|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
CHRISTMAS IN CAMELOT
The Great Hall of Camelot stood silent. The two men watched each other warily. They waited. Who would be the first to speak? Both were Pendragons . . . a stubborn lot. “Do you know why I have summoned you?” King Arthur finally asked as he leaned on the arm of his chair, gazing evenly at the only knight present at the Round Table. “Aye, sire,” Sir Nicholas the Dragon, and cousin to the King, replied, neither flinching nor casting his gaze away from Arthur. Nicholas was, however, thankful that his King had chosen a private audience to discuss these matters. “It is a difficult decision I have to make,” King Arthur said, waiting for Nicholas to explain his actions. Nicholas was in no mood for any of this. He did not make a habit of explaining himself, but since it was the King who’d asked, it was probably prudent that he answer him. Stalling for time, Nicholas glanced at the beautiful wooden table which had been a gift to Arthur from Lady Guinevere. Letters of gold marked the place of each knight, with Nicholas’s seat directly across the table from the king. No knight could claim himself to be better than another, for there was no ‘high’ table or ‘low’ table, simply the Table Round, where all men were equal. Of course, King Arthur’s seat was a bit higher. But ‘twas not necessary for none of his knights doubted Arthur was, indeed in charge. All had sworn loyalty to their king, which brought Nicholas to the problem at hand. He turned a baleful eye on the king and finally asked the words Arthur had waited patiently for. “Would you care to hear the truth, sire?” Arthur nodded slowly. “Aye.” “I have never pretended to be other than I am with the Lady Clarisse. She knew from the start that ‘twas not marriage that I would be offering, merely a liaison for a while. Nothing more.” “What is this nonchalance that you have for women?” Arthur asked. “Do you think they are mere amusements for you?” “There have always been damsels, sire. Everywhere. I have many times climbed into bed at night to find I was not alone. I did not bid them come. So why should they be treated as special?” “I see,” Arthur said. “As to Lady Clarisse . . .” Arthur paused as a serving maid, Matilda, appeared to refill his gold chalice, clumsily spilling the red liquid on the Siege Perilous seat. “God’s teeth, will you ever learn to hit the goblet and not the chair?” “Sorry, sire. My vision you see, is not what it used to be,” she explained, paying absolutely no attention to Arthur’s reprimand. She moved over to Nicholas and filled his chalice, giving him a brilliant smile. Matilda had been at the castle so long that she had grown bold in her old age, and she more or less ran the household. She was truly Arthur’s favorite and, for that reason, he put up with her insolence. She looked at Arthur. “Wouldst thou desire anything else, sire?” “That will be all, Matilda.” Arthur smiled fondly as she shuffled from the room, then he turned back to Nicholas. Arthur’s smile instantly faded. “As I was saying, Lady Clarisse claims she is ruined.” “I can truly say that I have never ruined any woman, including Clarisse. I was not her first and probably not the last.” Nicholas paused and then decided a bit more was needed. “At the moment, I have no desire to marry. When I do, ‘twill be to someone of my own choosing. “I saw with my own eyes how my mother destroyed my father and drove him to his death. I want none of that.” Nicholas paused, taking a swallow of wine to wipe the bitter taste from his mouth. “I am not certain that the woman for me exists. You are fortunate to have Guinevere, sire” “Aye. My queen is a rare gem, indeed,” Arthur said with a smile. “But I felt the same as you not so long ago,” he confessed as he watched his favorite knight. Nicholas was favored not because they were cousins, but because Nicholas had saved Arthur’s life twice in battle, earning his place at the Round Table in spite of his inauspicious beginning. Nicholas had lost his birthright when his mother had burned their castle to the ground. She had perished in the fire, leaving Nicholas to fend for himself at ten. How the boy had survived, Arthur didn’t know. Mayhap, Nicholas’s ability to feel nothing had allowed him to persevere. Since Sir Nicholas had stormed into the King’s life, proving his bravery over and over again, Arthur had had little peace. An aura of excitement surrounded the knight wherever he went. Nicholas feared nothing, so it seemed, except love. He had broken at least five hearts that Arthur knew about and probably countless others he, thankfully, knew nothing of. King Arthur finished his wine before he spoke. “I want you to take your men and pay a visit to the King of Ireland. There are heathens there who do not support us. They must be convinced otherwise.” Arthur paused, noting the excitement and anticipation in Nicholas’s eyes. ‘Twas apparent that Nicholas looked forward to the challenge so the task was little punishment. Mayhap, a bit more was needed, Arthur thought. “I also want your promise that you will not look at another woman for three months hence. I will relieve you of your promise on December first.” Nicholas’s eyes narrowed and his brow wrinkled, then he said, “It is a bit harsh, sire.” “You said yourself that women meant little to you. I conclude then, that you will not miss them. Mayhap, they will mean more after you have done without a fair lady for awhile. I wager you will have a different opinion upon your return.” “And what would you like to wager?” Nicholas challenged with a sly smile. Arthur thought for a moment. “How about the two white war-horses that you have been wanting?” Nicholas nodded. “Agreed. And if I lose?” “I want two of your blacks.” Nicholas rose to his feet, a triumphant smile upon his face. “As you know, sire, I never lose.” He gave his I am-already-the-victor-smile, then picked up his chalice and raised his cup in a toast, “To God and King,” Nicholas said, then drained the wine from his cup and left the room. Arthur stared at the door long after it shut. Would Nicholas ever find the peace he sought? He was a man who feared nothing, a man who served Arthur faithfully, but cared not for his own welfare. Arthur hoped that one day Nicholas would find a woman he desired above all others. However, if the conquest were easy, he would tire and turn from her. But, what if the woman was unattainable? “’Twould prove interesting,” Arthur said thoughtfully to the empty room. “Mayhap we need a miracle in Camelot.” He rose and looked at his glorious table, a plan forming in his mind. ‘Twould be difficult to accomplish. And it could be for nothing. But ‘twould make for an entertaining Christmas season, he thought. Arthur smiled as he went to seek his queen. This year Arthur couldn’t wait for Christmas in Camelot.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
