The Poison Rose: A King Arthur Tale Read online

  “You see my dear, the kingdom of men will certainly fall!”

  Alice couldn’t say a word. She was too astonished.

  The witch let out a bellowing laugh and looked out over her army. “My soldiers, my wonderful soldiers who so valiantly fight for truth and justice…who is your master?”

  Her men began banging their chests and stomping their feet. Their noise filled the garden valley and made the ground itself shake with terror. All the hooded servants raised their swords, while all the other soldiers lifted up their weapons and shouted enthusiastically, “Dani the witch! Dani the witch!”

  Alice was astounded at how quickly the witch had prepared a grand army. “So you see Alice! I am more than prepared to meet Arthur’s army on the battlefield. And these aren’t even all of my forces. I have great beasts that will come from the forests. Arthur may have resisted my love and taken back his precious Camelot, but on the plains of Badon Fields he will finally be defeated. He will then understand the full power of a witch. And, if we both happen to die on that battlefield, then my life will be complete. I will finally have gotten revenge against the kingdom of men.”

  The witch smiled. “Tomorrow Alice, you will rise up to my tower. And from there you may use my magic to watch the battle from afar. My magic is now becoming your magic.”

  The witch felt good. She knew that Alice’s devotion, respect, and reliance on her was getting stronger. She was clever and knew that, should she die, it would be much better that Alice see her death.

  “So my great daughter,” said the witch, as she still stood on the balcony. “Let me teach you all that I can tonight about being a witch, and, now that you are ready, I will show you another room.” The witch sensed that Alice was ready to enter the Room of Hearts and be a witness to all the hearts that men had given to witches throughout time. “Then after you must get some rest. Tomorrow will be a day worthy of great remembrance.” Indeed, the witch had anticipated and eagerly waited for the morning to arrive. Not only did she expect to win over Arthur and his armies, but she knew that tomorrow the transformation of Alice into a witch would be complete. She could smell victory and this brought her great joy. “Tomorrow we will destroy Arthur’s heart forever!”

  But then the witch suddenly felt a terrible pain run through her entire body, stopping temporarily at her heart. The pain she was feeling now because of the broken covenant was only getting worse and was now much more severe. Her veins felt like they were thinning and it took much more strength for her heart to beat. “Curse Arthur!” yelled the witch out loud to all her soldiers. “I have used much of my magic to bring you back to full strength. Now, tomorrow we march upon Arthur and his armies and will destroy them all. Leave no survivors!” Suddenly another loud roar of affirmation echoed through the valley. “We will finally have our revenge!” yelled the witch.

  Alice sighed. She was beginning to see the evil of the witch now and it slightly disturbed her to think that she could become like that. But the debate raged on within her soul and would the rest of the night. Should she join the witch or Arthur?

  Chapter 20: The Battle of Badon Fields

  The evening in Camelot before this grand battle was no peaceful evening for Arthur’s knights. After spending a considerable amount of time pacing through the halls of Arthur’s castle, they all agreed to go to the local pub and share drinks there to alleviate the tension of the evening.

  “Let’s get some drinks knights, before we go to die we must drink the night away!” exclaimed Percival as they walked down the roads of Camelot. “This is the best place in the town. As to the lands of the witch, let one more night pass. Let the people of Camelot live one more peaceful evening under the stars. And joy be to those who believe!”

  The pub they entered was quite large and elaborate and within the edifice were many travelers who had come to Camelot from their distant provinces for refuge or to fight against the witch.

  The knights were in a special state of mind here. As they went through the doors they felt like they had gone back to a more provincial time, to a time before their knightly duties so often took them away from the simple pleasures of life. They were neither happy nor sad as they thought about what lie ahead. None knew for certain whether tomorrow’s battle would be the beginning of a bright new future or a dismal end. Either way, however, the knights found joy in each other’s company and in living one more night under the stars.

  Several hours that night were spent in gleeful discourse between the knights. As they sat there in the pub they each told stories—stories of the past, but also stories of the future or what they hoped their future life would hold. Indeed, it is amazing how times of great uncertainty can cause dreams to reignite within the human mind and heart and this is precisely what happened this night.

  There in the pub Lancelot sat on a bench cradling his beloved Elaine in his arms, thinking and then saying aloud to all the knights, “Should we live through this great battle Elaine and I would like to have another child.” Lancelot looked to Elaine, who smiled.

  “Not just one, but many more!” exclaimed Elaine. “And moreover I would that Lancelot would always be here with me in Camelot that we may exchange the greatest love and adoration, never having to part again.”

  “Indeed, may God grant your wish father!” said Galahad. “And then I would have a brother.”

  “What would you wish for Galahad?” asked Percival.

  “I would wish to see this kingdom restored to its former glory!” exclaimed Galahad. “I am yet young and I would wish to see that no witch again walks upon this land.”

  “A noble wish indeed,” said Lancelot.

  “But what of you Percival?” asked Galahad.

  Percival chuckled and then looked over at his beautiful wife. “I would live to see my wife become a Knight of the Round Table, for that has always been the desire of her heart.”

  Many of the knights laughed. “This is a deep wish Percival,” said Tristan. “Never before has a woman been a knight.”

  “But there is a first for everything,” said Percival. “And, as we are all giving deep wishes I have given mine.”

  Suddenly the knights observed a mysterious hooded figure enter the pub. The knights looked onward at the figure and noticed the bright sword hanging from his belt. “And I would wish that all your wishes be fulfilled.” Then the figure removed his hood and all the knights rejoiced.

  “Arthur!” they cheered in unison. “Have you come to dine?”

  Arthur smiled. “I see I have failed in convincing you to get some sleep. But I suppose now is as good a time as any for a good drink. After all, we may not get another chance.”

  “Yes, have a drink!” exclaimed Percival, jovial like a big teddy bear. Percival grabbed a drink and slid it down to Arthur at the end of the table.

  “Arthur, tell us, what you most desire?” asked Lancelot.

  Arthur took a moment to think, but to him this was no difficult answer. “I would be able to hold Alice again in my arms.”

  “Then so it will be if we believe,” said Gawain.

  Suddenly the knights began singing joyfully with their drinks in hand:

  “Oh for our women and children

  Does the sun set on Camelot,

  On that fair and loved city,

  But in darkness not all is lost!

  For we sing a lovely song,

  A song for the peaceful

  A song for the faithful

  A song for the free!

  Tomorrow we go to fight the witch

  Upon the fields of Badon

  Where all things shall be decided,

  So tonight we drink the night away!

  For we sing a lovely song,

  A song for the peaceful

  A song for the faithful

  A song for the free!”

  And so the knights spent that night in peaceful serenity. It was the peace and calm before the storm.

  ******

  Once the sun had begun to ar
ise Arthur arose quickly from his bed and took extra care to dress himself; he put on his sleek golden crown, his shiny silver armor, and his green shirt with the dragon insignia in the center. He made sure to look as “kingly” as possible in preparation for what he anticipated to be his final fight—the fight that he believed would claim his life.

  And, as it may be assumed, there was a reason why Arthur wore the image of a dragon on his chest. The dragon was the symbol of Lancelot and his province, not Arthur’s. However, Arthur always wore it as a reminder to him of the fateful day when he nearly died in battle to Cerdic, the goliath Anglo-Saxon warrior; for it was because of Lancelot and his arrow that Arthur still lived.

  Arthur found that Merlin’s words about being able to sense the witch’s feelings were, as all of his words, correct, for in these moments Arthur felt a type of powerful connection between himself and the witch. He could sense that the witch was angry at him now more than ever. He also felt that she was in great pain, with every passing hour the pain only growing more and more.

  After he was fully dressed Arthur went down to the great hall where he met Lancelot and commanded him to gather all of the people who were willing to fight and lead them outside the city. “But sir, will you not lead them?”

  “Go Lancelot!” exclaimed Arthur. “I feel that I will not be around much longer. So you must learn to lead. And take a count of everyone. But do not worry. I will join you shortly.”

  “But…”

  “Just go!” yelled Arthur, pushing Lancelot towards the door.

  “Very well…” replied Lancelot, clearly surprised by Arthur’s irritability.

  Arthur turned and saw Merlin come down the stairs. “Have the armies been assembled?” asked Merlin.

  “Yes,” replied Arthur.

  “Excellent! Then let us depart!”

  “I am sorry Merlin, but you are needed here,” said Arthur.

  “You would deny an old man his wish to watch over this epic battle, the ultimate battle of this age? I have come this far and want to come with you.”

  “No, you must stay here,” said Arthur. “You are wise, but are no warrior. I don’t want to risk losing you in battle. Plus the people in this city need you here to watch over them should something happen to all of us.”

  “But Arthur,” said Merlin.

  “Please, do it for me,” replied Arthur, not wanting to say any more.

  “Very well,” replied Merlin reluctantly. “For so long Arthur you have been a king, and a valiant and loving king—the best king there is…”

  “But…” replied Arthur, waiting for the bad news.

  “But now your people need something more, now your people need a hero—someone to do something that they alone could never do themselves. Only you can know how to defeat this witch. Go with haste then!” Merlin sounded more disappointed and sad now than he had ever, but there was nothing that would change Arthur’s mind about this matter. He knew that Merlin was clever and wise, but these traits were of little value on the battlefield. Plus, he didn’t know how he would be able to live without him if he were to die.

  “Merlin, I am sorry…it is for your own good,” said Arthur.

  “Never mind it,” said Merlin.

  So Arthur left downstairs for outside of the castle. He mounted Hengroen, his noble steed, and rode down the streets of Camelot where Lancelot and his men were waiting for him. As he rode through the streets he saw many people still scrambling to get weapons and armor. “Come! We must leave now people! The sun has risen!”

  After passing through the gate Arthur saw Lancelot on a black horse with about two-hundred men and three-hundred women surrounding him—all armed and on horseback. “I see we have more than expected,” said Arthur happily.

  Lancelot nodded. “Yes, far more women have come than we anticipated. This is a great blessing.”

  “Of course,” said Arthur. “They have as much reason to fight as the men and they will probably fight better. Plus so many of these men are still wounded from the previous battle.”

  Lancelot looked over into the distance. “Arthur, you see that smoke rises above Poison Rose Mountain. I have seen that smoke before. It is the smoke of industry and war. The witch knows that we are coming and she is preparing an army and by the looks of it a large one at that.”

  “Then we must move with haste,” said Arthur, riding around all the people with his sword drawn. “Come! We make for Badon Fields! We cannot delay for supplies or provisions, but all who have chosen to fight must leave now.”

  Arthur looked over at his knights. “Knights, I have yet another special assignment for you. I feel that there are others in this kingdom who would fight should they be given the opportunity. So you must give them the opportunity. Go by twos and ride speedily to the people in every province. Tell all men and women that if they desire to go against the witch now is the time to bear arms and march. They must leave immediately, however, for we attack before the sun sets today. Tell them all to meet at the top of the western hill of Badon Fields.” Thus Arthur sent his knights to go find what men they could and rally them to his cause.

  “Arthur we have men,” said Lancelot. “But few of these men are prepared for battle. Few soldiers even have the blessing of armor, and not every soldier has a sword. Some carry pitchforks and others small axes. Against the witch’s men they will not stand a chance.”

  “Remember Lancelot, we fight not just with swords, but with spirit, and if these people believe that true love can defeat corrupt love then they are greater warriors than ones with the toughest armor and the sharpest sword!”

  Lancelot nodded. “Yes, but then what would you have me do?”

  “We depart now!” declared Arthur loudly. He then brought out the horn given to him by Merlin and blew it loudly for all in the camp to hear. “We must march now men!” So Arthur led his men onward through the prairie towards Badon Fields, about a two-hour journey for his men.

  Then, once the hill emerged into view, Arthur declared loudly, “Here we will stop and prepare for battle. We will wait until the other knights return.”

  Everyone in camp sighed with relief, threw aside their supplies and rested in the shade of the nearby trees. There Arthur’s soldiers waited, although Arthur could tell that the spirit of fear and uncertainty was among them. In these moments few of the soldiers knew how to act. They had never fought a war like this one before. Time and time again they had fought for their own lives against invaders attempting to take their wealth or conquer their people, but never had they fought a battle for love. It was, no doubt, a great cause, but a cause, nonetheless, that caused many men to be insecure about their own abilities. Indeed, they had no experience fighting for love—a love that they found in their hearts had not rotted away entirely.

  In addition, they had never before fought against a woman. Many knew of her power only by word (for they had not seen the power of her magic, but only of her beauty). Many felt attacking a woman was fruitless. To muster up the entire strength of their heart to fight against her was something most didn’t believe they could do. Only Arthur, they thought, had the ability to do this because only Arthur had seen the dark side of the witch.

  The women of the camp, led by the optimistic Elaine, felt no shame in fighting the witch and seemed more confident than the men in each and every way—more confident that they actually could and should defeat this witch. The women saw clearly the evil in this woman that many of the men could not yet see in its entirety.

  Despite hesitancy among the men of the group they prepared eagerly during the day, knowing full well that the witch would not waste any time in attacking them.

  After several hours passed Arthur looked across the distant field and watched as his knights approached on horseback. “What news do you bring Percival? How many warriors do you bring behind you?”

  “I don’t know about warriors,” said Percival, dismounting from his horse. “But if you mean people who can kill a squirrel or a chicken, then about
two hundred. But they are far from warriors. Most are farmers that just wanted to help the cause.”

  Arthur looked out onto the distant hill and watched as the dirty, raggedy army marched slowly behind the knights. Most were either very old or very young. “They have no horses?” asked Arthur.

  “No,” replied Percival. “The problem is that there are few left from the provinces. Many have departed and gone to side with the witch.”

  “Then indeed it is as we feared,” replied Arthur. “The witch has corrupted this land more than I ever knew. Well then Percival, let those who may wish to fight against the witch do so.”

  Arthur was then reminded of Merlin’s words, of his need to be a hero and not just a king. So, despite the weakness of his followers, he dismounted from his horse and walked among the people who had come. He placed his arms around them in love. “My people, your help is greatly appreciated. You are come to save our people.”

  Arthur was now becoming a great king, a far greater king than he had ever been before. And, ironically enough, this was in part because of this witch. From seeing how she treated the people under her command made Arthur realize that what mattered in a kingdom most was not its leader or its knights, but rather its common people.

  And there, wandering through the field, were ordinary people—people who knew they had little chance to survive this war, but people nevertheless that would strive to win it with all they had.

  As Arthur and Lancelot were preparing for battle they heard a loud sound, as of a horn, coming from the north. Arthur at first feared that the witch and her forces had already arrived. But he then realized that the witch would most likely not announce her arrival, nor would they arrive from the north. Thus Arthur moved forward, out of his tent, and beheld a massive armored rider on top of the hill. Lancelot suddenly approached Arthur, almost entirely out of breathe.

  “Who is that?” asked Arthur, as he emerged from his tent.