They were talking animatedly; Morgan was throwing her hands around wildly and finally Mordred stood, glaring down at her in agitation before barking something at her. He stood still for a moment and then stalked down the wooden walkway and across the field back to the palace.
Morgan watched him go and then she turned her head, meeting my gaze. Her eyes were dark and stormy and froze into mine. I felt as though I would ignite from the heat emanating from her glare. Finally, she turned her head and leaped to her feet, flouncing away in the opposite direction. Her dark cloak swirled around her and I watched her disappear in the tunnels under the arena.
"What was the about?" my mother whispered in my ear.
"That is a good question," I answered. "The two of them together is a worrisome combination." She nodded in agreement, but we didn’t have time left to continue the conversation. People from nearby villages were beginning to arrive for the evening’s joust.
I sighed as I settled into my chair, watching the stands fill up with peasants, farmers and noblemen. To our right, Reagan and his stable boys led out the knights’ horses. All of them were decorated festively, with masks and ribbons while banners draped from their backs. Pageantry was a large part of jousting. Every action was steeped in tradition, going back hundreds of years. It was a celebration of honor and chivalry and Arthur thought that it was a good reminder to the people of what he stood for.
Arthur himself was laughing with Sir Tristan a few yards from us. They were both already wearing their armor, each of them holding their helmets in their hands as they talked. Tristan’s sandy blonde hair curled around his shoulders, his brown eyes warm as they twinkled with jest. He was typically a quiet man, very thoughtful in everything that he did. But he was very loyal to the king and just as deadly as anyone else seated on the roundtable.
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Arthur slapped Tristan on the back, his hand clanging against the metal, before he turned and walked quickly for Guinevere. Bounding easily up the steps, mindless of the heavy armor, he knelt in front of his queen.
"My lady, may I wear your favors?"
His cornflower blue eyes beseeched her and I saw just a glimmer of insecurity in them. He was afraid to trust that she had truly forgiven him. It spoke to a soft place in my heart and I smiled at him.
Guinevere laughed, a soft tinkling sound. "Of course, husband." From her skirts, she withdrew a satin kerchief, tucking it into the front plate of his armor. "Wear it here, by your heart," she instructed. "My love will protect you, your highness."
My heart swelled with pride for my mother. She did so carry out the part that she was meant to play here. And even though her true heart belonged to my father, she treated Arthur with the love and respect that he deserved.
He grinned in response, bending to kiss her hand.
"I shall win for you," he told her solemnly. I couldn’t help but pipe up.
"Then you shall have to best Lucan, my king. He has sworn to win for me, as well."
We all laughed, Arthur hardest of all, before he rose to his feet and bowed slightly at his waist. "Well, Lucan is certainly a worthy adversary. I will do my best."
He straightened and grinned at us both.
"Ladies," he said. "I will return in a few moments." He turned and began walking noisily down the walkway. "As a victor, Heleyne!" he called over his shoulder.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched him join the rest of his knights. They were all congregating around their horses as their squires finished final preparations.
This joust would only be between themselves. They did host tournaments when they invited other challengers from throughout the land. Those competitions could turn deadly. But with the current state of the country, Arthur couldn’t risk losing any of his highly trained knights to a simple jousting loss. He needed them on the battlefield.
These tournaments now were for fun and sport. A simple exhibition only, one meant to restore the morale of the people and to provide sheer entertainment.
I watched Lucan’s squire tie my red scarf around his bicep over the metal of his armor. Lucan looked up at me, catching my eye and winked before he dropped the visor of his helmet.
Instead of taking the stairs back up to the gallery, Arthur leaped onto the ledge in front of us, balancing precariously as he addressed the crowd. Clad as he was in heavy armor, it was a sheer testament to his athletic prowess.
"Countrymen!" he shouted. "We all know that we face challenges ahead from enemies from other lands. They come here, to our own land, to challenge us. But today… today we will put this aside and in this exhibition, my knights will show you Courtney Cole 61
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the caliber of the men protecting you. You will see that your country is in good hands.
Let the games begin!"
Bugles sounded and he leaped once more to the ground. Flags fluttered from the corners of the stands and people laughed merrily, all willing to forget the current dire situation of the country in exchange for one joyous evening.
First up, was Arthur and Tristan. As they faced each other from opposite ends of the arena, the court herald leaned from a small box protruding from the bleachers at the midpoint. When the king participated, the herald acted as an official in his stead and ruled the winners. The herald lifted his arm, a flowing black scarf in his hand, then dropped it.
At his signal, King Arthur and Tristan rode for his each other, their lances held tightly under one arm as their horses’ hooves thundered in the dirt. As they drew closer, anticipation built and then they met in the middle. Their horses did not swerve and they each lifted their lance, their faces invisible from behind their visors.
Arthur made the first contact, striking Tristan sideways on his chest, squarely across his chest plate. Arthur’s weapon knocked Tristan from his seat, causing him to sprawl headfirst into the dust.
Arthur spun his horse to face first the crowd, with his arms raised in victory, then to Guinevere. He dipped his head and then straightened again before sliding from his horse. Walking to Tristan, he helped him from the dirt. They both flipped up their helmets and chatted as they walked from the arena. Their squires scrambled to retrieve their weapons and horses, clearing the area for the next dual.
Gawain and Gareth competed next, two brothers pitted against one another in fun.
They each winked to the crowd before facing off, causing the eligible ladies in the crowd to giggle and watch the men with interest. Both of them were eligible bachelors, and they both incited much interest from the females in the kingdom.