The Green Knight

Chapter 13

Three days had passed since the liberation of Carthan City. In that time, the citizens had been fed, their hollow faces now showing signs of hope and recovery. Those with combat experience were given weapons and instructions to temporarily protect the city until official orders from Camelot brought an army to serve as the city's new guard. Despite the hardships they had endured under the rule of the Violent Duads and the Wolverine Battalion, the people of Carthan were resilient. They embraced their newfound freedom and the responsibilities that came with it.

Meanwhile, those citizens who chose to journey to Camelot with the two armies and the Seven Saints had prepared themselves for the long road ahead. The Lionguard, the Iron Eagles, and the Seven Saints were ready to march back to Camelot. Half of the Wolverine Battalion soldiers were imprisoned in Carthan City's dungeons, their fates sealed until Camelot decided their punishment. The other half, those deemed most dangerous, were kept in custody, shackled in chains and guarded closely as they prepared to march with the armies.

Sir Bedivere, standing tall at the head of the convoy, raised his hand to signal the start of their journey. With a powerful nod, he led the Lionguard, the Iron Eagles, the Seven Saints, and the willing citizens of Carthan City back towards Camelot. Despite the presence of prisoners, the mood among the soldiers and civilians was light. The horrors of battle seemed far behind them now, and as the convoy marched across Arthurian Isle, there was a shared sense of victory and camaraderie.

The soldiers of the Lionguard walked alongside the Iron Eagles, the men of the Iron Eagles especially jubilant, thrilled that Rowan had once again taken up his mantle as their captain. Even more, they were proud to now have two strong leaders in Rowan and Captain Eamon, a combination that gave them renewed confidence in their strength as a fighting force. As they walked, the Seven Saints found themselves in high spirits as well. The group shared in the casual conversation with the soldiers and citizens, their bond deepening with every mile they covered. Drake, ever the joker, walked beside Otis, teasing him about his preference for daggers over a "real" weapon like his brass knuckles.

Drake: *smirks* You ever gonna use something bigger than those toothpicks you carry around, Otis? I mean, come on, don't you ever want to just knock someone out instead of poking 'em?

Otis: Oh, you mean like you, who swings fists like a madman? *chuckles* No thanks, I'll stick with these things. It's not about how big the weapon is, it's about how you use it.

Natalie walked just ahead, overhearing their banter, shaking her head with a grin...

Natalie: Both of you, seriously? We're not even halfway to Camelot, and you're already arguing about your weapons. Just like last time... *giggles*

Meanwhile, Mr. Armstrong was regaling the soldiers with a wildly exaggerated tale from his younger days. His booming voice heard to those nearby as he recounted the time he fought two bears while drunk and somehow lived to tell the tale...

Mr. Armstrong: So there I was, drunk as a farmer, not a care in the world, when two massive bears wandered into my fishing camp. Now, any sane man would've run, but not me! No, I grabbed the closest thing I could find, turned out it was a fish, and I started swinging!

Eagle Soldier: *laughs* You fought two bears with a fish? Come on, sir, that has to be bullshit!

Mr. Armstrong: I swear on my life! One of 'em tried to claw my face, but I slipped on a patch of mud and ended up under the bear. It was mad, I say! But I survived. Woke up the next morning, covered in mud and bear fur, and both bears had run off!

Lionguard Soldier: *chuckles* That's the best story I've heard ever! You've gotta be the luckiest man alive, Mr. Armstrong.

Mr. Armstrong: Aye, luck's got nothing to do with it, lad! It's all about skill. And maybe a little bit of fish.