11. An Inkling of an Idea

"It keeps cracking."

"What does?"

"My voice!"

I bit the inside of my cheek in an attempt to stifle my laughter. I really did feel sorry for Arthur, being as young as he was, his voice was beginning to give him problems.

"Rejoice king! It means you're growing up!"

Arthur's icy blue eyes gave me the same look that Medusa would have used on her victims. "Must dragons go through the same cycle?"

"In a way, but we don't have this sudden growth spurt that humans have." I explained. "We grow gradually larger and stronger as we age. We have centuries to do it."

Arthur's stoic facade melted somewhat. "Lucky you."

"It can't be that bad."

"If I was a normal child but no, I have to talk to the courts and the people on a daily basis." Arthur reasoned. "If my voice cracks in front of them then it wouldn't look kingly of me."

I nodded, understanding his view. He did have a point after all, a king whose voice fails him in the middle of a speech isn't going to be respected very much. He had a right to be concerned. "People in the kingdom know you're young, so they'll understand."I tried to assure Arthur.

"I hope you're right."

I hoped I was right too. After all, kings have the tendency to behead people who disappoint them.

Arthur sat across from me, looking thoughtful as usual.

"Tell me my liege, what preys on your mind?"

Arthur smirked. "Observant one aren't you? I was thinking about the knights in the kingdom."

"What about them?"

"I was thinking of a way to band them all together. To serve Camelot." Arthur frowned.

"To follow a child king." I teased.

"Watch yourself." Arthur warned.

I apologized and encouraged the young king to speak of his mind further. I felt honoured that Arthur was willing to share his thoughts with me. It meant I wasn't a lowly creature in his eyes.

"I thought the knights here already have an oath to Camelot." I remarked.

"They do," Arthur assured me. "But I think it would be best if we had the knights here banded in a group that would be protectors of the kingdom and uphold the laws and higher morals of Camelot."

I cocked my head at the king. "Sounds ambitious but you could do it." As I said this I remembered Merlin's prophesy. "So if this idea of yours comes to pass what would you call these knights?"

Arthur gave me a lopsided smile and looked up to the sky very thoughtful as if the answer was up in the sky. "The Knights of the Round Table." He said with finality. Arthur looked back at me obviously feeling proud of himself for coming with the name.

I stared at him blankly. "Round table? Why that?"

Arthur gave me an exasperated look. "With a circular table there's an even division of power! Equality is the word for it."

"Ah," I tapped my head. "It all makes sense now. Have you told Merlin?"

"No I haven't had the opportunity to speak to him yet."

I spread my wings out. "He might be pleased to know of your plan. Please excuse me king, I must attend to the battlements now."

"Of course. Goodbye Arthfael."

I flew over the kingdom scanning for any more Saxons in the distance. However,I only saw wilderness and lonely stretches of roads where peasants went to and fro. I could only assume it would be quite awhile before the Saxons would come back. They were defeated so easily and they now had a dragon to fight against.

I thought about what Arthur had told me. I didn't doubt the boy for a second and this plan of his seemed to be in line with what Merlin had told me.

I flew on for a few hours more then final came to a rest on the castle wall below Merlin's tower. "Merlin! Are you up there?"

Within a moment, the wizard poked his head out of the window. "Oh it's you. Now you're the one following me everywhere!"

"Forget that! I was wondering if Arthur have spoke to you at all yet."

"Indeed he did. He told me all about the Knights of the Round Table."

"Well?"

"What would you like me to say Arthfael?"

"I don't know, you can see into the future can't you?" I asked, feeling rather impatient.

"I already told you what I saw!" The wizard shouted down to me. With that he vanished back into the tower but came back out in an instant. "Even if I saw anything else I wouldn't tell you unless it was knowledge you needed to know!" He vanished for good.

I scowled at the place where Merlin once was. Damn that old man! I thought. I launched myself back into the air and landed in a farmer's field.

I didn't know why Merlin had to be so difficult with me. I asked a simple question and he answered in an indirect way or avoided the question completely. And Arthur was being taught by that hermit? I could only pray to the ancestors that our boy king doesn't turn into a doppelganger of Merlin!

I decided to go back to the castle and lie in the courtyard seeing that I had nothing else to do. Not only was it lonely here but it was boring too! Honestly I was hoping some war would break out so at least I would have something to do!

Might as well sleep. According to human depiction that's what dragons do. I went to the castle gardens and lay down amongst the tree and various types of vegetation. The weather had been fine as of late so I had no quarrel with sleeping outside.

I soon dozed off.

I was smacked on the snout sharply a few hours later. I yelped and stood on uneasy feet, staggering back a few feet. I frantically looked around and saw none other then Merlin looking serious as usual. I snarled furiously. "You miserable old man! What was that for? You know what happens when you rudely awaken a dragon?!"

Merlin shook his head. "You don't frighten me dragon."

"Well why are you here?"

Merlin leaned against his staff. "You're one miserable wrench you know. Skulking around doing nothing."

"I have nothing to do!" I protested. "I didn't choose to sit idle!"

Merlin obviously disagreed. "Still you should be honing your skills, the knights didn't teach you for nothing. You must protect this kingdom and its young king, may I remind you, and a lazy dragon can't do that."

I flared my nostrils and reared me head. As an extra measure I bared my teeth but Merlin was unaffected. I relaxed and bowed my head in shame. "I did not realize I was acting so selfishly."

Merlin's face softened. "No of course not, you're still learning."

I huffed. "Merlin I did not realize this existence would beset me with so many difficulties."

The old wizard gave me a sympathetic look. "It is bound to get worse, mark my words."

Oh great. I thought. "I'll do my best Merlin." I sighed.

Merlin left me alone once more looking very stern. The old wizard was a mystery to me; his moods changed as swiftly as the weather and he never gave any indication as to what he was thinking.

I didn't see Arthur for the rest of the day which was disappointing since I wanted to know whether or not he brought it up to someone of the court. It was likely he did not; he probably wanted to mull over it for a little while longer. That was fine by me, I just hate being kept in suspense.

Admist the perilous mountains of school work and writer's block, I hath returned to thee with a new chapter!