Chapter 40: Gwaine and Galahad
When Gwaine awoke the next morning, his wife was fast asleep. Even in her sleep she looked tired. After quickly dressing, he wrote her a note and left it on his pillow. He looked back at the bed and smiled at the sight of her. Once outside their chambers, he could hear quick footsteps coming towards him. He knew who was coming. "Prince Galahad. What are you doing awake so early?" Turning to meet his step-son.
"Coming to see Mama." Smiling up at Gwaine.
Gwaine knelt down in front of the young boy. "Mama is staying in bed today. She's feeling a little tired."
"Oh." Galahad spoke sadly and shuffled his feet.
"So, I was thinking that you and I spend the day together."
"Where's Papa?"
This hurt Gwaine but it was expected. Ever since they had been in Camelot, Lancelot had been spending a lot of time with Galahad. But two days before Lancelot left on a scouting mission and would not return for two weeks. "Papa had to go away for a little while. Do you remember him telling you?"
"Oh yes." The boy sighed heavily.
"Right, would you like to come down to the training fields and learn how to protect yourself?"
"With a sword?" Galahad's eyes lit up.
"Not with a sword. You promised Mama." Gwaine chuckled. "But she did not say anything about learning to use a dagger." He smiled at his step-son, who nodded wildly. "Learning to use a dagger is the first step to learning how to use a sword."
"Yes please." Galahad smiled broadly.
Gwaine stood up straight and held his hand out to Galahad. "Let's go." Galahad took his mother's husband's hand and the two of the walked out of the castle together.
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Many of Camelot's knights were in the training grounds practising sword fighting and archery. "Can I do that?" Galahad asked excitedly, pointing at Sir Leon practising his archery.
"You will have to ask your mother." Gwaine chuckled. "Just dagger work today." Giving his wife's son's hand a small squeeze. Ever since he helped Elaine give birth to this boy, he felt a sense of protection towards him. Especially now, since Galahad was his son by marriage, he felt paternal feelings towards him. In his heart he wanted to be a father to his own children. His own children with Elaine. He hoped it would be soon.
"Oh no! We have the greatest warrior training today." Arthur announced. "Prince Galahad shall defeat us all."
"I will defeat you, cousin Arthur." Galahad grinned widely as he held up his small fists. "I'll be stronger than Sir Percival one day."
"I know you will." Arthur laughed. "So, what are you doing here today? I thought your mother said you weren't allowed to learn to use a sword until you are 7."
"He's not." Gwaine grinned wickedly. "I'm teaching him to defend himself with a dagger." He looked over at Galahad, who was chasing after Percival. "Elaine is unwell, so I said I'd take care of Galahad. But he was reluctant at first. So, I said I would teach him how to use a dagger."
"What's wrong with Elaine?"
"She's just tired a lot." He shrugged his shoulders. "With Lancelot away, she is trying to run a country and be a mother at the same time."
"Typical Elaine. Doing too much." He slapped Gwaine's shoulder. "Thank goodness she has you."
"Thank God, I have her." Gwaine laughed and left Arthur. "Come on Galahad. You can fight Percival afterwards."
"Will you teach me to beat him?" The young boy jogged alongside Gwaine.
"Yes, I will. Percival has a few weaknesses." He chuckled as they walked to the weapons rack. "Don't touch anything." He warned the young boy, who was excited at the sight of the amount of weapons. "You are a little too young to use any of these yet." He picked up a dagger, which was very blunt and would not hurt Galahad, even if he picked it up by the blade.
Gwaine spent the whole morning teaching Galahad the basic movements of using a dagger. The two of them joined the knights for lunch. Arthur smiled at his young cousin and he could see a knight of Camelot in the making. The boy may only be 4 years of age but he was confident and from what he had seen; good with a weapon. After Elaine, Galahad was his heir. Well, until he and Gwen had their own children.
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In the afternoon, Gwaine took Galahad horse riding. "Gwaine?" The boy asked as they trotted through the forest.
"Yes?"
"Why was Mama shouting at Papa?"
Gwaine sighed a little. This was going to be hard to explain. "Do you remember the day Papa was looking after you and you lost your ball?"
"Yes. There was that lady there and Papa was angry with her." He nodded slowly as he held onto the saddle in front of him.
"Mama told you that she was dangerous. Mama was angry that Papa let you go out of sight from him."
"Oh right. So, Papa should not have done that."
"Yes." Gwaine spoke softly and kissed the top of Galahad's head. "It would break your Mama's heart if you were ever hurt or taken from her."
"Oh right."
He turned the horse in the direction towards Camelot. "When you were a baby, Mama's castle was attacked and that bad lady took you. It broke your mother's heart when she thought she would never see you again."
"Oh. How did Mama get me back?" The boy asked curiously as they trotted along the dirt road to Camelot.
Gwaine chuckled softly. "She came with King Arthur and the rest of the knights of Camelot to rescue you."
"Did Papa get me back?"
"Yes he did. He was the one who helped your Mama the most."
"What about you?"
He chuckled again. "I was sick. I got hurt trying to protect you."
"Oh!" He nodded and focused on the road ahead, which was leading into the mighty Camelot. At four years of age, the young Galahad was already asking about everything that interested him or confused him.
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A/N: Needed to add this chapter. I felt like the story needed a bit of Gwaine and Galahad loveliness. Hope you enjoyed it!
Responses from chapter 39:
ForeverTeamEdward13: Thank you! :D It's always Lancelot's fault! :D Hope you enjoyed this chapter.