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He called to his squire, who stood at the door of the room, to come and take the ba
The squire looked startled. "Sir-my lord-what of the Pendragon ba
Arthur said, "Take it to the steward, and bid him lay it somewhere away. We march under the standard of God."
The squire did as Arthur said, and Arthur smiled at Gwenhwyfar, but there was little gladness in the smile. "I will come to see you at sunset, with your father and some of our kin. We will dine here, and I will have my stewards bring food for us all. Elaine shall not be troubled with providing for so many. Until then, my dear wife," and he went away.
In the end the small di
"Are you recovered, my lady? I was troubled for you." Under cover of the shadows, he kissed her, only a feather-brushing of soft lips against her temple.
King Leodegranz came too, scowling and fussing, to kiss her brow. "I am sorry for your illness, my dear, and sorry you lost your child, but Arthur should have bundled you off to Camelot in a litter-that is how I would have handled Alienor, if she had gainsaid me," he scolded. "And now, see, you have gained nothing by staying!"
"You must not rebuke her," said Taliesin gently, "she has suffered enough, my lord. If Arthur does not reproach her, it is not for her father to do so."
Elaine tactfully changed the subject. "Who is yonder Duke Marcus?"
"He is a cousin of Gorlois of Cornwall, who died before Uther took the throne," said Lancelet, "and he has asked Arthur that if we win the day at Mount Badon, he shall have Cornwall by marrying our kinswoman Morgaine."
"That old man?" said Gwenhwyfar, shocked.
"I think it would be as well to give Morgaine to an older man-she has not the kind of beauty to attract a younger one," said Lancelet. "But she is clever and learned, and as it happens, Duke Marcus wants her not for himself but for his son Drustan, who is one of Cornwall's best knights. Arthur has made him one of his Companions now, on the eve of this battle. Though it's likely, if Morgaine returns not to court, that Drustan will wed with the daughter of the old Breton king Hoell-" He chuckled. "Court gossip of the making of marriages-is there nothing else to speak of?"
"Well," said Elaine boldly, "when will you tell us of your marriage, sir Lancelet?"
He inclined his head gallantly and said, "On the day when your father offers you to me, lady Elaine, I will not refuse him. But it is likely your father will have you wed a wealthier man than I, and since my lady here is already wedded"-he bowed to Gwenhwyfar but she saw the sadness in his eyes-"I am in no haste to marry."
Elaine colored and cast down her eyes. Arthur said, "I bade Pellinore to join us, but he would stay in the field with his men, seeing to the order of march. Some of the wagons are moving out already. Look-" He pointed to the window. "The northern spears blaze over us again!"
Lancelet asked, "Is Kevin the Harper not to be with us?"
"I bade him come if he would," said Taliesin, "but he said he would rather not offend the Queen with his presence. Have you quarrelled, Gwenhwyfar?"
She cast down her eyes and said, "I spoke harshly to him while I was ill and in great pain. If you see him, Lord Druid, will you say I would gladly beg his pardon?" With Arthur at her side and her ba
"I think he knows you spoke in the bitterness of your own ordeal," said Taliesin gently, and Gwenhwyfar wondered what the younger Druid had told him.
Abruptly the door was thrust open and Lot and Gawaine strode into the room.
"Why, what's this, my lord Arthur?" demanded Lot. "The Pendragon ba
Arthur looked pale in the torchlight. "No more than this, cousin- we are a Christian folk, and we fight under the ba
Lot scowled at him. "The archers of Avalon are talking of leaving you, Arthur. Fly your ba
Arthur smiled uneasily. "Even as that emperor who saw the sign in the sky and said, 'In this sign shall we conquer,' so shall we. You, Uriens, who raise the eagles of Rome, you know that tale."
"I do, my king," said Uriens, "but is it wise to deny the folk of Avalon? Even as I, my lord Arthur, you wear the serpents at your wrists, in token of a land older than the cross."
"But it will be a new land if we win the victory," said Gwenhwyfar, "and if we do not, it will not matter."
Lot turned as she spoke and looked on her with loathing. "I might have known this was your doing, my queen."
Gawaine strode restlessly to the window and looked down at the camp. "I see them moving about their fires, the little folk-from Avalon, and from your country, King Uriens. Arthur, cousin"-and he went to the King- "I beg of you, as the oldest of your Companions, put the Pendragon ba
Arthur hesitated, but a glance at Gwenhwyfar's shining eyes and he smiled at her and said, "I have sworn it. If we survive the battle, our son shall reign over a land united under the cross. I shall compel no man's conscience, but as it is written in Holy Writ-'as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.' "
Lancelet drew a deep breath. He stepped away from Gwenhwyfar. "My lord and king, I remind you, I am Lancelet of the Lake, and I honor the Lady of Avalon. In her name, my king, who was your friend and benefactor, I beg this favor of you-let me carry the Pendragon ba
Arthur hesitated. Gwenhwyfar shook her head imperceptibly, and Lancelet glanced at Taliesin. Taking the silence for consent, Lancelet was about to stride out of the room when Lot said, "Arthur, no! There is enough talk now about Lancelet being your heir and favorite! If he bears the Pendragon into battle, then will they think you have appointed him to bear your ba
Lancelet turned on Lot violently. "You carry your own ba
"But the Pendragon ba