Chapter 63: The Battle at Camlann
Galahad rode at the head of his column. This was his first real battle. He was only eighteen and he was responsible for two thousand men. "Gwaine? What happens if we lose?"
"Get the girls and get to Joyous Guard. You and your sisters are the most important people in my life now. I'd rather die than see anything happen to you all." He kept looking ahead of him as they rode to their destination of Camlann, a place which Arthur had chosen to meet Morgana and Mordred head-on. Galahad and Gwaine had left Arthur to meet with the army of Corbenic. "Galahad, if I tell you to go. You leave without question. You get the girls and go."
"I will." He nodded, gripping his reigns tighter. "If anything happens to me, you are to be regent for Anne until she is of-age."
"Of course. I just hope it does not come to that." Gwaine looked over at his stepson. Galahad looked so tired. It had been a hard few days for him. The boy had just lost his mother and was now going to war, a few days after becoming King. "Did you speak to the girls before you left?"
"Yes." Galahad nodded as they approached the long road, which would eventually lead them to Camlann. "I gave Maria my ring as a promise to come home. That's making me want to fight more to survive. Just for my sisters. It broke my heart to leave Maria. Anne knew what would happen if I don't go back but Maria is so innocent. She thinks we'll come home in one piece."
His stepfather nodded. "I hope it doesn't come to that. You will make a great King. Your sister is too young to have that responsibility."
"I know." He nodded as they neared Camlann. They saw Arthur's army camped close by.
"King Galahad has arrived!" A man shouted. The call echoed through the camp. "King Galahad has arrived!" The mere sentence made Galahad cringe. It reminded him of his mother's death, which lay heavily on his heart. Galahad and Gwaine rode up to Arthur's tent. Arthur exited the tent, followed out by Leon and Percival.
"Galahad!" Arthur smiled as Galahad dismounted his horse. The two men hugged. "How many men have you brought?"
"Two thousand of my mother's, of my army." It was hard to admit that he was now King and everything that was his mother's, was now his. "Two thousand men. I left Sir Pellinore with the girls. He is the only one my mother could trust to leave us alone with him."
Arthur nodded. "Come on. Have some food and then rest." He wrapped his arm around his shoulders, leading him into the King's tent.
"Galahad, I now name you my heir. First it was your mother, then you." Arthur spoke as they sat together and ate.
"I've named Anne my heir, if anything happens to me." Galahad lifted his goblet and sipped his wine. "With Gwaine as regent. I wanted to cry when I handed them my ring. I didn't want to leave them." Placing his goblet back down. "It broke my heart. They've just lost their mother and they must feel like they are going to lose more of their family."
"They won't." Arthur shook his head. "We should have stayed close to them."
"No. You were right to come here." Galahad gave him a small smile, but his heart wasn't in it. "Keep them away from the danger." He watched Arthur for a moment. He could see that his cousin was troubled. "What is it?"
"What if Sir Leon was right? Perhaps we should have made our stand at Camelot." His hand gripped around his goblet, staring at it as he spoke.
"No. Sir Leon isn't right. Your plan is brave and bold, and our only chance of defeating Morgana once and for all. Yes, we could of held out at the Citadel, but for how long? And at what cost to the kingdom? Arthur, I would have abandoned my post to protect my sisters. Being here is the best possible option. Your people are safe and that is the most important thing."
Arthur gave a small chuckle. "If you do not doubt me, dear cousin, then I do not doubt myself. As long as I have you with me and my knights, I know I will not fail." The two men shook hands and returned to their evening of planning and talking.
Anne sat on the window seat, staring out of the tall window. She looked up at the hill, where her mother was buried. She missed her terribly. "Pellinore?"
"Yes, Princess Anne?" He spoke up from his seat. He was sitting at a small table with Maria, playing chess.
"Could we ride to Mother's grave?" She rested her chin on her hand, as she continued to stare out of the window.
"I'm sorry, my Lady. I'm under strict orders to not let you and your sister to leave the citadel." He gave her a small smile, even though she did not turn to look at him. "As soon as the King or your father returns, I believe you will be allowed to go."
"Oh." She nodded, bringing her feet to the chair and resting her chin on her knees. It had only been a day since the men had left Camelot but Anne was missing her father and brother awfully. They meant the world to her. It would break her heart if she lost either of them. She looked back to her little sister. She can see that her sister was still heartbroken over her mother's death. Anne tried her best to be with her little sister and look after her but she was still hurting herself. She turned her head and looked back out of the window.
"Annie?" Maria stood next to her sister. "What if Papa doesn't come home?"
Anne put her feet on the floor and pulled her little sister into her lap and hugged her tightly. "We'll stay here until we need to go home. Don't say things like that. Papa always comes home." She kissed her sister's cheek and the two of them sat together, looking out of the window, hoping to see someone come home.
Galahad awoke in the night to Leon entering his tent, demanding the 18 year old to wake up. "What is it?"
"The King has asked for you. Morgana means to attack now, my Lord." He bowed to Galahad as the young man climbed from his cot and pulled on his long coat. They left the tent to meet with Arthur.
"Arthur, what is going on?" Galahad asked as he secured his sword around his waist.
"Morgana." The King hissed. "She's attacking earlier than expected. I've sent Gwaine and Percival with a patrol of men. There is a hidden path running into the mountains. Morgana and Mordred mean to outflank us. Get ready, cousin." They both went their separate ways. Arthur commanded his men, while Galahad moved to command his men.
In the end, they both stood together, side-by-side. "Are you ready?" Galahad asked.
"No." Arthur chuckled softly. He stepped forward, his hand on his sword. "Tonight... We do battle. Tonight we end this war, we end a war as old as the land itself. War against ternary, greed, and spite. Not all will greet the dawn, some will live, some will die. But each and every one of you fights with honour, and with pride. For not only do we fight for our lives, we fight for the future. The future of Camelot. The future of Albion. The future of the united kingdoms." He lifts his sword into the air. "For the love of Camelot!"
His men cheered back: "For the love of Camelot!" The fight broke out and Arthur led the troops into a hard battle with the Saxons. Camelot knights fell around them but so did Saxons.
Galahad thrust his sword into the stomach of one attacking Saxon after another. His own men were very close to protect him. He didn't want it. It made him an easy target. He kicked the Saxon away. A loud roar came from above them. He threw himself to the floor as the dragon swooped down on them. He let out a cry when he felt a sharp pain in his thigh. He looked down at the Saxon. He kicked at the man, breaking his nose. The young King reached for his sword and cut down the man, before he could do anything else to Galahad. "Get the King out of here!" Shout a voice from behind him.
Galahad twisted on the ground to see if Arthur was all right. But he realised it was him they were talking about. Sir Leon pulled him to his feet. "No! I need to fight."
"You can barely stand." Leon half lifted and half dragged him through the fighting. Men were protecting Galahad from the Saxons as Leon pulled him to safety. "You're bleeding badly, my Lord." The two did not see the old man on the ledge, who brought the Saxons to their knees, forcing them to retreat.
"The battle is won, Sir Leon." Gwaine had been coming from the medical tent and now helped Leon to bring Galahad into the medical tent. "The Saxons are in full retreat. They're making for the hills. I've dispatched 200 men to drive our advantage home."
"And Arthur?" Galahad asked as Leon helped him to a stool, and the physician came forward and tended to the young King's wound.
"We'll keep looking." Leon gave him a small smile.
Galahad nodded, followed by a wince as the man cleaned his wound. "Thank you. We need to return as soon as possible."
"You cannot stay here, Sire." The physician announced as he dressed the wound. "My Lord, you are in no fit state to fight."
"I'll take him back to Camelot." Leon helped Galahad to his feet. "Don't argue, Galahad."
"I wasn't going to." He groaned as he tried to place his weight on his good leg. "Gwaine, are you coming too?"
"I'll stay," said Leon, and handing Galahad to Gwaine. "You go with him. Arthur needs as many men as he can."
"Can you handle everything?" Galahad asked. "Until Arthur is found?"
"Yes, my Lord." Leon nodded and went in a separate direction to Galahad and Gwaine.
Gwaine steered Galahad towards the horses. "You're only going back to Camelot to see the girls. You want to be fussed over by them."
Galahad laughed and then mounted his horse, with a groan. The injury in his leg protesting against the movement. "Ow!" He groaned as he gripped the reins. "Come on. We need to let the people know the outcome."
Gwaine nodded and the pair of them left the chaos behind them.
"You're back!" Maria squealed as she lifted her skirts and attacked her brother, hugging him tightly. Anne welcomed back her father, hugging him tightly. The two girls had seen the two riders from their chambers and ran through the entire castle to reach the courtyard. "You came back. Just like you promised."
"I always keep my promises." Holding her tightly and kissing the top of her curly head. "Are you all right, little sister?"
"Yes." She hugged him tighter, if it was possible. "I hated that you were gone."
"What about me?" Her father chuckled softly. Maria moved from her brother and ran to her father, who hugged both of his daughters tightly. Not wanting to let them go ever again.
Anne pulled away and looked up at her father, who was crying softly. "Don't cry. We knew you would come home."
He kissed her forehead. "I know. I am just glad that I am home with my girls."
"Can we go back to Corbenic?" Maria asked from her father's embrace.
"Not yet. We're waiting for word from Arthur." Galahad spoke gently as the four of them walked into the castle. He leant on a guard's shoulder, who was helping the young King inside. He gave a low groan as he was seated on a chair in the Great Hall. Maria sat next to him and gave him back his ring. "Thank you." He kissed her cheek and wrapped his arm around her, when she sat on the arm of his chair.
"Where is our cousin?" She asked him.
Sir Leon rushed into the Great Hall. "I have sent three patrols to search for King Arthur, Sire." He bowed to Galahad as he stood in front of him. "There is no sign yet."
"Thank you Sir Leon." Galahad nodded and winced as he moved his leg slightly. "Send word as soon as you hear anything."
"Of course." He bowed and left them alone.
"Come on. You need to be seen to." Gwaine helped his stepson to his feet and led him out. The two girls followed close behind. Both of them glad to have their family back.
A/N: One more chapter and that is the end! :(
Responses from chapter 62:
Moon Fox: Story is going to be wrapped up in the next chapter. I hope you will like it. :)
Guest: Awwwww I am sorry to make you cry. I am not as cruel as Moffat. Ha ha ha!