AN/Disclaimer: Whoa, four chapters in three days! I'm on a role, baby! LOL. So, the 'King Arthur' characters belong to Touchstone pictures and the song is "Forever in your Eyes" by Jessica Simpson. Note: I'm not very good at writing descriptive battle scenes, so bear with me.
For the next four days, Lancelot and Guinevere only spoke to say, 'Good morning, Sir,' or 'good evening, milady.' It was not apparent to any of the knights, save Galahad, that the queen and her knight were upset with each other. He knew there was something wrong because there were no stolen glances or longing words between the two.
On the fifth day after the walk, they would ride out to meet the Saxons. Galahad wondered why Arthur would take his wife into battle, but decided not to ask. He knew Guinevere still loved Lancelot and wished to be near him, even if it meant battle. Arthur had offered for her to stay, but she flatly refused.
The night before they were supposed to ride into battle, Galahad was passing Lancelot's room. The door was ajar and Galahad could hear a noise inside. Oh, gods please do not tell me he's bedding some bar wench to rid himself of his misery. The sounds inside the room were different than the sound of lovemaking, however.
Galahad couldn't resist looking inside. He saw Lancelot lying asleep in a small bed. The dark haired man seemed to be smiling. "Guinevere…" he murmured. Well, at least he's happy, Galahad thought and turned to go when he heard Lancelot say something behind him.
"You woke me." Galahad was taken aback. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a 'what the hell are you doing in my room, Galahad!?' But these, Galahad reminded himself, were defiantly not normal circumstances.
"Sorry," Galahad muttered before turning to go.
"She's gone."
"What?"
"Guinevere." Galahad moved closer to Lancelot. With a heavy heart, Lancelot told his friend about what happened between him and the queen. "I'm a coward, aren't I?" he finished. "I let her go."
"No. You will never be a coward, Lancelot. And I highly doubt she's angry with you. She's in a rough position right now and it's hard for her."
"If it were someone else in my place they wouldn't care! I'm a coward. A loyal coward."
"Ah, but because it's you, Lancelot, Arthur's best friend, that you stay away."
"I stay away because I love her and don't want to be killed because of it."
"Well, perhaps that, too. But-"
"Galahad, you aren't helping."
"Sorry. You'll see her tomorrow, at least."
Lancelot snorted. "Yeah, on a battlefield. And what if one of us doesn't come back?"
Galahad was silent for a moment. "Arthur was an idiot, letting her go into war." Lancelot raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you say that?"
"If he loves her, he wouldn't let her go."
"She wants to fight, Galahad. She wants to fight for her people."
Galahad stood. "She goes because of you, Lancelot. She goes because she wants to fight beside you." The younger knight turned and left a very puzzled Lancelot behind.
The following morning was hurried. All knights and Guinevere woke at an hour until dawn, and were gone when the sun's first light fell over Britain. As Lancelot climbing onto his horse, he noticed Guinevere was looking at him. She gave him a small smile and sprang onto her mount. As they rode north, Galahad saw that Guinevere and Lancelot were exchanging small glances. At least they don't hate each other.
They arrived at the Saxons' camp around six at night. Tristan went to ahead to get a rough estimate of how many there were. The Saxons were camping in the middle of the forest, so it would be difficult to spot him. As the other seven waited, it seemed like the air was heavy around them. All of the knights stared at the spot in the trees were Tristan had vanished into.
In the darkness, Arthur looked over at Guinevere. He couldn't see her face but he could tell she was afraid. What does she have to be afraid of? Yet he could feel her fear. "Courage, my queen," he whispered to her. She smiled faintly at him.
There was a crunching and cracking sound. Tristan had returned. "There are nearly fifty. I heard them cursing us." Tristan smiled a little. "Since we killed their leader, their anger has grown."
"What are we going to do?" Bors asked. "Are we going to wait here till dawn or attack now?" He looked at Arthur.
"We attack now. They might spot us before dawn."
Guinevere glanced sideways at Lancelot. In the dark, his expression looked hard and cold. There was a look in his eye saying he fought for nothing. Please don't let him die. For god's sake, please.
Lancelot indeed was fighting for nothing. He was not fighting for Guinevere, Arthur or himself. He was fighting because of his loyalty to Arthur and near Guinevere again. I should have gone back home, he thought, bitterly. Oh well, it's too late now.
Arthur looked at his knights. "Ride now." He said quietly, but everyone heard. Bors let out a loud cry and Galahad and Gawain joined in. They were ready.
One by one, they rode through the trees with Arthur and Tristan in the lead All the way Lancelot would look at Guinevere now and again. Her face was set. She rode hard and did not look anywhere but forward. Lancelot could not help but stare ahead. Don't look back.
They knew the Saxons would be off-guard. It was nearing seven and the Saxons were going to sleep soon. Guinevere's heart was pounding furiously. Let this battle go well…
The Saxons were just heading into their tents when they were attacked. Their leader, Cyprus, was a tall, thickset man with a ragged beard. He was shouting orders to his men, who quickly withdrew their weapons. Tristan was right: there were only fifty. As they ran to grab their swords and axes, Arthur and the rest slew four of them.
The battle was quick and bloody. Guinevere, on Arthur's orders, scaled a tree and shot from the branches. The whole time she was making sure Lancelot wasn't going to be hurt.
Lancelot had already slain eight Saxons when he saw Cyprus. He ran to the unscathed leader and fought. The man was bigger than Lancelot, but slower, yet still deadly. He raised his axe and swung at Lancelot. The knight ducked and swung at Cyprus' legs. As the Saxon fell to his knees, Lancelot took advantage to kill him. But Cyprus surprised him by raising his axe and got him in the stomach.
"No!" Guinevere sprang from her perch in the tree and ran to Lancelot. He was lying on the ground, bleeding freely and Cyprus stood, towering above him.
"So falls the mighty Lancelot. May you rest in peace." Cyprus raised his axe.
Guinevere leapt in front of him. Brandishing her sword she yelled, "If you touch him, I will kill you."
Cyprus laughed. "So you will defend him? A girl?" He raised his axe higher, bringing it down as though to cut off her head. Guinevere ducked, and it grazed her cheek. Blood gushed from the wound. He raised his weapon again, letting it fall near her neck, catching her in the shoulder.
Guinevere lifted her sword, but he got her a third time, this one in the leg. Slowly, she dropped to the ground. She saw Cyprus lifting his weapon to kill. So this is how I shall die. Well, I won't die without my enemy. As he bent over her, Guinevere raised her sword and stabbed him in the neck. The blade went right through his throat, and he dropped.
Guinevere crawled over to Lancelot. "Lancelot?" He didn't stir, but she could see his chest moving. "Lancelot, the battle is over. We won!" Still, he would not move. "Lancelot?" Tears fell down her face.
"Guinevere, he's not dead. Don't cry." Galahad stood beside her. "You saved him. Here, put him on my horse. We can carry him back home."
Arthur appeared. "We can call Morgaine, my sister, from Avalon to help him. She is one of the best healers in Britain." So they put Lancelot on Galahad's horse and rode to Camelot.
When they arrived home, it was five at night. They first thing they did was put Lancelot with the healers. After they, had Galahad send word to Morgaine in Avalon.
As he was getting ready for the journey, Guinevere came to him. "Please take care. Ride fast and make sure Lady Morgaine is protected."
Galahad gave the queen a small smile. "Don't worry, Gwen. I'll be safe. The journey will be three days, if we're lucky." Seeing her face, he added quickly, "the healers here are very good. He'll live, my lady, don't worry."
She kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Galahad. I will never forget all your help."
Galahad was right. The healers were very good. Two days after the battle, Lancelot began to wake. Guinevere sat by his bed every day, leaving only at night. She would hold his hand and tell him stories. She knew she was being an idiot, but she felt like he could hear her. Lancelot, please don't leave me.
But on the second day, he began to stir. His dark eyes blinked a little and he raised his hand and brushed the hair out of his face. "Ah… whattimesit?" He grumbled. Guinevere smiled.
"It's around one in the afternoon."
"Guinevere? What are you doing here?" She told him about the battle, Morgaine and past two days. Of course, she left out that she practically lived at his bedside.
"Oh, that might explain why I'm so hungry. So when is Morgaine coming?"
"I honestly don't know."
Lancelot stared at her. She was looking so beautiful and he loved her. But she didn't know. He wanted to tell her. He wanted to tell her so bad. This was the only time he could.
"Guinevere, thank you for saving my life. I really appreciate that and I want to tell you something…"
"What? What is it, Lancelot?" She looked puzzled.
Oh shit. Why was I such an idiot? Now I've gotten myself into a huge mess! I have to tell her.
"Guinevere I… Oh to hell with it!" He sat up a little and pulled her closer. Their lips met and he kissed her hungrily. She pressed back, equally as passionate. She pulled her hair out of it's bun and he ran his fingers through it.
"I love you." She whispered. Lancelot was stunned.
"You do? Then why did you marry Arthur?"
"Merlin said I should to unite our people. Lancelot, you must understand. I loved you ever since you pulled me out of the dungeon. I did." Tears filled her eyes, and she ran her fingers down his cheek. "I love you." She said hoarsely.
He caught her hand and kissed it. "I love you too." She smiled.
"Promise me that you'll never leave me. Promise."
"I swear, Guinevere. I won't let anything touch you as long as I draw sword or breath."
Guinevere suddenly looked terrified. "What about Arthur? What will he say?"
Lancelot grinned. "He doesn't have to know."
Guinevere laughed. "Oh, Lancelot, I don't know what I would do without you."
Each moment we're together
I just never want to end
'Cause I could never feel this way again
'Cause nothing else had ever felt so right
To feel your body lying next to mine
As the rhythm of your heart beats through me
All through the night
I never thought I'd ever realize
A long that feels so close to paradise
Boy I could spend my whole life living
Forever in your eyes
For the next two days, Guinevere was happier than she had ever been. She smiled more and laughed longer. One day while she was sitting in her chambers, she heard a knock on the door. "Come in!" she called.
The door opened and Galahad walked in. He was still wearing his traveling clothes and his shoes were caked with mud.
"Galahad!" Guinevere cried, joyfully. She leapt up and embraced him. "Where is Morgaine?"
From behind Galahad, there came a woman. She was very tall and slender with long, wavy raven hair. Her face was beautiful; she had dark eyes and full lips. She was wearing and traveler's dress. She gave the air of a wise woman. On her fore head, there was a tattoo of a blue moon, the symbol of Avalon. When she spoke, her voice was sweet and gentle.
"I am Morgaine."
Okay, I hope that chapter was long enough! The next chapter revolves mostly around Morgaine, but don't worry! There will be plenty of Lancelot/Guinevere in here! Kudos!
ETB