You are what your heart says you are (Lancelot)

[cole]

Timeline: During S.1 episode 5 :Lancelot
TOD: Early morning (throught the day )
Tag(s): Lancelot

Cole walked onto the training field that morning to watch the final challenges. And to say the least he was quite disappointed. He was hoping for a more entertaining match. He wanted someone else to whoop the prince in his best field. He does it on occasion but that is only when they are just messing around. While he was good Arthur was slightly better. then men that had come to be knights had the look down pat, some the attitudes needed a little work seeing as they were stiff as boards but that would be easy to remedy. But their skills were mediocer at best. And that was being polite; if Cole had his way they would not eve nbe able to set foot in the challenge unless they could truly prove that their skills were note worthy or even better than Arthur's (which was a fairly hard thing to do seeing as he has been trained since birth for combat of all sorts). During the fight Cole looked over at Merlin and Gwen with curious eyes. They had a new commer with them; a noble man's son from the looks of it. Cole watched as the two conversed and when Arthur walked away Cole approached the man.

"Hello there friend." He stated with a smile as he walked up, he was wearing his casual clothes that consisted of a white shirt under a tan vest with his brown pants and boots, the man was a curious one at that he seemed to not know what to do with himself when he had handed over what looked like his credentials. "I havent met you before. I am Sir Cole Barrera. Who might you be?" Cole stuck out his hand with a casualness that wasnt often found within the knights. The man looked timid but confident at the same time like he wasnt sure if he truly belonged there. But Cole could be wrong in his thinking and obviously it was just his own mind making up assumtions as most usually do when meeting someone. He nodded towards Gwen and Merlin the same smile still on his face as he waited for the man to tell him who he was.

[Deleted]

Young Lancelot Du Lac did not know what to make of the last 24 hours. First, he had run across a young man in the woods of Balor, and had defended him from a strange creature, probably one of magic. He had not killed it, but at least he had prevented the young Merlin from being killed. In running off the the creature had given him a slight wound with one of its talons. He and the boy had dived behind a fallen log as the creature flew away. The last thing he remembered was them introducing each other, and Merlin thanking him for saving his life. the next thing that he knew he had awoken in the Court Physician's office, recovering from his wounds. It had not taken long for he and Merlin to get into a discussion about what Lancelot's goals were.

He told him that his dream was to serve alongside the great Prince Arthur as a Knight of Camelot. What he had not told Merlin,.or ever would, he thought, was that he had received training and been a knight elsewhere. Being a Knight of Camelot, though, was his life's ambition. Then, just as soon as Merlin had come back from speaking with the Prince about him, and Lancelot could not believe that he knew the Prince, especially well enough to talk to him, Gaius, the Court Physician, delivered the bad news, that only nobles could become knights, because of some blasted code. But he was already a knight, and he was from a noble line. It was a French one, and not English, and he knew that was enough to disqualify him.

He thought he had taken it like a man, though, and he was preparing to head back to Wessex, his personal mission incomplete, and then Merlin came back with this seal of nobility. The fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria .... who was going to believe that? It did not seem to fit with the principles of a knight. But Merlin had convinced him in the end, that he would still have to prove himself, and had sent him to meet with Gwen, the blacksmiths daughter, to be measured and fitted for the proper noble and knightly attire. He had just put it on for the first time before they made their way to the training field. When he was being fitted, Merlin had explained that he was Prince Arthur's manservant, which educated Lancelot about how he knew the Prince so well.

Lancelot remained nervous, even as he waited for his moment before the Prince, as he presented himself. Would the Prince see through their falsehood. Lancelot found that even the presentation of his seal was a challenge from the Prince. Handing over his seal he introduced himself, "Lancelot, 5th son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria." Prince Arthur has then sucker-punched Lancelot when he least expected it, telling him his reflexes were rubbish and that he would have been dead on the battlefield ..... to come back when he was ready. "Sire, I am ready." As Arthur directed him to start by cleaning out the stables, and seeing the thumbs-up from Merlin, he also saw a knight approach him from across the training field, as many had left it for the day. He seemed to have a curious expression on his face as he approached.

"Hello," he responded, always suspicious by anyone he did not now calling him 'friend'. It was obvious, by his presence here, that he was either a trainee seeking knighthood, or already a Knight of Camelot. He found his ready smile a comforting, and non-threatening one, so he returned it in kind. He was not outfitted in the standard attire of one of the Knights, he thought, but he also had understood, long ago, that appearances could be deceiving. However, his cool confidence seemed to indicate someone beyond trainee status. Lancelot hoped that his nervousness was not too obvious, but he imagined that it might be visible, no matter how cool he tried to be. At least he did go through the expected courtesy of introducing himself, and Lancelot responded.

Smiling slightly, he found his assumption about him being a knight to be accurate. "Sir Cole, it is indeed an honor and a pleasure to meet you .... sir. I am S ....... Lancelot ..... 5th Son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria," he remembered to add at the last moment, at least partly due to the surprise introduction. He barely avoided making a reference to the knighthood he had earned in Wessex. "By all appearances I may be the newest trainee." He most willingly took the proffered hand and shook it, not knowing if the smile was indeed genuine, or if this knight were looking for something from. As Cole glanced at Gwen and Merlin, and nodded, Lancelot came to the conclusion that only time would tell.

[cole]

Cole's smile broadened and shook Lancelot's hand. He heard the little stutter and wondered what that was all about. It was like he didnt know who he was. "A pleasure to meet you Lancelot. Dont worry about the sire. He can see the potential that you have, he just wants to bring all of it to the fore front." Cole stated casually before glancing over at the waiting 'servants' they were an odd pair and while the whole thing seemed fishy he hoped that hid gut feeling wasnt right. "I see you've met our darling Gwen and Merlin. Quite the odd pair of friends dont you say?" He stated.

Cole was still curious about the man. He didnt seem like a noble man's son and he was sure that Lord Eldred of Northumbria didnt have a fifth son. But he kept that to himself, he could be an illegitamit child that only recently was accepted. Cole didnt really care. Camelot needed knights and from the way this man acted he would do well as one. He honestly saw some very good fighters on his travels and most of them were of the common folk. He understood why the king had it to where only nobles and the like could be knights of camelot but it was hard to come by men who portrayed the very essence of being a knight and didnt just want to join for the title alone. Cole waslucky that his father had been a knight of the king other wise he would not have had the chance to even participate in the final challenge himself. And he did think that their prince would do well to change the rules when he was king. But that was many years to come. Cole could only hope for that day.

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Lancelot, given the way that he had acquired his Seal of Nobility .... was not necessarily trusting of noble Knights of Camelot that he might run across. How had Merlin gotten something forged so good and so quickly, anyway? At any rate, the handshake and the smile did seem to be genuine enough, but Lancelot didn't know how much to trust any of the Knights .... yet. He wanted to, of course, but was it something he could afford to do. After all, he had just gained a spot as a Knight-in-training. How much should he be willing to risk, so soon. He decided he would be friendly, but still be as cautious as he could.

Camelot returned his smile and shook his hand vigorously as well. "A pleasure, as well, Sir Cole," he returned, barely catching himself from saying something he shouldn't, he thought to himself. "I'm afraid that's easier said than done. Are you sure that's what he see in me. He didn't seem all that impressed. He sure brought it to my forefront," Lancelot said, ruefully rubbing the spot on his chin where Prince Arthur had hit him with his gauntlet. Lancelot saw Sir Cole give Gwen and Merlin a strange look. He wondered exactly what he was thinking. "Yes .... well .. I did a favor for Merlin when I met him in the forest, and he then introduced me to Gwen. I would say she is quite the darling one. No.... I'm not sure I would go so far as to call them that, Sir Cole."

Lancelot could sense that, although their conversation had suddenly moved to Gwen and Merlin, he got the distinct impression that Sir Cole was analyzing him, giving him the once-over. He wondered, not for the first, exactly what the knight thought of him. It was as if Lancelot could actually feel, see and hear the gears grinding as the knight stood there, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Whatever, he was thinking, he was obviously deep in thought, since they stood there several seconds while Sir Cole was silent. "Is there some question that you had .... Sir?" Lancelot, for one, was hoping that Camelot's apparent need for knights, might outweigh any significant questions that might be raised about Lancelot's past.

[cole]

Cole raised a brow at the knight-in-training. He seemed to have an attraction to Gwen. Not that he could really blame him. She was a beautiful woman (not his type) but beautiful none the less. But Cole just shrugged it off, it was not uncommon despite what Gwen would say. She was still quite beautiful. Looking at the knight it still showed that he still doubted his skills.

"Yes I am quite sure that he can see what skills you do have." Cole said with a small laugh, and watched as the man rubbed his jaw. "But you must understand that he has been trained since birth to fight. Some of us dont start till later. Even I started a few years after Arthur and I'm older than him." Cole laughed roughly. Yes he remembered when he had been beaten by the younger male.

He had been training for several years but when Arthur a little pipsqueak at the time had challenged him he had been doubtful but he shrugged and accepted. They faught for hours and it was Arthur who knocked him to the ground and pinned him with a sword pointed at his throat. That had went on for several years both besting eachother on occasion. It was rather fun but Cole knew that Arthur would always be a better fighter but they were equals as knights. "Anyway Lancelot he does know you have talent he just wants to refine it a bit more than it already is. We all went through it...Call it an initiation of sorts."

Cole relaxed his stance and moved to cross his arms comfortably. "They would make a pair wouldnt they?" Cole asked before stating his next statment. "But they arent. More like close friends; dont take my word on it on no means its just an observation." Now Cole could be scatter brained at times and this was one of them. "How did you help Merlin in the forest?" Cole was genuinly curious as he remembered Merlin was out there getting mushrooms or something to that effect.

Lancelot had asked him if he had a question and Cole's smile dimmed a bit as his eyes gained a slight seriousness. "Yes I do actually, I thought that Lord Eldred only had four sons. Were you just recently recognized?" He let the question kind of trail off showing that he had some sort of suspicion. But before he could trule let the man answer he sort of changed the subject. "What do you think of allowing some common folk to fight? I know I've seen my fair share of fighters on my travels. Some of the best I've met weren't the nobles that usually make up the knights." Cole looked at the man and asked what he thought about it.

[Deleted]

Lancelot saw the strange expression on his face as they talked about Merlin and Gwen. Did this knight really think them to be an odd couple? Surely not. Lance knew that she was a commoner and they were supposed to be nobles …. He saw how Sir Cole was looking at her ….. he wasn’t interested in her too was he? Why else would he be looking at her like that?

Thankfully there conversation moved back to Prince Arthur. Maybe, Lancelot thought, he had misread something in the look that the knight had given Gwen. “Are you sure? He certainly did not seem to spend much time in doing any worthwhile analysis. Yes ….. I’ve heard stories of him for many years. Some of us were not trained from birth, but circumstances forced us to train as if we were going to have to be prepared to kill at a moment’s notice,” Lancelot said, uncharacteristically cold and detached. “I’m sure, Sir Cole, you are quite accomplished,” he said bowing slightly in deference.

Lancelot could see, by the look in the knight’s eyes that he was, at least temporarily, someplace else. Perhaps, he thought, he was thinking of a time when both he and the Prince were somewhat younger. Lancelot, on his own part, allowed his thoughts to take him across the many years of his own training. He had started, of course, in trying to teach himself swordcraft. Then his carpentry master had thought enough of him, and what he had been through, in the loss of his family to some private tutoring. After he had been tutored by the nobleman Le Fay, he started as a page, older than most, but still dreaming of some day being a Knight of Camelot, as he had eventually become in Wessex. Lancelot smiled at his last comments, as he came back into the present, “That’s good to know …. Although I’m unsure if I need to be initiated.”

Lancelot saw, as Cole began to talk about Gwen and Merlin, that the knight began to relax a bit, but only a small bit, he thought. “Yes …. although they already do make quite a pair …. of friends. I’ve already talked to young Merlin about it. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t interfere with any relationship they might have …. since they are both servants, and all. He indicated that they were just good friends, though. I would say that it was good and well-reasoned observation, sir knight.” Cole relaxed his stance and moved to cross his arms comfortably. "They would make a pair wouldn’t they?" The next question, Lancelot thought was a quite reasonable one, but wasn’t sure if he should answered it completely. However, he didn’t see a problem it.

“I was traveling toward Camelot, actually, taking a short-cut through the Forest of Balor. I saw a young man, Merlin, collecting what appeared to be mushrooms at some distance. Then, perhaps the strangest creature I’ve ever seem, with sharp talons and wings of a huge bird and the body of lion, as well as parts of other creatures charged him. Fortunately, Merlin ran directly towards me, and as he tripped and fell, fell at might feet and I was able to intercept the beast, and I defended him with my sword. However, the sword broke, probably meaning it was no ordinary creature, and I pulled Merlin up before we ran way. Before I could get up to speed one of the creature’s talons scratched me, deep enough to bleed, and probably poisoned me. We dove behind a log and the creature flew off, but I was in none to great of a shape. Merlin thanked me for saving my life and then I blacked out, waking up in the Court Physician’s chambers. And from there I came here,” he smiled. “I expect you find the tale a bit hard to believe, eh?”

Lancelot had asked Sir Cole if he had any more questions, so he might have expected a more difficult one to answer, but honestly, he didn’t see it coming. "Yes I do. Actually, I thought that Lord Eldred only had four sons. Were you just recently recognized?" Fortunately, the young knight moved on to another question. However, as Lancelot’s eyes narrowed slightly, he wondered whether they were related. Was Sir Cole implying that he was not a nobleman’s son and therefore, being a commoner, more likely to think that the knighthood be opened to others. He decided that he would have to be very careful with how he answered. He laughed, “That question has come up more than once. With so many of us boys, it is difficult to keep straight whether there are 4, 5, or even 6 of us. Fortunately, though, I am not of the naturally suspicious sort. In that case, when the question is asked I might think that my noble status is being question. Many duels of honor have been started over much less. Is that not so, Sir Cole? As to the other, I was always taught that we should let ability decide most questions. Here, though, it is clear that only nobles are eligible under King Uther’s code. So the question is moot here. But yes, I have met many able fighters who were not noble, and in many cases, the nobles were noble in name only,” he said with the slightest of knowing smiles.