A/N - Thanks to those who read, alerted, favourited and reviewed. Especially those who reviewed :)
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Chapter 1
Destiny Realized
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Arthur sighed as he walked up to Lancelot, noticing that Sir Kanan was still dozing under the tree. His life had changed drastically three years earlier, when Sir Balinor had sent him to squire for Kanan. The only bright side had been that Lancelot had come with him, both the young boys settling into a different life under the knight.
"Should we help him?" Arthur asked, coming up to stand shoulder to shoulder with his friend since childhood. "He has to be in the lists in two minutes or we forfeit."
And Arthur really didn't want to forfeit, they hadn't had a decent meal since they'd gotten to the tournament, Kanan wanting to spend his money on his armour and horse rather then his servants.
"Mmm," Lance replied, looking down at the knight.
"You should go check on him," Arthur said, giving his friend a pointed look.
"You go check on him," Lance replied, returning Arthur's look.
Kanan not only believed in not feeding his servants well, he also didn't believe in bathing.
"You're older," Arthur said.
"So, you're … his … you," Lance sighed, already digging into his pocket to pull out the plugs they put in their nose when Kanan was asleep to avoid the smell, Arthur grinning, knowing he'd won.
Watching his friend approach the knight, Arthur couldn't help but chuckle a little, stopping when Lance spoke.
"Dead," Lance called back to him, leaning over to check the knight again.
"What?" Arthur asked, feeling his stomach fall out.
Kanan was dead?
"Three scores to none after two lances," Leon said, coming up and patting Arthur on the shoulder. "All Sir Kanan needs to do is not fall off his horse and we've won."
"He's dead," Lance called back, his face showing exactly what Arthur was feeling.
"What?" Leon asked, looking between the two men. "What do you mean he's dead?"
"The spark of his life is covered in shite," Lance called back, standing up and walking over to them, pulling the plugs out of his nose in disgust. "His spirit is gone, but his stench remains."
"No," Leon said, shaking his head and moving closer, until the smell obviously reached him, stopping in his tracks. "We haven't eaten in three days."
"We know, Leon," Arthur replied, wondering how this could get any worse, his question answered as an official rode up.
"Squire," the man said, taking in the four men, an eyebrow raised. "Sir Kanan must report at once or forfeit the match."
Arthur looked at Lance, seeing the man's resolution to tell the official that Kanan was no longer alive, the thought of food and something more, something he'd been dreaming about his whole life, making him grab his friends arm, stopping the words from coming.
"He's on his way," Arthur said, ignoring the disbelieving stare that both Lance and Leon were sending his way.
"I'll … I'll ride in his place," Arthur continued, once the official had left. "Strip his armour. I'll ride in his place."
Turning, he left both of the other men, moving towards the dead knight, excitement running through him as he realized he was finally getting his chance to fulfill a dream, something he had never voiced for fear of being ridiculed, but which he had wanted his whole life.
He knew he was meant for greater things then just being a squire.
"What's your name, Arthur?" Leon asked, eyebrows raised as Lance went to help him. "I'm asking you Arthur Penn, what is your name? It's not Sir Arthur, it's not Count or Duke or Earl Arthur. It's certainly not King Arthur."
"I know, Leon," Arthur replied, glad that Lance was helping into the armour. "But do you want to eat or not?"
"If the nobles find out who you are there'll be hell to pay," Leon warned, walking over and taking the armour from Lance.
"Then pray that they don't," Arthur said, grinning as his friend helped him into the rest of the armour.
Sitting on top of the horse, Arthur couldn't help but grin, excitement coursing through his body as he heard the crowd cheering, as he stared across the field at the knight at the other end through the slit in his visor.
Arthur watched as the other knight showed that he was ready when the official called out to him.
"Sir Kanan," the official called. "Stand ye ready?"
Arthur lifted his lance, his heart starting to race, his mind focusing on the other knight and what he needed to do.
"Ready?" Leon asked nervously.
"I have tilted against Sir Kanan many times in the past," Arthur replied defensively.
"As his target," Lance muttered, eyes on the knight across from them.
Arthur bit down the angry retort he felt, knowing the two men were saying these things because they were worried.
"Just remember," Leon said. "He needs three points to win. So you just need to stay on the horse."
"I know how to score, Leon," he replied, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. He had, after all, been waiting his life for a chance like this.
The flag seemed to lower and rise in slow motion, Arthur's eyes following it, waiting for the signal to go. He spurred his horse into motion when it raised, eyes focusing intently on the other knight and his horse.
The lance seemed to have a mind of its own, wobbling all over the place and not going into the cradle. He had to take his eyes off the other man, looking down to make sure the lance went were it was supposed to, only having a second to look up before he was hit with the other knight's lance, the feel of it like a sledge hammer to his head, the helmet bending and blocking his vision.
He saw spots shining in front of his eyes, a woman's voice calling to him for a moment, before he came back to himself. Leon and Lance next to him, telling him that they'd won, that he'd stayed on the horse.
"We won?" he said, his voice barely louder then a whisper.
"And you're alive!" Lance exclaimed, the two men clearly dancing around if the sounds he could hear could be trusted.
Later, after they'd accepted their winnings, Arthur making up that the helmet was bent onto his head to excuse the fact that he hadn't removed, Arthur sat around the bonfire Leon had made, a feeling of satisfaction running through him.
This was what he was meant to do, he knew it. He'd known his whole life he was meant for more then just being a squire.
Leon and Lance were planning what to do with their winnings, both men's faces shining with happiness and excitement.
"We could do this," Arthur said, interrupting the two men, his shillings in his hand.
"We've done it, Arthur," Leon said, looking at him in confusion. "That's silver in your hand."
"No," Arthur said, standing up and moving over to where his friends were sitting. "I mean we can do this. We can be champions."
"Oh no," Lance said, looking up at him. "I knew that hit to the head was too much. You were dropped too much as a baby, Arthur, it's all catching up to you now."
"Very funny," Arthur replied, rolling his eyes. "I'm being serious. We could do this. Give us your coins."
Leaning forward, he took the coins out of the men's hands, passing back one to each men.
"So that's thirteen," he said, looking down at the coins in his hand. "Thirteen coins for training and outfitting. With thirteen silver pieces three men can change the stars, can have glory and riches. I won't spend the rest of my life as nothing."
Leon looked at him skeptically, clearly not buying in to what Arthur was saying, but Lance was looking at him with a shine in his eyes.
"No," Leon said, shaking his head. "You have to be of noble birth."
"So we lie," Lance replied before Arthur had the chance. "How did the nobles become noble in the first place? They took it. With the tip of a sword. And you know there's no one better then Arthur with a sword."
Arthur grinned at his friend, clapping him on the shoulder.
"Well?" he asked Leon.
"God love you, Arthur," Leon said shaking his head, Arthur hearing the acceptance in the other man's voice.
Laughing, he hugged the other man, his heart feeling lighter then it had since he'd left Sir Balinor's.
"Now we just have to figure out a name," Arthur said.
"And train you," Leon added, as the three men turned to stare into the fire.
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A/N - As always let me know what you thought :D