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Galahad looked at the spot where Arthur stood only a few moments before.
"You did well, Galahad."
The knight looked at Kilgarrah and gave a rueful smile.
"It does not feel that way," the young man told the dragon.
"Your thoughts are with your Lady," Kilgarrah said. A statement, not a question.
"Always" was Galahad's simple reply.
Kilgarrah looked at the young knight and took in his tense stance. It would not be easy to ease his mind; he had seen the worst of his King and knew how the Queen was often overlooked.
"Guinevere's heart is pure," Merlin's voice broke through the silence. "She will always know what to do."
"Forgive me if I do not take kindly to your advice, wizard," Galahad's tone was mocking. "As you have not always come to the Queen's defense."
No words came from Merlin. While angry at the knight's words, he could not fault him for what was said. Galahad was the Knight most loyal to the Queen and, in the end, he was the one most faithful to is word.
His devotion to Guinevere had never been in question.
"My failing was in protecting Arthur too much," Merlin said sadly. "For believing that everything else could fall to the wayside as long as he sat upon the throne."
He looked at the knight whose anger was etched in every line of his body.
"You are wise to feel distrust, Galahad," Merlin sought to assure him. "But I have learned that Arthur's reign was worthless without Guinevere."
The wizard looked to the Dragon who was observing the exchange between the two men.
"What is it about men that they mistake a statue on a stone plinth as proof of a legacy?" The dragon shook his gray head. "You speak—at length, I may add—about love and how it warms a man during the coldest of winters, yet you forsake your pronouncements for a throne and a crown."
Merlin put his hands in the pockets of his trousers and bowed his head.
He had once fought for Arthur and Guinevere to be together; stayed by the Queen's side when an arrow had felled her, guarding her against all who would do her harm. Once, she had been his defender as well, how could he have turned against her goodness? How could he have failed to recognize her rightful place in Camelot?
"Galahad, I am proud of you," Kilgarrah's voice broke through Merlin's reverie. "You have served your Queen well."
A sad look crept over the knight's face.
"I should have done more," his wistful voice revealed his regret. "I should have made her see how broken her marriage was making her."
Galahad raked a hand through his hair. Too many regrets were washing over him.
"My vow to her should have overruled my vow to Camelot."
"Arthur would never have allowed that," Merlin said softly.
"And look where your king is now," Galahad said slowly, his tone dangerously bordering on rage. "On his knees and begging for forgiveness."
He turned to face Merlin.
"You should be with him, wizard." He spat out the last word.
"That is enough," the dragon's quiet reprimand broke the tension between the two men.
"Our responsibilities do not end here," Kilgarrah said, looking from Merlin, whose eyes were slowly lightening to gold, to Galahad, whose stance declared that he would not back down from a challenge.
"The queen was betrayed by those who have sworn to protect her. Arthur will have to fight for her—not woo, not endear himself—he will have to fight."
Kilagarrah took his place between the two men, ready to intervene at a moment's notice.
"Galahad, you and I must be ready to receive the Queen should Arthur fail."
The Knight nodded.
"And Merlin, your task lies in keeping Arthur sane," the dragon's voice was grave. "He will never be whole without Guinevere."
Merlin bowed his head, acknowledging his part in this plan. It was a task he did not look forward to performing, but this was the price they all had to pay for betraying a pure heart.
Kilgarrah moved once again to the table. With a wave of his hand, the books and parchments disappeared and instead, three rather comfortable looking armchairs were positioned close to one end.
"Sit," he instructed the two men.
Merlin and Galahad eyed each other wearily, but took to their seats.
"What do we do now?" The Knight asked after a long pause.
Kilgarrah steepled his fingers and looked over them to the young man whose shoulders betrayed his tension.
"We wait."
