(it's not a wild goose chase if it's for god)

[knightgallant]

Although he had been hopeful that the Well of the Chalice would offer some divine insight into his quest --a renewal of one of his visions, or perhaps a sign that he was on the right path-- that Galahad left empty-handed in the end did not surprise him. Many times now he had left holy sites without further clues to his final destination.

He had expected this. He had understood from his very first glimpse of the holy artifact in a waking vision, that finding it would be difficult. It would be a test of his patience, perseverance, and faith. He accepted this, and had instead chosen to practice gratitude for the opportunity to measure the strength of his faith. (After all, a faith untested was a faith unworthy of one of Arthur's men, let alone God.) Very few men would ever witness holy perfection, and it was paramount to him that, as adoptive heir to Arthur's dominion especially, he prove Camelot's devotion to the King of Kings on the court's behalf. He had verbally staked his life on finding the Grail before the entire court, and his resolve to find the artifact was still strong.

Any disappointment he felt, Galahad soothed with the consolation of a quiet meal in the wood outside the Well's chapel. As he ate, he contemplated the worn and dirtied map spread out beside him.

"Where do we ride next?" He idly questioned his horse, in between bites of the bread and cheese the Well's priest had granted him. "We have gone on pilgrimage all the way to this place, and the furthest reaches of Briton and Arthur's domain." The horse twitched an ear in relaxed response, and then turned away from his master to drink from the small river before the knight's feet. "I have heard wild tales of a wood in the north that people say is the last place Saint Hector stood before he ascended to Paradise. Is that not a promising locale?"

The horse's tail flicked at insects buzzing around its hindquarters as he nibbled at reeds growing from the riverbed, but he gave no other response besides that. Smiling, the knight decided to take pity on the beast and grant it some peace. This he offered in silence, along with a pat to the horse's neck. "Eat your fill, Amr. Tomorrow is a long ride."

Comments

[mostoutspoken]

In spite of knowing it is inappropriate to do so, Merek laughs at Galahad's words. Their short time together has been very intense and he is grateful for the chance to break away from that. "If my Lord wishes to know more about me, he need only ask." Satisfied with that light, teasing remark, as well as his handiwork with the fire pit, he stands and begins gathering some firewood. "Wish you to know of my remembered deeds? My studies? Or perhaps you are more curious about those things that would have me sent to find you above others in King Arthur's court?"

[knightgallant]

Rather than be offended, Camelot's heir apparent is glad to find that their camp has come to this place of good cheer. Such is the way Arthur would want, he feels, and that Galahad himself enjoys. The calm smile on his face widens, and he rises to help with the gathering of kindling and firewood. A moment of quiet contemplation follows Merek's questions and their crunching through the fallen leaves, before Galahad offers:

"You said Sir Brandeles is your father?" A man Galahad has heard of and one he would recognize upon sight, but not one he knows well. "From where do he and your family come?"

[mostoutspoken]

Although completely unnecessary, Merek is glad for the help in gathering firewood. He offers Galahad a small smile before he answers the other man's question. "We hail from Hampshire, though only my elder brother and his family yet live there permanently. Ours is but a small land and title, but my father's deeds in battle for his Majesty far outweighed any pause that his title may have given other kings. And it was because of his prowess that my father was able to give me to one of his Majesty's knights as a squire until I was old enough to prove my own worth."

Once his arms are full, Merek heads back to their small camp and sets all of the kindling and firewood into a neat pile. When that task is complete, he rejoins Galahad in the hunt for more fuel for their fire. "What else might you wish to know, Sir Galahad? Anything I can answer for you I will."

[knightgallant]

The other knight's near single-minded drive and devotion to a job well done is quite something. Even his, Galahad's, gesture at an attempt at friendly conversation was taken as a task to complete thoroughly and entirely.

This presents to Galahad the curious quandary of how to approach such a person as the equal in mind and spirit he believes he, Galahad, himself to be.

"There is nothing further, my friend," A smile, as the knight lays down the kindling in his arms. "I do not know Sir Brandeles well, but I have heard of his deeds in Arthur's party through the court; He sounds a stalwart and impassioned man. Although to you I'm sure he is much more than that."

[mostoutspoken]

Making friends is easy for Merek, but it is more difficult for him to accept the idea that Galahad wishes for his friendship when the younger knight is the heir to the kingdom he serves. Is he... allowed to be friends with his Prince? It seems improper and against everything taught to him by his elders.

"Indeed. My father is a kind and wise man." A small smile tugs at Merek's lips as he picks up a few larger branches off the ground. "He ensures my mother and sister are well cared for, and taught my brother and I very well. It is by his strong hand that I have become the man that I am today and I could not be more grateful to him for everything he has done for me."

Hoping he's not being too forward, Merek asks after a brief pause, "And what of your family, Sir Galahad? Is it--" A beat, and then he tries again to put his thoughts properly into words. "Might I ask about your family? I have met and heard many tales of Lancelet and Arthur, but I fear I know not very well who they are."

[knightgallant]

If Merek thought he might be rebuffed for asking a personal question, he will find himself again surprised as Galahad slips easily into their conversation.

"To speak true, Merek...I do not know my father very well. When I was a boy he was oft campaigning for the King or journeying throughout Saxon lands. At home I had my mother, sister and our family's priest around me, but I know of my father mostly through those stories people tell of his deeds." The smile he offers then is small, thoughtful.

"I did not want for anything different, but I admit I do wonder sometimes how life might have been different, had my Lord Father lived with us as it sounds Sir Brandeles did with you and yours."

[mostoutspoken]

"It is not always a choice that a father can make," Merek offers with a sympathetic smile. He can see that this is not an easy subject for Galahad, so he seeks to soothe the other knight's worries by speaking more of his own past. "It was not always my father's intention to stay home with us as he did. He took ill shortly after my sister was born and when he recovered, he was no longer fit for battle. Our Lord King bid him move the family to Camelot and act as an adviser, which allowed him the time to stay with us. Even then, I was not allowed much time with him or the rest of my family after I was squired to another of His Majesty's knights, and so we all took great care to make the most of what time we had together."

Perhaps that will not ease Galahad's mind as much as Merek hopes, but he offers the truth freely so that the heir apparent might not think his life so charmed as he might have first described it to be. Quickly setting aside all of the firewood in his arms, Merek turns to Galahad and places a hand gently on his unlikely friend's shoulder. "No matter what may have happened in your past, you are still a good man, Sir Galahad. There is no one in court who does not speak fondly of you, his Majesty and Lord Lancelet above all others. You have earned their respect and they offer their love freely, even if it is not always offered visibly."

[knightgallant]

Galahad does not know quite what to do with such earnestly-given and heartfelt praise. It's touching. He can see that Merek is a kind and devoted soul, and it endears him to the would-be Prince.

"Thank you, Merek. Such words bring me much comfort and happiness to hear." He looks into the man's young face for a moment, and then back towards the flickering red-orange flames of the fire. "If you are finished, will you join me by this fire you've built? The camp seems well enough for now, and you have traveled much further than I and would do to rest some. My provisions aren't many, but you are more than welcome to them."

[mostoutspoken]

"Gladly." Merek takes a seat across the fire from Galahad and smiles at his companion. He takes hold of his saddlebag and fishes out the apple he did not eat earlier and bites into it. Building the camp took more from him than he had expected. "I have some few provisions as well, though I admit I was hoping the men of this land would not be cross with me if I were to hunt for game for our supper. Know you if anyone would mind if we were to hunt? I do not wish to cause any anger or hurt by my actions if it can be prevented."

[knightgallant]

His new companion is busy and businesslike, Galahad notices, because no sooner are they seated again than is Merek making idle preparations for a hunt. It's a change of pace from Galahad's own more ambling and vision-driven travels on his own, and he reasons that he should be thankful for the other man's efforts, somewhat against the grain of his own comparatively more sedate style of keeping camp as they are-- grateful for them, and also that they're directed in service of their camp, rather than in trying to entreat (or drag...) him home against his will.

"The men and women of the Chapel have no claim on the wildlife of this area, as far as I was able to glean from the congregation's principle father." The young knight leans his cheek into a hand, the other falling to trace idle circles in the loose dirt before him as he speaks. "But we may want to tread carefully, all the same. I could not name it myself, but beyond the Well's holy grove, there is an odd... feeling to this wood and the life in it."

[mostoutspoken]

"Odd? Odd how?" Merek is instantly wary of the use of the word. In the past, his instincts have told him that odd often means wrong in a way that leads someone into trouble (or away from it, if he is able to follow his instincts and guide others away from whatever is giving him that feeling). His brow furrows as he regards Galahad. "Perhaps that means it is best if we avoid hunting until we leave this area, then? I would not wish to disturb anyone, or anything, that might not take kindly to our activities."

[knightgallant]

"I know not how to explain it, exactly." Here he glances up to meet Merek's wary eye. Had it only been he, himself, who had the feeling upon entering the wood-- the feeling like a drop of ice water running down the back of one's neck, of the feeling of there being something almost unearthly within reach? "You did not get a ... sense from this place? Not the grove of the Chapel, but the wood surrounding?"

[mostoutspoken]

At the question, Merek offers a thoughtful frown. "I have little sense when it comes to things magical or spiritual. If I cannot grasp it with my own two hands, I often find myself without answer when it comes to dealing with and oft times even noticing them." His siblings and mother were always much more spiritually inclined while Merek focused more often on the physical and natural aspects of life. He learned of such things, of course, and his heart and soul surely belonged to God, but they are that much more difficult for him to understand.

His frown lasts only a moment longer before he shrugs in Galahad's direction. "It is of little consequence, though. As you have greater experience in such matters, so shall I defer to your judgement. Between the two of us we should have enough provisions to last us until we are able to leave the woods on the morrow, though I would be glad to stop at the nearest town to resupply before we begin our journey in earnest." Merek is nothing if not practical, which he hopes will be a boon to them both as they take a winding path back to Camelot together.