Galahad shifted uncomfortably as he answered Lott, "Then, um, give me some time to think about it."
Dealing with his father was a challenge he hadn't fully wrapped his mind around yet.
Lott, brushing aside the tension in the air, said to himself, "No matter, we have more pressing matters. Even a lion must fight a rabbit with full strength, and King Ryan is no weakling. We can't let our guard down."
Camelot's army hadn't arrived yet, leaving the battle between King Leodegrance and King Ryan to play out on a vast grassland a few miles from the castle. Despite King Leodegrance's best efforts, his age and diminishing strength couldn't keep pace with King Ryan's.
The battle ended in Ryan's favour. As his forces regrouped, more Scottish nobles began to rally behind him. Soon, King Leodegrance's castle was surrounded, and Ryan's army began a series of relentless assaults.
Standing atop the castle walls, Guinevere turned to her father, her face pale with concern. "Father, haven't they retreated yet?"
King Leodegrance gave a slight nod but quickly attempted to comfort her. "Don't worry, as long as I stand, no harm will come to you."
"I believe you, Father," Guinevere replied, her voice steady but uncertain.
As they watched the enemy's relentless waves attack, both father and daughter could feel the weight of the siege pressing upon them. Just as King Leodegrance was about to offer further reassurance, something caught his eye in the distance—soldiers wearing Camelot's armour, racing towards them.
His expression lit up with hope. "Finally," he whispered, "Camelot's reinforcements."
King Leodegrance's joy was evident as he spotted the army. "Finally! I thought they'd take forever!" His eagerness to greet them was palpable—so much so that, for a fleeting moment, he imagined rushing down to embrace Lott and Morgan, offering them kisses of gratitude. But he quickly realized that wouldn't be wise. Lott would likely retaliate with violence for such an improper gesture.
Beside him, Guinevere watched the approaching reinforcements with a mix of relief and hesitation. "Are those King Lott's forces?"
"Yes, daughter. You're safe now," Leodegrance assured her.
Guinevere, however, wasn't entirely pleased. She knew the heavy price her father had to pay to gain Lott and Morgan's support—land, money, and political concessions. Despite her reservations, something caught her eye. A knight in shining armour, leading the charge with a commanding presence, caught her breath.
"The knight in the lead… he's so handsome!" she murmured, cheeks reddening as she watched the blonde knight slicing through the enemy ranks with ease. His movements were fluid and graceful, his face calm yet focused. Despite the enemies closing in on him, he was undeterred, cutting down foes left and right as he made his way forward. Riding his warhorse, he seemed to be heading directly toward her.
At that moment, Guinevere couldn't help but feel her heart stir.
The knight she admired was none other than Altria.
Leading the vanguard of the Morgan army, Altria had crossed the sea from England and brought an elite force into Scotland. Upon reaching King Leodegrance's castle, she saw the dire situation, with King Ryan's forces pressing their siege. Without hesitation, she sent word to Lott and, once receiving his swift command to attack, charged forward with her troops.
Altria, wielding the legendary sword in the stone, cut through the enemy ranks. The sword, crafted by Merlin, was far superior to anything wielded by the soldiers or knights she faced. Their weapons and armour were no match for it, and Altria's unmatched skill made her nearly unstoppable.
Though knights like Lancelot and Galahad were close in ability, Altria remained the undisputed best on the battlefield. Her presence alone sowed chaos within King Ryan's army—no one dared face her head-on.
In the heat of battle, Altria sensed someone watching her from behind. "Could it be an enemy preparing to strike from the shadows?" she thought, her instincts on high alert. Strangely, the source of this gaze seemed to come from King Leodegrance's side. Was there a traitor among them?
Dismissing the thought for now, she swung her sword once more, falling another group of soldiers. Her focus returned to the battle as she wondered, "Why haven't Lot and Morgan joined the fight yet?"
In truth, Lott and Morgan had arrived much earlier.
Upon receiving Altria's message, they had moved their forces into position, though they hadn't engaged in battle right away. Lott had another plan in mind.
[If we charge in now, we might get bogged down in a confrontation. No, it's better to flank them, take them by surprise from behind,] Lott thought as he surveyed the battlefield.
Morgan, sensing his thoughts, glanced sideways at him, raising an eyebrow. She knew Lott had a particular fondness for attacking from behind—both in strategy and, she suspected, in personal preference.
She couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious but brushed it off. After all, she trusted Lott's tactical mind completely. If this approach could minimize casualties and ensure victory, she'd support it wholeheartedly.
"I'll deal with the enemy magicians," Morgan said, her voice calm and confident. "There are about three to five of them. I've already blocked their attempts to detect our army. You can attack whenever you're ready."
Lott nodded, trusting Morgan's judgment as much as she trusted his. "Then let's move."
Their forces quietly manoeuvred behind King Ryan's army, preparing to strike at the most opportune moment. Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Altria continued to press forward, aiming to link up with King Leodegrance.
Sensing the danger, King Ryan deployed the majority of his troops to block the two forces from joining together. The clash turned into a bloodbath, with both sides locked in fierce combat.