The Sorcerer's Waters

Chapter I: Rage and Desecration

⚠️WARNING: Hanging, Drawing, and Quartering - plus a BRUTAL nightmare. If you've watched and survived the end of Mel Gibson's Braveheart, you can get through this. If not, you might want to move along. I believe in you! 🖤❤️⚠️

The doors to the throne room thundered open as Gaius barged in before the queen in a panic.

"Guinevere!"

Guinevere shot up from her throne.

"Gaius? What's happening?!" the queen asked frantically.

The old man placed his hands on his knees.

"Look out the window and listen," he responded, breathing heavily. It was a miracle that he could even sprint like that at all at his age.

Guinevere instantly rushed to one of the towering glass windows, her black gown trailing behind her like a banner in her haste. Sir Leon, who until this point was standing behind her throne, followed her while matching her speed until he was once again only a few steps from her. The queen, however, was now too transfixed and horrified by the sights outside to process his presence. Despite the still broad daylight, she noticed a good smattering of lit torches among the massive crowd. She could distinctly hear the cacophony of angry cries. She clasped her hand over the lower half of her face, watching in frightened awe for a few more moments before she grabbed on to her skirts and hurried out.

"Guinevere, where are you going?! Gwen!My lady!" Leon called out as her began to run after her. Gaius in turn followed suit. The three of them ran down the halls of the castle, down the grand white stairs until the queen reached the giant doors that marked the entrance, which was currently being guarded by two soldiers.

"Madam?" one of them asked, a tone of concern in his voice.

"With all due respect your highness, what are you doing?" asked the other with the same concern.

"I need to know what's behind this madness," Gwen replied. "Please open these doors so that your queen can pass."

"I'm sorry, your highness, but we cannot. We must protect you at all costs," the first soldier stated.

A familiar voice then echoed from the staircase.

"Not even with the remaining knights of the Round Table to protect her?"

It was Percival. Both of the guards looked in his direction as he descended the stairs and joined the others. His smile, however, quickly faded as the grimness of the situation dawned on him.

"Is that a mob outside?"

"What else could it be?" quipped the second guard.

"You still haven't answered my question," Percival quipped back.

"Which is...?"

"Will the queen be safe to investigate the events outside if we're here to protect her?"

The two guards looked at each other. The first guard looked to his queen and noticed the pleading desperation in her royal brown eyes.

"Will two knights be enough to defend both the queen and the court physician if necessary?"

"Who said there would be only two?" asked Sir Leon, eyeing the two guards. Guinevere subsequently chimed in.

"As you said, gentlemen, you were assigned to protect the queen at all costs. If she orders you to open these doors, will you join Sir Leon and Percival?"

Both guards bowed their heads in respect. The first guard spoke once more.

"You have all the knights of Camelot at your disposal, my lady."