#theflawedcoin

Camelot was under fire, the city walls were crumbling from the inside and even all the powers of royalty were not enough to help Guinevere save her beloved home. She stood in the royal chambers, dressed in a pretty delicate and pathetic-looking chain-mail tunic rather than her usual outfit of elaborate silk dresses and headpieces. Gwen could not give the chain-mail many redeeming factors but at least it was comfortable and not constricting and difficult to walk in like the dresses needed for royal duties. She played absentmindedly with a link of her armor whilst staring out of the window to the citadel below. There was fire blazing from the wooden buildings and darkly dressed men slaying Guinevere’s people with swords and daggers and just about any weapon they could get their hands on. Gwen shook her head, unable to believe the merciless way the men killed. How could anyone kill with such thoughtlessness?

“All done m’lady.” A voice said quietly from behind Gwen.

Almost startled by the presence of her handmaiden, Gwen half-cocked her head in the young girl’s direction. It was stupid of her to be surprised –the girl had been standing behind Gwen braiding her thick curls into a tight braid for the past ten minutes but Gwen had been so lost in thought.

“Thank you Beatrix.” Said Gwen as she pulled the braid over her shoulder and turned to face her handmaiden. The girl looked so young and innocent, surely no older than 17 and certainly not ready for battle. Gwen attempted to put a smile on her face as she placed her hands gently on the little girl’s shoulders and said;

“Now, you have to promise me that you will stay here. Hide and don’t come out for anyone. When this is over I’ll come for you I promise.”

The little girl looked completely shocked by Guinevere’s proposal.

“No m’lad-“ she tried to protest but Guinevere put her hand up to silence her.

“I will not extend your duties to dying so you can stay by my side. Now go!” Gwen raised her eyebrows at Beatrix, who still did not move for a good few moments. But finally Beatrix got the hint, picked up her skirt and walked over to the screen that would hide her from the rest of the room. Gwen watched her go with sadness in her heart; she hoped the girl would be safe here. Of course she could never be sure but at least staying in the palace gave Beatrix some kind of chance.

When the hem of Beatrix’ skirt had disappeared behind the screen Guinevere picked an impressive looking sword up from where she’d placed it on the table. She had stolen the thing from the royal armory and being the blacksmith’s daughter meant she knew straight away that it was of excellent quality. Fine quality, with a hilt that perfectly balanced the steel. She picked it up and swung it professionally around so as to test its ease of use. There wasn’t really time to start worrying about the quality of her sword, so Guinevere sheathed it and went to leave her chambers.

The door shut with a click, Guinevere barely noticed the guards on either side of the door bow as she passed. She’d only walked three steps before she bumped straight into an unknown person. Her immediate instinct was to scream, after all, the city was full of invading forces. She let out a shrill burst and attempted to push against the man. Her hands made contact with the cold of metal. Metal …metal chain-mail. She looked up quickly to see the familiar, handsome, blonde-haired appearance of her husband Arthur, King of Camelot. A sense of relief mingled with love and anxiety washed over her.

“Guinevere!” Arthur burst. “What the hell are you doing?”

She pulled away from him slightly to get a better look at what was happening around her. She established quickly that Arthur was accompanied by his loyal manservant and Guinevere’s good friend Merlin. Guinevere managed to give him a brief smile before her attention turned back to Arthur.

“Eh… what do you mean? I’m going to help.” She replied.

“No!” His protest was almost instant. “No. No. No way. No! I won’t allow you. You can go back and stay in our chambers.” He pushed he back towards the room and before Guinevere even had time to react she was standing in the doorway.

“I will not! I’m not going to hide in my chambers whilst the people burn and die!”

“You will do as I ask. I’ve already lost so many men I will not lose you too!”

“I’m fighting and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Guinevere folded her arms over her chest. This was her decision and she would not let Arthur tell her what to do, whether he was the King or not.

He sighed heavily, clearly he was frustrated but Guinevere stood her ground. She. Would. Not. Give. In.

“Right! Fine. You forced me to this!” Arthur turned his attention to the guards at the doors. “You two, whatever you do, do not let her out of this bedroom. And Merlin, stay with her, make sure she doesn’t sneak out.”

It was like she was a child being grounded. Arthur shoved Merlin into the chambers along with Guinevere and then slammed the door behind him. What had just happened? The whole process had occurred in less than a minute. Less than a minute and Guinevere was locked in her chambers with a babysitter.

“I hope you don’t actually think I’m planning on staying here.” Gwen pointed her finger at Merlin as she spoke. It was different with Merlin, even though she was the Queen and he was working under King’s orders, they were friends, best friends, and Gwen didn’t care about defying Merlin.

She stormed to the window and opened it. When she peered outside she already knew it was hopeless but she had to check if the drop was too high anyway. She sighed and pulled the window roughly closed once more.

Lancelot had woken in the middle of the night. Sweat dripped down his face and he breathed heavily. He had a dream about the sacrifice. It still felt so real. The screaming, the darkness. Everything. He had the dream every single night. It felt as if he could not escape it. As much as he wanted to, he could not forget it. Just like he couldn't forget what Morgana had done to him, Arthur and Gwen. He spent years trying his best to keep his distance from the two so that he didn't ruin it but that failed.

He pulled himself up from the ground. The fire he set up had died down. It was so cold, and Lancelot was out here alone. He couldn't go back to Camelot, everyone would ask questions. Questions he wouldn't have the answer to. He wanted to see Merlin though. Perhaps Merlin would know. Lancelot thought. He rubbed his forehead, deciding whether it be a good idea or not. What's the worse that could happen? Lancelot asked himself quietly. So, he decided to go back to Camelot. Actually, he was not far from there.

He got to his feet, picked up his sword and he headed towards his horse. He untied the rope from the tree and he got on, dismounting. He rode as fast as he could to Camelot.

It wasn't much of a long journey, but to the ex knight, it felt like a lifetime away.

He reached Camelot at the crack of dawn. Would they allow him to even see Merlin? He thought. He really did hope so. But either way, the dark haired man sneaked inside. Luckily no one caught him. He knew exactly where Gauis and his chambers were, so he checked their first. Surely he was still in bed, right?

Lancelot walked through quietly. When he reached the room, he knocked on the door lightly. When there was no answer, he opened the door quietly and he walked through. He closed the door behind him.

The rain settled upon her, soaking through her cloak and chilling her skin to the bone. Her hair was drenched despite the shelter of a hood, but it didn't matter- none of it did. It didn't matter that she was tugging a cart up a lonely road, through mud as the sun went down and the rain set in. All that mattered was her utter betrayal and disappointment in herself, how she could have lived with Arthur, been his Queen and ruled alongside him, helping him be a better King- but what a hypocrite she was, because now she was no better than before, in fact she was even worse than a servant, and her unfaithfulness would hang over her forever.

Guinevere knew she could no longer be welcomed into Camelot, she'd find a new home and settle there and try to forget about the cruel acts she'd committed. After all, there was worse in the world than her lowly self pity, like Morgana for instance, a woman who was intent on killing the High King of Camelot and take it for herself.

However, to her dismay, she stopped, fearing she was no longer alone on this silent road, all the surrounded her were trees, and she had been walking for hours, she was long gone from Camelot now. Who would dare follow her? Perhaps someone so revolted by her ignorance, to come and kill her... She froze, finding the blade in her hilt as the horse trot up through the mud and rain against the overcast darkening sky. 

"Who goes there?"