Chapter 011: Gawain
Kailar found the banquet innately boring. He sat on the edge of the indoor flower bed with a glass of juice in hand. He watched those nobles of elevated status laughing and gossiping amongst each other. He despised it so, despised their fakeness, their act. He despised it all.
Losing interest with the scene laid before him, Kailar turned his head and looked at the outside view.
“Are you the son of the Grand Duke, Andrea Ettorek?” A voice echoed in groups and blocked Kailar’s view, their posture seemingly arrogant.
“Hm?” Kailar looked up and saw groups of children a few centimeters shorter than him. He smiled softly, sipped a cup of the juice, and looked away. He’s not interested in petty conversations.
“You…”
Kailar thought nothing much of these second generations. He believed them to be the scum of society. After all, they’re unable to think for themselves and can only abide by the will of their parents and ancestors. Strip them bare of all their wealthy possessions, they had nothing.
Their presence irked him the longer they lingered and he was all the more ready to frighten them till heard a loud clamor.
“Oh, what do we have here.”
The bodies of the little children quivered, trembling even. They turned their head slightly and saw a boy with blonde hair rushing towards them at high speed.
“Sola, Lira, Moses, what are you doing?”
“Gawain, we’re not afraid of you! This is the royal court and I don’t believe you’d dare beat people around in such place.” They said disdainfully yet fear shone in their eyes.
They thought they’d finally gained the upper hand over the blonde youth but however, the blonde youth donned a foolish grin. “But his Majesty isn’t out yet. I wonder… what should I do with you all…”
The group of troublemakers felt a chill in their backs and quickly ran away.
The blonde youth scoffed and stuck out his chest proudly before facing Kailar. “Are you my cousin?” He prodded and repeatedly asked the question over and over.
“Who are you?” Kailar attempted to ignore this young lad but the struggle was futile. He sighed before looking up. He saw big eyes brimming with vibrancy and vigor.
“It’s really amazing…” The blonde youth sighed contentedly. Kailar tilted his head, his brows tightened. He’s not sure what this blondie was talking about. “Are you my cousin?” The blonde youth asked once more.
“Truth be told, I’m not sure. I don’t know who you are. Me being your cousin is unlikely to be true.” This blonde youth had the possibility of being the son of one of his aunts or uncles but he couldn’t be sure till he had the facts.
“Don’t be cold. Hey cousin, my name’s Gawain.” The blonde youth said excitedly.
“Gawain?” Kailar’s eyes flashed.
When he learned of Uther Pendragon, he thought of King Arthur. When he learned of King Arthur, he thought of the Knights of the Round Table. When he learned of the Knights of the Round Table, he thought of Lancelot and Gawain, King Arthur’s left and right arm. King Arthur trusted those two men dearly and they were the knights who shone brightly like a jewel amongst the knights. Their legends were told time after time. Under King Arthur’s leadership, it seemed like Camelot’s prosperity would last forever but to think it’d fall to ruins when Lancelot and Guinevere betrayed King Arthur. Lancelot’s love for the king’s wife set the motion for the fall of Camelot and ultimately, King Arthur’s death. While the threats of the Vikings and Romans loomed from the outside, Lancelot’s action spiraled the end of Camelot.
It’s a tragedy. Truly a tragic legend. Even the great King Arthur failed to move past the betrayal of a friend and wife who he trusted so dearly.
Kailar wholeheartedly believed if King Arthur had quick decisiveness and ability to move forward despite the hardships he faced, Camelot would cease to be a lamb robbed of their future. They’d not be robbed by savages—neither plundered by the Romans nor exploited by the Vikings.
Without the presence of their king, and they knew all too well the reason for his absence, they felt no such remorse for those who betrayed their king. Putting your back behind the king was simply an abandonment of their own nation. Who’d have sympathy for that kind of people?
Kailar suddenly grew interested in this blonde youth who claimed to be his cousin.
Gawain felt his cousin’s ice cold chilly gaze. He gulped and staggered backwards slightly but once gaining back a semblance of his composure, he returned to his usual bright and carefree self. He opened his mouth and took the initiative of starting a conversation. “Cousin, I heard you invented red wine?” H
“That’s right. Made from grapes. All wines are made from grapes.”
“Oh, that’s great! My old man loves red wine too much. He complains about it a lot since wine comes from our Roman enemies. He couldn’t resist the taste of wine and he felt like he’d betrayed his own people. But because of your invention, my old man can drink happily now.”
Kailar’s heart moved slightly. He hadn’t thought there’d still be people of his age who thinks of the well-being of others rather than their own self.
Soon after, the court sounded off. Serene music roamed the air. Many knew what this represented.
“It seems His Majesty is soon making his appearance. Come. Let’s go and take a look.” Gawain grinned foolheartedly and pulled his cousin to the front of the gathered crowds excitedly.
Groups of knights stepped foot out of the corridors. They walked together side by side in tandem and headed towards the middle of the court. Their footsteps thumped rhythmically.
Soon after, a majestic figure in grandeur clothing walked out. Sapphires engraved the golden crown and pure white marten cloak hugged his back. It was King Uther.
Kailar’s heartbeat thumped sporadically. This was the first he’d seen the so-called legend that King Uther. He imagined his appearance different for odd reasons but it seems reality is always different from the imagination. King Uther was a man nearing the old age. But regardless, though King Uther was old, his skin was well maintained and his facial hair groomed neatly. Add to the symbolic crown of royalty and supremacy, King Uther exuded a manly charm. He was a man of power and to the people, it is an enchanting thing.
Kailar looked around. His eyes landed on a familiar figure standing behind King Uther. His brows wrinkled and groaned softly.
Merlin, why are you here?
Chapter 011: Gawain
Kailar found the banquet innately boring. He sat on the edge of the indoor flower bed with a glass of juice in hand. He watched those nobles of elevated status laughing and gossiping amongst each other. He despised it so, despised their fakeness, their act. He despised it all.
Losing interest with the scene laid before him, Kailar turned his head and looked at the outside view.
“Are you the son of the Grand Duke, Andrea Ettorek?” A voice echoed in groups and blocked Kailar’s view, their posture seemingly arrogant.
“Hm?” Kailar looked up and saw groups of children a few centimeters shorter than him. He smiled softly, sipped a cup of the juice, and looked away. He’s not interested in petty conversations.
“You…”
Kailar thought nothing much of these second generations. He believed them to be the scum of society. After all, they’re unable to think for themselves and can only abide by the will of their parents and ancestors. Strip them bare of all their wealthy possessions, they had nothing.
Their presence irked him the longer they lingered and he was all the more ready to frighten them till heard a loud clamor.
“Oh, what do we have here.”
The bodies of the little children quivered, trembling even. They turned their head slightly and saw a boy with blonde hair rushing towards them at high speed.
“Sola, Lira, Moses, what are you doing?”
“Gawain, we’re not afraid of you! This is the royal court and I don’t believe you’d dare beat people around in such place.” They said disdainfully yet fear shone in their eyes.
They thought they’d finally gained the upper hand over the blonde youth but however, the blonde youth donned a foolish grin. “But his Majesty isn’t out yet. I wonder… what should I do with you all…”
The group of troublemakers felt a chill in their backs and quickly ran away.
The blonde youth scoffed and stuck out his chest proudly before facing Kailar. “Are you my cousin?” He prodded and repeatedly asked the question over and over.
“Who are you?” Kailar attempted to ignore this young lad but the struggle was futile. He sighed before looking up. He saw big eyes brimming with vibrancy and vigor.
“It’s really amazing…” The blonde youth sighed contentedly. Kailar tilted his head, his brows tightened. He’s not sure what this blondie was talking about. “Are you my cousin?” The blonde youth asked once more.
“Truth be told, I’m not sure. I don’t know who you are. Me being your cousin is unlikely to be true.” This blonde youth had the possibility of being the son of one of his aunts or uncles but he couldn’t be sure till he had the facts.
“Don’t be cold. Hey cousin, my name’s Gawain.” The blonde youth said excitedly.
“Gawain?” Kailar’s eyes flashed.
When he learned of Uther Pendragon, he thought of King Arthur. When he learned of King Arthur, he thought of the Knights of the Round Table. When he learned of the Knights of the Round Table, he thought of Lancelot and Gawain, King Arthur’s left and right arm. King Arthur trusted those two men dearly and they were the knights who shone brightly like a jewel amongst the knights. Their legends were told time after time. Under King Arthur’s leadership, it seemed like Camelot’s prosperity would last forever but to think it’d fall to ruins when Lancelot and Guinevere betrayed King Arthur. Lancelot’s love for the king’s wife set the motion for the fall of Camelot and ultimately, King Arthur’s death. While the threats of the Vikings and Romans loomed from the outside, Lancelot’s action spiraled the end of Camelot.
It’s a tragedy. Truly a tragic legend. Even the great King Arthur failed to move past the betrayal of a friend and wife who he trusted so dearly.
Kailar wholeheartedly believed if King Arthur had quick decisiveness and ability to move forward despite the hardships he faced, Camelot would cease to be a lamb robbed of their future. They’d not be robbed by savages—neither plundered by the Romans nor exploited by the Vikings.
Without the presence of their king, and they knew all too well the reason for his absence, they felt no such remorse for those who betrayed their king. Putting your back behind the king was simply an abandonment of their own nation. Who’d have sympathy for that kind of people?
Kailar suddenly grew interested in this blonde youth who claimed to be his cousin.
Gawain felt his cousin’s ice cold chilly gaze. He gulped and staggered backwards slightly but once gaining back a semblance of his composure, he returned to his usual bright and carefree self. He opened his mouth and took the initiative of starting a conversation. “Cousin, I heard you invented red wine?” H
“That’s right. Made from grapes. All wines are made from grapes.”
“Oh, that’s great! My old man loves red wine too much. He complains about it a lot since wine comes from our Roman enemies. He couldn’t resist the taste of wine and he felt like he’d betrayed his own people. But because of your invention, my old man can drink happily now.”
Kailar’s heart moved slightly. He hadn’t thought there’d still be people of his age who thinks of the well-being of others rather than their own self.
Soon after, the court sounded off. Serene music roamed the air. Many knew what this represented.
“It seems His Majesty is soon making his appearance. Come. Let’s go and take a look.” Gawain grinned foolheartedly and pulled his cousin to the front of the gathered crowds excitedly.
Groups of knights stepped foot out of the corridors. They walked together side by side in tandem and headed towards the middle of the court. Their footsteps thumped rhythmically.
Soon after, a majestic figure in grandeur clothing walked out. Sapphires engraved the golden crown and pure white marten cloak hugged his back. It was King Uther.
Kailar’s heartbeat thumped sporadically. This was the first he’d seen the so-called legend that King Uther. He imagined his appearance different for odd reasons but it seems reality is always different from the imagination. King Uther was a man nearing the old age. But regardless, though King Uther was old, his skin was well maintained and his facial hair groomed neatly. Add to the symbolic crown of royalty and supremacy, King Uther exuded a manly charm. He was a man of power and to the people, it is an enchanting thing.
Kailar looked around. His eyes landed on a familiar figure standing behind King Uther. His brows wrinkled and groaned softly.
Merlin, why are you here?
