Blood.

Everywhere he looked was blood. There was nothing but it around him...and on him. Raising his hands, Gawain saw the red stains blanket his palms as he grasped at the air. He did not know what had happened, for one moment he was facing off against the Lich and the next he was in this place of nightmares.

Just existing in this sky less place was sending shivers down his spine, his mind pressed down upon by the sheer pressure its existence. Looking around he saw bodies face down on the ground, bodies that he recognized in the twilight of this strange place. He saw the tabards of knights, the embroidered cloaks of the elves and the fashionable robes of the Penglaians. He saw helmets and weapons strewn about, hair floating in the ankle deep lake of red.

'What is this?' he breathed, choking on the sulfurous air as it entered his lungs. Taking a step forward, he felt something holding onto his leg. Looking down, he paled as he saw it was a hand holding firmly onto his calf. Shuddering, his eyes followed the arm and Gawain yelled in fear.

'No!' he cried, leaping back instinctively. The arm did not release him, causing Gawain to fall flat into the lake with a mighty splash. 'No!'

'Why did you kill me Gawain?' asked the body as it rose from the lake, blood dripping down its face as its crushed face came into view. 'Why did you falter? You were supposed to be a knight Gawain! Why did you falter? Did you fear death? Did you fear being killed? You who charged in fearlessly for the sake of entertainment, faltered?'

'I am sorry!' screamed Gawain as fear sunk itself deep into his bones, forcing his body to move further and further away. 'I am sorry! It was my fault Osgar! It was my fault!'

'You killed my dream Gawain. There was so much more I wished to see, so much more I wished to do.'

'I will carry on your dream!' replied Gawain, 'I promised I would!'

'It is not the same as me carrying it myself! It is big words to say that you will carry on a legacy, but it is not the same!' roared the corpse, pulling out a sword. 'I never used one of these for anyone's sake but yours Gawain. I was becoming one of the Geats! I was becoming accepted! But you ended that!'

'I am sorry!' yelled Gawain as the shock wore off, slowly getting to his feet. 'I cannot change what was done! I can only make amends!'

'Did you make amends to all these people?' asked Osgar, brandishing his weapon in the direction of the dead. 'These are all people who had their dreams destroyed by you.'

Looking around confused, Gawain saw the faces of some and did not recognize all of them. Turning to Osgar he asked, 'I do not recognize these people. Who are they?'

'Most of them are men and women who died this night beneath the Red Moon. Killed by nature because you did not listen to the Druid and move fast enough. Like the hourglass, every second you hesitated was a death. All of them died crying for a savior, little did they know their savior was drunk on Fire Rum. Others are those who you failed to save on your journey; a man from the caravan, a woman who died in an avalanche during your fight with the Kitsune, children killed by the Necromancer you failed to end in a single blow.'

Stopping Osgar looked at Gawain with blood red eyes, his sword dripping as he snarled, 'I will make sure not to make the same mistake.'

'Osgar,' said Gawain, sweat dripping down his face, 'you do not have to do this.'

'Your cowardice shames me,' replied Osgar, 'a true friend and knight would face his fear. You buried yours under a skin of alcohol and adrenalin brought by necessity. Eonan was right, no man can change in a single night.'

'OSGAR!' yelled Gawain, holding up his hands as he felt the blade pierce his neck.

◊◊◊

'OSGAR!' yelled Gawain as he jumped upright. Drenched in sweat he could feel his hair plastered to his skull, as he grabbed his neck and touched in hoping it was not cut open. Feeling the skin intact, he panted as he held his arms in front of him. Gulping, he looked down at his chest which had been bandaged tightly. Still breathing heavily, his then realized he was not alone and someone was looking at him.

Turning his head, he saw the open mouth of a tiny girl in awe. She was clutching a stuffed animal, a drake of all things, and looked around 3. She just stared at Gawain as the knight looked at her with confusion.

'Who...who are you? Where am I?' he asked, as he lifted the blankets off his legs and grimaced as a sharp pain wracked him. Slowly he lifted the quilted cloth and saw his legs were wrapped in blood soaked bandages, with his left tied to a split. Was his leg broken?

'Huuuuuh.' Looking at the small girl, he saw she had inhaled deeply and was holding her breath.

'Uh?' managed Gawain before his ears almost burst from the wail.

'MOM! AUNTY ALIS! THE SKYMAN IS AWAKE!'

Grabbing his ears, Gawain heard the word Alis and just looked at the girl. Her eyes were bright and shinning, reminiscent of how Sir Bertilak had been all those years ago. If this girl called Alis her aunt...then this was Master's daughter! As he looked at her more closely, he saw she resembled Delyth a lot from the brown hair to the stern looking resting face.

The sound of clanging pots and pans travelled down to Gawain as he heard footsteps approaching. As he turned his head towards the source of the sound, he got a good look of the place he was in. It looked like a medium sized cottage, with an all around cozy architecture. He himself was lying on a cot positioned right next to the living room, and he could see the world outside through the window. As he did so, his heart sank as he could make out the tinge of the Red Moon dyeing even the dark green of the forest beyond the clearing. He had failed to kill the Lich...how long had he been out? How many people had died because he had failed? How many towns and cities had fallen?

'YOU KILLED ALL THESE PEOPLE!'

The words from his nightmare plagued him as he breathed in the stifling air, feeling his chest congest at the mere thought of the death and destruction happening around him. Looking to the small girl Gawain asked slowly, 'how long was I out little one?'

'You fell from the sky mister,' she replied, mimicking the action with her hands, 'about four hours ago.'

'Four hours!' spluttered Gawain as he reactively moved out of the bed, another jolt of pain wracking him. 'Gah...where...where is my sword?'

'It is over there,' pointed the girl, where the gleaming form of Galatine was leaning against the wall. Traces of blood still covered the metal in peeling flecks, as the green gem in the cross guard looked at Gawain with disappointment.

'Arawn help me out of bed,' prayed Gawain, biting down as he moved his legs. As he felt his heel touch the cold floor, it sent a series of shockwaves through his body, making him reel back. Breathing heavily, he placed his weight on the foot that hurt the least. A bad idea. As the pain destroyed his balance he tumbled forward, shoving the girl out of the way trying not to squash her. His hand hit air and his body hit something soft as his knees fell to the floor.

'What have you gotten yourself into this time Gawain?'

He felt warmth as he sunk into the embrace of the one woman he loved in all of Avalon. He felt her grasp him and slowly stroke his head, before she whispered softly into his ear, 'You have been through a lot haven't you.'

'Yeah,' replied Gawain sadly, as he felt the feeling of fear and adrenalin slowly washout of his system as others settled in. He felt safe here, safe than he had ever been out there. Feelings he had not thought about for ages rose, bringing forth tears as he cried into her chest.

'Yeah...'

'It is alright now Gawain,' she said as she held him, 'you are safe.'

Leaning back, Gawain rubbed his eyes before looking at Alis for the first time in seven years. She even more beautiful than she had that night, that night amongst the hills of Lirsgate. Her awkward smile was still the most amazing thing he had seen in his life, the wonders of the world paled in comparison.

'I am glad you are safe. Tell me Alis, where are we?'

'We are in Sir Bertilak's home Gawain,' she replied as she reached out and made the small girl sit next to her, 'it is a few kilometers from Lirsgate, in the forest.'

At the word forest, Gawain paled and physically became uncomfortable. The Red Moon persisted with dawn about an hour away, and nature itself was the enemy and he was in the center of a forest. 'We need to leave!'

'Calm down Gawain,' soothed Alis as she held onto his shoulders. 'We are safe in here, nothing can come at us.'

'What! How?' spluttered Gawain as he cast a glance to the door.

'HOOOOOWWWWWL.'

'Let me help you up, this is a perfect time.' Helping Gawain off the floor, Alis shuffled him towards the window where Gawain eyes widened in surprise. There at the edge of the clearing, right where the forest started was a undead Direwolf pacing. It stopped and glared at the house, its red eyes seeming staring right at Gawain before leaping towards him.

Flinching, Gawain opened his eyes slowly and he watched as the Direwolf was stopped midair by an invisible forcefield. Its paw touched the invisible wall, scraping against it like it was glass to no avail. 'How?'

'You get used to it after a few hours,' sighed Alis as she turned and knelt to the small girl and lifted her up, 'Dindrane, can you tell me what that is?'

'Daddy's barrier,' smiled the girl as she chewed on her stuffed drake. 'You are right.' Turning to Gawain she saw he was still staring at the Direwolf with apprehension ,'it will not come in Gawain. It stopped a wooden woman, who tried smashing though with giant plants.'

'A Huldra,' said Gawain, 'there were quite a few at Freysguard.'

'How did you fall from the sky?' asked Alis, she looked at his legs which she assumed had broken on impact. She had tried her best to fix him up, but she was no healer and only knew basic first aid. With how the world was currently, the chances of finding one was non-existent.

'Portal,' replied Gawain as if that explained everything.

'Ah. Yes a portal ... what is that?'

'Magic that allows something or someone to travel great distances in an instant,' he said like it was a matter of fact, still focused on the Direwolf. 'How is the barrier maintained?'

'Uhuh....magic, of course. Those stone pillars over there I would assume,' pointed Alis.

Craning his head to see beyond the frame of the window, Gawain saw long egg like stone with glyphs and runes etched into it. They glowed pale green, humming as if inbeat with his own heart. Then another question popped in his head as he turned to Alis. 'Why are you here? Why are you not at New Camelot?'

'Delyth had her second child a week ago, I came to help my sister. It is not like I had much work after Agravaine became a junior captain in the Roundtable Knights and Gaheris went in search of Scientia. Only Gareth ever comes home now, poor child is alone,' said Alis thinking of the nice boy. 'they are all grown now, do not need me as a nanny anymore.'

'How is Delyth?' asked Gawain looking at Dindrane and watched the little girl continue to drool over the green animal. 'Where is Master?' \

'Sister...sister is not doing so well. The birth of Percival took a lot out of her.' Holding her hands to her chest, Alis mouthed to Gawain, 'I am afraid she might not live much longer.'

'Do not worry, she will pull through,' assured Gawain, reaching out and patting Dindrane on the head, 'she is a tough one.'

'Sir Bertilak left as soon as I arrived, he has not been here for a week...he has not even seen his own son. He said something about answering a call and dashed off to the south...but there is nothing there but some stone monuments and a ring of mushrooms.'

'I am sure he had some reason, he did set up this barrier,' replied Gawain as he thought back to his fever dream in Freysguard. There was no way...was there? Taking a moment, Gawain stepped back and winced. Slowly he made his way back to the cot and sat down heavily. Holding his head in his arms, the weight of his failure to kill the Lich came back full force. He had to find it and kill it. If he was here...it was too. 'Gawain?'

'This is all my fault Alis. This is what I get for being an idiot, one who sought out anything for my own amusement. ' began Gawain as he hated his own powerlessness, slamming his hand into the side of the cot. 'I, realize now that my actions have a ripple effect. My soul has changed, the little kid who stole tarts for as a test is long gone...I cannot afford to be juvenile like that anymore. I should have learnt this long ago...why didn't I? I am more fearful, I am more scared and I hate being powerless.'

'Gawain you are...'

YOU SPEAK THE TRUTH HUMAN!'

The forest roared as the house shook from the force, the light fixtures swinging and the flames dancing. The rustling of a thousand leaves reached the occupants of the house, sending shivers down every single one of them. As soon as it was over, the wail of a baby burst forth. Leaping to his feet, Gawain ignored the pain and grabbed Galatine in one hand and pushed Alis and Dindrane behind him. Looking out of the window, he saw the one who had haunted the words of everyone he had met across his journey; the Cursed Stag, the Lord of the Wild, the Stag-Horned Knight.

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It just stood there, menacingly.

Its blood red eyes peered beneath a helmet of wood, its ivory antlers gleaming in the rays of the Red Moon. Its hooves crunched on leaves underfoot, its arms of vines and bone hefting a massive wooden sword with holes in it. Its body was covered in wooden plates, reminiscent of armor from an age long ago. 'COME FORWARD HUMAN. YOU CAN HIDE, BUT YOU WILL FALL BEFORE ME EVENTUALLY. NATURE CAN WAIT FOR WE WERE HERE LONG BEFORE AND WILL BE LONG AFTER.'

'Gawain...'breathed Alis as she clutched Dindrane tightly. She nodded her head no, but saw the concern in Gawain's eyes and realized what he was going to do. 'no...'

'Wait here,' replied Gawain as he gulped, before throwing open the door and stepping out into the clearing. Shuffling forward he walked until he was about five meters away from the border. 'You are currently on a rampage to kill every human within Avalon. If I come forth and fight, will you leave this family alone?'

A strange sound reached Gawain and rang in his ears, sounding both familiar and foreign at the same time. It took him a minute before he realized the creature was laughing with the whole forest laughing alongside it.

'You are merely saving me some time. Every single human will perish, with them being left for last if you so wish. The family of my former-liege's current knight, it will be the ultimate act of rebellion against her. He is not here, but when he does return I would like to show him their dead bodies.'

'Then what makes you think I will leave the barrier?' asked Gawain, casting a glance to the stones. They seemed to be working fine, the magic still going strong.

'Water can cut through solid rock with enough time human. And this sacred ground of my former-liege has been eroded by me since I was taught how much humans had destroyed my lands. Now that the Red Moon is above...' the Stag-Horned Knight grabbed the hilt of its great-sword with body hands and took up a stance. Then twisting its whole body, the vines that made its arms tightened with more growing, bulking the arm. '...my power is tenfold!'

It swung its blade without hesitation, wind whistling through the holes in the blade giving off a baleful cry. As the wooden weapon hit the barrier, the magic cracked and shattered like glass with enough force to send Gawain flying back. The stone pillars that held up the barrier sparked and died, before exploding into fragments.

Gawain slammed against the wall of the house, hearing the glass of every single window break, covering him in shards. Coughing, he saw the monster take a single step into the clearing, passing the broken barrier's threshold and looked at him with malice.

'Alis,'croaked Gawain, trying to catch his breath, 'run...run Alis!'

'Gawain!' came the cry of response, echoed by the wails of two children.

'Get the children and your sister out,' commanded Gawain as he got to his feet. Shakily holding a stance with Galatine, he winced as he put his weight on his broken leg. He felt the bandages becoming wet as his wounds opened, 'GO ALIS!'

'A futile effort human!' roared the Stag-Horned Knight as he slowly approached, almost leisurely, as it dragged its weapon on the ground. Its red eyes burned, and its armor clacked as the plates hit each other. As the plates swung, something caught Gawain's eyes. He spied something red...something red and beating laying deep within the body of the Stag-Horned Knight. It pulsed like a heart, but seemed to have the texture like that of a ripe tomato.

That must be its core...if he could destroy it.

'Where is your servant?' asked Gawain as he flooded magic into Galatine. Alis had removed his armor, leaving him only able to use magic on his blade. All he had was his human reflexes and strength ... against what was wild side of nature.

'The Shaman served his purpose but paid for the crime of being human. He was of no use to me and was merely a tool. At the end, this night will not end until every single one of you pests is purged from my Avalon and nature takes back its place.'

So the Lich was dead. This thing saved him from killing it himself...though he had failed to kill it the first round.

Slowly moving to the left, Gawain looked at the Stag-Horned Knight anywhere but the gleaming red eyes, he had learned his lesson twice; once from the Huldra and the other from the Lich. Their eyes had some hallucinatory effect and he was not the Blind Master of Alfheim to fight without his sight. This thing's massive body allowed him to see it without making eye-contact, but that also meant he could never tell where it was aiming.

'Can I even tell how it will move from its vines? Do they work the same as muscles?' he muttered to himself as is eyes flicked back and forth, gauging the Stag-Horned Knight.

'I will make this quick,' promised the monster as it cracked the ground, before lunging for Gawain with speed unheard of for something its size. Its blade hanging behind it, it gripped the hilt and slid to a stop before Gawain and swung with the same strength as it had to the barrier.

Gawain did not see the blade. All he saw was the giant earthen hand that had smacked him across the mountainside, the thing that had hammered the sense of death deep into his bones. This was the same feeling, the feeling of unavoidable death. As he felt the tsunami of this feeling, his body moved on its own and swung back with all its might.

'SPRIGGAN!'

The blow never hit Gawain as something landed in front of him and took the full brunt of the swing with its shield. Dust and dirt blew past the stranger and clouded Gawain's vision but he let out a cry that was almost instinctive, to the man who had saved him once again from death.

'MASTER!' yelled Gawain, as he wiped the dust from his eyes. Armor dyed in dark viridian green circuits, a scarf flying in the wind and eyes blazing with power was his Sir Bertilak Hautdesert. His right hand held his broads word which burst with light, before it was thrust towards the Stag-Horned Knight, otherwise known as the Spriggan King.

The sword erupted with power as the Spriggan was blow backwards and upwards into the air. It flew sky-high and over the trees into the forest, leaving a gouge mark where it had stood on the ground. The light from the sword died down and took on a similar glow as the rest of the armor. Turning to Gawain, Bertilak looked at his friend and did not smile. His joyous nature shadowed by the face of a man who had almost lost everything that meant to him.

'Get my wife and kids out of here Gawain. Now!'

'Master!' asked Gawain, his shaking fingers dropping his blade in the dirt. 'What...how...why?'

'I will explain everything later, now get them to safety. Head for the south and stay within the ring of menhirs, the protection of the Faerie Queen will save them. Put the children within the faerie ring, for extra safety. Now go Gawain, protect my dream!' said Bertilak before dashing off after the Spriggan. 'I will end this red night! Now go!'

Speechless, Gawain stood dumb for a second before shaking his head. Shuffling for the door, all pain forgotten, he slammed it open and was faced with a pale faced Alis holding a baby Percival and Dindrane in both of her arms.

'Where is Delyth?' asked Gawain as he saw their terrified faces.

Shaking her head, Alis had tears slowly descending her face as she spoke. 'Sister is too weak, she cannot even stand. She said...she said to make sure the children stay alive...she would stay...'

It took Gawain a moment to process this before he grabbed Alis's hand and dragged her out of the house. Holding her on the shoulder he looked at her in the eye and said, 'head south, go to the stones. They will protect you. Stay within the ring of mushrooms, stay within it and all will be well.'

'What about you?'

'I am going to carry Delyth, I will catch up. Now go Alis, run like the wind.' Looking at her once, he saw the fear in her eyes and in them he saw himself. He saw how scared he was, how terrified of the Spriggan he really was but he knew he had to holdback. He was a knight, she was a nanny. He had to be the stronger one; for the both of them.

'Stay safe Gawain,' pleaded Alis as she hesitated, before leaning in and kissing Gawain on the lips. She then shifted her hold on the two children before dashing off into the woods. The kiss did not even get acknowledged by Gawain's adrenalin addled brain as he moved as fast as he could through the house, using Galatine as a crutch.

As he moved, he could hear the sounds of tree's crashing and breaking all around. He could hear the sound of metal scraping against wood as he made his way to Delyth. 'DELYTH!' he cried as he looked around the house.

'In...here...Gawain...'

Her voice was faint, like that of a whisper from a ghost. Following it, Gawain pushed open the door to find a pale and sweating Delyth. Her eyes watery, she was covered in thick blankets as her bony hands held up a small dried flower. She was spinning it slowly in her fingers as she smiled softly to herself.

'Delyth,' said Gawain shuffling forward, 'come on. Get on my back and let us get out of here.'

'No.'

'Do not worry I can mana...wait...' stopped Gawain as he looked at her. 'why no?'

'Gawain...'said Delyth weakly, coughing as she forced herself up. He face was pale, her eyes watery as she tried to focus them on Gawain. 'Do not worry about Bertilak...he...he will be back. And I will be here waiting for him.'

'I have no doubt he will win,' replied Gawain as he grasped her hand gently, 'but we need to leave Delyth, we need to go to safety.'

'Gawain, I cannot leave this place. I know my limits, always have...I...I will wait for him here. He worked too hard for this house, for this dream Gawain...I watched him...and that is all I could do...watch.'

'What are you talking about! As long as you are alive, his dream is alive.'

Smiling softly, a single tear ran down her face as she looked to Gawain. 'I am no longer his dream. His dreams are now running with my sister through this once sacred place...but I will wait for him here.' Holding the flower to her face, she looked at it and handed it to Gawain. 'be a dear and place that by the window...'

Taking it, Gawain placed it on the windowsill amongst shards of glass. As he held it, he started to recall what type of plant it was, but he could not put his finger on what it was. As soon as moonlight touched it, red or not, the dried up shriveled plant slowly bloomed.

'He gave that one to me before our engagement,' said Delyth, coughing, 'said it came from a place of great significance to him...a place where his dream both died and became reborn.'

'He wanted to live a happy life as a family man...but something changed in him...'

'A great duty was thrust upon him, a duty to protect Avalon. To defeat threats no normal man could ever hope to....cough...a duty he hated...but still did for the sake of a safer Avalon. This place, his children was his reward for fulfilling his duty...which is why when he walks in victorious I will be here to see him.' Breathing heavily, she looked at Gawain and said, 'go to him Gawain...make sure he comes back...comes back to his dream. I know you are hurt...but if anyone can help him...even a bit...cough...it is his beloved little brother.'

Gawain looked down at his injured leg, the bandages filled with dried blood. It hurt to move, it hurt to even stand. Yet he knew, he had to go out there. He had to assist the man who gave him his dream, he had to keep that man's dream alive.

'Stay alive Delyth, whatever you do...stay alive,' said Gawain, scowling as he walked out of the door, using his weapon as a crutch. He had been chasing his and Osgar's dream all this time...now it was time to defend the one who had given him that dream. As soon as he stepped out of the stone house, the trees screamed as birds flew far and away. The sound of crunching leaves, the sound of crying animals and the sound of clashing weapons filled his head

'Move Gawain...move!' he yelled to himself, forcing his body to move in the direction of the fight. He made it into the forest and continued to move, his feet crunching on the dead leaves that lay on the ground. That monster of the forest, that creature of the trees...it scared him so. It scared him so much that his body refused to move. Moving as fast as he could, he barely had time to register a tree trunk careening straight for him. Ducking barely, it crashed through the surrounding trees and exploded into a hail of splinters. Blinking, he looked up to see his master covered in wounds from the vines that had erupted from beneath the ground. His hands were dripping with blood, his eyes sparking with green energy as he barely was able to block the monster.

Now that he had a good look at the creature, Gawain fear in it doubled. It looked like the sort of demon mothers would warn their kids about. Its antler horns reaching high into the air, its cloven hooves stamping the ground as it swung its massive wooden greatsword. The sound of cackling birds following each swing, air rushing into the holes in the blade. Its crimson eyes holding nothing but contempt for the man in front of it.

'FALL KNIGHT OF MY FORMER-LIEGE! FALL! '

'Master...' gasped Gawain, his voice caught in his throat as he paled from the voice alone.

'YOU THREATENED AVALON! YOU KILLED HUNDREDS! YOU THREATHENED MY FAMILY! BY HER ORDERI WILL KILL YOU!' yelled Bertilak, unware of Gawain. Gripping his longsword, his shield arm flopping around useless. '

'YOU CANNOT STOP THE RED MOON GREEN KNIGHT! I WILL RESOTRE NATURE AND BE FINALLY RID OF YOU PESTS!' the Spriggan, roared as it slammed its weapon into the ground. Its arms made out of vines shifted, before multiple plant spikes exploded out of the ground headed for Bertilak.

Without thinking, Gawain rushed forward. Shoving Bertilak out of the way, Gawain felt a brief chill before lava coursed through his veins. He fell to the ground with a tumble, his face in the dirt. Looking up, he saw a giant vine dripping with blood as his left leg hung from it. Eyes widening, Gawain shifted his weight and looked down. His left leg had been sheared off right where his broken bone had been.

Blood began seeping into the ground as he howled in pain. Biting down, he knew he had lost a limb but a small voice in the back of his head cried out, 'at least you saved Bertilak.' With a weak smile he turned to where he had knocked his master and that smile turned into horror. 'No...'

Held aloft by each of his limbs, Bertilak had been crucified upon a cross of thorns. His blood dripping down the dark green plants, his eyes lulled to the back of his head. His sword had fallen from his hand and now stuck cleanly up from the ground. His mouth was ajar, like he had been planning on speaking before he had...before he had passed.

'This fight is over...and now his kin pay the price,' swore the Spriggan, walking away from the body.

YOUBASTARD!' roared Gawain as he slammed his fist into the ground. Tears flooded out of his face as he cried out in anguish and pain. With his arms he pulled himself towards Bertilak, crying out 'MASTER! MASTER GET UP! MASTER!'

'The Green Knight is dead human,' said the Spriggan as it walked over to Gawain and grabbed his head. Lifting the knight up, it held him at eye level to Bertilak before shaking furiously. Before dropping the knight on the ground again. 'He is dead so stop your pathetic wails.'

Despite having felt like his skull had been crushed, Gawain reached out with his free arm 'No master no...'

The body coughed ever so slightly.

'Master...' groaned Gawain as he reached out.

Sir Bertilak's eyes fluttered before he ripped his left hand off the thorns. Reaching out to Gawain, the knight grasped the air as if he was blind 'Gawain...listen to me...cough...take my Blessing Gawain...cough...I am sorry I am not around to see your dream finish...and I am sorry I am selfishly giving you my dream to protect...cough...but forgive me my friend...' he said as he reached out his hand to Gawain.

'No! You cannot die!' cried Gawain, using the vine to pull himself up. Grabbing his Master's hand, he held it to his forehead he yelled again, 'You cannot die Big Brother!'

'Look up Gawain.'

Gawain looked up and gulped once.

Bertilak smiled as he looked at Gawain. His now exposed arm which was marred by the green marking of a Fleur-de-lis glowed. 'I may not see my children grow...but I watched as you did...'

'No Master!' yelled Gawain, looking once more for a way to save Bertilak. 'Live! Live and see them grow for yourself!'

'My time on Avalon is done...I pushed myself too hard this night...cough...I was never going to win...my time as a Green Knight is over...protect my kids...for that...I pass unto you my dear friend...my Blessing.'

His left arm glowed bright green as the Fleur-de-lis burst into light. Grinning, Bertilak looked to Gawain and said proudly, '"Give up on your dreams and die", I do not know why you held onto these words for so long...hack... while I meant it in that way...it does not need to be. Dreams are are a symbol of who we are...who we wish to be...but often we do not turn out the way we want...sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. So tell me, when you change...does your dream change? No...it dies...it dies and becomes reborn into a form that fits who you are...so give up on your old dreams...die and become better, build a dream fit for the you of that moment. Sometimes, it is better to hand a dream off...to see it...see it...prosper...'

In that moment, Gawain looked to Bertilak like he was a saint. Perched upon that cross of thorns, the green light filled his vision before he felt the strength of Bertilak's hand disappear.

'Master...' he cried as he knew his friend, his mentor, his brother had died before him. As the light died before him, he saw that Bertilak had died with a smile upon his face, like he was at peace.

'So the power of the Green Knight persists,' laughed the Spriggan as it reached down and grabbed Gawain on the head once again. Lifting him skyward, the Spriggan extended vines from its arm and wrapped them around Gawain's remaining limbs. 'Too bad it will not have time to manifest.'

In an instant it crushed all of Gawain's limbs with enough force to shatter his bones into fragments. It used another vine to wrap around Gawain's neck, sprouting black colored flowers that gave off an irredeemable stench. 'I wish for you to witness as I dismantle everything this annoying man held dear. Cannot have you passing out.'

As soon as he felt his limbs snap, Gawain had unleashed a unholy guttural cry that almost ripped his own vocal chords apart. Foaming from the mouth, he felt Galatine slip from his fingers and fall onto the ground. He howled in pain, he felt so much pain unlike anything he had ever felt before. His nose burned from the stench of the wreath around his neck as his body swung from the Spriggan's lumbering movements towards the house.

Delyth! thought Gawain as his skull cracked, he felt as if his eyes would pop out. Through half closed eyes, Gawain could see the clearing ahead, his dread deepening with each step. 'DO NOT DO THIS! PLEASE LEAVE HER ALONE!'

The Spriggan did not answer, instead it looked at the house of wood and stone with apathy. Lifting its sword, it raised it high above its head. The wooden blade glowed with red light as circuits slowly formed, rising from the hilt to the tip like, spreading like the course of a river. As it reached the top, it began to hum with a sound reminiscent of the growling of the Adlat Bjorn. Lifting Gawain up, it held him out forcing him to pay witness.

'NOOOOO!' cried Gawain as he struggled, he felt his neck strain as he twisted his body amidst the brain destroying pain.

The Spriggan King threw his blade.