Chapter 41: The Feast of Beltane

Staying in Camelot was the best thing for Elaine. She was not worried about her responsibilities, except Galahad. That responsibility was her favourite one. It wasn't a responsibility, it was something that she could do without any complaint. "Mama?"

"Yes, my darling?"

"Is it your birthday today? Gwaine said it was." He smiled widely.

Elaine laughed as she held her son close to her. She was sitting at her desk with a few documents but the documents were long forgotten. "Yes, darling. It is my birthday today. The same day as the Feast of Beltane."

"Oh I see. So, there is a feast for you and the Feast of Beltane." He said slowly as his fingers played with her necklace.

"Yes. Just one big feast." She chuckled and kissed his cheek. "Are you going to eat lots and lots?"

"Yes!" He said broadly. "Gwaine said I could have lots of cake."

"Oh he did?" Elaine nodded. "Well, we shall see about that."

"Oh Mama!" Galahad pouted.

She laughed loudly and tapped his nose with her finger. "I am joking. You can eat what you like."

"What dress are you wearing Mama?"

"Jump off Mama's lap and I will get it out of my wardrobe."

"Yes Mama." Galahad smiled and jumped off her lap, ran to her bed and climbed onto it.

She walked to her wardrobe and pulled out the dress she wore on her wedding day. "Do you like this one?"

"Yes I do." Galahad smiled broadly

"I do." Gwaine said. The two turned to see him standing in the doorway, leaning on the doorframe. "That's my favourite dress for Mama to wear." He walked into the room and sat next to Galahad on the bed. "I have been sent to see if you are ready."

"Well, I'm not ready." She laughed and went behind her changing screen. "I just need to dress ad then I am ready."

"Can I help?" Gwaine asked in hope and very cheekily.

"Keep dreaming." She called from behind the screen.

"Gwaine? What have you got Mama for her birthday?" Galahad asked his stepfather.

"I will be giving Mama her present at the end of the feast." Gwaine smiled down at Galahad. "What have you got Mama?"

Galahad smiled proudly and pointed to a bunch of wild flowers on her dressing table. "Flowers."

"My best birthday present." Elaine said as she came out from behind her screen. "How do I look?" She gave a twirl, her dress twisting as she did.

Her son and husband jumped off the bed. "You look beautiful, Mama." Galahad smiled and ran to her.

She knelt on the floor and caught him in her arms. "Thank you darling. Are you ready? Cousin Arthur is probably annoyed that I am late."

"He can wait." Galahad said proudly.

"He can. A Queen is never late. Everyone else is simply early." She smiled and rubbed her nose against Galahad's. "Right, you can walk. You're too big for Mama to carry around." She put him on his feet and he immediately ran out of the room. "Galahad! Wait!" Running after him.

"Yes Mama." He grinned cheekily as he stopped quickly, making Elaine walk again.

Elaine and Gwaine walked arm in arm as Galahad walked in front of them. "So, when do I get my real birthday present?"

"When Galahad is in bed." He whispered in her ear. "And we are alone in the privacy of our chambers."

Elaine giggled. "I like the sound of that birthday present." She rested her head on his shoulder.

"Are you still tired?" He asked in concern.

"Yes. I spoke to Gaius this afternoon and he just told me to rest." She smiled slightly. She was going to reveal her true illness to him that night.

"Good. Don't want you tiring yourself too much." Kissing the top of her head as they walked down the stairs towards the Great Hall. "Galahad. Wait for us."

"Yes Gwaine." He said as he waited at the bottom of the stairs.

As they walked into the Great Hall, the entire room were on their feet and applauding them. She smiled and blushed as she took her seat on Arthur's right hand side. She had noticed the seat on Gwen's left hand side was empty. "Where is your Uncle?" She asked Arthur as she placed Galahad on her lap.

"I don't know." Arthur shrugged and looked around the hall once again.

"I have to go. I've forgotten your present." Gwaine whispered in her ear. "I shan't be long."

"Of course." She smiled when he stood, taking her hand in his and kissing her knuckles. She watched him leave the Great Hall with a small smile.

"Oh my dear cousin." Arthur laughed and she faced him. "I do believe you are completely in love with your husband."

"I hope so." She laughed and sipped her water.

"Not drinking?" Gwen asked. "You should be celebrating with wine."

"Gaius has told me not to." She smiled at the old physician.

Gaius nodded. "Wine does not help when you are unwell." Bowing his head to Elaine.

The warning bell suddenly begins to ring. Everyone looks around in panic. Arthur gets to his feet. Gwaine returns and announces, "Sire! We're under attack! They're within the city walls."

Elaine stood up quickly with Galahad on her hip. "Arthur?" Looking for instructions from her cousin.

He said nothing for a moment. He took off his cloak and handed it to Merlin. "Merlin, get everyone to the inner chamber."

"Yes sire." He nodded. "Everyone follow me!" He called. People followed him but Elaine and Gwen remained by Arthur's side.

"Go cousin." Arthur kissed her cheek and then the top of Galahad's head. "Follow Merlin." Elaine silently nodded and followed Merlin. "Gwen, go." He held her close to him, kissing her forehead. "I shall see you soon." He grabs his sword and jumps over the table. "Gwaine, secure the armoury! Percival, with me!"

Elaine and Gwen followed the lines of many people into the inner chamber. "Who could it be?" Gwen asked as the two women stood in the middle of the inner chamber, surrounded by terrified people.

"There are too many people to name." Elaine chuckled nervously as she held Galahad tight against her side.

Soon after they had arrived, the injured were being brought in. Elaine placed Galahad with Mary. "Galahad, stay with Mary. I am going to help Gaius."

"Yes Mama." The boy said timidly and held onto Mary tightly.

Elaine rushed to help a man, who was bleeding from his leg. She helped him to a stool and tied a bandage around his leg. Everyone was terrified from the sound of the fighting. "It sounds like it is getting worse." Elaine spoke to Gwen, who was comforting a small girl, who had lost her parents in the fighting. She was soon claimed by an aunt.

"I know. I hope everyone is all right." Gwen said as she helped Elaine with her patient.

"The lower town is lost." Merlin said he helped Gaius. "It's only a matter of time before they reach the citadel."

"But how did this happen? How did they get in without being detected?"

Merlin lowered his voice. "We knew Agravaine was planning something."

"It seems your worst fears have been realised, Merlin." Gaius said. Merlin took off and went to run out of the inner chamber. "Merlin!"

"I've got to find Arthur!" He called back as he left the room.

- - - - – - - - - - - – - - - - - – - - - - -

Arthur and Merlin returned. Gaius and Gwen rushed to Arthur's aid when they saw that their King was injured. "I can bind the ribcage, but even that would run the risk of puncturing a lung." Gwen rushes off to find something to use.

"Do whatever it takes, Gaius, just so long as I can swing a sword." Arthur groaned in pain.

Gwaine and Percival rush into the inner chamber and bar the door.

"How do we stand?" Gaius asked.

"The citadel is overrun. We can't hold out much long." Percival shook his head.

"How long before they reach us?" The old physician asks as he keeps watch of Arthur from a distance.

"Minutes at best." Percival said in defeat.

"We can't wait for Arthur. If they find him, they'll kill him." Merlin said quickly and quietly.

"We must get him to safety while we still can." The giant knight says. It was obvious everyone was concerned with the safety of their King.

"Arthur would never abandon his people. He'd rather die." Gwaine speaks the truth. Everyone knew that Arthur would never abandon his people to save his own skin.

"Barricade the doors. Give us as much time as you can." Merlin tells Gwaine and Percival. The two knights obey without complaining.

Elaine watched as Merlin and Gaius were talking quiet. Gwaine and Percival barricaded the doors best as they could. She returned her attention to her son, who was very quiet. She had sent Mary away to safety. "It will be all right, darling. I need you to promise Mama something." She knelt in front of him. He nodded silently and stared at her. "Whatever Mama says you have to do it. Okay?"

"Yes Mama. I promise." He hugged her tightly.

She returned her attention to her cousin as she stood up to her full height. Merlin stood up straight. "We need to leave now, sire!"

"Of course." Arthur said, standing up unsteadily.

"Then let's go." Percival says as he places Arthur's arm around his neck and helps him. "We'll use the posting gate."

Gwaine begins to walk out with them but stops, holding his hand out to Percival. "I'll keep them off your back as long as I can."

"What?" Elaine gasps as Percival grasps Gwaine's outstretched arm and then leaves the room. "No... No!" She shook her head and held Galahad close to her when he turned to face her.

"Elaine. Go!" He steps in front of her. "Please. For me."

"I'm not leaving you." Tears ran down her cheeks. "Please! Come with us."

"I can't, my love." He kisses her swiftly. "I will be fine here."

"Come on, Elaine." Gwen started to pull her away from him.

"No... No..." She sobbed. "I'm not leaving you."

"GO!" Gwaine shouted at her. This shocked the young woman. He had never raised his voice at her. Showing this emotion told her that her husband was scared.

She kissed him hard one last time. "I love you."

"I love you too. Just go." He whispered, closed to her lips.

Elaine held Galahad tight to her, allowing Gwen lead her out of the room. The two women follow behind Percival. She sobbed their entire way into the woods. Why did she leave him? How could she leave him?

"It'll be all right. You'll see him again soon." Gwen tried to reassure her as they rushed through the trees.

They all stop. "Thank you, Percival." Arthur says to the tall knight.

"Can you walk on your own?" Merlin asks.

"Oh yes. Just point me in the tight direction." Arthur said. Everyone, except Merlin, was confused by his behaviour.

"Shh!" Percival warned them. Everyone went silent and jumped in shock when he grabs Elyan. "Elyan."

"Don't hold back on my account." He scoffed lightly. They all smile at the familiar face.

"Is the way out of Camelot clear?" The tall knight asked.

"As far as I can tell." Elyan nods slightly and they all begin to walk away.

– - - - – - – - - - - - - - –

"They'll come after us. They know Arthur's still alive." Percival states the truth. It was dangerous for Arthur to be so close to Camelot.

"Then we have to make it across the border, find sanctuary where we can." Elyan suggested.

"Corbenic and Joyous Guard are too far away. We'd never make it in time. They'd catch us." Elaine spoke as she tried to calm Galahad down, who was crying against her skirts and holding her hand tightly.

Merlin stepped up to them. "I know a place. Ealdor. It's near the white mountain." Every agreed but Merlin stood still. "Listen." They hear hoof beats getting closer to them.

"Run!" Percival shouts. They all begin to run as fast as they can as the pursuers began to gain on them. Suddenly, they were flung through the air and came crashing to the ground.

Gwen helps Elaine to her feet and Elaine picked Galahad up. Elyan and Merlin help Arthur to his feet. And they all start running again. "Where's Percival?" Merlin asks when he realises that there was a person missing.

"We have to go!" Elyan urged them all to keep running. They ran as fast as they could into a rock trench, where Elyan stops. "Go!"

"No." Gwen protested but Arthur carried on running and she followed him but not without looking behind her at her brother. Elaine followed Gwen soon after.

"What about you?" Merlin asked, afraid for the young man.

"Don't worry about me. Go!" Elyan shouted at Merlin, making the young man leave the knight alone to fight the oncoming enemy.

Elaine and Arthur had stopped running and hide behind some trees, she held Galahad tightly in her arms. "Where did Gwen go?"

Arthur just shrugged his shoulders and leant back against the trees.

"Where's Gwen?" Merlin asked when he reached them.

"I don't know. I thought she followed after Arthur." Elaine spoke softly and looked around. Loud shouts were coming towards them. She looked down at her son and felt hot tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. "Galahad, you're to go with Merlin and cousin Arthur."

"I want to stay with Mama." Galahad gripped her tighter.

"Listen to me. I'm going to find Gwen." She kissed his forehead. "You promised Mama that you would do what she told you." The boy nodded. "I want you to go with Merlin." Galahad nodded and went slightly unwillingly to Merlin's arms. "I'll be able to lead them away."

"They'll," He looked at the boy in his arms and back to Elaine. "K. I. Double L. You."

"They won't. They want Arthur and Galahad more than me. They will try and use me as a pawn to gain what they want." She kissed the top of her son's head, tears running down her cheeks. "Be a good boy. Go!" She urged them. Tears ran down her cheeks as she watched them leave. Her heart pounded as she started running in a different direction when the pursuers were in sight. She had only led a few away and the others continued after the other three.

A/N: How was that? Let me know what you think should happen next.

Responses from chapter 40:

ForeverTeamEdward13: I needed to put in a bit of Gwaine and Galahad bonding into the story. It will be important further into the story.