The Calling

“Galahad!” yelled Francis, his hands forcing their way through the still water on the sea. Francis stared into the water and yelled into the dark inky depths, his hands working hard to part the waves and forge a path deep below, “Galahad” he yells dies on the surface of the water as he desperately clawed further and further, leaning over the edge of the boat. He felt two large hands on his shoulders and offered no resistance as the hands pulled “Galahad” he whispered softly, the breeze taking the words from his mouth as remorse mixed with guilt and played over his senses.

“He is gone” commented Lord Kay, who placed himself opposite Francis and stared into his eyes. “We can mourn later, for now we have a quest to complete”

“We can’t...I mean...I can’t” stammered Francis, “we can’t do it”

“Of course we can!” snapped Kay

“No...no we can’t” Francis looked over the edge of the boat, “I never asked him to come, but he did anyway. He gave his life for us...for me”

“As would we all my Lord” said Kay and placed his large hands over Francis’. “None of us chose to follow you, but we do so. This is our duty...our destiny. We are Knights of noble birth and noble of heart. We are bound by duty, our duty to our King. There is not one man of us that would not lay down our life for thee”

“But I’m not the King” cried Francis, “I’m nobody”

“Nay...” said Bedivere, who had remained silent up until this point staring out across the water as the small boat floated aimlessly. “you are the last Pendragon and as such, thee are a direct descendant to Arthur and by rights of divinity, we are yours to command”

“But I can’t ask you...”

“We know the risks!” snapped Kay, “now cease this prattling and leave it for washerwomen!” he looked at Lord Bedivere and nodded, “we have a duty to perform, now I suggest we continue”

“I agree” said Bedivere, “we must continue to the Isle” they both looked at Francis who was still staring down at his hands on his wooden seat, water splashing around his feet. He rubbed his face and looked at the two Knights and nodded solemnly. “Let us swap places” said Bedivere as he sidled forward onto the seat next to Kay.

Francis stood carefully and picked his way between the two Knights and sat at the back of the boat, leaning mournfully against the wooden rudder and sighing heavily. He gazed out across the sea, and realised the mist was clearing as the small boat rocked on the waves. A slight breeze picked up and pushed the boat forward on the water. He sat and looked mournfully as the Knights sat in silence on bench, their hands draped over the side clawing at the water and pushing great divots of spray to cast up over the side as they worked in unison pulling the boat through the sea. The wind picked up and caused Francis to stare up at the sky. His eyes picked at the stars as the cloudless sky stared down mocking their journey and he feared a repeat of recent events. He cast his gaze back toward the shoreline and realised that his vision was blurred from land. Guilt swept over him as the disappearance of Galahad played heavily on his mind, and he looked toward Kay and Bedivere and wondered what were they thinking. The words cast by both Knights had done little to placate his own feelings that his actions had led them to his death...there that word...death, so final, so pronounced. It seemed so final, so complete. He struggled to accept the death and glanced back to the water, hoping against hope that he would see a flurry of bubbles broker the surface, followed by an explosion of water heralding Sir Galahad from his watery prison...but nothing. No bubbles...no heroic escape.

“Come to me...” the voice again. It played with him as it hung around his ears.

“I hear you” he said softly, glancing at the Knights.

“Do nothing” the voice came back soft, but firm in its instructions.

“What do you mean?” he asked a little too loudly, causing Bedivere to glance at his position. He gave the Knight a wide berth as he stared at Francis and listened to the voice carried on the breeze.

“Do nothing” it repeated, “the breeze will bring thy to me”

Francis sat in the boat for a moment, staring out to sea doing nothing. He looked at the two Knights still paddling, forcing their hands through the water, “stop!” he instructed.

“My Lord?” asked Bedivere.

Francis held a hand high in the air and showed his palm to Bedivere, “Be quiet” he whispered. Bedivere looked at Kay and shrugged, sitting back on his seat and straightening. “Can you hear that?”

Bedivere listened for a moment and frowned, “I hear naught” he said eventually.

“No... no... listen” urged Francis as he strained against the breeze.

“The boy is tinged with madness” commented Kay, “it spreads like plague” he nudged Bedivere in the ribs as he spoke and smirked. Bedivere frowned and shot Kay a glance to silence him.

“What can you hear?” asked Bedivere.

“Singing...” said Francis softly.

“The Isle” Kay whispered almost inaudibly and looked out over the edge of the boat, “we must be close”

Francis strained his hearing as he struggled to pick up on the melody which haunted him across the breeze. It teased at his senses and pulled him forward, “It’s beautiful” he breathed.

“Be careful my Lord” warned Bedivere, “there are many temptations both on land and sea”

“I can hear...” Francis seemed intoxicated by the sound of the singing which enticed him forward, “there” he said finally pointing to his left. “Start paddling” he ordered.

“But my Lord, thoust told us...”

“I don’t care what I told you...paddle!” he snapped back.

“Do nothing” whispered the voice, “the breeze will carry you to me” The singing blocked out his senses, and pulled at his loins as the melody teased and fulfilled his desire. “Come to me...“, the voice was insistent but the sound of singing was too much of a distraction, too much of a lure.

“My Lord, I must advise”

“You shall obey your King!” snapped Francis as he listened to the singing in his head. His hand wandered to his crotch almost subconsciously as the singing became more frantic and erotic in nature, it fueled his desire and fulfilled his needing of love and sex. “I hear you...” he whispered into the breeze.

“His mind is addled” whispered Kay.

“Nay...I fear; he has heard the siren”

“That is just a tale” remarked Kay, “surely...to scare the unwary”

“Perhaps, but are we all not stories in the end”

“I hear nothing” commented Kay as he watched Francis rubbing the front of his trousers as he stared into the sea. “Are we not safe?”

“Nay...if yon lad can hear thee siren, then all our lives are in danger”

Lord Kay looked over the edge of the boat as the water was disturbed by a splash. He caught a glimpse of a tail as it broke the tension of the water, then just as quickly disappeared.