Arthur scrambled up. The pain eased, but somehow he knew that it wasn't over yet. The black stepped closer when the white moved away.
"I ask you, Arthur Pendragon, what kind of king you are going to be?"
Arthur opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to answer. He shook his head.
"I can't say…"
And pain was there again. Arthur screamed and screamed like there was fire inside of him.
The memories of his father flowed in his mind.
Like your father…
Father's son…
You walk your father's path.
"How you dare oppose me? I'm your king!"
"But father…"
"Silence!"
Then again…
"I love you Guinevere, don't die, please, don't die. I do anything."
"Do you really love her?"
"I'm going to do everything for her. I love her."
"For a servant girl you are going to risk everything."
"She may be a servant, but she has the same right to live as the rest of us."
…
"You said those words Arthur."
"Merlin!"
"Go away Arthur, please. You make your choice. I trusted you. I trusted you that you may be the king who we are waited so long. I believed you to be him who will bring peace over the Albion. But I was wrong."
"No Merlin. I can be that king. I can bring the time of peace over the Albion. I will be the Once and Future King. Because once you believed me." Arthur felt the tears on his face.
The pain and the sorrow were overwhelming.
The black sighed.
"So sure you are Arthur Pendragon. Maybe we will see are your right. I accept your answer."
And the pain was gone, but the sorrow remained in Arthur's heart.