Moin moin (It's German for Hey)! I was watching this teen chick flick movie just the other day with a bad ass female lead character and that's when this story popped into my head and I just couldn't let it pass. Personally, I love it when the heroine is like some pugnacious rebel or intelligent daredevil who leaves everyone speechless and impressed. Delight!

Anyhow, I thought Arthur might need some female competition to mess with his head. It's time to level the playing field, girls! Haha – P.s. I'm not a feminist or anything. I just love girl-boy-bantering.


Chapter 1 – Uther's kind of compromise

It had been another typical day for Arthur – meetings with the guards and townspeople, training with the knights, looking over papers and ordering Merlin around incessantly. Nothing out of the ordinary which was exactly dire, but it wasn't great either – simply boring. Everything was mere routine and Arthur was living his life by a check-list. He let out a deep sigh.

Arthur was preparing for a one-on-one dinner with his father, for Morgana was to dine with some of the ladies of the court. That was a sure way of sucking the fun out of the occasion. Being alone with his father in one room seldom ended well. Usually they started with small talk, discussed a few bureaucratic things and how the knights' training was going. Never anything personal. After that silence bore it's way through – it was deafening. It was a reflection of how little they had in common. In their case the saying 'like father like son' couldn't have been more erroneous. Sometimes the fact saddened him – but then again Arthur didn't want to be much like his father; he only longed for his approval like any son would.

Of course, he never showed that on the outside. He kept his thoughts to himself and simply obeyed. After all, he was only the prince and not king. It was easier that way. Maybe that was the reason why he behaved like a selfish spoilt prat towards everyone else. It was easier and how his father acted. Besides, he enjoyed all the attention and admiration, there was nothing he couldn't have.

He seated himself opposite his father who had opted not to take his place at the head of the table for tonight. This meant his father had something more serious to discuss. Dread washed over him. Again they exchanged pleasantries until his father came down to business. Uther pushed aside his plate, laid both elbows on the table and clasped his hands together.

"Son, there is something of grave importance I must discuss with you. You and I are both well aware, that you are the only heir to my throne. And when it is time for you to become king, I want you to be ready. And in order to do so, you must find a suitable queen with whom you can father healthy children, preferably boys, and rule over Camelot."

The moment Uther had mentioned the word 'heir', Arthur had known in which direction their conversation was heading. It was the first time his father had addressed marriage, but until today Arthur had been able to postpone it. No question, he was by far old enough. He knew of cousins who had married as young as sixteen. There was nobody in Camelot that would come in question – he was sure of that. For reasons unknown to him, Camelot's ladies of court were mostly unappealing or daft as bread and gossiping hens – except for Morgana, of course. Anyway, his father surely wanted him to marry someone wealthy and influential as to profit the kingdom. He was no romantic – hell no – but an arranged marriage appealed even less to him.

Arthur just stared blankly at his father, wanting to hear him out first before he said anything to hasty. But headaches were commencing, so he rubbed his temples.

"You have shown no special interest in anybody at our court which actually comes quite in handy. Camelot would benefit far more if you married someone from another kingdom. But that's no secret to you. You may interject that I was lucky enough to marry a woman I loved – your mother. And I do not want to refrain you from that privilege. But the matter is pressing so we must compromise", Arthur explained.

His father's last words sparked Arthur's attention again. How could you compromise those two aspects? His father had often enough preached about how married couples often started off as complete strangers and gradually worked their way from friendship to companionship which then grew into love. Yeah, right. A whole lot of bull, if you asked him.

"Compromise…what do you mean by that?", Arthur inquired.

"Well, I'm going to give you options", Uther stated.

"Options…", Arthur echoed.

"Yes, exactly. I don't want to force you to marry a certain someone, so I've decided to invite a few selected candidates which you shall choose from. How does that sound?", Uther asked far too keenly thinking Arthur would be happy about the whole ordeal.

Arthur kept silent for a moment – too many thoughts running through his mind. And having his father stare at him the whole time wasn't helping in ordering them.

"How generous of you father", Arthur replied sarcastically forcing himself to smile, but it wasn't working very well.

Uther didn't pick up on the sarcasm. He had dearly hoped for Arthur to agree and just hearing any kinds of words of approval obviously numbed his perception.

"Delightful. I mean, I know it's not the ideal situation but for others it is custom. Anyway what could be so bad about having a handful of girls hovering around you?", Uther laughed joyously.

At first thought his father's words weren't exactly soothing but he was a guy after all, so the idea was kind of engaging. But, then again, he had endured enough girls throwing themselves at him until present – the whole thing about being Prince of Camelot and all – and most of the time it had been atrociously annoying seeing that they were unattractive and hollow. He had often fled to Morgana for refuge. He feared 'the selected candidates' would be no different and that's what put him off completely.

"I'm not so sure about this father. Why are you rushing this all of a sudden?", Arthur opposed.

"Firstly, because you don't seem to be getting a move on and I want to die knowing you married. And secondly, because we have ceased all wars, so now is the perfect time to forge new alliances and strengthen Camelot", Uther announced.

"And forging new alliances is only possible if I marry someone?", Arthur asked rhetorically.

Uther was slowly getting aggravated. "Now, don't start playing stupid with me. We've talked this over many times. You know how these things work", Uther exclaimed, "In any case, the matter is settled. I have already sent out the invitations. The candidates are to arrive in two days time. So, you better get a grip of yourself until then."

Arthur couldn't believe his father. Like so often, Uther didn't care about his opinions, rarely listened let alone took them into consideration. And even know, in such an important matter – it was about his future wife and life after all – his father chose to go over his head and decide everything. Arthur felt like lunging at his father in that moment. Countless feelings were churning inside of him – anger, despair, sorrow, fear but also a little hope. Hope, after all, was the only thing left he had to cling onto – he couldn't disobey his father – so he just wished that one of the 'candidates' would somehow meet his expectations.

"Alright, father. Seeing that there's no possible way out of this, I guess I'll have to go along with it. At least you are giving me the opportunity to choose, even if it be with boundaries. You needn't worry; I will have pulled myself together until they arrive", Arthur consented.

Uther's face relaxed and he smiled victoriously. He loved winning even if it meant his son being miserable.

"I knew you'd come to your senses. You're a smart man after all."

"Huh, yes, well, now that we've discussed all the important matters for the day, I think I'll head to bed if you don't mind. Training today was overly exhausting", Arthur excused and readied himself to stand up.

"Of course, of course. You need your rest. Strenuous days lie ahead of you, so get as much as you can get", Uther appealed to him, leaning back in his chair, fully aware that Arthur simply wanted to get away from him.

"Thank you, father. I bid you good night, too", Arthur finished off and left for his chambers.

Just to give you guys a heads up – I'm writing two stories simultaneously, so it might take a while till I post the next chapter. Apart from that real life calls – university is a killer sometimes. If you get what I mean. But I'll try my best – if need be I'll sacrifice a few hours sleep : )