"You won our bet, Lelouch," Arturia smiled. "As I promised, a new fine set of clothes."
A servant presented him with the fine clothing, a woolen cloak, a blue linen tunic with designs made of gold thread and fine trousers. Also some nice shoes.
"I thank you, Your Grace, for honoring our bet," Lelouch smiled. He was sure that the Minstrel was grateful too, he'd pulled off the stunt with the bear and kept his Virile member intact. To the crowd's delight.
The food was served and Lelouch frowned at the taste, it lacked spices and was very bland. Spices were worth a fortune and were used to show a distinction between the nobility and the commoners. The richer you were, the more spices you could afford, but whoever was in charge of the meal could not bring any flavor to the dishes and he could tell the guests were only complimenting out of politeness rather than enjoyment of the meal.
Lelouch noted that the King kept her left hand under the table, only using it to steady food on her plate, like a proper noblewoman she only ate using her right hand, but she always kept her left hand under the table.
The wine had been served and Sir Lancelot proposed another toast to the King's health.
She drank the wine and frowned.
"Was this wine tasted?" she asked.
"Yes, the cupbearer said there was nothing wrong with it when he tasted it earlier before it was brought to you."
"Give me a different glass and some ale!"
She glanced to the nobles, "Has it tasted strange to you?"
"No, Your Grace, it has been splendid," Sir Gawain replied. They began to glance around.
One of the servants looked nervous, "What—what's going on?" he murmured. "She's still sitting there…"
Lelouch read his lips as he trembled in disbelief, "alive…"
Suddenly, as quick as he could, he removed a dagger and threw it at her, she managed to dodge enough for it to miss her throat, it embedded itself in her shoulder.
She used her right hand to pull out the blade, the assassin smirked, "You'll bleed out, Your Highness!"
He paled as he saw the red blood spot bled only a little and stopped bleeding. The man shook in fear and awe.
"You're not a human being; you should be dead by now!"
Kay grabbed him as he attempted to run. They took him to the prison.
"Please eat your meal in peace; I must see my physician at once. Enjoy yourselves this evening! I must retire tonight," she bowed and left. Lelouch saw something in her hand.
He stared, it was Avalon, the scabbard he'd only heard stories about. They said it healed its bearer's wounds. He knew she probably carried it everywhere with her. It only made sense that her enemies would try to assassinate her.
He would have to tread carefully here in Camelot if that is what her enemies did to her, what would they do to him if he sided with her? He was already weighing the risks; still, the rewards would be worth it. He would survive this place.
The physician smiled at his ruler, "Your Grace, your wound has been healed, the Scabbard is truly a marvelous thing. And you feel well despite the attempt to poison you. That is excellent news. I suggest you rest and cool your humors."
"Thank you, my friend, you may go," she told the physician. He left.
Her warden Brastias entered the room to give his report.
"Your Highness," the warden Brastias bowed, "I have persuaded your would-be assassin to talk. Only took ripping his fingernail off once before he begged mercy and told all. Petty King Claudas sent him to put poison inside your personal wine cup after the cupbearer had tasted the wine; He said it would be an easy way to slay you while fooling the cupbearer. He became afraid when he saw the poison did not affect you. He said you are not human."
"See to it that he is executed, and make a big show of it, I am just but if King Claudas thinks that I am weak because of my gender then I will prove to him that I am as strong-willed as any man in this country. I will meet him on the field of battle and send him back to his own country in a coffin!"
"Let's not be rash, Your Grace, we must form a strategy if we are to win," Kay told her.
"I know, brother I know. King Claudas could always deny he had any involvement."
"You must tread carefully, sister, these men are dangerous."
"I will, brother," Arturia replied.
Lelouch heard a loud voice shouting and he neared the dining hall, he had escorted his sister to her bedchamber and put her to bed. He had been on his way back to rejoin the nobles.
"Get out of my way!" the young knight tried to push past Lelouch.
"You cannot just call for an audience with the King, even I cannot call her whenever I wish," Lelouch told him.
"It's important, I Rivalz Cardemonde have urgent news for the King."
"The King has gone to bed," Lelouch explained. Other nobles had entered the hall and were talking amongst each other.
"State your news, Sir Rivalz," Arturia told him.
Rivalz turned swiftly and bowed. "Your Highness, the plague has broken out inside the city of Camelot!"
A ripple of terror ran through the nobles. What would happen? Would they all die?
"Your Highness," Maleagant spoke up, "You must close the gates!"
"I will not make any rash decisions; give me some time to think. Closing the gates has its own logistical problems," Arturia sighed. She looked to Ulfius, her chamberlain.
"How much food do we have if we should shut the gates with everyone here?"
"Six months at least," Ulfius replied. "You had that hospital built not too long ago, it was expensive."
"I have heard tales where lords ran out of food while cloistered away from their subjects, it didn't end well."
"My Lord, please consider closing the gates…for your own sake, if the people were to lose you so soon, it would be disastrous," petty king Mark suggested. "I give this advice as one who wishes to be your friend."
"Why should I take the advice of a wicked king such as you?" Arturia glared at him.
He returned her glare with his own. "Only a self-righteous person such as you would call me wicked. I walk the path of chivalry!"
"A code of Chivalry that you have made to your own liking, nothing more or less than that," Arturia retorted. "I shall retire to my chambers to give this decision great thought."
She bowed gracefully and departed. The nobles murmured among themselves. They were unsure of she would do next. It made them nervous.
Despite her immense generosity towards the commoners, she was suspicious of the nobility, many were overjoyed to be there, but others had more ambitious reasons for staying there.
Lelouch happened to be passing through the hall, when he heard some of the nobles speaking, Maleagant scowled.
"We must persuade her to shut the gates. We can say it's for her health, we will appear to be perfectly reasonable."
"Not so loud sir, the walls have ears," King Mark smirked. "She will make for an easy puppet. She's a woman after all."
"What if she refuses? She cares far too much for the common rabble," Maleagant smirked.
"Her heart bleeds so much for them it is a wonder she does not die of blood loss," the petty King of Cornwall sneered. "She was raised as little more than the daughter of a lowly knight. A serf she was, and a serf she is still. She should remain in bondage. We must strive to suppress her so that her "servitude" will be an example to posterity. People like her will always have their misery as an example before their eyes, and fear to do what she has done."
"If she shuts the gates, it will diminish her popularity with the people, if she leaves them open, the nobles will fear she is endangering them with the plague. Either way, she will see her prestige diminished," Mark laughed.
"Why try to lower her reputation with the common rabble? Why not try to turn the nobles against her instead?" Maleagant wondered.
"Even if the nobles rebelled, the people love her; they would flock to her side. If the people hate her, she will have nothing," Mark smirked. "And Maleagant, when you talk to her Steward, Sir Kay, do try to be as convincing as possible."
"Of course, she will need a man she can trust at court, and I alone will be that man," Maleagant smiled. "I have loved her for some time now."
"You love her enough to have that erotic fresco painted of her in your bedchamber at your castle," King Mark laughed. "Is that how you intend to take her to your bed?"
"On her hands and knees like a dog in heat, yes," Maleagant growled. "My mind spins with the loveliest fantasies."
Disgusting! Lelouch smirked. He is no better than the nobles of my father's court.
Lelouch did not say another word as he began to move away from them. He later found the King in her bedchamber, eating a meal.
He entered, bowing, "Your Highness."
"Lelouch, welcome. Come, sit. Would you like some salmon, with sorrel sauce with bean pottage and bread?" she used a knife to cut him a piece.
"That's peasant food," Lelouch frowned. He was quite stunned to see her eagerly devouring peasant food, he expected her to dine on the fine food that he'd seen her eating during the feast.
"I am still unused to it, all these rich meals I eat. It comes with the elevation of my status, I suppose. The nobles never let me forget that I was raised a commoner."
"You most certainly are a commoner," Lelouch glanced at her.
"What makes you say that, Lelouch?" Arturia asked.
"You still have your teeth," he smirked. "You can always tell who the noble is because he's missing teeth."
She laughed.
"Permission to speak freely, Your Highness," Lelouch Vi Britannia knelt before her.
"Permission granted, Lelouch," she smiled, "Speak freely with me."
"Why? You and I are not on the best of terms…I have made my dislike of you well known to members of your court." He did not raise his eyes to meet hers.
"But that is why I want you to speak freely with me. I hear flattery from my nobles and guests all day long. You could lie to me, flatter me, and sing my praises for all to hear. So why don't you do that? Why do you tell me the truth when a lie would make your life much easier here?"
She touched his cheek, raising his chin to meet her gaze.
"I do it for the sake of my younger sister. If I were to be pulled into the web of intrigue and schemes, her life would be in danger. I have little to do with this country, I am no great warrior. I am a hostage, as if I would get a promise of land from some scheming noble, who would fill my head with empty promises of glory and fame after you are dead and gone. I choose the side that will benefit me."
"Why choose me?" Arturia asked him.
"Because you are good and kind. I thought that the stories I heard were exaggerations. I thought you would show your true colors once all the nobles were gone, but you have cared for my sister and seen to all her needs and never once complained. I am…grateful to you."
"I know that many of the nobles wish I were a man. Some wish that my father had kept his wick inside his trousers. I know that I am surrounded by others that could do the job better. Strong people, with powerful characters. But for better or worse, the crown has landed on my head."
"Your Highness, I have heard a conversation between Lord Maleagant and the petty king of Cornwall, King Mark. They said that they will urge you to shut the gates, hoping that it will diminish your reputation with the people."
"Why would you tell me this? Do you wish to curry favor with me?"
"Yes, of course, Your Highness," Lelouch replied.
"So they intend to undermine me by having me close the gates to abandon my people, do they? Hmmm…" Arturia was thoughtful. "Should I leave the gates open, the nobles will feel endangered. Should I close them, the people will feel abandoned and that I do not care for them. A hard decision, but I have never made a decision I regretted."
She turned to him, "Lelouch, it seems that Maleagant and Mark are in league. I want you to ingratiate yourself to them and learn if there are others who feel as they do. I intend to beat them at their own game.
"So you are asking me for aid," Lelouch laughed. "Do you trust me? I am a foreigner."
"I trust you, you are a good person."
"What if I am here to undermine you because my father wishes it?"
"You would not do that," Arturia leaned forward, "You hate him, I can tell that much. I believe you are a good person."
"I'm not nearly as good as you say I am," Lelouch smiled, taking the bread and salmon. He ate it. "It's good!"
"Yes, it is good, hardy food to eat. The nobles are not like me, and I do not think I will ever understand them. Most of them have good hearts, but there are always a few that do not."
Lelouch drank the beer, "Ah, that's good!"
"Yes, 'tis good beer," Arturia smiled. "It's a good meal, and why I enjoy it."
"The nobility is troublesome. Merlin's lessons are one thing, applying them in life is another."
"Do you trust me?" Lelouch asked he was curious. She did seem too trusting of others, but he could tell she did not open herself up to many around her.
"I think they will trust you, because of what you've said about me. You are willing to say it to my face rather than plot behind my back. I appreciate your honesty. It's not like we get along particularly well. You are cunning and intelligent, and I need someone like you on my side, rather than theirs."
"Give me a reason why I should be dragged into your intrigues," Lelouch glanced at her.
"I will see to it that your sister is cared for, she will live the rest of her life in good comfort."
"You would bribe me with such a thing?" Lelouch asked.
"I would do it with or without the intrigue, but if you need a reason then you have one."
Lelouch sighed, "I despise men like Maleagant. It would please me to knock him off his high horse. I will do this on one condition. That you keep your promise to me regarding my sister should anything happen to me."
He looked at her, "But in return, I want something from you."
"I will gladly grant it if it is within my power, I will give you anything you ask for, with the exception of my holy sword Excalibur, my lance Rhongomyniad, my ship the Prydden, and my mantle, I will give you whatever you ask for."
"I ask that you find out who murdered my mother."
"She was not a high noble, but held the position of Knight of Honor, one of the lowest positions in your nobility, isn't that right?" Arturia asked.
"Yes, I want the head of the man who murdered my mother, no more or less than that."
Arturia glanced at him, "Bring me proof of this conspiracy, I will not be manipulated by others, they will rue the day they underestimated me. Find out if he is in league with King Claudas as well. Do these things and I will do everything in my power to find the man who murdered your mother."
"Yes, Your Highness, I shall help you in this matter," Lelouch nodded.
"But in order for you to associate with these men, you will need a position here at court.
Lelouch glanced around the room, "I noticed you do not have a personal servant."
"I have no servants to serve me when I relieve myself. It is a lowly position and besides I do not trust the nobles to be alone with them."
"You would treat me as little more than your servant?" Lelouch flinched, "You would have me…attend to those needs, then? You would humiliate me, by having me perform a lowly servant's task? Is this humiliation for winning my bet?"
"It has nothing to do with your bet; I have not offered anyone this position here at Camelot."
Lelouch's cunning mind spun with endless possibilities, to win her trust this way would make her invaluable to his own goal, confronting his father and discovering who murdered his mother, she had power and influence and that was something he needed right now.
If he could win her trust and favor, then dirtying his hands in her nether regions was nothing to him, his dignity had already been crushed by his father, as humiliating as this job was going to be, he'd do it if he could gain the trust of the most powerful ruler in Britannia.
Should I give up what little dignity I have left to become nothing more than a servant? I already have nothing but what she's given me. And what about Nunnally? I have to take care of her too; I can't always find people to gamble with. My money will run out. I'll have to win more money if I am to take care of her.
Arturia replied, "Such things are seen as menial, only task that should be done by servants. But I offer you a level of intimacy that no one in court has with me. I trust you more than I trust most of the nobles."
"What of the Round Table?" Lelouch asked.
"I trust them, they are constantly questing, there is little time to scheme. Do you understand what I offer you, Your Highness? I offer you the trust that no one else here will have. You will know everything about me. This is a level of physical intimacy I have never given to anyone."
"You would be well paid," Arturia smiled, "I will pay you generously, many nobles have been vying for this position for some time. In my country, it is a position reserved for the sons of the nobility."
"What?" Lelouch was startled, back home, the position of Yeoman of the Stoole was given to peasants, and they did not receive pay. It was considered the most humiliating position at court.
She had taken a lowly position and raised it to a position of high honor. She continued to surprise him with her unpredictability. This was just the position he needed to gain access to her influence on other nobles around her.
I can't change the world without getting my hands dirty. If this is all it takes to gain her trust, I'll do it, for Nunnally's sake. I can use this position to my advantage.
"I accept such a generous gift, Your Highness," Lelouch took her hand and kissed it.
"Lelouch, swear an oath to me, that you will always tell me the truth, even if you lie to everyone else."
"I swear, my Lord, I will always tell you the truth. I will never lie, not to you."
She glanced at him, "You may rise, I give you the title Yeoman of the Stoole. Lelouch, I must be going, I have an important meeting with my council."
Lelouch stood to his feet.
"My King, your sister Morgan has arrived and wishes to see you," a messenger spoke as he entered.
"Good, good, send her in," Arturia ordered.
Morgan Le Fay entered the room, bowing formally.
Lelouch couldn't help but blush. She was very beautiful, but her outfit was ridiculously distracting, showing a fair amount of skin. He did note the strange markings on her lower belly but he had no idea what those were.
"Your Highness, sister, I trust that you are well," Morgan said, Lelouch noticed the barely concealed hatred and rage, she was doing everything possible to retain the veneer of politeness.
"I am well, and your journey back home? To your husband, King Urien?"
"My stay was uneventful, but I have heard that the Plague has broken out in the city," Morgan restrained herself from smirking but Lelouch could hear it in her voice. "I do hope that the members of the court will be safe within the walls of Camelot."
"They will be, the apothecaries and hospitals will do what they can to heal the sick, I will do what I can for them," Arturia replied in a calm voice.
"As you always do, my King," Morgan turned her eyes to Lelouch.
"Is this the Eleventh Prince of House Britannia, the one that Charles sent as a hostage?" Morgan asked, licking her lips, leering at him.
He felt uncomfortable under her gaze. "Lady Morgan," he greeted her stiffly.
"I have given him a position here as my Yoeman of the Stoole".
"So you've finally found someone who is willing to attend to your needs when you relieve yourself. Men have been stumbling over themselves for that position as lowly as it is."
Lelouch was surprised, he didn't think that any noble would want that position, but then he recalled her words about the intimacy of the job. Any politically savvy noblemen would want intimate access to her. Still, to give it to him, a foreigner might cause issues.
"I do hope that we can be…amicable with each other," Morgan smiled, running her hand down his cheek.
Lelouch kept his discomfort out of his face. She clearly fancied him, and she was married, so that didn't help.
If nobles had affairs, they usually kept it a secret lest the men be castrated and the wives be sent off to a convent, unless your lord was lenient, not many of them were lenient to lesser nobles, but there were enough legalized bustards to cause succession problems everywhere.
"I hope for that as well, I should be going now," Lelouch bowed and left.
Morgan watched him go. "He's a fine man, I have no doubt he's excellent at swordplay."
"From what I've heard, he's not particularly athletic," Arturia noted.
Morgan relished how the innuendo went over her head, "I do think he does possess a magnificent sword, it's quite fortunate he's not married."
"Why would that matter to you?" Arturia asked. "You are married."
"I've become bored, perhaps he will entertain me," Morgan bowed. "I take my leave, You Highness."
Lelouch watched Morgan Le Fay depart. "She makes me feel uncomfortable," he admitted to Arturia as the King left the room.
"She makes everyone uncomfortable," Arturia replied. "She is a mystery to me. I have heard rumors she's become a mage. How she managed that, I do not know. I heard my father sent her to a nunnery."
"A real one or that one?" Lelouch raised an eyebrow.
"A real one," Arturia smiled slightly. "She'll be the death of me, I know."
"The stories say you are immune to magic," Lelouch noted.
"Merlin tells me she's very powerful. Don't underestimate her. She's also beautiful and men notice that."
"But you are…" Lelouch let himself fall silent. If he finished that thought, she might think he was only flattering her.
"I know what you are going to say, and I know you mean it, but men do not desire me for my beauty. Just be careful around her."
Lelouch bowed, "Yes, Your Grace, I will."
He turned and left.
Morgan left the room and headed towards her bedchamber. Her lover, Alcalon was waiting for her.
"What kept you?" he asked.
"Playing at politics with my sister is so tedious," Morgan scowled. "But it seems my dear Arturia has a new favorite. I intend to make good use of him."
"Since when did she have a favorite?" Alcalon asked, pulling her close and removing the veil over her face.
"This Lelouch Vi Britannia, she's lavished him with attention, she never gives any attention to the nobles," Morgan smirked, "Or so I have heard."
"She gave him the honored position of wiping her secret parts after she relieves herself!" Morgan snarled, "She's ruined the power play I had been planning! All for this lowly pawn of Charles Zi Britannia!"
Alcalon laughed, "Such a powerful position, it's lowly work unworthy of a noble!"
"Alcalon, don't you understand, she's given this whelp of House Britannia intimate access to her? She's not trusted one court noble like she's trusted a mere pawn! He's been here mere days and she's given him the position I hoped you would have!"
"I have more dignity than to wipe your sister's arse!" Alcalon smirked.
"You are dense if you think that intimate access to her is something we should ignore, but we can still make use of him. If we can win him over to our cause he could find a way to…remove my sister from power."
"Arturia's always been too trusting, but how do we know he'd be persuaded to join our side?" Alcalon asked; he pressed his mouth to hers.
"I have my ways," Morgan smiled, "I have missed you, lover."
"I need you, Morgan," Alcalon growled, pushing her into the bed. "Do try to keep quiet; you do make a great deal of noise."
"What of it? It embarrasses her, and that is the point, I revel in all the pleasure my righteous sister piously denies herself. She makes me want to vomit, but at least I can torment her with what she will never have!"
She moved his down to her barely covered breast. "I could use a good sword in my sheath."
"I love you, my lady. You deserve better than your husband," Alcalon kissed her, climbing on top of her.
"I love you too," Morgan gasped; perhaps she actually meant it this time. She let out a groan.
She laughed as she heard Arturia's irritated voice.
"By my faith, why must she be so loud!"
"Oh Arturia, I can only imagine how much this makes you squirm," Morgan threw her head back, relishing both the carnal pleasure and her hated sibling's discomfort.
She would relish this small victory, she would make his sister pay for stealing away her inheritance, Britannia would be hers, and the pawn of House Britannia would check the King.