Rebirth

`Today is the day`

Gawain awoke before dawn and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, his eyes scanning the cracks and stains he memorized years ago. Around him his little brothers are still sleeping soundly. Galahad is using his left shoulder as a pillow and the twins are snuggled together to his right.

He looks at them, wanting to burn this image into his brain, he doesn't want to forget this scene, he doesn't want to forget the wind beneath his wings.

When he started planning his future his first priority was revenge, destroying those monsters and making them regret being born. But as the days and weeks passed, his anger subsided enough to allow reason to win, and so his plans changed. Unlike his past life, in this one he still has people he loves alive, so he has to take their lives and futures into account. The vile murder of Marian led him to embark on this path, but it is his brothers who prompted him to change his methods.

He will have his revenge, but he will also make sure that his brothers have a more just and free future.

"Argh." Garth snarls as Godric tightens his grip on him and Gawain smiled softly, the older twin crushing the younger while the latter struggles to escape, that's a routine the redhead is all too familiar with.

Garth opens his eyes and looks annoyed at his twin.

"Lemmie go." He tries to push Godric to no avail. "G'wain help."

Gawain chuckles and after releasing his shoulder he helps Garth escape from Godric's death grip.

"Here you go, now you can sleep. I will wake you when the food is ready."

"Hmm." Garth gave him a sleepy smile and he quickly fell asleep.

`One last breakfast together, lets make it special.`

Gawain dressed quickly and left the bedroom, it's still very early and even Gareth isn't awake yet.

After stoking the fire he grabs a bowl and prepares a pancake batter, one of his past life recipes that he introduced under the pretense of learning it from some traveler.

"You are already awake?" Gareth walks out of his bedroom and looks at his son with tired eyes.

"Yes, Ralof said we should leave early." Gawain flips over a pancake and points to the already cooked stack. "The food will be ready in a while, I still have about 6 or 7 left to fry."

"I'll feed the animals in the meantime." His father tells him before leaving the cabin.

"Hmm." Gawain hums a song while he finishes breakfast. 'It's a shame there's no cocoa in Westeros, I'm sure they'd love chocolate chip pancakes. On Earth cocoa came from Africa and South America, and as far as I know Sothoryos has jungles, maybe I should go there at some point to look for cocoa.`

The redhead chuckles and shakes his head.

`That is just wishful thinking, I don't think I will have time for that. Everything I will do after leaving Greenwood will be for the revolution, and unfortunately cocoa is not essential to it`

After finishing the last pancake he went to wake up his little brothers, knowing them it will be difficult for them to get out of bed so he took a plate with pancakes in his hand.

"Galahad, Godric, Garth. Wake up." The three grunt something but don't get up. "If you don't want to wake up then father and I will have to eat all these delicious pancakes on our own."

As if by magic all three of them open their eyes and raise their heads, their eyes fixing on the plate in Gawain's hand and the redhead can practically see them salivate.

"Keep sleeping, father and I will eat this delicious feast." Gawain grins and leaves the bedroom.

"Wait!"

"I want pancakes."

"I'm already awake!"

Like three ducklings, his younger brothers follow him to the table, dressing in a hurry and running in fear that his brother will carry out his threat.

Gawain chuckles and looks at them fondly.

"Wait till father is here," The children's forks were inches from the stack of pancakes, they turned to his older brother and gave him their best puppy dog eyes while pouting. "No, father will be here right away and we will break the fast together." Gawain was firm, not being swayed by the large pleading eyes.

"It's not fair! I'm hungry now!" Godric crossed his arms.

"It would be a shame if the pancakes got cold brother." Galahad smiled at his brother. "I'm sure father wouldn't mind if we started without him."

"Aye!" The twins nodded.

"No." Gawain did not relent and made them wait until Gareth returned.

Luckily for the impatient children, Gareth returned home just a few minutes later and they were able to start eating.

"- then Bofur said he will teach me how to build a rocking chair!" Galahad finished telling his story.

"Well done, son. Bofur told me that you are learning very fast!" Gareth looked at him proudly.

"Yes! Galahad will be the best carpenter in Greenwood-" Godric chimed in enthusiastically.

"Well said, Godric." Gawain nods.

"-and then he'll build me all kinds of toys!" At six years old Godric has his priorities in order, that is: food, toys, adventures and sleep. Not in that order necessarily.

"So those are your true intentions." jokes Gawain.

"Gawain, finish your food quickly. Ralof doesn't like to wait." Gareth reminds him . "That old man could spend the whole day complaining if you make him wait even a few moments, so unless you want to spend the whole day listening to his complaints you should hurry."

"Where are you going?" Garth asked, looking between his older brother and his father.

"Don't you remember, Garth?" Galahad replied. "Uncle Ralof and brother are going fishing at the lake today."

"I also want to go!" Godric intervened.

"Godric, they are going to a lake a day's ride away." Gareth explains. "You are still young to go to such a far place."

"Yes, uncle Ralof and brother have been planning this fishing trip for a moon." Galahad looks at Godric seriously. "They prepared the supplies for two people, not three."

"But-"

"Besides, they're going fishing, not playing." Continue Galahad. "You'll just distract them."

"It's not fair! I want to go too!" Godric's eyes fill with tears and Gawain sees the tantrum coming.

"I'll bring you a gift when I get back!" He says quickly, to distract the boy.

"A gift?" Godric looks at him with big shining eyes.

"Yes, a new toy!" The redhead looks at his other two brothers and smiles at them. "I will bring a gift to each of you."

"You promise?"

"Yes, yes."

With the tantrum calmed before it truly erupted the rest of breakfast went off without a hitch. Gawain took his traveling bag and left the cabin. First he said goodbye to the dogs.

"Loki, Thor, be good boys and take care of them." The dogs barked and wagged their tails as he stroked their heads.

After saying goodbye to the dogs, he turned to his brothers.

"Behave and don't cause father any headache" he told his brothers and they nodded. After hugging each one and giving them a kiss on the forehead, he gave his father a hug.

"Take care of them, father."

"Of course." Gareth nodded.

Gawain smiled and looked back at his house one last time before leaving. He looked at the three-bedroom cabin he grew up in, it's not big or luxurious but it's home: cozy and warm. A place that he will never see again: he will never again feel the heat of those fireplaces on a cold day or hear his brothers argue over this or that in the next room while he cooks dinner.

`This is...`

"See you soon, brother!"

"Take care!"

"Bring me an amazing toy!"

"Take care of your uncle."

"...Goodbye." Gawain of Greenwood turned and walked towards the sawmill. The cabin and his family stayed behind, and he advanced forward.

***

"... so this is it." Ralof affirmed.

The two have been traveling south since yesterday and finally reached the point where they agreed that Gawain of Greenwood "will die". About forty miles from Greenwood is a lake called Pink Lake, and several rivers flow into that lake, including the river that runs through Greenwood.

Ralof and Gawain stood at the edge of the lake and gazed at the shimmering water. Gawain of Greenwood will drown in these waters, that is the plan.

"Do you have all your supplies?" Ralof asks for the fifth time that morning.

"Yes, uncle." Answers the redhead, just as patient as the other times his uncle asked him that.

Gawain has been preparing his supplies for months, hiding them in a hideout in the forest; when they left Greenwood the day before he picked them up and put them on Ralof's horse. The supply pack that Gawain left his house with will return to Greenwood with Ralof, as it would be suspicious otherwise.

For his trip he packed a handmade sleeping bag, a few changes of clothes, some secret savings,... Food is something that attracts wild animals and spoils easily, so he didnt packed much food, just enough for a few days. He hopes to get the food he needs either by hunting or buying it from some village along the way.

"Do you have the whetstone for your weapons?"

"Yes, uncle." Gawain secretly forged several weapons in the forge on the days Willem was away. Those weapons include a finely crafted gladius, with a very good quality steel alloy, various throwing knives, a dagger,...

The problem with medieval steel is that it takes too long to produce, it's a long and arduous process, which is why its price is so high and so few smiths are able to produce good quality steel. A problem that the redhead knows how to solve and in fact he already has several plans drawn up for it.

"Do you have the letter I gave you?"

Ralof gave him a letter for a certain Dale in Oldtown, his uncle told him Dale was a friend of his late grandfather and the greatest warrior he had ever known. His uncle recommended that he go see that man, saying that there are many things he can learn from Dale and since the redhead's plans include going to Oldtown, he decided to listen to his uncle's advice, to reassure him more than anything.

"Yes," Gawain pats the bag slung over his shoulder. "I also have the pendant." He shows the pendant he has under his shirt, his uncle gave it to him that morning. The pendant is simple: a leather rope with a small iron feather. Apparently that pendant used to be his grandfather's and this Dale would recognize it at first sight.

"...I guess this is really goodbye." Ralof whispers, looking at him gloomily.

Gawain softens his gaze and pats him on the shoulder.

"Our paths will part today, but who knows what will happen in the future. They say all paths lead to the same castle eventually." He knows these words are empty, but this meager consolation is the only thing he can offer right now. "Uncle Ralof, thank you for everything. For your advice, training, help and understanding. What you have done for me in the last few years is something I will never forget, I will always remember you fondly."

"Gawain..." Tears fill his uncle's eyes and he pulls him into a tight hug. "Take care of yourself, don't be rash nor reckless. Find friends you can trust, and don't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Your ambition is great and if you're not careful it will swallow you up, so find people to support you, to be your anchors and keep you from drifting."

"I promise." Gawain tightens his grip on his uncle's robe. "I won't do it alone."

"Good..." Ralof lets go and smiles weakly. "You will become a great man, my boy, I know that in my bones. May the gods be with you, godspeed, my dearest boy."

"Farewell, uncle."

The redhead got on the horse that he just bought that same day and began his long journey. Gawain of Greenwood's life began 12 years ago in a small but cozy cabin and today it came to an end for every beginning must have an end, but every ending will lead to a new beginning. Damian Artois' journey has just begun.

***

NOTE: There are advanced chapter in my p@ tre on if you are interested.

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This is the last chapter of Arc 2 (Death and Rebirth). Arc 3 will be about his journey to Oldtown, he will meet some people and learn more about this world.