The Knight Behind the Pillar (22 page)

             
So I had heard right last night much to my disappointment as we appropriately arrived back at the start of our short journey.  Back at the hayloft my home, but just not mine right now.  I guess there were the fort stables again, that was if they were not now full.  Otherwise I would have to find a suitable cold slab or maybe dry dirt floor someplace.  Fittingly as a punishment for my lack of resolve, it will be an experience of the future to come once my rent for Clegis’ dry hayloft runs out.

             
“And where am I going to go tonight?  One night I was lucky to find somewhere and got some sleep, but another?” I complained out loud disappointingly and followed it by a frustrated exhale of breathe.

             
“Ah well,” Clegis stammered, “I’m sorry my boy, but I have others in my home as well.  And I couldn’t say no, you know,” and adding in a whisper which was unusual and pulling me closer said, “They’re very high nobility, not the likes to say no to, you know.”

             
I did know and understood he did not have a choice.  If they were paying rather than just taking the room it was a surprising and rare occasion and in either case it was in Clegis’ best interest to shut up and be gracious.  I still wanted to answer back and tell him I was a noble too.  Once I out ranked any lord, baron and the others and they would move out of my way and need to seek my approval. Instead my resolve had rallied its full strength finally and I said nothing.  Clegis would remain no wiser to my heritage.  To him I was just a son of a low ranking vessel knight somewhere in Northumberland or however he might pronounce it when drunk.  Being a squire should in his eyes still make me a noble, but it was so low ranking and with so many other squires around the place thanks to Aries’s cheap labour approach it made little difference to anyone. 

             
I just nodded with a soft agreeing smile.  “I suppose I had better start looking for a bed then.”

             
Clegis took his opportunity to escape.  “Oh yes, and I had better go too, lots to do, lots to do.” He said hurrying away as quick as a flash. 

             
“Bye Clegis.” I added slightly depressed as we parted company and I let me go to search for another opportunity.

             
After hiding my remaining coin and treasured items I switched my rages to the linen shirt and threw the tunic over the top.  I allowed myself a moment to feel good about it before needing to think where to go next.  The day was almost over and darkness had descended.  Around me torch lights were beginning to be lit and shadows returned to play against familiar places.  People returned from their trades, some nodded greetings to me and I returned the same having know most of them for years, but could bring myself to ask any for a room for the night.  The smells of cooking crept around the sides of the huts and I still had no place to go. 

             
Less than an hour later I could not help thinking that Arthur looked completely and utterly lost and alone in the vastness of the chapel.  He stood before the three stone steps leading up to the front altar and chancel beyond.  The alter was nothing more than a plain table with candles lit either side of a carved wooden cross that had been placed centrally.  On this occasion the table also had on it the old sword from the rocks and a unadorned painted white shield from someone.  Arthur wore a white vesture and I knew this was to symbolise purity and with it he wore black hose and shoes, but all these clothes appeared too large on him.  Lying discarded on the steps leading up to the altar was a red robe which symbolised nobility and would be later be placed around Arthur’s shoulders in the ceremony to come.

             
I knew the traditions of knighthood, all the rituals as I aspired to become one and was why I could bear to be in Caerleon.  A small twinge of jealousy hit me as I stared and thought of the honour soon to be bestowed upon Arthur.  Quickly I remembered the reality of his other larger problems and reminded myself that perhaps it would not be the same situation I would want to be in myself.  Yet I still wondered.  Knighted and then to be made high king in one day was a lot to take on, he must be cursing that rusted blade rather than praying towards it.

             
              Moments before and as my own lodgings remained unavailable I had wandered the grounds of the fort without any intended direction.  Then I concluded that Arthur’s plight had cost me a bed for at least another night.  Not his fault directly I knew, but I needed to blame someone and it might as well be him.  He owed me a room I decided, somewhere warmer than sleeping on the grass outside or on the damp or otherwise just cold stones floor of the fort.  It was why I was now here, not because he could get me a room I knew, but I had nowhere else to go and I was still wide awake.  My mind was full of the day’s events, especially concerning our earlier fight and the conversation in the river that was still raw. 

             
              I stood by a side door to the vast building just across from the altar and found that Arthur had yet to notice me.  The actual main doors were central to the beginning of the long aisle.  On opening these doors you would have a clear view through the building up to the steps of the altar at the end of the aisle.  Rows of highly decorated highly unusual wooden pews were positioned each side, but they were not wide enough to reach the side walls where there was another wide space around the edges of the room.

             
Caerleon was not a wealthy area.  The run down armour of its guards was enough to tell you of its importance and place in the world.   However, unlike many other villages and towns, those in charge did know what was important to spend what little money there was on.  This meant investing in building solid walls for defence and a good chapel.  Just in case the walls fell, you had at least ensured you had a good funeral and any god in the afterlife would be pleased by your judgments.  The chapel was in fact far larger than it had ever been needed to be, at least until now.  Pews, the bracing and to the tie beams holding the building together every exposed timber was carved or painted in decoration.  It was a grand building and statement to someone long forgotten and who I wondered had thought of his own legacy rather than who you were there to worship.

             
              My disparagements on life pushed aside once again I decided to finally draw attention to my presence and falsely coughed. 

             
Arthur spun around in surprise.  “What the, Tor you’re not supposed to be here.” He exclaimed anxiously, looking alert for anyone else. 

             
“And you’re supposed to be praying.” I stated lightly.

             
“I was!” countered Arthur sharply, his defences went up quickly and I first feared for a moment we had not settled our differences from earlier, but then he relented.  “Mostly, but it’s a bit hard after a few hours if I’m honest.  I keep thinking about tomorrow, my father, my brother, Merlin and the sword, everything, it’s all fighting against each other in my head.  It’s difficult to concentrate on anything else”

             
He was understandably worried and dreading the day ahead, caught up in a wind of change and blown off his feet by it.  I approached Arthur, my broad smile once again in place to help change the subject. 

             
“I thought you might want the company, and I also thought there might be a chance for better bed somewhere in here than outside.”

             
Both of us spoke in half whispers to avoid the echoes of the chapel capturing our voices. 

             
“Yours still being let out to others?” Arthur questioned and I nodded.  “It’s up to you.  Can’t see anywhere where you might get some sleep mind you.  And it’s your risk if you get caught, you’ll be in serious trouble then.”

             
He did not sound overly welcoming, then again he had other concerns and perhaps he was panicking under his stern face. 

             
“Ah, but there lies the answer. If.” I said and I looked down to the ceremonial robe near his feet.  “Besides you have already provided a blanket for my trouble.”

             
“But you can’t have that!” Arthur half cried out, shaking his head as his voice gained a sudden sense of alarm.

             
“Why not, you have praying to do so won’t miss it; anyways I doubt you can move now to stop me in those clothes.” I joked calmly.

             
Arthur unexpectedly relaxed with a roll of his eyes and surrendering sigh, my quest completed I thought, I would not need to bait him further.  His tensions appeared to lift for a moment from his shoulders and as a breakthrough I got a rare smile for a second.  “You’re right I look, well I am not short, but these make me look small like a child,” Stated Arthur shaking his arms to show just how long the arms of the vesture were beyond his hands before rolling them back again. 

             
“No just stupid.” I mocked.

             
“Thanks, thanks a lot.  You’d think they would be able to find some the right size somewhere.”

             
“Especially for a future king!” I added.  “Are you going to get something that fits for your coronation tomorrow or is that it?”

             
Arthur pulled a face that almost appeared to represent sudden pain and he screwed up his freckled face.  “Please let’s not mention that now, just not right now.” He said, attempting to stay light-hearted, but the underlying tone of fear was clear.

             
“What being king or did you have something else planned tomorrow?” I asked, admittedly I was now being a little irritating.    

             
“Shut up, it’s no joke.” Arthur said plainly and yet had a go back.  “I see you’ve changed clothes as well!  Just for me are they?”

             
I grinned.  “Our training earlier was the end of my clothes,” I explained, “And had to buy something or....”

             
I cut myself short as a scraping noise of a door beginning to open echoed across the room.  It was one of the two solid main oak doors that were the entrance to the chapel.  Immediately without thought I dived down to hide in front of the first set of pews on the right while Arthur had quickly turned back around to face the altar and appear again as if in pray.  Maybe guards checking on the noise, but I had not seen any outside as tonight for once they had closed down the fort and its gate.  Perhaps a precaution in case a future king decided to roam again.    While the effectiveness of the guards checking people coming in and out of the main gate was doubtful, there would be no real point guarding the chapel itself as well. 

             
Soft footsteps entered the room and my ears quickly worked out their direction of travel, towards me and Arthur as they proceeded down the central aisle.  Reassessing my hiding place I scrambled as quietly as haste would allow along the front of the pew and away from the central aisle.  I was careful to ensure I made no sound and I keep my head low.

             
On reaching the end of the pew I darted around it, but not before fleetingly glancing back and seeing Arthur turning to face the figure.  This person still out of sight from my position was approaching the future king!  My mind raced, should I not be challenging this stranger as they might be a threat?  Paralysed with indecision I sat with my back against the side of the pew, its carvings rough and not ideal to serve as a backrest.

             
Suddenly I heard Arthur speak causing me to freeze in concentration on each word he said. “Hmm, who are, I mean to say, err,” Arthur’s nervous stuttering broke my frozen state  to allow me to roll my eyes in disappointment.  How was he going to be a future king when sometimes he found it so difficult to string a sentence together!  Arthur’s next words having gained a little authority stunned me further, “I mean my lady, err, you are, with respect of course I mean, not suppose to be here?”  He questioned meekly.

             
The stranger was a she and maybe this explained Arthur’s initial nerves and lack of command.  I had to chance a look and I could not resist any longer.  Rolling over and peering out from the front of the pew I found I could only see Arthur standing there.  Arthur’s face was a mix of confusion, uncertainly and anxiety and I could not work out which was wining.  The woman must be standing between the front pews I worked out.  I withdrew and slowly crept up the pew end past some odd carvings of fabled creatures to chance a glimpse of her from across the top of the seat. 

             
“My lord,” Spoke the slow gentle voice of the stranger, “You mustn’t speak; it’s not the tradition.”

             
And she stepped forward towards the bewildered Arthur seemingly smaller still in the oversized clothes. 

             
“But…” Arthur began to protest, but fell silence to woman’s simple action of putting her fingers to her mouth something I could now just see as I reached the top of the pew and spied through a hole in the timber.

             
The woman had reached Arthur and I had a view of mostly her long dark hair that melted into the long dark green cloak that disguised her figure.  I could only see her top half and just the side.  A partial view of the outline of her face provided me with impression of a slender appearance and in my estimation very attractive figure.  As I watched she drew herself close to Arthur who by this point had pulled himself back as far as he could without actually taking a step back or falling over.