Upon hearing the news of Tristan's death, King Marco felt an overwhelming wave of sadness crash over him. His hands trembled, and his body seemed to sag under the weight of despair.
"What is this for?" he murmured, voice thick with emotion.
Lott stood nearby, observing the king's turmoil. "This all comes from you, Marko. Relationships aren't one-sided. You thought Isolde loved you, but she only has eyes for Tristan."
King Marco was at a loss for words. He knew Isolde had never truly loved him, yet he had clung to the hope of winning her heart. Time, he believed, would change everything. But now, facing the harsh reality, it seemed all hope was lost.
"Where is Tristan? I need to see him," Marco demanded, his voice trembling with urgency.
"Come with me," Lott replied, leading him to another part of the castle.
As they approached a door, Lott gestured, "It's just ahead."
King Marco nodded, his heart racing as he pushed open the door. The sight before him made his heart drop. "My little Tristan…" he began, only to stop abruptly.
Inside the room, Tristan was alive, busy with matters of state alongside Altria, Bedivere, and others. Relief washed over King Marco, but confusion followed. He rubbed his eyes, trying to comprehend the scene.
Just then, Lott and Morgan entered, with Lott placing a hand on Marco's shoulder. "Okay, okay, continue with your work. I'll take him away," Lott said to Tristan, gently guiding King Marco out.
As soon as they were outside, Marco's anger flared. "You bastard! You tricked me!" he shouted, attempting to strike Lott.
"Calm down," Lott said, restraining him. "I did deceive you. But it was necessary."
"Why would you do this?" Marco demanded, fuming.
"Because I want you to understand—if you don't change, your reality will remain bleak," Lott replied calmly.
"What do you mean?" King Marco was still confused.
Lott continued, "Tristan is crucial to Camelot. I will heed his opinions. I can't just kill you without considering how it would affect him."
"So, the outcome is as I've said before," Lott stated, tying Marco back up. "Think about this: Tristan's life began with tragedy. You don't want it to end in tragedy, do you?"
"Now, I have to prepare for the next battle against Vortigern. You'll stay here and reflect on your choices," Lott concluded, instructing the nearby soldiers to keep watch over Marco.
After Lott left to find Morgan, he couldn't help but smile at her. "Well done, my wife. You thought this through," he praised.
"Of course," Morgan replied, a triumphant glint in her eyes. "I know the value of what I have. I won't wait for the loss to understand it."
She gently squeezed Lott's hand, then added, "But we still need to address the situation with both King Marco and Tristan. Family matters are delicate. For now, we should focus on how to handle Vortigern."
With the looming threat of another battle, they understood the stakes were high. Naskaha had already declared he wouldn't help them again, so it was up to Lott and Morgan to devise a strategy.
"Let's go. Vortigern has been pushing us around with his superior numbers. It's time we retaliate fiercely," Lott declared.
"I won't do any calculations this time," Morgan said.
"No calculations. We need to fight straight on. We have the advantage now; let's not complicate things," Lott advised, a slight smile breaking through his tension.
As they strategized, Lott couldn't help but think about the burdens of leadership. If I overthink, I might lose my hair, he chuckled inwardly. The image of himself bald was too much to bear.
The next day, Camelot's army was prepared to attack Vortigern's forces. The battlefield was set, both sides facing off with numbers nearly equal, though Lott's side had suffered significant losses the previous day.
Despite their smaller numbers, Lott's army surged with renewed confidence, while Vortigern's troops looked weary and demoralized from their earlier defeat.
"Altria, Galahad, I need you two with me," Lott called out, readying his forces to charge.
With a nod, Altria and Galahad rushed forward, weapons drawn, ready to engage Vortigern.
Lott, rallying his troops, declared, "Morgan, you will command the next phase of the battle."
"Understood," she replied, determination in her voice.
With his weapon raised, Lott charged alongside his companions, ready to lead the fight against Vortigern and reclaim their honour.
In the centre of the battlefield, Altria and Galahad clashed fiercely with Vortigern. Their blades danced through the air, creating arcs of deadly energy that sent waves of force rippling outwards.
Around them, soldiers dared not approach; even the mightiest knights within ten meters risked grievous injury from the sheer power of their strikes.
Galahad and Altria coordinated their attacks, working together to suppress Vortigern. His face was drawn, pale from injuries he had yet to recover from. Facing their onslaught, he felt his strength waning, especially compared to the fierce growth Altria and Galahad had experienced since their last encounter.
As the battle raged, Lott focused on the strategy ahead, ready to turn the tide in favour of Camelot once and for all.