"I hope they serve good wine at you funeral," said Gowen. "Because that's the only way this is going to end!"
He stood in Arthur's bedchamber, trying to talk Arthur out of the duel. Arthur would here nothing of it. "The challenge has been accepted. You know the rules of the knights' code."
"Oh the knights' code!" said Gowen. "The great code that makes you fight to the death because someone tosses their glove on the floor."
"What would you have me do?" said Arthur. "Let him kill all my knights?"
"Why don't you just not pick up the gauntlet?" said Gowen. "What's he going to do if you just ignore him? He's just going to stand there with no one to fight."
"So that's how you'd deal with him?" said Arthur. "Just ignore him and hope he goes away?"
"Owaine and Pellinore would still be alive if they had done that," said Gowen.
"And more will die if I don't do something!" Arthur slammed his fist against the wall.
"Once you're dead he will simply challenge someone else," said Gowen. "And once that man dies, he will challenge another and another. There is no victory against him."
"I've already made my decision," said Arthur. "Good night Gowen."
"I'm not letting you do this," said Gowen.
"I said good night." Arthur pointed to the door. "Now leave before I call the guards."
"As you wish." Gowen walked out of Arthur's bedchamber, passing Gaius on the way out. Gowen stumbled through the halls towards his bedchamber. He turned a corner and found himself face to face with Morgana. Gowen bowed his head. "Good evening. Unfortunately I was unable to talk Arthur out of his duel."
"That's a shame," said Morgana. "Though, I didn't expect you to."
"Neither did I," said Gowen.
"Of course," said Morgana. "Arthur is an idiot. Isn't that what you'd say?"
"No," said Gowen.
"That's what you thought of Owaine," said Morgana. "And Arthur's going to do the exact same thing."
"Look, I'm too tired to argue with you." Gowen tried to walk around Morgana, but she wouldn't let him.
"You know what you are?" said Morgana. "You're a coward. No, worse than a coward. Because you don't even admit you're a coward. Instead you pretend like you're oh so clever and act like you're above everyone else. Well the truth is you're not!"
Gowen pushed Morgana aside. "Good night."
"Do you even care?" said Morgana.
"I do," said Gowen. "Why do you think I'm taking this from you?"
Gowen continued down the hall, ignoring Morgana's words. He passed his own bedchambers and headed towards the crypt. Gowen was familiar with the crypts. While he hadn't been to the crypts lately, he had visited them nearly everyday when he was younger. Gowen still remembered the first time he had been to his father's tomb. Uther had come with him, along with a dozen armed knights. Gowen's mother was allowed to accompany him. This was the last time Gowen saw her. Uther had decided to take Gowen on as his ward, and Uther felt that she would be a bad influence on him.
Even though he hadn't been to the crypts for years, Gowen knew where his father was buried. That's the kind of thing you don't usually forget. The crypts were dark and Gowen had to find and light a torch. The flames illuminated the crypt and Gowen navigated his way towards his father's tomb. Gowen took a deep breath as he edged nearer and nearer to the tomb. He almost tripped on a piece of marble on the ground. Gowen looked down and inspected the marble. It was shaped like a hand and was clearly part of a façade that decorated one of the tombs. A pit formed in Gowen's stomach and he ran to his father's tomb. When he got there, he fell to his knees.
His father's tomb had been ransacked. The façade on it was smashed with pieces of marble thrown across the floor. Out of the corner of his eye, Gowen noticed a piece of black fabric. This had likely been part of his father's uniform, torn when his tomb was defiled. Gowen's heart then sank. Someone had probably disturbed his father's body. Gowen forced himself to looked inside the tomb. He fought the urge to close his eyes because he had to know what they had done to his father. He saw that his father's body wasn't even he the tomb. Gowen's grip became so powerful that he broke his torch in half. He cried out with anger. Someone had disturbed his father's rest and they would pay for that.
Gowen approached the armory, where Arthur was preparing for his fight. Gowen had already armed himself and was carrying a crossbow with him. A white phoenix was emblazoned on his doublet and he wore a piece of black cloth around his arm. Gowen opened the door to the armory, only to find Merlin arming Uther instead of Arthur. Uther had apparently taken Arthur's place in the duel. Gowen wondered why Arthur had agreed to this. Likely he hadn't.
"You've shown the most extraordinary loyalty," said Uther to Merlin.
"It is my job sire," said Merlin as he adjusted Uther's armor.
"Beyond the line of duty," said Uther.
Merlin went to get Uther his sword. "Well you could say there is-"
"Excuse me if I interrupt." Gowen entered the armory, crossbow raised.
"Gowen!" said Uther. "What are you doing with that?"
"I'm facing the black knight," said Gowen. "I've always preferred the crossbow to the sword. Maybe it's because it let's me attack without worrying about retaliation."
"You can't fight him with a crossbow," said Merlin.
"I know," said Gowen. "That's why I'm going to need that sword. Give it to me or I'll shoot an arrow through your heart."
"You can't do this," said Merlin. "He'll kill you!"
"I think you underestimate my chances," said Gowen. "See how steady my hands are? I haven't had a single drink today. Now give me the sword."
"Fine." Merlin handed Gowen the sword. Gowen took it in one hand and almost dropped it. "I didn't think it was that heavy."
"No, it probably isn't," said Gowen. "But I've had three goblets full of wine so far."
"You liar!" Uther almost charged at Gowen, but Gowen grabbed the sword with both hands and held it out.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," said Gowen. "I'm the one with the sword."
"If you make it through today alive I'll have your head," said Uther.
"Lovely," said Gowen, who was heading out towards the field.
"Wait!" said Merlin. "What about your shield?"
Gowen turned around. "I'm not going to need it."