The Black Cauldron & Sword in the Stone Cross Over:
Rise of the Knights
Author's note/Disclaimer: I do not own anything of the Black cauldron and Sword in the Stone, this is avid fan fiction only i only wish to show my talent of writing and to compel two of my favourite Disney films.
Prologue:
The morning sun broke through the curtains of Sir Ector's carriage, the room inside was relatively well sized to house 2 large beds and one smaller sized bed, Ector rolled himself off his quilts and planted two feet upon the wooden floor of the cart, he felt his legs sway as the carriage went one a large turn and from behind him he heard a massive thud.
He turned to see his first son, a young knight in training Sir Kay, not so long ago had his son been knighted and Ector could see a bit of himself in the young man, courageous, strong, handsome, even the young man had the same hair except his was much longer as was the fashion with such young men.
"Ohh!" Kay shouted angrily, he got two his knees and looked up to his father. "We there yet? I cant take any more of those turnings, blasted driver, where we going anyway Dad?"
Ector sighed and grabbed Kay by the shoulders and lifted him to his feet, "Prydain boy, now come on smarten up." Ector explained brushing down the dust off of Kay's attire.
"Where's that Dad?"
"Where is it? Wales dear boy."
"Why we going there, we must have been travelling for days now, why couldn't we go to London." Kay sulked and hung his arms by his sides as if exasperating his boredom.
"Because no one in London sells livestock as cheap, Sir Pelinor, you know the man of course?" Ector tried to explain with much enthusiasm however felt stricken when Kay showed no interest.
"No." Kay muttered.
"The man who helped you with your fencing!"
"Did he have a moustache?"
"Blast it all, never mind, anyway where off to Prydain to Dallben's cottage, i have already messaged him and he is expecting us."
To this Kay shrugged his shoulders and gazed at his father in disbelief. "A Cottage? I expected us to dine in a fine castle, now you're saying we are eating in a old dusty Cottage?"
"Yes devil take it, and none of that language once we get there!" Ector exclaimed. "There are rumours son, Dallben is a practicioner, in ... black magic."
As soon as those words were uttered a brief cold sweep of wind cut through the carriage, Kay and Ector looked about themselves in silent fear as if they were being watched by some ethereal presence.
"We really got to close that window." Kay muttered.
"Well enough of that, wake up the Wart." Ector ordered as he wrapped his red waistcoat round his shoulders. "I'm off to talk to the driver."
At the back of the carriage in a little bed a young boy no older then twelve years of age slept peacefully, he had blonde hair, charming feautures and eyes of blue.
Sir Kay rudely interrupted his sleep with a sharp kick to the boys bed, "get up Wart." Kay muttered in a intimidating croak of a voice that was so different from the tone he used with his father.
"Yes Sir." Wart replied cheerfully however respectful, however much Kay was meant to be his brother he was just as much a bully as their father Sir Ector.
"Taran get up boy, it's late and we have guests arriving soon." Dallben said shaking the young man out of his sleep.
"Uh who where what?" The boy gasped as he sat up instantly in his bed.
"Good morning dear boy, now as i said get up, you have to get the livestock for our guests."
Taran stood out of his bed, he grabbed his top and forced it over his head and shoulders and tugged it down his chest and abdomen.
"How many this time Dallben?" Taran asked as he stepped forward and grabbed a mug of water and lifted it high on his lips so the water rushed freely down his throat.
"Ten pigs and fifteen chickens, also two tankers of goat milk."
The morning wind was still slightly cold however the sun broke through the trees, the sound of chickens filled the morning silence, it was the usual dull sound Taran heard on his morning rounds.
Sometimes he wished he could escape this life of daily toil, he wished he could live in a castle, to be a knight, unstoppable, heroic, a armour of plated gold a sword encrusted from the jewels forged from the fires of dragons and ...
But that was a poor man's dream, Taran knew his place here with Dallben as a Assistant Pig keeper, but some day he knew he would rise from the farm, and live his life how he saw fit.
Finally the cart pulled up, as the wheels spun to a halt the carriage itself jolted forward and back, unfortunately this happened as soon as Arthur stepped up from his bed and he accidentally fell to his feet slide down the wooden flooring and straight into the back of Kay's legs.
Kay however being a strong man was unwielded by Arthur's mishap, his strong legs felt as strong as steel as Arthurs head banged into it, he was dazed and looked up to see Kay's cocky arrogant smirk loom over him.
"Watch your step Wart." Kay muttered under his breath and grabbed Arthur by the collar and lifted him to his feet.
Suddenly a voice came from above, "Kay! Kay! Come on lad, it's time to show you how your father works his diplomats!" Sir Ector's voice boomed through the carriage.
At the drop of a hat Kay kicked the carriage door open and stepped forward, Arthur took note, as he always did, of how self poignant Kay was when it came to impressing not just his father but others, he was a very vane man Arthur deemed however to voice such a accusation would mean more aggravation so Arthur tolerated his emotions.
Sir Ector turned to Arthur and shook his moustache a bit, "I do say boy make sure you look after the other carriages for the live stock, the old pig keeper here has a apprentice, he should be around anytime soon to assist the matter whilst me and Kay have a discussion with the owner of this cottage." Ector explained, more curtly than usual, probably because Ector was in his role of a courteous knight, which he so often used to impress friends at one of his parties in the castle hall.
"Yes sir." Arthur replied.
And with that Ector grabbed at his breaches and lifted them high, shook down the dirt of his clothes and he and Kay set off to the Cottage.
"Cor dad what's that smell dad?" Kay out bursted.
"Don't worry son, that's the smell of good old country farming." Ector replied then taking a deep smell. "Bother, let's get this over and done with quickly eh, ah Dallben old chap good to see you!"
Ector had caught eye contact with the old man waiting at the door, he was dressed in a cloak and used a cane for balance.
"Sir Ector do come in, business is business as you know." The old man apparently called Dallben replied curtly. Then Dallben glanced up and caught eye contact with the young boy Arthur, then for a moment Arthur felt almost moved by the grateful gaze the old man permitted, it was all knowing, suddenly Arthur felt as if his mind had been examined and cleared by a unknown entity. "I shall get Taran to move the live stock this moment, Taran you may begin!"
"Yes Dallben!" A voice called over.
Arthur turned down to the pig sty where he saw a boy, no older than himself stride up to the Ector's carts, he wore a green attire very opposing to Arthur's red clothing, brown hair and deep brown hazel eyes.
"Hello." Arthur said with a cheery smile.
"Hi, can you show me where you want the milk?" The boy replied holding up two milk canisters.
"Sure follow me." Athur replied. "Hey let me help you with one of those."
Taran smiled gratefully, "here you go thanks, lead on then."
The two boy placed the canisters on the first carriage, then Arthur offered to assist with the livestock, this mean herding the pigs and chickens, finally after a good hour of work they were finished.
"My name's Taran by the way." Taran explained to the boy.
Arthur smiled humble and held out his hand, "MY name's Arthur but every one calls me Wart."
"That's a funny name to call someone."
"Oh it doesn't bother me i get called it all the time."
"Well if we ever meet again i will call you Arthur, Arthur of England ha ha!"
"Yes well if i see you again i shall knight you Sir Taran of Prydain."
The two boys chuckled and laughed out loud, they shared more jokes and dreams, Arthur listened very intently to his new friend and he noticed a trait of Taran that he did like to talk however in moderation he was also humble to Arthur.
"All my life i've wanted to get out of here, become a knight maybe!" Taran exclaimed as he stood atop of the hay pile holding a stick he imagined to be a sword aloft pointing to the sky above, remembering his place he sat back down next to Arthur whom replied.
"Well i'm training to be a squire, maybe i could be yours eh?"
"Maybe, we shall see though, who names ten years from now we could be kings!"
Just then the Cottage door swung open and Arthur and Taran turned to see Kay and Ector stroll out looking confident with themselves, clearly toArthurs own knowledge of past dealings this was a good sign however Kay looked flustered and exceptionally glad to have escaped the Cottage.
"Until next time Dallben." Ector called back whom returned with a wave, Ector turned to see Arthur and Taran sitting lazily on the hay, with raised eyebrows Ector called out. "You have better done all the work Wart, now come on we have Kay's fencing lesson to get to, get him all good and ready for next years tournament!"
And with that Arthur jumped to his feet and made to head off, however he stopped and turned to Taran, Taran had also jumped up as Dallben had called him over.
"Well until next time then." Arthur muttered.
"Same to you Arthur, until next time." Taran replied, then the two boys shook hands like brothers and each departed.
"Listen to me Kay, that Dallben back there is most certainly a practitioner of some dark art, i am never coming here again for certain, he's probably put something in the milk!" Ector whispered to Kay as the two men bustled into their carriage.
Back at the Cottage Dallben had closed the door after Taran and gave him a bucket.
"Here." He muttered. "Go feed Hen Wen it is time for her food, remember she's very important to us, look after her." Dallben instructed and Taran was off in a shot.
Dallben strode over to the wooden table in the centre of his dining area, next to the fireplace there was a old cloak stand, also by the table was the dishes and dirty glasses from his recent visitors.
Dallben grasped his mug from the table, there still some tea left in it so he took a slow guzzle and refreshed himself, he felt better now and not so stifled by that obnoxious Englishman and his pompous son.
He turned to the cloak stand to spot a small brown owl stood atop, Dallben smiled in acknowledgement and in his mind he wondered how long that owl had been there for.
"Tell your master i expect him over for tea any day now, we have much to discuss, especially about matters including ... him."