It generally was the most impossible thing, here before me was the future king of Briton. He was my age, looked only slightly better off from the dirt and undergrowth we had picked up from the woodland floor and yet he was about to consider if he wanted to be the powerful man in the country! He would be the richest, most respected or disrespected commander of all men. Make laws, break laws, his will would be the most important voice to follow and follow to death if needed. And then at the same time everything he thought was real was gone. Would I like to be him right now? No, I decided and was sure of it. I was a former prince and happy with that, mostly. I knew who I was, who my father was, his mad rage, how he obsessed over things and his iron fist and how wonderful and beautiful my mother was and how annoying my brothers were. I might be alone by choice, but I knew who I was and what I had was true.
Arthur stood there alone despite my company and my last words just lingered in the air around him. He had looked away and I thought I might have just changed his mind about going back, but instead it was look to seek more courage from the comfort of the unchanging wood.
“Come on lets go.” He instructed with a tired even voice I thought a little unconvinced, “With any luck they’ve found someone else.”
Obliviously still not wanting to completely face the reality of his calling at this moment or at least with me he set off for the horse. Just before he left to find it I gained a glimpse of his face. It was the ultimate portrait of anxiety and fear, only I knew I would never doubt his bravery from that time on.
While he was gone to regroup he must have found something to clean his face and also a far sterner composure had formed. For some reason Arthur was suddenly keen to get back with a new determination to get answers. He returned with his horse and offered it to me to ride, but horses and I were certainly not on good terms today and we all walked or I did my best with the horse as my support. Confident I had certainly not broken anything as I tested my legs I was relieved, but everything was still sore and tender.
We took a while, but together we got out of the woodland. Before us the water meadow seemed more of a bog than meadow with the water table slowly rising. It was not long before the time of high tide. We hauled ourselves forward through the tall grass and aimed for the firelight and torch lights of the town ahead that beckoned us onwards. The town now very much represented a source of warmth and hospitality we had a growing desperate need for. Daylight had all but gone and at each step you sunk a little into the mud of the wetland and had to pull yourself out for effort.
“You saw me fall off?” I asked.
It was a pointless comment, just a line to see if I could get a bite of conversation as the silence had befallen us.
“No not really. I heard you fall or hit something from a distance if truthful. You were too far ahead for me to actually see clearly.” Replied Arthur.
I stopped. It emphasized my point, but also gave me a break from the returning aches that now protested as I walked. “Ahead!” I queried with some confusion.
“Yes, you were well ahead,” Said Arthur not looking back or stopping, “I had just got out of the town, well I think I was around here somewhere when you galloped pass faster than the wind.”
“But you raced out of the stables and I had to waste time finding a horse. I couldn’t have been ahead.” I stated.
This did not make much sense. I thought I had no chance of catching Arthur up for at least some time, if at all.
“There was no point going fast through the town so I slowed down once out of the gate. I thought no one would notice me that way, it looked less suspicious. Anyways, my horse is the same one I had ridden for the last few days. I didn’t think he would take too kindly to being pushed too hard.”
“So I raced past you and didn’t even notice I’d done it.” I summarised.
And I could have avoided stealing a beast of a creature and could’ve gone for something I might have handled better. Or better still just ran after him! I did not admit this, nor did I admit how ashamed I was of my horsemanship and could only imagine what a fool I looked.
Arthur was nodding ahead. “When I made it to the wood you were already out cold and on the ground.”
I sighed, it all amounted to being a hell of a day and seemingly I now suffered all the ensuing pain for nothing. Arthur had for now also forgotten my suffering and was not waiting on me so I had to make an effort to catch him up.
As we came nearer to civilisation, music floated out from the main street. It drifted along the evening air and followed the smoke of many fires. A gathering of sorts was taking place. Flute and drum in an upbeat tune for dancing was the sound, it called to us from across the meadow and we eagerly pushed on towards it.
I had never known so many people gathered together in one place before. No wait. That was my thought earlier today. I needed to completely readjust my thinking to what was commonplace and what was rare. No longer was it out of the ordinary to find yourself casually chatting to a king so what was considered extraordinary now?
However, it did seem like the population of the world had found itself in one place once again. A feeling of celebration and hope was all around and helped by the smell of good food cooking that filled our nostrils. There was also so much noise with feasting, dancing and laughter. Day to day hardships were forgotten and replaced by merrymaking. Now we had reached the town I failed to recognise it from the home I have known for the last few years, so full of joy. These might have been the same people from the crowds this morning, but unlike the tense apprehension that emulated from that crowd, these good people acted like the world was a new and all fears had been set upon a shelf. And yet they did not even get to see the new king today! It was the strangest moment of my life, I felt tense but not due to fear. It was a feeling of holding a secret, like a planned surprise for someone and the excitement of knowing something no one else yet knew. I was with the future king, he walked among them and no one gave us any regard or had any idea. We were helped in part by our matching damp woodland disguises. Why would anyone stop to look at us thinking we were anyone of any importance, cut, and bruised and with mud dripping from us both? Except I knew the answer to the question of who Arthur was, I had the knowledge all of these folk sought and it was a powerful moment. I realised I was not sure I liked it. I was more sure I was hungry I decided, but we walked on through and passed regretfully the cooking meat without stopping.
My own thoughts aside, it was hard to be down hearted as the merriment continued around us and yet Arthur’s face was grave. These were his, going to be his, subjects and people to rule. We were invisible for now and were hearing parts of conversations that told us their hopes of a better life and predominantly a desire for a better king than those presently or to just be rid of Aries. The fear of such talk vanished in the murky ale for now. To our surprise the story of the new king pulling the sword when no other had the strength was already prevalent. It had also already evolved into a number of different versions and included an extensive battle to Caerleon and even fighting various creatures of myth on occasion. We floated between the gatherings and Arthur was turning paler with every step and at any moment I expected the pressure of it all would turn him back around. Instead he started to make purposeful strides to head towards the fort once again.
Unfortunately we were not as unseen as we thought as a familiar voice reached me. “Tor, Tor my boy.” Clegis yelled across to us.
His booming voice was unmistakable over the noise of drums and dance. Clegis owned a hay loft and stables within the town I had made my sleeping quarters. It was still a hay loft, still being used, but I had secured a corner to myself and that of my remaining home comforts consisting of a small old chest and a now very tattered blanket. The building was stone built, again one of the buildings the Romans had invested in during the time when they occupied the fort and town. Clegis himself lived in a good sized timber hut next to it and was far warmer in the winter I always observed.
A privilege of
being the son of a king, I had just enough coin in my pockets left to afford to lodge outside of the fortress. This was sadly running out and I estimated I had only a couple more years of rent left before this last remaining luxury ran out by which time I hoped to be a knight. The alternative was sleeping in the public halls of the fortress with the dogs, their flees and the damp and with other pages, squires and the ever changing guard and their flees as well! Before my life as a page and squire I had my own room, bed, a fire and even a half decent rug for the room. While I accepted my new life I took the opportunity of the hay loft as oppose to the halls when after just one night in the fort, my first night, and I swore I would not sleep there again.
Instead I found Clegis; admittedly he was hard to miss. He was a larger than life character with wild dark thick hair and a beard that hid any idea of a neck as the twisted curls of the man’s hair struck out in all directions and draped across his shoulders. Always he had the brightest smile that made it through the wilderness and blue eyes that twinkled fun and a little trouble. Importantly he always had a tankard in one hand and a deal to be had in the other, not best assumed to always be on the right side of legal. He welcomed me and my coin with open arms and while he was my official landlord I suppose I could regard him as a sort of friend as well. Or maybe more of an embarrassing family member no one likes to admit to having.
“Clegis!” I responded loudly, alerting Arthur to the fact I knew him and that we had no choice to stop for the man pushing through others to seek us out.
“My boy, my boy, was you late again?” He called over, but when he then reached us and took a moment to take a better inspect and scrutinise what stood before him added with humour. “My word you are in a state, even for you, whatever happened?”
I was quick to answer. “Horse riding practice.”
Meanwhile Arthur was desperately trying to avoid being noticed behind me, but I could not work out why as no one would know who he was.
Clegis laughed, “You,” And he laughed on. It was never a quiet laugh; it was a roar that came from deep inside. Clearly with the aid of drink today, but then this was never unusual, “When will you learn boy, when will ya. Would think that Bedivere would of known better by now.”
I smiled politely and a little awkwardly hiding my grimace. Arthur was now more aware than ever how useless I was with horses and I cursed my own stupid lie that I had not completely thought it out.
“You would think, but it’s been a long day we had better get….” I said in an attempt to move on, but failed.
“And who is this?” Clegis asked ignoring me and noticing Arthur behind me.
It was clear wine and beer had been flowing freely given Clegis’s unsteady arm now seeking support from my shoulder while he looked pass me. His weight, as he was not a small man, on my shoulder was unwanted as my body had had enough for today. Clegis focused on Arthur who half smiled meekly.
I twisted around to regain Clegis’ attention. “He’s Art, a squire from, hmm, Northumberland.” I lied with a cough and urge to escape the unseen intoxicating fog escaping Clegis’ wide mouth that seem to me to physically crawl across my face.
Clegis’s arms threw out widely, “Welcome, welcome my boy.” He greeted. I thought I was free, but Clegis slapped me on the shoulder again that almost knocked me out cold from the spike of pain that followed it. Clegis did not pay any attention to my agony and was studying Arthur thoughtfully. “Northbumbleland is it, ah, isn’t that where Tor here came from as well?”
I rolled my eyes, Clegis memory was better than I realised and I was being stupid to not to think of better deception. I did entertain the idea that perhaps Clegus thoughts were far clearer when had too much to drink!
Arthur nodded a wary acknowledgement taken back by this excited seemingly mad man, but said nothing and just looked around nervously.
“Better get back.” I attempted again and at the same time stepped across this time to intercept Clegis’ attention from Arthur.
“Yes yes, go. Oh, there is a thing, my boy, bout the loft.” Clegis said and had released me for a second, but then pulled me back closer still. To Arthur’s relief Clegis walked me away and forgot him for a moment.
“What about it.” I snapped a little, an overreaction to my aches and pain more than anything I dreaded to hear next from Clegis.
Clegis smiled, “Now,” His voice lowered, it was either his deal making voice or I have done something wrong voice, “I have taken the liberally, ah, I mean lib-er-ty to earn you some extra…..you know. Had some wanting a bed for the night, so I have said yes, but there’s coin for you as well.”
“What, they are sleeping there?”
“It’s not long and there is good er…” He insisted.
“Compensation?” I offered as Clegis stalled and I realised I had no bed tonight.
He dismissed me to offer his own words loudly again above the noise of celebration around us, “Good will my boy, good will.”
“Just tonight!” I asked with a sigh and mild acceptance.
Suddenly Clegis turned around to look across to the crowd and he waved. It appeared as if someone had got Clegis’ attention from across the way, but I was not entirely convinced.
“Yes be there,” He answered the unseen, before ushering us away, “you better be off then you said.”
He quickly headed off into the dancing. It was a surprisingly quick, stable and sober escape.
“Just tonight?” I shouted after him repeating my words, just before Clegis completely disappeared into the burry movement of the mad festival. While he might be a similar age or older than my father, he was young at heart and would be lost in the festivities now till dawn.
I thought I heard two nights in a drowned reply which dismayed me entirely. After long day and as much as my hay filled loft didn’t represent a bed it was something to look forward to and much needed now.
“Northbumbleland?” Asked Arthur in jest, he had stepped over to behind me. “That makes you Prince of Northbumbleland.”
“Shut up, it’s not funny. I’ve just lost my bed for the night.” I retorted, but not harshly.
It was bad news for me, but somehow against everything else after a pause it made us both laugh and with slightly improved spirits we headed to the fortress gates.
The fort itself seemed deserted, especially compared to how busy I had got use to it being in recent days. In a way this was a relief as the revelry in the town appeared to have pulled people away from the fort’s protective walls no matter if commoner or servant. It was almost again the normal uninteresting uneventful place I had known for years. We slowly wandered towards the main tower, noting only a few remaining servants and the odd guard who paid us little attention. Neither of us wanted to decide what to do or where to go next. My body could only hope it was not far as I continued to ignore my own tire and aching limps.
Its wish was granted as a voice yelled across the courtyard calling “Arthur!”
The owner was not familiar to me and I feared it was one of the nobles from this morning, but instead it was Arthur’s turn to see a familiar face. His reaction was clear, his face lit up with a mix of surprise and delight and the sombre person I had been walking with for the last ten minutes was forgotten.
“Kay!” Arthur answered calling back with enthusiasm as he spun around to find the voice’s owner.
In a flash Arthur was racing across the courtyard towards a tall slender figure who had just dismounted from his horse. His horse had blue cloth decoration draped across its saddle and around its neck, but also ripped in places. The colour matched the knight’s own long flowing tabard. Of course only a few days ago he was at the tournament I remembered, but surely he must have had a chance to change his horse or his own clothes since? Underneath he worn a chain mail over his brown tunic and the gauntlets covering his hands he was now pulling off as Arthur ran to him. One hand now free of a gauntlet he pulled off his plain helmet and revealed a stern face that was thin and very tired. He
looked around with clear trepidation. A fine specifically trimmed dark brown moustache, matched the shade of his jaw length hair and dark eyes. He looked in no way like the fair haired Arthur and I wondered how anyone could have believed them to be related. I regretted this thought at once, had I not known the truth I doubted it would have occurred to me that they were not blood relatives. They were at least the same height I saw as I searched for common traits against my guilt, but suspected this small fact would be of little comfort.
I stood back a moment and watched, wondering what Arthur was going to say and unsure if I was close enough to hear. I was not needed now. My job was to stand hold the horse and wait. This was harder than it sounded when you all of your being consisted of countless bruises and wanted just to lie down before it collapsed. It was then I decided to admit it to myself, I did know why I wanted to help Arthur it was a moment of awakening despite how tired and how punished my body felt.
When my brother Aglovale left suddenly all eyes were on me to be the heir. My father swiftly discovered that I existed when before I just one of the other sons, one of the other spares. All at once I was expected to be a leader one day, just as Arthur has now un-expectantly found himself in the same position. In a way I did as Arthur and ran away from it all and that was my decision. I had no intention to ever go back. Despite knowing that I would have hated my father even more than I already did if I had stayed and regardless of knowing I would not now be who I am, I did find myself wanting to be a prince sometimes. I was still unsure what Arthur was going to do and was he going to run or was escaping to the wood today going to be all the running he needed? Of course a prince that was now Arthur and the king that Arthur might soon be could not be compared to whom I could have been.
The Knight Behind the Pillar Page 8
