Guinevere Evermore by Sharan Newman

Author:Sharan Newman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Historical Romance
ISBN: 9780312866419
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 1985-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

• • •

Late that night, the guard on duty let in a group of men dressed in priests’ robes. It was irregular but they had a pass token from Sir Modred, and Sir Sagremore and Sir Perredur came to the gate and vouched for them. The guard had meant to save the token, in case he was questioned, but in the morning it was gone and Sir Modred denied ever issuing it.

Guinevere sighed and nestled more securely against Lancelot’s body. His fingers traced a spiral across her cheek and down her neck.

“He was our son, wasn’t he, Lancelot?” she asked.

“Yes. Only ours.”

“It won’t ever stop hurting, will it?”

“I don’t see how it can, but we can keep him always in our hearts. As we hold each other.”

Her arms went around him again.

“I couldn’t have borne it to lose you both.”

“He knew that. I wanted to go with him. But I realize now that, if I had crossed the portal, I would have had to come back for you, however long it took.”

“I would have been waiting at the gate.”

They lay quietly awhile, tired, but not willing to lose each other in sleep. The candlelight flickered over them as if leaving a benediction.

The door below them slammed and there was the crashing of a score of booted feet. Lancelot sat up, automatically untangling his legs from the blankets.

“What is it?” Guinevere’s voice shook.

“Nothing good. Where’s my sword?”

“You left it in the anteroom.”

He swore at himself. “All right then, here, throw this on!” He scrambled into his trews and was fumbling with the cords when the pounding came on the door.

“Open! Vile witch and seductress! We know you have your paramour in there! Open and face the King’s justice!”

“The King? Arthur wouldn’t . . .” Guinevere stopped in bewilderment.

“Of course not,” Lancelot snapped. “Don’t unbar the door. Blast! There must be at least a knife in here! Hurry! They’ve got an axe! Do you think you can climb down the trellis?”

She went out to the balcony and peered down. A cry went up.

“There are men down there, too. Lancelot, what’s happening?”

“Treachery. I can’t fight them all and they know it, but I can hold them off. You must get away.”

“Where? Who are they? Why are they calling me those names!” She was becoming hysterical.

He stopped his frantic search and held her. He was more frightened than he had ever been in his life, but he had to calm her. The axe was splintering the door; in another moment, they would be in. His brain was spinning. He wished someone had trained him for a situation like this. Gawain would have known. How could he have left his sword out of reach! Idiot! Their only hope was that the noise would waken others and someone would come to help.

The bar split under the axe and the door crashed open. Three men jumped at Lancelot, their weapons raised. He spun Guinevere away from him and picked up a small table to shield himself. He thrust it at them, so that they swung at it, hacking off the legs.

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