Why does Arthur insist we parade through Camelot like the rulers of Earth, land, sea, and sky? We are but men, men with swords. All the screaming maidens, all vowing that they were the maidens for us, I myself have a wife, and a son. The product of an arranged marriage, a mutual arrangement where all I care is that the wench makes me a hearty meal at the end of the day and warms my bed at night.
Merlin, a crack pot if I ever laid eyes on one. He claims to be some fantastical wizard, all I’ve seen him do drink water and claim he made it disappear. Yet you could swear he’s the king around here, telling Arthur what to do, what to say, and how to say it. Arthur: a friend should be ignoring that old bat and listen to his own heart. I’d rather die on my own sword than hear another ‘wonderful’ tale of how Merlin 'The Great' saved the kingdom. “People of Camelot” Arthur addressed them, I scanned the crowd for the obvious threats of those unhappy with the King, and they should get 50 lashes, for just thinking ill of him. He is a great, confused and easily manipulated man. He is not perfect, but who is?
“The Scotts are nothing to fear, they will not break this kingdom down, for if we stand united, stand as one, nothing can tear us down. Nothing is stronger than a forest, all the trees stand as one and fight against the most fearsome winds. Hold fast and fear not the mighty wind of the Scotts. It is the spirits of every man woman and child of Camelot that empower our Knights to fight and win! It is the hearts of the many that empower the hearts of the few.” That is the man I know, no crackpot wizard. No stupid games of wit, a man who can talk from the heart, mean every word, and get a cheering applauds.
And just like that, Arthur left his regal platform, shed his title and became one of the people. All part of his equality plans. He expects us Knights to do the very same thing. I try.
“Sir Lancelot, I had a vision of you.” I young girl said pulling on my robe. I looked down. She looked nothing more than 16. She was very petite. The girls get younger and younger.
“Go find your cocker spaniel to chase you little chit. I’m busy.” I said pulling my robe from her hands. She glared up at me. No chit has ever given me such a look in my life.
“You should listen to what I have to say.” She stated, of course because her prophecies of a happy marriage with her are so very different than the ones I heard everyday.
“Listen wench, if you wish for your dear darling mother not to mourn for her daughter hasn’t lived to marry I suggest you run home like a good chit and promise to marry the first lad who wants you.” I scolded her. She didn’t even flinch. She gave me the dirtiest look I have ever seen a child make.
“I said you should listen to what I have to say you stupid mongrel!” She yelled several heads turned. I shrugged. She was a mere child having a tantrum.
“Shut your trap wench or I’ll shut it permanently. ”I hissed down at her. She blinked. I grabbed her arm and dragged her to a secluded alleyway.
“If I listen will you go away, leave me alone?” I hissed exasperated. I hate children, especially this one. At least mine knew well enough to leave me alone.
“Yes of course, why else would I want to talk to you for? You smell of cheap ale and sour mutton.” She said. I lifted my arm smack her. Then stopped.
“Watch your tongue wench or you’ll never warm a man’s bed. “ I warned her, shaking my head. She shrugged.
“Don’t you at least want to know my name? After all I’m going to tell you your future, everyone else wanted my name.” She stated as if I hadn’t said anything. Stupid wench her father needs to put her in her place.
“Will it make you leave my presence?” I asked annoyed.
“You’re high and mighty as well and rude and crass. And yes.” She stated. When I get a chance I’m telling Arthur that, I get all the crazies and will not do this parade anymore. I’ll fake an illness if I must.
“Fine, what is your wretched name, that I will work hard to forget?” I asked annoyed she gave me yet another dirty look.
“Azella Primerose.” She said simply. Figures she’d have a freaky name. New world names these days. “It’s a pleasure to meet the most sour and crass Knight of them all, Sir Lancelot.” She said I scowled.
“The pleasure is all yours, you wanted me to listen so, speak before I lose interest.” I ordered.
“So impatient to hear how you die? Odd most wish I don’t continue on.” She huffed. I rolled my eyes. How I will die? Sounds like something Merlin would say.
“Speak wench.” I ordered.
“Very well, I may speak, but you won’t listen. Heed my words, don’t just hear them, but listen to them. I will not repeat this day with you. Your loyalty for Arthur will be tested far beyond his time. You will be needed in a new order to help Arthur rise again. Without you he will fail and the world will fall to chaos, every time you fail, the world will fall even more. On the battlefield you will fall, but you shall not die. You will remain as all others perish. You will fall harder and lower than you ever thought possible, but you will raise higher than even Arthur himself if you would only listen.” She said then finished. Well that was a whole bunch of crazy talk from a faerie child.
“Should I fall on the battle field, I shall die. Arthur has used me, should I fall he will replace me. You speak nonsense wench.” I scowled.
“Then you will fall farther than even Luther.” She said then walked away. What an odd child. Mother must have dropped her as a babe.
I walked back to the crowd to see wenches offering their babes to be blessed by the knights. This fat one presented this screaming babe to my face. I snarled at it. It froze. Then it wailed even louder.
“Shut that trap of yours brat, blessing from me you don’t want, If you dare make another noise for he rest of your days I’ll chop your wee off myself and make you eat it!” I scolded the brat only to hear the screaming continue I stomped off. Arthur will understand that I left early. I have battle to prepare for.
Azella Primerose, an unforgettable name. Does she have to be right about everything? Died I did, yet living I am here. Cursed for all eternity. You could swear she cursed me herself, but no all she did was tell me the future.
I stalk the night looking for the next meal, I long since lost caring what I ate, and the first pulse I see is usually good enough. What good is it to be picky if I’m going to spend hours each night trying to find that one pulse? No point.
I watched everything crumble apart. Watched my son age. He married and had his own sons to care for. I watched as he watched his sons grow. What’s the point in watching? They don’t know me. I died on the battlefield to all those but were there, and her: that stupid wench who couldn’t leave me alone.
Azella Primerose a better Witch than Merlin was ever a Wizard. She got more right in ten minutes than Merlin got right his entire life. Still I remain, all else has long since been erased. All those battles: pointless a waste. All that time wasted on whom should be the king, should we tell Arthur about his slut? Or should we leave it? All that time wasted for nothing, Life went on, erased us from the past till were we nothing more than grains of sand.
