Chapter Twelve: Mordred and Coban

   ‘What are you doing here?’ Delrand asked with a darkness to his voice I never imagined he would have.

   Let me go, I chanced subtly.

   ‘To see her.’ I took a deep breath in and turned around in Delrand’s grip. I couldn’t see his face as he dwelt in the shadowy corner. ‘Elara, I suppose you know who I am. This is your one chance to join me or risk dying later on.’

   ‘She’ll never join you,’ Delrand stated harshly.

   ‘How can you be sure of her true intentions?’

   He raised his head proudly. ‘I never have, and never will, be unsure of where her allegiance lies.’

   ‘Let her have a say. After all that’s why I came.’

   Answer him, but be careful with what you say, Delrand cautioned.

   ‘What he says is true. I’ll never join you, even if it means one of us dies.’

   ‘Not even for a while? You’ll find that power is easier to gain.’

   ‘It’s not about power. It’s about how you use what you’ve got already, Mordred.’ I said his name with complete loathing.

   All that came from where he stood was a deep heartless chuckle. ‘Then you’re foolish to deny the chance. Are you sure you know that he’s on the right side?’

   ‘His side is obvious. Now get out or I’ll force you to leave.’

   Don’t tempt him, he’s quick at Summoning, I heard Delrand’s voice in my head.

   ‘You have a good memory for one so new.’

   I smirked but Delrand intervened. ‘Not that fresh, I’m afraid. Sorry to disappoint you, Mordred. And, as is the same, you’re underestimating her abilities. I wouldn’t make that mistake again, if I were you.’

   ‘But you’re not me, Delrand. I’ve learnt much since last we met. Time is a virtue.’

   ‘Yes, and so is patience and control.’

   Delrand, don’t you torment him. It’s what he wants, the chance to fight you now and hope he wins.

   I’m being careful on choosing my words, Elara. Don’t worry about me.

   ‘No need for mind talk, I can hear all you say.’ We both looked at him, stunned. How was that possible?

   ‘Get out now, Mordred. Or I’ll...’ Delrand began.

   ‘Or you’ll what? Kill me? I don’t think you will ever be able to defeat me. Her on the other hand...’ His head turned in the shadow to face me.

   ‘That’s why we got to her as soon as we did. The mistake was on your behalf. And for that I should be thanking you.’

   ‘How so?’

   ‘Or I’d have never met my equal.’ I looked up at him in admiration. He still had his eyes fixed on Mordred; that I could understand.

   ‘Now it was your turn to make a mistake. By using her love of you I can damage her in more than the usual way.’

   ‘That wouldn’t have stopped you anyway. You would have found out eventually. Why not get it out in the open now?’

   ‘Point.’

   ‘One last chance to leave before I lose my calmness,’ Delrand taunted.

   Mordred moved into the moonlight coming through the window, but his face remained shadowed over. ‘I was going to anyway. But if you wish for a duel now, be my guest.’

   ‘Get out,’ I said with menace. ‘Or you’ll have me to deal with.’ No answer came, he just vanished. Delrand lightened his grasp on me. He breathed out in relief. ‘Delrand, how could he hear us?’

   ‘He has become stronger and more powerful, not what we need right now.’

   ‘That’s good news for me.’

   ‘How do you make that out?’

   A little smile touched my lips. ‘Now you won’t leave my side at all. I mean, you don’t want him to capture me.’

   ‘I like that idea.’ He held me in the way he usually did just before he would kiss me.

   ‘Never let me go, Delrand. No matter what, no matter how many arguments we have, never leave me.’

   ‘I could never leave you now. After all this time we’ve been together, leaving you now would be a crime. I love you.’

   I love you, I had to say it through the mind as he had kissed me before I could say it verbally.

   The night rolled by and gradually approached sunrise. I didn’t remember the sun even setting. Though I now had many things to look forward to in my near future. One thing was clear about me and Delrand, fate. Fate had brought us together and it would be fate that we battled against Mordred in the nearing war, together. It would be at least a year until it broke out but, with Delrand, time did seem to go by quicker.

   ‘Wake up, sleepy head,’ he whispered in my ear. ‘Hey, wake up.’

   ‘I’m awake,’ I mumbled.

   He lay on the covers next to me and had propped himself on an elbow. A subtle smile was on his face. I smiled back and threw the duvet off. I walked behind the screen to get into my dress.

   ‘No good morning then,’ he teased.

   ‘Morning,’ I replied. I walked from where I was concealed. I twirled around in front of him and then went to look in the mirror. It seemed my feminine side had leapt out after meeting him.

   ‘See, I was right. It looks lovely on you.’ He came up behind me and held me from behind. I watched the mirror’s reflection of us. We looked like a real couple, or would do from an onlookers view. ‘You should wear dresses more often.’

   ‘You want me to change?’

   ‘Why would I want you to change? That’s why I fell in love with you in the first place, your personality. I never intended to change the way you are.’

   ‘Good, because I’m not going to,’ I warned him. ‘Time for me to be stared at again.’

   ‘What do you want me to do?’

   ‘You can come down with me. You are my mentor in their eyes, I hope it just stays like that,’ I said as we walked through the door and out into the corridor. ‘Why are you different around the knights anyway? You always seem to hold back from talking to them.’

   ‘I am not different. I just hold back because I don’t want them to judge whether I deserve you.’

   ‘Knowing them as I do, they’ll be glad to know you; once they know about us, I mean.’

   ‘We’ll see. Tristan seems the friendliest out of them.’

   I giggled. ‘He is my cousin. You’d best get to befriend him first, it’ll make it easier for me as well. Plus, he’ll know all that I’ve not told him.’

*****

   Considering the size of the fortress, it never took long to get from one wing to the other. There were too many staircases and rooms to bother counting. And the number of servants, that helped look after the whole building, was uncountable; that’s not counting the cooks and waitresses.

   I didn’t bother pausing outside the hall door to take a breath, I walked straight in. Their heads all faced me, from around the table. Their eyes were wide with disbelief. I remembered that none had seen me on my birthday (except my own). It didn’t stop me from walking up to the table and sitting down as gracefully as possible.

   Delrand sat down one chair away so as not to give anything away. If it was anything like the looks I got on my eighteenth, it was worse. They kept their eyes transfixed on me; except my knights of course, they had had plenty of experience with the dress thing. I secretly kept my eye on Coban though; he was the main candidate for the first or only comment of the morning.

   Did you get this last time? Delrand had helped himself to a piece of toast.

   Not as bad, but yes.

   Are you regretting letting me make you wear it or not?

   No, I’m glad you did actually.

   The men around me changed their gaze. I followed their gaze behind me. My father had entered the hall. Clearly he had told them they didn’t need to stand while they were here as guests. I smiled as he was looking at me as he came to take a seat.

   ‘Have you seen the error of your ways or something, Elara?’ he asked.

   ‘I thought it would be a change for once. Since there’s no need for me to wear my armour,’ I added.

   ‘A good change at any expense.’

   I could feel their eyes back on me but I didn’t bother checking before I left for the hall. It would be another two hours before they’d be ready.

   Coming? I asked him sweetly.

   I’m right behind you. Past the grand oak doors he reached out and took my hand in his. Are we ever going to give them a hint or tell them?

   You can if you really want to, I’m not very concerned with what they know or find out. As long as they find out some time while they’re here.

   His fingers entwined between mine and he tightened his hold a little. Any particular day or time?

   That doesn’t matter. How about tomorrow night?

   That’s fine by me. And he leant over to kiss my cheek.

   The day passed by just like the day before, except the knights were paired up differently. Eventually the last day dawned upon Camelot and, though we had agreed, Delrand and I had still not revealed my standings to the rest of the company. That was about to change. The one thing they all did know about Delrand was that he was my tutor.

   ‘I think you have a greater challenge than you expected, Coban.’ Lancelot had gradually distributed his grandeur among the others. He had so far out jousted each of his opponents; he only had Sir Coban in the way to claim the title (even though they had already jousted). Unfortunately, Coban had also beaten each of his opponents. As their match was the last of the day, the rest of the day was dedicated to see how high up the rankings the others could get. As was to be expected every year, the top end of the table was full of Gaul and Albion standards.

   The day seemed to drag on, but the last match did gradually come to a start. I didn’t want to watch from the sidelines. I walked out to where the rest were watching; from behind where Lancelot was positioned on his horse.

   Seeing my cousin, I found my place to stand. ‘Tristan,’ I said as I walked up to him.

   He bowed his head in acknowledge. ‘Aren’t you meant to be with Arthur?’

   ‘I can be wherever I like. Think he’s going to win?’

   ‘I don’t know, Coban has quite a strong punch.’ He said exactly what I had been thinking over the past few days.

   ‘If he wins, I’ll have to try and see if I can have a go at beating him.’

   He turned to look at me in surprise. ‘Arthur won’t like that, nor will he let it happen. He did make his word clear when he said you weren’t to join in this year.’

   ‘But he would like it if his own daughter took back the title.’

   ‘You can’t just win over one match. You’ll have to take on all of us.’

   ‘And since when have I not beaten all of you?’

   He put on a thinking face to tease me. ‘Since last year,’ he corrected me.

   ‘Elara, watch out for any weaknesses for me,’ Lancelot spoke as he turned around to face Coban’s end.

   ‘I will. Though I’ve been doing that all week and I can’t seem to find any.’

   ‘Then wish me luck,’ he spoke as he patted his steed on the neck for encouragement.

   ‘Good luck,’ I shouted as he clamped down his visor.

   The start flag was raised and he galloped off. Coban rode quickly to meet him in the middle. Their lances fell from vertical to horizontal smoothly, neither lost control or balance. The first two jousts weren’t that important. The third and final joust was tense. Both had two points each. I still hadn’t come up with spotting a weakness with Coban’s technique.

   ‘Anything?’ Lancelot asked before he was to face his last chance to defeat Coban in his continuous lucky streak.

   ‘Nothing. I’m sorry but he has no clear weaknesses. You’ll have to come up with something of a miracle if you want a chance of winning.’

   ‘Wait a minute. No clear weaknesses. Of course, it’s his dignity that’s so strong not his body strength at all,’ Tristan started babbling.

   ‘What are you getting at, Tristan?’

   ‘Lancelot, when he strikes out his lance, try to dodge it and then you strike at him.’

   ‘I’ll try, but it’s not easy when you have everything else to think about.’

   ‘Tristan, how do you come up with things like that?’ Galahad asked.

   ‘I don’t know. It just came to me; it’ll work; though none of us have ever thought of it before. The one thing that we can be sure of is that Coban won’t see it coming.’

   We each held our breath as Lancelot readied for his last chance. The flag rose swiftly through the air, as it did so time seemed to slow. His steed pawed the ground, and then bolted on to its rear legs before charging out onto the field. I could faintly feel the vibrations of the ground as each hoof met the hard earth in its approach to level with Coban’s horse.

   My eyes rose up to Lancelot; his body position told me he was determined to beat Coban. Coban downed his lance and aimed at Lancelot’s helmet. It was so close I became light-headed. Lancelot ducked under the blunt end of the wooden pole, and, with divine swiftness, lunged his lance at Coban’s upper body and struck him with every last bit of strength he could gain. The crack of the lance on the metal armour rang around the arena. A roar, like the sea crashing on rocks, rose up the stands as Coban fell to the ground.

   Lancelot threw away what remained of the wooden staff. He rode back at a trot. The rest of us cheered out loud and held together in an enormous crowd of hugs, (those foreign knights who wished for Lancelot to win had joined us during the first and second jousts). Lancelot dismounted, removed his helmet and walked towards us. Gawain rushed up to him and they engaged in a brotherly bear hug. Galahad and Tristan went off to join them, and then Bors, Dagonet and I decided why not.

   I somehow had managed to get through them all and ended up with my arms around Lancelot himself, it didn’t matter until I did something unintended. I kissed him on the cheek. I only meant it as a well done remark, yet he took it completely the other way around. He kissed me on the lips and I couldn’t push him away. Also, the others backed off, which left us exposed to the rest of the field. It was very short but it had done enough damage within the time. I managed to get my hands on his upper arms and grasped him sharply. He pulled back and I frowned at him.

   ‘Sorry,’ he said quietly so only I could hear him.

   ‘Too late,’ I mouthed back. I walked towards where my father sat. He was stood up and clapping along with the rest of the spectators. Delrand was on my level and leaning against the banisters. He looked at me solemnly, and then looked over to Coban’s end. I continued to walk up to him while following his gaze (though my heart was panicking desperately inside my chest). Coban was marching up to the crowd around Lancelot. I stopped and watched. The knights backed away. Lancelot turned to face his recent opponent. They shook hands and Coban mouthed something in his ear. They both looked over at me.

   ‘Elara, are you alright?’

   ‘Fine. I’m fine. Don’t think it as anything.’

   Would I? And he turned me to face me and kissed me as best he could after what had just happened to me. I didn’t care that they saw. I responded to his courage to show them now.

   I’ll have you two know that your onlookers are very surprised with what they‘re seeing. It was a shock to hear Merlin’s voice in our heads. We stopped with the kissing, but Delrand still held me in front of him although the barrier was in between us still.

   Merlin, it is none of your business with what we decide to do in front of them.

   No, but when it comes to reputations... he paused his sentence.

   I looked back at the knights in the centre of the field; the only one not wide eyed was Lancelot, yet he may be hurt deep inside.

   ‘Elara, you know what to do now?’

   ‘Yes, father.’ My voice was shaking slightly at knowing I had declare it.

   ‘What do you do now?’ Delrand asked, slightly bewildered.

   ‘It’s just a sort of announcement to make it official. Stay here.’ I followed my father over to the knights. Putting on a confident face, I stood just behind him. Lancelot bowed before my father and was declared champion by being dubbed on both shoulders by my father’s sword (in the same way we get knighted). I kept my eyes on Coban to see that he wasn’t going to do anything foolish. He stood a little way back from the other knights and he looked rather ashamed of himself. He met my gaze and lifted his head slightly. He parted from the company and walked back towards his horse.

   ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I give you your champion. Sir Lancelot,’ declared my father. He bowed his head, turned around and walked back towards the castle. The stands began to empty. They waited for them to be half empty. They all looked a little dismayed at my revealed secret.

   ‘Well, lads, I guess she has a lot to answer for,’ said Bors. ‘Isn’t that right, Elara?’

   ‘Not that I could have kept it a secret for much longer, Bors,’ I said between gritted teeth. I pushed my cloak aside to expose my sword. ‘It’s true that I love someone who is not of noble blood but love isn’t ruled against lineage.’

   ‘No, but isn’t a princess meant to marry her father’s choice?’ asked Galahad.

   ‘My father isn’t bothering to decide everything that happens to me. You should have at least been able to know about my freedom of that rule.’

   ‘They are right in one aspect, Elara,’ Delrand said from behind me somewhere. The knights’ eyes focused on him. I turned around.

   ‘What aspect would that be then?’

   ‘You have one thing to answer for. Why you... we kept it from them all this time.’

   ‘And what has a mere magician got to say on this subject?’ Bors asked him.

   ‘Bors, please don’t talk like that. Calm down.’

   ‘Oh, I am calm. But he’s only known you for a few months and already has a hold on you.’

   ‘He has not.’ I turned to face him again. ‘I chose to love him freely. Plus, it isn’t really any of your business who I fall in love with.’

   ‘Stop arguing the both of you,’ Tristan intervened. He walked around and stood beside Delrand. I moved my head as I followed him. ‘Honestly, you’re both acting like when we were younger and argued over the smallest things.’

   ‘You’re making no sense, Tristan.’

   ‘He is,’ Lancelot eventually spoke out, he had dignity enough to stop a possible fight; after all, he was the one that forced it out into the open. ‘Firstly, it’s all out now so there’s no need to bother questioning the predicament. And secondly, you shouldn’t have kept it a secret, even from your closest friends.’

   ‘Look, just stop there,’ I said. ‘I see we’re not getting anywhere with this. To simplify the explaining part, I’ll tell it straight now. Delrand loves me, I love him and there’s nothing any of you can do about it. It’s as strong as stone and arguing isn’t going to help it change. So please will you all just back off!’ I hadn’t shouted at them this way before, ever.

   They were all silent while they took in what I had just said. Then they began laughing in unison. I rolled my eyes and sighed. Clearly they didn’t want to affect anything from the beginning, all they wanted was for me to explain. The problem was that, to them, I had taken it all the wrong way. I looked over at Delrand, even he was laughing to some extent. I shook my head in disbelief.

   I looked up at the cloud covered sky. Suddenly it began to rain down on us. We walked back indoors. Delrand was at my side straight away. I took his hand as we approached the doors; I knew he would probably apologise about it all later but now was a time of celebration. Inside drinks were prepared and the small orchestra was set up in the far corner. Being hostess, as well as princess, I had to share a dance with all of them. This was another tradition of the tournament; however, before now I was one of the knights. Today, I was just a princess in all their eyes. Should I wear a dress again, just for tonight? I thought to myself.

   Delrand, I’ll be down in a minute, I just want to change into something more appropriate.

   Such as?

   Wait and see. I vanished from beside him and appeared in my room. ‘Beth!’ I called.

   She leisurely came through the door a moment later. I, meanwhile had concentrated to looking through my wardrobe.

   ‘You called?’

   ‘Yes, can you help me in here?’

   She poked her head around the corner. ‘What are you doing?’

   ‘Looking for a dress. Do you think purple suits me?’ I asked her casually.

   ‘Depends on the shade. Dark would.’ She came in and searched on the other side. ‘How about this one?’

   ‘Beth, what would I ever do without you?’

   She shrugged her shoulders. I took the dress off her and went to change behind the screen.

   ‘How many times have you worn a dress this week, Elara?’

   I thought about it. ‘Twice, why?’

   ‘I thought you didn’t like them?’

   ‘Delrand told me I should wear them more often. He has a good sense of taste for a man.’

   ‘Need any help?’

   ‘Can you tie up the back for me?’ I didn’t want to deprive her of any duties, even if I could have easily done it up by magic.

   Back downstairs and dancing with all the recent competitors, I felt a probing at the back of my mind. Considering their different builds, they danced like the bachelors on my birthday. By the end some of them had had a bit too much wine for one night. The more sober of the lot led them to their quarters to lie down. The probing had become more annoying as the night wore on; in the end I had to speak to Delrand about it. I led him just outside the oak doors. ‘Do you have a throbbing in your mind?’

   He rubbed his temples. ‘Yes, do you?’

   ‘I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t. What is it?’

   ‘Them.’ That didn’t resolve the problem.

   ‘Them?’

   ‘It is what Merlin and I created if ever our associates call for a meeting. They want to know where we stand with Mordred. Merlin and I were hoping they couldn’t get through to you, but they have their ways. Harrod, Justin and Oscar are part of the collective. Don’t worry, that’s the most powerful mind tricks they can do.’

   ‘Is there where you went that night you couldn’t stay?’

   He looked guilty at me bringing that up. ‘Yes, but I also had to help Merlin with recruiting. So I wasn’t lying.’

   ‘But you didn’t tell me all the truth,’ I added.

   He took my hands gently in his and looked me in the eyes. ‘I couldn’t. Anyway, you get to come tonight; since they have managed to find your mind. We meet at Stonehenge at midnight.’

   ‘Are you sure you want her to come tonight?’ Merlin asked from by the doors. We were used to him interrupting when we were alone.

   ‘We can’t keep everything a secret from her. She could easily force us to tell her everything we know that she doesn’t.’ He looked down at me questioningly.

   ‘I wouldn’t do that,’ I assured them.

   ‘But you could if you wanted to and if you knew how to. I wish I could show you how powerful you are. I know you don’t believe us when we say you’re the only one that can defeat Mordred, but you are.’

   Dropping his hands, I turned and walked a few paces away. ‘You expect so much of me. How can I be sure my powers won’t take over my decisions? I need practice that’s all, I suppose then I’ll be assured of my abilities.’

   He walked up behind me and slipped his fingers between mine. ‘Trust me; they’ll all want to have a chance at trying to beat you. Just make sure you’re focused, some of them are quite unpredictable.’

   ‘I trust you. Aren’t you going to join in with that?’ I looked over my shoulder at him with a smirk.

   ‘I already know what you’re capable of. Though you haven’t actually duelled me yet.’

   Merlin coughed in his amusing sense. ‘Very well, you two. I’ll meet you both there, keep a low profile. I don’t want you to be tested straight away.’

   ‘Bye, Merlin. See you there,’ I said as he vanished. ‘Who exactly are the others?’ I asked as I stepped into Delrand’s arms.

   ‘I’ll introduce you to them all when we turn up.’

   ‘All? How many are there in the group?’

   ‘About ten.’

   ‘And what are they?’

   ‘Most of them are sorcerers but the rest are wizards, yet they’re all very powerful and clever. Strategy and experience is what we get from them.’

   ‘I have a few of my own to add. By the way, I thought you said we were the only sorcerers in Albion?’

‘They’re not from Albion. We, Merlin and I, have many contacts outside the force that is stationed in your kingdom.’

*****

   The knights inside began singing rather loudly and not very well either. I spotted my father and Tristan in one of the corners and walked over.

   ‘I’m just saying that she’s changed too much since he turned up,’ I overheard Tristan saying as we got closer.

   ‘You can’t go expecting that she’ll stay the same all her life. What they decide is up to them alone; don’t go getting involved with things beyond your power.’

   ‘What is?’ I asked offhandedly.

   ‘Nothing,’ said Tristan, simply.

   ‘Don’t try to hide what you were talking about, Tristan. I heard what you said.’

   ‘Elara, he just wants to know why you never told him anything. I tried to explain to him that...’

   ‘Tristan,’ I interrupted my father. ‘The reason why you never found out was because you have nothing to do with my personal life. I see you as my closest friend, almost as a brother; but the truth is you just have to learn when to back down.’

   He looked at me accusingly. ‘Says you, who seems to know everything that goes on around here.’

   ‘Look, I know everything because it’s easy for me to gain news through listening; I never dwell on them unless I need to. Like now, for instance.’

   Father then stepped in again. ‘Quit while you’re ahead, Elara. I don’t like to see you both arguing over something so stupid and basically doesn’t involve you both. Tristan, just keep out of it,’ he demanded softly.

   Tristan just walked off, he wasn’t happy and I could understand. Though he didn’t need to know everything that happens to me or even get himself into trouble because of something out of reach.

   ‘Arthur, I need to take Elara somewhere tonight,’ Delrand briefed.

   ‘I already know. Merlin beat you. Yes, she can go. I don’t think I have as strong a hold on her than when she was younger.’ I smiled to myself. ‘Just be back as early as you can.’

   ‘I don’t know how long we’ll be gone; it could be an hour or the whole night.’

   ‘Very well. Good night.’

   ‘Good night,’ Delrand said with a head bow. He turned to me, smiled and spoke. ‘We can go now or at midnight, your choice.’

   ‘Now seems best. But I can’t just disappear here.’ He bobbed his head towards the hallway door. I smiled back and let him take me through. On the other side of the hall the remaining knights could still be heard chanting away.

   ‘Do you know where Stonehenge is?’

   ‘Only very faintly. You’ll have to take me there yourself.’ He held out his hand lazily, I took it and instantly felt the floor fall away from beneath my feet.