chapter 14:
deception.
Mulan

"Who is there?"

I awaited this day for years, even without knowing it. As Lancelot pulled the rear, I came in from the back and stood behind the chair that held Squirrel.

"Come to watch, my weeping brother?" Brother Salt recognized him as an ally. No knowledge that with a movement of the heart, he is no longer a brother.

Lancelot sliced his throat with ease as I cut the ropes with my dagger, and luckily, Squirrel stayed quiet. With just one look, we nodded and quickly started rounding the tents and watching out for any Paladins.

"I wouldn't."

We came to a stop when we saw Wicklow. He had his Trinity Guard backing him, only holding a holy title to keeo those guard attached to him by a leash. I gripped on tight to Lancelots hand, giving it a hard squeeze.

"Does he remind you of someone? This Fey orphan?" Wicklow smirked.

"You don't need him," Lancelot backed Squirrel behind him.

"Why? Can't he smell out his own kind like some kind of animal? Or is that just your species?"

Shit.

"Find cover," Lancelot looked down at Squirrel, shoving him away and he quickly took off.

"You do have a reputation, but this is the Trinity Guard. You know their skill," Wicklow warned.

"And what is yours?" I asked, "being the Popes bitch?"

"You hold your tongue, if you know what's good for you," Wickloe hissed.

Struck a nerve.

We brought out our twin blades, ringing as they were brought out of their sheathing.

"So be it," Wicklow stepped back as the Trinity Guard stepped forward, and I felt the adrenaline rush through me and-

"Got you."

A familiar voice whispered in my ear and I immediately felt a blade being pressed at my throat. Lancelot looked at me with panic, completely forgetting the Trinity Guard.

"Lancelot!" I cried out as they took his blades from him and attacked with no honor nor any chance for him to win. They used an assortment of weapons, including a ball and chain, and struck him wherever they deemed it fit.

"No more names out of that mouth of yours," He hissed into my ear, and I stayed dangerously still.

"Yoson."

He chuckled, "Watch."

"You sick-"

"Watch!" He yelled, and I winced from the pain of his sword against my throat. I forced my eyes upon the man I claimed to care for, choking back a sob as I watched them tear him apart.

Stop.

"Stop, please," I pleaded.

"What was that?"

S-stop.

His blue eyes landed on mine, just for a mere second, before a guard hit his face in with the butt of a sword and blood trailed down his lips.

"Stop it!" I cried out, "you're going to kill him!"

I'm so sorry.

"I don't think-"

"I'll marry you!" I sobbed, "Just please, make it stop!"

I didn't think my own voice could make such a strong impact, but it did.

"You'll what?"

"I'll marry you. . ."

He released me and the guards stopped their assault on Lancelot, and I ran into his arms, trying to steady him.

"I-I'm so sorry, I-"

"D-Don't. . .don't do this," He breathed out, trying so hard to catch his breath.

"I cannot watch him take you. . ."

I smiled as a few more tears escaped, "And I can't watch you die."

I cradled his bloodied face in my hands and kissed him. He pressed his lips hard against mine, using all his strength to convey his desperate want for me to stay and the passion that he still had left in him. Yet I remembered the words he said to me, and how scared I was to say them back. How terrified I was of three words.

"I love you," I whispered, the smallest of smiles cracking at his lips.

"Mulan, we must-ah!"

My eyes darted to Yoson cradling his head, and then to the small child holding one of Lancelots swords.

"Who's first?!"

And with that distraction, Lancelot quickly picked up his sword and took on the unsuspecting guard.

"Mulan. Come here. Now," I nodded, rushing at Yoson, with no blades, no daggers, but with my wit.

"Mulan, let's g-agh!"

And a broken arrow.

"We are going nowhere. I love him, and I will marry him," He gasped for breath as I twisted it.

"I will bare his children, I will make him happy, and I will do it all without ever looking behind me," And for the final blow, I yanked out the arrow and stabbed it into his eye and through his skull, letting his dead body fall to the ground. A wave of relief fell upon me, but I knew the battle wasn't over yet.

"Come on! We have to get up!" Without even a single glance, I ran to Lancelot and Squirrel, who was pathetically trying to get him up.

"We have to go," I nodded, setting his arm around my shoulders.

"Come on! Get up!" Squirrel shouted, trying to encourage him as we limped on over to Goliath and Squirrel took the lead as I pushed Lancelot to be in the middle. Holding up his body, I took the back and Squirrel quickly took off.

We did it. . .

I did it.

I killed Yoson.

"Thank you," I thanked him, and he glanced back at me.

"You're going to be a great knight someday, Squirrel," I smiled as the sun started to approach us, and I felt like the night passed by so quickly and the sun was forcing itself upon us.

"Squirrel?" My eyes widened as Lancelot spoke.

"What is your real name?"

"Squirrel," The boy stubbornly replied.

"Heh. . .that's an animal, not a person," He chuckled.

"I don't like my name. . .it's Percival."

Percival?

How fitting for a knight.

"What's your name?" Percival asked him.

"Lancelot. . .long ago, my name was Lancelot," He answered with a small smile in his voice.

"What about you, lady?" I smiled.

"For now. . I'll just go by Mulan," Setting my head on his shoulder, my eyes coming to a close, I drifted off to sleep, knowing everything was going to be okay.

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