Knight Fantastic Night a13Chapter 6 part2

His words are like a stab straight through her nerves. Lin Ling's voice trembled as she struggled to speak. 

"Arthur... Is your brain fried, or something? How can I be a spy!? It's me, Lin Ling! I'm Lin Ling! Don't you recognise me?" 

"How could His Majesty be on familiar terms with a spy!" 

A young beauty walked out from the encampment.

Something exploded in Lin Ling's mind as soon as she realized the identity of the girl. The beauty standing right next to Arthur is none other than... Guinevere!

The Dark Duke's words resounded next to her ear. 

"Arthur and Guinevere from Camlann got engaged before setting off from Camelot."

"I have heard rumours that Arthur loved his future queen very much. He loved her so much, he even brought her along in this expedition." 

What is going on? Just what is going on?! Why is everyone acting as though she is a stranger?

"Your Majesty, this woman looks like a foreigner. Black hair, black eyes... She must be one of the spies! We should capture her immediately before deciding what to do with her." 

Guinevere then draped a cloak on Arthur. She then speak to him in a gentle tone. 

"It is chilly lately. Your Majesty, please take care not to catch a cold."

Arthur's expression softens up, and he looked at her in the eye. 

"It must have been hard on you to come with me on this expedition."

Guinevere smiled in return. 

"Am I not here because big sister wishes that I take good care of you? We will be husband and wife soon, so you don't need to be modest* with me."

TL: Feel free, don't feel awkward between us, that's what Guinevere meant.

Hearing Guinevere mentioned the final sentence, Lin Ling can feel burning heat similar to a soldering steel. She convulsed for a moment as she stared in a daze at the couple in front of her. It was as if lead was poured into her body. It penetrated her bone marrows, making it harder and harder to breath. It was just one second, but she felt as though all her courage is lost--- even the courage needed to ask for the truth.

This shocking moment came too soon. She could not accept this right away.

It was at this moment, a messenger strode up to the encampment and stopped right at the entrance. The rider did not dismount and quickly delivered the message atop of his steed. 

"Your Majesty, Lancelot and Kay whom will be bringing reinforcement will reach our camp by tonight."

The voice is like a sweet bell to Lin Ling's ears. Her heart quivered, and hope does not seem lost at all. She raised her head and looked at the messenger. His brown hair was messed up by the wind, and his emerald eyes is charming under the moonlight.

It's Uncle Gawain!

The other party seems to have noticed her gaze. While he dismounted, he returned her gaze with a smile. 

"Where did this young lady come from? Why is a lady here of all places?"

Hearing his words, Lin Ling's hope was lost again... Even Uncle Gawain did not recognize her. Lancelot and Kay is not here either... She needs to know just what is going on... Who on earth can tell her the truth?

She looked down dejectedly. Her line of sight falls onto Arthur, and she saw something on him. Her eyes lit up, and she stepped forward. She pointed at that something and spoke out her words quickly. 

"Arthur, it's impossible that you do not know me at all! You are still wearing that girdle! Do you still remember who was it that made you that girdle? Do you still remember the meaning of this pattern? Didn't you once said? The only girdle you accept is the one from the woman you love..."

"Shut your mouth, spy." 

Guinevere cut short her sentence. She studied Lin Ling's face from top to bottom. Guinevere pursed her lips in contempt and she raised her hand. In a split second, Guinevere forcefully slapped Lin Ling on her cheek.

It was unexpected. Just like that, it was quickly given to Lin Ling. A burning pain on her cheek. It caused Lin Ling's mind to go blank in shock. 

"Did the Romans ordered you to cause havoc here?" 

Guinevere raised her hand again.

"Now, now. No matter, she is still a girl." 

Gawain quickly stepped up right in front of Lin Ling. 

"Your Highness*, your temper is getting worse as of late." (*Guinevere)

Her hand on her cheek, Lin Ling stared with disbelief at the young king. His expression was still the same.

"Bring her with us." 

He turned away, leaving his receding back for the girl to view.

"Wait! Arthur!" 

She struggled furiously, and tried to raise her head as she cried out to him. 

"I am Lin Ling! Please open your eyes! Arthur!!"

You can forget everything, but you cannot forget yourself. You can doubt everything, but you can not doubt yourself. Lin Ling could not accept how easily she was erased from everyone's memory. She simply could not accept it. Her world was turned upside down, and colours are lost to her. Boundaries afloat, and monochrome fills her world. Her lips quivered involuntarily, along with her body that felt like it was thrown into an icehouse. It is as though emotions not of her own was forcefully broken up and fills the air as it slowly drowns her in sorrow.

Cold wind blew past her frail body. She bit her pursed lips, and exhaled her warm breath. She can still feel the lingering stinging pain on her right cheek. Even if her eyes were wet with tears, it was quickly blown dry by the cold wind. The warmth is no longer there and the pain in her heart came crashing like waves.

Loving the other or to be loved may just be a choice between torturing the other or being tortured yourself. Even if you're not conscious of it, you see the truth behind it. It is because of this that love can force someone to be mad. The person she love, no matter how close she is, so close, and yet.. this is the first time the pain was so unbearable that tears began to flow.*

TL: Loving someone puts you in a cage of conflicts. Lin Ling began to surmise that loving another or being loved is a torture. Even if you do not truly understand love, being in love hurts. Although Arthur was so close in distance to her, yet they are far apart. The truth hurts her so much, she cried from the pain. This is what I can understand from this... poetic description.

"Even so, do you still choose to trust the other party? Lin Ling..."

Prepare yourself on the coming difficulties. It may be unbearable, it may even be sorrowful. It may even cause you despair. Even so, do you still choose to trust the other party? Lin Ling...

For some reasons, Merlin's question appeared in her mind. She buried her head between her knees, and in a low voice, repeated the same answer she gave the wizard.

"I will. No matter what happens, I will believe in him the way he believes in me."

God once said to man. 

"I healed you, thus I will harm you. I love you, thus I will punish you." 

After happiness, there will be suffering.

So, what exactly am I going through now?

Once again, she raised her head and looked out the window. The silver full moon still hangs dimly in the sky, illuminating this long night.

Arthur... She repeated his name endlessly in her mind, as if her actions could bring back a sliver of courage she once possessed. No matter the situation, she will move forward. She will reach the light within the dark.

No matter what happens, she will.

Chapter end