Batman and King Arthur

Paladin of Gotham

by Matthew Snee

Chapter Eleven

"Now listen to my words closely," said the King to Batman, "For what I speak now has a dire importance."

"I'm listening," said the Batman.

"You must take my sword, my Excalibur," Arthur said, and then paused to cough. "And cast it into the lake, and then come back tell me what you have seen."

It sounded like the request of a man about to die. Batman bit his lip and replied: "But what if I do and you regret it later?"

"I fear there is no 'later' for me, my friend. Please. Do as I ask."

So Batman took Arthur's sword Excalibur, whose ancestry could be followed to ancient Rome, and exited the chapel, leaving Arthur alone with the priest. For a long time Batman gazed at the lake, but found a strange heaviness in his arm whenever he thought about throwing the sword into the water. What if Arthur lived? And if he did not, the sword could be used as a symbol of succession for the next king. History was grim upon the Batman now, and he found that as much as he wanted to follow what the King had requested, something in him would not allow it.

So he went back to the King and lied, saying he had thrown the sword into the water easily.

"Tell me, what did you see?" Arthur asked.

"Nothing," said Batman, wondering what the King expected. "Just waves on the water."

"I can tell you are lying," said the King. "And I know why you do. But you must cast the sword into the water, please, while I still live!"

Batman nodded and agreed he would. He went back outside and lifted the sword in his hands. Once again, the heaviness took over, and a deep pit in his heart wailed in protest.

However, the Batman heeded it not. With all his might he hurled the sword into the air, and watched as it plummeted over the water.

But instead of landing with a splash, a long white arm reached out of the water, and caught the sword by the hilt, brandishing it three times, and then pulling the sword down underneath.

Slightly aghast, Batman now returned to the King, and told him the deed was done.

"What did you see?" the King asked.

"A white arm, rising out of the water to catch the sword," said Batman.

"Ah!" said the King. "Excalibur has returned where it belongs now. Thank you. Thank you my friend. Now, take me to the lake."

Batman lifted the King and helped him walk outside. To his surprise, there was now a barge docked at the shore of the lake, manned by four white-robed ladies. Upon seeing Batman and the King, the ladies came and took Arthur out of the Batman's arms, and led him to the barge.

"Goodbye, my friend," said Arthur, as the ladies laid him in the barge.

The Batman, who had seen many things in his life, but nothing quite like this, did his best to honor the solemnity and magic of the moment. "Goodbye, my King."

So the ladies and the barge took Arthur away, and the Batman was left alone by himself. He sat on the lake's shore for quite some time, watching the barge disappearing into the mist, and then watching the mist disappear into the sun.

Where do I go now? Batman wondered. How do I get home?

Batman realized he had one thing here left: the dark-haired barmaid, Appavain.

He went back into the chapel to find the priest and asked if he had a horse.

"I do, and you may take it," said the priest. "But first: answer me this. With both Morded and Arthur dead, who will rule Britain."

"I do not know," said the Batman.

"I tell you what will rule: chaos. Forgive me, but aren't you the Paladin of Gotham?"

"I am," said the Batman.

"I have heard tales of your heroics. Can't you see now what you must do? You must take up the mantle of the king, or this land will fall to a terrible waste, God have mercy on us all."

Batman did not know how to answer. "I will take the horse," he said.

Then he rode long an far in what he believed was the direction of Appavain's village. Finally, night fell and he came to a dense, dark forest, and he decided to walk, leading the horse by the reins. He stepped cautiously through the brush, only too aware of the wounds he suffered and the dangers of this world.

But instead he found only an old hermit in the forest, sitting next to a freshly dug grave. Inside the grave was a body, wrapped in black.

"Who is that?" the Batman asked the hermit.

"I tell you, it is the strangest thing," said the hermit, he was gray-bearded and his lips shook as he spoke. "Four ladies carried this body her by wagon and begged me to bury it. I told them I would do as they asked. Now, here we are."

"Do you know who it is?" asked Batman.

"No, no..." said the hermit. "It could be anyone, I suppose, surely someone who died terribly, knowing this land."

Batman said nothing more, and continued on through the forest. He wondered if the body had been Arthur's. Hadn't four ladies - the same number on the barge - brought the body to the hermit? Perhaps they tried to heal Arthur, but could not. But why would they bury him in such a place, by such a man? After witnessing the magic of the hand coming out of the lake, and the ladies on the barge, Batman wondered how Arthur could come to be in such a grave.

This he wondered, until he commanded himself to wonder no more.

Batman came to the village just as dawn broke, and tied his horse and entered the inn. All were asleep. He found a chair by the fire, and slept.

When he awoke, he found himself in a bed, with his armor off and his wounds bandaged. Appavain leaned over him, washing the wound on his face.

"Appavain!" he gasped.

"I am here, my love," she told him.

With great effort, he pulled himself up and embraced her. She was warm and soft, and her arms encircled him. He kissed her neck and ran his fingers through her long hair, helpless against the emotion he felt for her after his trials and tribulations.

Finally they let each other go, and he lay back onto the bed. She smiled at him, but a sadness was in her eyes. "Arthur? Mordred?" she asked.

"Both dead," the Batman told her.

"And what of England?"

"I do not know," he said.

She was quiet for some time. "Will you not stay?" she asked at last. "We need you. I need you."

"Honestly," said Batman, "I do not know how I will go back. It seems like I am stuck here."

"Maybe that is for the best? Maybe that is what the spirits ask of you?"

Batman wondered. Would he never see Gotham again? What about his responsibilities to the city and its people? What about the Batman?

"I don't know," he told her. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

"We have time," Appavain said. "Just rest here now."

She laid in bed with him and began to hum, and then began to sing. He was too drowsy to make out the words though, and only enjoyed the beautiful melody and the sound of her voice. It comforted him a great deal, and he grew closer and closer to sleep, but willed himself to stay awake and enjoy her presence and song.

After some time she stopped, and spoke: "I know where Merlin is," she said.