Authors notes: - Thank you so much for the great reviews. They cheered me up immensely (why is the last year of university so hard?). A big thank you to Camlann, Lancey, mrs jdhappiness and Laura B. I hope you continue to enjoy this.
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"Lancelot!" Arthur cried as his friend went limp. Dagonet cursed the younger knight.
"Why don't you ever listen?" Dagonet sighed.
"He'll have to ride with you and we need to move quickly." The knight continued. Arthur nodded and rose to his feet. Tristan had coaxed Lancelot's bay off the prone knight. The stallion was stood a few paces away from the group its head down to its knees, chest heaving. Sweat poured down its flanks and it shook with the effort it had to expel to remain standing.
"He will not make it back with us." Tristan commented.
"Leave him. He will make it back if he can." Bors stated. The bay stallion was as stubborn as his master and would live just to spite the gods.
"Mount up." Arthur commanded. "We head back to the fort."
Moving quickly the Roman mounted his grey stallion and reached out to accept Lancelot. Dagonet and Bors lifted the young knight gently and placed him in front of Arthur. He then shifted the injured man until he was in a comfortable position while being able to clasp the reins easily. The other knights mounted and they urged the horses into gallop.
After a while Arthur moved his arm to hold Lancelot more securely as the limp body tilted and he reassured himself that his best friend was still alive by placing the palm of his hand over Lancelot's heart. The familiar thump calmed his frantic thoughts. Why had a small scouting party attacked them when they knew they had no chance of victory? Had the arrow been deliberately aimed at Lancelot considering that he had been behind the front line of knights?
"Stop." A weak voice commanded. Arthur jumped as he realised that it was Lancelot.
"Stop what? Do you feel sick? Are you in pain?" he demanded urgently. Lancelot shifted forcing Arthur to tighten his hold to prevent the knight falling off.
"Yes to both but that's not what I meant." The knight whispered before hissing in pain.
"Stop beating yourself up over this. There was nothing you could have done."
"I should have seen them."
"How? According to you only your god is all seeing and you most certainly are not a god." Lancelot choked and then groaned. Arthur opened his mouth to continue protesting but Lancelot hushed him.
"Our profession isn't exactly the safest, injuries happen. So stop it."
Arthur sighed and spoke no further but Lancelot knew he had done little to alleviate his friend's self imposed guilt. Before his thoughts on the subject could continue they were suddenly diverted to his stomach.
'The vast amount I had for the morning meal suddenly seems a mistake.' Lancelot thought ruefully as it churned alarmingly. He was going to be sick and what was worse he was going to be sick in front of the others.
"Stop!" he commanded in as strong a voice as he could muster. Unfortunately it came out more as a strangled whisper.
"Pardon?" he heard Arthur murmur.
"Stop. You need to stop." He said as his body added a heave to the plea. Arthur must have felt something instead of hearing his whispered cries because he halted his horse quickly. Lancelot fumbled in his attempt to get off the horse and Arthur quickly dismounted pulling Lancelot with him. The knight barely managed two steps before he fell to his knees and vomited. Arthur moved to stand next to him shielding him slightly from the others to give him some semblance of privacy. He wanted to offer some comfort but he knew that Lancelot's pride refused to allow him to accept any help. The other knights had halted a way away knowing Lancelot's desire for privacy.
Arthur winced at the terrible spasms that racked his friend's body even after he had brought up all he could. Un - strapping his water skin he waited until Lancelot had sat back on his haunches breathing heavily in an attempt to calm his body. Passing the skin Arthur watched as Lancelot swilled it around his mouth before spitting it out. He handed it back to Arthur who frowned.
"You should drink something." He said softly. Lancelot lifted his head to glare at him.
"My stomach disagrees and I am more inclined to agree with it than you." He muttered and attempted to get to his feet. Arthur caught him as he fell.
"Stop being so stubborn! You have a concussion, I'll be surprised if your leg isn't badly damaged and not to mention the sword wound…what?!" Arthur demanded as he caught the look Lancelot sent him. The knight shook his head slightly and murmured something of which Arthur only caught the words 'damned' and 'mother hen'. Rolling his eyes Arthur helped Lancelot to his horse. Dagonet had dismounted silently and helped Arthur get the knight into the saddle. It was a testament to the hurts that Lancelot had suffered that the knight had not protested to the help he had been given. Arthur quickly remounted and Lancelot leant tiredly against him. The knights galloped on.
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Four hours later the fort was in sight and Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. Lancelot had not stirred for at least the last couple of hours apart from the occasional shudder. He knew that rest was important for the younger knight but it was disconcerting for him to be so quiet.
The gates were heaved open and the horses clattered up the main road into the courtyard. Jols and the other squires quickly assembled to see to the horses. As soon as the senior squire saw Lancelot sat in front of Arthur he sent one of the other squires to get the doctor. As they drew to a halt Jols stepped forward to help with Lancelot. Although he was still partially conscious he clearly would be able to offer no help.
"What happened?" Jols questioned as they gently eased him to the ground.
"An arrow took down his horse and trapped him underneath."
He looked up to see the doctor had appeared with two orderlies.
"Lets move him quickly." The doctor stated. He rose and quickly held up his hands.
"No you will not all descend on this patient and bother my personnel. I will come and get you when I am done. I just need to know the nature of his injuries. He fell off his horse?"
"In a manner of speaking, an arrow hit his horse…" Arthur started but halted as the doctor waved him off.
"That sort of detail is not necessary. Did he hit his head?" The doctor began to follow the stretcher forcing Arthur to follow him.
"Yes. His left leg was trapped underneath the horse and he has a sword wound across his chest."
They reached the small hospital and Lancelot disappeared inside.
"You like to keep things interesting I will grant you that." Just as Arthur was about to speak the doctor turned and shut the door in his face.
'If he wasn't such a good doctor' Arthur thought as he stared at the wooden door. Turning he made his way back to the other knights. They were in the main hall slowly removing their armour while drinking goblets of warmed wine.
"Shut the door in your face?" Bors questioned. Arthur nodded and sat down tiredly.
"Where's Tristan?" he asked not surprised that the knight wasn't there but wondering all the same.
"Apparently Lancelot's horse was following us albeit at a much slower pace. He lost sight of it about an hour from here. He's waiting for it to arrive." Gawain said.
"What makes him think that it hasn't dropped dead?" Bors said as he downed his wine with one big gulp.
"Because it is as bloody pig-headed as its master." Galahad responded from his position prodding the fire into life. Arthur slowly sipped his wine. The knights' would remain within the hall until news of Lancelot's fate reached them; it was a vigil that they maintained every time someone was injured. Then they would go to the tavern and drink themselves into oblivion either to drown their sorrows or celebrate. Either way much drink will be consumed. Arthur drained his goblet and stared into the fire letting the flames hypnotise him as his thoughts turned back to Lancelot.
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