Notes: Now, this isn't my favorite Arthurian legend, but it is important for this story. Y'see, a lot of legends and portrayals of Gawain that were written later on showed him as being a total dick. Now, in the early legends, he was Arthur's greatest knight. Once Lancelot started showing up, Gawain was given the short end of the stick. They took a brave, noble character, and made him into the world's Good Guy Villain. The guy who fights by your side but still undermines you in your social life. Stuff like that. But I do like the knight Gawain, so I want people to learn to like him before they learn to hate him. One of the examples of this, pointed out because it won't show up because this story's universe, which lacks a Guinevere, is Sir Lancelot and Lady Elaine. He's told to find Lancelot and he goes and slacks off, using his status to hang out at this noble's house because he's got a sexy daughter. Enough with these pointless ramblings! Enough, I say!
....Alright, a bit more rambling. Current cast list plan of characters not in game:
Morgan Le Fay: Shade the Echidna.
King Claudas: The Dumpy Humpty Dumpty.
That thief that reported to Claudas: Fang. Or Nack. Whatever.
The Green Knight: Vector. It was either him or Bean the Dynamite, and the green knight is supposed to be of towering stature, so, unfortunately, I can't have him obsessed with bombs.
Mordred: I already mentioned this in my notes, so go check previous chapters. Grr. Grumpy this morning, eh? Jeez...sorry about that. Moving on!
Pelleas: Mighty.
Ettarde: Rouge.
That's all that's showing up in THIS book. I'm considering following it up with another. Ok, half a page down in this word processor, time for me to shut up.
Snow was crisp and cheer was bright in the Kingdom of Camelot. Christmas always brought such moods with it, for even the poorest peasant would be granted a feast in the palace halls. King Arthur was a kind man, and would have no one turned away. However, even a noble leader sometimes wants to relax with his friends, so he and his closest knights, along with lords and ladies of the court, held their own banquet at the round table. Near him sat the son of King Lot, Gawain, the newest knight to join the round table. Still gaining acquaintance, they chatted and bantered through the feast with each other, and with anyone else who cared to speak. Yes, they were knights and nobles, but there were no taxes to take, no laws to enforce, and no wars to win. It was Christmas, and people could only feel two things, the joy, and the cold.
The food was served, tales were told, and a jolly green giant rode into the banquet hall on his horse.
Food was left uneaten out of shock, tales trailed off into silence, and the Green Knight held in his hands a great battle axe, and a bough of holly. Arthur stood, outraged at the intrusion, and fearful for the safety of his friends upon seeing the axe.
"What purpose do you come here for?" He asked, hand on his sword.
"Relax, Yer highness. I don't come for war. If I did, I'd be wearing armor." It was true enough, he was clad only in cloth. All of it green. Even the horse he rode, a magnificent stallion, was completely green. "And I brought you a present." He handed the king the bough of holly. It was a fitting gesture of peace, but even this stranger felt he had made a strange choice of gift. "I come here looking for sport. I have a game I'd like to play. Anyone in this room may take my offer. I will permit one unguarded blow with my axe. Hard as ya like, wherever you want. In one year's time, you permit me to grant you a blow with the same weapon. Anyone who accepts this challenge will have my axe." Though it was a beautiful weapon, shimmering with jewels laid into the metal, no one rose to take the challenge. The green knight grew impatient, staring at the members of the table.
"Ugh. Bunch of cowards. You're telling me that not one member of King Arthur's famous round table is up for it? I never thought I'd see such a sorry bunch." He goaded them, trying to get someone to react with outrage, and, of course, someone did. Arthur stood, and moved toward the knight, but Gawain stopped him.
"Wait, my liege...it is not fitting to have you perform such a task. I'm young and inexperienced. If I take this knight's challenge and fail, it shall merely be seen as the failings of a boy. There's no worry to tarnish the honor of this kingdom if you but let me take his challenge." Arthur thought for a moment, then agreed, sitting back down. Gawain walked to the knight, accepting the axe from him. He could barely keep it steady with its tremendous weight. The blade itself seemed to weigh more than he did! The green knight took to his knees, and bent forward, exposing his neck.
"Go on, then. Strike." Gawain knew this was meant to be a game, and he knew that if he struck him in such a way, the game would be over, without having to take a blow in a year. The green knight, slain, would be unable to return the attack, and this beautiful axe would be his. At least, that's what Gawain would have known, but his temper was beginning to boil at the sting of the insults towards his new homeland's honor. He lifted the axe, and cleaved clear through the green knight's neck. Blood spewed from the wound, and a head rolled along the floor. No one seemed quite outraged or shocked. Rather, many resumed eating, until the body stood, and retrieved it's head, holding it in front of Gawain.
"You've got some strength there, kiddo. Alright. One year's time. I brought the axe to you to take my hit, you bring it back to me to take yours. I am known as the knight of the green chapel. If you ask around, you'll figure out how to get there." He saddled his horse, accidentally dropping his head in the process. Befuddled, bamboozled, flabbergasted, and otherwise confused, Gawain could only think to hand the knight his head. "Thanks, kid." With that, he left, riding out of the castle. After some moments of silence, the banquet resumed, but the events to transpire in one year's time weighed heavy on the minds of Gawain and his King.
Christmas came and went, and the months dragged on, as Gawain stayed at king Arthur's side. In early November, however, he knew he could hold it off no more. Asking his king's permission, Gawain took his armor, his shield, his blade, and his horse, and tied the axe to the mighty steed, knowing the animal could more than carry its weight. He looked back fondly at the castle, for he knew that he may never again return to this place. Leaving, he sighed, and resolved himself to his duty, to take a blow in measure for the one he took last year. He was a knight. Duty and Honor were the whole of his life. But how long could such idealistic notions of a young man remain untouched?
Short, yes, I know. I'll make up for that by putting the whole journey, tests, and final meeting in the next one of these legend rewrites. By the by, does anyone think I should've given the sonic characters donkeys? They don't look like their bodies are well matched to ride on horseback. Also, I mentioned in the story that he's king Lot's son? I'm not gonna touch on that in the rest of the writing. At all. MAYBE in another book IF I EVER do another book of Camelot for sonic and the black knight. I just think it would get tangled up with the story and make people expect something or look for something that wasn't going to happen, and then they'd yell at me about it, stuff like that. Similar to the reason for my not wanting to touch on Lancelot being Galahad's father.
« First « Prev Ch 5 of 13 Next »
Review
Jump:Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13
Share: Email . Facebook . Twitter
Story: Follow FavoriteAuthor: Follow FavoriteContrast: Dark . Light
Font: Small . Medium . Large . XL
Twitter . Help . Sign Up . Cookies . Privacy . Terms of Serv
YOU ARE READING
The Kingdom of Camelot
General FictionPost Black Knight, Sonic finds he can't return home, at least not yet. Stuck in this world, he must take his rightful place in it, along side the knights of the round table.
