To Camelot We Go

By Donna and Abs

It was the week before Christmas and in the town of Edan everything was quiet. At least until it came time for those that were planning on going to spend Christmas in Camelot to pack up and leave. It was decided for safety’s sake, they would all travel together. When the day came for them to leave, the pony express riders who were going to watch the farms for those who wanted to go took their belongings out to what would be their homes for the next couple of weeks. 

It was getting colder, and Buck offered to stay at a farm with Shiloh, so she could be warmer than she might be in a teepee.  She tried to say that she was fine, but he would not be dissuaded. 

At Katherine's place, Trapper Connor had come in to take care of the place. All their baggage was packed into the enclosed back of the buggy along with Kat and the baby. She smiled at John as he carefully wrapped warm blankets around them.  

On their way into town, they joined two more buggies. Charity and Sam Grey were going. She was almost six months pregnant and getting fairly large already, and Ceara and Patrick Harper had told them they would take care of the animals while they were gone. 

The other buggy that they encountered was driven by MacGyver. Marie was sitting bundled up under a warm blanket beside him. Carol, now seven months along, had decided to stay home. Most of the other pregnant women were doing the same - including the fae!  Doc Adams had told Prudence that he would rather she did not go, and had even offered to stay in town with her, because she had had so many problems already.  The same went for Temperance McBain.  Hydra and Quinn both remained home with their husbands. 

In town, a nervous Faith MacDonald was waiting by the stagecoach while the driver, Con Madigan, threw her bag up on top along with those of the two priests, Father Alec and Father Liam. Also riding in the stage was going to be the vet and his lady friend, Wyoming Davis. There was no way she was going to miss going to Camelot!  

Faith had wanted to see Camelot, especially for Christmas.  Although it had gotten cooler at night in Edan, it was a desert climate, and she really wanted to see snow.  But she was going without her sisters, and when Father Alec offered to escort her, she had balked.  That was when Liam offered to go as well. Her sisters insisted that she go. With two priests along, she was certainly going to be well looked after!  

At the last minute, three more passengers showed up. Ev wasn't about to miss out on seeing Camelot at Christmas either, and she was dragging both Rayden and Danziger along with her! Con took one look at Danzinger and invited the big man to sit up with him on the driver's seat. Tom and Wy squeezed into the same seat with Father Alec and Faith, while Father Liam, Rayden and Ev made themselves comfortable in the other. As Father Alec place his arm around her shoulders so she could move closer to him in the cramped quarters of their seat, Faith blushed prettily, but said nothing as she all but had to sit in the priest’s lap!  

Behind the coach, the buggies were lined up. Methos had to go; it would seem rude for the Mayor of Edan not to show his face.  And Crystal had a long way to go with her pregnancy.  Their buggy was as smooth running as it could be, and would be less jolting than riding horseback, or in the stage.  He wished the train was done, but that just wasn't going to happen! Sarah Jo and Duncan were riding with them, so at least he had someone to spell him for the driving.  

In deference to the women that were pregnant, the pace they were going to set was going to be fairly slow, with frequent rest stops along the way, including an overnight stay planned at the monastery! The priests were certainly excited about that prospect, and could not wait to see the place.  When they arrived, they were surprised to find a woman within the cloistered walls! 

Not that she was a normal woman. Monica had been there for several weeks now, having come there right after the Thanksgiving Harvest feast, and was planning on going with them when they left to continue on to Camelot the next day. When she saw Father Liam step out of the coach, her face lit up with a bright smile.  

The man on her right, a burly monk of more than middle years, smiled to himself when he saw the smile.  He knew more about her than anyone else who was now entering the grounds of the monastery, and had sworn to keep the secret in his own bosom.  But he was astute enough to see something she apparently did not even know herself! 

He was very pleased to see yet another priest step down from the coach. Alec stretched and then reached up to take Faith by her tiny waist to lift her down.  

With Darius away at Camelot on a permanent basis, Cadfael was one of the older monks - and one of the only ones who was his age by mortal bearing!  The other, brother Paul, was quite young.  There were two Brother Pauls, the second being Immortal, and some centuries Cadfael's senior.  Then there was Brother Kalas, who was also much older, but did not seem that way.  The others, Timon and Duncan, were young Immortals. 

Standing beside Brother Duncan was a giant of a man, who grinned broadly when he saw someone he knew get down from the buggy he been riding in with Methos and then help the now very obviously pregnant Sarah Jo down. She had wanted to come along, not only to see Brother Cadfael again, but also to see Camelot for herself.  

The Giant left one Duncan and rushed to the other, picking him up in a massive bear hug that nearly broke his back!  "Easy there!" said Cadfael in some distress as he rushed over to pry the big man off the other. 

"Welcome, friend!" Ursa said happily.  

"Good to see you again, Ursa," Duncan chuckled. "Did the good brothers have you join their choir here too?"  

Being monks, they sang each office, and they did respect a good voice.  But all turned to look at Kalas, the best of them all, for the answer. Kalas nodded. Even though Ursa was mentally challenged even more than Gideon was, he had a lovely singing voice, and was much happier at the monastery than he had been at Sadaam. 

Once everyone was out of the buggies, the horses were unhitched and taken to the stables to be cared for while the visitors were shown to their quarters for the night. Most of the rooms only had single beds, but there were some small chambers with simple straw beds for couples that preferred not to be separated for the night.  

Most of the women were paired off, but two were single - Monica and Faith.  Monica wondered if the other girl would be all right staying alone, and asked her if this arrangement suited her.  For she had no objections to doubling up with her, if she wanted it. 

When Faith said that she did not mind being in a room by herself,  Cadfael showed her to a tiny room, or cell, as the monks called them. It was right next door to the one Monica was staying in, figuring the young woman would be safe and secure there. As she watched the priests she had traveled with follow Cadfael to be lodged with the other men of the cloth, Monica could not help but see the look on Faith's sweet face. 

"You like him, don't you?" she asked in her soft Irish lilt. 

"Aye," Faith said softly. "Father Alec is a bonny man, 'ev if he is a priest."  

"I hear tell that makes no difference here," said Monica with a smile. "They get married anyway, and so they should.  God wants babies." 

"Aye," Faith smiled. "Me sister Hope is bein' courted by one of the guid Fathers. Perhaps they wa be the next to be wed."  

"And why then aren't you being courted by that one?" Monica asked with a twinkle in her eye. Faith just blushed in reply.  

The stay at the monastery was restful. The brothers provided a simple, but very nourishing feast for all their guests, and afterwards, those who wanted to, gathered in the chapel to listen to the Latin chants of the monks. Sarah Jo met Katherine's eye, and after several songs, they stood up and joined the singers, their sweet voices providing an almost heavenly counterpoint to the deeper ones of the men. Smiling brightly, Monica took the bashful Faith by the hand, and they joined the other ladies in lifting up their voices in joyful song.  

Methos started singing, too, with a gusto that surprised all.  Amazingly, the one silent voice belonged to Crystal, who had a beautiful soprano.  Although Italian, she had not been raised Catholic and did not know *any* Latin! 

Mercy, who was traveling with Rob Roy MacGregor, joined in the chorus, and Brother Kalas found himself directing a good-sized choir. Those who didn't join in the singing just sat and enjoyed it.  

It was very moving, and Cadfael, watching, smiled through his emotion.  Brother Paul, the senior, was also moved to tears! 

The next morning, those who wished rose at dawn to join the morning worship and afterwards enjoyed a hearty breakfast before the horses were all hitched up again. As the coach and all the buggies left the confines of the monastery, they were surprised to find a large contingent of mounted knights waiting for them on the road.

"Further up the road," said one mounted knight, "the weather turns poor.  We had word of your coming, and thought to escort you to Camelot safely." The knights spaced themselves out along the caravan, their great white horses easily bearing the weight of the men and their armor. Sir Lancelot and Sir Patrise led the way, their eyes ever vigilant for any signs of trouble on the road.  

Gawain was also there, but Count Vronsky, the military liaison, was not.  When Methos asked, Lancelot told him, "Your military envoy arrived yesterday, and the Count had to entertain him." 

Duncan chuckled at the look on Methos' face. "He must have passed us when we were at one of the rest stops," the younger Highlander said. "Was he traveling alone, Sir Lancelot? Or did he have women with him?"  

The knight colored.  "He was alone.  He . . . has his eye on the Oriental maiden of our house.  Her name is Jewel." 

Both Duncan and Methos laughed out loud at that bit of news. "He is consistent at least!" Duncan said to Methos.  

"He wants a girl in every port," Methos accused, but he managed to sound wistful and a little nostalgic when he said it. 

As they climbed ever higher to Camelot, the dusting of snow on the road turned into a white blanket that was a good six inches deep or more and even more was falling! The heavier stage coach cleared the way for the lighter buggies, so other than the passengers having to huddle deeper under the furs and blankets, the journey went without any problem.  

Suddenly the two knights in the lead halted their horses, as did everyone following them. "Behold Camelot!" Sir Patrise called out proudly as the sight of the beautiful fairy tale like castle became visible to them all, nestled like a sparkling jewel set against a backdrop of snow covered mountains.