Epilogue

T hey arrived at the outskirts of Camelot without incident. Erec sent a messenger ahead who returned with words of welcome. King Arthur was thrilled with the addition they would make to his court.

That night in camp, the nobles scrubbed themselves and had their best garments brushed clean. Enide and Erec secluded themselves at one edge of the encampment. Crates piled alongside their tent blocked their view of their companions and provided an illusion of privacy. A low-burning fire furnished warmth and light. Enide combed her golden hair, aware of Erec's admiring glances.

But he didn't comment on her beauty. Instead, he asked, "Are you eager to see your friends in Camelot?"

Obviously, he was not acquainted with the petty rivalries in Guinevere's court. No stranger who'd been named "the most beautiful maiden," winner of the long-sought Sir Erec, was going to be loved by those who had lost the competition.

Still, having resolved to be open and truthful with him, she said, "I don't have many friends in Arthur's court. And even they may no longer be there."

"I suppose Guinevere's ladies do come and go quickly." He scratched his chin, frowning. "But the queen will be present."

Enide smiled. "I am fond of her."

"And Gawain will be there."

Enide's smile faltered. So much for open and truthful. Ladies were not supposed to associate with men who were not their husbands. It was a silly rule. Gawain obviously didn't put much stock in it. But did Erec?

"Ye-es. But Sir Gawain is your friend, not mine."

He chuckled. "He is my friend. But I swear he started to like me better after I brought you to court."

Enide was confident his amusement was genuine. She answered simply, "I like Gawain. He is a good man. A good friend."

"So, you will be content if we should remain with Arthur for a while?"

A while? She thought they were returning to Estre-Gales. Enide set down her comb to give him all her attention. "Erec, what is this about?"

He sat down on one of the crates and gestured for her to come to him. When she reached him, he pulled her onto his knee.

"My love, as all good squires must, I went to King Arthur's court to learn about chivalry." He had a faraway look in his hound-dog brown eyes. "I wanted to be the greatest knight ever."

"But you are a great knight!"

His eyes widened, mocking her words. "Not the greatest?" He laughed, but it was a sad laugh that pulled at her heart. "Sweet, by the time I went to Laluth, I had been at Arthur's court three years. I thought my training was done. I believed I was the greatest knight. I could defeat everyone except Lancelot, and frankly, I had decided he didn't count." With a snort, he added, "I don't think anyone's ever beaten him. I suspect Gawain has never tried." He shifted his legs a little and frowned, mumbling, "And I did defeat Gawain once or twice."

"Once? Or twice? It isn't that hard to count."

"Well, it is. You see, the first time Arthur ended the tournament abruptly because it was raining. But I had just knocked Gawain from his mount. I was halfway off my own yet didn't fall till I reached the end of the list. Since we both were unhorsed, we should have continued with swords to determine the true victor."

"Gawain conceded," Enide guessed. She could imagine him caked with mud, rolling his eyes, saying never mind, he'd have his bath now.

"I was furious. He was perfectly content to say I'd won, but of course, I hadn't."

Although Enide wanted to laugh, she knew she shouldn't. "But the second time, surely?"

"There was no doubt I won. I challenged him strongly. He could not have refused. And I most definitely biffed him cleanly off his mount."

"So?"

"I think he had the ague."

Now Enide did laugh. "Oh, Erec. Did he say so?"

"Of course not. He said I'd beat him, and then now would I please leave him alone? Everyone knows I did defeat him. But no one thinks I can." He lowered his gaze and shook his head.

Enide's laughter faded away. She touched his cheek to make him look up. Relieved, she saw his eyes were smiling.

"Does it matter?" she asked. Could he still believe bashing men off their horses was the only way to prove himself?

"No," he said. "That is something I have learned. But I didn't learn it when I should have. There was so much more I should have gleaned from the high king. So much that I failed to recognize as important." He smiled ruefully. "In truth, I believed I knew it all."

Erec is one of the good ones. He just doesn't know as much as he thinks he knows.

"You were cheated," he said. ‘I'm not much of a prize."

She kissed him gently. "Not cheated. Believe it or not, my love, I knew when I married you that you were not perfect."

He laughed out loud. "That is not fair. Because I got better than I deserved. Your father did tell me you were clever, but I wasn't listening. I was blinded by your beauty."

"You really did not listen to my father," she mock-scolded. Their marriage had started off foolishly, but she couldn't let him take all the blame. "He also promised I was obedient."

Erec blinked. "Obedient?" He looked so shocked that Enide knew he was exaggerating the point. Perhaps Erec had never wanted her to be other than she was.

Enide laughed. A fire lit in his eyes, and he stood, scooping her up.

"We really do need to spend time in Camelot." He carried her to their tent. "Someday, we will be king and queen of Estre-Gales. We have a lot to learn." He swooshed the tent flap open with his shoulder and said with a wink, "Let's work on that obedience thing first."

The End