Thought I'd upload chapter two while I was at it. I'm wondering if people will like this though. I don't really have a plan like I have with other stories for this one, just a vague idea where I want to go, so it would be nice to know what people think, please? Personally I like the idea, which I suppose is a decent enough reason to keep going, that and I like the idea of the Akatsuki dressed as knights. :)
Disclaimer:I don't own Naruto, the Akatsuki, or Camelot,
The evening feast was in full swing. The king was finally happy, there was nothing like a grand feast to help him forget the day's troubles. After the farce of the jousting tournament, the knights had all been separated into their two man teams and seated at separate tables.
He began to munch on a particularly succulent chicken leg, and watched the three teams keenly. After all the fuss he'd declared the wizard the winner of the tournament, seeing as he was the only body able to step in and stop their brawling. As usual, said wizard was seated to his right now, and the queen was to his left.
The jester was sat at his own table, a low thing, placed directly in front of the main table. He'd asked the wizard once why he had to sit like this, only to be shushed and told to be a good boy. Wanting to please he'd shut up and taken his comically undersized seat.
Directly across from the king's table was that of the black and green knight. They were seated next to each other, much to the green knight's disgust. The black knight was engaged in an embarrassing conversation with one of the ladies seated with them. His language was appalling, and Kakuzu despised its use in front of the females. Every now and then he would try to say something about it, only to be met with a tirade of abuse. Hidan merely speculated that Kakuzu was jealous of his success with the ladies, after all, the green knight was the oldest at the courts, and bore many horrific battle scars.
The yellow and purple knights occupied the table to the king's left. They'd been seated with the many artisans of the king's court, and were currently flourishing in this environment. The pair of them were avid collectors and creators of art themselves, and wasted no opportunity to discuss it with others. Of course, they were now engaged in one of their typical arguments on the subject. The yellow knight defending against tapestry workers, while the purple knight claimed it was the sport of young females and therefore his partner was well suited to the task.
The king ignored that, he knew it wouldn't turn into a fight on such a scale as the one earlier. They were all used to the little spats between the yellow and purple knight. He instead regarded the final table, the one to the right. It had been a good idea to seat his guests from the neighbouring kingdom with the blue and red knight. The pair were acting as perfect gentlemen. Although, he did wish the red knight was a little more animated. Surely he noticed all those women swooning over him, could he not at least dignify them with a smile? The blue knight roared with laughter at a joke one of the other nobles had told him, clapping the man on the back roughly.
"I told you it would be alright," spoke a soft voice next to him. He turned to the queen. She was daintily picking at some fruit, eating tiny morsels every now and then. He nodded. She was often right. He often wondered how the woman managed to put up with the knights, wizard and jester and still remain such a calm personality. He was glad that she did though, the rest of them drove him crazy.
The king was brought out of his thoughts as the doors to the great hall burst open with an echoing boom. Everybody eating stopped and stared at the young boy who came running in.
"Sire sire! I bring news from the lake. 'Tis an emergency sire!" the boy panted, jogging over to the king with a scroll. The king took the proffered item from the boy and handed him some food. Waving the young squire away he broke the wax seal on the parchment and unrolled it.
The queen scanned the document over his shoulder and turned to the squire.
"The lake is a good day's ride away for an experienced rider child, have you come all that way?" she scrutinised.
"No your highness, I live in the village, one of the master's birds brought this in just now," the boy bowed his head, overwhelmed with awe at speaking to the queen.
Deidara and Sasori had stood and made their way over from their table. The squire was one from their house in the village, and Deidara had heard mention of his birds. Likewise at hearing there was trouble on the lake Kisame had made his way over, he originated from the waterside and was concerned.
"Brat, how could one of your birds carry this message?" Sasori asked, "You told me they were all secured before we left for the tournament,"
Deidara shrugged, "I don't know, you know what the lady is like, perhaps it was her doing, un" he answered his partner before turning to the messenger. "which bird brought this in?"
"'Twas the goshawk sir, Iwa," the boy replied dutifully. Deidara nodded, happy with this answer.
"The message is definitely from the lake Sasori," the king told the purple knight. Sasori nodded in acceptance at this, but did not reply. Kisame took his turn to speak.
"What does it say? What has happened at the lake?"
"Calm yourself Kisame," the queen put a hand on his shoulder, "we have just received a call for aid from the lady, we do not know what has occurred,"
"Men," the king turned to the entire hall and raised his voice, "prepare your horses and equipment, we ride to the lake in one hour,"
There was a flurry of activity as those present began to prepare themselves for the quest to the lake. Hidan, the black knight, practically leapt from his chair, and dashed outside to ready his steed. The green knight followed him, grumbling as he went. The other knights followed the pair to the stables, and mounted their own horses. They all had their own homes within the village and would need to visit them in order to gather their equipment.
The queen scurried after the knights, halting the yellow and purple before they could leave the gates. She had something in her hands.
"Sir knight, please ensure this message is returned to the lady? It will inform her that we are coming to her aid," the queen handed Sasori a scrap if parchment. The purple knight nodded his head, while his partner reached over him.
"of course we will send it my queen, un" he stated with a flourish, winking at her as he did so. The queen giggled at the knight, who'd earned himself a smack around the head from his partner.
"cut that out you brat, the queen doesn't need you fooling around like that now," scowled Sasori. The pair began to ride off, starting up their arguing.
"Which bird are you sending anyway?"
"I was thinking about Hiruko, he's our fastest,"
"No way, Hiruko is my hawk,"
"Aww, but master!"
The queen could hear them bickering as they crossed the drawbridge and vanished down the dust track to the village.
Following close behind them went the red and the blue knight. Their own conversation was much less subdued. Itachi gently leading his horse to go side by side with his partner before speaking.
"Kisame, will you be alright at the lake?" he was concerned.
"I'll be fine Itachi. Let's just head home and prepare alright?" the blue knight responded. Itachi silently acknowledged the answer and the pair trotted onwards in silence. The queen paced the courtyard and watched as each of the knights rode down the hill that lead to the castle. She could make out the colours of each knight even in the dark and watched as each one snaked its way through the streets to their homes. The king arrived at her side, and place and arm around her resting his hand on her hip. Neither turned away until the shape of a bird took off from the outermost house in the village. Seeing this they made their way back indoors.
The queen looked at her king's attire, and noticed the weapon he had chosen.
"Excalibur my lord?"
"The lady would be offended if we showed up without it," he answered bluntly. The pair walked through the castle back to the great hall. The wizard and the jester were waiting patiently for them, the jester still squashed into his tiny chair.
"Tobi get out of that thing, you don't always have to keep up the act," the king told the orange clad one.
"Sorry your majesty, Tobi just wanted to be-"
"Yes a good boy, we know," the king was visibly annoyed with something. He began to discuss a plan for the journey with the wizard and the queen turned away. She headed to her room in a hurry to gather her own belongings. After seeing the king this way she'd decided, she'd be going on the journey to the lake as well.