Chapter 60: The Arrest Of Lancelot
Merlin knocked on the door to Elaine's chambers. "Come in." Her voice croaked from the other side.
He opened the door with one hand, balancing the tray of food on his arm. "Your Grace?" He bowed his head when he saw her laying in bed. She was very pale. He could tell that she was seriously ill. More than Galahad was led to believe. "I have brought you food."
"Thank you." She smiled and sat up straight. "Did Galahad send you?"
He nodded and placed the tray of food on the table near to the window. "Yes, he did. He's worried about you."
She nodded slowly. "I know. But there is nothing anybody can do." She rubbed her chest. "Merlin, I need you to do something for me." She reached to her right and picked up a letter. "When I die, give this to Gwaine. Inside, there are letters for him, Arthur, Galahad and the girls."
"Your Grace, I could make you better." He pulled a stool next to her, taking the envelope from her.
She shook her head. "No. It's my time, Merlin. It's my son's time to take his place on the throne. With that. I need you there for him. He maybe a man but he's still a boy. I know you and Arthur can give him the guidance he needs."
"I will." He nodded. "Shall I fetch Gaius? Give you something to make you more comfortable?"
"No, thank you. I wish to go home but I do not think I will make it there in time." She breathed slowly. "Camelot has been my home as much as Corbenic has."
Merlin gave her a smile. "Do you want me to fetch anybody?"
"No. I wish to sleep. Go and see the news. Galahad is telling Arthur. I know it is not the right time, especially with the threat of Mordred and Morgana. But he has a right to know." She gave a groan and rubbed her chest.
He stood up and poured a goblet of water for her. He helped her to take a drink. "There." Placing the goblet next to her. Merlin walked to the food and placed it on the space of the bed, next to her. "You need to eat, Your Grace." He bowed to her before he left the room. Servants were running through the corridor. "What's going on?" He asked a passing maid as he closed the door to Elaine's chambers.
A maid stopped. "The Queen and Sir Lancelot have been arrested for adultery." She rushed away from him.
Merlin stayed still for a moment before he started off into a run down the corridor. Arthur needed him. "Gwaine!" He called to the knight, who was standing at the bottom of the stairway. "Is it true?"
"Yes." He nodded. "Galahad spoke with the King and he was soon ordering their arrests."
"Is Galahad all right?" Merlin asked as they stood close together.
Gwaine shrugged a shoulder. "He's with Arthur. He's had more threats from Mordred." He sat on the edge of a step. "Has Elaine had food?"
"I've given her some. She's sleeping now." He rested his hand on Gwaine's shoulder.
"She's dying. I know she is. That woman cannot keep a secret from me for long." He tried to laugh but it was a weak laugh. "I want her to stay so much but I know she will not. Each time I offer to stay with her, she sends me away."
Merlin gave his friend's shoulder a squeeze. "She's comfortable at the moment. You should go to Arthur. He'll need you as a friend right now. I will have a maid sit with Queen Elaine. You need to be with Arthur." Squeezing his shoulder once more. "Go. I will be there soon." Gwaine nodded a little and looked up the stairs. He wanted to be with his wife more than anything. She was asleep so he would be no help at all. Gwaine turned and made his way to the Great Hall. Arthur needed him too.
"Mary." Elaine smiled broadly from her desk, as her old maid entered her chambers. "You look well."
Mary curtseyed to Elaine, who stood up and walked around the desk. "I thought I should come and see you."
"Merlin sent you." She smiled a little and gestured to the chairs by the fire. "Expecting again? You and Sir Percival need to stop." She sat down and groaned softly. "This is your fifth?"
"Sixth." Mary blushed as she sat opposite the Queen. "Are you well, your Grace? Merlin would not have sent me for no reason."
Elaine gave her a small smile and nodded. "Just overtired. Tell me the news. I know something is going on."
The maid nodded. "Lancelot and Queen Guinevere have been arrested. King Arthur has called his council. From what I have heard, Lancelot will be put on trail first and then the Queen."
"Right," said Elaine as she looked at the dancing flames of the fire. "Is Sir Galahad with the King?"
"Yes. He hasn't left his side."
"Good." Elaine nodded and removed her gaze from the fire to look at Mary. "How are the children?" Smiling at her former maid.
"Growing." Mary nodded. "Are you well? You look so tired."
She shook her head. "I am well," she lied. "It's just been a long journey." Rubbing the back of her neck. "I think I will rest. Could you tell Merlin, if you see him, to bring me news of the arrests?" She stood up slowly, hiding her groan of pain.
"Of course, your Grace." Mary stood up and dipped a curtsey to Elaine. "Would you like me to check on the princesses?"
"Oh yes please." Elaine smiled as she slowly walked to the large bed. "Thank you, Mary." She gave a small smile and sat on the edge of the bed. She waited for Mary to leave until she pressed her hand over her heart and gave a small cry. She did not have long left.
Gwaine had to talk to him. He walked down the stairs to the dungeons. He had to talk to Lancelot. Not for the King or for anyone else. "Don't worry," speaking to the guards. "I will talk through the bars." He stepped around the corner to Lancelot's cell. "Hello Lancelot."
"Gwaine." The former knight stood up from the floor. "What are you doing here?"
"Came to see you. Despite what you've done. You are still my friend." He leant against the bars. "You are an idiot. She was the Queen! Arthur's wife!"
"I couldn't help it. I love her!" He shouted at Gwaine. "I didn't want it to happen but it did. I am sorry. Let Arthur know that."
Gwaine sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead. "I will but he will not listen. He has too much to deal with. Your trial has been brought forward to tomorrow instead of next week."
Lancelot stared at his friend, trying to figure out what to say to him. The news shocked him. "Of course." He walked away from the bars and leant against the far wall. He turned his eyes up at the small window above him, his only source of sunlight. "How is Ela..."
He was cut off by Gwaine. "Don't you dare mention her name! You have no right to say her name. You will not bring slander to her name. You lost your chance with Elaine a long time ago and when you could not have her, you went to the next woman."
"I loved Gwen before Arthur! Even before I met Elaine! So don't you dare say that I am trying to be with women I cannot have." He turned his head and glared at Gwaine. "I did love your wife, but that was a long time ago. The only love I have for her is that she is the mother of my son."
Gwaine shook his head. "Why could you have not loved Gwen from afar?"
Lancelot looked away from Gwaine. "I do not know. I just could not help myself." His eyes focused on the little bit of sky, that he could see. "How is Gwen?"
"She's no longer Queen. Arthur stripped her of the title and you are no longer a knight of Camelot." Gwaine explained to him. "Get some rest. Your trial is first thing tomorrow." He turned away from Lancelot. They were no longer friends. Lancelot had broken their friendship. As a knight of Camelot, Gwaine would have to choose between his code of honour or saving his friend's life. He knew which was right.
A/N: Wah! This story is coming to an end! I don't want to end it but it just is!
Responses from chapter 59:
Moon Fox: Yep! The scandalous affair has happened. :) I was going to do a mini time jump but thought it pointless as I was going to do another time jump to get where this chapter is. So there was no point. Only Gwaine, Galahad and Elaine know about Merlin at the moment. More will know soon. The sequels will happen. Trying to write the first chapter of one of the sequels right now. Well, trying!
Guest: Oh dear! An uneducated reader, who has only ever watched the show. My story is part of the show but it is based off the legends themselves. In every legend that I have ever read, Guinevere has always been barren and the affair always happens. Gwen was never meant to be a main character in this story, so she was not going to have the character development like Elaine and even Gwaine. So, my hint for you. Read Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory or The Once and Future King by T.H White and get an understanding of the real character of Guinevere, and not just the one from the BBC show.