The Knight Behind the Pillar (24 page)

             
Now the resolute Kay stood directly in front of me, but I could see around him.  Positioned against the side wall my hands behind me supporting my weight against the stone, I could see the whole room, especially across the front pews.  Kay’s father Sir Ector sat nearby to one side of the first pew.  I speculated wildly on what he might be thinking sitting there quietly staring across the great room.

             
There were many people standing and they had filled the sides and back of the chapel, even within the pews many people stood to gain a view and only nearer the front were they more seated.  King Alain stood among a more intimate group of people near the front altar.  He greeted people with notable enthusiasm, shaking hands and in some cases embracing them as he performed the role of host.  I watched him for a while and to my satisfaction when he thought no one was looking the eagerness and false joy of the occasion dissolved from his face and was replaced with a look of having eaten something sour.  Morvid stood within his master’s shadow attempting to look useful somehow and failing. 

             
Dubric was another of this group, wearing full length decorated robes and raising his chest to appear taller.  Obviously he would be conducting the coronation later I concluded.  Leodegrance was circling excitedly, weaving through the crowd welcoming people, his enthusiasm was as Alain’s, but genuine this time it appeared to me.  His wide unchanging smile and positive outlook with arms open to greet everyone seemed to me to be a true reflection of his thoughts.  With him were a number of woman both old and young whom he was introducing at times except I could not heard what he said.  My eyes rested for a moment on what appeared to be a shimmering silk dress of one woman, it had been years since I had seen such fabrics. 

             
While Dubric or Alain may have thought they were central to proceedings with all eyes on them, already I had been drawn away to the figure sitting in the second row of pews next to the central aisle.  The central aisle was the only area that remained almost completely free of the sea of people as some unspoken command directed them away from it.  Despite the lack of space within the Pews themselves, people managed to avoid getting close to this particular figure as well.  This was Merlin.  He was unthreatening, quietly waiting and looking ahead.  Yet he carried an air of authority, a presence and people knew in their bones that this was a man who required a certain distance.  I gave him scowl, confident he could not see me.  The mysterious Merlin even by doing nothing seemed to draw attention or at least cause people to want to avoid attention from him.

             
I had again heard his name earlier and it was revealed he had other names as well.  I listened with interest while eating in the kitchens hoping for anything of value on the mystery.  The great Merlin, the one with unnatural powers they said and everyone suddenly knew of him when never before had his name be spoken in tale or jest.  In the end all I had found out was he had a reputation for great deeds, but no one was so sure on what this reputation was based on. 

             
I had many questions, but mainly what did he want?  He had arranged the sword in the stone, put Arthur in Ector’s care and so what was the plan now?  Reward, wealth and power were the normal wants of man and yet this strangely did not fit this particular man.  Certainly I was sure about not wanting wealth, as his choice of accommodation while staying at the fort was testament to that.

             
Time moved onwards and the chatting of people slowly died down and the expectation of Arthur’s arrival grew.  A knighting ceremony would never normally have this many onlookers.  In many cases it was just the squire, lord and two sponsors if it were not held at the same time as another event like mass.

             
Then I noticed the very top of the main doors opening, but could see no lower as a thousand heads and bodies swiftly stood up and got in the way.  I could only assume Arthur had entered and I eagerly waited for him to appear at the front.  It was obvious he must have left the chapel after all when I left him this morning despite my theory he would not.  For whatever reason he left, the entrance itself added to the sense of ceremony, drama and all part of a show.  All no doubt planned by Alain I considered.

             
Dubric had backed away into the background while Alain had stepped forward to the centre to receive the future knight and king.  This made sense as dubbing a new knight was a duty of another knight at least, but preference would be for the highest authority available.  Given the available nobles in Caerleon recently there was unusually a wide range of choice.  As Alain held the most land, had the most vessels under him including some of the lords presence and was deemed to be a king, I guessed him awaiting Arthur was not any surprise.

             
The archbishop would conduct the coronation as he represented a guide to the only power above a king, but I guessed that depended on who you asked and your own belief.  For he now awaited his turn appearing deep in thought and finding great fascination with observing the floor.  Absently I contemplated what Merlin’s thoughts would be on the subject of faith and even what his faith might be given the rumours of the kitchens I had been listening to.

             
Alone Arthur arrived at the altar before Alain.  He wore again a white vesture and appeared very plain compared to the colours of the crowd around him and consequently stood out clearly.  It was not the same clothes as last night I realised as his simple attire now appeared to be far better fitting.  Any last remaining voices within the room went silent quickly.  An unseen signal resulted in Arthur to drop to his knees and I was awash with respect and admiration for him while at the same time sympathising with the pressure of the audience and undertaking about to befall him.

             
Alain closed in to stand before Arthur and he looked over his head to people beyond.  “Who will present this man to take the vows of knighthood, whose honour he will carry with his own as he carries out his new duties?” Alain announced the question with obvious rehearsal.

             
Ector at once stood and half marched, with little grace or care for it, over to Arthur.  While it might not have been accepted behaviour or practice, he then placed a hand of support on his son’s shoulder.  No one was going to tell him otherwise.  Notwithstanding the fact no one would dare, this was not a normal ceremony as this man was soon to be the father of most powerful man in the room.  “I will.” He declared humbly in opposition to his somewhat fierce expression.

             
“And so will I.” Leodgrance proclaimed brightly as he jumped up with vigour and overflowing enthusiasm from his chair from the side.

             
Ector gave him a concerned suspicious glance for a moment before accepting his fellow sponsor with a nod and Leodgrance joined him.  He just stopped himself putting another hand of support on Arthur’s shoulder as he noted Ector’s tightening brow.  He settled instead for holding his hands behind his back for now. 

             
Alain continued and this time mostly addressed Arthur, but the pull to speak to all was a great temptation.  “Very well, you have two sponsors and your conduct from this time forth will be a reflection of the trust they have placed in you.  Do you know the vows and oath of allegiance you must now make?”

             
“Yes.” Said Arthur sincerely and with a short nod to the floor.

             
There was a pause and moment just long enough for unease to creep in as something more from Arthur was awaited. 

             
“Well, you can begin.” Alain added hastily in a hushed voice to prompt Arthur.

             
“No.” said Arthur quietly shaking his head and looking up.

             
The noise of the inhaling of breath from the crowd was as loud as any thunder.  I lost my balance sitting on the back of my hands against the wall and had to save myself by quickly standing up straight.  While all eyes were already on Arthur, the need for blinking was now forgotten.

             
“What do you mean, no?” Alain asked with a tone of embarrassment griping his voice.  He fleetingly looked around showing his awareness that his show had suddenly taken a wrong turn as the main act refused to perform.  Then he looked to his sides for support, but there was none and when he came to look back he was only confronted by Ector’s frowning and piercing stare ready to defend his son as needed.

             
“What I mean is I know the vows, but they will not be mine.”  Arthur continued intently.  “Instead, I have my own.” He politely added. 

             
“This is not…..” protested Alain, but stopped himself from going on when he saw Ector shifting his weight.

             
Before anyone else said anything Arthur decided to explain some more.  “The vows of a knight are his and his alone.  I know each knight takes similar vows, but if you visit each kingdom you will definitely find that they are not the same words.  Words change over time and distance.  Therefore, it makes no difference if my vows are not the ones you have made yourself or those prepared for me.  The important thing is only that they’re accepted by you as my allegiance to you, as my current lord in this place at this time.  They only need then to be accepted by my father and King Leodgrance here.”

             
Alain appeared at a lost for a while and even I had to recall what Arthur had stated in such a matter of fact way to understand it. 

             
Perhaps conscious of the waiting audience Alain looked around and provided them with a smile, trying hard to still look in control. “Very well let’s hear them.” He finally concluded with a hint of reluctance, but clearly seeing it as the only way forward. 

             
A wave of satisfaction quickly crossed over Arthur’s face before returning to an expression of serious commitment.  I was content with an openly smug grin on my face in support of Arthur’s revolt. 

             
“My lords and it seems appropriate to add ladies as well and to all I shall be king to in the future.  As this is perhaps the only time I can give such an oath and be a humble subject to you all and so I swear to you the following vows and shall take them forward with me.  I will never deal with traitors, never give evil counsel to a lady, treat all women with great respect and defend them against all unless they are found to be traitors themselves.  I will observe fasts and abstinences as required by my faith.  I will abide by the laws of the land and seek to enforce said laws fairly and equally to all and with no purpose other than that of truth.  I shall not steal, lie or kill unless for self defence, to protect the innocent or required by law.  These are my vows to all and will be my oath.”  He calmly promised and took a deep breath at the end.

             
The vows were similar to those I had heard before, but stronger and said nothing of serving the lord’s will.  In its place Arthur had said laws of the land.  I was trying to figure out everything he had just said, it was a lot to work out and sounded like he had put a lot of thought into these words.  As Bedivere had said, Arthur is a thinker and he planned ahead.  Obviously he did more thinking last night than I thought he had time for!  I recalled what else he had just said, he had spoken of protection of the innocent and women not just carrying out justice and I found I liked what I had heard.  I actually believed the words, they made far more sense.  To serve the greater good was exactly what a knight should be, what I wanted to be and I believed him.

             
Importantly for right now they were not something Alain could find unacceptable.  Smoothly he appeared to have forgotten they were not the vows he had obviously put to Arthur to say and had already called forth a page holding a sword and the ceremonial plain metal shield.  The shield he took and presented to Arthur, no words were spoken.  Arthur bowed his head and with the sword Alain rested the flat side onto his left shoulder. 

             
“I dub thee Sir Knight.” Alain announced loudly and moved the sword over Arthur’s head to rest on the other shoulder and then back again. 

             
Ector stepped forward and took the sword and returned it to a scabbard he had to hand that I had gone unnoticed by me before.   He presented it to Arthur.

             
“Thank you.” Arthur gulped.  He was shaking of nerves now as they had suddenly caught up with him.  Equally it might have been from just having been on his knees for too long. 

             
“Arise Sir” Alain concluded loudly.

             
Arthur stood slowly being a little unsteady at first and bowed his head to Alain, who I guessed would not normally bow back, but in this case did so.  King Leodgrance’s turn to be of use, he disappeared to the side and returned with the red cloak.  It was the same I almost claimed as a blanket before Arthur had greater need and I suppressed a smile.  He quickly set about placing it on Arthur’s shoulders and congratulated him along with an unrestrained pat on Arthur’s back.  Once done he and Sir Ector retreated at this point and Ector returned to his place along the pew close to me.