Disclaimer: See chapter One; Note: Based on some scenes from Director's Cut Version
Thanks to: FalconWings14- Sorry it took a while... but here's the first REAL chappie for you, AND oH tHe InSaNiTy-You rock my socks hun!
The Beginning: For Arthur
"They will be your's to command one day, should you so choose," Pelagius spoke with quiet pride from behind me.
I watched as the twenty or so young men rode by up on the hill. Some rode double, one even wore stranger clothing than all the rest, but all looked solemn and forlorn. One boy, in particular, caught my gaze and held it. His curly brown hair and sad brown eyes captured my imagination. I liked the slight tan color of his skin, and the blustering English wind brought color to his cheeks. I blushed slightly, glad that my surrogate father could not look upon my face. I was just thirteen, but my mother had taught me that boys should never have more that brotherly affection for another boy. He looked away.
"Shall we follow your mother and return to the Wall?" Pelaguis' voice sounded again.
I nodded and felt myself lifted up, and placed upon Pelaguis' stallion. As the horse moved forward, I watched the line of young knights ride on ahead. Maybe I would meet that dark-eyed boy in the village.
The great sight of Hadrian's Wall seemed even more formidable on that cloudy day. The dark grey walls extended up like an unnatural immitation of the mountains to the east. Between two sections of the wall was a field where the Roman Legions trained. There, within that field, was the cemetary where my father had been laid to rest. His sword Excalibur marked his final bed among his men. Someday, I might just rest beside him in that cold, sad plot of land, but not yet. My mother met us at the gate to the village. The wind picked at her heavy brown locks, unable to lift them.
Her welcoming smile was sad, and it was then I remembered Pelagius was returning to Rome. I jumped from the horse and hugged the man. He returned the embrace and whispered a quiet "Stay safe". I watched him clasp hands with my mother, and then mount up and ride away. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes so I ran to the graveyard, and my mother chased after me. I left her, and all my thoughts from earlier, far behind.
She found me staring blindly at Excalibur's guilded hilt. She approached from behind with soft steps. Her comforting arms, clad in violet homespun, wrapped around me. I cried all my loneliness and pain out while she held me. "It is not the end my young Arturius. We will all meet again. Come home now," her kind, soprano voice whispered.
"Not yet," I replied quietly. "The other children will laugh if they knew I was crying. I'll be in soon. I promise."
She smiled down at me understanding my hidden feelings. She stood and brushed the dirt from her skirt. Her hand found mine and gave it a reassuring squeeze. For some reason I felt I'd lose her soon, and I didn't want to release her hand. I did let go though, and she turned and started for the village.
"Mother!" she turned. "I love you."
"I know Arturius. I love you as well."
I fell asleep there, next to my fathers grave. The sounds of screams and cries for help woke me from my restless nap. When I sat up I couldn't help yelling. The "blue demons", the Woads, had attacked my village while I slept, and the Legions couldn't hold them all off. I ran into the fray looking for my mother, hoping desperately to find her alive. She was trying to escape from our burning home when I found her. She yelled out to me, and I tried to run to her aid. I couldn't reach her in time. A burning wagon slammed into the doorway, and pushed her into the flames. I yelled out to her again, but there was no answer. A man with a torch and bloodied sword turned towards me. Merlin.
I ran to my father's grave and begged him to release Excalibur, but it was too late. My mother was dead and the Woads were gone. I swore revenge on the bastard who killed my mother. My blood boiled with the fire that destroyed everything I loved. It was then that I decided to join the Sarmatian Knights and fight in the name of Rome. I met Lancelot the next day...