Alright, alright, I'm sorry. I have a life. But here it is, without firthur ado, the long awaited (I'm sure) chapter seven! It's extra LONG too...see bottom for more notes...
disclaimer: nothing I own.
"Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug."
"Life isn't fair.It's just fairer than death, that's all."
Ethan
For some reason when I open my eyes, it's Dillon holding my hand, not Rochelle. He notices just as quickly and drops it. "Oh, gross." A bigger show than necessary is made of wiping his hand off on his pants. "I have Ethan-cooties."
I would be more worked up about the "Dillon-cooties" that are inevitably on me, but right now the location of my girlfriend has higher priority.
"Dillon, there are NO such thing as cooties; we figured this out in fifth year, remember?" Matt rolls his eyes. From an out-of-earshot standpoint, he would look for all the world like a noble exasperated with his foolish servant. "I can't believe we're actually having this conversation."
"Rochelle-I mean, Amalie- is still missing." I remind them with a calmness that I don't feel. "She could be anywhere."
"Oh, right, my dear sister. Where do you think she- oh, look. There she is."
I look and see Rochelle being helped up about a hundred yards away by some medieval-looking dude. He kisses her hand, smiling a cocky smile in her direction. He's holding her hand way too long. Is that really necessary?
"Wow, Ethan. Jealous much? She loves you, remember."
I send Matt a glare. "It's not her that I'm worried about."
Dillon's cracking up, but I can't tell if it's me or the expression on Rochelle's face. We're over here. I project my thoughts as loudly as I can. Matt groans and elbows me. Okay, so maybe every Truth-seeing Order member knows we're here, but at least so does Rochelle. She sends a look of relief quickly my way, and Matt begins to walk over there. As loyal servants, Dillon and I follow.
"Greetings, good sir." Matt instantly steps into the role of esteemed noble and knight. "Thank you for helping my maidservant. She likes to think she's good with directions."
To her credit, Rochelle doesn't even glare at Matt. Instead, she uses the distraction to free her hand gently and retreat behind him with Dillon and me.
"You okay?" we murmur at the same time. She grins and squeezes my hand quickly to let me know she's fine. Beside me, Dillon pretends to choke.
"Yes, I'm fine too, thanks for asking," he whispered. I would hit him, but the fizziness from Rochelle's touch hasn't gone away. That could get very distracting. I try to focus on what Matt and the gentleman are saying instead. They seem to be getting on rather well.
"You are a knight in the service of King Arthur?" Matt asks, seeming just a little surprised. I don't blame him. This man is wearing the simple tunic and riding outfit as a peasant.
"Yes." The man smiles, making him look almost boyish. It's an open, honest smile. "My name is Sir Lancelot."
"Whoa." Rochelle mutters next to me. "Wasn't expecting that one."
Neither was I, actually. I know that after all this time, seeing that historical figures were really only people shouldn't surprise me. Lancelot just seemed so normal and honest though. Could he really be the same man that had committed adultery and betrayed his king?
"Where are you good folks staying?" Lancelot was speaking to Matt, who had recovered quickly.
"Honestly, Sir Lancelot, we have no friends in this land."
"Nonsense." Lancelot's smile brightens as he shakes Matt's hand. "You have me, and because of that, my king's good intentions as well. You know of King Arthur?"
"I have heard of him, yes. Many, many great things. I must admit, I am curious to see how many of the stories are true."
"With Arthur, I'd say almost all of them." Lancelot chuckles. "Although he'd tell you none of them. What say you to dinner, and a place to sleep for the night? I am sure that Arthur would be only too glad to share his table with you fine people."
"You call us fine, and yet you don't even know us?"
Why is Matt pushing this invitation? Okay, okay…I'm curious too.
"Call it a feeling, Sir William." Lancelot smiles over his shoulder. "You seem like good people."
"Some of us." Rochelle mutters, throwing a look at Dillon.
"I'm amazing," he rolls his eyes. "You're just jealous because I'm your older brother."
"By five minutes! And that's not the point."
Arkarian was right. They'd really adapted well to the whole sibling-rivalry thing. Matt beckons us to follow him, looking slightly exasperated, but mostly amused. Lancelot keeps up the friendly chatter the whole way.
"Sir Lancelot! Lancelot?" A young woman pushes her way through the market streets to get to the man. She's dressed as a noble, and she looks out of place in the dirty, noisy market. Out of breath and looking like a lovesick puppy, she calls the knight's name again.
"Good day, Lady Elaine…" he smiles politely. Lady Elaine isn't content to leave it at that, however.
"Who are your friends?" she asks, shooting a once-over towards Matt.
"Sir William Scottsdale, from Rome. These are his companions Macon-"
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" Elaine asks, completely ignoring us.
"Yes." Lancelot blinks, looking a little put-off. "Sir William, this is Lady Elaine of Astolat."
"Lance and I have known each other forever." Lady Elaine giggles coyly. "Although I would love to see him more-"
"I'm sure, dear madam. Perhaps if I'm staying in Camelot for long, a visit could be arranged. As of right now, however, the King is expecting us…"
"Oh, of course, of course…" she breathes, backing away finally. I don't miss the relieved glance thrown towards Matt by 'Lance'. "I'll see you later then, sir Lancelot."
"Not if he sees her first." Dillon mutters. I cough to cover the laugh that comes. I do feel sorry for Lancelot though. He's shaking his head, stricken.
"She seems quite enamored." Matt ventures, sensing that something has to be said.
"I haven't the faintest idea of how to deal with it, either." Lancelot replies, looking quite agitated. "She'll grow out of it, in time."
Nothing could be further from the truth, I remember, but it isn't our place to correct him. We have other people to worry about. Matt assures him that Lady Elaine gave him no offense, and we make our way to the castle. Lady Elaine's delay has made us just in time for the feast, with no time to change clothes or converse about a plan. This one I guess will just have to be made up as we go along.
"Sir Lancelot," a booming voice causes a hush to fall over the diners. There are about ten people sitting at the round table. The one that has spoken is about the same age as Lancelot, perhaps a little older. Maybe it's just the air of nobility. Despite this, he's dressed remarkably average, the only thing alluding to his status being a golden dagger hanging at his side. This has to be Arthur. "You've brought guests to dine with us?"
"I have, your majesty." Lancelot inclines his head. "May I present Sir William Scottsdale, of Rome, and his traveling companions Macon O'Hara, Colin Markham, and Amalie Markham. They are in need of shelter for the night."
I am impressed with the way Arthur holds each of our gazes. When he looks into my eyes, I feel that I cannot look away. The golden-brown irises hold such kindness and welcome. And hope. Hope for the future of man, that we all may strive to reach our potential, and create a better life for everyone outside of Camelot. His face isn't handsome, just compelling, and his hands are callused unlike most nobles'.
And this was just a glance.
Shakily, I incline my head, watching as the others do the same. "You are welcome here, travelers, for as long as you like." He looks to the woman next to him. Her long dark hair has ribbons woven into it, little jewels sparkling like stars. Her dress, though simple, is finely made and obviously well kept. Although there's no crown on her head either, she radiates the same regality. "This is Queen Guinevere." After the proper head bobs are done, he introduces the rest of the men. After we've bowed Sir Gawain's way, Matt is offered a seat next to Lancelot, who is on King Arthur's left. To his right is Guinevere. The look that Lancelot gives her is one that I'm sure Lady Elaine would kill for.
The servants are standing off to the left side, receiving the food hot from the kitchens and bringing it to their respective masters. They all seem very friendly and dressed well- not in some of the rags that I've seen in other places.
"Hello," one of them is a girl about our age, with curly red-brown hair and dark eyes. "Macon, right? I'm Sarahla, personal maidservant to Ector. Thou are staying here long?"
"Long enough." Rochelle answers, giving her a slightly miffed look. I wonder why, but before I can ask, King Arthur stands up and begins to speak.
"My knights…we have guests here today. Let's not scare them off with our horrible table manners, eh?"
There is some sniggering at this that suggests that this might not be the lighthearted joke that it appears to be. Then a more serious air steals over the table as a few bow their heads, but most just stare at their king waiting for his next words.
"My knights…God make you a good man and fail not of beauty. The Round Table was founded in patience, humility, and meekness. Thou art never to do robbery, nor murder, and always to flee treason, by no means to be cruel, and always to treat ladies, damosels, and gentle women with respect. Also, to take no battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law nor for no world's goods. Thou shouldst be for all ladies and fight for their quarrels, and ever be courteous and never refuse mercy to him that asks mercy, for a knight that is courteous and kind and gentle has favor in every place.
"Thou must keep thy word to all and not be feeble of faith. Right must be defended against might and distress must be protected. Thou must know good from evil and the vain glory of the world, because great pride makes great sorrow. Should anyone require you of any quest so that it is not to thy shame, thou should fulfill the desire.
"It should never be said that a small brother has injured or slain another brother. Thou should not fail in these things: charity, abstinence and truth. No knight shall win worship but if he be of worship himself and of good living and that love God and dread God.
"Do not, nor slay not, anything that will in any way dishonor the fair name of Christian knighthood for only by stainless and honorable lives and not by prowess and courage shall the final goal be reached. Therefore be a good knight and so I pray to God so you may be, and if you be of prowess and of worthiness then you shall be a Knight of the Table Round."
There is a silence as the company digests his words, and he sits. I will say this for King Arthur: he can certainly spin a phrase. I only understood half of what was said, but the message was clear. These were true knights, no crookedness or lies among them.
"Amazing, isn't he?" Bacchus, a servant for Sir Percival, sidles up next to me.
"It is said that he will lead us into a new age of light." Demelza, a handmaiden, says reverently.
"He is only a man." Bacchus looks for a second like he smells something foul, but recovers so quickly that I question my own eyes.
"What a man, though." Sarahla giggles to Gawain's maid, Marianna.
"Careful, Sar…he's got Guinevere."
"And she's got Sir-"
"You're going to get in trouble for gossiping." A practical looking server named Landaus joins the conversation.
"Fine, we'll talk about more common men…no less handsome, though." Sarahla tosses her curls at him. And for a second, her eyes rest on me. She and Marianna start to whisper and giggle, Demelza listening and nodding. Every so often, their eyes flick to me. Rochelle is obviously reading their thoughts. Her face looks like a thundercloud.
Uh-oh.
"Macon?" Bacchus is talking to me. "Did you hear me?"
"No, sorry, I was…" Rochelle has become calm again, listening with a mysterious little smirk on her face.
"Ah…" Bacchus follows my gaze and smiles knowingly. "She is quite a fine one. Does she know of your feelings?"
"What feelings?" In order for suspicion to be kept as low as possible, Bacchus had to believe that Rochelle held absolutely no value to me. "She is a thorn in my side."
"Oh, one of those Sirens, eh?" He still doesn't understand.
"No, I literally mean-" But before I can finish, Rochelle lets out a loud scoff.
"If Macon is God's gift to women, the Lord must be a mighty cheapskate."
Dillon lets out a bark of laughter, while the girls looked somewhat shocked. Bacchus starts to snigger too. Alright, those were fighting words. Might as well make this look real, huh?
"As I was saying," I continue loudly. "Amalie is a dime a dozen…literally."
Dillon is trying to hide his laughter, turning away. Bacchus thinks that he's wincing from whatever Rochelle might say to my accusation of being a whore, and looks like he might follow suit. Rochelle is trying desperately to swallow a smile, though, and to most eyes, she succeeds in looking scornful.
"And yet somehow you are denied again and again."
Ouch. It becomes completely silent when we realize that the entire Round Table has become transfixed to our "argument". Matt has his head in his hands. Whoops…but everyone looks amused, especially Queen Guinevere. King Arthur is about to say something when there is a little sound from above us. Not enough to be noticed normally, but I'm compelled to look up. What I see is a dirty, dinghy peasant clinging to the wooden rafters above us, apparently planning to drop on the eating King. I can't do much about it without attracting the attention of everyone to my powers, so I yell as loudly as I can in my mind "Matt, look up!"
His reaction is almost instantaneous. The beam mysteriously snaps, but in falling it somehow shifts so that the mess lands a good ten feet to the left of the table. That was close. The man is still conscious and intent on carrying out his mission, wielding the knife and snarling, he steps from the rubble.
Rochelle is there first. With a well aimed kick to his side and arm, she makes him drop the knife. He flicks another one from inside his tunic. My heart is in my throat. A second later, though, it's all over. Lancelot has sprung like a light-footed bear up to wrestle the would-be attacker to the ground, knocking him out and maybe killing him.
It's obvious that no matter what the ties to Guinevere, nobody is going to mess with King Arthur while Lancelot has anything to say about it.
"My Lord, are you alright?" The slower-to-react knights are full of questions for their sovereign.
"I'm fine. Lancelet…is he dead?"
"Unfortunately, no." Lancelot looks very much like he's restraining from spitting on the body.
"Good. Take him to the dungeon, Geoffrey. We will get answers out of him when he awakes."
"He looks like a northern barbarian, sir." Lancelot hasn't moved from where the man's body is being dragged away. "There could be more."
"Is it…" Dillon looks at me questioningly. I know what he means. Could this have been the danger to the king promised by the Order?
Rochelle frowns and shakes her head. I don't think so, either. The Order, as much as I hate to admit it, would never stage something so…primitive. I mean, come on. A dagger? What's bothering me, though, is that there seems to be no one else here, though, that would pose a threat to the king. Everyone is friendly enough, and there've been no new arrivals.
"I'll send word to go check." Sir Gawain stands up. "Sarahla? Sarahla? She's new, you know…probably hasn't learned all the ways to Camelot yet. Picked her up a few days ago. Sarahla?"
A sinking feeling starts in me. We might have overlooked something really bad. Rochelle has the thought at the same time I do. We look, and there she is, crouching behind Lancelot. Lancelot? What about Arthur?
"Ohhhh…." I mutter a few very bad words as the truth hits me. King Arthur isn't under any direct danger from the Order at all. Not with Lancelot on the loose. It's already been proven that if Lancelot were to be taken from the picture…King Arthur's vision wouldn't stand a chance.
Because King Arthur needed Lancelot as a bodyguard and friend.
"Lancelot!" Guinevere's cry radiates through me. We were wrong from the beginning. It wasn't The Bear that was in danger, it was his right-hand man.
"Shit!" Rochelle has been following my thoughts. She launches herself before I can stop her, at Sarahla.
"Am-" I start to hurry towards her, but a swift kick catches me in the ribs off guard, and I go down. Bacchus. Matt hurries to engage him while I regain my balance. Dillon is busy herding King Arthur, his queen, and the knights out of the room. It proves harder than normal, because the knights are reluctant to leave their friend battling for his life. Not that he's doing much battling-Sarahla seems to have knocked him unconscious. Demelza and Landaus are running for cover. They, at least, are innocent.
Sarahla is fast, and seems to run circles around Rochelle, whose hands are fully blazing with electricity, striking where she sees the other girl. Matt is now battling Bacchus and Landaus.
I engage Landaus, who looks less angry, more of a collected fighter. This proves difficult as we fight, weaving around the others. I want to go to Rochelle and help her, but she seems to be handling the other girl pretty well on her own, and Landaus is not easily beaten. Finally, I have him pinned against the wall. "Who are you taking orders from?" I say fiercely, not really expecting an answer from the emotionless Landaus. "Who?" I shake him, still eliciting no response.
"You didn't honestly believe that Lathenia would just let her dream fail did you?" His first words are filled with surprising feeling. Hatred, just as strong as can be. Then he starts to disappear. I notice too that Sarahla and Bacchus have disappeared.
"Come back!" Alright, stupid, I know, but frustration is building up inside me so think that I can almost taste it.
"Did you hear it? What name did they call?" Matt comes up, wiping the blood away from where his lip has split. Rochelle's eyes are wide, almost unseeing.
"I'm fine, Ethan."
I close my mouth.
"They called…oh, hell…"
And her next words have my stomach sinking further than my toes.
"They called for 'Marcus'."
And there you have it, finally. If you haven't figured it out yet, all will become clear next chapter. Speaking of, the next will be upjust as soon as I can get it. Should be faster than this last one. Summer's coming, which means infinite writing time! It also means exam time now, though. I do need to know how long you guys want me to continue with this story, however. There are endless storylines, butI was thinking of ending it within the next few chapters. It was a good first try. Thank you to all those that reviewed, and sentmessagesurging me to get this up.Exams give me little time, but reviews somehow bring it back again (shameless hint there ).Until next time,
-HaLo; - )