Several months passed by quickly, and word got out about David's new order of Chivalry. Word even got as far as France. Many knights had traveled far to join the new order, but none so far as Kid Blink, who had decided to come from his battlefields in France. He was a very celebrated knight where he came from, and knew that King David would accept him. He had traveled for days, and now could see the castle of Camelot in the distance.
"There it is, Snipes!" he told his squire, Snipeshooter. "That's Camelot. Camelot, here I come!" He gave a debonair smile to nobody in particular. "You know, they're going to have to appreciate me there. I mean, where in all the world is there a man with a more perfect record in battle? Nowhere. And those at the round table should be invincible—better than the rest! He has to be better than the average man. That's why he will have to accept me at the round table," Blink said in complete earnest.
"Of course," Snipeshooter agreed absentmindedly. He was used to Kid Blink's rambling on about himself. For a "perfect" man, he certainly was impressed with himself.
"I tell you what," he continued. "There's not a man in the world who could out-do me. I'm like Hercules, only better! My heart and my mind are as pure as morning dew, and I have amazing self-restraint. Why, they could easily name me a saint right now! The ways of the flesh don't tempt me. Not one bit. I'm amazing. God should have made me the partner of Eve. If that were the case, we'd still be in Eden!" He smiled in a self-satisfied way. Just then, a man in armor walked up the hill slowly, (because, honestly, who could move quickly in that armor for any amount of time?) with his sword drawn. Blink drew his sword quickly and gave the man a hard blow to the head with it, knocking him to the ground. He smiled at his amazing strength and turned towards Camelot once more. "Ah, King David, what a wonderful man you must be to have thought of his new order, and the round table. I worship you before I have even met you. Beware enemies of the king, from now on you challenge me!" He waved his sword around in a gallant way and grinned before sheathing his sword once more.
The man sat up and removed his helmet. "That was an amazing blow. Absolutely amazing," he said, standing up. Behold, it was King David himself!
"Now that you've recovered, I bid you farewell, and next time you choose to challenge me, remember that you are also challenging the right hand of King David." He turned to leave with a nod of his head.
"But… I am King David," said man protested. Snipeshooter's eyes got wide, and he dropped to his knees in submission.
Kid Blink turned around in shock. "T-the king?" he stuttered.
"Almost the late king," David admitted with a little shrug.
"I hit you? I struck the king? Ohno-ohno-ohno!" His eyes got wide. He dropped to his knees and crawled over towards David and hugged his knees tight. "Forgive me! I'm Kid Blink, of du Lac in France. I heard of your new order, and I came to join. Please forgive me, not because I deserve it, but in forgiving me, I will suffer more."
"But … I don't want you to suffer," he told the man at his feet. "I want to congratulate you. Please stand up. You too, squire." Snipeshooter rose to his feet, but Kid Blink remained clinging to David's knees. "I'm too ashamed to lift my head."
"Then I order you to do it. I tell you, I've never felt a bash in the head like that. It was amazing. Where'd you learn how to do that?"
Kid blink reluctantly stood, but kept his head bowed in shame. "My skill comes from training, your Majesty. My strength from purity."
"Hm. That's a unique recipe, I must say," David commented.
"He's a unique man, sire," Snipeshooter spoke up for his lord. "At the age of fourteen he could defeat any jouster in France. His father, King Ban, made me his squire when he was only—"
"King Ban? Benwick? What did you say your name was?" David looked at Blink once again.
"Kid Blink." He answered in a subdued voice.
"Really? Wonderful! I was told you were coming!"
Kid Blink looked up for once. "You were told, your Majesty?"
"By Merlin, our court magician. He told me one day: "David, keep your eye out for Kid Blink of du Lac, from the castle Joyous Guard. He will come to Camelot and he will be… Oh, what was it?" David's face furrowed up in thought.
"Your ally? Your friend? Your defender?" Kid Blink offered readily. "A man whose heart is already ready to serve you? Who already praises you? Whose body is your sword to brandish? Did he say all that, your Majesty? Because I am all of that."
"Well, really, that's almost more than what anyone could ask for," David told him. He was slightly embarrassed at Blink's doting devotion.
"Then you'll accept me to the table?" Blink asked excitedly.
"Of course, as if there was ever any doubt. We must arrange for your knighthood immediately."
"No! Not immediately. Not until I've proven myself to you. All you know of me now is talk. Let me prove it to you. Give me an order." He looked excited to get going on a new quest.
"Right now?" David asked in shock.
"Yes. Right now. Immediately. Send me on a task. Let me prove it to you."
"Well, actually…" David chuckled a little. "There's not much going on today. It's the first of May. The Queen and the court have gone a-Maying. I was on my way to surprise her when you surprised me."
"Gone… a-Maying, sire?" Kid Blink asked, clearly confused.
"Well, it's a sort of picnic. You eat grapes and chase girls around trees, and—"
"A … picnic?" Blink interrupted.
"Yes. It's a custom we have here. It's the time to gather flowers."
"Knights gathering flowers?" He was clearly shocked.
"Yes. Because there is so much to be done."
"Of, course, exactly," Kid Blink agreed, clearly not understanding at all.
"It's civilized. Civilization should have a few gentle hobbies. And I want you to meet the Queen."
"It would be an honor," Blink agreed. "Snipes, take the horses to the castle, feed them, and dress them for battle," he told his squire.
"For battle?" David asked, confused. "But there's no one to fight today."
"You can never be too careful. Enemies rarely take holidays," Blink pointed out, sending his squire on his way.
"I guess not. You know, Merlin…"
"Have I offended you, your Majesty?" Kid Blink asked carefully.
"No, no, no. I suddenly remembered what Merlin said about you. How strange. Strange and wonderful. He said that you would be the greatest knight to ever sit at my table. But that was long before I had even thought of a table. So, he knew it would exist! I thought he meant a dining table! But he meant the Round Table! And I've stumbled on my future. I did the right thing!" He grinned joyously and gave a cheer.
"Did you ever doubt it, sire?" Kid Blink asked, as if it were a ludicrous idea.
"Of course I did. Only fools don't doubt." He grinned at Kid Blink. "Welcome to Camelot, Kid Blink. And welcome to the Round Table!" The made their way towards where the court was convened.