A/N: So it's been a few days since I updated, because I got sick last week, and then had back-to-back 11-hour workdays (I love my new job, but those were still very long days!), so I had zero energy or motivation to write. On the bright side, during my breaks at work those past few days, I was able to do some serious plotting for some more stories! I have the sequel to this story thoroughly planned out, as well as a significantly shorter finale story, and an epilogue that will either end the finale story or be a standalone one-shot. I've also come up with almost 20 ideas for one-and two-shots for The Stories We Haven't Heard, so expect to see some activity over there in the relatively near future!
Please feel free to leave a review or shoot me a message with your thoughts on the chapter! I love to hear what you guys think!
Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
.*.*.*.*.*.
The next morning, the camp was packed up and ready to go within half an hour of sunrise. It seemed that everyone was very excited to reach Camelot. Even Evaine and her son had been securely bundled in the back of Ban and Helaine's cart, although she was clearly uncomfortable.
"I'll be alright," she chuckled slightly when Arthur checked in on her. "I'd much rather be where we're going than spend an extra day in the back of this cart."
Arthur smiled and bid her farewell, continuing his round of the caravan to make sure everyone else was ready. At the front of the line, Bors and Kei were already on their horses, the creatures prancing nervously from the excitement and anticipation radiating off of their riders. "Are we leaving yet?" Bors grumbled, shifting in his saddle.
"Yes," Arthur smiled, mounting his own horse. With a wave back at the first cart, the caravan started off for Camelot.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Cymbeline, Galahad, and Lamorak rode through the afternoon and night, finally arriving back at the fort midway through the morning. Cymbeline led the others straight to the round table room in the villa, stopping only to leave the horses with Jols at the stables. They entered in the middle of a table meeting, although the room immediately fell silent.
Guinevere rose smiling. "Galahad, Lamorak! Welcome back!"
"Where's Arthur?" Bedivere asked immediately.
"He's leading a group of our people here," Lamorak replied. "My and Grav's families, Galeschin's, Bors's, and a few others."
Guinevere nodded. "We'll make sure things are ready for them. Do you have any idea how long it'll take for them to get here?"
"A few more days," Cymbeline said. "Probably two or three, possibly four, depending on how much rain there is and how bad the mud gets. Carts can be hard to drag through that stuff."
Guinevere nodded again. "We'll have the barracks prepared; they'll need somewhere to stay, at least for the time being." She turned to Cymbeline. "What did your and Kei's scouting mission turn up?"
"Morgana and Nimue's forces are closing in on us," Cymbeline replied. "They've blocked off most of the roads away from the fort with either blockades or ambushes. The road that Arthur is taking is the last of the main routes they haven't gotten to. We'll have to watch that one to make sure they don't close in on it, at least not before Arthur and the others get back, and keep an eye on the others to make sure the Woads don't close in on us further."
Guinevere nodded. "We'll work with Ganis and his men to monitor the roads," she said, turning to look at the Breton captain of the guard, who nodded in affirmation. "How long did the three of you ride?" she asked, turning back towards the new arrivals.
"Since a little after midday yesterday," Galahad replied.
"No wonder you look so exhausted," Guinevere said. "Get some rest for the remainder of the day. We'll need you back tomorrow, though."
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Come on," Cymbeline grabbed Galahad by the arm and steered him away from the barracks. "I want to show you something. You can come too." She called the last phrase over her shoulder to Lamorak, who shrugged and followed along.
Galahad and Lamorak followed Cymbeline through the streets of the fort; the small town was already busy, full of people enjoying the slightly warmer weather and sunny—for the time being—morning. Stepping into the side addition of the fort's tavern, they entered the over-filled home of Bors and Vanora. Inside, they found Vanora and Olwyn, along with a small collection of children.
"Welcome back!" Vanora beamed, making her way through the children on the floor to embrace Cymbeline. "We weren't expecting you until later tonight or…" she trailed off as Galahad and Lamorak stepped into the room. With a grin, she hurried forward and pulled Galahad into a bear hug to rival one of Bors's. "Oh, it's been too long since I've seen you," she stepped back, her hands remaining on Galahad's arms as she looked him up and down. "Where's Bors?"
"He's on his way," Galahad replied. "Along with Gawain and Galeschin's families. He found his father and brought him back, too, and…"
"And what?" Vanora demanded.
"Well, he's told you about the woman he was with back in Sarmatia?" Galahad immediately regretted ever bringing the subject up.
"Yes, and that she had died in childbirth after he left," Vanora's eyes narrowed. "Are you telling me that she didn't?"
"Well, no," Galahad replied. "She did die, but… the child didn't."
"Really?" Vanora's face relaxed. "Did the child come back with you?"
"Yes," Galahad nodded. "He's a boy, named Elyan. He's nearly twenty, very clever, and a decent fighter, if a little…"
"Excitable?" Lamorak suggested.
"That's the word," Galahad laughed.
"Well, I can't wait to meet him," Corentin, one of Vanora's 8-year-old twins piped up. "I like having older brothers."
"Another one just means that we'll have another person to play with," Yannick, the other twin, grinned.
"You mean 'torment'?" Vanora arched an eyebrow.
"No," the twins chorused.
"Right," Vanora shook her head, smiling. "Well, welcome back, and to you too," she looked around Galahad at Lamorak. "Did your family return with you?"
"Yes," Lamorak grinned.
"In that case, I look forward to meeting them," Vanora smiled.
"I brought them here to meet the triplets," Cymbeline spoke up, and Galahad noticed the small child held in her arms. The baby was dressed in a simple shift and pants, and was waving around a little soft toy, babbling happily. She had downy bronze curls and big blue eyes, and reached towards Galahad when he came close, opening and closing her empty fist in a grabbing motion. "Careful, she will yank your hair," Cymbeline grinned as she passed Bella over. "Her name is Bellicent, after my mother."
"She looks like Gawain," Galahad laughed.
"Doesn't she?" Cymbeline grinned.
"Hello there," Galahad grinned at the baby, bouncing her slightly on his hip. "I'm your uncle Galahad. It's nice to meet you."
Cymbeline laughed as she crossed the room, another baby in her arms. "This is Rhience. That's Lot," she pointed towards Sallem, Vanora's five-year-old, who was playing with the baby boy.
"He doesn't look like either of you," Galahad teased, reaching a hand out towards Rhience, who grabbed his finger curiously and tried to pull it into his mouth.
"No, he doesn't," Cymbeline grinned. "Although my Uncle Jorah swears that he looks like my father did when he was little, so I suppose his name is fitting. And watch out, he's teething."
"Ow," Galahad carefully pulled his hand away from Rhience's grip as the baby chomped down with an emerging tooth. "I can feel that."
"Who's this?" Lamorak asked, picking up a baby that had crawled over and started pulling on his trousers.
"That's Jennie, Vanora's baby girl," Cymbeline replied. "She's about a month and a half older than mine."
"Here, I'll trade you," Vanora grumbled, swapping two-year-old Llamrei for Jennie. "You all look hungry; I'm guessing you rode all night?"
"Yes," Cymbeline followed Vanora through to the tavern's kitchen.
"Well, there's some leftover oatmeal from this morning," Vanora called over her shoulder. "Or I can make something else up before I start getting ready to open for the day."
"Oatmeal is fine, Van," Cymbeline smiled gratefully. "We're just hungry."
"Well, there are also some early berries—careful, they're a little bitter—and I'll bring you some bread and bacon," Vanora continued.
"Do you want a hand?" Cymbeline asked, watching as Vanora started bustling around the kitchen, baby Jennie still on her hip.
"No, I'm alright," Vanora called. "And Lamorak, you can put Llamrei down at any time, he just fell and bumped his knee and started crying, so I picked him up."
"Okay," Lamorak grinned. He babbled at the toddler in his arms, earning happy giggles that contradicted the lingering tears on the boy's face.
"Go ahead and sit down," Vanora called over her shoulder.
Knowing better than to contradict the fearsome woman, the knights filed out into the dining room of the tavern, where they found a few of the older children. "Cymbeline!" Tyra and Sebille squealed, jumping up and running to hug the young woman. Ten-year-old Gilly grinned and waved at Galahad, but returned his focus back to the object on the table in front of him.
The knights sat down at the table with the children. "What are you looking at?" Galahad leaned to peer over Gilly's shoulder.
"Cymbeline said that if I can learn to take care of a weapon, that it's the first step to learning to use one," Gilly explained, showing Galahad the knife he was sharpening, "so I've been helping Tyra and Sebille and Tristan with theirs."
"Well, it looks like you're doing a very good job with it," Galahad smiled.
"Uncle Galahad?" Tyra asked, looking up from her own work, fastening fletching to arrows.
"Yes?" Galahad said, shifting Bellicent on his lap.
"If you're here, does that mean our father is back too?" Tyra asked.
"Well, not just yet," Galahad explained. "He's on his way, though. He'll be here in just a few more days. And he's very excited to see all of you."
"And he's bringing a new big brother with him!" Corentin popped up on the bench beside Gilly.
"Yes, that's right," Galahad nodded.
"A new big brother?" Sebille repeated.
"What do you mean?" Tyra asked.
"Your parents will explain when your father gets back," Galahad replied. "I'm not sure that they—or at least your father—will be entirely happy that I told you in the first place. But I will say that your brother is a very friendly and nice person, and I'm sure you'll all like him very much."