Act 2: The Rebel Kings
(A/N: And so begins Act 2, the first couple chapters of which will be some background. This is a pretty lengthy one, and I'm crunched for time, so I haven't edited it as well as I usually like to. Hopefully there aren't too many errors. On another note, I may go back to Act 1 and switch around some wording in one of the chapters to try and make it clearer who's speaking when, but it'll pretty well stay the same except possibly clearer description. Reviews are much appreciated. Thank you to everyone who takes time to review, and to everyone who takes time to read for that matter. It means a lot.)
Once Upon a Time…
Secrets played a huge part in our downfall, I think. There were a lot of secrets… Not only from the knights, but from others involved with us. Oh yeah, a lot of secrets… Perhaps ultimately it was secrets that killed us all. Wasn't a person, wasn't an event, it was secrets. Secrets and really, really horrible judgement calls…
"He's your son!" Morgause—aka Anna—crooned victoriously, wickedly laughing. Arthur gaped in horror and fear, stunned, and the little boy at his side was as white as a sheet.
I grimace at the memory, pain coming to my eyes. I never realized how much I hated secrets until right this moment. What you want to hear, though, is my story, not my inner musings. Why would my inner thoughts matter anyway? Then again, you're hearing me, so either you're crazy, bored to death, or actually care. I doubt the latter is the reason you're sticking around to listen to my explanation as to how the hell things got so horribly screwed up that it brought about the end of the Knights of the Round Table and my powerful—at least so people are saying—reign.
War is hell. Nobody reserves the right to say anything different. Nobody reserves the right to call it glorious. It's hell, plain and simple. The swords have stopped clashing. Guess everyone's dead or finally realized that hey, our military leaders are kind of sort of dead or on their last legs. About damn time. Ugh, now the silence is deafening… Now I'd give anything to hear some sort of sound… I hate feeling alone… I blame that on ending up with friends virtually overnight. Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but when the ball got rolling, it happened quick… It would take books upon books to tell our story, I think… Most probably wouldn't even get it totally right. I likely don't have the kind of time left to me to tell it all, but maybe my life flashing before my eyes is actually moving faster than I think it is and it's only been a second or a minute in the real world. Lost track long ago.
We all changed so much back then… Kay wasn't always a rude jerk and creep like in the legends, Gareth wasn't always what the stories say, noble and good. Oh yeah, we all changed big time, some for better some for worse… I kind of wish we hadn't… Well, at least in some instances. In others, not so much. It was just all… it was confusing. It was hard. It was sometimes painful. Guess that's all part of growing up, though. Man, getting old sucks…
Chapter 1: Once Upon a Time
Once upon a time, in a land Far, Far Away, there lived a young king. Though vain and arrogant, he was just; often cold and self-absorbed, yet fair also and much loved by his people.
Under his rule there was peace. No enemy dared cross him, for he had many allies and friends and was counted among the most skilled warriors in all the land.
However, despite all he possessed and all the power he held, he was spoiled. His own comforts meant more to him than anything else, and though he ruled with a strict yet merciful hand, it was his interests that he pursued more than anything else…
Until one day the mighty Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, who long had held war with the king, came to his land to discuss talks of peace…
KAK
"Gorlois," the King greeted coldly, his best knights as his back in case of treachery.
"Uther," Gorlois greeted equally as icily. "I look forward to our peace talks. I'm hopeful they shall lead to an outcome we'll both be happy with."
"I'm sure you… I'm hopeful for the same," Uther replied, biting back a condescending remark. To his chagrin he had to be professional about this, not petulant.
Gorlois nodded. "Allow me to introduce to thee mine wife," he said. "Igraine, Duchess of Cornwall and Lady of Tintagel." He gestured behind him and Uther looked up as into the hall walked what had to be the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes upon. His lips slowly parted as she approached gracefully with her train, and as her dark eyes fell on him his mouth went dry. In that moment, he was lost.
KAK
With him he brought his wife, the fair Igraine; but when the young monarch laid eyes upon her, he desired her more than anything he had ever desired before.
KAK
"I must have her! I'll do whatever it takes, Fairy Godmother, just give her to me, please! Let me win her," Uther begged of the fae.
"The answer is no! Mark my words, if you pursue this woman you will live to regret it! She was never meant for you, Uther, remember it," the Fairy Godmother answered. "And if you keep up this silly notion of yours, you can forget about my having any further part in your lives. Don't test me, my dear, I'm warning you. You don't want to cross the Fair Folk." Uther was quiet, head bowed. "Let her go, child. It's for the best," Fairy Godmother said, voice markedly softer as she cupped the young ruler's cheek gently.
"No," Uther replied, glaring up at the fairy woman and turning his back on her, marching away and leaving her in shock, eyes wide. What now? This young king had never refused a single thing she'd ever told him! Scowling, the Fairy Godmother seethed. Fine. If Uther wanted to play that game, so be it. He would soon find her threats were far from idle. She was done with him. Done until the day he gave this whole silly thing up.
KAK
Ignoring the warnings of the Fairy Godmother, the king attempted to woo the Duchess from her husband; however, Igraine was a good and loyal woman, and at every turn his advances were refused. When she began to find herself developing feelings for him in turn, she knew it was time to leave.
It wasn't long before the lady went to her husband and told him of the king's desires. Outraged and afraid for his wife's safety, the Duke of Tintagel took her and all his company, and under the cover of darkness fled. It was not, however, mere lust that the noble king had felt for the wife of his enemy…
When news came to him of Igraine's fleeing with her husband, he sent word to them insisting they return. He desired to apologize for his behavior and make amends, if only because it meant she would stay a little longer. However, the good Duke and his Duchess refused the summons, and so in spite and anger the young king called for war…
KAK
The swords clanged in the rain storm as lighting thundered in the background and horses screeched as well as men. Many a young knight fell in that skirmish on both sides, but Gorlois's forces were no match for Uther's. The Duke of Cornwall and Lord of Tintagel knew the King would be victorious. "You want me to what?!" Igraine exclaimed in shock.
"Ride to our castle in Tintagel as quickly as you can! Stay there until this battle is done. Hide yourself there, you and our children all. I'll hold the line here for as long as possible. When he comes to me, maybe I'll be able to reason with him," Gorlois said.
"He'll kill you!" she exclaimed in fear.
"He's already overdo," Gorlois replied with a bitter laugh.
"Gorlois!" she exclaimed. He cut her off with a passionate kiss. He drew back, leaving her breathless.
"I won't have him take you or our children as spoils of war. Go Igraine, quickly. I love you," he said. "Protect them." He turned to their four children, three of which were watching in wide-eyed uncertainty and one of whom was only an infant.
"Papa, no! Don't make me leave you!" their only son protested in fear, terrified for his parent. He had always been a daddy's boy.
"You must, Cador. You have to protect your sisters and your mother, and you must be there to take over my throne if the worst happens," Gorlois said, not mincing words. "I promise I will do all I can to return to you alive. I love you. All of you."
"We love you too daddy," one of the girls tearfully said. Elaine.
"Now ride. Hurry!" Gorlois insisted, hugging his children one last time then shooing them off to Igraine. Fearfully Igraine gathered her children together and ushered them away.
KAK
Uther watched over the battlefield with tears in his eyes, feeling sick to the heart. He held his hair tightly. He hadn't meant for such death to come about for this! He had expected Gorlois to back down immediately! It seemed he had greatly underestimated the other, and he was paying for it now with what might possibly be the worst mistake of his entire life; and he was loathe to call anything he did a mistake. He had considered ordering a retreat, many times in fact, but every time he was about to do so, either stubborn and stupid pride got in the way, or thoughts of Igraine sprang to mind… Igraine… He got what he wanted. Always.
Now they pressed on the Duke of Cornwall's land. It wouldn't be much longer, but the things he was feeling were not things he understood or was familiar with. He felt physically ill. He didn't like that feeling. Maybe there was a way to stop this before anyone else died? The Fairy Godmother. She would help. She must! She had never refused him anything, or rarely did. Surely she would help him win Igraine without further death if he only pled a little more! Or offered a bargain, though he knew it wasn't exactly smart to make a deal with the fae. "Stop the charge!" Uther ordered his officers. "We rest for the night." And perhaps for many more nights to come. All too willingly the officers rode to call down their men for the time. Uther turned his horse and galloped away to find the Fairy Godmother.
KAK
As the battle raged, the noble king fell ill for longing of Igraine; but when he went to the Fairy Godmother to plead her help once more, she turned her back on him.
Greatly the king despaired, until a knight of his house by the name of Ulfius came to him and asked what ailed him.
When the king told him of his love for the Duchess and of the Fairy Godmother's refusal to help, Ulfius rode out with a promise he would find someone who would…
KAK
Ulfius rode rapidly through the land, seeking a powerful wizard of whom he had heard. He would find this wizard and bring him back to his friend and master. The wizard would help Uther. He had to. Soon he came upon a man clad in the garb of a beggar, nearly running him down. "Apologies, beggar, but I'm seeking someone who will be able to help my king," he said to the man.
"Are you now? No excuse for nearly running decent folk down, I think. Eh, whatever. Who am I to judge? Now, who do you seek, sir knight?" the beggar asked the knight.
"Who I seek is none of your business," Ulfius answered, dubiously eyeing the eccentric old man.
"A pity. I know who you're looking for, you know," the beggar said.
"Oh do you?" Ulfius incredulously asked.
"Yep," the old man answered.
Ulfius sighed. "Then who do I seek?" he questioned, slightly annoyed.
"Why you seek Merlin, of course! Why are you asking? You would know better than me who you're looking for," the beggar answered. Ulfius face-palmed, shaking his head. Oh boy, this would be interesting. "Ah well, you need seek no farther, for I am he, he is I, all that there nonsense." Wait, what? Ulfius sharply looked up, eyes wide. "You've come on behalf of Uther Pendragon, haven't you? Well have I got news for you. See, if King Uther will reward me and give me my heart's desire, it'll be to his honour and profit more than mine I should think. I'll grant him whatever he wants. I ask nothing more than a promise. Now ride on, friend. I won't be far behind. Shoo. Off with you."
KAK
It was not long before Ulfius found the man he was looking for, a wise and tricky old wizard by the name of Merlin who agreed to help, Ulfius rode back to the king with the news, and not long after, Merlin arrived and told Uther his price.
KAK
"Alright kid, here's the deal. You ride away from this battle, head to the place this Gorlois guy hid his wife. That's his castle in Tintagel, since I'm guessing you don't know. I'm going to use my magic and make you look like Gorlois, and you just go right on up into her room. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, you're in, just like that. Don't worry about Gorlois. Good family man but not the brightest in the bunch. He won't survive the battle," Merlin said.
"How are you sounding so casual about this man's death?!" Uther demanded.
"Because there's crap all I can do about it, or believe me I would. Would save us all a lot of future grief. Besides, given he's good as dead already, you won't have the guilt of knowing you're dancing the dance with another man's wife," Merlin replied.
Uther looked less than impressed. "And in exchange?" he warily asked.
Merlin smirked mysteriously. "You give me whatever I ask. You'll know what that is when the times comes," he replied.
"I'd prefer to know now," Uther stated.
"Take the deal or leave it. Take it you get Igraine. Leave it you don't. Simple as that," Merlin said. Uther shifted uneasily.
KAK
Blindly the king accepted the price, sick for love of Igraine, and with specific instruction Merlin devised a plan of a most cunning nature.
Obeying the wizard to the letter, the monarch rode to the castle of Tintagel in which the lady had been placed; but Gorlois had seen the king riding away from battle and had grown suspicious.
Fearing the young king's plot, the Duke followed him and was slain as he attempted to pass through the enemy army. By Merlin's magic the king was made to appear as Gorlois, and so he went in to Igraine that night, and with her he conceived a child, three hours after the death of her husband.
When the fair maid heard of her Lord's death, she became stricken with grief and locked herself away, refusing all company. Realizing that the man she had been with had not been her husband, she wondered at who the stranger was; but though she sought the answers desperately, none were found.
KAK
She lay on her bed brokenly, mourning the loss of her husband. Cador hadn't left his room since news had come of his father's death. Morgause had been eerily silent. Elaine had wept, and Morgan, still very young, had only wailed on sensing the distress of her family. Igraine hadn't spoken to any of the children. She knew she should, her babies needed her, but so much else was on her mind. Gorlois's death, the man who had come to her in his form and slept with her… Who had he been, if not Gorlois? She couldn't hate him entirely, she supposed. At least for that night she had had the comfort of believing her husband was still alive and holding her in his arms. A sort of twisted last goodbye, but it had been disturbingly reassuring.
"Mama? I want to go home," she heard her son say from her bedroom door. She turned her head to look at him. He seemed so solemn. So much older than a child his age should seem… As if his father's death had torn from him all childish innocence… And it hurt. It hurt so very badly to see him like this…
"Come here, darling," she said. He approached her and sat on her bedside. She pulled him down to lay next to her. He fidgeted slightly, he was of the opinion he was too old to share his mother's bed, but soon settled and lay still, snuggling closer to her and beginning to cry. "We'll go home, Cador. We'll go home," she promised. After she comforted her son, she had three daughters she needed to comfort as well. Only two weeks after they had returned home, the message came…
KAK
In time, the young king sent for the Lady and pled her hand in marriage, and though she knew it was because of him her husband was gone, she had not been entirely disenchanted with Uther herself.
The Lady accepted the king's offer, and he took her as his bride when her public mourning was done, and the palace echoed with rejoicing. But all was not well.
Soon it came to be known that Igraine was pregnant, and the young king begged her to tell him who the father of the child had been. Ashamed, she would not answer, but he vowed to her that if she spoke the truth, he would love her all the more.
She told him of the man who had come to her as her husband, and of how she had lain with him and conceived the child. When she finished, Uther told her the truth of what he had done, that it was with he she had lain that night they beget the infant.
In knowing who the father of her unborn was, Igraine found joy and relief once more. Her eldest daughter though, Morgause, felt only disgust, jealousy, and hatred…
In bitterness and anger the young girl left her mother and Uther's kingdom and fled to Lothian and Orkney. There, though still inexcusably young, she wed the young crown prince Lot, with whom she had long been infatuated. But though Lot loved Anna dearly, her father's death had left her cold and unfeeling and resentful, and love and mercy ceased to exist in her heart…
Morgause hated the child growing within her mother and desired with all her heart that it would not make it; but should it survive, she vowed to herself that for as long as Uther and his line continued, she would make them suffer.
Longing to obtain the throne she felt was her right, she worked to elevate her husband in Uther's eyes and guarantee his succession to the throne upon the king's death, should the child Igraine carried not survive, and so she did not intend for it to live… But the wizard Merlin had foreseen her plotting, and his own plan was already in play.
KAK
Uther paced restlessly. It was coming on the final month of Igraine's pregnancy and he was more than a little worried for her. And for the unborn baby. A father. He was going to be a father?! What nonsense was this? He could hardly believe this was happening to him. He was still so young. Could he even be any sort of decent father? He had no clue what he was doing. He willed himself to take a breath. He had to trust in himself and in Igraine. They would manage the situation. She'd born and raised four children before already. Childbirth and rearing wasn't anything new to her. She'd be able to help him through it.
"My King?" a voice said. Uther turned to the one who had spoken.
"Brastias?" Uther greeted curiously.
"The wizard has come. Merlin," Brastias uneasily stated, and all color in Uther's face drained. The deal. He'd forgotten about the deal! Inwardly he cursed and panicked before getting a grip. He would figure this out, he assured himself. He was good at making deals, finding loopholes, and backing out of them. It came naturally to him for… reasons.
"Well what are you waiting for?! Show him in," Uther replied. Brastias bowed then left.
Soon the old wizard walked in cheerfully whistling. "Quite a place you've got here," he said, looking around.
"Isn't it, though. I have the most impeccable taste. Now what do you want?" Uther demanded.
"What do I want? Well I just wanted to remind you of our little bargain, is all. Nothing malicious, kid," Merlin replied.
Uther's jaw twitched. "What do you want?" he finally dared repeat.
Merlin smirked a sly little smirk and answered, "I want your child to be given to me immediately upon its birth."
"What? I never agreed to that!" Uther replied.
"You promised you'd give me whatever I desired if I helped you. Well, I desire your kid," Merlin replied.
"I would sooner put you to death!" Uther shot, drawing his sword.
"Oh boy, should have seen this coming. Eh, what can you do? Look, I know you're getting second thoughts, but a deal's a deal. Besides, it's for the boy's own protection! There's plotting afoot. I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy in your kingdom, a good man, who'll care for your baby and love him dearly. Just trust me, okay?"
"You're asking me to give up my only child! To a crazy old coot who's heard from a friend of a friend about a man who could take care of the heir to the throne!" Uther snapped. "The child will be safest with me, don't you understand?"
"Look kid, hate to be the bearer of bad news but war's looming on the horizon. That King Claudas fellow you've been fighting on and off with? Yeah. He's set his sites on your buddies Kings Ban and Bors, and their brother Nestor. Won't act for a while, but he will act. You want your kid to be at risk? If Claudas wins, it'll be taken captive and made his slave you know. Your wife too," Merlin said. "The baby will be safest with the guy I have in mind."
"How can you know this?!" Uther demanded, hostility becoming unease.
"Because I have history with the Lady of the Lake! Ooh she's a fiery one. Meow," Merlin said, nudging Uther and laughing. Uther gave him a disgusted look, wiping off the place the wizard had touched as if wiping off grime. "Point is, you really want to take a chance with your baby's life and your kingdom?"
Uther was silent. It scared him, how much a point Merlin had made… "Very well," he finally relented. But he didn't intend to stay away from his baby long. If he was victorious, he would go get his child back.
"Great! I'll be there the day the babe's born," Merlin said. "You'll know when I'm here."
"I'm sure," Uther deadpanned. Merlin smirked and walked out whistling and twirling his staff around.
KAK
The King conceded to put his child into Merlin's care, but in his heart he lied, and no word that he spoke did he intend to keep. All he said was deceit, and he listened only to humor the wizard, for he did not desire to give up his infant forever.
In time the queen gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, but while she lay sleeping, exhausted from the delivery, the infant was taken and given to the king. He wrapped the newborn in a golden cloth and delivered the babe to Merlin, but as he did he promised to himself that he would get the child back one day and give him into his mother's arms again.
In silence and quiet rage, he watched as the wizard shuffled away with the squealing infant in his arms, and for the first time in a very long time, the vain monarch felt a love and longing stirring in his breast with which he was not familiar. For the first time in a very long time, it was not of himself that he was thinking…
KAK
Knocking sounded heavy on the door. The young man inside approached it, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He was more than a little perturbed at being disturbed so early, but he would check his tongue and be sure to respectfully greet the visitor. He opened the door and nearly slammed it shut again. "Merlin!" he exclaimed in shock.
"Ector!" Merlin said as if they were the best of friends. Which they weren't. Ector barely tolerated his co-worker's presence. He gaped at the wizard in disbelief. "I've brought you a present."
"A what?" Ector asked, still trying to fully wake up. He awoke alright; when Merlin shoved the newborn, still wrinkly and half blind, in front of his face. Ector's eyes widened and his mouth dropped. "A baby?! Are you out of your mind, man?" he exclaimed.
"Nope. He's all yours," Merlin replied.
"But-but I already have a son!" Ector exclaimed. "What on earth do I want with another one?"
Merlin's expression became serious, and Ector stiffened. If Merlin was suddenly serious and focused, this was indeed severe. "He is destined for something great. Greater than you can imagine. But he's in danger, so I'm bringing him to you now for his own protection."
"What?" Ector breathed.
"Don't ask questions, kid. I have no answers for you," Merlin said. "Look, just take it already! Raise him as your own. You're a right good man, loyal and true. You have the king's ear for crying out loud! You're one of his dearest friends. There's no one I'd sooner entrust the child's care to. Well, there is, but eh, what can you do? Just don't tell the king about this and all's well that ends well! Well what are you waiting for? Say hello to your new bouncing baby boy!" Ector looked at the child in numb disbelief, but as the little eyes flickered faintly open, so confused and lost, Ector's heart melted. He reached out, tenderly taking the tiny babe from Merlin's arms and holding him close. Softly he grinned down at it. When he looked back up to address Merlin once more, the wizard was gone…
KAK
Merlin brought the child to a young lord by the name of Ector, to be nourished by Ector's wife alongside the nobleman's own son, Kay. There the little one remained and was raised by the family, and the name given him by his foster father and mother was Arthur.
The Queen and her children were told the infant had died in birth, and though Uther despised the lie, something within him warned him to tell them nothing else for fear of his son's life. The longer Igraine pined, the more guilt that weighed upon the king until finally he could keep silent no longer.
Obtaining her solemn vow to tell her children nothing, he let her know her child was alive. Though she begged, he would tell her nothing else, and in time the young king was called to war with the enemy king Claudas. Uther rode to battle, leaving Lot of Orkney to supervise the throne in his absence, and Morgause sat triumphant in her belief that upon Uther's death, she would sit as queen.
The king rode into battle and emerged, triumphant in keeping the enemy from his own land… But he was unable to save the kingdoms of the friends whom he had ridden to help… The guilt he felt for his failure took away the joy he felt for protecting Camelot, but it didn't matter long, for his victory was short-lived. Uther, on his way home, stopped to drink at a spring, unaware of the liquid death poured into the water…
It was only a little while before the young king became ill to the point of death, struck speechless and almost motionless for three days. Grief and darkness covered the land. Realizing his time was short, dread seized his heart. No one knew their ruler had born an heir. Unless someone was put upon the throne to act as regent until the day Arthur came of age, a power vacuum would open on his death; but for lack of trust in Anna, he would not place Lot on the throne.
Again, Merlin was sought, and again he came. When he arrived, he told the barons there was no hope. If the king survived it would not be to return to the throne, for that was not his destiny; but the wizard vowed to them that he would have the king speak and give his people hope again, before it was too late.
KAK
"Sir, shall your son Arthur be king of this land after your death?" Merlin questioned, and all those gathered about Uther's bed were shocked speechless. The king had had an heir?!
Uther's eyes flickered weakly open and fell on Merlin. For a moment, he was silent. Soon, though, he answered, "I give him the gods' blessing and mine, and bid him pray for my soul. May he take up the crown righteously and with nobleness." With those words Uther's eyes closed again, and this time they would not open…
Mourning was made, and all men left the room say for Merlin alone, who remained looking sadly down at the still body. Suddenly there was a sparkling of light, and in the room materialized the Fairy God Mother, grief in her eyes. "Finally you come?" Merlin bit slightly coldly.
"Oh can it, you old coot. You know precisely why I stayed away," she replied. She turned to the dying king again, watching him, then sighed. "But I can't stay away from this…" She began to wave her wand over the young man lying so still.
"What are you doing to him?" Merlin suspiciously questioned.
"Making him forget," Fairy God Mother replied.
"You can't…" Merlin began.
"Watch me!" she sharply snapped at him. "You've had your games, Merlin. Now I get to have mine. There are plans I too need to see through. Don't worry. Hope will remain. After all, I specialize in happily ever after."
"Under very strict and unfair conditions," Merlin deadpanned, glaring at her.
She shot him a sharp and annoyed look before rolling her eyes and turning back to the young king. Softly Uther moaned and the spell began its work. "There, there. You're alright, my darling. I'm here now, and soon all will be well again…" Merlin inwardly scoffed at this, glaring at her coldly. Somehow, he doubted her definition of 'all will be well' was in line with his or even the king's. Or anyone's, for that matter. Shaking his head, he turned and walked away.
KAK
With her magic, the Fairy God Mother drew the king back from death; but there was a price to her sparing him. His life would be forgotten, everything from Igraine onward; his child, his friends, even his reign. He would live anew in another land far away, and there he would live out the story she had purposed for him long ago.
Lot was refused the throne and forced to flee to Duloc. There he rose through the ranks to become the Captain of the Guard, until the day came that he would take his father's throne in Lothian and Orkney. Sure enough a power vacuum opened in the land, upon Uther's death, but hope was given in the form of a sword in a stone and anvil, a sign that would mark who the true king of all the land would be. Until then, though, another needed to be set as ruler.
It happened at the Fairy God Mother's bidding, who heard the plea of a lowly frog that had fallen in love with a beautiful princess by the name of Lillian, a much older sister of the fair Igraine.
With the Fairy God Mother's help combined with Merlin's manipulations, soon enough it was Lillian and the frog king who were seated upon the throne as mediators. There they would remain until the time the true king would be revealed and take his rightful place. The king and queen alone knew who it would one day be, but they were bidden to never share it with anyone, and so the fate of the kingdom remained veiled in mystery until the day the sword was pulled from the stone. When that day came, Anna set to her schemes and plans once more, her new target in mind…
Three daughters were born of Igraine, and one son. Elaine wed Nentres, the young King of Garlot, and Anna wasted no time in introducing her husband to his brother-in-law and urging him to forge an alliance. Years later, when the youth Uriens was newly crowned King of Gore and had wed the maiden Morgan le Fay, she did the same. In the meantime, Lot made many other allies and, of his own devising, began outlining his own vengeful plans for the boy king Arthur.
With Anna's encouragement, it was not long before a plot of rebellion was put into action, and the rebel kings began their march as one…
