It was years later when I next met Arthur, I was now Fifteen. I walked through the unusually crowded town. Father had decided it was time for the next true king to arise. Lately; lords, Dukes, and kings from near and far had been fighting over who would rule the land for quite some time, ignoring the needs of their own people. The amount of creatures attacking people had increased greatly since the spread of Christianity, it was as if the creatures were driven insane by people no longer practicing the old ways.

I walked into the center of town there was a small courtyard, where my father hand thrust a plain sword in to a large stone. He announced that whoever could pull the sword from the stone was the true and rightful king. Not long after he made this announcement, men of noble blood flocked to the normally small town, to compete in a tournament. The winner of each day got to attempt to free the sword, but so far all had failed.

A trumpet rang through the air, telling everyone the tournament would begin soon. The crowded street was deserted in no time, all the people having run off to watch the day's events unfold.

I was walking, when suddenly a body ran into mine. I was pushed to the ground, I felt a weight on top of me to discover the I had taken the runner down with me. He quickly got up and reached down to help me up. Once I was on my feet I was able to really look at him. He was about the same age as me, his blonde hair barley grazing his shoulders, and a muscular form, but what caught my attention was his piercing blue eyes that I had seen every night in my dreams. He recognized me as well, for before I could speak his voice reached my ears.

"Avalon?"

"Arthur?" I asked him in reply. I had barely said his name when his arm engulfed me into a hug. I couldn't help, but notice how right it felt to be in his arms. He suddenly pulled away and looked quite embarrassed.

"So, where are you off to in such a hurry?" I asked.

"I left my brother's sword in the inn," he said, panicking a little.

"I'll go with you," I said, we started running, though it was more difficult for me to do so, for I had worn a dress for the day's events, I can tell you now those were not meant for running.

We came to the inn, which sign had a blue moon upon it. Arthur grabbed the handle and pulled, only to discover it had been locked. Arthur frantically pulled it for a few moments, before he gave up. He turned around and lends his back against the door.

Suddenly his face lit up, and he rushed away, I turned to see where he ws heading, I saw what had caused his behavior, the sword! I quickly followed behind him. I was curious to see if perhaps he was the rightful king, I had been taught that everything happens for a reason, perhaps it was fate that Arthur left Kay's sword.

He grasped the sword and pulled, easily freeing the sword form its stone prison. I released a breath I had not realized I was holding, but before I could react any further he started running towards the tournament.

"Wait!" I yelled running after him. If he heard me he did not show it, for he simply continued running, with me running after him, and trying to keep myself from tripping on my dress.

"The inn was locked, but I found this sword, I'll return it as soon as your done with it," I heard Arthur say. I caught up with him just in time to see him hand the sword to Kay.

I instantly saw the look of recognition on Kay's face. He grabbed the sword almost quicker than the human eye can see. He quickly turned around and ran a short distance to a man, whom based on their resemblance, was Kay's father. I couldn't help, but notice that Arthur bared no resemblance to the man, that was meant to be his .

"Father look! I pulled the sword from the sword," he practically yelled. His father opened his mouth to say something, but others had heard him speak and yelled out before he could say anything.

"What give him the right to wield the sword," one man yelled.

"Yea, he didn't even compete," yelled another. Many similar word were said until an old man slammed his staff against the ground, making the earth slightly vibrated

"If indeed has pulled the sword from the stone, than he can do it again," the man said. Words of agreement filled the air, before the crowed moved to the town square.

Kay and the old man were standing at the stone. Arthur and I had somehow managed to get a spot to stand up front.

The man thrust the sword back into the sword and stepped aside to allow Kay to attempt to free the sword again. Kay stepped to the stone and grabbed the sword's hilt and pulled, but nothing happened he pulled and pulled, but the sword would not come out. I admit it he was persistent, but he eventually gave up and fell to his knees.

"Alright I confess, Arthur brought it to me," Kay said gesturing to his brother. The crowd urged Arthur to step up to the sword and prove himself. Arthur looked at me I could tell that he was nervous, so I gave him a small encouraging smile. His face looked more confident. He grabbed the hilt and pulled, the sword slide effortlessly from the stone.

Many in the crowd knelt before Arthur and shouted, "Long live the king," but many more stayed standing. They all had a look of envy on their faces, and perhaps even a little disgusted at the thought of a boy ruling.

"He's but a boy, he can't rule," one man shouted, followed by many sounds of agreement.

"What gives him the right?" shouted another.

"This knave will never rule," a man whom I knew to be king Bagdemagus, also known as the King of one hundred knights shouted. "I will see to that."

"He is the son of Uther Pendragon," the once ancient man yelled, who had now transformed into his favored form of a middle-aged man whom I had long associated with my father.

The king of one hundred knights spoke, "you have no proof of that," he turned to address the rest of the crowd. "This land need a strong man to rule it, not some boy, I declare war upon you, Your majesty," his voice dripped with mockery at the last part.

"As do I," another king said, nine kings shouted out similar words. "Let the battle begin in a month's time," yelled the king of a hundred knights, and with that the he and his new allies left and left the people waiting for their king to speak.

"Say something," I whispered.

"What?" he asked silently.

"Whatever your heart tells you," I replied.

"Good people, I stand before you not as your king, but as your brother, a brother who is sick of hearing of another maiden carried away in the dead of night, of a child disappearing with no sign of what might have happened, of men found torn to shreds. With your help I want to bring back the land this once was, the land we all grew up hearing the stories of, a land where for the most part human and creatures of magic lived In peace, I speak of Albion," he said he looked to me and I gave him a reassuring smile; he continued, "My brothers, will you stand beside me and fight?

The crowd burst into fits of joy and acceptance. They pounded the air with their fists in triumph, the practically danced for the joy they all felt.

"Bring out the mead!" One man shouted.

"And we'll need some music," shouted another. The crowd ran to prepare for the unplanned party, all in honor of their new king.

Later at the celebration I made my way through the crowd, though I had to stop a few times to push men who had had too much to drink away from me. I finally got out of the partying crowd just in time to see Arthur slipping into the woods nearby. I was a little worried, and more than a bit curious, this party was for him after all.

I made up my mind and followed him into the lush, green forest. I stayed a distance behind him, and hide behind trees every time I felt that he was going to look back to see if he was being followed. He stopped when neither one of us could hear the music anymore, right in front of a tall oak tree.

He leaned his forehead against the rough bark, I didn't have to use my physic abilities to know that something was troubling him, so I choose this moment to revel myself. "That cannot be comfortable," I stated. He turned to me fast, not in a surprised, fearful way, but more in a cautious, prepared manner.

"Avalon what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Following you, now what are you doing here?" I replied.

"Just thinking," he said before he slide down the tree's trunk, so he was sitting with his back against it. I made my way over to him and sat beside him.

"What troubles you?" I asked concerned.

"What if I fail them, I'm a good fighter I know that, but that doesn't make me fit to rule," he said while he looked into my eyes.

"The only way you would fail anyone is if you didn't try, if you didn't stand up and fight for this land," I said, "And I know you would never not fight for what you believe in, I mean remember when we met?"

"I could never forget that day," he stated. In that moment I realized that our faces were getting closer and closer until our lips met in a loving, gentle, chaste kiss.

I felt like my soul grew wings and flew higher than any bird had ever dared to fly, among the bright stars in the night sky. It didn't take long for me to realize Arthur's soul was right there with me.

ere...