Chapter Text
Angel and his family were out riding Horses and enjoying the day. Angel, being as young of a spider as he was, was a tad bit more rambunctious than his siblings, laughing and giggling while he stood on his horse.
“Mother!” he cried and jumped onto his mother’s arms. They rolled down the sandy bank as they laughed.
“Mother, do you really have to go?” Angel asked his mother.
“I’m afraid I must Angel. You know the king’s knights will be here soon,” his mother said.
“Please mother, tell me again why you became a knight!” Angel asked as he rolled onto his stomach, picking the sand up and letting it slip through his fingers. His sister looked at him with laughter in her eyes, very much taking after her mother in nature.
“But you’ve already heard it a thousand times!” Molly said, laughing at her little brother.
“Oh, but it’s fine dear. Well my son, before you were born the land was dark and treacherous.” His mother drew three circles in the sand, “The people stood divided, brother fighting brother.”
Angel imagined figures within the circles fighting and yelling.
“The only hope for peace was in the legend of Excalibur, for it was said that only the true king could pull the magical sword from its stone and unite the people. Many tried, all failed. Then, on the very day you were born, an unexpected hero stepped forth, his name was Lucifer, and he was that true king. With Excalibur at his side he led us out of the darkness and together we built the greatest kingdom on earth, everyone rejoiced.” His mother said.
“Camelot!” Angel exclaimed and danced around in a circle.
“Yes sweetheart,” His mother pulled out his shield and pointed to the joined circles on it, “These three rings represent the unity of our people. As a knight I took an oath to protect Camelot, King Lucifer, and Excalibur.”
Horns sounded in the distance and they looked to the horizon.
“The knights are here!” Angel exclaimed and bounced to stand.
“I must go now, my children. The king has summoned his knights for a special day in Camelot.” Their mother said and she kissed each one of her children goodbye. “Goodbye my darlings. I will see you in a few days.”
Angel ran after her mother as she was riding away and yelled, “I’m coming with you mommy!”
“One day Angel I will take you to Camelot when you’re old enough! I love you all!” She yelled back and met up with the other knights.
“One day I’ll be like mother, and be a knight at the round table.” Angel said to Molly as their mother rode to the horizon.
“Yes you will, now come on. We have things to do at home.” Molly said smiling. Angel got on his horse and followed his sister and brother home.
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Angel’s mother had traveled with her fellow knights for 6 days before arriving at Camelot. They went into the city, singing and being happy to be back. They went inside the castle to the round table. King Lucifer was sitting at the head and stood as the knights approached the table.
“It's been ten years we celebrate, All that made our kingdom great, Liberty and justice for all. Each of us we now divide, for equal shares our countryside, promising equality for all we reside!”
A deformed knight followed the others to the table. With white hair with specks of red, blood or natural color no one knew. He walked with a gait that was confident and his smiles full of malice and hate. His eyes red as fire and his teeth were sharpened to points. He sat across from Angel’s mother, who sat next to Lucifer, and glared at them all.
The knights finished singing with raising their shields and setting them down, each to a core value held by the knights.
Valentino slammed his shield down and yelled, “ME!!! Charming sing along. Now let's get down to business. I waited a long time for this day.”
No one responded to his outburst.
He looked around the table, “What about my new land!”
“Sir Valentino. Always thinking of yourself. As Knights of the Round Table our obligation is to the people, not to ourselves. The lands will be divided according to each person’s needs.” Lucifer said while shaking his head.
“Well then I need more than everyone. I wouldn't have supported you for all these years if I thought you were running... a charity.” Val said and got a look of a predator.
“The king has decided Val!” Angel’s mother yelled at him while slamming her fist down.
“Then it’s time for a new King! I vote me!” He said sinisterly and jumped onto the table, charging towards Lucifer with his sword out, ready to strike.
“I will not serve a false King!” Angel’s mother yells back and draws her own sword, getting up on the table to defend Lucifer.
“Then you can serve a DEAD ONE!!” Val shouts and strikes her across the chest, breaking past her defenses. Angel’s mother fell to the floor, bleeding from her wound.
The other knights had jumped into action and tried defending Lucifer. Valentino defeats one after another. Lucifer pulled out Excalibur and as Valentino went to strike him. Valentino’s sword came down onto Excalibur and the magic within Excalibur threw Valentino across the room into the wall. Lucifer stood and watched as Val got up, seeing his arm mangled and broken-blood dripping down his fingers.
“One day, that sword will be in my hand, and ALL WILL BE MINE!!” Valentino yelled at them all and he ran out the door to nurse his wounds and pot his revenge. Spears followed behind him as he ran. Lucifer knelt down next to Angel’s mother, the life having already faded out of her eyes, and silently mourned her as she was one of his best knights.
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
3 weeks had passed since Angel’s mother had gone to Camelot. It had snowed since she left and Angel and his siblings went through the days doing the usual chores, taking care of the farm. On the 6th day of the final week, they heard the horns signaling the knights return.
“The knights are here! Mothers back!” Angel yelled, jumping and running toward the procession of knights, “Molly! Arackniss! She’s back!”
When he reached the knights however, they were solemn and morbid. Angel looked around, waiting to see his mother’s smiling face but she never appeared. Until he saw oxen pulling a wagon with a body on it. He saw the face of his dead mother and realized in horror and in grief.
“No.” Angel said and he ran up to the wagon, and took his mother’s hand. It felt cold and limp. He started to cry and he ran ahead of them, seeking the comfort of his sister. He ran into the house and hugged his sisters legs, crying uncontrollably. He tried to tell his sister what had happened to their mother but the words came out garbled and incoherent because of his tears. He couldn’t understand why his mother was dead. Why she had been torn away from him and the rest of his family. Then Lucifer came into the house and told them what had happened. Molly, trying to calm down Angel, started crying herself. Arackniss hugged his other siblings and they headed to a grave site.
After they buried the body of Lady Dust, King Lucifer handed her shield to Molly.
“Your mother died saving my life. And saving Camelot. Lady Molly, the gates of Camelot will always be open to you and your family.” Turning to his knights, Lucifer said, “Lady Dust was my most trusted knight. And also my dear, dear friend. We will always remember how she bravely upheld the ideals of Camelot.”
The knights lowered their heads in mourning, Angel had walked over to a pond. And while looking into it started to sing, softly and quiet.
“If you were with me now, I'd find myself in you. If you were with me now, you’re the only one who knew, all the things we planned to do.” Angel sang as his tears fell into the pond, distorting his reflection in the water to where he was unrecognizable. A lost little kid who didn’t know what was going to happen to him next.