14. The Warrior King

On the horizon a large body of people could be seen. It was our enemy and we were ready for them.

The walls and gate had been fortified and were swarmed with soldiers. The streets closest to the gates were lined with soldiers and knights, waiting for the inevitable. Their king stood amongst them, astride a white horse and dressed in battle armour with his sword Excalibur, the same sword he pulled out of the stone, at his hip.

Camelot's forces had met the Saxons halfway between the city and the border but were beaten and forced to retreat. All of us in the city were the last defenses this kingdom had.

I was poised on the wall next to the gate, anticipating the moment where I would fly over the enemy and breath fire on them.

The Saxons edge closer to the city until they were about an arrow-shot away from the walls of the kingdom. Their archers came forward and aimed at those positioned along the walls. An order was shouted and Camelot's archers took aim at the enemy below while boiling hot vats of oil were brought forward to be dumped on the Saxons below.

The Saxons released their arrows while their infantry raced forward to the gate and carried ladders to be placed along the walls.

It rained arrows around me so I ducked my head and several arrows bounced off of my scales harmlessly. Unfortunately my human companions were not so lucky. Several soldiers screamed in agony and fell to the ground dead.

I took flight, roaring in defiance, and swooped down at the enemy, leaving a fiery path of destruction in my wake. I quickly turned and attacked the soldiers again, swooping down low to the ground and barreling through their forces.

Arrows flew up in my direction but I managed to avoid them. I looked to the kingdom and saw the Saxons had made their way up onto the walls. I quickly flew back to the kingdom and shattered the ladders in my way, roaring in anger.

Oil was dumped on a group of Saxons who were pushing a battering ram to the gate. Though the men screamed and staggered away, another group of men were quick to replace them.

The wood of the gate cracked and splintered as the battering ram smashed into it but didn't give way as expected. I tried to get at the battering ram but was overwhelmed by soldiers and made my escape back into the sky.

I averted my attention form the gate for a moment to assist the soldier defending the walls. Once I had destroyed all the ladders in sight, I alighted on the wall and clawed my way through the swarm of enemy infantry. I was restricted in my movements since they were so many humans around me, both enemy and ally and soon gave up on the wall and joined Arthur.

"My Liege." I greeted him respectfully.

"How many are out there?" Arthur asked.

"I put a large gap in their forces but there's still a substantial number of them heading this way."

Arthur frowned and stared at the gate, his lips set in a thin line. He drew Excalibur out and addressed his people. "On your guard! The Saxons will break through any moment now! We mustn't let them capture the city at all costs!"

Just as Arthur shouted those words, the gate gave one final groan before shattering as the battering ram broke through. Saxons poured into the city and collided with a line of British soldiers.

"Stay close to me Arthur."

"I have no intention of running off." Arthur proclaimed to me. He spurred his horse forward. "Onward!" At the command Camelot's soldiers followed their boy king into battle.

The pressure was on; I did my best to stay near Arthur but that proved difficult in the heat of battle. The young king was in the fray of the fight which made me worry that an archer might strike Arthur. After all, if the king was killed then our cause would fall apart.

I spot the body of a boy crumpled on the ground. A human pup? I thought. What on earth would he be doing here? I nudge the boy and he groans and looks up. It's Byron. He has some blood on his face but he appears to be uninjured overall.

"What on earth are you doing here?" I hissed.

Byron smiled sheepishly. "I couldn't let you have all the fun."

"You're a fool human pup!" I snarled. "This is no place for children!"

"Arthfael what's wrong?" Arthur galloped to my side. A look of disapproval crossed his face when he saw Byron. "Sir Lancelot told you to stay at the castle Byron." Arthur said, sounding displeased. "Why didn't you listen to him?"

"I'm sorry!" Byron cried. "I'm not going to get beheaded for this am I?"

Arthur shot the boy a bewildered look. "Behead you? Heavens no!"

A Saxon came up behind Arthur but he quickly spun around and struck the soldier down before turning his attention back to Byron. "Go back to the castle Byron."

The squire didn't need to be told twice. He picked his miserable self off the ground and bolted down the street. I think seeing the king kill another man before his very eyes scared him.

Arthur and I stood in the centre of the street. "Watch this." I shouted over my shoulder.

The soldiers from Camelot saw me and maneuvered their way to the side so that the street was clear down the middle. In that instant another large group of Saxons came through the gates and I unleashed a chasm of flame in their direction, scorching the stone of the street and burning everyone at the gate in the process.

"You breath fire through your nose?" Arthur gave me a look of disbelief.

"I know it's strange, but it's the only way I can breath fire." I replied.

"Get those men on the roof!" Arthur shouted to a group of archers. Without a word they fired several arrows at the Saxons who had made it onto the roofs of surrounding buildings.

The battle went on, and we were pushed further back but finally the enemy retreated. They had lost yet again and our king had successfully defended the city.

I joined Arthur when the battle was done. The young king was observing the dead that lay scattered in the streets, a mournful look on his face.

"We did win in the end." I pointed out, hoping to raise his spirits.

"Yes, I suppose we did." Was the mumbled reply I got.

Arthur dismounted his horse and went amongst the soldiers and wounded. Pretty soon the dead and wounded were being collected and the debris from the gate taken away. I meekly followed him wherever he went.

"The gate and wall need to be repaired as soon as possible." Arthur spoke to a soldier.

"Yes Your Majesty."

The king stood in silent contemplation for some moments before I dared to speak. "Arthur?"

"Yes?"

"There's a dent in your crown."

Arthur took his crown off and examined it. "Well I'll be damn," He cursed. "I'll have to get someone to fix it won't I?"

Once I excused myself from Arthur's presence, I went up to the castle to let the people know it was safe to come out.

"The enemy has been defeated," I told them. "Camelot has been saved yet again."

"Hail King Arthur!" The people cried. "Long Live the King!"

The people slowly filtered out of the castle grounds and back into the city until only Byron, Katherine and Gilda remained. Katherine gave me a little wave before being ushered out of sight by Gilda but Byron lingered. "What is it?" I asked.

"So our King defended his city? That's impressive considering he's the same age as me." Byron grinned like a fool. "I guess that makes him a warrior king right?"

"Indeed it would." I said, smiling back at him.

Merlin appeared and approached us. "Where were you?" I demanded.

"Away." Merlin grunted. "You didn't need my help."

I growled in annoyance. "But the help would have been appreciated."

"What would an old man do to defend Camelot?"

"You're a wizard, use your powers for once."

Merlin glared at me. "Learn to mind yourself young dragon." He looked at Byron who involuntarily took a step back, not wanting to get any closer to the angry wizard. He turned back to me. "For once Arthfael, I would like to have a civilized conversation with you."

I deflated. "My apologies."

Merlin made a dismissive gesture and said nothing for the longest time. "Today the boy king has made another leap to manhood." He commented.

I nodded. "He certainly did. I can see it in him already. But don't you think he's growing up too fast?"

Merlin shook his head. "No. Even if he was; he has no choice."

I glanced over at Byron who was staring off into space. "What it is Byron?"

The boy jerked out of his reverie. "I was just wondering where Sir Lancelot is. I hope he's alright."

"I'm he's just fine," I assured my friend. "He's a good fighter."

"I pray that you're right."

The morning after the attack, it was Sunday; a holy day according to human customs in these parts. The church and cathedral bells rang throughout the city as people filled them, mourning the loss of life.

That Sunday was the day Camelot began to bury the rest of its dead. Arthur, accompanied by several members of the court and myself, oversaw the funeral. The bright sun contrasted sharply with the atmosphere of the funeral and the grave look on everyone's face.

I stood next to Arthur and listened to the priest babbling in Latin while the audience made the sign of the cross and some seemed to know when to respond and what to say. I lowered my head and gently spoke. "You did well during that battle Sire. You and your people did what had to be done. Is Camelot not worth the sacrifice?"

"It is," Arthur murmured in response. "But it's a sacrifice I'm reluctant to ask for from my people."

"But you cannot prevent events such as this from happening."

Arthur sighed sadly and looked down at his feet. "You're right. I can't prevent it but I still wish I could."

"That just proves that you're a fit king." I said.

At this, Arthur looks up at me and smiles, a real genuine smile.

So I smile right back at him.