Sir Gawain's Challenge

Gawain, Geheris and Lancelot resumed their walk to the fortress where the soldiers turned them over to sentries who brought the three knights to the commander who was seated at a table in a large hall with a door that opened onto the battlement. The table was laid out with an abundant breakfast. He continued to eat without looking up at them. It was always a good idea to let prisoners stand waiting allowing their fear to grow.

He was a man in his forties with black hair that hung lankly despite its short cut. He had a well trimmed beard with aquiline features and a cruel sensuous mouth. His dark eyes were long and narrow. He wore a gray fur trimmed robe adorned with a heavily jeweled collar. Although he was not fat, his body had the soft appearance of a man who seldom exerted himself. He finished his breakfast while the three knights stood before him. He poured a drink from a pitcher and drank half of it before looking up at them. He hid the surprise he felt at what he saw. The three tall, well dressed young men stood regally erect with their hands clasped behind them. They were obviously noblemen. He looked at their striking features and the three compelling set of eyes none of which showed the slightest sign of fear. Geheris stood directly before him with Gawain at his right and Lancelot on his left. The commander sat back and surveyed them. His eyes dropped from their faces to the dragon crests at their throats.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” he said in English. “Three Knights of the Round Table just out for a walk in the middle of the night to arrive here at dawn. I am Viscount Valerie de Longe. Who, specifically, might you be, gentlemen?”

“It is customary to ask that question before arresting and assaulting diplomats; however, I am Sir Gawain of Camelot: this is my brother, Sir Geheris of Camelot, Prince of Lowthean and Orkney, and this is Sir Lancelot of Camelot, Prince of Joyeux Gard. We are in France on a diplomatic mission, and I protest this outrage,” Sir Gawain said with the royal dignity he seldom chose to project but could with great effectiveness.  

Longe immediately recognized the names and could not believe his fortune in capturing such prizes. He looked at these three extraordinary young men like a wolf about to devour his prey, three great Knights of the Round Table completely under his control! He looked back at the one who had spoken analyzing him. Like most people meeting Gawain for the first time, he was drawn to his eyes. It was not just their unusually vibrant color, but the curious blend of intelligence, dignity and innocence that was fascinating. For someone in his position, the young man was showing exceptional poise. De Longe decided to rattle his composure, so he asked, “Why do you not identify yourself as the Prince of Lowthean and Orkney, if this is your brother, and he is a prince? Are you telling me that Sir Gawain of Camelot is merely a bastard son without title?”

De Longe was disappointed but impressed when Gawain refused to be baited by this crude question, and responded calmly, “It is not the custom of our Table to use our own ancestral titles during introductions.”

“So, to the best of your father’s knowledge, you are legitimate?” De Longe taunted further.

Geheris flushed scarlet with anger and started to speak, “You, …” 

Gawain did not take his eyes from De Longe but discreetly moved his hand to touch Geheris’ sleeve causing him to fall silent. The viscount noted it with interest.

“Aye,” Gawain replied with maddening calm. He looked at De Longe directly, and the Viscount could see that the young knight was fully aware of what he had been trying to do. 

“Are you the elder brother, then?” De Longe responded. How I going to enjoy breaking this one! I will make the younger brother watch since he is the emotional one of the two.

“Aye; I am,” Gawain replied tersely knowing that the Viscount would not speak to him if that had not been the case. The equality among Knights of the Round Table was completely foreign to the French worldview. “Why have we been arrested? There is no law that says a man may not travel at night,” Gawain said.

“You are spies. If you had been common soldiers, I would have had you beheaded. Since you are all of noble blood, I will not do that. You will be imprisoned in our dungeon until your families ransom you. I hope your father is prepared to pay a handsome sum. Two royal heirs will cost him dearly.” 

“No, that is unacceptable,” Sir Gawain said instantly. His voice had merely sounded outraged, but his heart was starting to beat wildly. “We are diplomats; it is uncivilized to imprison a diplomat. You may expel us from the country, but ye canna put us in cells like common criminals.”

“You are not in a position to tell me what I can and cannot do,” De Longe replied with a sneer. He walked around his desk and stood within inches of Gawain. He walked around him and then stood looking deeply into his eyes. Gawain did not flinch from the gaze. De Longe said, “You will find out what I can do within this fortress, Sir Gawain; and if you do not do what you are told, when you are told and how you are told, you will find out that I can do some very unpleasant things.”

The Viscount waved his hand at the guard and said, “Get the chains on them and take them to the dungeon.”

The guard started to reach around and grab Gawain’s arm to jerk it behind him, but Gawain drove his elbow into the soldiers gut and threw himself into the guard behind Geheris. The three guards in the hall ran in, and Gawain kicked the first one in the ribs. The crack of bone could be heard throughout the room. Geheris grabbed the shackles from the startled guard behind him and used the chain like a whip and nearly took the head off of the soldier charging him. Lancelot threw himself backward into the guard behind him. Soon they had incapacitated all six, but the commander had gone to the window and called down to the sentries on the battlement below. Gawain pulled a dagger from the belt of one of the guards lying sprawled on the floor and slipped it in his boot, then picked up a sword, Geheris and Lancelot had each grabbed swords as well, and they we