Murphy's Law


by: just-a-story


~ Chapter III ~

Can't Pick Your Family


"So unlike you, sitting in a throne room, listening to how the rest of my life is planned out." He paused as he took a gulp. "I go exploring."


"Are you sure this is it?" He asked as he looked back to his brother. With the sound of two more feet hitting the dirt, he walked to the front of his horse and grabbed both reins under the horse's chin.

"This is it," Killian replied as he tied his horse to one of the nearby trees. I can lead you right to it.

The future king raised an eyebrow in concern. "How are you so sure? We are in the middle of no where."

Killian walked over to his brother and smirked. "I don't have to attend those meetings like you do." He paused and took out his flask. "So unlike you, sitting in a throne room, listening to how the rest of my life is planned out." He paused as he took a gulp. "I go exploring."

"You've seen it?" Arthur asked, ignoring his brother and his drinking problem.

The younger brother smiled. "Are we going to stand here and talk about it, do you want to see it?"

Arthur followed Killian for what seemed like forever. "Are you certain it's all the way in here?" He looked up when he heard his brother stop. "What is it?" He asked as he came in front of his half sibling. "You there!" He shouted.

Killian quickly turned around the grabbed his brother, placing a hand over his mouth. As Arthur struggled, Killian dragged him into a bush nearby. The more Arthur struggled, the harder Killian made his grip. They both watched as the three men dressed in black, poured something on the sword in the stone. Arthur struggled, and dug his elbow in his brother's side. Killian pressed his finger into his brothers neck as hard as he could and counted, only to let go a few seconds later, causing his body to go limp. He left Arthur's body lie still as he watched which the knights were doing. He watched as they removed the sword from the stone, knowing whatever the poured was what allowed them to do so. Once the two guards left with the stone, Killian grabbed for his satchel. He unhooked his wooden hand and placed it in the bag. He grabbed for his hook and locked it into place. He let go of his half brother, allowing his body to fall in front of him. Arthur lied on his back with his head tilted to his side. He rolled Arthur onto his stomach and hooked his arms under his armpits then lifted him up on his feet. He cursed to himself multiple times as he stepped his foot in between his brother's legs while hooking Arthur's arm with his hook. He squatted down, and wrapped his good hand around his brother's leg. With another curse world escaping through his teeth, he lifted Arthur onto his shoulders.


"You just found him like this?" The king asked.

Killian stood with his arms behind his back. "I was in the stables when his horse came running through covered in sweat. I rode out and found him in the woods."

The king shook his head. "Careless." He growled. "How long do you think it will be before he wakes up?" He asked the healer.

"Depends," The man said. "He looks fine on the outside, which is the strange thing. I can make him a soup that should help with the healing process."

Killian looked up. "I'll watch Arthur." He turned towards his father. "Go to port, make sure everything's arranged." He turned towards the healer. "Go, make the soup."

The king turned and poked Killian's chest. "You don't give the orders,"

"I'm the one who found him." He reminded his father with a growl. "Now, you can be unprepared for a princess to arrive which if you ask me, is quite bad form, or you can sit here and wait for your bloody son to wake up."

The healer put a finger up in the air. "I'll go fetch the supplies." He said as he quickly turned and left.

Killian's father looked back at him. "I allow you to stay." He told him. "Don't talk down to me. I am your king."

"You keep me as back-up and banished my mother, don't think I want to be here." He watched as his father left the room. Once he could no longer see his shadow, he walked over to his brother's side and pressed two fingers into his neck and stepped back. Arthur gasped for breath.

"What happened? Where am I?" Arthur asked as he tried to get up before Killian stopped him.

"Easy there mate, you've been hurt."

"Hurt?" Arthur asked. "I feel fine!"

Killian sighed. "You fell of your horse." Killian lied, "You passed out."

"Fell off my horse-" Arthur paused. "What? No. I was with you getting excalibur."

Killian raised an eyebrow and took in a breath. "Excalibur?"

"You where there!"

"Sound's like a lovely dream." Killian said through a fake smile. "Get dressed, your princess is arriving tomorrow and father wants to be fully prepared."

Arthur looked around him as his brother left the room. He didn't understand. He remembered the two knights, and seeing excalibur, specifically the red jewel imbedded in the pommel.

"You're awake!"

Arthur jumped and looked over at the man with the herbs in his hand. He got up out of bed and the healer tried to stop him. "I need to get to the throne room." He said as he left the chamber leaving the healer with confusion and a handful of useless herbs.

He ran up the stairs of the castle to one of the great rooms and saw his half brother standing at the top. "Killian." Arthur said as he reached the top then continued tucking in his shirt. "How angry is he?" He asked referring to their father.

Killian sighed. "Angry, vexed, crossed, infuriated." He paused, "The usual really."

Arthur let out a sigh. "I still don't understand how-"

Killian rested his gloved hand on his brother's shoulder. "No time to worry about that, I'm afraid. You're getting married and the carriage will be here at first daylight."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Have you seen Guinevere?"

Killian laughed. "I can't image she'd want to stick around."

"Why my mistress of course. Just because you don't believe in them, doesn't mean I don't." Arthur smiled.

"Well," Killian said giving his brother a smile. "I must be going."

"You don't want to stick around?" Arthur asked, as he turned to face Killian.

He rocked his head side to side, "Watch you get married to a princess, become ruler of two realms, most powerful person."

Arthur laughed. "I see your point."

"I will however be back tomorrow for when your wife arrives. For missing the first meeting is just bad form."

Arthur watched his brother go down at the stairs and called after him, "Lucky bastard!"

The words rang throughout the corroder causing a small smile to form on the pirate's face.


The sun already set. He didn't plan for the delay as he thought he would be been back at the castle for his brother's fiancé to arrive. He pulled on the reins, telling his horse to stop once he arrived to the mansion. He waited a moment, leaving time for the guard standing below him to open the gate. As if rehearsed, he kicked his horse right as the gates finished opening. Killian quickly dismounted his horse, handing the reins to another guard near the door and made his way up the steps.

He opened the door slowly and looked around, seeing no one.

"Killian."

He turned and saw his mother sitting in a chair with a table in front of her and two guards to her right.

"Mother." He replied as he walked over to her.

"Aren't you going to say hello to your sister?"

"Half-sister." Killian corrected as he looked up at Regina who faked a smile at him. "Why did you change the plan?"

"Direct," Cora began. "In a hurry?"

"I'm supposed to be back at the castle in the morning for the arrival of the princess"

"The princess, yes. Is she arriving alone?"

Killian sighed in annoyance. "I don't know. Nobody told me." He paused. "Plus, I was a little busy keeping Arthur away from your knights who shouldn't of been there!" He took in a deep breath and rested his good hand on the table. "He was going to take it." He paused as he looked up at his half sister. "And if you stuck to our plan then this bloody mess would be over."

"This mess," Regina began, "is over once you live up to the task of killing him."

"Well I can't just stab him in the middle of court now can I?" Killian barked.

"Besides, having him die in the middle of the woods for no one to see but you?" Regina asked. "It's not bold enough."

"Bold?" Killian asked. "Now you want bold?"

"We have to make a statement my dear." Cora smiled. "Regina belongs on the throne and everyone knows it."

He pointed a finger at Regina, "Then how about her highness gets her hands dirty for a change?"

Cora looked back at her son, "Do you know why you live at the castle?"

Killian didn't say anything.

"Your father, King Uther, wanted you as an alternative. When he learned of my pregnancy, I could promise him it was son. While his wife, Queen Igrane, fell ill before Arthur was born. Uther was afraid he would lose both Igrane and Arthur. That's why you live at the castle." She paused. "Now, you're a pirate."

"Because after Arthur was born, I had no where to go. You certainly didn't want me."

Cora took in a breath. "Regina is more useful to me here, as you are more useful where you are." She paused. "And if you value your life, you will continue to be useful." She paused, "Which reminds me, before you kill Arthur, you're going to kill the princess."