"There’s a reason for that, you besotted fool," Lancelot growled softly from my left.
Only my mother and I heard him, since he spoke so low, but both of us shot him warning glances. Ares’ jealousy was legendary. It would not do for it to raise its ugly head while he was Lancelot.
He leveled his dark gaze at me, gripping the table so tightly that his knuckles turned white. I heard a crack and saw a piece of the thick wood table break off in his hand. I glared at him even more sharply and he let go of the table, tossing the broken piece onto the floor. Thankfully, no one noticed.
"Your highness," he called, making his way through the chairs until he reached Arthur’s side. "I have some important matters to discuss with you. Might you have a free moment?"
Arthur nodded seriously before lurching to a shaky standing position.
"Of course, my champion. But then I must go. I musht attend to my wife."
I felt sorry for him- only because he would never normally discuss Guinevere in public in such an indelicate way. He was honorable to the extreme. His behavior tonight would leave him humiliated tomorrow. Down the table from him, I found Morgan smirking into her goblet and I briefly wondered if she had put something in his wine. It really was unlike him to become so sotted.
Lancelot discreetly allowed Arthur to lean onto his arm, helping him walk from the hall with dignity and I felt a deep sense of gratitude to my father. It was kind of him to help Arthur in such a way. Mordred thoughtfully watched them retreat, silently eating as he observed his drunken king and uncle.
They disappeared into the hall and I returned my attention to my dinner. At the end of the room, the jester was already singing a ballad about the intoxicated king of Camelot. I shook my head and picked at my roasted pheasant. I had never been a big pheasant lover. But when in Rome… I picked up my fork.
Just at the tines reached my lips, the warning bugles sounded the alarm outside and everyone froze for a second, before jumping to their feet, silverware clattering all around me. Everyone began clamoring every which way before Lucan leaped from my side and shouted above the din.
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"Everyone, listen! Calmly walk back to your quarters. Calmly. We will have the matter well in hand soon."
Since he had absolutely no idea what the alarm was being sounded for, his statement was pretty brazen. But everyone listened. They stopped running and quickly filed out of the hall, presumably to return to the safety of their chambers.
"You too," Lucan instructed in my ear, before brushing a quick kiss on my lips. "I’ll return soon. Stay safe in your chambers. Bar the door behind you."
He crossed to where the other knights were congregating at the head table and waited for Arthur and Lancelot before they quickly exited to the outdoors.
"Stay safe," I murmured after them to the empty room.
Guinevere and I silently sat staring at each other. Even Merlin was gone, a fact that was slightly troubling. Usually in situations like these, he found his way to my side in an effort to keep me in check. But there was no trace of him now.
"We should go," Guinevere suggested. "You know that we can help them if need be."
"And you know that every time we do, we risk being discovered. We cannot," I answered wearily.
"Of course we can," she insisted. "We are goddesses. We are not bound by mortal law or reason. We can do as we wish."
"Mother," I gritted my teeth. "We cannot. We must leave this place as we found it.
No one can know what we truly are."
"And no one shall."
And she was gone. I glanced around the room quickly, but just as I feared, she was nowhere to be found. A weight dropped in my belly. She was following them, I knew.
I sighed heavily. Why, oh why, did my mother have to sometimes be such a loose cannon? I pushed away from the table and willed myself into the courtyard. Within a couple of seconds, I reappeared by the stream.
I quickly hid behind the nearest tree, the violet shadows of night concealing me. I was thankful that my dress was mossy green. It blended easily into the darkness.
From across the way, torches burned brightly as the knights prepared to ride from the castle compound. Horses stomped and snorted, and the metallic clang of armor resounded throughout the compound as the knights made their preparations. The lookouts shouted down from high on the wall.
"Twenty riders, Sir Kay!" one shouted to Arthur’s brother. "Make that twenty-five.
They are armed and armored."
"Arthur!" Kay roared from his mount. "Can you ride?"
"He’ll be fine!" Lancelot answered. "He’ll stay by my side."
I knew that if Arthur didn’t ride, it would be whispered about throughout the countryside and once again, I said a silent thank you to my father for saving his hide.
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The knights were finally readied and someone opened the gates for them to ride out. They filed out, their horses’ hooves pounding like thunder as they galloped through the wall. And at their tail-end, I found my mother, riding Flower and concealed by a dark cloak with a hood. I groaned.
I quickly visualized myself on Flower’s back in similar attire and I was immediately there, grasping Guinevere’s slender waist and whispering into her ear.
"Mother, what are you doing?" I hissed. "This is unacceptable."
She laughed quietly. "We do what we must, daughter. Would you have me leave your father unprotected, while he cares for Arthur? Someone needs to watch his flank."
"He has a fleet of skilled knights to do that," I replied wryly. "He has no need for you."
"Bah!" she tossed her head. "Mortals. I should entrust his well-being to mortals?"
I didn’t bother to answer. I knew it was of no use. The only thing I could do now was hang on and hopefully reign her in when the time came.
The horses kicked up dust as the knights rode hard to intercept the intruders. I had no wish to be discovered, so I pulled my hood tighter around my face, shivering as I did. I had no idea who the strangers were or what they wanted, but if they were armed and armored, they meant us harm.
The moon shone high and brightly in the sky, adding light to the flickering torches that the squires were carrying for their knights. The atmosphere was charged and tense as we raced toward the unknown threat. I knew that I could interfere at any time, that I could use any number of my goddess strengths to intercede, but I also knew in my heart that I could not. This must unfold as it naturally would and I would have to allow it.