Chapter 49: Exiled
As Elaine, Lancelot and Anne approached the shore, which led them to the boat, which led them to Joyous Guard, they had to stop. The entire area had Lot's men there. "We have to go another way." Lancelot whispered when he returned to Elaine and Anne, who were hiding in some bushes. "Too many soldiers."
Elaine nodded as she held Anne close to her chest. She allowed Lancelot to lead her away. Awa from her second home. "Where can we go?" She whispered in fear.
"Queen Annis' lands are very close by." He spoke softly as they walked through the woods. It was getting late. "We need to rest. You need to rest."
"Let's find shelter." She spoke softly as the soft drops of rain began to fall. She covered Anne's head with the blanket. They began to walk quicker, hoping to find a rock valley or an abandoned hut soon. The rain began to pour down on the three travellers.
Lancelot spotted a hut up ahead. It was definitely abandoned, half of the roof was missing. "Quickly!" He rushed them inside. "I'll get a fire started somehow." He took off his cloak and wrapped it around her. "Get warm. Both of you." He quickly left the hut and went in search of wood.
Elaine wrapped the cloak around her and Anne. "We'll be safe soon darling." She kissed her whimpering daughter. "We'll see Papa very soon."
"I want Papa." She whimpered in her mother's arms.
"Me too." She spoke softly. "I want him too. Now, my love, get some sleep." She kissed her daughter's dark hair. She had inherited Gwaine's curls and Elaine's eyes. "Tomorrow night, we may even be sleeping in a soft comfortable bed." She felt Anne giggling softly in her arms. "Warm food in your belly." The baby inside her womb kicked. "You feel that?"
"Yes." Anne giggled. "That baby?"
"Yes. Your baby brother or baby sister." She smiled when the baby kicked again, nudging against Anne. "Get to sleep, my darling." She gently rocked her two year old daughter, urging her to sleep. Anne would not. So Elaine softly hummed. Something she did when Anne was a small baby. She would hum or sing the lullaby her own mother sang to her when she was a baby and a small child. She never forgot it.
Lancelot returned an hour later with an armful of wood. "It's not enough but it is enough to last through this rain and most of the night." He placed them in front of Elaine and began making a fire. "Is she asleep?"
Elaine shook her head again. "She's restless. Like all of us. She just wants to go home. So do I." She chuckled softly as watched him light the fire. The small area was ablaze with light and warmth. "When will we reach Annis' kingdom?"
"Tomorrow evening." He sat next to her, keeping out of the rain and near the fire. "Are you warm enough?"
"Yes, thank you. Are you warm enough?" She asked him.
"I'm fine." He smiled as he added another stick to the fire.
"Now, you're a liar." She chuckled and gave him back his cloak. "I'm warm now. You get warm, please." He smiled at her and wrapped the cloak around them both as much as he could. "Thank you," she whispered.
Lot paced the great hall of Corbenic in anger. He could not believe that she had escaped. "Any news of the Queen?"
"None, my Lord." His head guard confirmed to him. "She has not reached Joyous Guard. We have guards posted at the docks. She will not seek refuge there. We have guards patrolling the borders. She is in the kingdom. She will not reach any of her allies."
"Good. Now find her! I want her here. Alive! If you find her husband, kill him on the spot." He ordered his guards, who left the room quickly. "I'll have her!" He growled to himself as he sat on Elaine's throne. "I'll have her for myself."
Gwaine, Mary and Galahad reached Camelot safely. "Where's Elaine?" He asked Arthur, without even bowing to the King.
"What? Why would she be here?" Arthur asked as he and Gwaine, Mary and Galahad rushed into the citadel.
"Didn't you get her messenger?" Gwaine asked. Arthur silently shook his head. "Lot's been attacking the Kingdom. We had to run."
Arthur shook her head. "We didn't get any messenger." He turned to Leon. "Ready the knights. We go in search of Queen Elaine."
"She could be anywhere. She will probably try Joyous Guard first and then any other allies." Gwaine explained as he held Galahad's hand. The young boy was tired and afraid but he would not let go of Gwaine's hand. "Please. Find her." He looked down at his stepson, who looked very afraid and sad. "Elaine's pregnant again. So, I have to find her. Please. Help us. It's my wife and daughter out there."
Arthur put his hand on Gwaine's shoulder. "We'll find her. I'll send messages out to her allies, and myself, with my knights, will go out and search for her." He cut Gwaine off, who was about to speak. "You need rest. Get some rest. Elaine will kill me if you go looking for her half dead."
"Fine." He grumbled. "Come on, Galahad. Let's get you to bed." He led the young boy away, as Arthur rushed out of the citadel and left with a large group of his knights to go in search of Elaine.
Elaine awoke the next morning with the feeling of her daughter moving in her sleep. She felt very warm from the warm body against her chest and her back against another warm chest. She could tell he was awake. "Morning." She whispered softly, not daring to move and awaken her daughter.
"Good morning." He whispered softly. "We best leave right away. The sooner we reach Queen Annis' kingdom, the better."
"Of course." She sighed softly and kissed her daughter's head. "Anne. Anne. Wake up, darling. We have to go now." She finally woke her daughter, who grumbled as awoke. "We will be in a warm bed very soon. With lots of lovely food."
"Hungry, Mama." She whined and rubbed her eyes, yawning again.
Lancelot reached into his bag, took out an apple, slicing a piece off with his dagger and holding the piece out to Anne. "Here we go."
Anne took it immediately and gnawed at it. "Say 'thank you'." Elaine insisted to her daughter.
"Thank you." She said timidly. Her eyes followed Lancelot as he stood up and began getting their things ready for the journey.
"Are you ready?" He asked, wrapping his cloak around him, and then helping Elaine to her feet. His hand lingered on her waist and his eyes focused on her. He wanted so much to lean forward and kiss her. His gaze fell onto Gwaine's daughter, who was a mixture of her mother and her father. He just wished she was his daughter and that he and Elaine were married. He missed that opportunity a long time ago. He stepped away, pushing away those thoughts, and reached for her cloak. "Here." Wrapping it around her shoulders.
She smiled. "Thank you." Pulling the cloak around her and Anne. "Let's go." Looking down at her daughter, who was still nibbling on the piece of apple.
"Your Highness." A lead guard spoke as he entered his Queen's Grand Hall. "A woman has arrived, claiming she is Queen Elaine of Corbenic."
"I'll determine that. Send her in." Queen Annis nodded and sat up straight on her throne, watching the lead guard leave the room. She had heard there was unrest in Corbenic. If Queen Elaine was truly here, the unrest must be worse than she thought. The guard returned with three people; Queen Elaine, her daughter and another man, who was not the Queen's husband. "Your Highness."
Elaine curtseyed deeply, her arms around Anne. Lancelot bowed deeply and stood slightly behind Elaine. "Queen Annis. I come to you in a time of need. I am a fugitive from my own Kingdom. King Lot has taken over my people and lands. I seek sanctuary."
Annis stood up from her throne and smiled. "And you shall have it." She gestured to Elaine to follow her. Elaine followed her with Lancelot close behind. "You should rest and then we shall talk." She took furs from a servant and draped them over Elaine's shoulder.
"Thank you, your Highness." She smiled a little. "I'm just glad we're safe." She held her daughter tightly. "I thank you over and over again." As Annis led her to some comfortable chambers, where she could bathe herself and her daughter. Lancelot was given chambers next to Elaine's, at the young Queen's insistance.
It had been a whole three days since Gwaine had been separated from his wife and daughter. By God, he missed them. He missed waking up with Elaine sleeping in his arms. He missed his daughter's cheeky grin. He just prayed that the were safe and well. "Gwaine?" He heard Merlin's voice enter his thoughts. He had been out on the scouting mission with Arthur and had only recently returned. "Are you okay?"
Gwaine shook his head. "No. I just want them safe and well in my arms." He stared out of the window, which looked down at the courtyard.
Merlin gave him a tap on the shoulder. "Arthur will find them. He won't give up."
"I know." He nodded, not looking at the King's manservant. Down below, Arthur was getting ready to leave once again but a messenger rode into the courtyard, dismounted and handed Arthur a letter. "Do you recognise the messenger?"
"No." Merlin shook his head.
They watched as Arthur read the letter and rushed back inside. "It's about Elaine." Gwaine said suddenly. The two of them turned and ran to find Arthur. They found the King running up the stairs towards them. "Is it Elaine?"
Arthur smiled and nodded. "She's safe. She, Anne and Lancelot got to Annis' Kingdom safely." He placed his hand on Gwaine's shoulder. "Have you slept?"
"Of course not. I'm worried about my wife and daughter. How could I sleep?" He hugged Arthur. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Sir Gwaine." He chuckled and stepped back. "Go and rest. I will personally bring Elaine back here."
Gwaine nodded and smiled. "Thank you."
Elaine and Anne had eaten, washed and rested. Elaine was so thankful for Annis' hospitality. Even though the Queen was hostile to the Pendragons not too long ago when Arthur had killed Caerleon, when the King had trespassed on Arthur's lands. Elaine dressed in a borrowed dress, which showed her slightly rounded stomach a lot more. She put Anne to bed and left her with a maid. She gently kissed her daughter on the forehead before leaving the room. "Hello Lancelot." She smiled when she saw the Knight standing outside the door.
"You look well, your Highness." He smiled and gestured for her to walk first.
The two walked side-by-side as they made their way to Annis' Grand Hall. "I never thanked you for helping myself and daughter to get to safety. So, thank you." She stopped and reached out and squeezed his hand in thanks.
"You're welcome." He smiled a little and squeezed her hand back. "Elaine..."
"We best go. Annis is waiting for us." She pulled her hand away quickly and walked away from him, but he was soon following close behind her.
A/N: Hellooooo? Anybody out there? Guys? What do you think so far? It will be ending soon. A few time jumps and then the end. BUT two sequels will follow!
Response from chapter 48:
ForeverTeamEdward13: You'll find out why Lancelot keeps trying to get her back soon. I promise you will know why. :)