Oh brother (Galahad)

[Deleted]

Lancelot wasn't really paying attention as he walked past the boys dorms, why should he? It wasn't like he lived there, or even really knew anybody who lived there, but something caught his eye and he actually turned to look at the place - a small pile of boxes.

Immediately, he imagined a damsel he could heroically help - ok, so carrying boxes wasn't exactly the most dramatic thing he could do, but it was chivalrous and that was all part of being a knight - though his hope was dashed quickly when he realised that it was, indeed, the boys dorms, and sure enough it was a male figure who emerged to pick up the next box.

He was about to keep going, until he realised that it wasn't very knightly to decide not to help someone just because they weren't a damsel, imagine if he'd been in actual distress? Besides, it wasn't like he had anything better to do, so he wandered over to the boy.

"Need any help?"

[galahad]

Galahad didn't have a lot of material wealth. He had a few things that he valued himself for sentimental reasons, like a wooden box with some napkin rings in it from back at home, and some embroidery his mother had been teaching him (it was really heroic embroidery, with scenes from myth and legend on it. Not some really girly thing with flowers and an inspiring quote). Those were packed up in the boxes by the door. The things he'd carried in at first were the most important things practically speaking. Bedclothes. People clothes. A mirror.

Then he went back for the other things, but as soon as he got there he saw that there was a guy standing by them. He hesitated, slowing his pace a little as he came closer to his pile of things.

"If you'd like," he agreed amicably. "I do appreciate the offer. I've only just arrived, and I feel as if I'm a bit overwhelmed already. I'm fairly sure I'm in the right dormitory at least. There haven't been any screaming ladies to tell me otherwise."

He grabbed one of the boxes, the one with his napkin rings in it, and nodded toward the door.

"I'm here on a quest," he informed the newcomer, rather unnecessarily.

[Deleted]

Lancelot snorted slightly at the quip about screaming ladies, at least it seemed he'd chosen to help someone fairly amusing, or at least not instantly annoying, which could happen sometimes at Avalon, people from all different places with all different customs, first impressions could be dangerous things.

Leaning over, he grabbed one of the boxes, lifting it apparently easily - or at least, that was the intention, a little of the strain did actually show on his face, much as he tried to pretend there was nothing to it.

"A quest?" He repeated, a little confused why he was being told this, although perhaps this boy realised he was a (soon-to-be) Knight of Camelot and that could help... even though there was no way he could know that, so it was probably just because he liked to share that sort of thing, it wasn't like Lancelot could really talk, he was here following his destiny after all.

[galahad]

If Galahad noticed the other man's attempt to conceal the effort of lifting one of the boxes, he made no mention of it. He considered for a moment how different this situation would have been if he and his brother had come to a place like this together for their schooling.

As it was, Galahad wasn't even sure how he had found his way there. There had been a never-ending wheat field and some ethereal voices telling him that what he was looking for could be found here, and once he'd gotten to the school, someone had directed him to a portal, though which he'd been able to go back home and bring back a few of his things. But no one had been able to explain what it was that had brought him here in the first place. He was reluctant to mention the voices in the wheat field - even in a time of superstition and sorcery, that sounded a little questionable when you went around blathering about it.

"Yes," he nodded. "I'm sorry, that was quite random, wasn't it? I suppose I should have begun with an introduction at least, before I start in on quests and prophecies. I'm called Galahad."

[Deleted]

"And prophecies?" Lance raised an eyebrow "Sounds interesting." He was very into destiny and suchforth, it was the kind of thing that you were surrounded by when you lived with the Lady of the Lake, that and he believed so strongly in his own destiny that it would be sort of strange to not believe in other peoples, and quests and prophecies were all linked in to that same sort of thing.

I'm Lancelot, nice to meet you." He added "I'd offer my hand, but it's kind of occupied." He chuckled, lifting the box a little to indicate what he meant, even if it was a little obvious.

[galahad]

Galahad nodded. It was very interesting, at least in his opinion. He was almost certain that he had been in some realm between realms before he'd gotten here. There were no endless wheat fields where he came from, certainly none with spirits in them that whispered about things. The whispering he remembered, remembered it very well. It echoed in his mind almost constantly, as his brain tried to work out the meaning. He had made no progress on that, since the whispering was all in some language he had never heard.

"And you," he said, nodding again. "I appreciate the help. I...don't think I was meant to do this alone." That made perfect sense in his head. He had been meant to have a brother. Brothers did things together, helped one another move their things when they relocated, gave each other a hand when it was needed. "Can I ask...that is, if you don't mind, do you know if there are knights here?"

[Deleted]

"Knights?" Lancelot repeated, laughing "Yea, I'd say so."
He was a split second away from saying that he was one, but he realised just in time that it would probably come back to bite him, Arthur still hadn't officially knighted him, and he didn't think the last time counted, so instead he added; "I'm working to be one myself, it's my destiny."

That part, at least, he was very firm on, the actual current state of his knighthood was questionable, but the fact that it would happen eventually, that was assured.

"I think there might be other knights here, but the very best knights in any land are those that serve Camelot, and I'm going to be one of them. Why do you ask?"

[galahad]

Galahad had somehow expected as much. There had to be knights here...something had led him here, and something had given him the idea that his brother was a noble knight. He had just assumed that those were the same somethings that had given him those notions.

"Camelot," he repeated, nodding. "Yes, I imagine so." That would be where his brother was, then...if the very best knights were of Camelot, his brother must surely be one of them.

"I have a brother who's a knight," he explained. "At least, I believe he is. Instinct has told me he is. I've come here to find him. And to gain an education as well, I'd like to be a knight myself and I imagine they must be courtly and educated, is that so?"

[Deleted]

..Courtly and educated... Lancelot thought about it, considering some of the knights he had known. Well, he supposed it was sort of true.
"Well..." he said slowly "In Arthur's court, at least, you have to be... being courteous and noble is quite important, in fact being nobility is very important, you have to be to become a knight, it's one of those stupid rules..."

He wasn't sure about educated, but it probably helped so he wasn't going to tell the kid not to bother.

"This is a pretty good school." he added "So... who's your brother? If he's a knight, maybe I've heard of him."

[galahad]

Stupid rules? Galahad felt a twinge of discomfort at that. As far as he knew, following the rules was one of those knightly things you were supposed to do to honour your king and your lady and all those other people you respected as a knight. He was certain his brother wouldn't talk about the rules in such a flippant manner, but he wasn't going to tell Lancelot that. Offending people wasn't very knightly either.

"Er..." He faltered. "Odd story, that...I don't really know my brother. He was taken, you see, before I was born, so I've never met him. But he's a brilliant knight, I'm sure of it."

He was going to add something else, probably telling Lancelot to imagine the bravest, noblest knight he knew because that was probably his brother, but it occurred to him that Lancelot's definition of brave and noble might differ slightly from his. Especially given his disregard for the rules.

[Deleted]

"...Right." Lance said slowly, and he really hoped that Galahad wasn't going to be disappointed by whatever his brother was really doing, but then again who was he to comment? He'd come here totally convinced he was going to be one of Arthur's knights, and hadn't yet let anything dissuade him of the idea, so perhaps it wasn't entirely strange that Galahad might have come here with similar hopes - just for someone else instead of himself.

"Where was he taken?" He asked, to avoid saying something that would only annoy the other boy, and he didn't want to make a bad impression this early in the conversation, he already had a track record for that and he didn't want to keep at it.

[galahad]

Galahad had hopes for himself, of course, they just fell into the category of following in his brother's footsteps. All his life he'd been held to the standard of the brother he'd never known (mostly by himself), and he was determined that he'd live up to it someday. All he needed was to locate said brother so he could get a clearer idea of the example he was following.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I don't think I've ever known. I only know that he was gone and my father was dead before I was born. My mother didn't...doesn't...like to speak of it unless she absolutely must. It's very painful for her, I know. I can only imagine. It pains me to think of it, and I never knew either of them, so it must have been awful for her."

[Deleted]

Lancelot was silent for a very long moment, lost in his own past. His mother, well, foster mother, had told him how he had come to be in her care, and now he couldn't help but wonder. What had happened to his father? And his mother? Were they out there somewhere, sill alive, thinking of the child they lost? Did he have siblings that he'd never met?

"I imagine it was..." he said vaguely, distractedly, thinking of the family he might have left behind for the first time in a very long time.

"....how are you going to find him if you don't know anything about him?" He suddenly asked, realisation drawing him out of his melancholic reverie.

[galahad]

Oh, that question. Yes, Galahad had been expecting that one. Anyone who hadn't experienced the call of destiny the way he had would probably wonder how he was going to manage locating and having some kind of reunion with a brother nobody had seen past infancy.

He shrugged, and pulled the front door of the building open, holding it for Lancelot.

"I think when I find him, I'll just know," he said, almost smiling. "I think it's one of those things you just know...Just like I know he's brave, and he's a knight, I'll know when I meet him. Destiny brought me here, and it's got to carry me the whole way. All I can do is trust it."

[Deleted]

Lancelot opened his mouth to unthinkingly comment on the stupidity of Galahad's blind faith, catching himself just in time when he realised that he, too, was here because he believed so strongly in his destiny. He could argue that it was different for him, he knew he was right, but he was just rational enough to realise that was a sort of stupid statement, and closed his mouth again.

After a long pause while he thought what he could say, he eventually settled for.

"...Good luck with that. I'll help if I can... what do you know?"