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.
Chapter 58: Family Reunion
Cerys watched Gawain storm out, and Rhia, from her seat, shake her head sadly.
"Rhia had no luck." She leaned over to Wynn. Wynn sighed audibly and gave Cerys a sad look.
"She has a wonderful ability to see what you are thinking. Tristan had hoped she could help your friend that just left. How do you know her?"
Cerys made a noise and nodded. "I knew her from when I was very young, she was a part of the family here, and she is half-sister to my father. I should go over and help her back down to a cushion."
Cerys rose and walked up to Rhia, as the old woman was trying to stand. She hadn't realized so many years had passed. Rhia was older now. Cerys realized that if her parents were still alive, they too would be creaking and rickety. She felt a stab of pain as she remembered them, and pushed it away. She should have visited Rhia and Sabin. Yet another thing to regret from focusing on her work so much. She wondered if Rhia resented her for that.
No more sad thoughts. They had been sharing memories of Gareth and it had made her feel down, and she was determined not to berate herself over what was past.
"Easy, I'll help you." She said, reaching out to steady a hand as Rhia finally found her feet.
Rhia smiled at Cerys. Cerys smiled back. The woman stood a moment, looking to each other. Old and young, nothing alike except in the sparkle of their eyes. Both reached out at the same time and patted each other on the arm. Cerys pealed with laughter and hugged her spontaneously, then letting her go to help her move towards the group nearer the table.
"It has been too long child." Rhia said, her eyes suddenly misting over. "Much too long. You are so lovely, just like your mother."
Cerys helped her down onto a cushion. The brazier nearby was giving off warmth, and Rhia sighed and set her back to it. Cerys sat beside her, and offered her a plate of fruit and a goblet with some wine that she pulled off the edge of the table. Rhia shook her head and sat back, enjoying the plush cushion.
She passed the plate down to Nimli, and Perceval popped a whole date in his mouth as it made its way down the row further.
"Pig." Nimli said, and Perceval made snorting noises and rooted at her neck. They began laughing and Cerys giggled along with them, sipping at the goblet, her eyes floating over her friends.
"This is such a wonderful place. I remember many nights, dancing on this table." Rhia reflected as she ran a hand over the edge fondly.
Cerys laughed. "As we do now!" Both women chuckled at that. Some things never changed, and it was a wonderful thing.
"So, you are marrying the dark knight there." She pointed to Lancelot, who was talking with Arthur, the two of them laughing, reclined a few sections down. Lancelot caught their stares, and he winked. Cerys rolled her eyes.
"He also knows when someone is talking about him. Those ears burn so easily." She giggled. "Yes, I am, in two weeks at Equinox."
Rhia nodded. "Your mother knew he would be the one."
"Oh? How did she know?" Cerys asked, her curiosity peaked.
"The two of you were inseparable when you were children and he was newly here. He got into a fight with a large brute of a boy, twice his size, over you. I think the boys name was Owain. After that, he never let you out of his sight, when he could."
Cerys raised her eyebrows and looked over at Lancelot again. "I never knew. I always considered him just a close friend..." She trailed off, and took another sip of wine.
"You used to give him such temper tantrums when you would sit with the scout there." Rhia chuckled.
"You remember all this?" Cerys looked at Rhia.
"Owain was over the moon with you, and he announced that he was going to marry you when you were of age. Lancelot apparently jumped on him then and there and pummelled him so hard that he broke Owain's nose in three places! Dafydd had quite a time setting it, if I remember correctly."
Cerys had never remembered Owain telling her his intentions, nor had she remembered his nose. Injuries to the boys had been so common when they were in training. Even after she had returned from Powys, he had never said anything. He had been so sweet and gentle to her, all along. She had called him 'Gentle Giant'.
He had died not long after she had returned, in a skirmish just east, where the wall had been breached. They were supervising a crew patching it back up, when an arrow had come through the gap and sliced him clean through his jugular.
She pursed her lips. Lancelot had taken that death hard. Perhaps now she knew partly why. The two had never quite seen eye to eye, perhaps that had been the start of it.
"Really... now that is interesting." Cerys tapped her chin and winked at Rhia. She would have to ask Lancelot about that later. He had declared himself then? The man sure did take his time; she mused, and lightened her own mood as suddenly as she had remembered the sad memory.
Rhia tutted. "You whittle too much in your head child. Are you still a worrisome about those tally sticks as you used to be?"
Cerys laughed and kissed Rhia's cheek. This woman could not be fooled. Wrinkles or no, she was as sharp as an arrow.
The two women spent some time catching up, talking about the fort, news from the coast. Cerys settled in with her arm about Rhia and as they chatted, she watched the men slowly get up and leave the hall, one by one.
"The men are leaving." She murmured.
"They need to find him and make him remember." Rhia said. "His thoughts are what keep him from letting go. His memories he feels are dishonourable. I can see him feeling responsible for the Green One's death."
"He is so tortured Rhia. I worry about him. His brother can't even reach him anymore."
Both women were silent for a moment, thinking on Gawain and the predicament. Rhia sighed and patted Cerys' arm.
"It is not your worry anymore child. The men will help him, it just may take time."
Cery nodded. She smiled then and raised her hands above her head. "Here we are such sad women, when we have much to be happy about! I have you back to visit, we have a new friend in Wynn, and a new assistant for Dafydd! I am to be married..."
She stopped and giggled. "And... It seems my brother has finally met his match."
Cerys stopped giggling and watched Rhia pull her hand out from her lap and reach up, pulling a pin out of Cerys' hair. The other one fell slightly and Cerys pulled it out, handing it to her. Rhia smoothed them in her hands, her gnarled fingers rubbing the cameo, the lettering.
"They are beautiful in your hair." She said thickly. "When your Lancelot came into our village that night, I thought I was dreaming, seeing my Sabin's lion on his chest."
"Rhia, what made you give him these?" Cerys asked softly, putting her fingers on them, looking into the old woman's eyes. "He proposed to me with these."
Rhia sniffed and grunted. "I have no family save you, and I had no way of giving them to you. They helped him understand that he could love. He sat all night by the fire and looked at them, mumbling to himself. When he saw your face in them, I knew it was you he was tormented about."
Cerys realized then the reason for his complete exhaustion when he had come back. He had indeed not slept, but not due to keeping watch! He was thinking on her. He was thinking on these pins and what they meant. They had meant a great deal to him, and she finally understood.
Cerys felt very humbled and she swallowed. How she loved that man right then, even more than she could have ever thought.
"Does he not know that you are my aunt?" She asked, wondering if Rhia had mentioned that fact to him after he had seen her in the pins carvings.
Rhia waved a hand "It was not important. The fact that he saw you, that was enough. As far as he knew, I was a strange old woman who spoke in riddles and gave him no end of new questions to ponder."
Cerys laughed uproariously. She could see his face, frustrated beyond belief at Rhia fuddling his brain with riddles. It must have added to his confusion, her seeing her mother in the cameo.
Cerys suddenly had an idea.
"You are a priestess of Manawydan, aren't you?"
Rhia nodded, looking out the corner of her eyes at Cerys. "What have you got up your sleeve child?"
"Marry us." she said matter-of-factly, gesturing with her hand. "Arthur wants a Christian ceremony, but I would love no other to do it than you. You are my father's blood, and thus mine."
"Cerys, you are just like your father with your impetuousness. But, I will marry you and Lancelot, if Arthur agrees."
The women stopped talking as they heard the conversation, their smiles beaming. Guinevere looked especially pleased, and they gathered around at that point to talk about the wedding and all the preparations. Cerys stopped paying attention, her thoughts travelling back to Gawain and Gareth and his evident pain this evening. She thought on her own knight, his cousin now home to rest, his pain from last night still echoing in her ears as he had quietly sobbed the grief away.
Gawain needed someone whom he could do that with, she thought. He was the only one in the group of seven knights that did not have a lover or wife to go home to at night now. It had happened so fast, she hadn't even realized it until now. Perceval and Nimli, although she was denying it, were quite in love with one another.
There would be more weddings soon. Perhaps Rhia could visit for a few months?
Cerys sat back and fixed her eyes on the door. She hoped with all her might that the men were able to find Gawain and help him remember Gareth, so he could move on, and perhaps open himself to finding a love, to help him remember his happiness.
Dear Reader:
Now you know why so many people were reminded of Cerys when they saw her! She is not Arthur's blood, as Arthur and Cerys mothers were sisters. So Cerys' father was no blood relation to Arthur, hence Rhia would not be either. But she is for Cerys!
So despite the sad happenings, and Gawain's torment continuing, it is a happy place, the fort. And don't worry,I do plan on letting Arthur name the place. I have two ideas. One is the traditional, one would be much more fun. I haven't decided yet (wink).
I hope you enjoyed this brief respite and a chance for Cerys and Rhia to catch up. Do you have anyone that you should be visiting? I think on the relatives that I have that I haven't visited in so long, and I feel guilty. Perhaps this week I will take an evening to do so. I need to go visit my grandfathers resting place and bring him some Black-Eyed Susans and fresh wild raspberries. He would like that.
Here is to remembering those that are part of our lives, and in our thoughts if not always in our sight.
Cardeia
