BETA: FLYAWAY213

THE GUESTS

Arthur walked down the hallway to the council room where his guests awaited. Gwen, who quickly tired of her husband's whining, left before he finished dressing and had already greeted the guests. His footsteps echoed off the cold, stone walls but, much to Arthur's surprise, he was already missing the extra footsteps that usually followed his. He was definitely going to put Merlin in the stocks for his tardiness if it made him feel this way.

The clanging of armor made it's way to Arthur's ears shortly before the appearance of the large entrance doors to the council room appeared, one of it's guards jumping from foot to foot, seeming to attempt to scratch at his skin through the tough, metal armor. Arthur almost snorted before he remembered that he could perfectly well empathize and looked to the man pithily. The guards opened the doors, the itchy one's face appearing as a tomato-a fruit that Merlin knew so closely-as he called out the king's name.

King Arthur Pendragon of Camelot walked across the red carpeted floor to his throne, head held high as he glanced at his unusual guests. His big bum set itself on the velvety surface of his throne before he finally spoke, "What do I owe the pleasure of this surprising visit?"

Two people stood tall, two others following with bowed heads and eyes downcast, were before the throne. One of the first two had dark, curly hair in a color that looked faintly like the color of Arthur's seat cushion. Her slim body was clothed in a mixture of clothes and designs almost overwhelming all in the room, excluding the four at it's center. The second had short, straight hair in a shocking bright blue, her face unnaturally pale and eyelashes longer than most women in the court wore their finger nails. Sitting in her acute hair was a large pink bow, matching her equally pink dress which reached down to her knees.

The two in the background wore black, skin tight clothing that seemed dirty and worn. There faces were both a sickly pale, their hair chopped short up to their scalp, and mouths' closed tightly, seemingly painfully. Disgust filled Arthur and only years of practice in hiding his emotions made it able for him to hide it. Unfortunately, many others in the room, along with the beautiful Gwen, could not.

With a small clearing of the throat, the blue haired woman began to speak, her voice high pitched and squeaky, "I am Sheravia and the one by my side is my dearest sister, Marvia. We have come to your precious kingdom as guests." An airy silence echoed the woman.

After much breath, Arthur spoke, "I am honored, my lady, as we all are but I must ask. Why have you come here? Our kingdoms have never been of the greatest of allies and I doubt you would travel so far for a simple visit." A shrieking laugh released from the chest of Marvia as if the question he had asked was the most obvious, "Why, it is the time of the Games, of course. It's an honor to be invited to watch, how could you not know?"

Arthur awkwardly glanced at Gwen through the corner of his eye, his jaw tense, "I know of your Games and I wish no part of it. You may stay as long as you like but I will not support your horrid entertainment." A cold look passed over the two women, their faces frozen in chilling smiles, "But you must, my dear king. To deny an invitation would be a great insult to our land."

Before Arthur could speak, a council member spoke up, "Excuse me, my Lord, but she is correct. I have heard of a land who refused their invitation and was annihilated before the Games were even completed." A shocked gasp made its way across the open room, the king looking upon the women with nervousness, "If not watching will do my kingdom harm than I shall gladly accept the invitation for your Games."

The icy smiles turned genuine once more, "We are glad. All necessities will be set up to your convenience in your court yard." The King nodded, his crowned head bobbing in up and down in consent, "Of course. Please, I shall have a servant escort you to your chambers. We were not expecting you so you will have to forgive us. And two rooms for your…servants."

"Oh, they will be needing no rooms for they are not servants. These are slaves, outlaws, escapees from the colonies who thought they could run from the Capital. They are but fools." Arthur swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing slightly, "I see. Oh, and my lady." The two women who had turned around to follow a servant to their rooms paused, "Yes, my lord?"

Arthur spoke smoothly, already knowing the answer to his next question, "And how will we be seeing this game?" The two women looked at one another before turning their heads towards the king, speaking consecutively, "Why, magic, of course.