Chapter 6: Another Dreary Day
Elizabeth opened her eyes and put her hands behind her head and looked up at the ceiling. She had been here three, wonderful days. It was a home to her. Guinevere was here and people who cared about her. And Lancelot. She leaned farther back into the pillow and sighed. She really should get dressed. She threw back the covers and jumped out of bed. She picked out a red dress and a thin blue cloak. She'd be happy in her warrior outfit, but she didn't want to disappoint anyone or seem ungrateful. She threw some cold water on her face from the basin and headed over to the window. Thick gray clouds hung heavily and the whole area seemed to be wrapped in a thick blanket of fog. She gave a groan of utter disappointment. Yet another dreary day inside this castle. At least yesterday they had gone on a mission. However, today, she felt was going to be a very boring day. She flopped back down on the bed only to jump up again in pain as one of her unhealed cuts on her back pulled on her skin.
"Perfect," she muttered sarcastically.
The wound had re-opened. She rushed over to a cabinet on the far wall. She quickly rummaged inside and pulled out a roll of cloth and the ointment from the healer. She hurriedly undressed, not wanting to get any blood on her clothing, and rubbed the ointment onto the wound. She then wrapped the bandage around her middle and back several times and tied it together. There was a rapping on the door and Elizabeth jumped. She had no clothes on!
"Just a minute!" she yelled.
"Aye," said the muffled voice outside the thick door.
She hurriedly pulled her dress on and buttoned the back as far as she could without opening her wound again. She sighed in frustration. Hoping it was the maid as she opened the door. Her eyes widened when she saw Lancelot. She gave an unsure smile.
"Are you alright in here?" he asked.
"Yes. I'm fine," she said.
"I just heard some stuff getting knocked over and I wanted to make sure nothing was happening," he explained.
"No, my wound just opened up on my back. I was putting more ointment on it and a new bandage. Erm...actually, can you help me button the last couple buttons at the top of the dress? I couldn't reach because of the damn wound."
"Sure," Lancelot said.
He gently placed her hair over her shoulder.
"All of them?" he asked.
"No, leave two open at the top," she instructed.
Lancelot tried, but he'd never understand how women got these tiny buttons to hold. However, he finished and everything seemed alright.
"Thank you," she said.
"Would you like to go back down to the practice room?" he asked.
"Of course. Could you wait one moment thought?" she asked and hurried back into her room with a grumpy look. As soon as she got dressed, she had to change once again. However, it was a little easier to undo the buttons this time.
Lancelot leaned against the wall outside the room and waited. A few moment later, a fully dressed Woad woman warrior emerged. She gave him a grin.
"Alright. Let's go," she said.
Lancelot laughed. He was in for it today.
They got down to the room and Elizabeth picked up the same sword she had used yesterday. Lancelot once again chose his double blades.
"Ready?" he asked.
Elizabeth nodded. They circled and then thrust their blades in and blocked. Elizabeth danced away and Lancelot swung the blades in his hands. He came on again, crossing his blades into an X and pushing down on Elizabeth's blade. She pushed up and rolled away. Elizabeth swung her blade into a wide arc and came in for his side and was blocked by Lancelot's double blades once again. They went on for what seemed like hours until Elizabeth's wound opened once again. She cried out as she and Lancelot's swords crossed again. He immediately dropped the two weapons.
"I'm terribly sorry. Are you alright?" he asked.
"No, my wound opened after all that. We're going to have to stop," she said, but looked up with a mischievous look. "You're lucky. I had you"
Lancelot laughed and placed the swords back on the wall.
"Only in your dreams, my lady," he said, laughing
Elizabeth laughed as well and headed for the door. Lancelot saw the cloth on her back was soaked through with blood.
"Dammit," he said.
What?" Elizabeth asked.
"We need to hurry to your room. Your back is a mess," he said.
Elizabeth twisted her head as far around as she could and looked down at her back.
"Well, what do you know," she said sarcastically.
Lancelot shook his head and they hurried up to the rooms. They rushed by Bors on the stairs, who made a rude comment as they went by. Laura unlocked the door and showed Lancelot were the ointment was. He had bandaged over a hundred wounds, him being in battle most of the time. He gingerly applied the ointment and then wrapped the bandage around. It was a good thing she had on her Woad outfit.
"All done," he said, putting the supplies away.
"Thank you," she said.
Suddenly, down the corridor a huge crash sounded. They ran out the door and looked down the hall. One of the servants came running by, followed by one of the cooks with a giant cleaver in her hand. Lancelot pulled out a dagger and stopped the two people in their tracks.
"Is there a problem?" he questioned.
"Excuse me sir, but this scoundrel keeps stealing kitchen supplies. He needs to be taught a lesson," the cook said, with a menacing wave of the cleaver.
"Ah. I see. Well that is really Arthur's decision. I'd bring it down to him. Have a wonderful day!" Lancelot said.
The thief looked at him hopelessly and Lancelot just returned to the room. Elizabeth was in a fit of hysterics.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"Well, if you were watching what I was, then you saw a crazed woman running down the halls screaming and waving a meat cleaver," she said, laughing.
Her laughing was obviously contagious, because Lancelot started laughing as well. One of the maids finally came by and asked what the ruckus was about and she told them to be quiet.
"Elizabeth, why don't you change and we'll go down to the pub. Visit the other knights," he said.
She raised her eyebrows but did as he said. She looked in the mirror. She hadn't laughed like that in ages. It was really a hopeless cause to leave when she was healed. Because whether she wanted to believe it or not, she was falling in love with Lancelot. When she had first come she had told herself she couldn't. If he died in battle her life would be over. Or if she died. She couldn't do that to him. But now, she could do nothing about it. And ironically, she was fine with being in love even when she was avoiding it at first. She looked in the mirror one more time and rolled her eyes. She would never understand love.
She walked out the door and locked it. She gave Lancelot a smile and they headed for the pub.
"I was hoping we'd see that cook again," she said.
Lancelot laughed.
As they passed out the door, he looked at the sky. It was past mid-day. Probably almost time for dinner. They walked into the pub, which was loud and rowdy as usual. Bors, who was loudest of all, waved them over. Gawain and Galahad were sitting with him.
"Lancelot! Come have a drink!" Bors said, holding up a glass of ale.
He had probably been drinking for a while and he spilled ale everywhere as he tried to hold it with an unsteady hand. Elizabeth sniggered quietly. This would be quite the comedy tonight. She smiled at the knights and sat down at their table. Lancelot went off to get a drink, leaving Elizabeth at the mercy of Bors, Gawain, and Galahad.
"Bors, I don't believe I've met your wife yet," she said.
"I'll fix that. One moment. OYE! VENORA!" he bellowed.
A red-haired woman appeared with an infant on her hip.
"I'd like ye to meet Elizabeth," he said. "Elizabeth, Venora."
Elizabeth gave the woman a smile. She gave a smile back before turning to Bors. She handed him the infant.
"Watch him for a moment," she commanded.
As soon as the child was in Bors's arms it wailed. Gawain and Galahad both chuckled and got an extremely menacing look from Bors. Yet, they laughed even harder. Elizabeth shook her head in amusement. Lancelot returned with two full mugs of ale. He placed the second on in front of Elizabeth. She nodded her thanks and Lancelot turned to Bors.
"You know Bors, Venora is going to change her mind about marrying you if even your own children don't like you," Lancelot joked.
Bors chucked an empty mug of ale at Lancelot, who ducked. Gawain and Galahad laughed.
A couple hours passed and the pub was becoming increasingly crowded. The owner put more candles into the lamps around the pub. Gawain was telling a story to Elizabeth. It was about one of their battles. She could tell he was exaggerating slightly, but she still enjoyed listening.
"And then, the last warrior came up behind me-"
"And I stuck a sword through one of their guts and they all stopped!" the other three knights said in unison.
"Dammit! You ruined it!" Gawain yelled.
Elizabeth laughed and just to add to the humor she added her own comment.
"Well, Gawain, I'm glad we have a knight as great as you defending us," she said.
Gawain turned a deep shade of pink, which caused Bors, Galahad, and Lancelot to laugh even harder. He hit Galahad in the stomach to shut up, but it was no use. Elizabeth laughed along with them and soon Gawain joined in.
"Well, sir knights, it's been quite the pleasure," she said before heading back up to her room.
"The please was all ours, gentle lady," Bors said after a swig of ale.
She turned and gave him a cheery wave before heading off.
"Ah. Lancelot, if you don't claim her first, you're going to have a lot of competition," Gawain joked.
All the knights laughed. Bors got up, mumbling something about bringing his child home or something of the same sort. Lancelot also headed back up. As he was heading down the dark corridor, he had an uneasy feeling. He went for his swords, but a hand was placed over his mouth and a dagger at his throat. Then he heard a laugh and he knew it was Elizabeth. She had a mischievous grin on her face. Lancelot shook his head and grinned back.
"Well, that was interesting," he said.
Elizabeth just smiled.
"Good night. I thought I'd just try that out before I went to bed. After all, it's been a very dreary day and a girl needs a little fun in her life," she said with mock haughtiness.
She headed to her room and Lancelot followed.
"Am I at the wrong room or are you following me?" she asked.
She smiled to herself with another thought. She looked at Lancelot and wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a passionate kiss. They stayed there like that for a few minutes before Elizabeth gently disentangled her arms from him and walked back to her room. She shut her door and gave a sigh. For the first time in her life, Elizabeth felt as if she truly belonged somewhere.
