A kindred of Arthur; Herzeleide, The great Duxin.
"Arthur? What are you doing here?" Herzeleide said nervously walking towards her son.
"I could ask you the same question." Arthur said; he was confused as where his knights. They had thought that Herzeleide was, dead.
"I live here." Herzeleide answered shortly. She placed a hand on her sons shoulder.
"And he is you're son?" Arthur asked pointing at Parsifal.
"Aye." Herzeleide said not hiding how proud she was.
"Who are these men? How dos mother know them?" Parsifal thought confused.
"And Lancelot's as well?" Arthur asked. He just know that this boy, his cousins son; was Lancelot's son, they look so much alike it can not be a coincidence.
"I can not deny that." Herzeleide admitted.
The knights looked at the boy with astonishment. He looked so much like Lancelot it was almost frightening.
"So this Lancelot is my father? Than why doesn't mother speak of him? Was he honourless? Was he a bad man?" Parsifal thought frowning.
"Did he know?" Arthur asked looking at the boy. This wasn't just Lancelot's son; this was his closes living male family member, the heir to his throne.
"No, he didn't know." Herzeleide said looking to the ground.
"Why may I ask?" Arthur mumbled.
"Lancelot loves every woman; I didn't want to cage him." Herzeleide said softly.
"I think he would have wanted to know he had a son." Arthur said.
"What do you mean would have?" A strange feeling filled Herzeleides body.
"He died three years ago." Arthur said; it looked like he was reliving that day.
Herzeleide closed her eyes. She knew he was dead, she had felt it; but she hadn't wanted to believe it.
Arthur didn't pursue the matter, Herzeleide didn't need more grief.
"So he is dead, pity I would have wanted to meet him." Parsifal thought, he felt sad.
"Why did you go Herzeleide?" Arthur asked; the question had been in his head since he saw her.
"I didn't want you to turn my son into a knight. I didn't want my son to suffer the same fait my brothers suffered." Herzeleide said.
"You're brothers died honourable deaths." Arthur said thinking off his six cousins.
"They died for nothing." Herzeleide said softly.
"They died for the good cause." Arthur said, he didn't get made, he understood his cousin's grief.
"My point is, I lost six brothers and one father for that cause and I will not loos my son for that same cause." Herzeleide said placing a hand on her sons shoulder.
"This boy could be the greatest knight who ever lived." Arthur said.
"I don't care." Herzeleide said coolly.
"Herzeleide listen," Arthur said. "You're people need you and Parsifal."
"What do you mean?" Herzeleide asked confused.
"In the twelve years you have been here much has changed. Saxons are coming closer and closer to you're borders. The people need there Duxin, Herzeleide, they need you." Arthur said. The knights nodded in agreement.
"I never took the title. And the people have you Arthur." Herzeleide said seriously.
"The title is you're birthright, and the people don't want me, they want you." Arthur said pressing the matter. He knew the Saxons would cross the borders in less than a week.
"What can I do about it Arthur?" Herzeleide replied. "The time of Boudicca queen of the Iceni has long passed, the Christian kings will never listen to me."
"Mother," Parsifal said breaking free from his mother's hold. "You most go!"
"Why most I go Parsifal?" Herzeleide asked her son frowning.
"You told me so much of the great deeds of my grandfather and uncles, there sacrifices, if you don't go all there efforts will be for nothing." Parsifal said.
Herzeleide didn't understand how Parsifal, her little fool could say such meaningful things.
"Do you really want me to go? Do you really want us to go?" She asked her son; tears where forming in her eyes.
"Yes mother, for our family, for our people." Parsifal said pleadingly.
Herzeleide first looked at Arthur than her son and as last at the knights.
"Than we shall go." Herzeleide said firmly. She had made up her mind.
"That means you will accept you're title?" Arthur asked a smile was forming on his face.
"Aye, Arthur." Herzeleide said softly.
"We shall send messengers to every Dux, lord, knight and warrior." Arthur said. "It will be the greatest council in years."
"Yes, it will be." Herzeleide mumbled.
"Tomorrow I shall send one of your old friends to come get you." Arthur smiled.
"I will be ready." Herzeleide said.
"Knights lets go, we have much to do." Arthur said mounting his horse.
The knights gave Herzeleide and Parsifal a nod and mounted there horses. The road of and looked back a few times.
"And so it begins..." Herzeleide said staring after them.
........................................
(Next morning.)
It was morning, the lady Herzeleide was awaiting the arrivals of the men Arthur had send; they would bring her and Parsifal to the old fort.
She had put on her favourite white dress and had braided her long brown hair.
Parsifal was standing next to her; he was nervous, his foot kept tapping on the ground.
He as well was in his best clothes; a long black tunic and black breeches.
And than, they saw riders come into view; their leader was a tall man.
Herzeleide immediately realized who it was; the knight of her grandmother.
"Aiken!" She yelled.
The knight put his horse in gallop and jumped of his horse right in front of Herzeleide. He scooped her up and hugged her. After this he put her down, like she wasn't heavier than a goblet.
"My dear friend!" She gave him her brightest smile.
"Lady Herzeleide, it joys my heart to see you again." The knight smiled. The other men had all dismounted and looked at Herzeleide with great smiles on their face.
"Who is this Aiken? He's so strange; he doesn't look old, and doesn't look young." Parsifal thought looking at the tall man with wonder.
"Parsifal," Herzeleide said signalling her son to step forward. "Come and meet a friend of mine."
Parsifal did as he was told and stepped up so he was standing next to his mother.
"This is Aiken." Herzeleide smiled. "Aiken this is my son Parsifal."
"Pleasure to meet you boy, you're the spitting image of you're father." Aiken said looking at the boy.
Aiken was a tall blond man, he had Saxon blood running throw his vanes. But he was still a trusted and respected man.
"How do you know my mother?" Parsifal asked.
The man chuckled and looked at Herzeleide.
"He has Lancelot's manners as well." He laughed. The other knights where chuckling as well.
Herzeleide smiled and blushed.
"Well I'm your great-grandmothers first knight." Aiken smirked.
"The Saxon knight, of my great-grandmother Modron?" Parsifal questioned.
"Yes that one." The knight smiled. "Are you ready?" He asked Herzeleide.
"Yes, ready as I will ever be. But what will happen to my servants?" She asked.
"I will send someone to get them." Aiken answered.
"Than it is settled, we can leave." Herzeleide said placing a hand on her son's shoulder.
"I'm glad to hear that." Aiken said signalling one of his men to bring forward a white stallion. "I thought I remember you preferred white horses?"
"You remember correctly." She smiled guiding her son towards the horse. "Parsifal has never road a horse before."
"I shall let him ride on my horse." Aiken smiled.
"It will be an honour." Parsifal said while looking at the horse with wide-eyes.
"Than Parsifal, come here!" Aiken said.
Parsifal ran to the tall man. He looked shocked when Aiken lifted him up and put him on the horse.
"This man is as strong as an ox!" He thought surprised.
T.B.C
I know lame part but it gets better! The next chap will feature a few new interesting characters!
Xxx Billie