I was attacked by a bunny this morning on the way to the bus. This is only part 1, there will be a second part I think, sometime...in the near future. It's kind of sad/cute, just a warning. I figure that Arthur was probably about 8 or 9 in the movie when his mother died, so he's 6 in my story, since it's prior to that. That and I absolutely could not think of a name for her LOL, so she's unnamed! This was kind of random, so if it seems wrong in any way, like language or whatever..that would be why. Anyway, enjoy.

Title: Promises
Rating: G
Summary: Arthur's father makes a promise, but can he keep it?

It was dark; no candle, nor the newly risen sun lit the small room. There was light under the wooden door slowly trying to creep it, but it did not disturb the small, sleeping form on the bed; neither did the hushed voices outside.

"I promise you, we won't be gone for long," whispered a man's voice.

"Lucius..." sighed a woman, "It's too dangerous. And what of your son, he needs you."

"He is strong."

"He is a child! And the same fever has claimed too many others in this village, no matter how strong. You cannot leave us now Lucius."

"Do you think that I want to leave you? Even if he wasn't ill, it pains me to be parted from both of you. I have no choice."

"You always have a choice."

"Not this time."

"But-..." she started, but he cut her off.

"I will come back by tomorrow morning."

The voices faded and the door quietly opened, spilling light across the floor. Lucius Castus stood in the doorway of his son's room. He wished he didn't have to leave now. He had already asked the commander, told him his son was sick, but that did nothing. Orders were orders.

Lucius knelt down beside the boy, laying his large hand on his son's forehead and brushed back his dark hair. His skin was hot to the touch, fever burned inside him. The boy coughed, Lucius rubbed his chest gently.

"Artorius," Lucius smiled sadly, stroking the boy's cheek as his grey eyes opened.

"Father..." Arthur whispered, only six years old, "Father, you promise to take me riding today, do you remember?"

"I-...I do remember, my boy, and I will. But not today," Lucius replied softly, "I have to go and you need to get better. When I come back, we can go riding." He smiled again and pointed to a wooden box on the table next to Arthur's bed, "And I will teach you to use the two swords."

"Why do you have to go, Father?" Arthur asked, coughing again.

"The village needs protecting, you and your mother, and everyone else who lives here too," Lucius explained as his wife stood in the doorway, the same position he had previously occupied, creating a silhouette in the light.

"I can protect mother," Arthur yawned.

Pulling the blankets up to his son's chin, Lucius nodded, "I know you can. You will be a great warrior someday."

"Like you, Father?"

Lucius brushed Arthur's hair back again, "Go to sleep, when you wake tomorrow morning, I'll be here."

"Do you promise?"

"I promise."

The boy smiled weakly and coughed, closing his tired eyes again and drifting back to sleep.

Lucius' own smile faded replaced by a look of worry. He leaned forward and whispered barely louder than a breath, "Be strong, my little Artorius." Kissing his son's forehead, Lucius stood and walked over to his wife, taking her in his arms one last time before he left.

The next morning Arthur awoke to a pounding outside his room. He was feeling better today, he wasn't so cold, but his mother still told him to stay in bed. But he was curious, and slowly got up. Opening the door, Arthur peaked out. In the outer room was a soldier and his mother. She was crying. Why was she crying?

Arthur suddenly remembered when one of the other village boy's father was killed. The boy said a soldier came and he talked to his mother and when he was finished, his mother hugged him and cried. The next day they buried the boy's father.

Opening the door all the way, Arthur's face distressed, he stood in the doorway. The soldier looked down at him and then over to his mother. She slowly walked over to him and crouched down, putting her hands on his shoulders. Arthur's mother opened her mouth to say something, but found she couldn't. All she could do was take her son in her arms. Arthur didn't need to be told.