Disclaimer: I do not own any of the character names, save my own original creations. I do not wish to be compensated for this work, nor do I wish to infringe on any copyrights held by any stakeholders of the movie King Arthur. This work is an original creation, based on the legend of King Arthur and his knights.
Scribe Notes:
All: Here is a chapter (of two I am posting) that I just had to write. I hope that it works, it has some new points of view, some glimpses for you. There is an overall theme, and I start with Cerys, and end with Lancelot. but, it was begging to be written.I hope, as gwenn0 mentioned, that is does not make the story lose focus to have some new viewpoints. I posted two this evening, please do enjoy!
On to comments:
et cetera et cetera: I have been riding my whole life, my first memory is bouncing along on a pony named Suzy. I hope you enjoy horseback riding! I love it so very much, and it was my first career before I hurt myself. I was training towards being a jockey! It was tough to leave the horses behind and go back to school. Let me know how it goes! And here are the different viewpoints for you to get a sense for our other characters.
I am glad that you find them real. I wanted to make them real. Arthur is now at a place where he is thinking of peace, building a better home for him and his family, and with a wee one on the way, it stands to reason he will relax a bit. I loved making him sing drunkely. You have to think, he would be like the knights in some way. He's not all Roman. I think he was, we just never got to see it in the movie. The men treated him as a friend when he walked into the bar, so I assume he did carouse with them from time to time based on their reaction to him.
Sokorra Lewis: Tristan needed a physical event to tell him. What better way than out in his elements doing something that makes him feel good, to realize that something else can do the same? He would recognize a feeling first. Thinking is something he does, but he usually thinks on his feet, or while doing something like eating. Apples help him think in my story.
I almost have chapter one of the new story ready to post. I try not to have more than one creative piece going at once, but I wanted to get some on paper before the muse moved on.
Calliann: I am glad you are happy! it stands to reason that if our Guin throws books when she is mad or missing her husband, she would again throw them while raging hormones! Poor books. I was at a used books store on the weekend and I spent a half hour perusing the medieval section. I found some lovely old Arthurian legend books, plus a second edition of Gawain and the Green Knight! Can't wait to muddle through the olde english poem.
I am thankful you liked him remembering. I wasn't sure if it worked or not.
Ailis-70: That man is sexy when he smiles. That is yours and Calliann's fault for giving him such wonderful depth in your stories. He does deserve some happiness and he will get it. I promise soon.
Yes, the wedding. I can't wait to write that chapter! You know how they can spiral out of control. Well this is the social event of the spring at the fort, so it will be so much fun!
Lady11Occult: There are quite a few people who have taken on the cause of the quiet scout. He is an interesting person to think about and flesh out in story. I do hope we get to see more of Mads in english speaking roles. I found him intriguing to say the least. Such poise and capability he brought into that role.
I will stay steadfast to my Lancelot, followed closely by Bors, then our dear Arthur with his amazing eyes.
gwenn0: Here they are the different viewpoints! thank you for your confidence in my writing and I hope hope hope hope that it works! As I said, it was begging to be written and some of the parts were such fun. Yes, the drunken singing was a blast to write. I had a memory of some friends at a hotel doing just that to me one time. It still makes me laugh to this day, watching them singing and bouncing off walls, other people sticking their heads out of the doors to laugh. They were singing "Oh Carolina"... and not getting the words right. (laugh).
LovelyHeidi: I am near Ottawa! I lived near Toronto in Oshawa for a little while, and was so glad to move back home here where my family is. Toronto is too big now. Fun to visit though! Fellow Canuckians unite!
I am glad I made you happy after an exam. Here are the next two chapters, one with some fun viewpoints from our other characters.
Chapter 44: Familiar Changes
Cerys dropped out of the saddle and groaned as Jols took her mare from her. She picked her packs off the back of her tack and stretched. She hadn't ridden much that winter and it was telling on her muscles.
"Jols, wait, let me help you!"
Jols shook his head. "Lancelot asked me to tell you to meet him in the baths when you returned. He left for there not an hour ago with Arthur."
That man was reading her thoughts. A soak in the hot water would do her wonders. As she was leaving, Perceval swung and arm about her shoulders and they walked in step towards the apartments. He had a full brace of birds in his hand, which he would no doubt drop off at the kitchens.
"I dare say we have some lovely dinner awaiting us!" Perceval said as he hefted the birds.
Cerys giggled and nodded. "Nimli will make you pluck them, you know."
Perceval raised and eyebrow and gave her a saucy look. "Not if I don't pluck her first."
Cerys snorted and gave him a mock-resigned look.
"Changing affections from your 'lover' so soon Perceval? I thought I was the only one for you. You certainly convinced Octus of that with your act." She teased, her own eyebrow lifted.
He laughed and squeezed her shoulders to him, and then ducked away from her towards the kitchens as she swatted at him with her packs.
"Never had a chance with you Cerys. Your heart belonged to Lancelot long ago."
She stopped and smiled, and he too stopped and turned. He stuck his tongue out, then pretended to curtsey.
"Begone with you to flirt with the women, Perceval." She yelled happily after him as he sauntered towards the open doorway, light pouring from the lanterns lit inside. She could hear the women all greet him as he ducked in the doorway, and then a shriek, as, she suspected, he pinched a bottom or snuck in a kiss.
Such a flirt. But... such a good man, she thought.
Cerys, once in her room, stepped out of her riding clothes into a regular dress again, and gathered up her cloak. She grabbed a travelling lantern and headed for the baths, humming softly, her step light.
How her life had changed! She wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Gawain returned from taking care of Demetia, and stepped into the darkened room that he shared with Galahad. Galahad was delivering the hares they had snared on their hunt, and he had beaten his brother back.
He sighed as he hefted off his riding boots, hearing the hobnails plop to the floor in front of him. It had been a long day and he was tired. Winter made him soft. He almost looked forward to the rejuvenation of their little runs out to smack at Saxons.
Almost...
He ran a hand down his face. Truthfully he was growing tired of this constant nagging from the hordes. He wanted to stop the killing, he wanted to just live in peace.
But peace bred restlessness.
Gawain tried to remember who had told him that as he undid the laces on his archery gloves. He remembered, and he sagged. Of course it had to be. This time of year always brought those memories back harshly.
A lock of hair fell into his face and he swore and pushed it out of the way. Maybe Tristan should sneak in and cut it all off. But, he hadn't cut it since...
He refused to think about that anymore, and slammed his mind down on it.
He peered around in the darkness of their rooms. Dory's influence on their quarters was beginning to show. Galahad was letting her put up wall hangings to keep the draft out, and he noticed a new pottery vase on the windowsill, with patterns carved into it.
Gawain hated change. It was hard enough seeing his brother so happily in love, let alone fix up their rooms.
He would have to find somewhere new to lay his head. He couldn't keep borrowing other men's rooms when they slept in their own lover's beds. It would have been easier before...
Again he slammed his mind. Stop! It had to stop! He must control himself.
He squinted as he caught sight of his mace and axe, sitting in the corner. A sword propped there too. For some reason, he got up and walked over, picking up the blade in its scabbard and drawing it out slightly.
He stopped. Why was he torturing himself?
He didn't carry this sword anymore. He couldn't. It hadn't been his to begin with.
He ran his hand down the hilt, feeling the leather. It was getting dry; he would have to oil it again.
Gareth would have been mad to see that.
Gawain growled to himself, threw the sword down onto the ground and turned. He sank to his bed, his head in his hands, his eyes pinched shut to stop from sobbing, to halt the images. His shoulders bulged with the effort, and he groaned quietly.
He did not cry. He wouldn't let himself.
It was getting harder to remember what he looked like when he was alive. It was getting harder to hear his voice when he thought about him. It was getting harder not to remember the dreams, and the memories he drowned away every night.
He needed a drink, badly. But first, he needed a bath.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Galahad left the kitchens, Perceval keeping court quite easily without him, and headed for the common to find Dory.
He had missed her today, and he wanted to tell her about how well their hunt had gone. Perceval had promised to meet up at the baths later, most likely with a girl or two in tow, so he had a few moments to spare to find her.
He would have to ask Cerys to borrow her chestnut mare and take Dory out for a ride soon. He wondered if Dory could ride. No matter, he could teach her! He could do anything if she was with him.
How his thoughts of her had changed recently! He was thinking more about family, about spending every night with her. He liked having her with him, liked what she had done to their rooms. It felt so much warmer there now.
He saw her before she saw him. She was sweeping up, some straw had blown in from the stables. Her willowy frame swaying in time with the broom, swishing her skirts as she walked behind the pile she was moving ever forward towards the entryway to the common.
His hands fidgeted as he lengthened his stride to get to her sooner. She looked up just as he reached her, and he threw his arms about her, lifting her and spinning.
The broom handle clattered as it hit the stone.
"Galahad..." She said quietly as he set her down again and kissed her cheek. She was smiling.
He grinned widely, and pulled her by the hand towards a bench. He sat and opened his arms; she gladly sat across his lap and laid her head on his shoulder.
"I got three pheasant, a hare and a wild turkey today." he said proudly as he combed through her long dark hair. She smiled and kissed his nose shyly. He wrinkled it and touched the tip of his finger to hers, making her wrinkle her own.
It was their routine.
"When is dinner then?" She asked, pulling softly at his beard.
He laughed and stood, setting her to her feet as he did so. She could make him laugh so easily! She didn't even have to try.
"As soon as the women in the kitchens cook it! But first, I need to get out of these dusty clothes, and perhaps have a bath. Would you join me?"
She could only nod as he dragged her away towards their rooms, his curls bouncing, her step quick to keep up to him.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Bors was gathering up a heavy leather cloak from the doorway.
"Lorina, where is my bloody cloak pin?" He yelled, noticing that the leather showed a gaping hole where the pin once was.
"I don't know, where did you last put it?" She said from an adjacent room.
Two children screamed as they ran by, chasing one another. Another was pulling the stuffing out of a cushion by the fire.
Thank the Gods he had gotten Hywel to build them a grate with a lock. Otherwise they would be burning by now.
"I don't bloody know where I put it except on the bloody cloak." He yelled louder over the din.
"Then it's bloody well somewhere!"
Bors growled in frustration. Another child darted out under his legs, a handful of straw in her hand, throwing it to the air as the one pulling the stuffing out of the cushion laughed and joined her. He looked across the large table where cups, corn husk dolls and various unfinished plates of food sat ignored. One of the younger girls sat quietly at one end, playing with one of the dolls. She was singing to herself and making the doll walk along the edge of the table, her face happy and innocent.
Bors saw the elusive pin sticking out of the dolls head at a garish angle. He ran a hand over his face and decided to ignore it.
Lorina came out of the room she was in, her own hair a mess around her head, her face weary. Two other children began fighting in the next room, the baby crying from its small cradle.
"Shut it or else I will..." She screamed. There was silence for two moments, then the screaming erupted again. The baby quieted from her outburst, and she put a hand down to let small fingers play with hers.
She looked at her husband. He looked at her.
He mouthed "out" and pointed to the door. She nodded tiredly.
"Gillie!" He bellowed.
Gillie stuck his head out of a curtained off area, a needle in his hand, the other holding a tunic.
"Your mother and I are leaving. See that the rooms are still standing when we return?" He said, sweeping a hand over the menagerie. "Change the baby if his swaddling needs it."
Gillie nodded, and sighed. "Yes father."
Once outside the rooms, Lorina sagged into her husband's open arms.
"They are our family, lover, but sometimes I could throttle the lot of them."
Bors made a noise in his throat as he nodded, his chin on her head. "I know. Things may change soon, Gillie is starting to act more like a man every day, we aren't going to be able to keep him at home for much longer."
"He will want to join Brinn in the spring recruit."
They stood, just enjoying the silence for a moment, staring up at the darkening sky. A crash from behind the door, then a wail, broke their quiet and they looked at each other again. Bors raised an eyebrow.
"Where would my Lorina like to go this evening?" He asked, kissing her cheek as he led her away from the rooms.
"I would most dearly love a bath."
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Tristan walked into the baths, and saw Lancelot and Cerys at the far back corner, deep into a kiss. They were alone up until that point, and he was sure had he come in a moment later, he would have interrupted something much more than that.
He cleared his throat.
He heard the splash as Cerys, startled, pushed back from Lancelot. He felt Lancelot's annoyed gaze fall to him, and he looked up.
No, not completely annoyed. He was smirking.
"Tristan! Come to join us?" Cerys said as she waded up to tweak at his now bare toes. he looked down to her. The torches were playing off the water, and he could see love bites all along her shoulders just under the surface. He wiggled his toes. She laughed and splashed water at his feet, earning her a smile from him.
"Yes. Room in there with his ego floating about?" He pointed at Lancelot. "He thinks he's a singer now."
Cerys groaned and rolled her eyes. "Arthur was worse."
She splashed her way back to Lancelot and settled once more to his side as he finished undressing and slipped in.
He relaxed as the warm water lapped at his chest. He ran his hands over the surface, sending ripples out from his hands. He thought of Wynn almost involuntarily. She had never seen a Roman bath.
He was going to bring her here first, he decided. She would look so very good with her red hair wet and fanning out into the water.
He felt the ripples as Arthur plunked down in beside him, the smell of fresh soap on him. He sighed as he settled into the water. He must have gotten a shave.
"Tristan." He said as he waded over to one of the submerged stone benches.
"Arthur." Tristan replied, following him. He settled beside him.
He had to ask, and it was now or never.
"Permission to ride out tomorrow." He said quietly.
"Granted. Gone long?" Arthur asked, his head rested back against the side of the baths, one eye open and towards the scout. Tristan felt that Arthur was amused by the charade.
Fine, let him be honest.
"I want to bring her back with me."
Arthur raised his head a bit, and opened the other eye. He and Tristan calmly regarded each other for a moment. Tristan flicked a strand of hair out of his eyes, and blinked at the steam coming off the water. For a moment, the trickling of the water, Lancelot's quietly rumbling voice with Cerys' giggling were the only sounds in the chamber.
"About time." Arthur finally said, almost to himself.
Tristan blinked. It still bothered him that he had he not known that Arthur knew about her. It didn't matter now; she was going to part of his life here as well as there, soon.
Arthur closed his eyes again. He sighed and brought a hand out of the water and over his face.
"We could use a midwife for all the babies I see in the future here." He said with a small smile. He settled back at that point and sighed again, relaxing completely. "She can help Dafydd."
Tristan smiled at that and dunked his head under the water, their conversation concluded.
He had made his decision. Spring certainly did mean change. Especially this year.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Lancelot splashed water lazily up over Cerys' shoulder, and watched it trickle down over her skin. She was sitting, her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed, relaxed in the water.
If only Tristan had not come in, they could have...
He smiled. There would be a lifetime for that. He shifted a bit and she opened her eyes.
"Do you want me to move?"
"No, stay love, you are perfect there."
She closed her eyes again and sighed, settling in deeper to him, legs up over his lap under the water. He kissed the top of her head.
Laughter made all in the baths look up, and Galahad and Dory came in through the doorway, hand in hand. Dory stopped as she saw other people in the water and looked to him.
"It's alright Dory. These people have shared the baths with me on many an occasion. There is no shame in it."
Dory swallowed and darted her eyes nervously about. Lancelot felt Cerys leave his side again as she waded over to the side of the water.
"Dory, if you like, you can borrow my underdress there on the hook, I am fine without it. You will need yours dry for later." She pointed, and Lancelot could see Dory immediately relax.
So like her to understand. He was very proud to call her his. Galahad nodded his thanks, and then nodded again as he made eye contact with Lancelot. Lancelot nodded back once.
Yes, he was lucky, and he ran a hand through his hair and his familiar sideways grin developed as he watched his lover wade through the water to the edge. Her hair was wet and sticking to her back, and the edges fanning out under the water as she walked. He grinned further as he counted the love bites on her shoulders.
Soon he would be able to call her wife.
Galahad stripped right then, leaving his clothing in a pile, splashing in. Cerys laughed and beat water towards him with her hands, he doing the same to her. They engaged in the war for a few moments, then Galahad put a hand to the top of her head and dunked her.
Galahad was momentarily distracted by Dory coming back out from behind a curtain with Cerys' much shorter underdress on, baring her legs. As everyone watched, Cerys pulled his legs out from under him, while herself still under the water, and he let out a yelp, splashing down, sending a wave of water across to everyone, splashing it up over the edge to the stone floor.
"Children." Arthur admonished, laughing at the spluttering Galahad, pushing hair out of his eyes. Galahad gave Cerys a dirty look and helped Dory into the water.
Cerys rejoined Lancelot and smiled sweetly to him. He laughed and tweaked her nose.
"Remind me never to dunk you." He murmured in her ear as she repositioned herself across his lap.
"Remind me to make you forget sometime." She replied saucily.
Soon Bors and Lorina joined them, and Gawain, who came in silently and sat on his own, his head leaned back in the water, his eyes closed, long blonde hair floating out around his head. Lancelot noticed he looked pre-occupied, and had deep worry lines etched into his face, despite the relaxing heat of the water. It was getting close to the time of year when he would be worst.
They had found Gareth around now, he reflected.
He raised an eyebrow to Galahad and tilted his head towards his brother. Galahad shrugged, turning his attention back to Dory.
Galahad was perhaps getting tired of propping his brother up all the time. And he really couldn't blame the younger man. Lancelot decided that perhaps prodding Gawain right then would do no good and he stopped himself from moving over to speak with him. Maybe over a game later, he could get it out of him.
Light conversation bubbled around the group. Guinevere had joined them at some point, and she, Lorina and Cerys had pulled Dory away to chat in one corner. Girl talk, most likely, about weddings and babies. They were giggling, Guinevere was combing out Cerys' hair with her fingers, Lorina combing Guinevere's. Dory was the quietest, he thought. She was very pretty with her freckles and willowy frame. He noticed that Lorina always brought her into any conversation, and the girl was beginning to smile and speak up.
They would all get along well in the years to come. He could almost see the four of them with babies on hip, standing about and gossiping. Lorina would swat him if he even mentioned her having another baby. They already had too many. Bors was insatiable! He chuckled to himself.
Babies. He wondered what Cerys would look like with one on her hip.
Perceval had joined them, with, of all people, Nimli in tow, and Nimli had waded over towards the women while Perceval joined Lancelot on the far wall. Jols had wandered in not long after and had taken up beside Galahad and Arthur, and they were talking about horses. Perceval gave Lancelot a wicked grin.
"Nimli?"
Perceval winked. "She's a right pretty girl, eh?"
"Ganis may have word with you on that one." Lancelot warned. He had thought the two of them a couple. Cerys would know, he would have to ask her later. If so, Perceval was in for it. Ganis, despite his lean frame, could be quite effective in a fist fight. He was a scrapper, had been since they had found him at Mariuses estate.
It was a full house tonight, he realized, looking about the crowd now gathered in the water. Steam was rising up, and the chamber was slowly heating with the extra bodies. Condensation dripped off the walls, and off the ceiling into the water, adding to the other happy noises.
Lancelot mused over it. It felt nice to have everyone there, and he thought that this may be the first time they had ever been in the baths together in years. He liked this, and as he watched his lover tilt her head back and laugh at something Nimli had said, he felt his heart swell.
There was more to it than just her, this full feeling. He floated his eyes over the gathering. Arthur and Galahad and Jols, then Tristan, who had taken up a seat beside Gawain, both of them quiet. Bors sitting and humming, enjoying a moment away from the children, his hands playing through the water.
In a few weeks they would be adding back into this inner circle of knights. He was going to sponsor Brinn, and Bors had mentioned that Gillie was ready. There were a few other young boys ready as well, and Hector had asked Arthur if he could stay on, which he had, now that Octus had left. Hector would need a sword; Octus had taken his back with him.
He liked Hector, despite his lecherous father. He would make a good man at arms, perhaps even a knight if he proved himself. He deserved a good sword. Arthur would see to it, of course.
He heard Perceval wade off as he closed his eyes, resting his head on the edge behind him. No doubt to harass the women and flirt endlessly with them. The knight reminded him so much of himself when he was younger that it made him snort under his breath.
How familiar things could change so quickly, and yet still feel just the same as they always did!
Lancelot ran his hands up through the water, then ran wet hands over his hair, smoothing it back again. He raked his hands back down over his face. Yes, this was the most enjoyable way to spend an evening.
He heard Cerys' tinkling laughter again over the hum of conversation and the sounds of the water, and he smiled. No matter how it changed, right then, he was as content as he had ever been in his life.
This was his family.
Dear Reader:
This was a long chapter, and one I really enjoyed writing. The idea of them all needing or wanting a bath for different reasons, then all coming together to be a family in the best sense made me sing happily. It was fun to picture them all together, happily talking in the water, the flow of conversation and the trickle of water being such a soothing sound.
So, did it work? Did I capture Galahad's enthusiasm, Bors and Lorina having a "Parental Leave" moment, Gawain's anguish as he begins to break, and Tristan's calm acceptance of his decision to bring Wynn home? I hope so. And I wanted Lancelot's random thoughts and his settling into the idea of marriage, family and home.
Onward to the next chapter! Thanks very much for your encouragement to try this out. I appreciate all your words and comments very much.
Cardeia
