New Faces [Lancelot]

[mysery]

The celebration, though hastily put together, was elaborate. Perhaps not as refined and elaborate as the celebrations held by Camelot for political reasons to curry favour or for someone to pay respect to the kingdom, but impressive and jovial nonetheless. And why shouldn't it be, Morgana considered. They were welcoming a new addition to the Knights of Camelot, one that had, according her to very reliable sources, dropped the royal Prince Arthur on his royal backside in that one minute of combat he subjected all the new recruits to in order to assess their worthiness. Personally Morgana was annoyed she missed it, seeing Arthur getting knocked on his behind never got old, but she had resolved that she needed to meet the one that had done it. Even if it was only to thank him.

Regardless of that resolve, Morgana would be present at the celebration just as she had been for the knighting itself. Without a Queen, or even a Princess, Camelot had no first Lady to stand up at these occassions. Being Uther's ward meant Morgana was as close to either of those as the kingdom had, and, as such, it was her responsibility to fill that role until someone else came along to do so. No matter what skewed ideas Uther may harbor, she was never going to be that person. Uther was unlikely to remarry, so it was left to Arthur's Queen. She could never be that, nor would she want to be. Arthur was like a brother to her, they had been raised together. It would be....awkward to say the least and, knowing Arthur, they'd both rather live in the stocks than go through with that.

But until that time, it was her duty, and Morgana lifted the goblet in her hand to her lips as she surveyed the gathered crowd. She'd seen snatches of Arthur and Uther amongst the group every now and then, but neither of them was her target at the moment. The knight, Sir Lancelot, was her quarry.

Finally spotting him off to the side, Morgana took one last drink of the liquid before she put the goblet aside and weaved her way through the people to approach him. Lancelot was attractive, some of the knights were, but Morgana knew she intimidated a lot of the knights and they were frightened of her. She liked to think it was herself alone, but she wasn't a fool. The knowledge that anyone who messed with her would be thorougly dealt with by both the King and Prince meant the ones she didnt scare off generally ran for the hills at that obstacle. Bringing herself back to the present, she finally reached Camelot's newest knight.

"Congratulations are in order tonight Sir Lancelot," she said with a genuine smile. "Welcome to the Knights of Camelot."

--------------------

Setting: Camelot Castle - The Great Hall

Tag: Lancelot

Timeline: During the Celebration in 'Lancelot'

[/blockquote][/color][/blockquote]

[Deleted]

Lancelot ….. now Sir Lancelot …. still did not know what to think of the celebration and all of the attention. Lancelot had felt himself to be lucky to have caught Arthur with his guard down, knocking him down, and put him in a position where his only option was to yield. He did not reckon that the Prince was often put in that position. As he had lain there, Lancelot had heard the Prince’s voice, and it had seemed that he was actually disappointed that he had bested Lancelot, apparently. It almost had seemed that he wanted Lancelot to become one of the Knights. Things had progressed like a blur from there. His heart had been beating so strongly, he really remembered little f the knighting ceremony itself. The only rough patch had occurred after the Knighting, when Lancelot had been walking with the King.

King Uther had mentioned never knowing that Lord Eldred had had 5 sons …. he had only remembered there being 4. Lancelot had stumbled through a response and the King had told him to go and enjoy the celebrations. He had said that he had kept Lancelot from them for far too long. As Lancelot waded into the crowd, they seemed to be all well-wishers. He had hoped to see and thank Merlin for all of the help that he had given him, but he had not been able to pick him out in the throng or to separate too many from the uniforms of the Knights of Camelot. He found the entire process of thanking everyone for their congratulations to be a grueling and mentally taxing exercise. Finally, though, he had ended up sitting on a table, drinking a goblet of drink that prince Arthur had given him, who was sitting right next to him.

As they sat there, taking sips of their drinks the two young men looked out over the crowd, observing who they saw were coming and going. Suddenly he heard the Prince exclaim, “There’s trouble,” and Lancelot looked where apparently the Prince was looking and the saw the King’s Ward, the lady Morgana, and here maidservant Gwen, who Lancelot knew as the seamstress of his uniform , and the provider of some of his weaponry. “Tell me …. Do you find her beautiful?” At first, with Lancelot’s eyes on Gwen, he responded quickly, “Yes Sire, I do,” before realizing that the Prince was speaking about Lady Morgana. There was no doubt that the Lady Morgana was beautiful, Lancelot thought, but she was noble, and well out of his league. He had difficulty qualifying her beauty ….it was mysterious …. And alluring. It was definitely there.

Quickly, though, the Prince moved on to other subjects, finally introducing Sir Lancelot to the throng, and leading a toast to him, before the Prince himself moved on to talk and socialize with others in the Great Hall, leaving Lancelot alone at his table, drinking slowly from his goblet. He was alone with his thoughts, thinking on the comparisons between Gwen and the Lady Morgana that he had been making in his own thoughts, when he heard some words that were directed at him, bringing him back to the present. "Congratulations are in order tonight Sir Lancelot …. Welcome to the Knights of Camelot," he heard spoken by the Lady Morgana, who the crowd around Lancelot had parted for, and stood smiling before him …. Smiling in greeting for him! “umm …. Why thank you milady…. Lady Morgana …. You are most kind.” Lancelot bowed in deference to the King’s ward, taking her wrist, and kissing it lightly, as he understood protocol and good manners demanded, being slightly flushed in his dark-complected face as well.

(Please forgive any godmodding ..... quotes from others taken directly from episode in Series 1)

[mysery]

"Not at all," Morgana replied, her smile still in place as Sir Lancelot bowed and kissed her hand. The congratulations were far less than he deserved for his accomplishment. True, that while Arthur was a well trained swordsman, Morgana would never admit that out loud for fear of the Prince's head swelling up, he knew how to choose men befitting the title of knight. Sir Lancelot's choosing though, Morgana was even more intrigued by. Her smile widened a fraction as she spied the slightly darker shade Lancelot's skin had taken on. It was nice to see a man could still blush. Most of the other knights payed respect to her, as was expected of them, but she didn't miss the way some of them puffed up afterwards. Humility was a rather endearing trait.

"But I must ask Sir Lancelot," the Lady spoke, holding aside the goblet in her hand as a servant passed by to fill it. She glanced at the servant with a smile and a word of thanks before gesturing for the newest knights to be refilled also. "This celebration is for you and yet here you are on your own," Morgana continued. "Do not tell me that Prince Arthur is neglecting his newest knight, or I may have to go and have words with him." It was all in jest, yes. She had seen Arthur sitting and talking with Lancelot earlier in the evening and she knew Arthur would have at the very least congratulated the new knight on his achievement. Sipping from her goblet, Morgana claimed one of the seats beside Lancelot, and looked around before chuckling.

"Tell me. Is what I have heard true, Sir Lancelot? Did you indeed best Arthur in his trial?" she inquired, rather interested in the answer. After all, it wasn't every day a knight came along that had bested Arthur in his oh so important minute of combat. "I must say I was rather impressed to hear he had been knocked on his royal behind."

It had to happen though. Morgana herself had bested the Prince a few times, but of course Arthur protested that he merely let her win. Which was even more humiliating for him in her mind. That he had to say that only after he'd been beaten. An excuse if ever she had heard one.

--------------------

Setting: Camelot Castle - The Great Hall

Tag: Lancelot

Timeline: During the Celebration in 'Lancelot'

[/blockquote][/color][/blockquote]

[Deleted]

Had not Arthur said that the Lady Morgana was ‘trouble’ when she entered, but also asked whether Lancelot thought that she was beautiful. Of course, even though Lancelot’s eyes had been on Gwen, Morgana’s maidservant, he had to agree that she was one of the most beautiful women that he had ever seen, not that he had seen many in his short life. After all, this was his first experience with women in a royal court. And she was far above his class, but she was truly breathtaking and Lancelot had never been so nervous in his life, even when he had been facing Arthur in combat. He was afraid of both saying and doing the wrong thing, not knowing what was the correct. “Oh yes, milady, that is an uncommonly kind thing to say. I am so fortunate and honored to be here.” He saw her smile grow and he wondered what that meant.

Oh no, he thought to himself, a question. He had never been so nervous in all his memory. “Yes, Lady Morgana, what is it that you desire to know.” He hoped it was not anything about his fictitious family or its history that he would be forced to lie about. The long pause, as both her goblet and hers were re-filled was killing him, and he could see that she was enjoying every moment of his discomfort. Lancelot wondered if she put Arthur, and even the King through this. Lancelot’s opened quite wide at her question ….. “Oh no no no ….. the Prince has just left me to attend to the many other persons who should have his attention. I am only a Knight. There are many more people just as important, if not more so than myself, such as you. I would think that you should have his attention more than I, for instance,” Lancelot said, trying his best to be both diplomatic and complimentary. He noticed, though, that she did not take the opportunity to move one, but sat down next to him, and Lancelot could just feel the sweat begin to build, and she was chuckling about something to top it off.

“Is what true milady?” What could he say? He must say the truth, but he must not embarrass his Prince in the process. “The Prince is the greatest swordsman that I have ever faced. I have heard stories about his abilities before I even came here. In truth, he bested me. We were even for much of the contest. In fact, I was pressing and driving him back, but he spotted a weakness …. A hole in my defense …. And he hit me in the chin, driving me down. I saw that my only chance was to play dead and surprise him as he bent down to take my colors. It was then that I hooked his leg and drove him to the ground, and was able to bring him to yield. So, yes, I suppose it is true, but the whole story must be told. I would never want to disgrace or embarrass him. There is no man I respect more.” Lancelot smiled at her last statement. “I am glad that I managed to impress the beautiful Lady Morgana, and I hope that I never disappoint her or the Pendragons that I now serve."

[mysery]

Arthur had indeed chosen well in this Sir Lancelot, Morgana would concede. He was polite, like most of the knights, but he held none of that pompous sense of deserving she had witnessed in some of the others. It was a refreshing change, and a welcome one at that. She too knew of Lancelot's heritage, the fifth son of some Lord, perhaps she hadn't been paying as close attention as everyone thought, but being the youngest son clearly had some effect on him. Having Lancelot around court would be a very interesting endeavour. Especially if she was not wrong in her observations regarding her maidservant. "It is not an honour given lightly, Sir Lancelot, so do not fear feeling proud of yourself," Morgana replied.

Other persons who should have his attention. That quabbling band of men he spent time with? Morgana hoped not. She had barely spoken to him for five minutes and already she could tell Lancelot was of far better character than those men. Better company too if anyone asked her. "The Knights of Camelot are what keep us safe. If others cannot spare time to pay honour to those men, then they should be ashamed," Morgana said absently, shaking her head. No matter the posturing or arguing that took place in the court, when it all came down to it, their kingdoms were kept safe through the soldiers and knights who fought to do so. Men like Lancelot.

Arthur was still the Prince however, so Morgana wasn't surprised at the way Lancelot responded to her question. Even if he had bested Arthur in a more spectacular way, knights were expected to be humble and chivalrous. And not everybody was as forward as she herself was with Arthur.

"I am sure it happened as you say, but even the great and noble Prince Arthur must not grow overconfident and content," Morgana commented, her smile still in place. "It will do him well to occasionally be beaten in one way or another by those he has to teach and inspire. Keeps him sharp," she added with a cheeky grin, glancing over to where the subject of their conversation was talking with a Lord. It was both practical and cheeky of Morgana, she knew. If Arthur grew content and overconfident, he opened up weaknesses like the one he had exploited of Lancelot.

--------------------

Setting: Camelot Castle - The Great Hall

Tag: Lancelot

Timeline: During the Celebration in 'Lancelot'

[/blockquote][/color][/blockquote]

[Deleted]

Lancelot watched as the King's ward seemed to look him over closely. He figured once she had finished she would move on and concentrate on some more appealing members of the Court and Knights. He figured that she was naturally curious about this newest of Knights, and with her curiosity satisfied, would move on. He saw, though, that she seemed to smile at him, as they conversed. He wondered what it all meant, given that she had others who could be giving her the attention she deserved. Finally, she had spoken, and seemed to tell him that he should be proud of what he had just accomplished. "Yes, milady. I do understand that it is a great honour. I do not fear pride. However, I reserve it for those I serve, and try not to have the vice of being prideful."

Lancelot knew that he spoke more with his actions than with words. Unfortunately, he thought, most females, including Lady Morgana, probably valued men of fine words more, and Lancelot sighed. He had forgotten,though, about the nature of women,at Court, and how accomplished they were about shielding their true thoughts from others. Lady Morgana's thoughts were beyond his ability to penetrate, which he thought was not unusual. But still, he had no idea why she hadn't moved on to another noble. He saw her vision suddenly rest on a few of the Knights of Camelot,and he listened to her describe what was owed to the Knights. He found her words strong,but he could understand them. "Yes, much is owed to the Knights, and I hope that I never do anything to dishonour or disappoint. Hmmmm .... that is strong language .... indeed milady." He saw her shake her head and wondered how he could be thought as worthy as the other Knights of Camelot.

He had noticed how interested that she had been in how he had performed in his personal test against Arthur. He felt that he had to tell her exactly what had happened. It would be clear that Lancelot had bested Arthur in a fluke. But most of all he did not want to show Arthur, or anyone he now served any disrespect. He hoped that the Lady Morgana would respect that.

He listened carefully to Morgana's response to his story. He sensed that there was a lot of natural competition between Arthur and Morgana. It made sense, he thought. After all, they had grown up together. "Yes milady, you are right, he is a great and noble lord. Although I am now a Knight I expect I will be learning things from him for years to come. However," he smiled slyly, "I will do my best to keep him as alert as I can. They say you learn from defeat more than from victory. So I will try my best to make sure he keeps learning," he said with a blank face, but a wink as well. He saw her look over at the prince, and wondered what she had planned for the near future.