"Your Majesty all is quiet. Let us attack now while they sleep." One of the knights suggested. Raoul and his army were just outside Erik's home.
"We attack at dawn, not a moment before." Raoul ordered. The knight bowed and left. Raoul buried his face in his hands.
"He's here," A voice said. Raoul looked up and saw Erik standing with Christine.
"Were either of you hurt in the escape?"
"Untouched, Raoul." Erik murmured.
"Raoul," Christine said. "We want to return with you to Camelot. No matter what the cost. We've got to make things right."
Raoul made no response.
"This war," Erik continued. "Will do terrible harm to the table, Raoul. We must stop it now before it escalates."
"Raoul let us pay for what we have done." Christine tried.
"At the stake?" Raoul said. "No. I won't take you back I won't let you return. For what end? Justice? They have forgotten justice! They want revenge!" Tears began to stream down Raoul's face. "Revenge…the most worthless of causes…it's too late, Erik. The table is dead."
"What?" Christine looked at Raoul in disbelief.
"Over half the knights were killed in the yard. Some have escaped with Mordred to the North, I suppose, to raise an army against me and the rest are in their tents…itching for dawn, cheerful to be at war again. Those old uncivilized days return once more. Those dreadful days we thought had been put to sleep forever."
Erik stared at Raoul in disgust. "It's your wish that this dread battle go on." He accused.
"No it is not my wish!" Raoul said, rising to his feet. "It is not my wish, Erik. I-I-I," He began to cry again. "I can think of no other way to get through this but to ride the tide of events…Oh God. All we've been through only for an idea. Something you can't touch or taste…smell or feel. Something without substance, life, reality or memory."
It was right then that Raoul realized that the sky was beginning to become light again. Just then, the trumpet sounded. "Soon the charade begins," Raoul said in defeat. "You must both return to Joyous Guard."
Raoul turned to Erik and saw he was crying too. "Go," He said again. The couple turned and slowly began to walk away. "Wait, Erik." Raoul said. Erik turned back. They stared at each other for a moment then gave each other a bear hug. Erik bowed one last time to Raoul then ran off into the nearby woods. Christine stood right where she was.
"You must go too, Chrissy." Raoul choked out.
"I know." She said, but slowly made her way towards him. "So often in the past, Raoul, I would look into your eyes and there I would find forgiveness…Perhaps one day in the future it will be there again…but I won't be with you…I won't know it." She was standing in front of him now. Raoul hesitantly put his arm around her and drew her closer. "Oh Christine…" He muttered through the tears. He kissed the top of her head and took a step back. "Goodbye…my love."
"I see what I wanted to see." Christine said, giving Raoul a tiny smile then taking off into the woods after Erik.
"My… dearest...love" He sobbed when she was gone. Suddenly there was a rustling nose. Raoul turned and a young boy tumbled out of the bushes. Raoul studied him closer and realized it was a girl.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty." She said, bowing. "I was searching for the sergeant of arms and got lost, I didn't wish to disturb you."
She was about six-years-old.
"Why are you here?" He asked and began to dry his eyes.
"I want to be a knight of the round table!" She said proudly. Raoul gave a watery smile.
"And why do you wish to be a knight?"
"My father was a knight." The girl said.
"And who was your father?"
"Sir Erik."
Raoul froze. He looked at the girl. She was the spitting image of Erik, without the deformity, although, she did have a small scar on the right side of her forehead. But her eyes were Christine's. Raoul remembered that about seven years ago Christine had gone on vacation. Seeing that she was the Queen of England, Raoul hadn't allowed her to travel alone. He had sent Erik with her. At the time Raoul had thought that Christine's request for a trip had been sudden and she had left very quickly. Looking at the girl in front of him, who was clearly their daughter, Raoul realized that Christine must've become pregnant and the risk of the child being deformed like it's father she had to leave Camelot.
"What's your name?" Raoul asked, finally responded to the girl.
"Gwen."
"Where are you from?"
"Nottingham."
"Nadir!" Raoul shouted. Nadir appeared in moments.
"Hand me Excalibur," Raoul ordered. Nadir disappeared into a nearby tent and then repapered with the sword in hand. He gave it to Raoul.
Raoul unsheathed the weapon. "Kneel," He told Gwen. She obeyed. Raoul touched Excalibur to each of Gwen's shoulders. "I knight thee, Lady Gwen of Nottingham."
"Thank you, Milord!" Gwen cried. She grew serious. "What do you want me to do first?"
Raoul smiled and sunk down to the girls level.
"Each evening, from December to December,
Before you drift to sleep upon your cot,
Think back on all the tales that you remember
Of Camelot.
Ask ev'ry person if he's heard the story,
And tell it strong and clear if he has not,
That once there was a fleeting wisp of glory
Called Camelot."
Raoul smiled as he sung the familiar tune that he'd learned as a boy.
"Camelot! Camelot!"
Now say it out with pride and joy!"
"Camelot!" Gwen cheered. "Camelot!"
"Yes, Camelot, my girl!
Where once it never rained till after sundown,
By eight a.m. the morning fog had flown...
Don't let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment that was known
As Camelot."
The song ended and Gwen bowed once more to Raoul and ran off into the woods. Raoul followed at a distance. He saw Gwen run up to two people.
"Papa! Papa!" Gwen cried. "I'm a knight!"
Raoul heard Erik reply. "Really? And what's your first mission?" Christine giggled. Gwen repeated Raoul's message to her parents. They smiled and Erik picked his daughter up. The three disappeared.
"Raoul!" Nadir called. "You have a battle to fight!"
"Battle Nadir? I have won my battle and there," He pointed after Gwen. "Is my victory."
Only one chapter left...
~Kate