The castle of Sir Ector wasn't even close to being as grand as the castle of Camelot. The building had clearly been neglected and half of one wing looked ready to collapse at the first gust of wind. Arthur imagined at one point it was probably a fine building; the ivy, though now increasing the damage to the derelict portions of the castle, would have looked rather nicer if tended properly and he thought he could make out climbing roses in amongst the parasitic ivy. Yes; this would probably have been a fine building, and continued to be one, if in the proper care. Mim stared.
"What's wrong?" Arthur asked. Mim shook her head continuing to stare sadly at the forlorn looking building. Arthur stared at her expectantly; he wasn't going to give up until he got an answer. Mim glanced at Arthur and notice the look. She sighed.
"It not the fine building I remember from a few years ago." she explained. Arthur looked back at the building confused. The scale of damage to the building was consistent of being neglected for tens of years, not a mere 'few years'. "The rumours must have been true." Mim sighed sadly.
"Rumours?" Arthur asked still contemplating the building. He noticed Mim nod out his peripheral vision.
"Apparently, Sir Ector allowed a witch into his home as she ran from execution." Arthur nearly gave himself whip-lash from the speed he turned his head to move his stare from the castle to Mim. "The witch had apparently taken a liking to Kay," a disgusted look crossed Mim's face as she spat out the part about Kay, " He flattered her and pretended to woo her, while all the time contacting the Guards of Camelot about where to find the witch." It was Arthur's turn to look disgusted; he couldn't stand back stabbers, they were the worst of people. "When she found out the betrayal, she flew out in a rage and destroyed half the castle," Mim hesitated. "And Sir Ector's wife."
Arthur was aghast. His thoughts flew into a frenzy at the thought of the heart broken witch killing an innocent woman. No amount of betrayal was worth killing. She must have been a bad witch. But that thought didn't sit well with him. It would have taken days, maybe weeks, for the guards to arrive here, nothing untoward had apparently happened in that time except a false romance. If Kay had not seduced her and gone behind her back it would never have happened. Did that mean it was Kay's fault? A sniff brought Arthur out of his thoughts. He looked at Mim in a daze. She wiped a tear from her eye.
"Lady Rose was the best of people. She adored Sir Ector and her stepson." Mim breathed.
"Kay wasn't her son?" Mim shook her head.
"His mother wasn't well after she had Kay," Mim almost pleaded, "I was told that she would walk around in a daze and not even look at her son. Before help could arrive, she killed herself."
Arthur felt a twinge of pity for Kay. He knew how hard it was to grow up not knowing your mother. He imagined it must have been difficult to accept a new woman, even one a charming as Lady Rose sounded, as a mother. When he voiced this opinion to Mim, she disagreed.
" No, Kay viewed Lady Rose as his mother. They were, at times, the happiest of families." Arthur raised his eyebrows.
"At times?" Arthur mimicked. Mim returned the question with a slight smile.
"Every family has their problems." Mim started toward the broken and battered looking drawbridge which lead into the crumbling castle's courtyard. "I, myself, haven't spoken to my other sisters in years."
"You have other sisters?" Arthur was perplexed. "You said you had no family to care if you died?"
"They wouldn't care. One does things her own way, trying to fix the world in how she sees fit, and the other has dedicated herself to study." Mim listed off gruffly. Arthur would have asked more but as they entered a guard thrust a sword to Mim's throat while another pointed one in Arthur's back.
"Hmm, not as welcoming as before." Mim calmly stated, looking mildly at the sword as if it were no threat at all. Arthur huffed at her comment.
"I am Prince Arthur of Camelot," He began in his most regal, commanding voice, "I am here to beg an audience with Sir Ector." At his words the guard behind him lowered his sword, but the other remained constant at Mim's throat. "The lady is with me." Arthur warned. The sword lowered.
"We will enquire if Sir Ector is well enough to receive visitors, My Lord." Both guard rushed off to ascertain the situation. Arthur gave Mim an annoyed glance.
"Is it impossible for you to get in danger without making a joke or annoying people more?" Mim briefly raised her eyebrows and gave a sly smile. Arthur shook his head in exasperation "You're worse than Merlin!" Mim's smile merely widened. Still shaking his head, Arthur took note of his surroundings, which were in even more disarray than the exterior. He watched as an owl fluttered from it's perch in a large hole in the wall to the broken stables and fix its yellow eyes on them. Arthur nervously glanced away, he didn't much care for owls. The court yard held a variety of broken or hastily mended items used for training knights. It was a depressing sight, but an even more depressing sihgt was about to descend.
The two guards returned to where Arthur and Mim had remained. Mim's attention was distracted at that moment with the owl, which still gazed unblinkingly at them. It soothed him to see Mim look just as uncomfortable with the presence of the owl..
"Sir Ector will see you, My Lord." Was the curt reply to their request. Mim nodded politely to their rudeness. Though displeased at being addressed this way, Arthur nodded politely also. They were lead across the distressed courtyard and through, what once would have been a handsome oak door.
The inside of the castle was charred here and there. It smelled mildewy and damp. Sir Ector had clearly lost all pride in his home. They were brought to an opening which clearly once had a door and announced.
"Prince Arthur and em..." The guard look flustered. "Err, guest." he finished lamely, glancing sheepishly at Mim and Arthur.
Mim and Arthur made their way to the throne-like chair which was occupied by an old, decrepit man. Mim looked around with a confused expression. Arthur understood the confusion; where was the jovial Sir Ector. A gasp from Mim brought his attention back to the dire figure in front of them.
"Sir Ector?" Mim breathed in shock. Arthur did a double take. He remembered Sir Ector and the pitiful creature in front of him was nothing like that memory. The Ector he remembered had bright blue eyes which sparkled with joy, he had been quite portly and enjoyed to laugh as much as anything else. The shrivelled looking figure had none of this. Lank silver hair fell around a skeletal face and framed dull blue eyes. This face looked like it hadn't laughed ever in its life. Arthur quickly thought about when he had last seen Sir Ector. It had only been a matter of months, he was sure; the Lords of the county had gathered at Camelot to celebrate the start of hunting season. Had all this misfortune happened to Ector in such a short span of time?
"Who are you?" a thin voice enquired, "What do you want?" Mim looked ready to burst into tears at the emotionless tone.
"I am Prince Arthur, Sir Ector." Arthur began slowly, the dull eyes glanced at him with no hint of recognition in them even though they had been partnered for a hunt. "This is Mim," Arthur gestured to Mim, a flutter of emotion crossed Ector's face, "We are here to discuss your son, Kay?" Arthur looked shrewdly at Ector; he hadn't liked the look that crossed Ector's face. Ector's features brightened at the mention of Kay.
"Kay?" he smiled serenely, "Kay is such a good boy. He caught his first deer the other day." Ector added proudly. "Only eleven years old and he caught his first deer. His mother begged him to let it go; our larder is already full and we have no need for any more meat." Arthur noticed tears streaming down Mim's face at the confuse tumble of memories that erupted from Ector. Arthur felt a well of emotion too. This was not the witty man he had known. Mim sniffed.
"Sir Ector?" she began quietly, "Do you remember me? I am Mim." The same look passed Ector's face that passed over before. "I cured the bout of sickness that engulfed you're household three years ago?"
"Witch!" Ector spat out before being engulfed in a fit of coughing. Mim flinched as if she had been struck. A flutter of wings announced the arrival of a bird through one of the broken windows. It caught Mim's attention briefly, then she stared at the floor.
"Sir Ector?" Arthur began, "Do you know you're son is trying and executing, people who he thinks are sorcerers?"
"Such a good boy..." was the weak muttered response.
Arthur and Mim continued to look at Ector with pity and concern. The slam of metal announced the arrival of Kay.
"Father," he began triumphantly; not noticing the visitors, had slammed down his sword and strutted toward his father. "I have found and burnt down that little witch Mim's house!"