Page 79 of To Love a Dark Lord

“Don’t you go getting a crush,” she said to the enormous animal. “I don’t want to see what happens if you two get it on.” She headed back into the keep, ignoring Mordred.

“Gwendolyn—” He reached for her as she passed.

“Not now.” She brushed him off. Arguing with him was the last thing she wanted to do at the moment. Galahad was still holding Zoe’s lifeless body in his arms, rocking her back and forth and crying into her dark hair.

Before their eyes, she shimmered, and disappeared into dust that glittered in the fading sun. Galahad doubled over, weeping, his head in his hands.

Gwen knelt beside him. “I…I’m sorry.”

“You did not have a choice. To bring peace to this world, I knew a life must be sacrificed. As much as I love her, I—” Galahad grimaced. “I knew that this could happen. I saw her going astray. But I could not leave her side.”

“She was trying to do what was right in the end. By any means necessary.” Gwen glanced over at Mordred. “Which seems to be a theme around here.”

Galahad took a breath and nodded before letting it out in a long, broken sigh. “So it seems.”

“Can…you forgive me for this?” Gwen frowned.

After a long pause, Galahad shook his head. “But neither can I hate you for it. We are at peace, Lady Gwendolyn, for the brief time I continue to live.”

That was good enough. Reaching out, she pulled him into a hug. The love of his life was dead. Galahad allowed her to hold him and leaned against her. Mordred stood some ten feet away, staring. Waiting.

When Galahad’s tears dried, he wiped his face before gently pushing out of Gwen’s grasp and hefting up to his feet. He faced Mordred, approaching the Prince in Iron before kneeling and bowing his head. “Take my life.”

Mordred pulled his sword from his sheath.

Gwen wanted to stop him. Wanted to spare Galahad. But what was the point? What reason would he have to go on? Zoe was dead and dust. This was a mercy, of sorts.

Mordred raised his blade, ready to cleave the Knight in Gold’s head from his shoulders. He paused. Then slowly lowered the blade back to his side. “Stand, old man.”

Galahad looked up, grayed brows furrowed in confusion. “What manner of cruelty is this?”

“You will not die by my hand.” Mordred turned from them and headed into his keep, ignoring the stares of everyone as he disappeared inside.

“I do not wish to live without her, Lady Gwendolyn,” Galahad said from where he knelt, pleading with her. “End my life. It is a mercy.”

Gwen sighed and shut her eyes. She didn’t want to kill Galahad any more than Mordred did. Then it hit her. “Take the skiff and go home.”

He watched her in disbelief. “I have raised my sword against you.”

“Yeah. But you did it out of love.” Gwen shook her head. “I can’t kill you. I just can’t. You don’t deserve to die like that. You’ve…you’ve been such a good friend. But I can’t let you stay either. So…”

He nodded in understanding. “Home. Yes. I will return to my people in Tir n’Aill. Perhaps the trees will take me, and I will grow as one of them. Perhaps my soul will be free to join my beloved.” The act of getting to his feet looked painful. He seemed so very tired. She knew he wouldn’t last long, away from Avalon and its magic that was keeping him alive. “I will depart in the morning.”

“I’ll send you off.” She smiled faintly. “Like you did for me.”

He nodded once. “May I…sleep the night here?”

“Of course.”

Turning, Galahad walked away, each step looking painful.

With a weary sigh, Gwen walked back up the stairs and knelt down by Eod to pet him. The dog licked her cheek, sensing her sadness.

‘What’s next, boss?” Bert asked. She didn’t miss the excitement and happiness in his voice, even if he was doing his best to hide it. His side had won, after all.

“I need to settle things with Mordred before I exile him from the island. Anyone who wants to come with me to Camelot is welcome to join. There’s a lot of work to be done.”

“What will become of the iron soldiers without Mordred?” Bert shook his head. “I’d…hate to see anything happen to them.” The silent subtext was Maewenn and Tim, both of whom were standing nearby.

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