Page 59 of The White Knight

“I thought this trial was meant to seek truth. I have spoken the truth as I spoke it with Maleagent. I am sorry he is dead, but his actions were his own. All I did was confide in him thesetruths.”

Bagdemagus stands before Alfred can respond, anger on his face. “Do you have proof? Because to speak out against your king and queen the way you have done is treachery. If I were your king, I would have had your head years ago.”

“If that is true, you would have taken your son’s head years ago as well for the things he would say of you.” A wicked smile stretches across Mordred’s face.

Lancelot places a hand on Bagdemagus’ arm, coaxing him to sit down. “Mordred is only trying to get a rise out of you. Do not let him shake you.”

Bagdemagus nods, grinding his jaw to staunch the anger. Then he waved his hand to Alfred, letting him know to proceed. “Did you knowingly allow Prince Maleagent to believe your lies and spread them to anyone who would have listened?”

“Yes. We wanted everyone to know of Queen Guinevere’s deceit.”

My grip on Arthur’s hand tightens. Instead of letting go, he brings it to his mouth, placing a soft kiss on my knuckles. I reward him with a shaky smile and push my nerves deeper inside my core. Though I don’t know how much longer I can keep it together.

“And did you plan for Prince Maleagent to get challenged by Sir Lancelot or any of King Arthur’s men?”

“No, but it was extremely entertaining to witness Lancelot’s reaction. He all but admitted to it with his face,” Mordred chuckles.

Alfred looks to Arthur, who then nods. “Lady Elaine, would you mind stepping forward?”

Mordred stiffens in his chair. Good, he should be scared. He thought Elaine was his, but she is mine. Once an enemy, now my dearest friend and one of Arthur’s most loyal subjects. Elaine walks forward, her head held high, though I can see a slight shade of green tinting her delicate skin.

“Lady Elaine, can you please tell us about the conversation that occurred between Sir Lancelot and Prince Maleagent?”

“Would you like me to repeat the conversation verbatim?” Elaine asks with a voice full of confidence.

“No, that will not be necessary. Only regale us with the attitudes of the two men.”

Elaine nods. “Prince Maleagent was as cocky as ever. He wanted to get a rise from Sir Lancelot. And he did. But any knight of Camelot, or rather, any man who respects and loves King Arthur, would have lost composure at the way Maleagentdishonored our king. Sir Lancelot was a man defending his king. That is all.”

“And why were you sitting with Mordred and Prince Maleagent that day? Are you not the queen’s lady?” Alfred asks. “To be seen in friendly company with the two people who have done everything in their power to tarnish your queen’s reputation would make it seem like you are passing on information to them.”

“I am the queen’s lady and I am loyal to King Arthur. For years, I have been pretending to be…friends with Mordred in order to spy on him. Make sure he did not have any plans to harm Queen Guinevere and Prince Galahad.” Elaine stands still, staring at Alfred as she answers his question. I desperately want to give her a hug and a high-five. She is awe-inspiring.

Mordred slams his fists against the table and stands up. His attempts to approach Elaine are cut short thanks to Bedivere and Kei. They hold him back as he yells, “You bitch! Just another whore like your queen.”

The crowd erupts in chaotic gasps and murmurs. Arthur rises from his throne, and I let go of his hand, which has become slightly purple from all my squeezing. Why didn’t he tell me I was squeezing too hard? “Quiet! Let us break for today. Tomorrow we will resume this trial and come to a conclusion.” Before anyone can respond, Arthur reaches for my hand and motions Galahad to follow behind.

“Your Highness, I have a message from, uh, the king, uh, your husband.” A young boy whom I don’t recognize approaches me in my garden, handing me a letter. He stammers about how Arthur had sent him to find me immediately.

“Thank you,” I say, relieving him. He breathes a sigh of relief and sprints away.

The note is scribbled with Arthur’s messy handwriting, not the hand he uses for official documents and letters. In it, he tells me to meet him in the catacombs before the trial resumes after the mid-day meal.

“The catacombs?” I say out loud. Where the hell are the catacombs? I wasn’t even aware there were any here. And why does Arthur want to meet me somewhere I’ve never been to before? Especially in a dark, creepy catacomb. I shrug, taking a quick look up at the sky. It’s nearly mid-day, the trial is due to resume after lunch. A sigh escapes my mouth as I think about yesterday’s proceedings. It was excruciating and terrifying hearing Mordred speak so crassly about me.

I will never understand his unconditional hate toward me. Never. But perhaps we were made to hate each other. That is how the story goes. And I haven’t tried to change his feelings for me. He’s just a medieval asshole. I will not let him ruin everything.

As I wander the castle grounds looking for a door that looks catacomby, I am greeted with smiles and slight bows. Everyone seems to be on my side, on Camelot’s side. It’s a relief to have such support from our kingdom and countrymen. Knowing that Mordred’s words, though harsh and true, have held no meaning to the people who were listening.

I catch sight of Elaine as she makes her way into the great hall for her noon-time meal. Seeing me wave, she changes course and heads in my direction. “Your Highness, what are you doing about? I thought you were in the garden. I was going to bring you some food.”

“That is very kind of you, Elaine.” How far our relationship has come. To think I wanted to gouge her eyes out for even lookingat Lance, and now she is my best friend at court. “I need to find the catacombs.”

Elaine’s eyebrows mold into a question. “Why would you need to go there?”

“Arthur has requested my presence there. But I didn’t even know we had catacombs.”

A smile washes away the lines on her forehead. “That is because no one ever goes there. Only if you were up to no good,” she says with a chuckle.

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