Page 62 of The White Knight

Another voice answers from the darkness. “Mordreddid.“ Gawain approaches my cell, keys in hand. Kei, Bedivere, and Gaheris are with him too. Their faces are somber, but I do not see any hint of anger or hatred. They should hate me for what I have done.

Kei continues explaining what had happened as Gawain unlocks my cell. “The trial did not go well, my friend. With you and the queen deemed traitors, it did not take much for Mordred to convince the people of Galahad’s true paternity.” Myskin pinches with gooseflesh. Of course I am a traitor. Have my brothers come to take my head.

Gawain tosses the keys to Galahad, who then opens Guin’s cell. She rushes into his arms as I sprint to embrace my family one last time. They can at least give me this. No one attempts to pry me away or tell me what a treacherous bastard I am. “Why are you all here?”

I notice Galahad is carrying his mother’s bag. The one she had traveled here with. The one that carries all her belongings from another time. He holds the bag out to Guin, who quickly secures it through both arms, then explains what else had happened at the trial. That Galahad is no longer the prince of Camelot.

“Everyone believes we are bringing Galahad down here to lock him up next to you both. But we will not let that happen.” Gaheris is close to tears when he looks at me. “We all knew. Well, we all suspected.”

“And you said nothing?” I turn to Guin, her arm wrapped around Galahad. He has grown so tall that he is nearly the same height as his mother.

“Who would we have spoken to? If our king allowed you two to be together, then who are we to denounce a legally sanctified marriage?” I am shocked at Gawain’s pronouncement. He is the one I was most worried about, being the virtuous one. “Albeit it is a strange situation, Arthur did the right thing. I understand the secrecy because I know this arrangement could never be made in the light. But now…”

“It’s a fucking mess,” Guin completes Gawain’s thought. “Do they know Arthur is part of this?”

“No.” Gawain answers quickly, turning to Guin. “You should have let me tell Arthur about what Mordred did to you that night.”

“Do not stir this up now.”

“What did Mordred do?” My nostrils flare in anger at the thought of Mordred so much as looking at Guin in the wrong way.

Sir Bedivere steps front and center, preventing the conversation from proceeding. I notice he is holding my sword, which he hands to me. “We do not have time for this. They will want to see the traitors behind their bars. We need to leave now to avoid getting caught.”

I grip Bedivere by the shoulder in thanks, receiving a curt nod in reply. Then I reach out to Guin, her cold hand slipping into mine. Galahad takes her other hand, and we follow our escort out. Kei and Gaheris lead our group as Gawain and Bedivere take the rear. We weave our way out of the dungeons, using the door that leads into the armory. It is empty. Still, Gaheris tells us to wait as he quickly scouts for anyone hiding among the armor and weapons.

He gives the all-clear and we make our way to the stables adjoining the armory. Merlin is waiting for us inside with three readied horses.

“Does Arthur know we are escaping?” I ask.

Gawain and Merlin share a glance at one another. Merlin responds. “What the king does not know will not hurt him.”

I nod at Merlin. He is right. We need to keep Arthur innocent from all this. But my stomach churns when I recall the look on his face in the catacombs. “You are all staying with him, right? He needs protection.”

“Do not worry, White Knight. We will not abandon our king. But we must get you out now or Mordred and his men will be on our tails.” Gawain’s voice is calm, but his eyes fill with urgency. “If we are to remain here, we must let no one see us.”

“I understand.” I pull Gawain into a brotherly embrace. When I step back, I see Guin and Galahad mounted on their horses. A weak smile shakes at the tips of Guin’s lips. Her strength fillsme with hope, and I feel as if I could do anything. In an instant, the growing smile disappears, her eyes flying to the back door leading into the armory where we had come from.

“What is the meaning of this?” A knight from one of the other kingdoms asks as his eyes fall on me, then Guin and Galahad on their mounts. “Traitors! The lot of you!”

“No, Gaheris, don’t!” Guin screams as Gaheris launches at the knight, sword in hand. But another man enters from the armory, reacting with lightning speed, sinking his dagger deep into Gaheris’ neck.

I turn to Guin, whose skin has turned a greenish gray. “Go,” I yell.

She does not move, only stares at the blood pouring from Gaheris as he struggles to breathe. She shakes her head at the skirmish taking place behind me. “Guin, go now.” I am at her side in three strides.

“No. I am not leaving you. No.”

“I will meet you at Avalon. Please, Guin, go!”

Merlin steps up to Galahad’s mount. “Do not go straight to Avalon. They will expect you to go north. Go south. To my caves. A boat will be waiting to take you to Vivienne. But you both must go now.”

I kiss Guin’s hand as I steer her horse to the entrance of the stables. “I will find you, my love. I will find both of you. In Avalon.”

Not waiting for a response, I slap her steed’s rear, making it gallop away. Galahad follows close behind. And now my hollow heart threatens to consume me. I push my sorrow down and pull out my sword to help my brothers. I will not let another one die for me.

Chapter 38

Arthur

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