First Official Visit

By Montez

Disclaimer: see chapter one

Chapter 4

Two days later found a contingent of twenty knights, the King, Prince Arthur, and Sir Leon assembled in the courtyard as they prepared to depart. The King was speaking with Sir Cador while Leon was talking with Arthur, "You ready for this?" the young knight asked the Prince.

The excited energy rolling off the blond was almost tangible, he bounced on the balls of his feet as he double checked the pack on his horse, made sure his set of throwing knives were strapped inside his boots and his sword was secured at his hip. "I still can't believe I'm going."

Leon watched with a grin on his face, those had been his own thoughts throughout the past two days of preparation. "do you remember what we talked about?"

An eyeroll met the older boys gaze, "I am to listen you and do exactly what you say. I am not to go off by myself even when we are staying with any of the Lord's. If trouble occurs, I am to stick to you like my knives in a target." Both boys chuckled as the King and Sir Cador approached.

"Are you about set Arthur?" the King looked at his son, not hiding his own smile at his son's excitement.

Standing straight, his chainmail shirt catching the sun's morning rays, his red traveling cloak (not as elaborate as the ones the knights wore) secured at his collar. "I am ready Father." In that moment the king got a glimpse of what his son could look like in a few short years when he becomes an official knight, it caused both a swell of pride and an aching in his heart.

Giving Arthur a pat on the shoulder Uther responded, "well let's mount up".

With that the rest of the knights started mounting, Cador stepping next to his son. "remember what I told you, no second guesses and do what needs to be done if anything happens."

"Yes father." Leon smiled at his father as he mounted his horse.

Patting his son's leg Cador smiled, "be safe, see you in three weeks"

Giving his father a quick nod, the young knight spurred his horse on, catching up to ride just behind Arthur, who led the way through the gates at the King's side.

It took four days to reach the first set of villages near Lord Evan's estate. Those days were filled with the monotony of setting up, breaking down camp, hunting to subsidize the provisions they had brought, and scaled back training sessions to alleviate boredom.

The King spent his time talking with the older knight's planning the next day's journey and keeping an eye on his son to gauge how the boy was holding up. Uther was pleased to see that Arthur's enthusiasm hadn't weaned with Leon and a few of the other knight's teaching the young Prince some tracking skills and even taking him on a few, short hunting trips.

The second day had found a very excited Arthur racing back into camp with the knight's he had went out with close behind, one of the horses laden with several rabbits and pheasants. "Father!" he yelled, "I got two pheasants, one had just taken flight!"

"Really Arthur, that's wonderful, you seem to be learning quite a few new things so far." Uther beamed at his son and Leon came to stand behind the boy, crossbow strapped to his back.

"Leon showed me how to sight his crossbow and after a couple of practice shots I got the first one that had just taken off, it was…it was just…" the boy's excitement was catching. "once we're back home, can I start going on more hunts? I promise to stay close to Leon and the others"

"We'll see" ruffling his son's short blond hair, the King watched as the boy rushed off to see if the knights would teach him how to dress their catch.

"Sir Leon," turning to the young knight next to him.

"Sire" Leon gave a slight bow.

"I am glad to see he is taking to the journey so well. He seems to be really enjoying himself." Uther looked back over where a couple of the knights were showing the young Prince how to skin a rabbit.

"He is My Lord, as with many things he seems to be a natural out here. The other Knight's are enjoying teaching him new things as well." The curly-haired Knight looked from his King to his charge.

"I am pleased they have taken to him being along, I was worried some would view Arthur as an undue burden, though I know none of them would dream of saying anything." The King knew how knight's talk and that he, himself, had been topic of many a grumble over the years, it was the nature his position. "Thank you again." Uther patted Leon's shoulder then turned toward his tent.

The journey continued much the same way, Arthur taking in everything the other's knights were doing, learning as much as he could. When they were out visiting the villages, he began to realize just how little the people had compared to him. Having always lived within the castle walls he never really saw how others lived. He knew even the servants were well taken care of, as were those living in the upper town. He had decided, to himself, to try to investigate the conditions of those that lived near the castle in the lower town. He may be only nine (going on ten as he liked to remind everyone when they discussed his age), but this experience was making him realize not everyone lived the same, far more people had just enough to barely survive. He couldn't help but think of what he didn't eat, these people could live off for days. Maybe once they returned home, he could talk to his father, to better understand all he had seen. Something inside him started to stir, he wanted to do something to try and help these people, his people, he was now beginning to understand.

Another thing Arthur was learning was which Lords he liked and which he did not like. Lord Evan, the first estate they stayed, was one he liked. The man greeted his father with the respect due a King and then greeted him with the same, not talking down to him just because he was young. Arthur had listened intently to the discussions at dinner that night, he felt the Lord knew and understood the plight of the villages near his estate and wanted to help them any way he could.

They had remained at Lord Evan's for four days before making the two-day journey to Lord Sterling's estate. As soon as they entered the gates Arthur felt unease. Leon noticed quickly the shift in the younger boy's demeanor. When the Lord approached the King he seemed to be trying too hard to lavish on his praise of the King and how much of an honor it was for his Majesty to stay at his humble home. The young Prince noticed the man was anything but humble, he wanted to recoil when the man's gaze fell on him after greeting the King, "I see you brought the Prince, how nice." Was the man's response, barely acknowledging the young royal, much to Uther's displeasure if Arthur was reading his father correctly.

"I really don't like Lord Sterling," Arthur turned to Leon once they were shown to their room.

Sir Leon watched as the prince inspected the room, it seeming to contain way too much 'wealth', as if trying to overly impress their visitors. "You will find there are many different types of noblemen, and you might not like them all, but as you have seen with your father, you must acknowledge accordingly whether you like and respect them or not."

Arthur turned with a mischievous look in his eyes, "then I probably shouldn't use the wardrobe as a target, should I?"

A laugh escaped Leon as he saw the Prince rubbing his hand on the door of the overly ornate piece of furniture. "Absolutely not."

The King, Prince, Lord, and Leon spent the next three days visiting the nearby villages and the differences were startling. Arthur noticed where the villages near Lord Evan's estate were poor, there was no squaller, there was order to them, villagers helping one another. The villages near Lord Sterling's estate were the complete opposite, there was a smell that permeated the whole area, the villagers seem to look suspiciously at one another and the visitors. Where many villagers near Lord Evan's estate readily approached the Lord and royals, Lord Evan genuinely concerned about their welfare and what help they needed, Lord Sterling recoiled from the people, none dared approach, few even glanced their way.

"I don't understand," Arthur commented upon returning to his room at the estate.

"What don't you understand?" Leon asked, knowing exactly what the young Prince was going to say.

"Why were the two sets of villages so different? Isn't it the duty of the Lords to assure the wellbeing of those within their lands?" The boy sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Leon like he should have all the answers.

The Knight pulled a chair up, setting across from his charge, "From what my father has always explained to me, yes, it is supposed to be the Lord's responsibility to do his best for the villages within his lands. But you have seen, with just the two estates we have visited, the vast differences. Do you recall when we arrived and I told you that not all noblemen are alike, this is a prime example." Watching to make sure the young boy was understanding, "some noblemen see their position as one where they can try and help people who have less than they do, to make the lives of those around them even marginally better. Then there are those who see their title as a way to look down on people and only worry about accumulating wealth and stature for themselves."

"Like Lord Sterling?" Arthur responded.

"Yes," Leon nodded, "like Lord Sterling, but don't tell your father I said that." Patting Arthur's knee the knight stood, "Now I believe you need to get ready for the feast Lord Sterling is having for the last night of the King's visit."

"Do I have to," flopping back on the bed, Arthur put his arm over his eyes, "after the last couple of days, I really don't feel like eating."

"Unfortunately, you must attend, as the Prince and future King, there are obligations you have whether you like them or not." Leon reached his hand out to pull the younger boy up to start getting ready.