Nothing was the Same

Arthur Pendragon decided to return home back to the Sports Festival. The Sports Festival culminated with epic propositions of excitement and might. Perhaps an experience that would be memorable for a lifetime, Arthur cherished the entire ordeal. There was an unfortunate event that plagued the mind of the prince with concern. It was difficult to overcome the twisted thoughts and emotions that were lingering. Arthur managed to avoid these depressing, heinous attitude for the past year. For them to resurface truly frightened the prince, fearing that he would plunged into the abyss of darkness and forsake piety. 

This fear was not unwarranted, especially since the only time these feelings emerged was when Arthur was captured by the Lucas Family. The prince was handed an ultimatum that weighted the amount of faith he held for himself versus the safety of Camelot. Arthur disregarded the pinch and decided to retain his honor with the intentions to defend his kingdom. Of course, this rejection angered his captors, which resulted in chaos. For this past year, the prince believed during that chaos the woman named Mistress Soul corrupted his Séance ability. To learn that Caliburn, the blade that vile woman gifted, was the culprit of his insanity shocked him.

Arthur found himself wandering to the Garden of Avalon, wanting to clear his mind of everything. He struggled trying to understand how such tainted emotions could reside inside him. It made the prince question whether he had always been this twisted and demented. A king could not be this heinous, only pious if they were to rule the Camelot land. Lost in these sea of thoughts and confusion, Arthur eventually found himself approaching some stranger.

“Hello there Sir. I never seen you here, may I ask for your name?”

Word Count: 294

Perhaps Arthur would have been alarmed that the stranger knew who he was in America. The kingdom of Camelot was a completely different nature, much more warm and welcoming. If was normal culture for his name to be known through the land. The prince held the last name of the royal bloodline.

The only alarming thing to pique the prince’s attention was the mystery. The stranger did not reveal his name, which seemed strange. Arthur was never the type to expect any sort of treatment, but nobody in Camelot sought the need to hide their identity – especially in front of Arthur. The prince began to quickly fear, dramatizing the behavior of this stranger.

Arthur felt that his departure from the kingdom seemed to weaken his connection with his people. All this time spent trying to become a better king possibly wasted if they lacked trust in their lead. Arthur probably possessed a facial expression of sulking. Arthur would force himself out of his thoughts and looked at the stranger with concern.

“The Land of America was interesting. Quite the entertainment, but I remained studious with the hope to lead thy kingdom in prominence.”

Arthur would hold his hand out in attempts to shake the stranger’s hand. He hoped a connection could be built.

Word Count: 213

It seemed that the stranger possessed insight into the ordeal that Arthur faced since his father’s passing. There were previous kings whom acquired the throne of the kingdom at young ages. There were forefathers that donned the crown at younger ages. Only recently were the kings living longer lives, especially since peaceful times had befallen the land. The nourishing effects of the restoration era was being to take effect, hence why Arthur was older than most of his predecessors when they acquired the role as king. Despite the difference in age, the prince believed himself to be less wise than his forefathers.

Arthur would shake the man’s hand, acknowledging the insight he seemed to possess. However, the prince made sure to speak to show his appreciation. It felt as if the stranger was trying to show sympathy for the trials and tribulations that the prince endured thus far. Even if that wasn’t the case, Arthur simply wanted to gain the trust of his people.

“Work only turns the duty of being a king into child’s play, my friend. To be the King of Camelot is much more than silly work. It is my way of life. I have dedicated my time to grooming myself to become a suitable king for this land, for you.”

Word Count: 214

The stranger spoke about the potential perils should Arthur be met with infortune. He would call upon some lord, which identified that this man was not native to Camelot. That much information was given, considering the attire was not of this land nor did it possess any cultural references to the land. Arthur’s interest in the stranger’s name only grew more after making these revelations, but it was not great enough for the prince to not take note of his words. Should tragedy strike, it would prove troublesome for the kingdom. Quite selfless in nature, the prince only care to remain alive and healthy for the sake of his people.

“You speak of a lord. I pray to the Mystics that you are not referring to the Monarch of ancient times? Excuse me if I pry too much. The people here are unfamiliar to any lord aside from that ancient enemy.”

Arthur would remove his hand from the stranger’s grasp, placing them in the pockets of his pants; a habit he picked up from America. He would then look up at the night sky, mesmerized by the beauty.

“It is quite the magnificent night. What has brought you to the sacred Garden of Avalon this evening, sir?"

Word Count: 207

It seemed that Arthur’s speculation was true. The stranger was not a native of the land but it seemed he was on a journey. The prince began to wonder the reason why the man found himself on this path. Was his journey dedicated to growth? Perhaps to find some truth that currently escaped his grasp? The stranger claimed to have been on this journey for sightseeing, but could he had travelled so far simply to see new places? It seemed to be such a trivial matter, but Arthur was not one to judge. He embarked on his journey for his own reasons. He was sure the stranger held his own.

The man’s disbelief raised confusion for the prince. Arthur had always moved alone, especially in the land of Camelot. There was no reason to feel as if protection was needed. He was amongst his own people, citizens that loved and adored the Pendragon Family. This land should be the safest within all the world for Arthur. He certainly felt safe enough to leave the castle alone. What type of past did the stranger endure to possess such paranoid?

“I have naught to fear sir. Camelot is my home. It was where thy was born and thy shall die. As for you sir? Where was thy born? Where shall thy perish?”

Word Count: 220

The tone of the conversation took a turn for worse. Arthur truly despised the idea of “subjects” because nobody was beneath him regarding value. It was true that he came from a royal bloodline, but it only held such pristine reputation because of the people. They must accept that the blood that coursed through his veins was worthy to be considered royal. The working men and woman in this kingdom boasted the economy, raised each generation to generation, produced the food that nurtured the land, etc. Anyone whom believed their life was more important than another was simply trash, rodents of the earth.

Arthur looked down from the sky, his carefree facial expression replaced by one a stoic disposition. The prince had endured many hardships and evil in the past year, enough to groom his instincts. For a stranger to enter the holy lands of Camelot, question the connection between him and the people. It then donned on the prince that he still was on the hit list of an immoral monster, including Camelot itself. The prince would grip the Holy Sword – Excalibur, which was strapped to his waist alongside the Impure Blade – Caliburn.

“Are you aligned with that wretched witch, Mistress X?”

Word Count: 204

The stranger denounced any relation with the wretched witch but Arthur found that difficult to accept as truth. Especially when he withdrew his weapon, taunting the king of the land. The prince would unsheathe the Holy Sword – Excalibur and channel the lingering will of Sir Palamedes. The swordsmanship of that forefather proved lethal in combat power, but it was the cleanest means of combat. Arthur refused to stain the Garden of Avalon with the stranger’s blood.

“For someone that has not aligned with that evil woman, what has brought you to this land? I do not need the mystics to inform me that you sought this confrontation.”

Arthur stretched his sword arm outward, the tip of the blade towards the adversary.

“If you sought I, then you foolishly sought your death. If you sought anyone of Camelot blood, then you foolishly sought your death.”

After uttering that declaration, Arthur lunged forward while pulling his sword arm back. Once in the appropriate range, the prince would jab forward with the sword arm – attempting to pierce the abdomen of the stranger. Because Arthur channeled Sir Palamedes, especially in the land of Camelot, it seemed to bolster the resurgence of the king’s personality. A king born during an era where slaying another life was not immoral if for the safety of the kingdom.

Word Count: 220