Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia and the Legend of King Arthur. I just decided to mix them and see what happens. Also, the cover image doesn't belong to me. The link to the artist is on my profile page.

Chapter rating: K

Hi everyone! It's been awhile since I posted anything. But I'm alive and ready to entertain you with my new story. As always, I want to remind you that English is not my first language, so there might be some minor mistakes. Therefore, I would appreciate it if you would tell me about them if you found any.

A little note before we get started. There are a lot of authors who wrote about King Arthur's adventures, so it would be right to say whose story I picked as a base. It's Sir Thomas Malory's work "Tale of King Arthur". I was unable to find it in Books Category, so I won't post my story as a crossover. Without further ado, let's move on with the story.

Chapter 1

"Legendary Excalibur?" The headline caught his eye as he passed the table with the newspaper on it. He stopped in his tracks and took it in his hands. "Two weeks ago remnants of an unknown sword were found, and recent research revealed that it was made in the 5th century A.D. Some might recall the famous sword Excalibur that belonged to the legendary King Arthur, who ruled Britannia in the same century. However, it is surely not Excalibur, because even if the legend was true, the sword would doubtfully be found. The found item probably belonged to some ordinary knight of that time, and after the special expertise it will be sent to the Historical Museum."

England smirked at the article and put it back. He headed towards the kitchen of his manor house to prepare some five o'clock tea. But the minute he prepared it, entered the living-room and was about to enjoy his Earl Grey, someone interrupted him by knocking on his front door.

"England! England! Are you there?" He heard all too familiar annoying voice of America. Arthur sighed, put the cup back on the table and started towards the door.

"I am having my tea time right now. What do you want from me?" He asked while opening the door to see his adopted brother. But just as he opened the door, America rushed into his house, not even bothering to ask to come in and leaving startled England behind. "Who let you in, git?!" Arthur angrily spat, closing the front door, seemingly without any intention to send America away.

"Oh come on, big bro! We were once so close; you brought me up. You are always happy to see me!" He smiled with that toothy grin and showed England a thumb up.

"Don't remind me of those terrible days, America! I'm not happy to see you at all." Arthur proceeded past him in the direction of the living-room, where his tea was slowly cooling. "But if you're already here, would you like to have some tea?"

"Nah! I'm not that fond of tea, you know. However, it would be great if you had coffee to offer me." Alfred dropped into the chair and eyed England in expectation. Arthur shook his head in disapproval and headed for the kitchen to prepare some coffee for his guest. When he came back, he spotted America holding the newspaper and staring at it.

"Have you found something interesting in the newspaper?" Arthur asked surprised that it caught Alfred's attention.

"It is written they found the sword that is probably older than you. You were born in the 10th century." America put the newspaper back and took the cup of coffee from England.

"I am surprised that you actually know when my birthday is, even though it's my second birthday. I mean it was the 10th century when I officially became a country." They sat down in front of each other at the table.

"But when is your actual birthday? It's on 23d of April, isn't it? America asked.

"Tsk, it's just an assumption. I don't know either my real age, or the exact date. But I was born in the 5th century, so this sword is approximately my age." Arthur put his cup of tea on the table and eyed America thoughtfully.

"Really?" America exclaimed, eager to hear more. "You mean it's the real Excalibur?"

Arthur laughed at this and stood up to stand by the window with distant look in the eyes and his arms crossed on his chest. "No, I doubt that Excalibur will ever be found."

"Why? Wait, because it's just a legend, right?"

England looked at his adopted brother and smiled with sadness. "No, it's not a legend, Alfred. King Arthur really existed. And I... I knew him in person."

America almost fell from the chair he was sitting in. "But when I was a kid, you were reading stories about him to me! They really sounded like fairy tales for children!"

England laughed at Alfred's reaction. "You were too young to know the truth. Also, I've never told anyone about this. You're the only person who now knows."

Alfred stood up and approached Arthur. "Tell me more about him." He said calmly, with his tone serious. "Tell me the real story that's hiding behind all these fairy tales."

"It's been awhile, America. I don't remember much. Besides, it's not important. He really existed. It doesn't change anything."

"Brother, I know you too well to get that you're lying," America smirked, "he mattered a lot to you, didn't he?" Suddenly his face lit up and he began laughing out loud.

"W-what's so funny, git?" Arthur resented Alfred's reaction.

"I just realized it... Hahaha! Were you by any chance named after him?"

England's eyes widened as he heard this. He turned around and silently walked to the centre of the room where the table with the tea and coffee stood. He seated himself again and took a sip of his tea. "Come here, America and listed to what I shall tell you."

Alfred joined him at the table and prepared to listen to the story his brother was going to tell him.

"Long ago there was a country named Britannia," England began, "and it was a great country full of magic and brave knights and kings. But the most famous king of that time was Arthur Pendragon, the man whose name is still known even 15 centuries later..."

A boy of 15 years walked past the guards and entered the throne room. His green eyes widened in amazement as he saw such a rich place for the first time. Ever since he remembered he lived in a small house with his parents and brother and knew no magnificence. But the day before his life took an unexpected turn. It was suddenly revealed that he was adopted by his parents. It was a very shocking news to him; however, there was something that caught him off guard as well. He was to become the king of his country.

So there he was standing in the throne room, taking in every inch of the greatness there. He was distracted from his thoughts as he felt Merlin ruffle his golden hair.

"Do you like what you are seeing, young man?" The wizard asked him smiling.

Arthur nodded. "Yes, but why didn't you tell me about everything earlier? You knew all about this, didn't you?"

"Oh yes, Arthur, I knew everything, but I couldn't interfere... Your fate was long ago predetermined. You will commit a lot of sins, but nevertheless you will be a great king."

"But why me? Why did the sword allow me to retrieve it?" Arthur asked thoughtfully.

"In time I will tell you everything, young man." And Merlin disappeared from sight.

"Why is this wizard always so mysterious?" Arthur asked himself aloud and headed towards the throne he will be sitting upon soon.

He touched the golden arms of the throne and wondered at the fineness of the metal. Then an idea struck the future king and he looked around to see if there was anyone else in the room. When he made sure he was completely alone, he sat on the throne eager to know how it feels. The seat was too big for him, but nevertheless it was pretty easy and comfortable.

So Arthur sat there, enjoying himself when suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by a feminine voice.

"Do you like it, your highness?"

Arthur quickly leapt up from the throne and started to look around the room to find the source of the voice.

"Who are you? And what are you doing in the throne room?" He asked loudly and firmly. "Show yourself!"

At first there was silence, but then he heard light steps and looked in that direction. A young lady approximately of 20 years slowly approached him and made a curtsey. Her hair was red and the eyes were green just like his. She looked like a young and fragile woman, but Arthur could feel the great strength and magic in her. As if she was something more than human.

"It's nice to meet you, young prince. From now on we are going to have a lot of business together. I've been waiting for our meeting for a long time." And she smiled warmly.

Arthur studied her face and nodded. He still felt a bit uneasy being around this woman. She seemed so pure and innocent; however, something was telling him there were a lot of secrets and unseen things hiding behind this mask of chastity.

"Tell me, my lady, who are you?" He asked kissing her hand.

She smiled and her eyes sparkled, causing him to wonder at her beauty.

"My name is Britannia, my prince," she said and boldly sat on the throne, "I am the country you're going to rule." Then she laughed as she saw Arthur's bewildered face. "Please, don't say you didn't know that countries live among you, humans."

"A-actually..." The future king stuttered, unable to believe what he just heard.

Britannia noticed his confusion and stopped laughing. "Oh... So you didn't know?"

Arthur shook his head no.

The lady stood up then and approached him once again. "Now you know." She began calmly. "From now on we should work together in order to not let me disappear from this world. Will you swear to protect me, my future king?

And during the coronation the new king swore to protect his country until the end of his days.

England stared at the empty cup he was holding and stopped speaking. He was too deep in his thoughts, so that America wasn't even sure if he should call for him. But he decided to be himself, so he did just that.

"Arthur? Are you still with me?"

The older nation looked up at Alfred and smiled sadly. "Yeah, sorry, I got distracted."

"So why were you telling me all this?" America asked him.

England gazed at his adopted brother in surprise. "You wanted to hear more about King Arthur, why would you ask that?"

"Yeah, that's right. But there were no you in the story."

"Well, maybe it's because I wasn't born yet? Are you going to listen to the whole story or not?"

"It seems it's going to be a long story." Alfred made himself comfortable in the chair and prepared to listen to more of the England's narrative.