EPISODE 56

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ARTHUR : 

Lancelot, please.
Have you nothing to say about your absence? Is that what you want?

You won't even look at me.

Lancelot.

Must we do this the hard way?

LANCELOT : 

I’m an errant knight, Arthur.

I belong to no court.

ARTHUR : 

You’re part of the Round Table.

You wore our plate to meet us on Mount Tombe, didn’t you? 

LANCELOT : 

…

My usual suit of armor needed repairs. 

ARTHUR : 

…I’m trying to understand, that's all.

Lancelot…

I miss my dearest friend, you know? 

LANCELOT : 

…So do I.

But

I’m afraid

that you’re no longer that person, Arthur. 

ARTHUR : 

So you're still mad at me for⎯

LANCELOT : 

You’ve grown soft. 

Any kingdom that defies you should dread the very idea of ever doing so again.

You even let Mark keep his throne, and kissed Tintagel goodbye in the same breath. 

You’re too afraid of political consequences.
[ map : tintagel castle ]

ARTHUR : 

What I'm afraid of is war, Lancelot.

The rebellions are behind us, and I can't spend my time looking over my shoulder in fear there will be another.

Choosing a peaceful solution in order to move forward isn’t the same as being too soft.

LANCELOT : 

And yet it has stopped you from getting rid of the few bad apples rotting through the whole basket. 

ARTHUR :

 …

Are you saying this in good faith,

or are you trying to make the revenge you took into your own hands legitimate?

LANCELOT : 

The justice I took into my own hands,
and that you failed to grant me. 

ARTHUR : 

…To dredge this up again after all these years….

Is that truly why you're angry with me? 

LANCELOT : 

…It matters not. 

ARTHUR : 

Should I take this to mean nothing will make you come back for good? 

LANCELOT : 

Who knows. 

Isn’t it your role to be full with hope for the future,  king of kings?

[ lancelot leaves. arthur sighs. ]

PERCIVAL : 

Shouldn’t you be resting, my lord?

ARTHUR : 

O-oh, Percival…

You startled me.

PERCIVAL : 

We used Excalibur’s scabbard… 

Sir Kay told me it would affect you.

ARTHUR : 

…It’s true, I feel a bit feverish. Perhaps I should go to bed.

PERCIVAL : 

…My lord⎯

ARTHUR : 

It would be best 

if you did not let it slip in any shape or form that you were witness to a private conversation. 

[ congrats you got son boy stimming again ]

PERCIVAL : 

I…

I'm worried about Mordred, you know. 

He feels so awful…

So insignificant in your eyes… 

It's because he’s a traitor’s child, isn’t it? 

Nothing good can come of that much resentment. You should cherish him. He’s your family,

and yet he feels like he’s not living up to your expectations, so…

If the rebellions are all behind us, why are you so cold to him? 

ARTHUR : 

Mordred…

feels…?

…

It’s getting late, Percival. 

Go back to bed.

And stop eavesdropping. 

PERCIVAL : 

( I hope…

…he’ll think about this. )

?? : 

My queen… 

I fear that you may be in grave danger.

GUINEVERE : 

Have you come to warn me of an unfortunate fate?

?? : 

You could say that.

The one I have in store for you! 

MORGAN : 

…Well, well.

You were in quite a hurry to attack the queen without so much as introducing yourself,

only to use such a paltry spell.

Stand back, sirs.

You’re all but useless here,

as per usual. 

GUINEVERE : 

You’ve got some nerve, I’ll give you that. 

AGLOVALE : 

My queen⎯

GUINEVERE : 

Quiet.

I’m surprised a mage would resent Arthur this much.

?? : 

What makes you think it's Arthur I'm after? 

GUINEVERE : 

Oh, please.

Do you believe yourself to be the first to ever try to hurt me to get to my husband? 

I am not afraid of you.

Introduce yourself, state what grievance you have against Arthur, and let’s get this over with. 

?? : 

I am the daughter of Malduc, the late mage of Kielder Forest, in Nohaut. 

My name matters not.

It died along with the rest of my family

by Lancelot’s hand,

on Arthur’s orders…

All for you, Guinevere. 

I’ve come for retribution. 

GUINEVERE : 

…I see.

Do you think you have what it takes to go up against my knights?

MAGE : 

…All you had to do was ask, my queen.

BRUNOR : 

What⎯

MORGAN : 

Mordred!

Get the queen to safety! 

GUINEVERE : 

But Morgan⎯

MORGAN : 

To the workshop!

MORDRED : 

Forgive me, your Majesty! 

MAGE : 

After her! 

Kill them all if you must! 

ROUND TABLE TRIVIA

Even if a knight is sworn to a king’s service, circumstances can lead them to become an errant knight.

LANCELOT : 

The monarch may die, or the knight may bring dishonor upon themselves and choose to break their bond rather than compromise their liege's honor. ( There are many reasons these things can happen. )

It can happen to any knight, but it’s not a permanent state.

The knight then loses their bond to their liege, and every quest they take on is of their own free will.

Some knights see it as an opportunity to travel without the constraints of a royal court…

BREUSE : 

Reputation matters a lot when it comes to finding a new liege.

…but their daily life can lead them down the road to wandering and mercenary work. 

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