Page 45 of The White Knight

“Nothing out of the ordinary. Mordred is still spreading rumors and attempting to dethrone you and dismiss Galahad. I do not think there is anything to worry about though. No one seems to bite. The forthcoming tournament has brought much excitement. That is what the people are speaking of. Not of you, Galahad, or Lancelot.”

“Wonderful. And Arthur, he is safe?”

“Yes, my queen.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “This tournamentisexciting, but I still worry. So many people will be here. How will we keep track of everyone?”

“Do not worry yourself. The knights of Camelot will be everywhere, watching everything. Where one knight is visible, there will be more in the shadows. Camelot will remain the safest place in the realm. I will have my finest men watching Mordred’s every move.”

“Thank you, Gawain.” My mind relaxes knowing that the safety of my family and kingdom is in the hands of such a brave knight as Gawain. Still, my heart cannot help but clench at the thought of Mordred.

Gawain guides me into the gardens. A place I’ve considered my sanctuary. A little garden nestled on the far side of the keep. The place where Lancelot and I were reunited for the first time in eight years. The memory brings pain to my heart. Seeing himalive, not believing my eyes. His body, wasted. His face covered in matted hair. He was wild. But mine. Always mine.

“Has Mordred…bothered you since you have been back?” Gawain asks, no doubt seeing the sadness on my face.

I shake my head. “No. Besides the glares and stares, he has not said a word directly to me.”

“Good. Does Lancelot know about what he—”

“No! And he will not. If Arthur or Lancelot find out, they will act. Such an action will bring chaos. The people may not be listening to Mordred right now, but they have done so in the past, and he still has allies.”

“Yes,” Gawain scowls. “Allies who will be closely watched at the tournament.”

“You had mentioned one name to me, Maleagant. Will he be coming?”

Gawain scratches his chin, combing through his mind for the long list of guests who have responded to our invitations. “Hmmmm. The son of King Bagdemagus. Yes. He will be here.”

A chill runs down my spine. Maleagant is another name I am familiar with from the Arthurian legends of my time. So much of the story is different already, so perhaps his story is different as well. We all need to be extra careful for the next couple of months.

“Ahhhh, just the two people I had been looking for.” I spin around to find Arthur waltzing into the garden, a wide smile painted on his face. It makes him look like a little boy on Christmas morning.

“Oh? I hope you have pleasant news to share with us. Your joy is contagious already,” I giggle.

“It is wonderful news, my dear wife.”

I smile at the endearment, keeping up with the charade even in front of Gawain. He doesn’t know the arrangement we’ve made. I trust him with my life, but no one must know. We’ve already letit slip at Avalon, but that is a safe place for us. No one at Camelot must know our secret.

“Gawain.” Arthur places a hand on the knight’s shoulder, forcing him to walk along the walls surrounding the garden. “Do you remember that order I placed for a round table?”

Gawain laughs. “Yes, the extraordinarily large table to replace the head table in the great hall? The one our queen said we needed?”

I hide a smile, turning my head away from the men. All this time in Camelot and there isn’t a round table in sight. I needed to say something.

“It has arrived!” Arthur is giddy, making my heart swell with happiness.

“Where is it?” I can’t help but share his excitement.

“It is being assembled in the great hall as we speak.”

“We must have just missed it. I am escorting Queen Guinevere from her rehearsal there,” Gawain explains.

“Well, you must turn back around and follow me to see this glorious table my beautiful wife envisioned.”

My heart flutters at Arthur’s words. He was always an affectionate husband. So it makes perfect sense he wouldn’t change his attitude toward me, even though I am secretly Lancelot’s wife. Yet I am still Arthur’s queen. As his queen, yes, I am his wife as well. For the public. Not in private, I remind myself as I smile back into Arthur’s charming face.

As we approach the great hall, Arthur grabs my hand, pulling me through the entrance. The table is massive. A team of ten burly men hoists all the pieces together. As they work, Arthur’s arm snakes around my waist. I melt into him, lying my head on his shoulder. It feels comforting to be so close to Arthur. I miss this closeness. I miss…him.

I look up into Arthur’s face and his eyes immediately lock on to my gaze. Eyes that show me a longing I haven’t seen in himfor years. Without reserve, I mirror his longing. My lips reach out to kiss him and are met with a chaste peck. I shouldn’t want more. But I do. Arthur and I turn our attention back to the massive round table slowly being built right before our eyes. It is a wondrous vision to behold.

---