Chapter Seven

Three against Many

"Perhaps you shouldn't have walked out last night."

Adrilor had walked over to us during breakfast. The conversation topics around us were all centered on the same thing: Parrea's exit from the council. Complete strangers had walked up to us and congratulated her on several occasions this morning already. On the other hand, other complete strangers had walked up and reprimanded her on her actions.

And now Adrilor was here, saying basically the same thing to Parrea that I had told her the other night.

"King Arthur won't forget this, in his mind it amounts to nothing less than sacrilege. You really don't want him as your enemy. But I thank you anyway - the look on the human's faces was worth attending, just for that."

"Thanks for that. I've heard stuff like it since last night." Replied Parrea.

The elf shrugged. "Not from me until now. And Zanathir, apologies for last night; I was tired and bored of listening to proud human's lies. Forgive me."

"Ok, sure. You're forgiven." I replied. There was something about this elf, like he was open and a really nice person and he wasn't racist against humans. I didn't think so anyway. After a moment's hesitation I asked, "Friends?"

He smiled, and took my proffered hand. "Friends."

At that moment, King Arthur thumped his fist on the table, calling for silence. Adrilor swiftly moved back to his own seat. As soon as everyone was seated and silent, King Arthur commented on the previous nights' events.

"Last night marked an important historical event. It was to be the council that would decide the fate of Runescape. We had discussed and answered much, but many, many more things needed to be discussed before the council could be closed. And this was a traditional meeting, a council of the knights of the round table. Councils of this manner are to be ended by the ruling king only. Not by a wayward, impatient guest..."

Ah, no. I could see where this was going. The king was still talking:

"...So, considering the utmost importance of this council, thus the scale of the crime dealt unto it by the ranger Parrea who happens to be a damsel, I will refrain from issuing the death penalty. Instead, I grant her two hours freedom before she is treated as an outlaw. Nobody disagrees? Goo..."

"I disagree!" Adrilor's voice rang across the hall. "She was simply tired of your fake human lies and stupid tales. What she did should not be considered as sacrilege, for she did not know that her actions would be considered a crime. And furthe..."

"I AM THE KING!" King Arthur bellowed across the elf's speech. "THIS IS MY COURT! YOU ARE A GUEST LIKE THIS OWTLAWED RANGER HERE! SIT DOWN!"

King Arthur stopped shouting, and calmed himself down slightly. He spoke again. "But, in the stead of the mercy we knights must show to the ignorant, I will grant her freedom if she can get one of my knights to back her up."

He looked around the court. Inwardly, I was laughing like anything. No knights were stepping forward, ready to defend a real damsel in distress. I gave them about a minute, then rose.

"I stand for this ranger that you outlawed. She is free." King Arthur looked frozen. Adrilor snorted and bent to hide his face. My fellow knights looked shocked. "If you will remember, my King, you made me a knight of the round table when I released the wizard Merlin from his crystal prison." I added.

The King's face went red. I had never seen him so angry before. He opened his mouth, and chokingly spat a few words at me.

"If that is so, Sir Zanathir; I release you from my service and the order of the knights. Now you are a guest like the ranger and the elf. In two hours, my knights are permitted to slay her on sight. You, on the other hand, may remain here as my guest. Good day to you all." And he turned and marched out of the hall, closely followed by Merlin.

Lighthearted chatter broke out across the table. Sir Kay laughed evilly and fingered his favorite, heavy mace. People started stealing glances at me and Parrea. Parrea rose and stormed out of the hall towards her own rooms. I waited a few moments, then followed.

"Zanathir wait!" Someone called my name. I turned, and saw Adrilor walking towards me. I waited for him to catch up. "Are you going to follow the ranger?" he asked me.

"Did the King really mean it? That he was going to outlaw Parrea and everything?" I countered. The elf shrugged.

"You would know him better than I, my friend. For one, I think that he meant it. Human's are oft impulsive, and their pride prevents them from turning back." I sighed. "Well, if he did mean it and the knights start chasing Parrea, I'll go with her. She saved my life once."

"It seems then that I am forever doomed to follow the whims of impulsive children." said Adrilor, not impolitely. And he turned and left before I could question his words.

I gained Parrea's room door, I knocked and the door opened. Parrea was standing in her black dragonhide armor, quiver and arrows over her back, dagger in her belt and bow in hand. She was exactly the same as when I first saw her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I'm... um, can I come with you?" I asked awkwardly. Her eyes widened.

"Zanathir, I've been outlawed! Meaning the whole of the Runescape population are going to hunt me down and destroy me! I'll have so much trouble trying to escape the knights that I won't be able to think about the noobs even!" Her voice was shaking as she spoke.

"Like you said, they're shiny men that talk and do nothing. They'll forget about you soon enough when the noobs arrive anyway. And it's just stupid outlawing you, for just interrupting their council..." I said. I could see liquid tears forming in her eyes. Then she stepped forwards and flung her arms around my neck.

"Thanks Zanathir." she whispered in my ear. Her voice was choking even in a whisper. We stood there for a moment, then she released me.

"I'm ready to leave now, are you?" She asked. I shook my head, and she replied, "I'll wait for you in the Seers church. I'd better leave now - I don't really trust the Sirs to wait two whole hours." I couldn't speak. I just nodded. She turned and walked off.

I returned to my room, and collected my belongings. Within fifteen minutes, I was at Seers bank and storing my heavy armor. I decided that although the noobs were still the largest threat we had to fight, an angry Camelot was still a very considerable problem. I had also decided that whatever the plan was it would include moving around a lot, so I traveled light.

Somehow the idea of me taking charge and creating a plan that didn't involve long distances didn't occur to me then. I've never liked being in charge. Happy enough to follow anyone else's lead - be it king, farmer, troll, god, goblin or guildmaster. I had never imagined myself being in charge of anyone's life that wasn't my own.

I stored everything, except my whip. I withdrew my glory amulet, a few handy teleport runes, a lot of potions such as prayer and energy, and my Guthix cape. The Guthix cape had good protection against magical attacks, and I guessed that I would need that.

My weight considerably lightened, I continued onto the local church. Parrea was already there, and to my confusement, so was Adrilor. The elf smiled as I approached.

"The King has dismissed me, much the same as he did you, Zanathir. I know the peril that we face, and would fight it alongside warriors, not talkative men of past glories."

The King? King Arthur? Dismissed...

"I didn't even know you where employed by the King." I said. Adrilor opened his mouth to reply, but Parrea cut in.

"Can this be discussed somewhere safer? There's a place near here that can be far out of reach of anyone who wants to break in." We consented, and the three of us jogged off south-west under the climbing sun.

A/N: Dragonlord9, I can use your character, just tell me his combat and overall levels, whether he's a ranger, mage or warrior, and if it's a boy or girl. Thanks for your interest in this story )

Also thankyou to the other two people who have read and reviewed this story.