The dungeons

Arthur followed the scout towards the giant prison that the castle had underneath it.

After 30 minutes of walking they finally reached the dark and gritty jail underneath the Pendragon castle. The prison was cold and dark, there were only a few candles on the walls that lit up the stairs that led further underground, there was no light within the cells, it was so dark that you would’ve felt that you were within an empty void, only a few clanks of metal from the shackles the prisoners had on their feet, neck and hands could be heard, other than that, it was complete silence.

Before going towards the cells, the scout picks up a torch and lights it up.

Arthur follows behind him, they walk for another 5 minutes.

The scout moves the torch in front of a giant cell that could hold multiple prisoners, the torch being the only light within the giant prison, made the orcs clank their chains upon seeing it, shouting and screaming, some in pain as they were not simply cut when they were caught they were tortured and whipped by the royal guards for the crimes they committed, some had their ankles cut, hands, even eyes.

???? “There they are my prince,” the scout says.

???? “Just kill us already!” One of the orcs shouted.

???? “Fuck you, human waste,” another said, spitting at Arthur’s feet.

???? “Hope you all burn in hell!” Another one shouted, pulling the shackles with all his ****, they were starved and beaten, he barely was moving, yet alone had the strength to pull the shackles from the wall.

Arthur “I’m counting 7 male orcs and one female, is that correct?” Arthur asked.

???? “Yes, my prince,” the scout replied.

Arthur “8 orcs, you spend two months catching 8 orcs….”

???? “My prince, they are not your normal bunch, look at their skin, it’s not green, they are descendants of the first orcs, if the King would’ve wanted, we could've sold them, they would’ve fetched a good price, but ….in their current condition…I’m not sure they’re worth much.”

Arthur changes his look from the scout who was standing behind him, towards the orcs.

Arthur “I’m assuming you all know the human tongue, since you seem so keen in addressing me fondly,” Arthur asked them.

???? “Fuck you little prince, we don’t answer to you,” one of them answered, spitting again at Arthur’s feet.

Arthur “Is that so?” Arthur asked with a smirk on his face.

Arthur “Female orc, do you also speak the human tongue?”

She gave him a condescending glance, refusing to answer. That made Arthur understand that she knew what he asked.

Arthur “You know what my father wants to do with you bags of shits? *they start paying attention to what Arthur was speaking* He means to blaze your minds, turn you into empty husks of yourselves, make you all work in the mines, for years and years, crushing stone, trapped within your own minds, watching your bodies crumble, not being able to do anything but obey every command, it’s a fate worse than ****…”

They start pulling the chains, screaming in agony, attempting to break the shackles.

Arthur, with a vile look on his face, stops them, as he starts speaking.

Arthur “However, I came here offering something else, freedom, but not without cost…”

???? “My prince, you should not….we need to consult with the King about such matt…”

Without looking at him, Arthur punches the scout directly into his stomach with a backhand fist. The 2m tall, build like a mountain, scout drops to his knees, not even able to breathe for a few seconds. A giant mark left on his iron armor as Arthur’s fist, crushed it.

Arthur “You will speak when you are spoken to, keys,” Arthur said.

With his right hand the scout goes within his pocket and grabs the cells keys while holding his stomach with his left, with his right hand trembling while in pain he lifts it up for Arthur to grab the keys.

Arthur takes the keys and opens the cell door.

Arthur kneels down in front of the female orc.

Arthur “The deal is for you, and only you, I have planned a 90 days voyage and I will need you at my side, I do not know when this voyage will start, could be now, could be tomorrow, as long as you agree to accompany me, I Prince, Arthur Pendragon do solemnly swear, that no harm will come to your friends here, more than that, when we come back from our journey, I will personally see that you are all set free and all the chargers you committed against our kingdom will be erased, however ….if something were to happen to me during this journey, like a knife meets my neck whilst I sleep, the mines will await you all, deal?”

The female orc looks away from Arthur.

Arthur “Suit yourself, *Arthur gets up and starts walking away* And here I thought orcs cared more than humans about their families, horde, unity and all that. To the mines with them,” Arthur ordered while looking at the scout.

The female orc looked at two of the other orcs, who were in pain, naked and in chains. At that moment, for their safety, she made a decision.

???? “Wait!” She shouts.

Arthur turns back and looks at her.

???? “I agree,” she responds, almost as a whisper.

???? “Mom! Don’t!” One of the other orcs shouts.

???? “Shut up boy! She did not take this decision lightly,” another one speaks.

???? “But …dad…”

Arthur goes back and kneels in front of the female orc.

Arthur “What was that? I didn't quite hear it,” Arthur asked.

???? "I agree... to your terms," she responded, looking at the ground.

Arthur "See that wasn't so hard, was it?" Arthur replied with a smile that creeped out the female orc.

Arthur uncuffs her.

She gets up after she was uncuffed, she massages her wrists for a bit, then looks at her husband and son.

???? “A moment, please, to say our goodbyes,” she asked Arthur.

Arthur “Sure,” Arthur replies, as he starts walking outside the jail cells.

The scout reaches for his sword the moment he sees the female orc approach the others.

Arthur stops him by gently placing his hand on the sword's hilt.

Arthur "There will be no need for that," he said in a calm and quiet tone.

The orcs say their goodbyes in their own tongue so as to not be understood by Arthur, after a few more minutes, she kisses her child on the forehead, goes for a long deep kiss with her husband and leaves the cell.

Arthur “I want them to be taken good care of, understood?” Arthur said to the scout.

???? “Yes, my prince!” He shouts.

Arthur “And you guys, *he starts looking at the orcs, with his backfist, Arthur strikes the stone wall of the prison, the entire underground starts shaking, almost as if an earthquake of a large magnitude hit the building, stones drop from the ceiling, a giant 2 meter hole in the place Arthur struck* Just remember, your wife is within my grasp, think twice before you even dream of an escape plan.” Arthur spoke with a vile and sadistic tone.

The orcs watch in horror as Arthur showed his true self to them.

Arthur throws the cell keys to the scout.

He quickly grabs them.

Arthur "Lock them up," he asked the scout as he gave one final look to the orcs.

Arthur walks away from the cell.

The female orc followed him.

Arthur "What's your name?"

???? "Bedi..." She responded startled by his question.

Arthur "Bedi? Hmm.... *He turns back at her* From today and until the 90 days are done, you're name will be Bedivere. What's your name?"

Bedivere “Bedivere,” she whispers.

Arthur “Louder, or I’m going to call you a female orc the entire time.”

Bedivere “Bedivere!” She shouts.

Arthur “Well, Bedivere, don’t make me regret this," Arthur responded as he turned his back at her.

Arthur and Bedivere leave the underground prison.