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Lancelot is furious, as he meets up with all surviving knights in the Great Hall. Out of all the remaining knights, he was considered the closest in terms of honour to the Great King.

He paces. "This is unacceptable behaviour. All of you could have taken better actions, and yet you all fell to madness, like wild beasts, resulting in an abnormal number of casualties. As we all have more pressing matters to attend to, for the time being, this will be forgotten. Do not make me regret my decision. If ever anything like this happens in the future, you must find me or another Great Knight outside the battlefield. It is in our code to enforce existing justice, not to make our own. However, I do have to commend that not all of you made terrible decisions. I must now take care of search parties to find the Great King, and to fill our ranks of knights."

He points to the round table behind him. "Do you see this? This is our vow as a great knight, to uphold honour, valour, glory, and chivalry. To feel pride in our actions and help those in need. There are only four of us left now, and it means from all of you here, three of your will rise to become a Great Knight. Prove yourselves now, that you are worthy of this title. The first sign of a Great Knight is that she or he must stand above the others, and know when to not fight. If any knights have commendations of current knights, or if any knights wish to speak up about what happened, please do so now."

"How dare you."


The words came bubbling up to the surface of the ranged knights anger, Damien unable to hold himself back. "While I commend you Sir Lancelot on your actions today, you were not present in that room when everything went to madness." He could feel his fists digging into the palms of his hands, feeling scorned not just by the great knight but from his own actions. "We all understand what being a knight means, we all have our own ideas on what should be upheld as such, but we lacked guidance during that time, need I remind you that our great knights, may we mourn their passing, were locked in combat against each other and ourselves as a battle of wills." He continued without Blinking. "Tell me, where were their sense of justice when that happened? What were they enforcing other than a blade down our necks?"

"We all made calls that maybe in hindsight, should not have pursued with, myself included, but hindsight is a luxury in times of great stress Sir Lancelot." he took a swift inhale of air, calming, stress reducing air. "We did what we thought was right, Moving the gate, taking arms against our leading knights or simply doing nothing but watch, refusing to act. but we did what we all though was right, was just, Sir." It was a man that was tired and weary from what happened, one that had wished for simpler days. "We were led down there, and the three great knights had different views on what should be done with the gate, using it as a weapon, destroying it or protecting it, and led to a falling out and contest of wills between them. I was one who helped move the gate saw creatures that makes me worry of what looms in the future. The sidhe Queen appeared and saw prospects upon our ranks, claimed there were a few who claimed loyalty to her cause. I refused to arm myself against our fallen brethren, and I will not scold anyone that chose a different course of action. Now please excuse me, I'd like to seek the guidance of the great knight that I swore fealty to."

He was allowed to be angry to, but no one else needed to incur his emotions. with his shoulders squaring up a little higher, he off to the courtyard to see if things were still in disarray after the battle. Someone had to check up on the chickens.

He stood at attention, his eyes closed as he listened to Lancelot’s scolding. It was almost embarrassing to be lectured by the Great Knight, but considering the multiple failures of the siege, TK could not protest against it. At some time, he inhaled deeply through his nose and breathed out through his nose in order to keep himself calm and neutral to the entire situation. These were not the words he preferred to hear, but it was also something he had to hear. He continued to listen with reluctant attention. Eyes finally opened when he heard a gold knight speak up. TK narrowed his eyes at the brunette and pursed his lips to keep himself quiet.

The man was already walking away when TK decided to speak up. Golden eyes flickered toward the gold knight’s shrinking figure, but eventually stared past Lancelot. His voice was loud at first, perhaps to subtly try and catch the exiting knight’s attention, but eventually returned to normal volume. “What we believe to be just may not always be the correct decision,” he began, “and when greater authorities act in the wrong, is it not the subordinates’ duty to stand up to their leaders?” He paused. TK could not remember much after the three Great Knights began to attack each other, but from what others’ said he could piece the situation together.

“I cannot say which strategy was ultimately the best, and it is useless to say so because obviously it was not executed. I also cannot say who is at fault here—us knights should have gathered more information before making our final decisions, but I also believe the three Great Knights should have been more cooperative with each other as well as us.” A pause. “But considering Sir Morgan’s betrayal, perhaps some discretion should also be observed.”

“I think…” Another pause. “The best advice would be to exercise more open communication while also keeping certain vital secrets private unless the circumstances call for otherwise. I think another point to consider is the different opinions and ‘factions’ that formed during the siege, and that during trying times it is best to try and act together when we can. Gathering everyone under one banner can be difficult, so I think new Great Knights to fill the vacancies would be vital, but I am afraid I cannot recommend anyone off of the top of my head. There was no true set of ‘correct’ answers, so I cannot consider anyone here to be a proper candidate.”

As much as Wilson told himself to stand straight and proper, he could not help but lean forward slightly with shame. He felt like there could have been so much more he could have done, all of it stemming with the fact he lacked confidence in himself. He simply could not summon the power to move forward with earnest conviction, to move quickly and decisively. If only he had not let himself get swept away into the courtyard, perhaps then he could have assisted in doing something he felt more attuned to. Offensive was not his forte, but at least he had been able to see firsthand lead Morgan into a room that most knights should not even know of.

He stood with hands behind his back as a few knights began to speak up, offering their insights. It was the most recent knight that caught the man’s attention. He lifted his head to peer above the crowd. The blue knight introduced himself and pleaded his case, and Wilson could not help but step forward. “While you may have been one of the first, if you had not acted first I’m confident another knight would have gone in your place. To put so much blame on you simply because you acted quicker is a bit…”

Wilson a shot a look to TK. “Besides, I think he had a point. Everyone here had a hand in contributing to this mess. I myself acted too little, I think, and should have done more. I could not help but wonder why Sir Morgan led us down there—to a room that appeared to be a secret and perhaps should have stayed a secret, and I should’ve been more suspicious. I think with what little we knew at the time we did the best we could at the time, but that doesn’t mean there’s room for improvement in the future.”

He pursed his lips. “I cannot name any names, but I think anyone who tried to rally everyone together and anyone who tried to prevent internal conflict are suitable candidates to become Great Knights.”

The twenty-fiveyear old did not flinch from the Great Knight Sir Lancelot's anger. His fury and disappointment was justified. Three of the Great Knights were either dead or to the winds. He fought with Sir Percival, his strength, his leadership was admirable as he led the rampart company of destroying the castle gate. He stood by Percival's views, it was with what the Great King's wishes were. At least, he believed them to be the Great King's wishes. He could hear the three-way argument between the three knights and frowned upon two of the three options given. It was for that he had to act. He felt that he had to defend and protect the king's wishes against those who defied them.

Would it have been better if he had done nothing? Would it have mattered? His hand gripped tighter around the round, steel pommel of his blade.

"Sir Lancelot, much had transpired during the night. We had the luxury of a forewarning of the oncoming assault as a massive company of shadows marched toward our home. We did our best to ready the ballistas and fortify the gates for the siege to come. Before long, nightfall brough chaos. Sir Percival led the charge on the ramparts, to destroy the drawbridge before we lost the gate. We succeeded in destroying the bridge, but we did not expect a tar dragon to climb the castle battlements. We fought it. Sir Percival saved me from my own foolish pride." Uru kept his head low, his right arm across his knee. He could not look at the Great Knight head on. Not yet.

"After what was said and done, Sir Percival was informed of something, something that troubled him greatly. It was his command to follow him back into the castle. He guided us through the halls, halls we knight-apprentices have entered. We reached a runed archway that led us to the Great King's treasure room. Sir Morgan was already there with a company of his own. Sir Percival, Sir Gawain, and he shared words on an action involving the Gate and Mirror. Sir Morgan insisted on using the gate, to seal the sidhe inside. It was argued that it would also a possibility that it would break, releasing the contained free within the castle which was a greater threat. Sir Gawain believed that it was an evil to be destroyed, the cause of the sieges on our kingdom. Sir Percival spoke of the Great King's wishes. It was then that the three struck at one another, I believe in defense." The apprentice nodded. He believed it now, in hindsight. If he had said that they had attacked one another, it would draw the three in a horrible light. Even if it had appeared that was the intention of one party or another. "The gate was in the treasure room for a reason. The Great King, he would not keep a dangerous object such as that there for no reason. It was there and I chose the lesser of the evils. I would not destroy the gate. I would not use it directly. There were those who would. I chose to assist in moving it. I... I must have inadvertently made it active by that action, and for that, I will accept my punishment."

"Sir Gawain had fallen to madness, he accused us of gone mad, betrayed the Great King. Corrupted and tainted. For that, Sir Percival took it upon himself to fall Sir Percival. Sir Morgan and Sir Percival went at each other once more, this time in question of loyalties. I... Attacked Sir Morgan. I had allied myself to Sir Percival for his leadership and his saving of me earlier that night. Now, I understand what I had done and it was wrong. I had attacked a knight, but please know that it was to incapacitate. We all abandoned our code of conduct. We... All had became errant. We may have believed we were just and right in our actions but we were not." His brows furrowed as his lips drew in tight and down. "The Dark Lady Morgana had came forth, revealing her facade from Sir Morgan. She claimed that there were those loyal, that some were deemed worthy of her yet."

Uru stood then, looking at Sir Lancelot with furrowed brows. "We need our Great Knights for we have a greater threat on the horizon." He nodded quickly. "I have given you my report, Sir Lancelot. I must go find Sir Merlin and seek his council. Excuse me."

As he spoke to Lancelot, the more agitated he got. He was not there. He was out on the front lines. Uru was not a coward for being in the castle. It was his orders to serve the castle and the Great Knight who commanded him. He could not simply abandon the confrontation to seek out he other Great Knights.

Nellie had remained silent the entire time while other knights and apprentice-knights stepped forward to fill Lancelot in on what exactly transpired back in the Treasure room that landed them in the mess they were in right now on top of losing three Great Knights to boot. Despite trying her darnest, she felt that she had failed not only Gawain but everything that she had tried to achieve through her efforts back then. Powerless to prevent one tragedy after another from happening.

Now that she had a chance though to redeem herself, to share with everyone present that Gawain was initially of sound mind till something happened at some point to drive him to madness, she mustered up the courage to step forth and offer her own account of what had happened. "I was with Sir Gawain, tending to the wounded, when the siege happened. When Sir Mordred brought news that Sir Morgan had with him a group of knights with the intention of moving the gate, Sir Gawain led a group of us to the Treasure room but not without warning us first of the gate and the sidhe who may already be amongst us."

It was Gawain's warning and the fact that she carried a ranged weapon in the form of a longbow that kept her at bay and allowed her to observe from afar what happened. "They fought. Sir Morgan wanted to use the gate's powers to save Camelot. Sir Percival wanted to keep it safe till the Great King decides what to do with it. Sir Gawain thought it best to destroy it." She stopped, a heaviness settling in her heart as she pondered over whether Gawain's demise might have been averted had she chose to step in back then.

"I stood by Sir Gawain's decision the entire time. There were a couple of us who worked together to try to destroy the gate. But we weren't able to do it before the mirror came into contact with it." She dabbed at her eyes. "By the time I knew it, Sir Gawain had already lost his mind. He attacked everyone present, including those who fought to defend him. Sir Percival had no other choice but to kill him in order to save everyone. Sir Morgan was the next to fall. The rest..." She looked down, wanting to be finished with her piece as soon as possible so that she could grieve in her own way for the Great Knights who had fallen. "... is exactly as what most of the others before me have said, Sir Lancelot."

He was thrilled to see Lancelot, he really was. Even with the tongue-lashing he was giving everyone, there was a massive weight lifted off of Arrakis' shoulders to see him. There was also quiet vindication in the back of his mind that defending Percival for as long as he'd been able had been the most right of several dubious available decisions. He leaned heavily against a wall, frankly wishing mostly for a long, hot bath, some food, and some bandages. And maybe a hair cut, with how much dried blood, his own and others, was in his hair.

Though, honestly, it had hurt his heart deeply to go for Morgan, when Arrakis had thought that was who he was. Yes, it was to defend Percival, but... Arrakis couldn't honestly blame Lancelot for being furious with them all.

He didn't really have anything to add, himself, to the reports others were giving. Morgan--no, Morgana--was ultimately an enemy agent and had betrayed them all. Gawain was dead. Percival was dead. Arrakis tried not to think too hard about that last, tried not to let it dig at him. He had done the best he could. He knew that. There was nothing else he could have done, and the important thing was that he was alive to tell about it, wasn't it?

Yeah...

He also tried not to replay the image of Percival's death over and over in his mind. The image of Morgana completely annihilating him. The sound of his body being ripped apart. The sharp stab of horror and dismay as he watched his leader slaughtered. It had hurt to see the others fall, but Percival was the one he had sworn to serve, follow, and protect. It was Percival's blue on Arrakis' vestments, shredded and bloody as they were.

God, but he was exhausted.

So exhausted that he only dully realised at first that one of the others there--a girl with brown hair and clothes--was commending him to Lancelot. Once it processed, surprise visibly showed on his face. Him? Really? Him? He hadn't done anything special or spectacular. He'd done his duty, nothing more. Nothing more than any of the others, certainly. Was he really, honestly, worthy of that kind of nomination?

Koray sat up flinching at the Great Knight's words. He felt like a child being scolded by their parent. Part of him still reeling from the many....many...many failed attempts on Morgan. No...Morgana. He closed his eyes tightly. That hurt. Morgan was their enemy from the start...did this mean that the Great King wasn't missing but instead captured. That they...weren't going to survive this? The youth rested his forehead on his knee. Listening to the Great Knight's words while also drifting in his own mind. He blinked then bracing himself on the wall spoke up as he heard a lull in the voices around him.

"While I regrettably lost my way at the start of this....incident. I only saw us standing divided upon entering the Treasure Room. After defending the ramparts with Sir Percival I decided to stand by him as Morgan seemed to keen on the mirror. Its with great shame I admit to striking against Sir Morgan. I felt he had slipped to madness and something was wrong with his spirit. As the chaos ensued. I aided others in the attack against Sir Morgan. I did not land the final blow as I...ran into issues." he glared at the wall he was leaning on. "From what I do recall. Sir Gawain seemed lost. Sir Percival was resolute in defeating Sir Morgan..."

He shivered as he was awake enough to witness Morgan becoming Morgana and the slaying of Sir Percival. He blinked somewhere in that chaos he remembered those urging the others NOT to fight. Among them...Noah...he stood tall. "Sir Lancelot...there's a knight here who goes by the name Noah...I'd like you to consider him to replace one of our fallen brothers. Though I know there were others urging us not to fight. He stands out in my memory. By your leave, I shall go aid my brothers and sisters in cleaning the Courtyard..."

With that Koray staggered out.