A short snippet from the Epic Merlin Fic (TM) for my good friend, artemis10002000. Enjoy!
Excerpt:>
Lancelot had ridden all morning as hard as he could while having to keep two horses – one of them without a rider – under control, to catch up with Princess Elena’s party in time. He knew not what kind of danger he was supposed to save her from, but since she was a Princess and the daughter of a wealthy lord, he assumed that somebody was panning to abduct her. Either a scorned suitor, wanting to force her into marriage, or an adversary who wanted to lay hands on Lord Godwyn’s realm without having to go to war – or simply a bandit chief who was hoping to get a lot of gold for giving her back to her grieving father.
Whichever the case might be, the Druids clearly believed that she was in peril and needed rescuing. And while Lancelot did not intend to court her afterwards, despite the vague hints given by the same Druids, he was a knight, devoted to the values that were supposed to direct a knightly life; including the rescuing of a damsel in distress. So he rode on, determined to do his duty.
Fortunately, he did not need to waste any time on tracking. The Princess and her party followed a well-travelled path that led from the Holy Well directly to the Castle of Gawant, with widely-known resting places at springs or wells along the way. Therefore, it only took him about an hour and a half to catch up with them, although they had left the Well a great deal earlier than him.
They must have travelled at a slow pace, as they were still at the first of the resting places; but again, what need could they possibly have to hurry? They were in the heart of Lord Godwin’s realm, not very far from his castle, after all. Why would they count on an attack?
There they were also, the six lightly-armed men-at-arms and one young groom, forming a protective shield-wall around their Princess, surrounded by at least two dozen men, wearing mail shirts and helmets, armed to the teeth. Only their leader, clearly a knight of some importance, was bare-headed; and he was currently having an argument with the Princess.
Lancelot had never actually seen the Lady Elena; had barely caught a glimpse of her from afar, upon his arrival at the Holy Well. She was younger than he had imagined, sweet-faced, with a great tangle of ash blonde hair and wearing a yellow gown of heavy brocade. Surprisingly enough, though, she did not seem particularly frightened, facing her would-be abductor, and Lancelot asked himself how that could be. Did she count on help arriving soon – one of the men was carrying a horn and Lancelot remembered having head its call a short time ago – or had the Druids told her to wait for rescue?
Whatever the truth might be, she was glaring at the knight with angry blue eyes, showing no sign of fear.
Birthday Present the Third
Excerpt:>
Lancelot had ridden all morning as hard as he could while having to keep two horses – one of them without a rider – under control, to catch up with Princess Elena’s party in time. He knew not what kind of danger he was supposed to save her from, but since she was a Princess and the daughter of a wealthy lord, he assumed that somebody was panning to abduct her. Either a scorned suitor, wanting to force her into marriage, or an adversary who wanted to lay hands on Lord Godwyn’s realm without having to go to war – or simply a bandit chief who was hoping to get a lot of gold for giving her back to her grieving father.
Whichever the case might be, the Druids clearly believed that she was in peril and needed rescuing. And while Lancelot did not intend to court her afterwards, despite the vague hints given by the same Druids, he was a knight, devoted to the values that were supposed to direct a knightly life; including the rescuing of a damsel in distress. So he rode on, determined to do his duty.
Fortunately, he did not need to waste any time on tracking. The Princess and her party followed a well-travelled path that led from the Holy Well directly to the Castle of Gawant, with widely-known resting places at springs or wells along the way. Therefore, it only took him about an hour and a half to catch up with them, although they had left the Well a great deal earlier than him.
They must have travelled at a slow pace, as they were still at the first of the resting places; but again, what need could they possibly have to hurry? They were in the heart of Lord Godwin’s realm, not very far from his castle, after all. Why would they count on an attack?
There they were also, the six lightly-armed men-at-arms and one young groom, forming a protective shield-wall around their Princess, surrounded by at least two dozen men, wearing mail shirts and helmets, armed to the teeth. Only their leader, clearly a knight of some importance, was bare-headed; and he was currently having an argument with the Princess.
Lancelot had never actually seen the Lady Elena; had barely caught a glimpse of her from afar, upon his arrival at the Holy Well. She was younger than he had imagined, sweet-faced, with a great tangle of ash blonde hair and wearing a yellow gown of heavy brocade. Surprisingly enough, though, she did not seem particularly frightened, facing her would-be abductor, and Lancelot asked himself how that could be. Did she count on help arriving soon – one of the men was carrying a horn and Lancelot remembered having head its call a short time ago – or had the Druids told her to wait for rescue?
Whatever the truth might be, she was glaring at the knight with angry blue eyes, showing no sign of fear.