The Poison Rose: A King Arthur Tale

by Matthew Argyle

  Once they reached the third level of the palace and arrived at the door to Arthur’s room Dani let go of his hand and looked up into his eyes, batting her eyelashes excessively. The silence of the moment was foreboding. Arthur hesitated to say goodbye because he couldn’t bear the guilt of knowing that he was the first one to initiate it, to end this intellectual, but somehow romantic evening. So he went for it. His lips went closer to hers, hoping that he could meet hers and become one with her beautiful and soft lips.

  But before Arthur could touch her lips she turned away in a disapproving manner, placing her hand in front of her face. “Not tonight,” said Dani. “It is too soon. May you have a good rest here tonight King Arthur and I will see you in the morning.”

  Arthur nodded and watched as she slowly walked her way down the corridor towards the staircase. He then slowly opened his door and went into his room and prepared for bed. The entire evening had somewhat enchanted him. He had to admit that he had become enamored with this mysterious, powerful woman. Although he tried to go to sleep that night he would only sleep for three hours before he was woken up by the rising sun.

  Chapter 8: Back in Camelot

  The castle in Camelot had been vacant for only two nights and a day. But, even so, Mordred was quickly establishing himself as controller of the kingdom. Earlier that day, the day after Arthur left, the knights were beginning to get worried and wondered what had happened to their king. As the knights sat around the Round Table waiting for their king to come they deliberated about the location of their king. “Perhaps he has fled for good!” exclaimed Percival. “He has left us to face our own doom!”

  “No, he probably went after the witch himself,” replied Lancelot.

  “Without telling us?” asked Galahad, slightly surprised.

  “But then what of the city?” asked Percival. “Who is in charge of it?”

  “He has left the city under my control,” exclaimed Mordred, who suddenly entered the room. “Indeed, I suspect your Arthur has gone after the Poison Rose himself. He didn’t want you to know when he left because he didn’t want you knights to worry. But there is no need to worry. This kingdom shall be well the time that he is gone. I assure you of that.”

  “How can you be so sure Mordred?” asked Lancelot. “We don’t know what shall befall Arthur there in that land and we certainly do not know what is occurring outside our land. Our provinces are left leaderless now and, we could logically assume, that now would be an ideal time for foreign invaders to come trampling through our kingdom. Our kingdom is now weak.”

  “I agree,” answered Galahad. “There is no sense in staying here in Camelot for another day. I say that we return to our provinces until Arthur returns.”

  “But what if he returns now?” asked Percival. “He may have urgent news for us knights that I want to know.”

  “Or worse yet, what if he dies and never returns?” said Sir Kay.

  “Or lingers in her palace forever like so many others,” said Sir Lionel.

  “These are all foreboding thoughts, but nonetheless merely conjecture,” said Lancelot. “We cannot know for sure what happened to him. We can only know that he told us he would not let this kingdom come to ruin and we must trust his judgment. As long as Arthur draws breath he will strive with all the strength he possesses to keep this land protected and prosperous.”

  Then, amidst the disputations at the table, Mordred stood up. “This is what you wanted though, is it not?” declared Mordred boldly, walking around the table confidently. He seemed to be speaking much more like a leader now than before. Mordred smiled and lifted up his hands. “Arthur left to seek counsel from a friend and left me in charge until he returns. He instructed me to keep you knights here in Camelot for three days. Then, after three days, there should be no doubt that he has gone after this Poison Rose and who knows when he will return after that. So, my fellow knights, for now I am your leader. The emergency powers Arthur has given me, however, will not be abused or unnoticed. So please, knights, remain here. Your provinces may live a few more days without you. Please, enjoy the festivities of Camelot. Go see your families. Live life, but do not be burdened down by Arthur’s absence. Be cheerful, because your duty is absolved for three days!”

  Although Lancelot, Percival, and several other knights did not trust the idea of being subject to anyone else’s rule besides Arthur’s, Gawain, Mordred’s brother, was able to convince them all that it would be best to leave the kingdom to Mordred than any other man. He said things like, “Oh, good knights, has my brother ever led us astray? We are not sheep without a shepherd. We are knights, and we may wait until time dictates that it is necessary to act.” Gawain worked hard to persuade the other knights to allow Mordred to take command of Camelot for the time being. The council was later adjourned.

  Although Lancelot delighted in the fact that he would be able to spend more time with his family in Camelot, he seemed to be the Knight of the Round Table with the most distrust towards Mordred. He felt that this entire situation was stressful.

  Lancelot returned to his home and there found his beautiful wife Elaine waiting for him. Elaine rushed to the door and hugged him firmly. “Lancelot you have returned! What is to befall the knights? Has Arthur really gone?”

  Lancelot nodded. “Yes, Arthur has departed to the witch’s abode on Poison Rose Mountain.”

  Elaine looked up at Lancelot, her hair blowing in the breeze. “Then we must believe that he will succeed and bring freedom to this great city.”

  “I cannot remain here waiting, while Arthur is out there,” he said to Elaine. “That is not what knights were meant to do.”

  Elaine felt Lancelot’s great pain because she too wished that she could go to Poison Rose Mountain and fight the witch. “The time will come when you may fight the witch,” said Elaine. “Lancelot, do not fear that which you cannot control.” Elaine comforted Lancelot by holding him in her arms and greeted him at home with a bounteous meal that, at least for the time, seemed to make him feel better about the whole situation.

  Meanwhile Galahad and Gawain both stayed in the castle. Galahad felt it his responsibility to stay and watch over the workings within the castle (to make sure no evil was afoot within it), while Gawain stayed with his brother in the castle to help direct the city’s affairs.

  Percival and the rest of the knights all departed to various places within the city for refuge. Those without families in Camelot, which included most of the knights, wandered around the city of Camelot. Some enjoyed the city’s activities while others simply stood or sat on the wall overlooking the land outside of Camelot, waiting to see if they could see Arthur return.

  As time passed people from all around the kingdom continued to pour into Camelot for refuge and sustenance. Most, if not all, were women and children whose fathers or husbands had left them. Gawain and many others in the castle worked frantically around the clock to make sure that these people were fed and given shelter in the castle. However, eventually the number of people that needed help was too great. Many slept outside in the streets or in the alleys. Others found places to sleep on rooftops. Either way, the city began to lose its dignity, becoming more a place of despair and poverty than of joy. Indeed, the more time that passed the more the knights became unsettled, hoping and praying that Arthur would soon return.

  ******

  The sun had completely risen when Mordred found it a perfect time to go and see Alice. Up until this point he had not seen her leave her room; instead she seemed to have somehow locked herself up in her room. Mordred supposed this had something to do with Arthur, with what he did to her or how he made her feel. But he felt this was perfect and he would give her some time to herself before intruding. So, around the middle of the day Mordred made his way up to her room, where, this time, he found her door completely open and Alice perched up on a chair looking out over Camelot. She looked sad as she looked through her window.

  “Where is my father?” asked Alice.

 
“He has left,” said Mordred. “Again, on another kingly mission I suppose.” Alice looked back out of her window. “I know what you are experiencing my dear. I see your face day-by-day, and I know what you fear.”

  “What do I fear?” asked Alice, not actually believing that Mordred knew anything about what she felt.

  “I had that same face when I was a child. My father and mother both neglected me, leaving me on my own and that is when I was found by a beautiful, wonderful woman. I know you fear being completely alone, abandoned just as I was.”

  Alice shrugged. “I suppose.”

  “Look outside,” said Mordred, placing his arms around her shoulders. “If you trust me I can give you what your father could never give you. Your father is gone. So now I can let you free. Come with me dear. I want to show you something.”

  Alice didn’t trust Mordred. She believed that most people had insincere motives behind their actions and she didn’t consider Mordred to be any different. However, above all she was curious, curious about what Mordred was going to show to her. So, she politely, but insincerely agreed to Mordred’s proposal and followed him out of her room. Galahad, however, who chose to remain in the castle, saw the two leave her room, and in order to protect her, secretly followed not far behind the two of them.

  Mordred led Alice up to the top room of the highest tower in Arthur’s castle where he brought her close to the “King’s Seer Stone,” as it was called. “I have never seen this before. What is it?” asked Alice. She seemed quite mystified.

  “Oh Alice, you mean to tell me that your father never showed you the King’s Seer Stone? What a shame, because this is an amazing trinket. But come now. You must see!”

  Mordred then moved her in front of it and guided it around, showing her all the amazing things that she was missing being in Camelot nearly every day.

  She was more excited the more she saw. Looking through the glass she was amazed to see beautiful mountain ranges, lovely trees, and bounteous plains covered with deer, and other wonderful animals grazing in the fields. “All of the land that you see,” explained Mordred. “All of this is a part of Arthur’s grand kingdom, and a part of it that, should I say, he didn’t let you enter. I can personally say, however, that the land outside this city is beautiful. It is worth far more than anything else to be able to, not just see it, but go outside amidst it. Arthur rarely wanted you outside of the city wall. Admit it my dear, you know that you desire this more than anything.”

  Alice nodded. Mordred was right in this. She did want this more than ever. “Yes, I do, but where is Arthur? What would he say if he returns?”

  “Alice,” said Mordred, kneeling before her and holding her hands tightly in his. “Ever since I have known you, ever since you were a little girl, I always looked on you with high esteem. I know that you deserve so much more than your father could ever give you. What has your father done for you your entire life? Leave you alone. He doesn’t care about you. But I care about you and I will be with you. I can stay with you forever should that be what you desire. Take my hand dear and we may go outside this prison and see the world.” Alice perked up. She definitely wanted to go into the outside world, but something was holding her back. Mordred, as if reading her mind, said, “Alice, your father has gone after the woman in the mountains and I am afraid that he may not ever return. It pains me to see you so miserable. So please Alice, please come with me…”

  Alice finally nodded and Mordred stood up, looking more excited than he had ever been before. “Excellent! We shall see the world!” Alice did not take Mordred’s hand but followed him as he led her outside of the castle and into the streets of Camelot.

  As Alice stepped outside of the castle she noticed something about the city that she had not noticed before. The spiral pathway down from the castle was cracking, worn down and unrepaired for a long period of time. People in the streets did not look as they had the last time she left the castle. Their skin was much paler, their clothing much more worn down and torn, and their faces filled with much more exhaustion and disgust. These people stared up at her and scowled. They all knew she was the princess.

  “What has happened to all these people?” asked Alice. “When I was in the kingdom last these people were all happy and lively.”

  “These are people of Arthur’s kingdom who have, especially of late, suffered terribly,” said Mordred. “They came to the king for guidance and help, for nurturing and sustenance. But ever since your mother became ill he couldn’t see any of them. So they have waited here in Camelot for him to answer their prayers, to give them food, to take them from their station of ultimate poverty and neglect and bring them up, to save them. Your father as king is the only one who can truly save them and you are not the only one he has neglected of late. All the people you see, they suffer in the same way you do. But if someone else were to be king then this would be different. A new king would be able to bring Camelot back to its former glory.”

  “I don’t like the way they look at me,” said Alice. “They look at me like I am to blame…but I am not. I have had no part in my father’s affairs.”

  “No you are not to blame,” said Mordred. “But perhaps together we may be able to bring Camelot back to its former glory. You see, I need you and you need me in order to accomplish this great task.”

  The two continued walking down the pathway, passing the shrouded clouds of dark figures that lurked in the alleyways and houses. Once they reach the gate Mordred commanded the men to open it. The men obeyed without hesitation and Alice’s face lit up as she saw the open field before her eyes. The bright sun was in front of her, making the flowers and grass of the field even more beautiful and radiant.

  Alice immediately burst out of the city and ran down the road and into the field, letting the wind hurl her hair freely and chaotically. It had been many days since she had been allowed to wander the field on her own. She laughed and Mordred looked pleased. After running around the field for several minutes she jumped into it, letting the lush green grass and flowers cover her. “This is amazing!”

  Mordred approached her, now within a few feet. “Wonderful! How does it feel? Freedom at last. Oh, how you must love it. Now my dear Alice, what would like to do? We can do anything in the fields!”

  Alice’s face again lit up and she chose many activities to do that day; first, she chose archery, although she had never really learned to shoot a bow. After she tried that she chose to go running in the woods and then, later, swimming in the stream. Mordred brought others in Camelot to come play and thus, for the first time, Alice felt like a normal child.

  The freedom felt amazing to Alice and, while a part of her at first could not forget her father, she found that she quickly forgot him entirely and enjoyed the outdoor activities: the archery, running, swimming, and simply relaxing in the fields. All the other children seemed to enjoy it as well. Her day of freedom did not end until night had fallen upon them and she was forced, by measure of her own lack of physical strength, to return to her room in Camelot. She knew, however, that her sleep would be only momentary—the sleep of a child—and then she would again return to her festive activities outside of Camelot.

  Chapter 9: Arthur’s Retreat

  Arthur woke up that morning very early with a myriad of thoughts rushing through his mind. He first thought about Alice and what she was doing in Camelot. Then he thought about Merlin and his counsel, which then led him to his ultimate subject of thought—Dani. Whether or not she was a real witch was not in question. She possessed much magic and knowledge, of which there was no doubt. What was doubtful was whether or not, deep down, she was a good witch, or at least could be made into a good witch.

  His heart yearned to say yes to this, but his mind thought otherwise. He never before had been so confused about his mission. As king his enemies had always been relatively obvious, but now it was quite the opposite. He had yet to know whether Dani was really an enemy or ally, or if she could be made into an ally.

  Art
hur got dressed and then went downstairs where Dani already had breakfast prepared for him. He looked at her, smiled briefly and then sat down to eat breakfast. After this he asked Dani if it would be okay if he left the palace for a short time. Arthur thought that she would be upset, or at least suspicious, but she wasn’t; instead she just nodded, smiled, and declared: “Of course Arthur. I never stop anyone from leaving my kingdom. My kingdom is like your kingdom—people may come and go as they please. If you wish to stay you may stay. I would enjoy your company, or if you wish to leave you may leave and return and visit whenever you desire.” Arthur thought this was quite odd, but was pleased by her response. She even gave him some food for his journey.

  Arthur was then escorted by some of Dani’s servants to the stables where he found Llamrai and Excalibur safe and sound. Llamrai was, indeed, very happy to see him. She jumped up and down and burst out of the stable. “Yes,” laughed Arthur. “Come Llamrai, we must journey now. We must again go to our friend Merlin. I have much to discuss with him. But we will need to be swift and cautious!” So Arthur got himself up onto Llamrai’s back and urged her forward, down the hill away from Dani’s palace.

  Llamrai rode quickly, down the hard white pathway away from the palace until they reached the gate. When they reached the gate it was as if Dani knew that they were there. The gate magically creaked open, letting them pass.

  The journey back towards Merlin’s abode was very similar to before. Arthur, no matter how much he disliked it, was forced to ride through the dark forest. There, again, he found the animals were violent and the forest old, dark, and mysterious. But now the two of them were going much faster than they did before. Arthur was urged on now, more than ever, by a lingering question in his mind. Does Dani love me? Should I love her? Love is a great motivator and it certainly was in this instance for Arthur, who kept Llamrai moving forward quickly through the forest.