." If they were in the mountains, there could be a lot more than five. And it'd be nice to know if they were the big ugly kind. Or the really big and ugly kind.

"They stand near seven feet. Carry a club the same size as the average person. On the chubby side and ugly as a creature can be." Elaine paused for a moment. "That's all I know."

"Thanks, Elaine."

So, about twice my height with a weapon that could easily crush me. Sounds like a normal Monday. I got off the stool and gave her a smile before taking my leave.

"Sonic," Elaine's voice came as I opened the door. "Be careful. Thou and Lancelot."

I nodded and left the tavern. Lancelot was standing near the half well at the center of the village, leaning on the side still standing and looking in.

"I don't think this is the remains of a wishing well."

I leaned on the stone next to him and looked down. The sunlight shining into it gave a clear view of the water. If I looked hard enough, I could probably see my reflection too.

"A what?"

"A wishing well." I looked at Lancelot to find that he was still looking down. "You make a wish and throw a ring in. Never worked when I tried it."

"What did thou wish for?"

"Oh, nothing special."

Lancelot sighed before looking up and pointing.

"I believe that is the cave Elaine spoke of."

Yep, that was a cave in the mountainside South of the village. Huge opening, dark inside. Probably connected to other caves under the mountains.

"Let's go see how far in it goes."

"As eager as I am to complete this, it wouldst be a good idea to eat first."

"Okay. So, the tavern again?"

Lancelot scowled but nodded and turned back to the building.

"You really don't like her, do you?" The complete opposite of what Shadow and Rouge are like. It was actually kinda strange to see.

"I can't forgive what she did to me."

"Mind giving the full story?"

"Perhaps later."

"All right. What d'you think they'll have to eat in there?"

"I'm sure thou will be able to find something," he laughed. Yet another thing he needed to do more often. Maybe next time he wouldn't have to force it.

I pushed open the door once again and we walked in.

"We're back for food," I announced.

We went to one of the tables and Elaine walked over with a smile.

"What would you like?"

"Anything suitable to eat before going to fight trolls?"

"I know just the thing. Drinks?"

"Water?" Not exactly what most people ordered at a tavern. But we didn't need alcohol clouding our judgement and I hate the stuff anyway.

Lancelot didn't respond with anything more than a nod of agreement and Elaine left us. I smiled and stretched in my seat.

"It's kinda nice to have a break." Even if it wasn't long.

"It is." Lancelot was looking at the table, cutting me off when I opened my mouth to attempt a conversation. "I met Elaine whilst I was assisting the late king. She... was everything I had thought I wanted in a wife. Beautiful, intelligent, thoughtful... If I had asked for her hand before, it wouldn't have turned out the way it did. She couldst have rejected my feelings then and been done with it."

"What happened?"

"I did ask whilst she was with child, and she refused. As soon as she had recovered from the birth she left with hardly an explanation. I hadn't seen her since. I had never been so- She played me for a fool."

Ouch. I couldn't help but wonder about Elaine's reasons, but I could definitely see why Lancelot would be so upset with it. It was obvious that he'd loved her.

"Digging up the past, Sweetheart?" Elaine set the water on the table and looked at Lancelot. "For what it's worth, I apologize for that behaviour. The food should be done shortly."

Elaine left without another word. For Lancelot's sake, I changed the subject while we waited for Elaine to return with the food.

Nearly three hours later, we left to fight the trolls. Lancelot had accepted Elaine's apology and she joined us for conversation when she could, listening to tales of when Galahad was growing up. Getting caught up in stories of the past... Maybe, when all this was said and done, I should try that. Lancelot at least would listen to my stories.

For now, I had to focus on the fight before us. Kneeling in the bushes with Lancelot, staring at the mouth of the troll's cave.

"Perhaps we should keep the element of surprise," Lancelot said after a few minutes had passed. "Trolls are fearsome creatures."

"Good idea. Might as well go deeper than this one cave if we can, too. Make sure the ones in here are the only problem."

"Agreed. Art thou prepared?"

"As prepared as I'm gonna get."