First Official Visit

By Montez

Disclaimer: see chapter one

Chapter 5

Arthur was never more relieved to leave a place as he was upon leaving Lord Sterling's estate, Leon noticing the change once they were a couple hours away. "Better?" he whispered as he rode up beside his charge.

"Definitely. How long until we reach the last estate?" Arthur had taking to dropping back from his father on the trip, beginning to like the company of the knights a little more, though filling slightly guilty.

"We should reach Lord Andrew's estate late tomorrow." The older boy responded, noticing that when the Prince hung back some of the other knights would move forward a bit, seeming to form a protective circle around Arthur. Leon doubted the Prince even realized it, but Leon knew the other knights seemed to be enjoying having the Prince along and having the ability to interact and teach the young royal.

The short trip between estates was uneventful and just before dusk on the second day they rode through the gates of Lord Andrew's estate. The older man met them, his wife a few steps behind, "My Lord, it is an honor." The man bowed, his wife following.

"Lord Andrew, I am pleased to finally be able to visit, it has been too long." Uther greeted the Lord as he would a dear friend. Arthur noticed the ease of which both men interacted. The King turned and motioned for Arthur to approach, "Lord Andrew, my son Prince Arthur."

The Lord bowed respectfully to the Prince, "My you have grown since I last saw you, nearly a man already." Arthur beamed, standing straighter.

"It's an honor Lord Andrew." Arthur acknowledged.

"This is my wife Lady Elizabeth," Lord Andrew took his wife's hand as she stepped forward.

Arthur smiled at the older woman, instantly liking her. "My Lady."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Sire, and please call me Elizabeth." The older lady turned to the King, "My Lord, it is an honor to have you and the Prince, we hope your stay in pleasurable."

Uther was smiling at not only the acceptance of his son on this visit, but also at Arthur's interaction with the couple. This journey has shown him all that he had hoped for with bringing the Prince along. He was handling the travel far better than he could have ever hoped for, his interaction with not only the Lord's but also the few people in the villages his son had spoken with was impressive, the King could see the Prince he was growing into.

The next two days again showed Arthur the differences in how the Lord's interacted with the villagers. Just as with Lord Evan's estate, Lord Andrew and his wife seemed to really care about the welfare of the villages within their land. The children flocked to Lady Elizabeth like a beloved grandmother, while the adults approached Lord Andrew like a friend. Arthur was taking in all that he had seen over the journey and was starting to develop ideas about what he would like to do, what kind of Prince he would like to be as he got older. He liked the interaction with the villagers, even though he was still a child in their eyes, he was treated with respect and not brushed off as he listened and sometimes ask questions when the Lord and King talked with the people.

During dinner on their final night Arthur listened intently as his father and Lord Andrew talked, getting a better understanding of what the King could do to help in this area of the kingdom. One of the questions caused Arthur to look at his father, his tone and tenseness setting off little warning bells with the Prince, who quickly glanced around for Leon, who was at the table to the right of the main table. "Have there been any more problems with raiders from Essitir?" Arthur knew that was a neighboring kingdom, but not much else.

A look of sadness passed over the Lord's face, "Not since the last one a few months ago, we lost several villagers on that raid, and we feared for their food stocks. But as is always the case the surrounding villages came together to help, and we provided what we could. I was hoping to speak with you about the possibility of some men being stationed here, hoping that just their presence would be a deterrent."

"I am sorry to hear of the attack, I wish word would have been sent, I would have sent men at that time." Uther continued. "we do have to be careful with the border being so close that it is not viewed as a hostile act, especially with the turmoil within that kingdom."

"I understand, My Lord." The older man's voice sounded sad to Arthur. He didn't know or understand the turmoil his father mentioned, nor the sense of dread that befell the Lord, he just hoped that maybe there was something his father could do.

"I will speak to the council upon my return, we will work something out and hopefully within a few weeks we can have a small contingent of knights and soldiers stationed in the area. This is still Camelot, and it must be protected." The look of relief that passed over Lord Andrew's face allowed Arthur to breathe again. Even with his young age, he wished there was more he could do to help. One day perhaps.

Later that evening Uther visited his son, "So how have you enjoyed the journey?" the King walked across the room, sitting on the bed next to his son. He was so proud of Arthur, he never once complained, it seemed the boy was taking every opportunity to pay attention and learn from the trip.

"I've really liked it, meeting different people, seeing how different people live. It's just…" Arthur trailed off.

"What is it, Arthur?" the King noticed the slight pinch in his son's forehead, like he was trying to process something and was needing to ask but unsure how.

"The villages, the people in the villages. Everything is so different. I guess if just assumed everyone lived like we do. How can we have so much and so many of them have so little. I don't get it." Uther could see real distress in his son's young face.

"There is no easy answer. We have more because we are the rulers of the kingdom, it not only allows us the luxury of what we have, but we also must maintain a strong presence, a strong army. We do our best to help all the people of our kingdom, but sometimes it is not always possible. That is why there are Lords in different regions. Their purpose is to try and help better the lives of the outlying villages and send word to us if needs arise. I'm sure during this trip you have noticed the vast difference in how some of the Lords view their responsibility." The King watched as Arthur stood and started pacing.

"Like with Lord Sterling, he doesn't seem to care at all, not even a little. How can he be like that? The people he is responsible for…How can he see that and not care?" the Prince looked at his father, wishing he could fix everything that the young boy saw was wrong.

"Men may be Lord's, that does not make them good people unfortunately. Just as there can be good King's and King's who don't care for their subjects." Uther had always tried to be a fair and just king, he knew he'd made mistakes over the years. Decisions made in hast, in fear. Some he was not proud of but felt in his heart was the right thing to do. The Great Purge being one of them, but he knew even now that it was something that needed to be done and maintained. Magic had taken so much from him, threatened to take even more if he did not keep a strong hold, but that was for another time. "there are noblemen who do not use their influence to help others, but just to help themselves. I wish there was more I could do to change that, but even I have my limits."

Arthur turned quickly, "But you are the King, Father, can't you just make the Lord's take care of their people?" it seemed so simple to the young Prince, a King could do anything so why would his father allow things like what they had seen go on.

"Arthur, come here." Uther reached out and placed his hands on his son's shoulders, shoulders he knew in a few years, would bare the weight of the kingdom that his own shoulders now bore.

"You still have much to learn and seeing how much you have already learned on this journey I will start showing you, teaching you of all the responsibilities that come from being a King. That being said, there are things I cannot do, not of not wanting to, but can't so as to maintain the order and peace within our kingdom. Just because men are appointed Lord's or have their titles passed on from father to son, does not guarantee that all these men are noble or even loyal to the crown." The King stared into the blue eyes of his son, the same blue eyes that reminded him so much of his beloved Queen. Sometimes Uther found himself suffocated by just how much Arthur looked like his mother, and he was beginning to see now that he would have the same compassion, and desires to right all the wrongs he saw around him. An impossible task, but he had no doubt his son would try. "Sometimes I have to turn a blind eye to how things are done by certain men in order to maintain the stability of the kingdom as a whole. Do you understand?"

"So we have to allow cruel people to take it out on people much weaker than they are, so the kingdom can be safe? That doesn't make sense, no one should be allowed to be cruel to others just because of who they are or what they have…" a little light seemed to spark behind those intense eyes and Uther knew then that his son had just realized what he had said. "I do that" Arthur whispered, turning from his father.

"You're not cruel Arthur, you're a Prince and have had privileges others haven't. Maybe I have done a poor job of not helping you understand and for that I am sorry. My hope on bringing you on these visits was for you to begin to see the contrast between the classes of people in our kingdom. I am not always a good example when it comes to how we treat those of lower standing than us. I forget myself sometimes, your mother was always good at reminding me, she so loved all those within the kingdom regardless of station. I can see that in you just from this trip, remember what you have seen and learned and what you will continue to learn from here on out. Do better than me, don't lose sight that all people are important. The greatest king can be a horrible person, and a lowly villager can be the most noble of all. The person within," Uther tapped his son's chest, "is what makes the difference, remember that."

The King stood, pulling his son into a quick hug, "Now I believe it is time to turn in, we start our long journey back home tomorrow. Once we are back, I will start making time to begin teaching you things a Prince, a King should know. Arthur…" the father stood back, looking at his son, "I am so proud of you, I just want you to know that. Sleep well, we head out at first light."

Uther walked to the door, Arthur's quiet voice causing him to turn, "Good night, Father, I…I love you." The boy looked slightly embarrassed; they were never much expressing feelings.

A smile crossed Uther's face as a slight one crossed his son's, "I love you too Arthur, good night." Leaving the room with the smile on his son's face forefront in his mind.