Chapter 4: Hope Garden
Elizabeth blinked her eyes as the blinding sun entered her room. She rolled the covers back and crept over to the window. The sun was coming over the hill and its warmth spread over the trees. She quickly got dressed and slipped her shoes on. Grabbing the extra key, she left her room, quietly shutting the door behind her. Now would be a perfect time to explore and figure out where everything was.
The passageways were still dark and she didn't see the dark figure leaning up against Lancelot's door.
"Going somewhere, Miss?" it said.
Elizabeth jumped and Lancelot stepped out of the shadows with a grin on his face. Elizabeth pretended to be mad, but she really was happy he might come with her.
"Might I join you?" he asked.
"Of course. I was going for a walk around to see the castle," she explained.
Lancelot smiled and he fell into step beside her and they walked out to the archery court in back. He picked up a spare bow and took some practice arrows. He fastened an arm guard and strung the bow. Elizabeth watched and then picked up a similar bow. Lancelot drew back the string and released the arrow. It hit the bull's-eye. Elizabeth was impressed, but she knew a Woad could do better. She stepped farther back than Lancelot and hit the target as well. He raised his eye brows and stepped back as well. They did this for a while until there was no room left on the target. Lancelot laughed.
"You are quite skilled. Shall we continue to the gardens, Elizabeth?" he asked.
"Yes and you can call me Liz," she laughed.
Lancelot nodded and they headed to the gardens. The gardens were a riot of color with their many different flowers. The stone path didn't have a single weed on it. Obviously, this garden was held in high regard.
"Does this garden hold anything special about it?" she asked.
"Well, when Guinevere arrived she asked Arthur if he had any gardens and he showed her this one and it had been overgrown and not taken care of. She spent some time in here with the gardeners and they tried to follow her wishes of having a nice place for people to be. She wanted to add color to this dreary world. It's been improving every day. I used to come here when I was injured from the battle with the Saxons. Guinevere named it Hope Garden for the reason of hurt, betrayed, or abused people are like flowers being suffocated by weeds. A bleak garden turned into this, just like a person can overcome all the challenges placed upon them."
Elizabeth looked back at some of the smaller flowers.
"I heard you used to have many more knights than you do now. That must have been terribly hard."
"Aye. I miss them very much. They were my friends for 15 long years in service to Rome. It's hardest upon Arthur. He is our Commander, which made him feel responsible in some way for deaths which he knew he could do nothing about," he explained. " I want you to meet Maria. She's the cook and quite a lovely woman. Then I shall take you to see Guinevere"
Elizabeth smiled and they continued down the path, out of the garden. They came out onto a little courtyard which had another door opposite the garden entrance. Lancelot walked up to the door and knocked. A plump woman answered. She had frizzy gray hair and a kind face. She held up a ladle threateningly at Lancelot.
"How many times have I told you not to bother me when I'm cooking!" she laughed, obviously not meaning it.
"I wanted you to meet Elizabeth. Elizabeth, this is Maria," he said.
"Very nice to meet you Elizabeth. Come inside," she said motioning to the inside of the kitchen.
They walked in and Elizabeth immediately wished she had eaten breakfast, because now she was even hungrier than before. As if reading her mind, Maria offered them each a slice of a fruit pie. It was delicious.
"So how long have you been here dear?" Maria inquired.
"Well only two days," Elizabeth answered.
"Ah. That's right. You're the young maiden that Arthur was telling me Lancelot rescued," she said with a glance in Lancelot's direction as he nodded in agreement.
"Yes, that's right," Elizabeth replied. "Your pies are delicious by the way."
"Thank you. Anytime those people in the castle don't serve enough food, just come down here. I stay late at night in the middle of the week to make breads. I sleep directly above the kitchen as well. Have you been to the Gardens?"
"Aye, we came from there," Lancelot answered.
"Ah. I go in there almost every day. Well, off you go. I need to prepare tonight's meal," she said.
And with that she showed them to the door.
"You were right. She is a nice lady. Does the entire castle know why I'm here?" Elizabeth asked.
"I only told Arthur and the knights, but knowing Bors loud mouth, it probably spread around the castle. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Like I said, you're free to leave whenever you please, although we would enjoy having you stay. I'm sure Guinevere would love it," he said while thinking, so would I.
Elizabeth seemed to feel a little better and they headed up to see Guinevere and Arthur. The entrance to the room with the round table was extremely grand. Arthur and Guinevere were seated inside looking at papers. Lancelot knocked on the door.
"Arthur? It's Lancelot and Elizabeth."
"Of course. Come in!"
Lancelot opened the huge door and Elizabeth gasped at the site before her. The table was huge. Guinevere looked up from a paper and did a double take before running up to them.
"Elizabeth! It's really you! It's so good to see you!"
"Aye! It's wonderful to see you again too Guin! I've missed you terribly!"
"Arthur told me why you're here. Lancelot, thank you for saving her. She is one of my great friends," Guinevere said with a wide smile. "Come. I want to go for a walk. Arthur doesn't need me right now"
And with that said, the two friends walked out of the room.
"That made Guinevere's day," Arthur chuckled.
"It probably made Elizabeth's day as well," Lancelot replied. "What are the papers for?"
"Just some old documents from past times that might help."
"I see. Well, I'm going on a little hunt with Bors. We'll be back later. It'll give Elizabeth and Guinevere some time together," Lancelot said.
Arthur nodded and went back to his papers, wishing he could go as well, but he had to see to these papers.
Night fell, everyone returned to the castle. The knights were down in the bar listening to the women sing. Elizabeth was back in her room. She had had a wonderful day with Guinevere. They had sat amongst the flowers in Hope Garden for a long time and just talked about their lives and what had happened to Elizabeth.
She moved to reposition herself on the couch she was sitting on and a sharp pain in her side made her jump. The doctor had been right about the bruises taking a while to heal. She sat there for a while, listening to the cackling fire, when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in!"
Lancelot walked in. He had two mugs in his hand and he gave her a smile.
"I brought you something to drink," he said sitting next to her on the couch.
Elizabeth looked into the mug and took a sip. It was ale. She laughed. Remembering a time when she was little, when she and Guin had stolen some ale from a hut and tasted it. They had been off the wall for several hours.
"How was it seeing Guinevere again?" he asked.
"Oh it was great. I had missed her so much when she had been captured."
"I'll bet," he said.
They sat there in silence for a few moments listening to the fire.
"I'd better be going. You need you rest if you ever want to become a warrior maiden again," Lancelot said, as he got up.
He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. A shudder went through Elizabeth and she kissed him back. She didn't want him to leave, but he stood up and smiled.
"Good night," he whispered.
He walked to the door and quietly slipped out. A happy smile spread across Elizabeth's face. This had been one of the best days of her life.
