Authors Note: Next chapter out and it's slightly longer than the others – I am trying ;-) Thanks for the reviews. Always love to hear from you. Important note: I have changed the P.O.V. of the story (I know this is wrong to do mid story) but I feel this is what I should have used from the start.
Disclaimer: This is Fan Fiction – I only own the character portrayed as the Lady of the Lake known as Kera. Any similarities to other persons, places or events is purely coincidental.
My Sweet Lancelot
By ForestMoon
Chapter 4 – Lost
I began wondering onward unafraid and confident that I would not venture far and that I would stay within eye sight of the great wall and castle. My path seemed to lead north and veer through the forest although, being unfamiliar with the area, I was not sure.
It was a well ridding path that was used everyday by traders and travellers so finding my way back would be easy. While walking, I encountered many people on their way to the market, from the surrounding villages and farms. They were pleasant and friendly – greeting me with much undeserved respect.
One of the passing travellers was a woman and her two children. It caught my eye because almost all of the people heading to the market were men and no children. She looked like she was in her late twenties and her two kids were no older than thirteen. The boy was plain looking with scruffy brown hair and the girl, much younger than him, was no less plain but had straw blonde hair.
The woman stopped to adjust the load of fresh vegetables she was carrying and greeted me with little enthusiasm. It almost felt as though her eyes where judging me unfairly and the greeting was out of necessity rather then friendship.
She was about to continue walking when the little girl suddenly ran up to me and did a little curtsy. She giggled and ran back to hide behind her older brother. The mother gave an annoyed sigh but then her facial expression changed and she began talking to me.
"M'lady, if I may say?" She began waiting for my response and kept her eyes low. I hesitated but felt no harm in talking to her despite her odd reaction toward me.
"But of course." I replied curious and friendly. She put her heavy basket down again and took a small step forward keeping her voice low.
"It is dangerous wondering alone out here in the forest. You should really get back to your home where it is safe." She said the word 'safe' as if emphasising it on purpose. I looked at her confused and then looked at her children which caused her to instinctively stand in front of them breaking my line of sight.
"Am I not in any less danger than you, travelling alone with your two young children?"
She looked around suddenly becoming very nervous and hurried to collect her basket once more. I turned to look around as well but saw nothing. In fact, I just realised that we were alone on the road. It had been some time since anyone had passed us and it did not seem like there were any more coming.
"M'lady I mean no disrespect!" She blurted out and grabbed the arm of the little girl and tried to tug her along in a hurry. "We are late for market and if we do not get there in time we will lose our spot. Please excuse us."
Her tone was apologetic and worried. I held my hand up in sudden realisation. Perhaps she was right, it was silly of me to be walking out here all by myself in a strange place, not knowing where I was or what dangers might lurk out there.
"Wait." I said calmly. "Let me help you carry and we can walk back together."
Her face froze in shock at my offer. She quickly insisted that I do not carry a thing but she would gladly walk with me if that is what I wished. I did not understand her at first but as we walked in silence back towards the market, I realised that judging from the vast difference in our clothing, I most likely seemed like some noble to her.
I also came to the conclusion that she was lagging behind the other traders as she could not keep up with the pace with her two children in tow. This made me wonder more about her.
And, I also realised, much to my dismay, they we were actually rather far from the market. Had I really walked so far? I must have, so taken in by the beauty of the forest and with my mind constantly wondering into romantic fantasies – it's no wonder.
We did not walk for long when suddenly the woman stopped and then ran off the road and hid behind some bushes. She signalled to me to hurry and join her but I was too slow and much too late. I became aware of a wagon fast approaching me from behind. When I turn to look it was already upon me.
The single horse drawn carriage was small and stopped abruptly before me. I was sure it was going to collide with me. The driver of the carriage leaned forward and spoke to me.
"Well, well. What do we have here? Awfully brave of you to be wondering alone, on this quiet road, with nobody to protect you."
A sense of dread washed over me and something about the tone of his voice and body language screamed danger. I tried to remain calm and attempted to bluff my way out of the situation all the while being careful not to look to the side and give away the woman and her children's hiding spot.
He eyed me up and down but I managed to compose myself and focus.
"You presume too much good sir." I began and pointed in the opposite direction of the woman and her children. "My husband is not far. He simply went to go relieve himself in private."
He looked to the side scanning the forest. My resolve was not holding and I continued in my defence but was probably less convincing this time.
"He is a strong man and gets very jealous. I suggest you be on your way before he returns."
There was a brief pause as he considered my words then broke into a burly laugh. He tapped the top of the carriage and another large man stepped out.
"If I were your husband," he began looking me up and down again while licking his lips, "I would not leave you for even a moment."
He gestured to the other large man who began walking towards me with a menacing smile. I tried to remain calm but knew my bluff failed and I was in trouble. Thoughts of Lancelot suddenly crossed my mind and had I not known better, I would have been convinced that I heard him say to me 'run'.
At first I hesitated but as the man descended upon me I turned and began running. I did not get far before a large strong hand grabbed my arm and spun me back around.
I was sure I was screaming but no sound escaped my throat. The large man's hand was over my mouth and he was already dragging me back to the carriage. The driver gloated in his victory and noted what a huge ransom they would get for me.
Once he managed to get me inside the carriage, it twisted and creaked as the carriage turned and road off, away, further and deeper in to the forest. I tried to look out the window but the large man stuffed a foul smelling wheat sack over my head and constrained me to seat.
I believe that is when I began laughing hysterically to myself. After all, they did presume too much. They presumed that I had a husband or family at the very least that would pay to see my safe return. Little did they know that I was truly all alone.
I had nobody.
Not even Arthur and his knights nor the lady Guinevere would pay a silver for me. Who was I to them? Just some strange girl they found and felt pity for. They most likely would never know what has happened to me and will assume I had regained my memories and left.
Then the realisation of my thoughts struck me with a hard blow. If there was no one to pay my ransom, what would become of me?
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Meanwhile back by the road, the woman slowly and cautiously stepped out from behind the bushes and checked the road for any sign of me or the carriage. There was nothing except the dead silence and a few scattered leave tossing in the breeze.
She grabbed her children and they began running toward the market. When they were almost there she stopped to catch her breath and turned to look back briefly. Perhaps it was to see if she was being pursued or perhaps, she felt bad for me and wanted to help.
They reached the market on time and managed to get their usual spot. The woman began unpacking her trade goods as if nothing had transpired. To her, this was a usual occurrence. Many a time has someone been kidnapped and held for ransom. It was frankly none of her concern to get involved.
It was only with luck that it was not her who got taken. She has had to travel this road every week for the past few months since her husband passed away from a strange flew. If she did not brave the dangerous journey she would have nothing to support her children with. It was worth the risk to put food on the table, keep a roof over their heads and keep them warm during the cold. She had no other family.
The woman managed to get through most of the morning pretending everything was fine. The constant looks from her little girl was only mildly causing her some form of guilt but the safety of her family came first and she simply could not get caught up in the matter.
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It was still fairly early when Lancelot awoke and began his morning routine. He enjoyed the walk we had so much yesterday that he decided he would offer to spend the afternoon with me and show me other parts of the castle, after he attended his morning duties.
He stopped by my chambers on his way out but was confused when he found them empty. The handmaidens then arrived and also seemed confused that I was not there.
It was not long before he began questioning all the guards and staff as to my whereabouts. There was one young guard that recalled seeing me leave before dawn. He was not sure but it seemed like I was heading towards the market.
Lancelot's tense face relaxed briefly, slightly relieved but still wary about my clumsy decision to go alone. He quickly found Arthur and informed him of my reckless action and asked if he may go after me and ensure my safety despite having tasks that he needed to attend.
Gawain had overheard his concerns and assured him that he would take care of the tasks so that Lancelot may go.
Short before long he was in the market place, searching, for over an hour. Traders were still arriving but it seemed like they were beginning to settle in. I was nowhere to be seen and this made him worry even more so.
He began looking in the surrounding areas near the market and asked around but none recalled seeing me that morning.
After a short while, now that the market was in full swing, he returned and began asking the traders if perhaps they had seen me earlier. Traders did not all come from the single road I chose to travel on that morning, there were many paths leading to and from the market.
Eventually one of the traders, a baker, remembered the woman walking alone on the road. "I passed her by earlier this morning." He said then pointed to his stack of bread indicating that perhaps he would remember more if the kind noble where to purchase a loaf or two.
Lancelot knew all too well what the trader was implying and casually tossed a coin toward the merchant.
"Yes, yes," he old man continued, "I saw a woman, a pretty noble such as you heading north along the main road. She was travelling alone, which I found peculiar, but I minded my own business – yes I did." The old man hesitated and reached for a loaf of bread then handed it to Lancelot. "Thank you for the business." He added before turning to attend to the next potential customer. Only this customer was a little blonde girl who stood wide eyed and staring at Lancelot.
He knelt down in front of her and greeted her gently. She eyed the loaf of bread and Lancelot rolled his eyes but smiled as he handed her the loaf. "Here you go, now run along."
The girl took the bread but didn't move. Instead, she stood there and continued to stare. He was about to stand up and leave when she began to tug on his sleeve. "Mister. Are you going to go save the lady?"
His mouth almost fell open to the words that were spoken. The little girl began pulling him towards her mother's stall which was not far from the baker. Needing more information and fighting the urge to force the information out of the girl, he voluntarily, but impatiently, went along.
"Mommy! Mommy!" She cried out in excitement. "This man is going to save the lady!"
The woman looked up in shock, guilt ridden all over her face. So ashamed of herself for not saying anything sooner, she suddenly dropped to his feet and began to weep while incoherently retelling the events of my capture.
Lancelot rushed back to the castle and headed straight for the stable to prepare his horse. He did not even hang around long enough to hear the woman beg for forgiveness as he fled.
He raced up the northern road unconcerned that the horse was still cold and recklessly almost collided with some people. All he could think of was to get to me before it was too late.