An Optimist's Dream in a Time of Darkness:
Chapter 1: An Arrival
AN: This is my first King Arthur Fanfic and I sincerely hope it's as good to you as it is to me. I have thought this story out completely and now I am very anxious to see what it will be like when written out, so saying, this is the first out of many glorious chapters that I will write for this story. I also wanted to point out that though there will be romance later, this story's main focus is on Arthur and his thoughts as well as how he fights to keep everything together, even things that he disagrees with. So in saying that, here is the first chapter, enjoy!
The sun had only just begun to rise and already the summer heat was upon them. It's lavish rays of warmth wending its way through the village at Hadrian's Wall, bending around corners and sneaking into homes, and into their chambers. One such chamber was that of Arterious, the young boy who would become one of the finest warriors ever produced by Britain. He awoke peacefully and easily, stretching out his tired limbs beneath his warm fur blankets. The sun's long arms poked at his face as he stepped out of bed, and staggered slightly with drowsiness.
"OPEN THE GATE! THE LADY HAS RETURNED!" Was the call issued from the top of Hadrian's Wall.
At this annunciation, Arthur's entire being jolted with excitement, his mother had returned. Almost two months prior she had left under a flag of truce to seek out her ill sister, a Woad. It was said that she was on her deathbed and her last wish to be granted was to see her younger sibling's luminescent face, to know that she was alive and well. So Arthur's mother obliged, and set off to seek her sister out, with a caravan of Roman Calvary to protect her if need be.
Though on that glorious morning she had returned, hopefully unharmed, and would be greeted graciously by her townspeople. Arthur rushed out of the large fortress he called home, and out into the village streets all the way to the gate of their town. He fumbled his way through the crowd to be the first to see her. "Excuse me. Please move. Mo- mother!"
He found his way and rushed to the side of the enchanting woman, who had just that moment stepped out of her carriage. "Arthur, my son, how I've missed you." She bent down to wrap her loving arms around him, as if to never let him go. A few dry tears slid down her cheeks in pure happiness as she brought his face to stare directly within hers. "I've brought someone for you to meet," his mother stood allowing the opening of the carriage to be seen completely. Inside stood a young girl, not more than nine years old, with cropped blonde hair to her shoulders. Her dull gray eyes were large with awe and fascination with the village and it's people, she wrung her hands nervously. "She is your cousin, Aislin."
Arthur simply starred at her, unsure of what to do. Should he say hello, bow, or plainly stand there like a buffoon? She was unlike any of the young girls from their village, her hair had been cut to a shorter length, her face more worn and dirtied, her hands full of calloses, and her body somewhat stronger yet lanky at the same time. He could hear the gossiping whispers of his people behind him, their voices kept low as to not insult the Lady of Hadrian's Wall and her choice of playmates for her son.
"Come Aislin, this is my son, Arthur. I'm sure you two will become good companions for each other within the years to come. But now I believe it best that we head in and set a room up for young Aislin, instead of showing her the butt of our generosity." At those last words she glared around at the villagers and their gossiping mouths halted at once.
They parted a pathway for the three of them as if they had been royalty, a queen and her heirs. The Lady walked with dignity in her strides as she held each child's hand and made her way to her home, her sanctuary.
That night there was a discussion in the meeting hall with all the officials. "She should not have been brought here! She is a Woad, a child of our enemies!" One of the Roman soldiers shouted.
Arthur had snuck down to the entrance of the room creaking the door open slightly and watching as his mother stood at the head of the table. "She is my sister's child, her father is dead and now her mother is the same. Who is to care for her if not me? I am her only surviving relative!"
"Her own kind will raise her-."
"And tell me General Silvanus, when she grows up to be a Woad's warrior, will you hunt her down and kill her as you've done to so many other's?" The Lady had broken his sentence and was now pacing the length of the table. "Do you really think I'd allow you to slaughter my niece?" She paused, stopping at the General's chair. "We could end all of that anguish right now. I would never have to feel the loss of her at my side, she would never grow up to be a fierce fighter like her parents, you would never destroy her, and I would never suffer with heartache. Please, I beg of you, let her stay. She will be as natural as the other girls in this village."
"What of her people, won't they be upset at her being here?"
"I have spoken to their leader, he knows that I am the best person to raise her and if he can afford to save the life of even just one of his people he will do it. Do you forget so hastily that I am also of Britain? Of course he is in agreement with my decision." She brought herself to sit once again, her gown ruffling against the wood of the seat. "Now, let us move on to other subjects, shall we?"
Arthur had know his mother to be strong willed, but had never seen her argue with the Roman's as if they were scrap that must be wiped off of the table after supper.
"I will be treated differently from everyone else."
Arthur whirled around, coming face to face with Aislin herself. Her eyes peering passed him and through the crack in the door. "What? Oh, no. My mother will make sure they-."
"But they will anyway, you know this. I am not of their blood." She offered as she sat down on the cold stone floor, the hem of her dress dragging in the dust.
"So is my mother," Arthur sat down beside the girl, taking her in with every glance.
"She is different, she married your father, a Roman." Her eyes were on his, a cold stare of unhappiness built within their core. She shook her head realizing she was being rude. "She is my Aunt, and I am your cousin, at least you except this." She straightened up, gazing at him again, this time with more of a pleading hope. "Don't you?"
He gathered his thoughts; his mentor had always taught him that every man is equal. But then isn't it equally true also for women, his thoughts were yes. "Yes, I do."
"Good, then your mother was right about us. We shall become close companions in the future." After that she gave a minute grin before running off down the corridor. Thus beginning the circle of friendship Arthur would fight to keep going through all his years of life.
AN: This chapter to me was a good way to start off, slow but with good elements and feelings. I can't wait to see your reactions, so please review… it's the hip thing to do! LOL, anyway I'll post the next chapter sometime soon. Till then, ta!