Page 21 of The White Knight

“Will they?” I smile into his chest.

“Especially the archbishop.”

“Ugh, okay, let’s go.”

We ride side by side at a slow pace, reaching the castle well before sunset. I am still upset with Lance, but I have already forgiven him. I know he is sorry and I know he will never do it again. With Lance back in my life, I will admit that I still sometimes crave the touch of my second, possibly illegitimate, husband. Not to Lance, though. I’m ashamed of myself, but it is hard to forget my intimate nights with Arthur. We might nothave a deep love for each other, but the passion is there. The want, the need. We had something. Without Lance or Arthur to warm my bed, my mind has been wandering.

Still, I will never sleep with Arthur now, knowing Lance is alive. All I want is for the life I was supposed to have with him. The life that was taken from me eight years ago. It will be complicated, but I know there is a way past this mess. There has to be.

Then there’s the Archbishop of Canterbury. He’s made it seem impossible. Every suggestion Merlin and Arthur throw on the table, he denies it, without reason. I’m not sure what his motives are, if he has any. My mind keeps going back to when I returned to Camelot with Arthur. When the archbishop discovered the rumors surrounding my pregnancy, he rode at once to Camelot, missing the letter of invitation sent by Arthur to baptize Galahad. The archbishop would never make a scene, especially in front of Arthur, but it was obvious he had disagreed with how Arthur had taken my son without question. I wonder if he had spoken to Mordred before arriving at Camelot then and even now. Is he Arthur’s man?

Arthur does all he can to sway the archbishop. Though after two months of discussing the messy situation Arthur, Lance, and I are in, I am losing hope that he will let me return to my first husband. I want to shake this man to sense, tell him exactly how I feel about him and his damn Christian rules.

But he could easily take away my crown. If I am no longer queen, what will that mean for Arthur, Galahad, and Camelot? Even if I were to remain queen as the acknowledged wife of Sir Lancelot, how can I truly be queen if I’m living with and loving another man? I feel so lost with the uncertainty lying before me.

As Lance and I enter the royal apartments, Merlin and the archbishop walk out from Arthur’s study after what looks like arather intense session. I bid them good evening as they exit the chambers and rush to Arthur’s side. He looks exhausted.

“I told them I wanted you and Lancelot to live as husband and wife.”

“Oh.” My heart shatters at the pain creasing Arthur’s brow. “How did the archbishop take it?”

“He was most angry. Believes I would be forsaking my vows as your husband as well as king. That denying you as my wife would deny you as my queen and deny Galahad as my heir.”

“Fuck.”

“The archbishop also has concerns about naming Galahad my heir if his mother is no longer my wife. Our marriage gives him protection and a claim to my throne. If we were to dissolve our marriage, then he would be a bastard born from adultery and the archbishop will not allow him to inherit my throne.”

“Fuck,” I repeat. “Can he do that?”

“Arthur,” Lancelot interrupts before we can continue with the depressing topic of my son’s legitimacy and claim to a throne I thought Arthur had full power over. “I do not wish to make matters worse, so I plan to return home to Joyous Gard. If you would grant me permission, I can begin preparing for the journey this week.”

“Guinevere, did you know of this?” Arthur lightly squeezes my arm in comfort.

“Lance only just mentioned it to me today.”

“And are you fine with Lance leaving?”

I sigh, turning toward Lance. Before tears pool in my eyes, I turn back to Arthur and say, “I will miss him, of course, but I think it’s a good idea.”

Bowing his head in thought, Arthur quickly looks back up to Lance. “Perhaps it is best. Galahad will join you.”

“What? Wait. Arthur.” I shout.

“I know it will be hard for you, Guinevere, but it is time that Galahad had proper training. I lived away from my home at a much younger age. It will be good for him. And Joyous Gard is a second home to the boy. He will feel welcome there. Not to mention, it will give Lancelot a chance to bond with his son.”

“I thank you for that chance, Arthur. But if Guinevere does not wish for Galahad to leave her side, I will not take him from her.”

I sigh, not with relief at what Lance had said, but with sadness. “No. You are right, Arthur. Plus, he shouldn’t be around all this drama. If shit hits the fan, I want him far from Camelot.”

“Are you sure?” Lance grabs my hands, his eyes searching mine for truth. Those beautiful green eyes. Like the calm before a storm.

“Yes. You deserve to get to know Galahad as I have. He is the best of us, all three of us.”

Chapter 14

Lancelot

The journey to JoyousGard is long and exhausting. With the royal guard and Merlin accompanying us and the luxurious camp we need to set up every evening, means less riding during the day. But every day is a blessing. I ride side-by-side with my son. This boy, he is everything to me. Though Arthur has embraced Galahad as his own and the realm believes this to be true, I know Galahad is mine.

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