Just as Prince Galehaut started to reply, the sound of horns filled the air.Face clouding, he turned toward his family's castle, where a flag soon came into view.Black.Prince Galehaut's expression went from unhappy to grim.Returning his attention to Lancelot, he said, "It would seem my father has rejected all attempts at negotiation, and we are to be enemies, Sir Lancelot du Lac."
"So it would seem," Lancelot replied, unable to tear himself away from the intensity of the beautiful gray eyes meeting his gaze so boldly."Were it my choice, I would not be your enemy."
"Nor I yours," Prince Galehaut said somberly.He motioned to his own page, who came forward with his horse, a beautiful gray destrier.He swung up into the saddle, but instead of riding off, looked at Lancelot once more."An offer, Sir du Lac, if you would hear it."
"I would hear it gladly."Why was his heart pounding so hard?Why did the idea of having to fight this man, possibly kill him, leave an ache in his chest that ran deeper than any physical wound ever could.
Galehaut regarded him pensively a moment longer before finally saying, "If you, alone and of your own free will, would spend one full day and one full night with me, from one sunrise to the next, I will grant you any boon."
Lancelot stared, mouth agape, as around them the knights burst into nervous chatter.Gathering his wits, which seemed to have fled like a minstrel from the bed of his lord's wife, he managed, "What?"
The horns sounded again, and this time the horns of Prince Galehaut's forces answered.His fierce gaze never left Lancelot's."The horns of war have sounded, and the fate of the Distant Isles, which have lain within my family's control for hundreds of years, now lies with me.So I offer again, Sir Lancelot du Lac, famed child of the mystic waters and greatest of King Arthur's knights: One full day and night of your company, spent alone with me, freely, in exchange for a boon of your choosing."
Lancelot had roughly a thousand questions, most of them about whether or not Prince Galehaut would be safe in the aftermath of such an astounding gesture.Defying his father, surrendering without ever drawing his sword… The man's mind was even more beautiful than the rest of him.Lancelot wanted to know every part of it, wanted to know it like the sun knew the sky.
Gathering himself, Lancelot lifted his chin slightly and said, "Then I ask for your surrender, Prince Galehaut.That is my requested boon."
His reward for asking such a ridiculous thing was a smile of warm approval."You shall have it within the hour.Until sunrise, Sir Lancelot du Lac.I will send my most trusted knights to escort you."Prince Galehaut turned his horse and rode off, his page scrambling onto his own horse to catch up, and in moments they were gone.
Silence held the group of knights for a long moment before it was broken, predictably, by Tristan."Did you just agree to climb into Prince Galehaut's bed in exchange for peace?"
Lancelot pinched the bridge of his nose as that, of course, set everyone to laughing."Stop being so crass.Must I tell you this a hundred times a day?"
"Crass or not, it's true."
"Tristan," Lancelot said in warning.
"Pack up and make ready to depart, since we won't be fighting now," Tristan said, lifting his hands in surrender, though his mischievous grin did not abate in the slightest."I can't wait to see the look on His Majesty's face when he hears about this."
Another knight snorted."I can't wait to see Merlin's reaction.Even he has never won a battle with only his pretty face, and we all know that if anyone could…"
Lancelot's hand flew to his sword in warning, and he sighed in relief when they finally left off their teasing and got back to work.Turning away, he strode off for his tent, ignoring the fierce pounding of his own heart.
Lance slowly dragged his eyes open, staring at the ceiling as his mind shifted from ancient memories to modern day.He was sweaty, overheated, fingers gripping the sheets like they were the edge of a cliff and he was seconds from falling.
Drawing a shuddery breath, he shoved the blankets aside and climbed out of bed, stumbling on stiff legs to the bathroom to wash his face.
Galehaut.Gale.Lancelot had loved him more than life itself.He'd been trying so hardnotto think about Galehaut, but he may as well stop breathing.
Would he find Galehaut again?How long would it take?For all he was desperate to see his friends again, to stop Maleagant once and for all, his heart ached most for the other half of his soul.
Sighing, he grabbed a quick shower and pulled on comfy clothes.Pleading sick, securing confirmation from a doctor friend always happy to provide such things, he had an entire week off now.Plenty of time, hopefully, to find and wake Merlin.
Find the lake.Then the sword.There will be a fight.I will be there, but I won't know it.
Not the most helpful of directions, but that was Merlin.Even when hetriedto be clear, he was at best mist instead of fog.Lancelot still could not wait to see him again.
He ate a quick breakfast, made a last trip to the bathroom, then grabbed his sword and settled into his chair.Taking a deep breath, he logged in.
He appeared at the tavern, the usual starting point unless there was an active quest or something.He'd redone the kitten quest the previous day after working out his sick time, so that wasn't straggling—and to see if anything happened.
The entire trip had been unremarkable, just another day spent gaming.Somehow, that hadn't made him feel better.They'd come for him so quickly the first time, as though lying in wait.This time…nothing.Maybe now that he was awake, they were being more careful.
More than likely, they were lying in wait for him to lead them to Merlin, since he was the linchpin in all of this.They had died together to cast this spell, to give them all a second chance, but that meant the success of the spell rested on the two of them.Lancelot to set things in motion, Merlin to see it through.Now that Lancelot had survived the attempts to kill him, Maleagant's only chance to stop this war before it began again was to kill Merlin.
Lancelot had never felt so alone in his life.The burden of his role as Arthur's primary knight had always weighed heavy, but never as much as it did right now.One mistake, one moment of weakness, and he would cost themeverything.
The very moment they woke Arthur, Lancelot was going to clobber him.If Merlin didn't do it first, anyway.
