Page 139 of Propriety
Collapsed.
The others froze.
“You’ve made your choice,” Lancelot said, low and cold, eyes locked on the three remaining. “Now, you die.”
They surged at him.
Guinevere backed away fast, stumbling into the tree line, breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t look away.
For the last year, she had heard tales of Sir Lancelot. The knight with nothing to lose. The man that fought like his life depended on it. The soldier with more grit than all the Round Table combined.
This surpassed all of that.
The second man swung a blade, Lancelotcaught iton his arm, didn’t even flinch as blood sprayed across his forearm. He stepped into it, driving his elbow into the man’s throat with a sickening crunch. The man dropped, choking.
The man with the cracked tooth came at Lancelot from behind. Guinevere screamed, but it was too late.
Steel met steel, Lancelotspun, blood in his teeth, his body twisting like instinct, like art. He slashed deep across the man’s chest, and he shrieked and crumpled to the ground.
But the last one, helmeted, snarling, faster than the rest, got lucky.
A knife.
Quick.
Hidden.
Itsankinto Lancelot’s side.
He grunted, staggered, then drove his sword through the man’s gut and ripped it free with a snarl.
And then-
Silence.
Lancelot swayed, and that was all it took for her to snap out of her fear-induced stupor.
She ran to him, caught him as he went down on one knee. His blood was warm and red andeverywhere.
“I’m fine,” he rasped. His breathing was ragged.
“You’re bleeding,”
His eyes flicked to hers, still wild. “You’re not hurt?”
She shook her head quickly, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes as she tried to stop the blood that covered her hands. “No, I’m not.You’rehurt. Lancelot, please.”
“Then it’s fine,” he said again, but his voice was breaking, his skin pale and shining with sweat.
She wrapped her arms around him, trying to hold him up. “You’re not allowed to die. Do you hear me? You’renot allowed.”
He managed the ghost of a grin. “Yes, wife.” He coughed.
And slumped forward.
His weight tipped against her, heavy and shuddering. Guinevere staggered to keep him upright.
“Lancelot… Lancelot!”
