Never the Same Again

first to QueenBoudicca i am sorry for my mistake. second please review i appreacite feedback.

Never the Same Again Part 3

"You have a son" Gawain said somewhat in shock.

"Yes I have a son you act like it's a bad thing"

"But I thought you loved Arthur, but then again I wasn't so sure
when you left before the wedding"

"I have never stopped caring about Arthur, I couldn't stay there
knowing that I would always be near him but no longer able to touch"

"So you returned here and found a woman"

"Something like that, it is a long story"

"Oh we have plenty of time"

"Fine I will tell you just let mt myt my things." With that Lancelot
began to walk away and he was limping. Gawain and Galahad looked at each other concerned. What had happened to the knight?

A short time later Lancelot, his son and nephew mounted their horses
their thing in saddle bags. Then the five of thegan gan their long
ride back to Arthur. "So which will you tell us about first your leg
or the young woman you were with." Gawain asked and Galahad just
shook his head.

"One day I was returning home, I wanted to be there before
nightfall. I was but a few miles away when there on the ground I
found a young woman. She was hurt and unconscious when I went over to her. I wouldn't have felt right for leaving her there so I
brought her home. As she recovered she told me her hers was one of
the villages that had been burned recently. We began to talk and we
soon discovered that we had a lot in common. I knew I would not be
seeing Arthur again ane une understood that although I loved her
very much my heart would truly belong to him. We married in spring
and were happy for a few years when she told me she carried my
child. She never fully recovered from the birth and died a few
months after our son was born. My sister died a few years ago and I
took my nephew in. My leg that is another story for another time"

As they traveled Lancelot caught up on what had been happening since he had been gone and Gawain and Galahad got to know Lancelot's son and nephew.

Finally the day came when they arrived at Camelot. Word was sent to
Arthur that Gawain and Galahad had return with Lancelot and two
others. Arthur didn't quite catch that part as he found himself
smiling his brave knight had returned at last.

Arthur was there in the courtyard with Bors. Arthur was barely able
to restrain himself to wait as Lancelot dismounted. As soon as the
knights feet touched the ground Arthur was there pulling him into
his arms and kissing him passionately. After a moments hesitation
Lancelot began to return the kiss.

"I have missed you so much my brave knight"

"Oh, Arthur" Lancelot said holding Arthur tightly. Then there was
the clearing of three throats. "Hello Bors, Arthur there are two
people I want you to meet." He motioned the two young men
forward. "This is my nephew Drake and this, this is my son Perceval"
"Your son?"

"Yes, Arthur my son" When Arthur started to say something else
Lancelot shushed him. "I will explain everything, let us go
someplace private"

Arthur nodded then led Lancelot to his study it didn't escape him
that Lancelot was limping. When they were both seated they were both silent for a long time. Then Lancelot told Arthur what he had toawaiawain and Galahad. "You have to understand Arthur she and I were both lonely and we did love each other."

"I understand Lance, I truly do I may have Guinevere but she could
never truly compare to you. Will you have me back despite the fool I
have been"

Lancelot managed to stand and limped over to Arthur and pulled him
out of his chair and kissed him with all the pent up emotions he had
kept inside all the years he had been gone from Arthur's side. "That
answer your question"

"Yes" Arthur said before he swept Lancelot into his arms and took a
side passage to his room. Where they took their time getting
reacquainted. As they laid in each others arms Arthur found himself
asking about Lancelot's leg.

"A few years ago my village was attacked I lost my sister and I
received this leg wound. I was feverish for days, well that's what
they told me they feared that they would have to remove my leg. As
it is I have this lovely limp."

Arthur was speechless. "I nearly lost you and I wouldn't have even
known it"
"It isthe the past now, Arthur I am here with you again and I am not
going anywhere"

For the first few months things were fine but that was when
Guinevere began to act coldly to both Lancelot and Arthur. Merlin
was not to happy to have the knight back either. He knew he had to
get rid of the knight before he messed up his carefully laid plans.

Lancelot had been back a little over a year when he and Arthur had
went out for a ride. They had been gone a few hours enjoying each
others company when they were attacked. Even though he didn't
realize it then the ones who attacked them were after Lancelot.

Even though Lancelot was a great fighter he was no longer able to
move as quickly because of his leg. As he fought of one attacker he
felt the blade of a sword plunge into his back a little below his
heart.

Then just as quickly the attackers were gone and Arthur was at
Lancelot's side. "Lance look at me, can you hear me"

"A…Arthur" Lancelot choked out. In his mind Arthur was plunged back nearly twenty years when he had found Lancelot after his rape.

"Lance stay with me, I don't want to lose you"

"A…Arthur…I have…to tell you…it was…it was…Merlin who prevented…me from…returning…I just…wanted…one last…night" Lancelot managed to gasp out. "I…don't think…he wanted…me to…come back"

"Lancelot stay with me with me" Arthur said desperation in his
voice. "Don't leave me, not again"
"Hold…me" Arthur held Lancelot tightly in his arms. "I…was never…really the same…was I"

"No you weren't but I still loved you"

"L…love you, Arthur"

"No, don't you dare say goodbye" Ar yer yelled. "I refuse to lose
you again after finding you after all this time" then Arthur began
to pray, begging for Lancelot to be spared.

"ur…"ur…" Then Lancelot became limp in Arthur's arms.

"Lance no" Arthur cried.

Then a soft gentle voice was heard. "Brave king, he who holds his
fallen knight weep not. For you knight shall be returned to you. But
you will have to search for him"

"Who are you?" Arthur asked.

"We are the guardians and protectors of knights and kings, past,
present, and future"

Arthur cried some more before he finally stood and took Lancelot's
body back to the castle. Bors and the others were there when a
sentry told them the king had returned with a rider less horse. In
Arthur's arms they saw the lifeless body of Lancelot.

"Bring Merlin to me" Arthur said his voice full of anger. A short
time later Merlin came out to the courtyard.

"Arthur what has happened?" Merlin said concerned.

“Do not play dumb with me Merlin, Lancelot told me everything give
me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you know. You have robbed
one boy of his uncle, another of his father, and you have robbed me
of the one I truly love”

"I have no excuse that would please you. Kill me if you think it will
help"

"Leave this place Merlin and never return for if you do you will die"

"As you command" Merlin left never to be seen again. A great funeral was held for Lancelot. As Arthur was about to light the pyre he said softly. "I will find you again my brave knight and we shall be
together once more" Then Arthur lit the pyre. He, Lancelot's son and
nephew were the last to leave.

The End

Author note: please don't stone me I didn't want to kill Lancelot
but I had to do it don't worry a sequel is in the works.