Here is chapter 18!
Enjoy!
Chapter 18
The funeral was later that night. Many people had gathered on the cemetery to honour the fallen knight. Arthur said some nice words, some of the other knights seemed to have eased their sorrow by drinking, Lancelot was however not one of those. He seemed far away in his own thoughts, holding Aurora's hand while they stood there and watched Percival's remains burn.
Aurora was also far away, she knew something was very wrong with her. The fever was increasing by each minute, it felt like she was burning up inside while being trapped in a snowstorm. She had to concentrate real hard to contain her pain and hide it form everyone else. However, she didn't have to hold back on the grief she had in her heart. Everyone except Vanora thought that the tears was for Percival and they were, she grieved him immensely, but the loss of her child was like something had been cut out from her heart.
The crowd began to disperse but some of the knights lingered. Arthur left, not able to hold back his rage, Dagonet followed him. Galahad and Gawain stayed longer then the others. They had been the closest to Percival. The three youngest knights, the three best friends, now only two were left.
"Are you ready to go?" Aurora asked Lancelot and gently touched his shoulder.
He looked at her and nodded "Yeah, think so."
She turned and saw Gawain and Galahad. Aurora didn't have the heart to leave them and tried to convince them to join the others in the tavern.
"I don't know Aurora" Galahad said.
"Well, I and Lancelot won't leave you alone" she said firmly even though she felt a little dizzy and had to lean on Lancelot for support.
"Are you alright?" Lancelot wondered worried.
"Perhaps we should go" Gawain said, also noticing Aurora's health.
She smiled at them thankful and accepted Lancelot's help. They walked slowly back to the castle in consideration of Aurora but also because of their dark moods.
The three knights talked about Percival and memories they shared. Aurora however was becoming more sick then before. This is not normal she said to herself.
Suddenly she stopped not able to move any more. The sweat was pearled on her forehead and she earned curios looks from the knights.
"You are sick!" Lancelot said after he realized which state she was in.
She shook her head. "I am fine, I just need to rest" she tried to move forward but her legs failed her. Luckily Gawain managed to catch her.
"You are burning up Aurora!" He exclaimed after ha felt her body heat.
She no longer had the strength to argument with them. Her eyelids became heavier and she could hear the voices of Lancelot and the other two. She couldn't hear what they said, it was like they were speaking from another world. Suddenly she saw a bright light and she forced herself to turn and see what the light had come from.
"What happened to her?" Lancelot screamed and took Aurora in his arms.
"Bloody hell, she is unconscious!" Galahad said quite neurotic.
"Aurora can you hear me?" Lancelot spoke softly and touched her cheek. "Aurora?" he whispered.
"Come on Lancelot, we must take her to the healer." Gawain said and started to jump a little where he was standing.
Lancelot seemed to freeze in his position and Gawain had to tell him one more before he grasped the situation. The three knights ran through the village, leaving intrigued people behind them.
Arthur were standing on the courtyard talking with some guards when they arrived. Everyone turned to look at them and when Arthur saw the unconscious Aurora he ran to greet them.
"What has happened?" he asked in his leader tone.
Lancelot who were now in a mix of shock and hysteria only stuttered out the answer.
"Come one, get her to the healer." Arthur commanded as soon as he heard their story.
"I will tell the others" Galahad said and ran toward the tavern.
No one noticed though and everyone's concentration were on Aurora.
"She just collapsed, I don't now what to do!" Lancelot exclaimed when he laid her on the bed, in the healers room.
"Calm down" the healer said and rushed forward and checked various things on Aurora in routine.
"She has a very high fever, I told her she should not leave her bed." the healer mumbled leaving a puzzled Lancelot to stare at his back.
"Leave her bed?" he wondered. The healer turned to see him and saw his surprised look.
"She has not told you?" he asked and raised his eyebrow.
Lancelot's otherwise handsome features were becoming more and more worried by each second.
He shook his head and starred at the healer and then at an unconscious Aurora.
"What are you talking about?"
The healer was about to answer but Arthur cut in.
"It is okey, Patrick. I will tell him" he said and motioned to the healer to assist Aurora instead.
"Lets wait outside Lancelot." Arthur said and gently pushed Lancelot's shoulder, he however did only shake Arthur's hands off him.
"No! I want leave her and can someone tell me what is going on!"
He looked desperate at the others, demanding an answer.
When now one answered he gave up and turned his focus on Aurora. He suddenly realized he had forgotten a person in the equation.
"Is the baby alright?" he asked.
When he said this the healer and Arthur looked at each other and Arthur shook his head in sadness.
"Lets talk outside Lancelot". This time Lancelot followed without any argument.
Aurora was no longer sick, she actually felt wonderful. She was not on the fields outside Camelot anymore, but on a hill and around her was a forest. She could see for miles, the view was breathtaking. The trees were changing their colors and it was a wonderful mix of red, yellow and green.
She took a large breath, she was amazed of how she felt. The air was clear and it smelt like the forest in the fall, like mystery. It was much lighter here then it was at home she thought. Like the sun only were a few meters away. She turned around and a saw a tree standing on the top of the hill. A big oak, slightly curved, completely red. She walked up and picked up leafs which were lying in the ground. Suddenly Aurora heard a laughter and tried to find were it came from, she squinted her eyes and looked everywhere. Then she saw who it was, a little child was coming form the forest, a little boy. He was around four years old and his laughed echoed around the valley. she walked towards him intrigued and smiling slightly. Her heart stopped when he got closer she could se his features. His brown eyes looked at her and his brown curls were bouncing up and down in the tact he was running in, he reminded her so much of Lancelot.
He ran towards her and she found herself holding her arms out to greet him. However when he came up to her, he continued to run and she looked at him curious.
"Wait, where are you going?" she said laughing and ran after him.
Aurora noticed a woman up by the tree and the boy was headed towards her. When the boy came up to her, she took him in her arms and they both laughed.
The emotional scene displayed before her eyes and the love and the bound they shared was so strong that Aurora started to feel tears prickle her eyes.
They turned and looked at her and she felt her heart stop. All of a sudden she was standing beside them and was surprised to see who the woman was, It was her.
The woman smiled, or she smiled at herself and the child looked at her curios. A few moments passed by and they just stood there observe each other. Then Aurora could feel cold drops on her face and she looked up and saw snow fall from the sky.
When the child noticed this he giggled.
"Snow!" He said and pointed in every direction.
Aurora looked at him and felt happiness in her body, this was their son, hers and Lancelot.
She could feel someone stare at her back and she turned around. The other version of herself and the child notices this too.
"Lancelot" Aurora whispered when she could see his mischievous grin through the snow. He stood a few meters away holding one hand on his belt, he looked very relaxed and very seductive.
Aurora watched as the other version of herself and the boy started to run towards him. When the little boy finally reached Lancelot, he lifted him up and spun him around in the air. Their laugh seemed to linger in Aurora's ears for an eternity. She almost felt a little envious when she saw the woman and Lancelot share a kiss. They looked very happy and for the first time since she got her Aurora started to wonder where she was. Is this the future? She thought or is this what might have happened if the child had survived the fall.
Now the ground was completely white and the snow lay thick on the trees.
The woman and boy had now disappeared and Aurora found herself alone with Lancelot.
They gazed at each other.
"I am glad you are here" he said as if his meeting with his family had not happened. She only nodded in reply.
"Why am I here?" she asked without taking his eyes of him. He started to walk up to her.
"Why wouldn't you be?" he asked back and he seemed a little irritated by her question but this faded away quickly and he added with a smiled.
"You know you belong with me".
She looked at him rather dumbfounded and silently agreed with him.
He had now reached her ad when he kissed her she happily kissed him back.
"See", he said and broke the kiss. He gently touched her eyebrow, played with her hair.
"You belong with me my wife."
"I do" she answered cuddling closer to him to shut out the cold, which now was becoming an inconvenience.
She couldn't believe she was married to this wonderful man and sighed of contentment.
"What is going on?" Lancelot said and looked at Arthur in desperation. He felt completely out of control.
Arthur was very uncomfortable, he didn't want to tell his best friend this news but he had to.
"Lancelot," he said in a serious tone. "I were just talking with some guards..."
"Oh not now Arthur" Lancelot said in an angry tone. "My wife is unconscious and you want to talk about castlegossip?" He had now raised his voice.
"Calm down Lance" Bors said who had now arrived with the rest of the gang.
Arthur continued after another annoyed glance from Lancelot.
"This time was a little different Lancelot, this time the gossip were about Aurora."
Arthur had now gotten all of the attention in the room.
"I am sorry Lancelot but." Arthur choked not able to go further.
"She lost the baby." A low whisper said.
"What?" Lancelot asked and looked for the person who had said it.
Vanora stepped forward. "She lost the baby." she said once again.
Realization hit Lancelot and his legs could not carry him.
"No" he said while he shook his head. Tears were forming in his eyes.
"Will we ever go to Sarmatia?" Aurora wondered and smiled at Lancelot.
Lanclot looked at her and smiled in return. "But we are in Sarmatia now". This made Aurora very confused and when she looked around she could see she was standing on green fields that never ended.
"How did we get here?" she asked while she observed this new environment. She still had a close grip on Lancelot's hand.
He walked up behind her and put his hands around her waist and whispered in her ears.
"We can be wherever we want to be, because now we are finally free".
"Free?" she asked and turned to face him. "How?"
"We are free" he only responded and walked past her and laughed.
"Lets not dwell on technicalities Aurora, live in the present" he started to run away from her, over the fields to the horizon.
"Lancelot" she screamed and started to run after.
"How did this happen?" He wondered after he had collected himself for a few minutes.
Vanora looked at him a bit nervous, not knowing what she should answer. Seeing her hesitation Lancelot walked towards her with anger in her eyes.
"Tell me?" he demanded. Sensing Lancelot's hostility, Bors walked between him protecting his love.
"Calm down Lance" Bors repeated again forcing Lancelot to back away.
"Knights" Arthur said an put his hand on Lancelot's shoulder as support.
"Please, tell me" Lancelot now pleaded.
Vanora now had all the focus in the room and everyone looked at her curious.
"Vanora?" Bors now urged on.
"She fell". She finally said.
"Fell?" Lancelot wondered.
She nodded. "Yes, down the caslestairs. There was nothing Patrik could do."
Silence was evident in the room.
"I am sorry." Tristan said and offered to help. He was the one who knew about healing and was talented in herbs. Lancelot thankfully accepted.
"Why didn't she tell me?" He wondered an looked at a teary Vanora.
"She didn't want to tell you after she heard about Percival. She thought you had lost to much".
"Lost to much? What? Was she suppose to hide this from me?"
Vanora shook her head, "no, but"
"But?" Lancelot said and raised his voice. "BUT?"
"Lancelot!" Bors and Arthur said at the same time.
"This is not Vanora's fault." Bors said and laid an protective arm around her.
"I understand that you are upset, but please try to relax and wait." Arthur said making Lancelot fix his eyes on him.
"Relax? How can I relax after I have heard this news? After the woman I love, MY WIFE, is perhaps lying on her deathbed."
"We do not know that." Arthur said trying to reason.
"I have lost my child." Lancelot said and silenced him. Everyone bowed their head in silence not knowing what to say.
Aurora tried to keep up with Lancelot. She ran and ran but she felt like she didn't move or perhaps she did but she never caught up with Lancelot. All she could see was his back.
She had to give up eventually and stopped. She had to support herself by holding her body weight against her thighs with her hands while breathing heavily.
Instead of cold she now felt extremely hot after the long run and the sun hadn't stopped shining since she got there.
She wiped her forehead with her arm. "God, I wished it snowed now." she said to herself.
The knights and Lancelot waited in silence outside the door. Suddenly the door opened and Trsitan came out.
"Her temperature is rising rapidly." He said in his matter of fact tone, not reveling any emotion.
Lancelot, who had sat down, stood up.
"What can you do for her?" He asked with fear in his voice.
Tristan looked at him a little sympathetic.
"At this moment we can not do anything. We can only hope she is as strong as we think she is."
Lancelot nodded.
"Can I see her?"
"Of course." Tristan answered and motioned for Lancelot to go in. When he reached the door he turned around and looked at the others.
"I appreciate your support but it has been a long day and you really ought to go to bed."
The others looked each others and smiled slightly.
"We won't go anywhere" Dagonet said firmly.
"We are brothers" Gawain said and nodded at him.
Lancelot was very moved by this and smiled slightly at them all before he went to Aurora's side.
When he saw her in this weak state he felt something break inside him.
"Aurora, honey, can you hear me?" he whispered and took her hands to his lips.
"You must come back to me." He continued.
"Don't leave me, I love you so much, I need you to live". He kissed her hands and looked at her fragile appearance.
"I love you." he said softly hopping she would her his plea.
Aurora stood there contemplating on what she should do when she heard a voice whispering in the wind.
"Come back to me" it said and Aurora couldn't understand who said it. After a few moments she recognized Lancelot's voice but she couldn't see him anywhere.
"Lancelot?" she looked around but he were nowhere to be seen.
Then she saw him. He only stood a few feet away from her looking at her with fear in his eyes.
"You must come back to me." he said and reached out his hand to her.
She only laughed. "What are you talking about, I am right here." she said and went to take his hand but when she did she couldn't. It was like he was made up of thin ear, as if he was an illusion which he could not be since she saw him.
"What is this?" she asked her smile fading.
He still just looked at her his voice shaking.
"Don't leave me".
"Lancelot stop!"
"I love you so much, I need you to live" he continued making Aurora get shills down her spine.
"Stop it" she said out loud. "I am right here Lancelot".
"I love you" he said once again and then he was gone leaving a lonely Aurora behind.
"Lancelot?" she whispered and swirled around to find him.
Instead she found herself back on the hill, the snow still falling. Her breath became a big steamcloud and she felt the cold attack her from every direction.
"Aurora" she heard and saw Lancelot stand there.
She felt relief rush through her body and she ran to greet him, this time she could touch him.
"Oh Lancelot, you gave me such a scare" she hugged him tightly, he however did not respond.
"Lancelot?" she asked and looked at him but he only gave her a stern look back.
Suddenly he drew one of his swords which made Aurora take a couple of steps back.
"Is everything okey?" she asked while she felt fear, her breath caught in her throat.
He didn't reply but only took a few steps towards her.
"Don't fear me" he said. "I would never hurt you, my wife".
When she heard this she accused herself for have thought ill of Lancelot. Of course hew wouldn't hurt her.
She began to smile again and walked to him. Just when she reached Lancelot she felt pain rush trough her stomach. Oh no, she thought, not again.
When she opened her eyes she found Lancelot in front of her, but he was not helping her, instead he glared at her in hatred.
She looked at him confused and felt something wet drip down her stomach. She looked down and saw one of Lancelot's sword piercing her right through. The blood were dripping down on the white soil. She could not longer stand up straight because her legs would not carry her. She bent forward and leaned on her arms which were on the ground. She was standing on her knees and arms like an animal, the sword still piercing her.
Tears ran down her face of sorrow and betrayal. Lancelot still looked at her and did nothing.
"Why?" she asked and had to spend all her energy to face him. She thought at least she would receive some kindness from the man she loved, who had claimed he loved her. But he did nothing, he had intended to kill her and now he watched.
"Why?" she asked again after a few moments and this time Lancelot reacted. He leaned forward so his head were just and inch away from hers.
Her heart were beating, she could here the snowflakes when they reached the ground. She felt the blood leave her body.
"Why?" Lancelot repeated and looked at her with such a hatred, this would have killed Aurora alone.
"You killed my child" he said and drew the sword out of her body making Aurora scream of pain.
"Aurora?" Aurora tried to open her eyes and saw Vanora stand over her.
"She is awake!" Vanora screamed and then a loud noise of footsteps and doors opening was heard.
"How is she?" Someone asked. Lancelot, it was Lancelot. Fear once again caught her heart and when she saw him her eyes showed it.
He backed away a little surprised of her response.
"Is she not completely here?" he asked and turned to the healer.
"She might not have realized that she is awake. When you are unconscious it is much like sleeping and perhaps she had had an eventful dream."
"How is that suppose to help me?" Lancelot said with anger in his voice.
"Calm down Lance" Arthur said earning an annoyed look from Lancelot.
Aurora tried to wake up from the dream she had had. Am I awake now, she thought.
"Lancelot?" she whispered and everyone immediately looked at her. Lancelot himself rushed forward and took her hands in his.
"Darling, I am here." he said and stroke her forehead. She tried to fix her eyes on him but everything just turned out to a blur.
"I am sorry." She finally whispered and tears feel down her face.
"Schh, don't cry." Lancelot said and kissed her.
"I killed our child."
Lancelot shook his head determined.
"Don't even dare to say that in my presence."
She didn't have the strength to argue and her eyelids began to flutter again.
"Sleep, darling. Just return to me?" Lancleot whispered.
She nodded. She knew Lancelot was still by her side and a part of her felt happy to know this. However, she couldn't help to be frightened because of the dream she had had. What if this was a sign or was it just a mere dream. She felt Lancelot kiss her forehead and she smiled slightly. I love you, she thought, and I always will.