Unknownfate
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Chapter 41
🕑 Added 2025-03-29 00:30:56 +0000 UTCOutside Camelot, the barricade stood firm, a line of military vehicles, fencing, and armed soldiers ensuring no one ventured too close to the legendary city.
This honestly wasn’t what Adam thought he would be doing when he signed up to serve his nation. He was ready to defend it from its enemies, to help those in need.
He thought he would mostly be doing rescue operations and the like, not standing around like this, blocking his own people from going to the city of wonders and legends.
It honestly wasn't great to have to deny those hopefuls the opportunity to see a knight day in and day out. To have him use his weapon not to defend but to threaten people who had done nothing wrong.
He was thankful he was on the night shift, fewer people around. It was mindlessly boring sure, but at least he didn’t have to feel like such a bad guy.
Tonight, again, he expected nothing to happen; all the curious onlookers had gone for the day, either went back home or headed inside their tents. Nothing much happened here at night, only twice had something happen.
And both times, it was happening inside the city itself, meaning they couldn’t do anything about it, so they just watched the moonlit city.
That was what he and everyone else thought until they heard the sound of the massive wooden gates of Camelot open, which had them turn on massive floodlights, lighting up the vast grassland, and the great white city walls.
Adam squinted against the light, trying to make sense of the shadowy figure emerging. As the figure stepped into the beam, the gleam of polished armor became unmistakable. It was a knight, his every step measured, his silver cape catching the wind.
“Is that… one of them?” a fellow soldier muttered, his voice barely audible.
Adam nodded, his throat dry. “Yeah. That’s one of them.”
The knight strode forward with an air of authority, his face unreadable beneath the helmet. His voice carried easily over the still night air. “I am Sir Agravain, servant of the King. I command you to open this barricade.”
The soldiers froze, unsure how to respond. Their orders were clear: no one passed without proper clearance. But this was no ordinary passerby.
“Sir, with all due respect, this barricade is under the jurisdiction of the UK government. We can’t just—”
Agravain raised a gauntleted hand, silencing him with a single motion. “Your government is of no matter, the king’s will is law. And your king commands you to open the barricade!”
Adam and the others were unsure of what to do. It was beginning to become common knowledge that the knights of Camelot believed themselves above the law, and that in fact their king the rightful ruler.
However, this naturally was nothing but a delusion, but they also had orders not to get in conflict with the knights, yet that order now stood in conflict with their order to maintain the barricade.
“I have to report this to my superior; I’m not allowed to make such a decision; please wait a moment, Sir Agravain.” Adam finally managed to say before he ran off to find someone to report to.
Soon enough, the ranking officer, Captain Carter came over, hoping to smooth things over. “Sir Agravain, I understand your request, but we’re under strict orders. We need clearance from—”
“I have given you clearance!” Agravain barked, his voice reverberating across the field. “You speak of orders, but you forget that this land belongs to the King. Your presence here is a courtesy, not a right.”
Captain Carter clenched his jaw, the weight of indecision pressing heavily upon him. The tension in the air was palpable, each soldier holding their breath, waiting for the next move.
“Sir Agravain,” Carter began, choosing his words carefully, “We all serve a greater good here. Perhaps we can come to an understanding that honors both our responsibilities.”
Agravain’s eyes glinted from beneath his helmet, a mixture of impatience and curiosity. He stepped closer, the metal of his armor clinking softly. “Speak quickly, Captain, for my patience wears thin.”
Carter took a deep breath. “Allow me to contact the regional commander. If he grants permission, we will open the barricade. This way, we follow protocol without causing unnecessary conflict.”
Agravain’s gaze bore into Carter, weighing the proposition. Finally, he nodded curtly. “Very well, Captain. You have ten minutes. Fail me, and the consequences will be upon your head.”
Captain Carter saluted sharply before signaling his men to stay vigilant. He hurried to the command post, praying that the commander would answer promptly.
Minutes ticked by, each one stretching into an eternity. The knights stood silently, an imposing presence that seemed to grow with each passing second. Finally, the radio crackled to life.
“This is Commander Richards. What’s the situation, Carter?”
“Sir, we have a knight from Camelot, Sir Agravain, demanding we open our barricade. He claims the authority of their king. I need authorization to comply.”
There was a pause before Richards responded, “Understood. Given the recent events, grant them what they want, but keep a close watch. Report any unusual activity immediately.”
Carter honestly didn’t understand why he even asked to report unusual activity, surely everything and anything that happened next would count, right? But he wasn’t about to question his superior, so he just ordered his men to comply.
“Alright, you hear Sir Agravain, open up a hole, and keep the curious civilians away.” He called out, looking over at the small tent city that once more was alive with activity.
With Carter’s order, the soldiers sprang into motion, dragging aside sections of the barricade and repositioning vehicles to create an opening. The grinding of metal and the crunch of boots on gravel filled the tense air as the path was cleared.
The gathered crowd in the tent city, previously quiet, stirred with renewed energy. Whispers spread like wildfire as people craned their necks to catch a glimpse of what was happening.
Agravain took no further action as the barricade was opened up, he just stood there, looking out into the darkness, as if waiting for something to happen. Or for someone to arrive, Carter thought.
His training was telling him he should do something, find out more about the situation, but looking at Agravain, he couldn’t help but feel nervous, like a kid before their headmaster.
So, to avoid feeling like a naughty child, he excused himself and went to deal with the situation. A group of reporters, stationed there overnight in case something like this happened, was making their way over.
He strode forward, intercepting the group before they could get too close. “Alright, everyone, stay back. The barricade is being opened under specific orders. This is not a free pass to approach Camelot.”
One reporter, a wiry man with a determined expression, stepped forward, microphone in hand. “Captain, can you comment on why the barricade is being opened? Does this signal a shift in government policy?”
Carter crossed his arms, keeping his tone measured. “I can’t share details at this time. What I can say is that this action was requested by Camelot itself.”
The reporter pressed on. “And who exactly are they letting in?”
“That’s not something I can disclose,” Carter replied firmly, his patience thinning. “I suggest you all return to your camps and await an official statement.”
Behind him, the rumble of engines grew louder. Carter turned in time to see two large buses approaching from the distance, their headlights cutting through the night. The soldiers tensed, their hands instinctively moving to their weapons.
The buses rolled to a stop just beyond the barricade, and Agravain strode forward. He raised a hand, signaling the vehicles to halt. The doors of the first bus hissed open, and women in black suits began to descend, their movements sharp and calculated. Behind them came the children—dozens of them, wide-eyed and huddled together.
The gathered crowd behind the barricade erupted into whispers, their curiosity mounting. Carter could only watch as Agravain ushered the group forward, his demeanor unyielding.
He sighed, glancing back at the reporters. “Alright, you’ve seen enough. Go back to your tents before this gets messy.”
As the group passed through the barricade, Carter couldn’t shake the unease settling in his chest. He didn’t know who these people were or why Camelot had demanded their entry, but one thing was clear: this night would be talked about for a long time to come.
The group quickly walked towards Camelot, while Agravain went back to the barricade. “Takes care of these vehicles. We have no need of them.” He more or less commanded the soldiers before he, too, went back into Camelot.
The group trudged forward, the weight of their journey lifting slightly as Camelot loomed closer. The towering spires of the legendary city shimmered under the moonlight, its pristine walls almost glowing under the moonlight.
The younger children, huddled together in small groups, whispered excitedly. “Is it really like the stories?” one girl asked, her voice trembling with awe. “Do you think they have knights everywhere?”
“I want to see the Round Table!” another girl chimed in, her tired face lighting up with hope. “Do you think the king will let us join?”
The older widows walked in silence, their expressions tense. Yelena’s gaze swept over the city, taking in every detail. “It’s too perfect,” she muttered under her breath, her suspicion unwavering despite the grandeur. “Nothing looks like it belongs in this century.”
One of the older widows, her arms crossed, glanced uneasily at the gates ahead. “It feels… too good to be true. What if this is just another cage?”
Yelena shook her head slightly. “We’re here now. If it is a cage, we’ll break out. You saw how clueless their knights are about most things, sure they might be strong, have magic, but we have the smarts.”
Kay and Ector, walking near the front of the group, couldn’t help but smile as they listened to the children. “It’s good to see their spirits returning,” Kay said softly to Ector.
Ector nodded, his shield glinting faintly under the moonlight. “It is. And they deserve it.”
As they neared the great gates of Camelot, they were struck by their sheer size and craftsmanship. Intricate carvings of knights, dragons, and mythical symbols adorned the towering doors, each detail telling a story of a bygone era.
The children gasped as the gates began to creak open, a slow, deliberate movement that sent a rumble through the ground. Behind the gates stood two lines of armored knights, their polished armor catching the light. They stood at attention, their presence both intimidating and reassuring.
One of the younger girls tugged at Yelena’s sleeve, her voice a mix of fear and excitement. “Are those the knights from the stories?”
Yelena knelt beside her, forcing a small smile. “I think so. Let’s see if they’re as noble as the stories say.”
The widows and children moved cautiously through the gates, the younger ones staring in wide-eyed wonder while the older ones scanned for any sign of danger.
Inside, the streets were quiet but immaculate, lit by glowing orbs that floated gently above. The air was crisp and clean, and the city radiated a strange warmth, even in the cold night.
For the first time, Yelena felt a flicker of something she hadn’t felt in years: hope. “Maybe,” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else, “just maybe, this place really is different.”
