Griffins Can Leave Their Mark.... (Lancelot)

[dannygaius]

Gaius paced back and forth anxiously. He didn’t approve at all of what Merlin had done…yet again! The lad had got himself into trouble once more; almost killed himself in the process! Then again, what was new? Gaius shook his head, half laughing to himself, half screaming. Inside of course. He would never let emotions show themselves outside of his wise, serious mask. The healer brushed his robes of all dirt and then slumped down on a wooden chair, rather exhausted. The man spun himself round and anxiously got to work, making slow progress than usual. Regular and familiar herbs lay in front of him- those of which he knew their names off by heart- and he wound his leathery, worn fingers around them and started ripping them, chopping them up, sorting them. As he had done every night. Gaius ran a hand through his long, grey locks and then started again. Arranging plants and herbs into different containers, different bottles. It was hard work being the courts physician. He was constantly busy. Gaius had half a mind to ask for a day off once in a while, but that wasn’t the way he was taught. He was taught to be respectful, loyal. Taught to not ask questions. Of course, on numerous occasions he had questioned Uthers authority, and most of the time he did his best to speak his mind. But often, his opinion was cast aside. Especially by Merlin. All that boy did was get whisked into trouble all the time. He meant good, of course he did. But Gaius was usually cleaning up mess in the boy’s path.

Gaius sighed and picked up the bottles. He shoved them into the worn out old cupboards that reminded him so much of himself. Worn out. Exhausted. Not all the time he was like this. Just mainly when the day ended… when all he wanted to do was rest. The old man looked out of the window, his blue eyes glistening. Wise eyes they were. Full of kindness and hope. He thought now, as he did often. Wallowing in thought, searching the hole that his mind was. He had never forgotten the important things. The powerful memories. Not if he searched his head long enough. Again he thought rather angrily of the events the previous afternoon. Lancelot, the man Merlin had helped to become a Knight (god knows how), and how he had killed the griffin. Gaius sniffed thoughtfully. Lancelot must have either been very, very strong, or he had help from Merlin. Maybe both. Who knew? No doubt Lancelot had a couple of nasty wounds from the encounter though. Gaius was surprised the knight hadn’t already paid him a visit….but of course, he must be talking to the King Uther about the killing of the griffin. Or maybe that hadn’t happened yet… it was also possible he had been treated by Guinevère. But then again, these were just theories. To be lost in the morning. Forgotten. For it was only the important things he remembered. Gaius picked himself up, and slammed the open windows shut. He lit the fire and then walked to the front door, about to close his “hospital” for the night…





Time: Just after Lancelot's encounter with the griffin. Night time.
Word count: 542
Tag: Lancelot
Notes: Woooo, more healing for Gaius

[Deleted]

Lancelot moved through the entry/exit to the Great Hall, shaking his head, about all that had happened, and everything he had just said. He had always wanted to be a knight, and in particular, a Knight of Camelot. Just a month ago, as a nomadic soldier, a knight in all but title, he could not have imagined the last day and a half. It had started off with final test to become a Knight, by fighting Prince Arthur. If he was still standing by the time the hourglass ran out …. if he survived …. then he would be a Knight. He had thought that he had done a pretty good job …. with the exception of two mistakes, and that would generally been two too many with the Prince he knew. He had decided that defense was not the best offense against Arthur. He had aggressively come after the Prince, which had surprised him, Lancelot thought. His first mistake had cause a wide swing that had sent him stumbling off-balance. However, now, looking back at it, Lancelot thought it was not costly because the Prince had been backing away. So, that one had not been costly. However, even with aggressive stance, late in the match, the Prince had apparently seen a hole in his defense, but not one to use his blade on, but one that he used the hilt on Lancelot’s chin, decking him. Lancelot had figured his only chance was to play dead and try to take the Prince by surprise. The key would be timing. Fortunately he had chosen the right moment and he quickly had Arthur in a position where he could only yield, after being knocked off his feet

The events after that had moved like a blur. In the evening he had been the only new Knight to be knighted by King Uther. He almost thought that his deception of being the 5th son of Elred was found out, but the King didn’t seem to be suspicious. Should he not have allowed Merlin to convince him of the deception? No …. without it he would have never had a chance to be selected as a Knight. The celebrations had seemed to go well, and he was caught completely off-guard when he was arrested and taken before Uther and Arthur in the morning. He had seen that there was no reason to hold back the truth at that time, and Uther had wasted little time in tripping of his Knighthood, and dispatching him to the dungeons, who knew for how long. He could not fail to notice that Arthur could both even look at him. He knew Merlin would come to see him, and try to apologize. Lancelot, though, knew that it was his own responsibility and told Merlin so. That was not a surprise to Lancelot, but Arthur’s visit and his act to let him out of the dungeons. Perhaps, momentarily, Lancelot thought, that the king had changed hi mind, and that he was to be permitted to go out with the Knights in search of the Gryphon. Alas, that was not the case. Arthur was releasing him on his own and he was telling him to leave the kingdom forever. Of course, Lancelot could not do that. He went to Gwen for weapons and armor, and he had retrieved his horse from the stables. Apparently, Gwen had run to tell Merlin, since before he could ride out after the Knights, Merlin had come and refused to let him go unless he came along.

They had ridden out, and found where the magical creature had met and decimated many of the Knights, with Arthur laying unconscious on the ground, apparently just minutes before. Hearing the beast once again approach the very spot where it had previously attacked the Knights, Lancelot readied himself with his lance and charged. As he charged past where Merlin stood he heard some strange words, almost sounding like an unintelligible chant from his young friend. Within moments the lance felt and looked different than it had before, and when Lancelot struck the winged beast in flight toward him, it did a somersault over him, landing on the ground dead. Lancelot had no more than felled the beast, stopped his horse, and turned around, that Arthur, now conscious, stood up and saw the dead Gryphon, and exclaimed, “Lancelot …. you did it …. you killed it Lancelot!” All he could do was smile and nod his head toward the Prince, knowing now that, somehow, Merlin had enchanted the lance, and that had allowed him to kill it. Lancelot accompanied Arthur back to the Great Hall at the castle, where initially Uther was happy with the news, but not happy that Lancelot was no longer in the dungeons. That he had killed the enchanted creature was secondary. The king ordered Lancelot out of the room, where Merlin joined him. They could hear the arguments on the inside, the Prince asking for Lancelot to be reinstated, Uther refusing. Before the argument became any more heated, Lancelot felt that he had to act, and speak, which he did.

He had entered the Great Hall, asked for permission to speak, which Uther granted. “Forgive me Sire. I’ve come to be you farewell,” he began. “What is this, Lancelot?,” responded Arthur. “I lied to you both and now there is conflict between you. I cannot bear that burden, as you should not bear mine. I must start again, far from here. Then, maybe one day, fate will grant me another chance to prove myself a worthy Knight of Camelot,” explained Lancelot. “But Lancelot, you’ve already proved that to us,” objected Prince Arthur. “Then I must prove it to myself,” said Lancelot, as he bowed slightly, in deference to them both. “Your Highness …. Prince Arthur,” he said, as he straightened up, backed away, and turned to walk between the guards at the room entrance. Lancelot did not find Merlin in the corridor, where he had left him, and sighed. His re-living of the past day’s events concluded, he decided that it was likely that Merlin had headed back to Gaius’s rooms, the Court Physician. He knew he had some good-byes to give, and he wanted to leave quickly. Lancelot was afraid that the Prince might recover from the shock of his leaving announcement, and try to track him down to change his mind. Lancelot had his doubts about whether he could or would refuse a direct request from Arthur. It was a quick walk across the castle to Gaius. He wondered, silently, how much Gaius knew of Merlin’s magic and their recent adventure.

Lancelot walked up to the door of the Court Physician. Since this was where he had stayed during his short time in Camelot he was well acquainted with the interior. What few personal effects he had brought with him were back in Merlin’s room, and he had to come back to retrieve them, whether there was anyone there to say good-bye to. He thought, though, unless Gaius was out delivering medicine to someone, it was likely that he was hard at work preparing some type of potion or medication for someone. Lancelot had never really thought about it before, but in his position as Court Physician. Gaius was probably aware of the fine line between medicine and magic, just in the preparation of potions themselves. In fact, as he stood by the door he could here someone walking back and forth on the other side. Was it a sign of nervousness about something, Lancelot wondered, thinking it was most likely Gaius. But then, the pacing stopped, and he heard what sounded like a chair scraping the floor as it was scooted. Just as Lancelot began to knock ….. he heard the latch move ……

*much borrowed from the Series 1, episode 5, Lancelot*