A Bitter Victory
The war was over, and Camelot emerged victorious. Yet, the joy of triumph was overshadowed by the lingering threat of Vortigern, who had transformed into a fearsome dragon before escaping. The atmosphere was heavy with apprehension.
"What's with those long faces? Do you think we lost just because you're feeling down? Come on, let's see some smiles!" Lott called out with an encouraging grin, trying to lighten the mood.
"Right! We did win!" Altria chimed in, nodding enthusiastically. Then, turning to Lott with hopeful eyes, she asked, "Your Majesty, can we make tonight's celebration a bit more extravagant?"
"Of course! Eat whatever you want—no restrictions!" Lott replied confidently, patting his chest, thinking, There are plenty of supplies from Vortigern's rations, so I'm not worried about Altria overindulging.
Morgan, standing nearby, couldn't help but smile at Lott's bravado. When did my husband become so generous? Usually, he limits my sister's meals! she mused, shaking her head playfully.
Taking Lott's hand, she said, "Let's celebrate our victory, shall we?"
"Absolutely!" Lott agreed, his tone triumphant. "And by the way, my wife, did you see how magnificent my sword looked when I swung it? Even with Vortigern now a dragon, I could take him down with a single blow!"
Morgan felt reassured, not because Lott's bravado was unfounded, but because she believed in his strength. With a smile, she thought, As long as Lott is here, we'll be fine.
As they walked back, laughter surrounding them, Merlin appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Our great magician has returned!" Morgan said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She had expected better from Merlin, who had vanished at a crucial time, leaving her and Altria to fend for themselves.
"Ah, I just got lost on the path of life," Merlin replied with a sheepish smile, clearly ignoring the frustration on Morgan's face. He had witnessed Lott's battle and Vortigern's transformation and felt compelled to remind them of the danger still looming.
"Even though we may differ, I want you to remember that the outcome against Vortigern should not be determined by anyone else," he advised cryptically.
Nearby, soldiers clearing the battlefield suddenly cried out, "What's this?"
Some of the fallen had lost their disguises, revealing that they were not just ordinary soldiers but fairy beings.
"Goodness, these fairies have been hiding well," Morgan remarked, her expression shifting to one of concern.
Lott's gaze sharpened. "I won't let anyone take the fruits of our victory," he declared, casting a sidelong glance at Merlin. I know what you're implying, old man. Don't even think about trying to steal this from us!
Morgan nodded in agreement. "Yes, he owes us a beating!"
Merlin, sensing their intentions, decided it was best to vanish before he faced their wrath.
The Night of Celebration
That night, while soldiers celebrated their hard-fought victory, Lott and Morgan busied themselves with the wounded and organised the burial of the dead.
"Vortigern is a dragon now. We only need to face one person and one dragon. Our task is simple: we must slay the dragon," Morgan thought as she worked beside Lott, glancing at him.
However, two worries gnawed at her. First, her daughter was still an infant, and second, she doubted that even Altria, as formidable as she was, could face Vortigern on her own.
How can we allow that dragon to wreak havoc on Britain for the next decade? She pondered.
Lott, sensing her concern, was lost in his thoughts. This is a drastic change. We were just fighting each other, and now Vortigern has become a dragon. I can see the fear in everyone's eyes. It's not their fault; facing a dragon feels insurmountable.
The soldiers were in despair, believing they could no longer face Vortigern. The previous tactics that had worked against a man were ineffective against a dragon.
Morgan, looking to Lott for a solution, was met with a surprising thought from him: Maybe I'll just get a good night's sleep. Vortigern is injured, and now isn't the time to panic. I'll find something useful while he's recovering. Perhaps my worries will seem insignificant later on.
Lott felt a sense of calm wash over him. He had faced great odds before and could do so again.