The Calling
Chapter 31

“Galahad” said the Knight simply as Francis stood before him. The large burly man knelt low as he spoke and rested on the hilt of his sword, “my life at your command”

“The doubter...” commented Francis as he spied the Knight on one knee before him.

“Please forgive my doubts my Liege...”

“It is not his fault!” snapped Merlin, “please do not replace fault with those who serve thee loyally” he moved gracefully and quickly around the stone altar to where Galahad knelt and placed a hand on the back of the Knights head. “His concerns echoed all of ours. Only he had the voice to speak them” he chided Francis with his words and his eyes shot daggers of contempt as he spoke. “Yours is not the only life in question...” Merlin said looking around at the nobles in the cavern.

“I’m sorry” stammered Francis, “I didn’t think”

“Your fate is naught” continued Merlin, “but thine destiny is linked with that of our own. You are indeed the kin of Arthur, then Excalibur shall call thee further until thine is reunited with the sword”

“Then what?”

Merlin shrugged, “But take heed my Lord, Morgan seeks the sword, and if she seeks Excalibur then not only our lives are in danger but the whole of reality”

“What do you mean, the whole of reality”

“With Excalibur, Morgan can use the enchantments to shape will itself to her command. She courts dark forces...” said Merlin sadly, “and may stop at naught to retrieve the sword for her own design. This is why my Lord Galahad was cautious in his favour”

Francis nodded and smiled down at the Knight who remained in his kneeling position as the two men spoke above him. “Please...Galahad...” the Knight raised his head at the sound of his name, “if you could” Francis waved before him toward the remaining Knights and nodded in their general direction.

The Knight stood and slid his sword into its scabbard and moved to the side of Francis. “My Liege...” he started, “may I present the remaining Knights of the Round Table” he said proudly placing a hand on Francis’ back and waving toward his comrades. Each Knight bowed their heads in respect as Galahad moved from one to another introducing each Knight in turn. “Bedivere...“, the Knight nodded as Francis looked at him, “marshal to Arthur, brother to Sir Lucan. It was he whom returned Excalibur to the Lake” he explained, then leant close to Francis’s ear and whispered with a grin spreading across his face, “just don’t mention that it took him three times to complete the task” Bedivere blushed at the remark, but remained silent in courteous respect.

Galahad continued, “Gawain...the Maiden’s Knight, brother to Agravain and one of the greatest Knights to be seated at the table” Francis nodded at the Knight and couldn’t help being impressed by his polished green armour with its raised black Griffin embossed in the center of the chest plate. He held a large green helmet beneath his arm, which had a large black Griffin similar in design to the one on his armour perched on the crest of the heavy metal, running over its peak and down the back of the helmet. Galahad continued to move along the line of Knights, “Kay...”

“We’ve met” interjected Francis.

“Aye, in the forest” confirmed Galahad as he cast a quick glance toward the young boy, “step-brother to the King and the first of the Knights”, Kay nodded and glanced up at Francis as he past and smiled broadly at the boy. Despite his brutish nature, Francis couldn’t help warming to the heavy set Knight. “Tristan, Knight of Cornwall...” continued Galahad referring to the other Knight from the clearing. “Son of Blancheflor and suitor to Iseult”

The Knight nodded, “my Liege” he purred softly, keeping his head firmly down.

“Percival...” he frowned at the Knight as he lowered his head, “Old friend” Percival raised his head and smiled at Galahad, “bravest of Knights and seeker of the Grail with myself”

Percival nodded toward Galahad and rested on the hilt of his sword, “I am at your command” he whispered through the darkness toward Francis.

“Just don’t let me carry any of yon magical incantations for you” Kay laughed loudly at his remark and slapped Tristan on the back as Percival grimaced at the statement.

“It was a mistake anyone could have made...” he stuttered glancing toward the tunnel and the disappearing shadow in the distance.

“Who is the large man?” whispered Francis in the ear of Galahad through the laughter echoing around the cavern. Galahad followed his gaze to the large bulk of the Knight who unlike the others stood to his full height and stared at the slow progression of the two as they continued through the cavern.

Galahad extended his hand to the Knight, who accepted it firmly and shook his whole arm in greeting, “My Lord Bors” said Galahad warmly.

“My Lord...” smiled Bors, “It feels good to be alive does it not?” he asked, staring at Francis, “to be aligned to yon youth on the Holy quest once again”

“Aye...old friend” he agreed and turned to talk to Francis still holding the grip of the larger Knight, “Bors journeyed with myself and Percival for the Holy Grail, which the Fisher King now holds” he explained, “He is the most noble and courteous of Knights, granted divinity through his vow of chastity and chosen by the Lord himself”

“Please my Lord” urged Merlin, “The Fisher King...” he indicated down the corridor.

Francis looked at Merlin and smiled, “don’t worry” he insisted gently as he strode around the cavern, “I have been ordained as King, I think...what could possibly go wrong?”

“My Lord forgets...Morgan walks abroad” his eyes darted about the chamber as he spoke, “if she knows our moves, then she could court our defeat”

“How would she know?”

“She has powers almost as strong as my own, but hers are devout in darkness” explained Merlin, “she courts with demons and twists the truth to her own meaning” He placed a hand on Francis’ back and gently eased him into the mouth of the tunnel, “you must go, for reality could be fashioned around us as we speak”

“You worry too much old man” laughed Kay as he moved to follow Francis down the tunnel.

“Least ye forget the forest my Lord” warned Merlin, then turned to Francis “or thine metal carriage”

A shiver ran up the back of Francis as he remembered his own experience, “you know about that”

“I watched it...” he said indicating toward the stone chalice which still stood silently close to the stone alter. “Morgan has great powers, do not mistake her will as a weakness. She will do what she must to obtain Excalibur. She will use anything or anyone to get her desire”

“Gwen...” whispered Francis.

“I beg thee pardon?”

“Sorry...you said she would use anyone”

“Aye my Lord. If Morgan can use a person to obtain Excalibur then she will do so” Merlin paused and eyed Francis as he spoke, “thoust came here alone?” he queried.

“Yes...but...”

“What is it?”

“Well...there was a girl...”

Lord Kay laughed loudly through the cavern and slapped the young man on the back. Francis stumbled forward under the pressure of the strike, “is there not always!” he laughed.

“Explain!” demanded Merlin.

“When I arrived, there was a girl”

“Continue”

“Well...we kind of did things...” he stammered embarrassed by his own admission, “you know...things”

“He means sex my Lord” whispered Gawain in Merlin’s ear.

“I know what he means!” snapped Merlin, “this could be bad. If Morgan knows of this, then she could use the girl as a weapon against thee”

“What should we do?” asked Francis.

“Thoust must travel with the Fisher King”

“But, Gwen”

“Thoust are the King, we shall follow your orders” stated Galahad stepping forward.

“Okay...okay...” he breathed heavily, taking in the damp atmosphere of the cavern, “I don’t know what to do” he admitted looking around the cavern desperately. His eyes flicked over the seven expectant faces in the cavern of the Knights, then stared at the smiling face of Merlin.

“You will do what is right...I have faith” the old sage whispered.

“Come to me...” a female voice whispered in the wind and played around his ear. “You must come to me” Francis sighed, what had Galahad said earlier...Maiden’s Knight...chivalry...chastity...

“Right...” he started looking at the Knights, “Galahad, Kay and Bedivere you come with me” he said as confidently as he could, “Percival and Tristan you go with Bors to collect and protect Gwen. Gawain, you will stay here with Merlin in case of trouble” He smiled as best he could and walked down the tunnel, disappearing down the tunnel, followed by the small precession of Knights.

“Well done...” whispered Merlin. He turned and moved toward the stone chalice and gazed into the depths of the water within. He smiled into his own reflection and spoke into the water as a female face flirted across the surface tension of the liquid within, “he is the one” he breathed softly as the face disappeared, then glanced down the tunnel briefly allowing his eyes to paused over the form of Gawain before staring into the light at the end of the tunnel. “He comes...” he whispered into the darkness and turned his attention back to the water where the images began to swirl into life.