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Chapter 22 – The Muster of Camelot
Less than a week later the knights supposed to take part in the Grail Quest were mustered in Camelot. Sir Gwaine, Sir Bors and Lionel had already left with the entourage of Princess Elena. They were meant to ride with her until they reached the Castle of Gawant, from where they would continue to Dolorous Guard, to learn more about the mysterious knight that had lifted the curse of that place and see if they might be able to work out an alliance between him and Camelot.
As for the rest of the Knights of Camelot, naturally every single one of them volunteered – even Sir Leon, who knew he would be left behind anyway to protect the realm in Arthur's absence. The other one Arthur had asked to stay behind was Sir Geraint, whose wisdom and experience would be needed to support Sir Ector in ruling as Regent in Arthur's name.
As previously agreed, the volunteers were divided in three groups. One would go with Sir Percival, who had already been to the Grail Castle and was thought to have the best chance of finding it again. With him went Sir Agravaine of Orkney, Sir Girflet of Corduel and Gareth, Sir Agravaine's brother, now a knight-probationer, whose knighting was planned after the Quest.
The second group was led by Sir Yvain the Valiant. With him went his half-brother, Sir Owein the Bastard, Sir Pellinor and Sir Alynor. Two young esquires of Sir Alynor went with them as helpers.
The third group was led by Arthur himself, accompanied by Merlin. With them went Sir Tristan of Cornwall, with his friend Sir Dinadan and Ivaneth, the page. The latter had been offered this chance to prove himself worthy of becoming an esquire after the Quest.
The only knight who did not volunteer was Sir Erec of Ester-Gales, which surprised everyone, most of all his brother, Sir Geraint.
"What happened to you?" the much-respected knight asked his considerably younger brother. "At any other time you'd have been the most eager to go on such an adventure."
"At any of those times I was not newly wed," replied Sir Erec. "My Lady Enide had waited at my bedside patiently for almost two years while I was lying at death's door, never losing the hope that she could win me back. I am too deeply in her debt to leave her behind, now that I have been healed."
"You hiding behind the skirts of your wife, like a child or a coward?" leered Sir Sagremor, the son of Duke Nabur the Unruly.
An able yet querulous knight, he had been living in Camelot for over four years, but had yet to be invited to the Round Table; a fact that made him even more ill-humoured towards those who had already been granted that privilege. None of which made him particularly well-liked among his fellow knights.
"What has common sense and loyalty towards one's lady have to do with cowardice?" asked Sir Dinadan reasonably. "Or do you think me a coward or a weak knight, too, just because I do not see the benefit of seeking out danger needlessly?"
That stopped Sir Sagremor for a moment, as all knew that Sir Dinadan was neither weak nor a coward. His deeds, performed in Sir Tristan's company, were remembered in the songs of wandering minstrels, and he was the celebrated champion of many a tournament.
"Still, you do not shy away from the Quest," scowled Sir Sagremor, who had wanted to go but was not chosen.
Sir Dinadan raised an eyebrow. "I am not newly wed with a young wife, either," he pointed out. "Sir Erec has duties towards his bloodline as much as towards his King."
"And I would never demand from him to come with us," said Arthur. "The Lady Enide's claim is older and stronger; and I respect it."
"And I will gladly give up that claim on your behalf, sire," declared Lady Enide. There were tears swimming in her beautiful eyes, but her voice was steady. "I love him too much to allow him to besmirch his honour by letting his King ride into danger without offering his sword as protection," she turned to Sir Erec with a tremulous smile. "Go with my blessing, my heart. I shall return with my father to our castle and wait for you, as I always have."
Sir Erec seemed torn by the choices offered to him… until Count Waldemar nodded encouragingly.
"Go where duty calls you, son," the Count said. "Enide will be well cared for in Laluth until your return. Our lands have not been ravaged by the famine; she will be safe and won't lack anything she might need."
"When are you leaving?" asked Sir Erec.
"At daybreak, with Princess Mithian and her entourage," replied the Count. "King Trevisent sent me a message, asking to join his daughter on her way back. These are dark times, and there is safety in the numbers. Besides, I'm still his subject; nominally, at least."
"And Princess Mithian is always delightful company," added Lady Enide. "Worry not, my beloved; I will be safe. And I shall wait eagerly for your return."
Now that this was settled, the only remaining question was which group Sir Erec should go with. Arthur, however, made a quick decision before another discussion could have begun.
"I'll take him with me," he announced. "Sir Tristan cannot come with us all the way, as he has to escort Princess Iseult to Cornwall, so we'll have the lowest numbers. I cannot go on a quest with just one knight, a page and… well, Merlin."
Everyone laughed and agreed, even Merlin, although he knew he alone would have been enough to keep the young King safe. But he also knew that Arthur would need time, both for getting comfortable with the thought of being saved by a warlock and for realising what Merlin actually could do. Besides, the time to announce to the whole court who – and what – exactly Merlin was had not come yet. So it only made sense to take Sir Erec with them.
All necessary choices being made, Arthur released his knights to their preparations. He had his own farewells to make; and he needed to discuss the most urgent matters of state with his Council.
Among them the issue of his father's death.
"We've questioned the guards again," said Sir Bedivere, the constable of Camelot, "but they remain steady that no-one but Mistress Hunith and Dame Guinevere entered the King's chambers."
"I can't imagine Hunith having anything to do with it," replied Arthur. "The only time my father met her, he treated her with respect."
"And Hunith is a healer," Gaius added. "She would never harm anyone entrusted into her care. She is a gentle soul."
"Besides, she wasn't even Uther's subject," said Sir Ector. "She could have no grievance against him; even less so as Uther has made her son Arthur's manservant."
"Neither can I imagine Guinevere to have part in this," continued Arthur. "Admittedly, she would have grievances against my father… even though Tom Blacksmith turned out not to be her natural father, but…"
"No," said Sir Ector grimly. "Her father was Tauren of Cameliand; the man who came to Camelot with the express intention of having Uther murdered."
"True; but Gwen hadn't had any contact with the man before," argued Gaius. "And Tauren was killed by Morgana, not by Uther."
There was a lengthy silence, no-one wanting to remind their young King that his bride had willingly used her blood ties to said sorcerer to make herself a suitable wife for him. That would have been a slippery path; no-one could foretell how Arthur would react.
"Of course, the Lady Morgana would be able to cast an invisibility spell and slip into Uther's chambers unnoticed," said Master Geoffrey slowly.
"I don't doubt that she could do it, and I'd be happy to lay the blame to her feet," replied Arthur grimly, "but I'm afraid we can't. She was last seen leaving the Castle of Fyrien, heading to Cenred's orphaned realm."
"Does she believe Cenred's subjects would take her in with open arms?" Sir Geraint snorted. "After Morgause had their King killed?"
"They might, assuming she comes in the right company," Arthur was very careful not to look in Merlin's direction. "I've been told by a reliable source that Meleagant, the Crown Prince of Caerleon, is also heading to Cenred's castle on the Isle of Gorre – with the apparent intention to take the throne."
"Can he do that?" asked Sir Leon doubtfully. "Cenred's barons were fiercely loyal to him. Would they accept a stranger's claim on his throne?"
"Perchance they would," replied Arthur, "as Cenred was, in fact, the twin brother of Meleagant and the second-born son of King Baudemagus of Caerleon."
Needless to say that Master Geoffrey was the first to make the necessary connections; he was the court genealogist for a reason, after all.
"So Cenred was in fact Prince Melwas?" he asked in surprise.
Arthur nodded. "It seems so, yes."
"Are you absolutely sure about that, sire?" Sir Ector appeared doubtful.
"As sure as one can be about something learned from a truthful third person," replied Arthur somewhat cryptically.
Sir Ector still wasn't convinced. "It would be helpful if you could name your source, sire."
"I don't doubt that, but my source is understandably worried about their own safety and therefore asked to remain unnamed," said Arthur. "I gave my word to respect their wishes, since their news proved invaluable."
That was mostly a lie, of course, but not without a kernel of truth. He couldn't tell his councillors that he learned this from Merlin, of all people, who'd learned it from a dragon. He'd end up walled into the tower of the Mad King, Uther's great-great-grandfather, and Merlin would end up on the stake, without Arthur to protect him.
Magic was still outlawed in Camelot, after all.
"But if Morgana is with Prince Meleagant," began Gaius worriedly, "that means that Meleagant might learn about the Grail, too."
"And since Cenred's realm had also been ravaged by Morgause's fool sorcery, Meleagant might want to lay hand on the Grail himself," Sir Leon continued for him turning to Arthur in concern. "Sire, you and the other knights may have to face competition… perhaps even murderous attempts, should you or any of the others succeed in finding the Grail."
Arthur shrugged. "So, what is new? At least this time we offer several different targets; and I seriously doubt that Meleagant has brought enough men from Caerleon to pursue us all."
"No," Sir Ector agreed. "He'd most likely focus his pursuit on you."
"Most likely; but that cannot be helped," replied Arthur. "We need the Grail to save Camelot; and we can't wait for it to find its way to us. We must go and seek for it – we just have to be very careful."
"When are you planning to set off?" asked Sir Ector.
"In two days" time," Arthur answered. "There's no reason for any more delay. We've tarried long enough already."
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Prince Meleagant's cavalcade had nearly reached the Isle of Gorre, where the castle of his late brother stood, when the news arrived from Camelot. He hurried to his Queen – who had insisted on a tent of her own for the night – to tell her at once. He found Morgana curled up on her bed, looking strangely subdued.
She spoke before he could deliver his exciting news. "Uther is dead, isn't he?"
"How do you know?" asked the Prince in confusion.
Morgana sat up, shivering. "I felt it. I felt his pain."
Meleagant still couldn't understand her muted reaction.
"I thought Uther's death would be cause for celebration," he said with a frown.
Morgana shrugged listlessly. "Arthur will replace him. There will be no celebration until I take my place upon the throne."
"That might be sooner than you think," Meleagant assured her. "Word has just come that Arthur and his knights set off to seek something called a Grail."
"The Grail," Morgana corrected. "Ask the Dame Cundrie about it. She'll tell you that it's an item of powerful magic that can heal both realms from the ravage the presence of the living dead has done to them."
"In that case," said Meleagant thoughtfully, "perhaps we should attempt to send out our own knights to find this Grail. I'm sure Sir Gheriet would be happy to go."
Morgana shook her head. "To seek for the Grail is a perilous Quest; why put our faithful knights at risk? It will be much easier if we wait until Arthur or one of his knights find the Grail – and then take it from them. After they have returned Camelot to prosperity. I prefer to rule over a rich and flourishing land."
"But will they be able to find it?" asked Meleagant. "And to use it as it is supposed to be used?"
"Don't worry," replied Morgana with a brittle smile. "Arthur has his faults, but he's nothing if not persistent. And he's usually very lucky. I'm counting on that luck… until my hour comes to end it – permanently."
~The End~
Soledad Cartwright@2014-12-31