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Chapter 13 – Pledge (II)
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"and...", Gawain groaned as he narrowed his eyes and grabbed the iron-bars "I can't believe they lock us in the confinement, just perfect".
Bedivere munched the sandwich as his breakfast "just consider ourselves as lucky... we still properly get to eat, drink, sleep and take a bath here".
Lancelot narrowed his eyes and lifted his spoon pointedly "I don't think I want to hear it from you who caused us to get confined here, cousin".
Bedivere reminded them "in fact, I am the only one who should be confined under house arrest, but you and Gawain persisted to get confined here with me".
Gawain hugged him "well, what do you expect from us? I don't want to leave you get confined alone here, my friend!".
"thank you very much for your consideration", Bedivere patted his friend's head before he told him under the whisper "it seems like the Holy Knights take turns to watch us and the Pleiades of Azure Sky members are the ones who watch over them today".
They knew very well that they were watched, intensely. However, they pretended to not aware of them and playing to be innocent teenagers here.
Lancelot put the plate of bacon and egg-fried with breads on the table before grumbling as he ate it "seriously, they treat us like we're rebellious teenagers, or kids who just throw tantrums, so they locked us here to make us behave. We're too old for this!".
For once, Bedivere agreed with him "yes, we are".
Gawain mockingly said as he stirred the spoon on his green tea "oh? Why don't you say it out loud that you just missed Lady Gwen and little Mash?".
Lancelot throttled Gawain without doubt "I'm gonna strangle you".
"you two, stop it", Bedivere put his hands on their faces to separate them "I wonder how those kids behave in the Castle".
When the night had fallen, Denzel came to Zaratras' house where the three of them were confined and told them that he and Pleiades of Azure Sky would be stationed on the borderlines. Before Denzel left, he trailed off in front of the door "...just so you know, Alexandria and her siblings are stationed in West wing near princess Elizabeth's chamber because my niece visits them every day".
Bedivere smiled thankfully "...how is she doing?".
Denzel shrugged "not much progress, unfortunately. She's still asleep, though Lady Gwen is stationed there as her nurse by my brother. Lady Gwen even chose to stay there with her daughter".
Bedivere crossed one hand before his chest and bowed "I see. It's more than enough to know. Thank you very much, Sir Denzel".
Denzel only waved his hand and after he left, Bedivere turned to his comrades "are you ready?".
Lancelot and Gawain grinned and grinned, lifting their thumbs "always!".
Mordred dropped her head further, burying her face on the bedside "I am so damn bored".
Tristan poked her cheek "sister, language. No cursing in front of the princess".
Elizabeth waved her hand "it's alright".
Lady Gwen stuck as a nurse in a room where Arthuria, Mordred, and Tristan were placed. Obviously, she also brought Mash with her. They were still under strict watch due to Denzel's order. Pleiades of Azure Sky members who watched over this place every day in the shift was the proof. Hendrickson and Dreyfus also watched them over, from how Holy Knights constantly watched them over every day. It seemed only Dogedo and Waiyo who was watching over them this day.
As usual, Waiyo seduced her "marry me, Lady Gwen".
Lady Gwen smiled sweetly and pinched his hand hardly "in your dream. I'm a widow, you know? Also, I prefer the faithful man and I don't want to hear that line from you of all people, because I know the woman you've proposed is not only me".
Mash wrapped her arms around her mother's torso and glared to Waiyo disdainfully "...disgusting, just stay away from my mother".
Dogedo laughed hardly "perhaps you can ask advice from Sir Dreyfus? Or that little kiddo Oliver".
Waiyo stared to sleeping Arthuria over Gwen's shoulder "oh, right. All of us shocked to know that he's engaged with this little lady. I wonder how does she look like when she's turned into mature woman. I bet she'd turn into such a beauty".
Mordred stabbed Waiyo's eyes with her fingers (good kids, please don't take her as an example, it's not good) "unfortunately, she's taken already".
Lady Gwen was quite surprised to see how Mordred accepted the fact that her sister would be engaged with Bedivere "...I thought you don't like Oliver?".
"yes, I don't like it when my sister is taken or stolen away by anyone", Mordred admitted with flushed cheeks "but I prefer to let her stay with someone she loved, which I prefer as a good man for her sake. As long as she's happy, it's also my happiness".
Elizabeth patted Mordred's head "there, there, you're really a good girl. I know it. That's why I know your father and the Sins are also good people".
"I only hope they come to pick us sooner", Mordred mumbled as she leaned her head on the bedside "I hope older sister will wake up sooner too".
Just like Mordred, Tristan leaned his head on the bedside "big sister is sleeping too long... when will she wake up?".
"if she ever wakes up", Gwen didn't have the heart to say it out loud. Instead, she caressed Tristan's head and offered warm smile "she will, when she's healthy enough".
After Gwen asked Dogedo and Waiyo to take care of the kids here, Gwen told Mash stay with them "I just want to take my works in Sir Hendrickson's laboratory, okay? I'll be right back".
Mash nodded her head and hugged her after Gwen kissed her forehead "okay. Be careful, mother".
Once she was sure her daughter was out of sight, Gwen smiled sadly, looking down to the dagger in her hand that she tucked under her sleeve "forgive me, my daughter. I have to do this to save you, even if it means I have to stain my hands with blood".
When the night had fallen, Tristan lifted his harp "you wouldn't mind if I played this for my sisters, Sir?".
Waiyo smiled and nodded his head "sure! I'd like to hear it, instead".
Mordred leaned her chin on her palm and glanced sideways "by the way, Ellie, you're not going back to your room?".
"Nope, I'm sleeping here with you guys", Elizabeth puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms before her chest "I have a fight with Veronica!".
Ah. This was the usual, and Mordred was used to it "and? What did she do to you again this time?".
Elizabeth told her about how annoying Veronica because she kept pestering Elizabeth to not get closer to Meliodas' children because they were criminal's children. Waving her hands upon the air, Elizabeth fumed "I can't believe it at all, Bella! How dare she? After what Alexa did for me! I mean, your older sister is dying because of protecting me! How could she believe the bad rumors of your father instead and told me to stay away from you guys? It's nonsense!".
Tristan calmly stated "considering what happened right now and our status, no wonder".
"Triss, you aren't helping at all...", Mordred tapped Elizabeth's shoulder, promising her that she would beat Veronica on their training "don't worry, Ellie. I'm gonna knock some senses to her!".
Mash stated the matter of fact "but how could you possibly beat her when you can't even get out of this place?".
Tristan said with sing-song tone "very smart, Mash~".
Mordred was about to strangle Tristan but she felt the magic seeped through the music that coming out of Tristan's harp "oh, he started...".
After Waiyo and Dogedo fell asleep, Mash used her Clairvoyance and lifted her thumb "good job, Triss. Right now, all people in the Capital of Liones Kingdom have fallen asleep, save for us who will leave".
When Mordred, Tristan, and Mash were having their high-five, Elizabeth cluelessly asked "um... can you explain to me what do you mean with you're leaving?".
Mordred, Tristan, and Mash exchanged glances when they saw Elizabeth was still awake before Mash tilted her head, interested "strange, how is the princess not affected by Triss' magic?".
"Nah, matters not. I believe Ellie", Mordred waved her hand before turning to Elizabeth sadly "we will leave the Capital, Ellie. We have planned to run away from here tonight".
"WHAT? WHY?", Elizabeth gasped, covering her mouth when the trio shushed her while lifting their forefinger to their mouth. Elizabeth rolled her eyes to where Dogedo and Waiyo were still asleep before she sighed in relief. She shouldn't be too loud. Looking up, she demanded the explanation "wait, I understand why. Surely, you will want to find your father, but you will come back, right?".
Mordred shook her head "we're so sorry. This is separation for good, Ellie. We will not go back here".
Elizabeth couldn't accept it. She gritted her teeth. She didn't want to leave her home, her older sisters and her father. She didn't want to make them all worried but she also didn't want to get separated from them even more.
Lifting her head up, Elizabeth squeezed her hands "then let me come with you".
Mordred, Tristan, and Mash tilted their head before they said in unison "huh?".
One more time, Elizabeth pleaded "let me come with you! I don't want to get separated from you guys!".
Tristan opened his mouth, about to ask her "but—".
"if she truly wants to come with us, then let her be".
They turned their head to see Lady Gwen came back with Bedivere, Lancelot, and Gawain.
Mash gasped and approached her mother when she saw the blood-stained clothes of her mother "mother! These blood are—".
Gwen smiled and squeezed her shoulders "not my blood, honey. I'm okay, just a scratch".
After he explained to Mash that Hendrickson tried to kill Gwen in the laboratory when Gwen tried to gather all her research journals, Lancelot suggested them to hurry up "more importantly, we have to leave right away. Who knows when will they wake up?".
At first, they felt doubt to bring Elizabeth with them but Elizabeth so persisted. After Gawain told her that they would not come back here and he explained the routes they would take, Elizabeth told them all that she wanted to come with them even more. Elizabeth didn't feel this place like her home anymore, especially not after Meliodas' departure. Now they wanted to leave as well, it only made Elizabeth feel lonelier and she didn't want to 'unable to see them again'. Elizabeth was only the third princess, adopted princess even. She had nothing to do with the throne, nor she interested on being the Queen. She was just a nuisance, an obstacle, worthless, discardable burden.
"Besides, you said you wanted to go to check the Danafor Kingdom, right? That's where I was born. I want to see it, no matter what people said about how nothing we can see there".
Tristan turned to his comrades "we still have time until after the midnight. After the midnight, the effect of my magic power will wear off. Choose now".
Lancelot raised his eyebrow "to whom you referred?".
Tristan shrugged "since our leader is still asleep, whoever is on charge".
Bedivere didn't feel up to be the leader here, and all eyes turned into Mordred who gawked "me!?".
Gawain said in sing-song tone "obviously, you are her True Heir, you said".
Mordred grumbled, running her fingers on her hair "geez... this is not a good move at all, you know?".
However, when she saw how Elizabeth stared to her pleadingly, Mordred only could groan "argh... fine, but do it quickly, Ellie. Let's go back to your room and gather what you need when each of us leaves the letter to whoever we want".
Elizabeth's face lit up and she squealed in delightful before hugging Mordred. Tip-toeing, they went to Elizabeth's room, and there, they took what they could and they would need before each of them wrote the letter that they left on Elizabeth's room.
Unbeknownst by them all, when they rushed out of Elizabeth's room, Denzel and Deathpierce leaned their back on the wall in the corner. Deathpierce asked Denzel if this was alright and Denzel only could sigh heavily, hoping the best for his adopted niece.
That night, four horses with nine riders left the Capital of Liones Kingdom.
Mordred said over her shoulder as she seated on the same horse with Gawain "goodbye, Liones!".
Gwen laughed, overprotectively secured Mash and Elizabeth in front of her "still, I can't believe that we successfully left!".
Repositioning Tristan on his seat, Lancelot asked Bedivere "do you think you know to where we should go?".
"I do", Bedivere gently cradled sleeping Arthuria on his front "from her words to me, I only can refer to that place. Avalon, where the Lady of the Lake takes reside".
Lady Gwen reminded them "don't forget, we have to pass by the Danafor Kingdom first. Perhaps, this is a roundabout route, but we can find the Sins there".
Elizabeth lifted her head "eh? How could you know, Lady Gwen?".
Gwen smiled and winked, lifting her forefinger to her lips "I am a seer, princess. I can know what will happen in the future sometimes".
Mordred, Bedivere, Tristan, Lancelot, Gawain, and Mash said in unison with the resolve of the Knights they held for their King "this is the beginning of our journey, for our King".
The next morning, on the throne room, King Baltra, Hendrickson, and Dreyfus were having an important meeting. Griamore and Gilthunder rushed with Veronica and Margaret, they barged into the room in distraught.
Margaret rushed to King Baltra with teary-eyed "father, Elizabeth disappeared!".
Gilthunder offered the letters on their hands "Uncle! Look at what we've found!".
Dreyfus took the letter and opened Bedivere's letter first.
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Gilthunder, forgive me for leaving your side at a hard time like this. However, when you read this letter, I've been outside the Capital, somewhere, wherever it is. I should try my best luck and there's something important I should do outside, so I decided to leave. There's a place named Avalon in which the water can heal every kind of wounds and it's also the place where all souls go after they pass away or before they go to the next world. I heard about it from Druids elders of my homeland before I left my homeland once. Hopefully, with bringing her there, Alexandria can open her eyes again and her eyes can heal, so she will not be blind and still can see the world. If she lost her sight and turned blind, I would never forgive myself for unable to protect her. I can't afford to fail her again. I'm afraid... if she lost her sight, she would lose her light and her smile would disappear. I can't let it happened again, ever.
Forgive me for my selfishness, I know you will be disappointed for the kind of an older brother I am, for how selfish my actions without even considering to tell you or even to just tell a goodbye. However, just like princess Margaret for you, that's what Alexandria for me. She means everything, the center of the world for me. If I were to be a Knight, she would be my King. This world without her is a living hell for me. That far I need her by my side. I know this is a hard time for us, but I hope you're gonna be okay in the Capital with everyone.
Uncle Dreyfus, uncle Hendrickson and King Baltra, I hope you all can take a good care of my little brother. He may be young and reckless sometimes, but I believe he will be defendable man and Great Holy Knight just like father, Great Holy Knight Zaratras. I apologize once more time, because I will not go back to the Capital even after I bring Alexandria to Avalon. I will go to travel around Britannia to find the Sins and attest it, that they are innocent. I don't believe they are the ones who kill my father so I have to find the truth myself, for I don't even know to whom I can believe other than Alexandria.
Regards, Oliver.
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Dreyfus crushed the letter in his hand and punched the wall nearby "you're stupid, Oliver!".
"and not only him", Hendrickson sighed in defeat "not only that Marlo and Leon followed Oliver and Alexandria, bringing Bellatrix and Tristan with them, but also Lady Gwen brought Mash with all. And to think princess Elizabeth knew all of this but decided to come with them instead...".
Unbeknownst by them all, when they were in chaos, Hendrickson hid his smirk "it won't be long, Lady Gwen... you are not gonna survive it...".
There was a collective of sneezes from the rest of the group this morning "ACHO!".
Gawain rubbed his nose "geez, I wonder if they found our letters already and bad-mouthing us?".
Lancelot and Mash nodded their head "indeed".
Mordred asked "how far we're from the Danafor Kingdom from our location here?".
"just a village and we will arrive there. We will need to drop by, to refill our supply", Bedivere lowered the map on his hand, looking down to Arthuria who still asleep "hopefully, we can find a doctor there to check on her. Not to mention, we also need to rest".
"I agreed. Even with my Harp of Healing, she's not fully recovered yet", Tristan felt glad that at least, he could call his Noble Phantasm Failnaught (Fantasia of Lamentation) that was planted in his body, just like his comrades. Speaking of which, Tristan turned to the pale-looking woman "...Lady Gwen, of what I've seen from last night, you look so pale. Are you okay?".
"oh, no... this is just...", Gwen handed Mash to Lancelot and asked him "take care... of her...".
Elizabeth reached out her hand and gasped as Gwen collapsed backward and Lancelot caught her "Lady Gwen!".
When they brought Gwen to the doctor, the doctor said that Gwen was poisoned "the spreading of this poison is slow, but lethal. At this point, nothing I can do as a doctor. We're so sorry".
Mordred demanded as she shook the doctor's body "you are a doctor, right? Don't just give up this easily! Save her!".
"it's too late. Other than a doctor, I also a cleric so I know, this is not only a mere poison but also a curse and with the curse has reached her heart, nothing we can do to save her".
It was just like the cleric said, even Bedivere and Elizabeth couldn't heal her. Their healing power was not powerful enough to heal her. Bedivere's healing power was not too useful here because of the curse. Elizabeth couldn't break the curse either. Just if Arthuria woke up, perhaps they could ask her to try but even if she woke up now, she just recovered and there was no way she could heal and break the curse on Gwen at the same time.
Mash cried on top of her mother's chest as she fisted the blanket "why... why could I not do anything to heal her?".
"why...", Lancelot looked the most shaken "why did you not tell us at all? Why?!".
"because I know it's no use. I have seen my own death last night, ever since Sir Hendrickson stabbed me with that poisonous dagger", Gwen sighed, her pale skin turned into ashen. She asked Lancelot to come closer before handing the dagger to him "...I apologize, I don't know why but I think you are the only one I can ask. Train her, to the point she's strong enough to defend herself and protect others. Give this holy dagger to Mash when she's mature and ready to fight".
Lancelot gritted his teeth. Guinevere. Gwen. Why couldn't he just save and protect the woman he loved? Lancelot took the holy dagger from her and took a deep, shuddering breath "...I will. You don't have to worry about her. I will raise her, with a pledge that I took from my deepest heart, I will raise her to the strong woman like you".
"I am not strong at all", Gwen chuckled. In her mind, she saw an image of her daughter who had grown into a strong warrior, holding a gigantic crucifix shield and standing side by side with her fellow comrades (Mordred, Bedivere, Lancelot, Gawain, and Tristan) behind her King, Arthuria. Gwen sighed heavily, she caressed Mash's head "...we have to get separated here, huh? I'm sorry... I have to leave you now...".
Mash cried out, she had to admit, she didn't too remember her mother in her previous life so she didn't want to lose her "no, mom! Don't leave me!".
Gwen told them all to keep her journal where she had written everything they would need. This was the last thing she could do as an adult for them all, she said. Cupping her wet, tear-stained cheeks, Gwen smiled weakly, sincerely as she stared to Mash and Lancelot "how strange... I do hope you are far older than me, Marlo... no, I mean, Lancelot. I don't know why Mash called you with that name, but I have a hunch feeling it's your real name. I like it. Just if you're older than me, I think I will fall into you... if Mash doesn't mind with you becoming her father, that is".
When they asked her to get herself together and stay with them, which impossible, Gwen told them all to take care of each other and closed her eyes slowly "...I'm too tired and sleepy. I guess I will leave now".
After she breathed her last, they let themselves having their breakdown in their own way. In her last words that they read on her research journals, Gwen told them there was a beautiful lake near the Danafor with a flower garden. She wrote on the last page, that she hoped she could visit there but if she hadn't had the chance, at least she wanted her body was thrown into the lake. They went to the lake near the flower garden that she wrote for her funeral.
"as you wished, Gwen", Lancelot crouched and threw her body sinking into the lake "rest in peace".
All of them lifted their hands and lowered their head further, praying.
Elizabeth wiped her tears and looked up with resolve on her eyes to fix what was wrong in Liones when she and her comrades were ready "let's go, to the Danafor Kingdom".