Hi one last time. Here it is, the final chapter and the epilogue too for good measure. Wow, this is my longest story I've ever finished and I really want to thank all my reviewers who really kept me going. But special thanks go out to Ivory Novelist, who is a fantastic author, and who was the one who got me to post this at Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this story, I had fun writing it. I've got another longish story in the works and hopefully I'll be able to post that sometime soon. Enjoy.

Chapter 7 – Love of a Legend

Hope fades unto the world of night
Through shadows falling out of memory and time
Don't say 'We have come now to the end'
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again
And you'll be here in my arms, just sleeping
- Into the West

        Lancelot sat on top of the wall, the stars still hiding behind the dark looming clouds...like the ones in his heart. Arthur was healing well, he was getting around again. The knights were both relieved and happy to have their captain back again. Just that day, Lancelot and Arthur had gone for a short ride around the fort. Hadrian, the bay stallion, was also pleased to see his master again, as was Snowy. Lancelot smirked slightly at the thought, whoever said that horses don't have emotions like humans was wrong.
        It had rained again, all the snow was washed away and the land returned to being more muddy than before. It was still beautiful, yes, but nothing like it had been only a few days previous. Lancelot sighed. The ache in his heart had returned as well. He had been there for Arthur when he needed it, but he didn't prevent it as he should have.
        Lancelot, warrior of Sarmartia, knight of Arthur Castus. Was he worthy of such a title? Arthur had forgiven him, why couldn't Lancelot forgive himself.

        "Lancelot," Arthur's sudden voice behind him, made the knight jump. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
        "No, Arthur," Lancelot replied, looking up at him, "I'm sorry."
        Slowly, wincing slightly, Arthur sat down beside him. "How long are you going to live with this in your heart?" he asked gently and Lancelot turned away. "I heard your prayer."
        The knight's brown eyes returned to the face of Artorius, "What?"
        "I heard your prayer," Arthur repeated. He smiled, "God answered it; He healed me, through you."
        "I hurt you..." Lancelot whispered, looking down again.
        "See it that way if you wish, Lancelot, but you never hurt my soul."
        "Arthur..."
        "Do you remember when I told you, you will always be my knight? I mean that, even now. But you have to forgive yourself," Arthur slowly put his arm around Lancelot's shoulders.
        The knight's lower lip trembled. He felt like such a child, a knight shouldn't cry. But he couldn't help it, not now. Leaning into Arthur's uninjured side, Lancelot's body shook with a silent sob.
        "I said that the snow whipped the earth clean, made it pure. That's you, Lancelot. You are what I hold onto."
        As he spoke, the cloudy sky cast down the first few snowflakes of the night, dancing in the soft breeze. They caught in their hair and on their faces, mingling with Lancelot's tears.
        After a moment, Lancelot pulled back and looked deep into Arthur's grey eyes. No words were said, none were needed. The ice of guilt that had pained his heart was melted away by Arthur's love and friendship.
        From below, a single figure stood in the falling snow, watching them. Dagonet smiled and turned to walk back to his room. Now they could all get some well-needed rest.

Finis

Epilogue – Laughter of a Legend

        "And then I said," Bors motioned wildly, standing amongst the knights in the courtyard and nearly hitting Galahad next to him, "'Don't sell the goat!'" He immediately erupted into the loud, heart laugh that drowned out the rest.
        Arthur stood among them, an amused grin on his face. It had been several weeks now, two more days until their next mission. He looked over at Lancelot who was playing dice with a few of the Roman sentries off duty. An evil spark caught in Arthur's eye, and a smirk briefly crossed his face. He turned to Dagonet beside him and spoke quietly to the large warrior who nodded in agreement.
        A moment later, Arthur groaned and suddenly grabbed his side, his other hand on the nearby table supporting him as he doubled-over. Dagonet moved quickly to help.
        "Lancelot!" he cried, silencing the noisy courtyard. All eyes turned in worry to Arthur. Lancelot leapt up, dashing over, followed by the rest of the knights.
        "Arthur," the curly-haired knight said, taking Arthur's good arm.
        Just as unexpected as before, Arthur launched forward, pushing Lancelot down on the ground with his shoulder and pinning him. "Got ya," he grinned triumphantly.
        Lancelot glared up at him, but too pleased his friend was up to his old tricks to be too mad, "I'm going to kill you."
        "Only if you can catch me," Arthur taunted, quickly releasing Lancelot, knowing better than to stay around after giving a challenge, and took off running.
        "Gah!" Lancelot jumped up after him, laughing, "When I catch you!"
        And their laughter echoed throughout the fort and the fields beyond.