blogwithvalor

Excalibur cut through the air with such a speed that it whistled before leaving a large gash in Lancelot’s shield. King Arthur was in a rage and meant to behead his longtime friend. He had recently caught Lancelot in Queen Guinevere’s bed. This led to a fight that had traveled all the way up to the top of the Camelot’s keep. It was the highest point in all the kingdom.

Arthur’s golden armor shined in the morning light as he made mighty swings with Excalibur. He looked every bit the valiant king the common people said him to be. He always did. That was part of the problem.

“How could you do this? You were the best of us. You were my friend!” Arthur brought down Excalibur with every sentence he spoke.

Lancelot had both arms behind the shield in order to withstand the blows. He had grabbed the shield from Queen Guinevere’s room as he ran out, King Arthur racing behind.

Lancelot backed away, shield raised. “We never meant it to be. She’d been alone so often while you were out being King to the people. You are a great King, but not a great husband.” With those words, Lancelot could tell he’d further enraged his former friend.

Lancelot ducked below another deadly blow from Excalibur, then ran to the other side of the keep. He tried putting as much distance as he could between them.

“Please, my friend, you must hear. Ever since your wedding day, you’ve kept her hidden away in the castle. She is a brilliant woman that you should use to help your people.” Lancelot’s held his hands in front of himself, as if he were holding something cherished. “With all her time alone, she has invented so many ingenious things. That is how this all started. She introduced me to her world of invention and taught me the simple mechanics of how things worked. I was like her pupil and eventually, yes, I became her lover.”

Arthur, who had stood still for a moment, lunged forward with Excalibur. Lancelot parried just in time. The clang of Excalibur on the shield sent vibrations up Lancelot’s shoulder and into his spine. Arthur watched as Lancelot once again backed to the other side of the keep’s roof.

“I’ve heard enough of your and Guinevere’s betrayal. Both of you will be tried for crimes against the crown. You and I both know that a strong kingdom relies on a strong King. This is the way it has to be.”

Excalibur swung from below up towards Lancelot’s chest. As the shield came to Lancelot’s defense, he lost his footing. Lancelot fell backwards and hit the stone floor hard. Arthur stepped forward, pointing Excalibur directly at Lancelot’s heart.

“Surrender, Lancelot, and I may remove the death penalty from your punishment.”

Lancelot took a deep breath. He felt the tip of Excalibur press into his chest as he did so. “I’m sorry, my friend. I will not be imprisoned.”

“Then you doom yourself and Guinevere.”

The shield suddenly swung around and hit the side of Excalibur. Lancelot had twisted while doing this and the cut across his chest was not lethal. Lancelot jumped up, holding the shield in defense, and then ran to the edge of the keep. He stood precariously on the short wall surrounding the roof of the keep, while strapping the shield to his back. Arthur stood there confused by the actions.

“She deserves freedom more than anyone I know. If you don’t free her then I will. Do you want to know one of her greatest inventions? It came to her in a dream, one where she flew away from this place and traveled the world.”

Lancelot jumped from the keep’s roof, hundreds of feet above the ground. As he fell, he pulled a rope from the shield strapped to his back. Wooden arms extended from the shield’s sides. A light flannel material had been attached to the wood and was pulled taut with the wood extended. Lancelot felt a sudden jolt as the wings Guinevere had created caught the wind and he pulled upward. His fall turned into a small rise into the air and then a steady glide. He began gliding away from Camelot. He turned his head and saw Arthur standing at the edge of the keep. His golden armor still shining in the morning light.

Lancelot could see Guinevere looking out her window at him flying away. One of her hands was raised. Lancelot raised a hand in return.

“I will return and free you my lady… soon.”