Chapter 5
The knights spent the night preparing for the next day.
Long before dawn Lancelot made his way to the stables with a view to being the first. After his latest experiences with Melyo he feared that his horse would cause more trouble when he tried to saddle him and he wanted to spare himself another disgrace. It would be hard enough to hide his injured foot but Lancelot didn't want to admit that his stallion had been already successfull in playing his tricks.
He entered the stables, an apple in his pocket as usual but this time the fruit was intended to be a bribery.
Lancelot put his baggage down and carefully approached his horse. Melyo turned curiously his head, but as soon as he recognized Lancelot he looked away and ignored his master.
"Hey, Melyo, look. I've got something for you", Lancelot shouted. The horse didn't react.
Lancelot took the apple out of his pocket and put it in front of Melyo's snout.
The stallion hesitated for a brief moment, looked suspiciously at Lancelot and finally took the apple.
Lancelot grinned satisfied.
"You see, it works. If you stop this stupid behavior and if you're a good boy I've got more apples for you!"
The horse just snorted and turned its head away.
Lancelot looked at the sky and realized that he soon would have to prepare the horse for the knights' mission if he wanted to be finished when his fellow knights arrived in the stables.
Carefully Lancelot began to saddle his horse. But to his surprise the stallion was happy with the saddle.
Still skeptical and mistrustful Lancelot started to bridle his mount. The horse even didn't try to resist being bridled.
With great relief Lancelot finished his work and patted the animal's neck.
The beginning nervousness of nearly all other horses in the stables told Lancelot that he finished just in time before the knights and Jols arrived.
"At long last! We'll wait outside" with these words Lancelot took hold of Melyo's reins and led the black stallion out of the stables.
The knights exchanged surprised glances. It was the first time that Lancelot was prepared for a mission before his fellow knights.
But shortly after Lancelot had left the stables loud curses where heard:
"No, wait.. Damn you, you bloody nag!"
"What is he doing there?" Galahad asked the question all knights where dealing with.
"That's a good question. I've no idea but I'll find it out." Arthur turned round and went to the yard to see what was going on there. Gawain, Galahad and Bors followed curiously.
Outside the stables they found a sight for sore eyes.
Melyo was standing on the yard as still as a monument. But as soon as Lancelot tried to throw his saddlebag over the mount's back Melyo started running across the yard. When the stallion noticed that Lancelot wasn't right behind him he immediately stopped, waited for Lancelot and the game repeated.
First the knights couldn't believe their eyes but then the funny side of this situation gained the upper hand and so there wasn't a dry eye in the place.
Lancelot blushed when he saw Arthur, Galahad, Gawain and Bors standing outside, watching him and laughing. To cap it all Tristan, Dagonet and Jols joined the knights, attracted by the loud laughter.
Lancelot stopped trying to catch his horse and turned to Arthur and the knights, his face deep red. Immediately Melyo came to a stop.
In a rage Lancelot looked at his friends darkly. Gnashing his teeth he remarked: "I thought we should leave at first light. As far as I see I'm the only one who's ready to leave." This was just a miserable attempt to keep the last bit of his proud.
Gawain grinned and asked innocently: "Ah, and to make wait pass more quickly you're doing some extra fitness training?"
Lancelot was on the verge of attacking Gawain when Arthur intervened.
"He's right. We've got orders and these orders say that we've to leave as soon as possible. Get ready! And you", he turned to Lancelot, "keep your anger for these criminals!"
Still giggling the knights returned to the stables.
Despite the delay the knights left the fortress at sunrise.
When Melyo had realized that all spectators had left he had stopped causing further trouble.
Luckily the prisoners had given away where the knights approximately would find the main camp of the thieves. But it was still a long way and it would take at least one day to reach this camp.
As usual the knights spent the time talking but they all carefully avoided mentioning Lancelot's problems with his new horse. Although it was very tempting, they did without it. All knights knew Lancelot's temperament.
Even if the knights had enjoyed their days off they all were glad to be able to leave Badon Hill even if they left for a mission for the Roman Empire. But even that was better than being caged in the fortress like an animal.
Not long after their departure Arthur rode up with Lancelot.
"Let me guess what you're thinking about."
Lancelot, deep in his thoughts looked surprised at his closest friend. He even hadn't heard Arthur's stallion approaching.
"Try it, if you want", he said.
"You think that this will be a welcome opportunity for you to take revenge for Toros' death."
"You know me better than I thought. That was indeed my thought."
"I understand your feelings. But bear it that we need some of these criminals alive. I want to avoid a third mission if we miss some of these guys again. And if they're all dead no one can talk! "
"I'll think about it."
The morning passed without any incidents. Even Melyo didn't cause any trouble.
During the afternoon Tristan who was out scouting as usual returned.
"No sign of Woads or Saxons. But there's a river ahead which we'll have to cross. I found a ford two or three miles upriver. The river is in flood due to the thaw but the ford is still negotiable", he reported.
"We'll take this ford. Lead the way!", Arthur ordered.
In no time Arthur and his knights reached the ford.
Tristan was the first who crossed the ford and one by one the knights followed. The river was indeed in flood and so the water washed around the horses' legs and nearly reached their chests.
Lancelot looked skeptically at the river and followed Arthur. He left it to Melyo to find a way through the water.
But when the black stallion arrived the deepest place he suddenly took up position on his hind legs. Lancelot was completely surprised by this unexpected movement of his horse and so he had no chance to keep his balance. Just a few moments later he found himself down in the ice-cold water.
Arthur who had just crossed the ford took notice of Lancelot's fall and immediately turned his horse over.
As soon as Lancelot had recovered from his fright he stood up. To his luck the current wasn't very strong but the water still reached his hip.
He gave his horse an angry look and then glanced at his fellow knights.
"N-n-no, I-I-I d-don't be i-i-i-in such a-a-an urgent n-n-need o-o-of a b-bath, yes, I-I l-l-like s-swimming in m-m-m-midwinter and I-I-I always s-s-swim fully d-d-dressed. S-some o-o-other clever r-r-remarks I've f-f-forg-g-gotten?" he chattered.
Arthur scrutinized his closest friend and asked: "You're hurt?"
"N-n-no, j-j-j-just w-wet and c-c-cold" Lancelot answered while he made his way to the bank, ignoring Arthur's help offering hand.
Arthur looked at the dripping wet knight in front of him and then at the sky. The sun was already low.
"We'll stay the night here. Get firewood", he ordered.
While Gawain, Galahad and Dagonet disappeared into a nearby forest looking for wood Lancelot let his gaze wander over the wide place between the river and the forest. He found his horse near the forest nibbling at a low branch.
He walked across the meadow to get some dry clothes from his saddlebag, still chattering.
"Hey, I-I s-s-should ca-call you T-T-Troublem-maker, this name would suit you very well", he shouted to Melyo. Before he reached his horse Arthur appeared, his own blanket in his hands.
"Here, take this and go back. I'll get your horse."
Lancelot hesitated for a moment but then he took the blanket.
"Thanks. Be careful. He's deceitful", he warned his friend before he went back to the camp.
The fire was already burning and just now Lancelot realized how cold it was indeed. He sat down near the fire and enjoyed the warmth of the flames.
Luckily Bors drew the knights' attention to himself when he started to yawn.
"Vanora kept you on the go, I suppose", Gawain remarked.
"Yes, are you jealous?" Bors aked innocently.
Gawain didn't answer.
In this moment Arthur returned, Lancelot's dry clothes in his hands.
"Put them on. It will be warmer than these wet clothes."
Lancelot took the clothes and disappeared into the forest to get changed.
He finally felt the warmth returning in his body and he stopped shaking.
The evening passed and the knights llaid down to sleep.
In the morning they started off at sunrise. This time Melyo followed the other horses without any problems.
It was around noon when suddenly all hell broke out.
Tbc
Drakcir: Welcome back and thank you very much for the two reviews ;-) As Bors said in the fourth capter: The horse is just as stubborn as its master.
maroonraspberry: Thanks :-) Such an interview was indeed also decisive for this story. I hope you liked the fifth chapter.