Sire, please…” said Ulrich, but Gawain cut across and gestured to the door.
“Leave us.”
“What?” said Perceval with shock in his voice.
“You heard me,” said Gawain. “I said leave us. The king and I need to talk.”
Gawain strode to the door and gestured for the men to leave.
“We’ll be right outside,” said Perceval.
Gawain remained silent and closed the broken, off-kilter door behind the men as best he could.
Arthur vibrated with fury and pointed the tip of his sword at Gawain’s chest. “Get on your knees,” he commanded, stone-cold sober now, despite the horrid taste of sour wine and stomach acid burning his throat. “I cannot stand this, Gawain. What have you done to me?”
Gawain dropped to his knees before Arthur but did not break eye contact.…show more content… Not in a romantic way. We are friends and nothing more. It could never be more, as she is yours.” He glanced up at Arthur, tears welling in his eyes. “I beg you to forgive me. I should have conducted myself differently; I know that now. I say this not to save my life, but because I cannot endure your hatred. I place myself at your mercy. Forgive…show more content… He wouldn’t even have time to resist! But Gawain was right; Gawain had only done what had been asked of him. Arthur wished his wife had enjoyed her time with Gawain less, far less, but what was done was done. Was it worth executing his friend over this? Disrupting the peace of the kingdom and bringing strife? Arthur was the leader of Camelot; he had to behave honorably and rationally, and killing his loyal knight in a fit of jealous rage was neither honorable nor rational. But he had to know one more thing.
“Does she still love me?” asked Arthur, ashamed that he sounded like a whiny child.
Still on his knees, Gawain looked up. “Arthur, she wept about how much she loves you and reminded me over and over. The last words she said to me before I left her was that she loves you more than anything. The time I spent with her did absolutely nothing to change her feelings for you. If anything, they’re even stronger.”
Arthur blew out a long, shaky breath. He sheathed his sword. “Stand up, Gawain.”
“Yes, Sire?” said Gawain, rising.
Arthur pulled back his fist and punched Gawain in the face full-force. Gawain’s nose gave a sickening crunch, and blood rained down from his face. Gawain pressed his hands against his nose to staunch the bleeding, and Perceval and Ulrich broke down the door and flew in; they must had heard the hit from the
