Departure in the night

Arthur’s chambers,
2 hours later,

Arthur and Bedivere were sitting, eating at a table that was placed by the window, small breezes of air and whooshing of the windows and curtains could be heard in the room, the orcish woman seemed diligent when it came time to feast, much to Arthur’s surprise, she didn’t seem that different from humans in her manners.

Arthur “What about Klodon mountains? From there we can pass through to Cladena and the port of Wight will only be a few days away.”

Bedivere “No, the path is too narrow and too many Scrabblers have dug their caves at the mountain top, we’ll need to go around…”

Arthur “We’ll just have to go through them, we can’t afford wasting days' time for a few scrabblers…”

Bedivere “Have you ever fought a scrabbler?”

Arthur “Can’t say that I have.”

Bedivere stops from eating, she wipes her red plump lips with a napkin.

Bedivere “You’re strong, I know that, I’m not trying to underestimate you, but… the scrabblers… they have a hive mind, you know this… A Brood mother, that they are all connected to and work in unison for her, they swarm, they will never attack without hundreds others at their back, always in darkness, always when you least expect it, and the Broods, they are collectors… of sorts… those who enter their cave, they feed to their young, the one’s they take an interest in… those are the unlucky ones, those they keep alive and they can live a long time, long enough to tell them things… You could say, they collect stories, information…”

Arthur looks to the right at a wooden sword placed on a cabinet near his bed, he then turns his gaze back at Bedivere.

Arthur “We’ll go through.”

Bedivere “Your choice, but I want you to promise me one thing, If we die, my family will be set free,” she asked with a serious look on her face.

Arthur “You have my word,” Arthur responded as he gazed out through the window.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Arthur “Enter!”

???? “My prince,” the royal guard responded as he kneeled down.

Arthur “Where’s the cleric?”

???? “He is said to arrive in a few minutes.”

Arthur “Good, who exactly did you call?”

???? “Uhmmm… I… Ahhh… Archmeister Balinor went to gather herbs in the Magnolia forest, he sent his son…”

Arthur “His son?”

???? “Yes, my Prince, a young boy, nasty little temper, I believe his name was Merlin?”

Arthur “Merlin? Isn’t he like 12?”

???? “Archmeister Balinor assured us that the child is up to the task, we couldn’t… uhmmm…”

Arthur “Yeah, I know, can’t argue with that old fart.”

???? “Prince Arthur, there’s something else.”

Arthur “Well… speak…”

???? “Your presence is requested in the Royal chamber.”

Arthur “Make sure she gets proper healing, not only her, but the other orcs in the cells as well. Am I understood?”

???? “Yes! Yes, my Prince!”

Arthur “If the boy fails in his task, I will hold his father accountable and you, as well.”

The guard silently nods.

---

10 minutes later,
Royal chamber,

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Uther “Come in,” Uther shouted from behind the door.

Arthur opens the door and walks in.

Arthur “Father, you summoned me?”

Uther “What is this that I’m hearing, you let an orc out of its cage? Not to mention you made a promise in your name to free them?” Uther asked with a disgusted tone.

Arthur “Yes, has your faith in my ability to make decisions dwindled father?”

Uther “Ahhhh… Do I even want to know?”

Arthur “As I was saying earlier today, I plan to join the adventurer’s guild, If I am to succeed in my mission, I will need allies, not people that I know, beings of such a nature that will never be able to be traced back to me, the female orc is one of those allies that I plan to have on my journey.”

Uther “A female orc… that’s what you came up with…”

Arthur “Need I remind you father, our royal guards, trained by our best, couldn’t capture a single pack of 8 orcs for 2 months, she is strong, and I gave her a purpose, to fight, to survive, to return to her loved ones, she will not betray me, because it’s in her best interest that I survive, only I can grant her and her family the freedom she so desperately seeks.”

Uther “You have everything figured out, don’t you?” Uther responded sarcastically.

Arthur “I learned from the best.”

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Uther “Come in,” he said as he sat down on his bed.

Igraine came into the royal chamber with another woman at her side.

Arthur didn’t know who this female by his mother’s side was, it was unusual for him to not know, his mother had only a small circle of women that she trusted, that his father trusted to be around her, yet… This woman was a mystery even to him.

???? “My King,” she said while bending down on one knee.

Igraine “This is Morrigan, one of my friends from my hometown, she agreed to our terms, and I trust her more than enough.”

Morrigan “My prince,” she bends down in front of Arthur as well.

Arthur “Hello?” Arthur responded, confused.

Arthur(Thinking) “Who the fuck is this? Mother never mentioned her before, a friend? From her town? What the hell is she doing here? I don’t know if I like this…”

Uther “Well, let’s not waste any more time.”

Arthur “What?”

Uther “You will have to leave tonight, I can only delay Frankia so much, even a single day could cost us this alliance.”

Arthur “Now!?”

Igranine comes closer to Arthur, she gently grabs his arm with both hands.

Igraine “Yes, now, me and your father already set everything in motion, we will set out tonight for Mingham, it’s a small town, quite secluded, Morrigan here will pose as Queen in my stead, until I return.”

Arthur “What?”

Igraine “The Kingdom needs its Queen, someone has to play the part, Morrigan here offered her services to us, and like I said, I trust her more than enough to play the role.”

Uther “Let’s begin,” Uther said as he approached Arthur.

Arthur “Wait a second, I’m not ready to….”

Uther raises his hand in front of Arthur’s face.

Uther “*Inaudible whispers.*”

Arthur’s vision starts blurring, he falls on his knees, then face down on the floor.

---

Arthur’s Dream,
13 years old,

Uther “I’m sure you remember Alfred?” He asked as he raised the torch that he had in his right arm towards a statue of Alfred that was beneath the castle’s crypts.

Arthur “Yes, he is my favorite.”

Uther “Why?”

Arthur “Even though he was afflicted, ill, the youngest of six brothers, they all looked up to him for strength, in the few years that he was King, he accomplished more than all those before him, he lived without fear of his condition and what it could cause him.”

Uther “Some say he was a hot headed fool, who fought only for himself, not for the people.”

Arthur “He was a hero, the greatest of Britanica, we wouldn’t be staying here if he wasn’t.”

Uther “And his fate?”

Arthur “That he must die young, but with great glory,” Arthur spoke, with excitement in his voice.

Uther “Did he have a choice?”

Arthur “Yes, that he could have a long life… but there will be no glory.”

Uther takes a long sip from a wine bottle that he held in his left hand.

Uther “You dream of glory, I blame myself for encouraging it, there’s no glory without suffering, this you are not allowed, God has never made it easy for men.”

Uther “Look,” Uther said as he fumbled walking, drunk beyond reprieve, he raised his torch at another statue.

Uther “Edward I, even after all he accomplished in life, he was punished with madness, slaughtering his three children, poor Edward. Great Edward, but all greatness comes from loss, even you, God will one day judge, harshly…" Uther said , stumbling a few times as he attempted to sit on a rock, looking at Arthur’s back, the lashes marks, still on his young and fragile body.

Arthur was still focused on Edward’s statue.

You could see a small tear dropping from Uther’s eye as he watched his son, he quickly wipes it off and takes another sip from the wine bottle.

Arthur “When I’ll be King like you one day father?” Arthur asked.

Uther “Don’t rush the day boy, you risk all, my father… threw me into battle before I knew how to fight, when I killed my first man, he told me… Know… you know… I hated him then, but I understand why now. A King isn’t born Arthur, he is made, by steel and by suffering, *He gives one more look at Arthur’s marks on his back* A King… must know how to hurt those he loves,” Uther responded almost with a whimper behind his voice, before taking one more sip from the wine.

Uther “It’s lonely, ask Alfred, ask any of them… Fate is cruel… No man or woman can be too powerful or too beautiful without disaster following. He laughs at you when you rise too high and crushes everything you build with a whim, the glory he gives in the end… taken away… He… made us slaves…”

Arthur comes near his father, takes the bottle of wine away from his hand, and with his two hands he grabs Uther’s hand and holds it tightly to his chest.

Uther pulls his hand towards him and stands up.

Uther “The truth is in our hearts and none will tell you this but your father, men hate God, the only reason we worship him is because we fear worse.”

Arthur “What’s worse?”

Uther “The Dreaded, never to be set free, *Uther grabs Arthur by the shoulder and starts walking with him towards the exit of the crypt* They could unleash a darkness upon this world such as we’ve never seen…”

---

Royal chambers,
8 hours later,

Arthur “AHHHHHHHHHH! Uhhhh! Uhhhh!”

???? “Are you okay!?”

An elven woman rushed at his side, gently placing her hand on his chest.

He strikes her hand away from him.

Arthur “Uhhh… Uhhhhh… Who are you?”

She moves towards a table, standing beside it.

???? “Can’t you tell?”

Arthur “MOM?”