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'Thoughts'

"Speech"

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KING ARTHUR:

Fallen Knights Return

Chapter Thirty-One – Epilogue

Three years to the day after Sandrina entered the fort she stood on Baden Hill, not far from the cemetery where she had first raised the three fallen knights, and took her vows with Tristan.

The ceremony was short and to the point, as neither she nor the scout wanted "too many hearts and flowers" as they put it. True to his word, Tristan asked Merlin to leave out the vow of 'obey'.

"Did you know it was the day we came?" She asked him afterward.

"How could I forget? It seemed right."

"You light my life." She sighed wrapping her arms around him and kissing him deeply.

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Alima was surprised that San, Guinevere, Ilara and Vanora was so keen to see her dressed well. "But it is your day San. Why should it matter what I look like?" She'd protested.

"Humour me." San used a tone that brooked no argument; the last time the knights themselves had heard it was when she was demanding to see Germanius' dungeon.

The younger woman was shocked to realise that it was her wedding too; so shocked that she was rendered speechless "Get on with it Merlin, before she recovers the power of speech and changes her bloody mind; though mayhap I should take a moment to enjoy the only time in my life when she does not harangue me with that harpy's tongue of hers!"

She flung her arms round his neck and kissed him soundly, Lancelot laughed and muttered "for a moment there I thought I might be about to wed you with another black eye!"

"That is supposed to be after the bloody vows!" Called out Bors.

After the vows were given and they drank from the gold cup, everyone cheered…

Except for Bors, gathering the knights and their women, he made them cry "RRROOOUUUSSS!"

Dagonet, laughing, turned to Ilara "Us soon?"

"Aye - us soon."

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It was actually two years later that Dagonet and Ilara finally married. "Dance?" he asked her, at the feast.

He called Lucan, "here take your brothers; whilst I dance with your mother."

Lucan and Bethan took the two little boys, one a year old and the other three years for a walk with the others in their little group; Milo (now two and a half),Celeste and Suriana (now two).

The boys' parents had died, the mother in childbirth and the father at his own hand through grief. They had no other family and Arthur knew immediately who would love them like their own. Ilara and Dagonet realised that San had been right, children had a way of finding you if they need you.

Lucan was fourteen now, a strapping lad who was still devoted to his Bethan. He had not taken kindly at all to being separated more from her most nights. But they had adapted, as they always did.

Bethan was twelve, and as wild as the wind. Her elemental ability far outstripping even her mother's now; she was a legend at the fort, and the spitting image of her father in every way, even down to her mannerisms. Her world revolved round her family, Lucan and, above and beyond all else, her knights; particularly Gawain.

She was fast becoming an expert scout, and as a warrior it was only her age and size holding her back. She had a temper to match her mother's, and a spirit that would dwarf the sun - according to the knights anyway. They adored her, each and every one of them; but Gawain most of all.

She had her own hawk now, Faith, and her new horse was named Charity. She said they matched her father's hawk Hope. She had found the hawk as a fallen hatchling; sitting in a tree motionless for nearly a day in case the parents returned – when they did not, she nursed it herself.

She had too her own Sarmatian blades, and a Woad bow. She had embraced all parts of her life and her heritage, and Merlin could not have been prouder. She carried his bloodline, and though it had been tainted with roman, he knew the Sarmatian and Briton blood would drown that out; it was proven in aught she did every day.

San was still a little sad at losing her constant companion only a month before, most at the fort were surprised at how she grieved for a mere dog.

But the knights all understood how he had been more than that to her. Midnight had been her rock, had been with her through battles and torments they knew they still did not know all of. She knew she would lose him one day, yet when it happened the pain was still palpable.

Arthur allowed him to be buried on Baden Hill, the only animal to do so, as a faithful friend to one of his knights. Tristan would often find her weeping by his grave, kneeling in the dirt – her hand on the small mound of earth whispering "I miss you my old friend…I miss you." her tears falling heedlessly to the ground.

Galahad had married Alesia, the year before. Gawain was still courting Ysabeau, and everyone felt it was only time until they too wed. None really knew what was holding them back, but felt their union was inevitable.

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Merlin stood on the battlements; five years, destiny's path had taken five years to go along. There had been many changes in that time; some good, some not so good. Losses too; but as he looked down on the festivities below him he was well pleased with the final outcome.

He looked at the two females who had brought all this about; and felt immense pride they were of his bloodline…..

Destiny's rewards for all involved would be great; but for those two, they would be immense. History would remember this king and his knights - because of them.

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"Little scout!" greeted Gawain "How are you? The wedding was a good one, was it not?"

"Not so much of the little any more, Gawain; I am twelve now." she laughed, running up to him and throwing her arms round his neck.

"Still 'little scout' to me though, always will be" he smiled. "Where is your Lucan?"

"Around; I wanted to escape the children for a while - I think he has them, so he will be seeking me soon enough fear not."

"I do not doubt you can avoid him if you wish!" Laughed the knight.

"Do not I always; how else would we be able to ride together uninterrupted?" She giggled. She glanced at Dagonet and Ilara "they look so happy, do they not?"

"Indeed they do."

"What of you?"

"What of me?"

"Why do you not wed Ysabeau?"

"Truth be told, we are happy as we are - if she becomes with child, then we will think again. But otherwise, we are happy…so…."

"So why upset the applecart?"

"Aye, in a nutshell as usual, Little Scout" He grinned, and then sighed "I only wish everyone else took the hint as easily as you do…"

"Tell them to go feed the bullshit to someone else!"

Gawain laughed loudly "What have I told you about your language! You will get all us knights executed if your mother found out!"

"I am careful around my mother, never fear!" She tilted her head to one side, "Oh God, they are coming; I best go, save me a dance?"

He had heard naught, but never did where she was concerned. So like her parents, hearing things the rest always missed. "Of course, could I deny aught to my dearest friend?" He grinned.

Moments after she had melted into the darkness, Lucan appeared – Gawain pointed back to the party, knowing it was the opposite direction his Little Scout had taken "I think she went that way…" He could swear he heard a whispered giggle behind him; He masked his face as best could so as not to reply in kind.

The lad rolled his eyes "I hate this, I always get bloody lumbered! Tis only because I am not as good as her at fighting! I would not mind but this one" he indicated a little boy with dark hair and plaits in it "Is her brother; bloody 'Little Scout', my arse!" His irritation did not reach his eyes, and Gawain knew he did not mean it, as he ambled off; towing the children behind him.

Lancelot rushed up and grabbed his daughters "I will take my little demons, Lucan!"

He looked down at the girls "Dada, Dada!" They cried together.

"You, my little minxes, what are devilry are you scheming now?" he knelt down, only to be knocked over by them.

They all three rolled around on the ground laughing and giggling. Three dark curly heads; the two little girls leapt up shrieking as Lancelot launched at them "I am going to get you and eat you all up! Yummy, yummy in my tummy!" he grabbed them again, tickling them until they were shrieking hysterically.

Tristan appeared out of the darkness and rolled his eyes "Your wife wishes your children off to bed Lancelot; though in truth I know not if that is to include you, child that you are."

Lancelot chuckled "Mayhap it does my friend, for you can be naught else but a child with these two!" he looked to his daughters once more "I will do it; come on my harpies, time to sleep. Dada tuck you in?"

"Dada, Dada! Story!"

Amila walked up, "I see Tris has passed on the message - time they were abed. " she kissed him deeply. Gawain and Tristan exchanged smirks.

"Moving furniture tonight then?" Gawain asked innocently. They all laughed, amazed at how that phrase had stuck even after all these years.

"Story Dada!" Celeste demanded cheekily.

"Well let me tell you the one about this beautiful witch who cast a spell on a poor handsome and charming knight; bewitching him until he fell desperately in love with her…." His voice faded away, as the four walked to their home.

"Your daughter went the way you just came - I think." Pointed Gawain.

"I saw her; we too will be going soon".

"I had better get back then – she asked me to dance with her…"

"Best not keep her waiting; you know what she is like..."

"Aye, able to sit motionless in a tree for hours just watching to see if her hawk's parents came back, but cannot wait five minutes for aught else!"

As if on cue "GAWAIN!" she appeared behind her father "we have to dance now; I must put Milo to bed soon." She tugged his hand impatiently "Come on…" for his part he allowed himself to be towed to where everyone was dancing.

She reeled a storm, everyone clapping and chanting, until she was breathless. She caught her father's eye, immediately knowing it was time to go.

She flung her arms round his neck "Thank you!" she gasped…

He swung her round until she was dizzy "goodnight Little Scout and sweet dreams" Gawain laughed planting a kiss on her cheek, watching as she tottered off. Milo hurried up to her "Befan, befan! carry Milo; befan - carry!"

Laughing she swung him into her arms and over her shoulder "where have you been my darling boy? Did you go with Lucan and leave your poor Bethan!"

He leant back, patted her face and kissed her cheek "Milo never leave his befan; Milo love befan!"

She hugged him tightly "oh, my little man; where would I be without you?"

Tristan and Sandrina watched her too "Remember how she was terrified you would love him more than her? Oftentimes I think she loves that boy more than she loves us!" laughed her mother, a lump in her throat.

Tristan nodded "We are very lucky San."

Bethan turned "I would never love anyone more than you two; but I do admit to loving my little man as much!" she grinned. "Come my little brother; let us put you to bed." She swung him onto her back.

"What we dream of befan?" All the knights heard it, the music stopping as people begin to filter away. They stopped to listen to the voice of the young girl speaking to her brother…..…..

"What?"

"What we dream of?"

"What do we always dream about little one? A wide open plain and us riding as fast as our horses will gallop across it; the sun on our backs, blue sky above us and the wind in our face, the freedom that comes with being able to run as far and as fast as you wish with naught to hinder you.

The solitude of a quiet wood with no disturbance save your own thoughts and the call of a bird; the excitement of a thunderstorm, where the thunder calls your name and writes your dreams in the lightening.

That is what we dream about Milo…what we always should dream about….freedom."

She reached up and patted the little hands round her neck. "and to know that we are lucky enough to have family and my knights – my friends - especially, who would care if we died tonight. You fill my soul with pride and my heart with love Milo….because of you, the knights and my parents I have not lost all faith in mankind.…I know we will prevail."

"What about the happy afters?"

She turned to look at the assembled knights, even Lancelot briefly returning to say goodnight "I have my happy ever after right here…."

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And so Destiny's wheels stop.

her path is at end; the story continues for these few - life rolls on now, as always; but our part in it, is done.

Will be doing a follow on for Bethan and Lucan, as loads have asked me.