A/N - Thanks to those who read and reviewed.
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Chapter 2
The Old Warlock
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It had taken Arthur longer then he liked to get a handle on how to use a lance and how to use it well. But as he rode down the road to Ealdor, Leon and Lance walking along beside him, he couldn't help but smile.
This was going to work; he was going to finally become what he had always known he was supposed to be.
A knight.
"I think it's my turn to ride," Lance said, shifting the bag he was carrying from one shoulder to the other.
"No," Arthur replied, shaking his head. "What if another knight heading for Ealdor comes across us? What would it look like if my squire rode and I walked?"
"It would look like you're a kind master who took pity on his poor servant," Lance shot back.
"Maybe nobody should be riding," Leon said. "The horse isn't as young as it used to be."
Sighing, Arthur nodded, getting off the horse, freezing when he heard the sounds of a fight.
"Do you hear that?" he asked the other men, drawing his sword and creeping forward into the bush, where the sounds could be heard.
Crouching behind a bush, he saw three men going against one old man, two of the men holding the old man back, while the other man held a sword to his throat, demanding something from him.
Leaping forward, Arthur quickly took out the man with the sword, the other two men scampering as their comrade lay at Arthur's feet.
"Are you alright?" he asked the old man, still looking at where his sword met the throat of the attacker.
"Fine, fine," the old man replied, an odd tone to his voice.
"What were you doing?" Arthur growled down at the man on the floor, noticing the way the man was cowering, and wondering how he had had the courage to pull a sword on someone in the first place.
"Please, sir," the man said. "I just wanted food for my family."
Sighing, Arthur slowly took the sword away, not missing the way the old man was staring at him, a look of shock on his face.
"Go," he told the would-be-robber, pointing with his sword.
The robber nodded, picking up his sword and taking off in the direction that his friends had disappeared.
"That was very brave of you, sir," the old man said, his eyes shining with something that Arthur couldn't identify as he stared intently at him.
"Well, mmm," Arthur said, nodding when he noticed Lance and Leon had come to stand beside him.
"And might I know the name of my rescuer?" the old man asked, a small smile on his face.
"I'm, uh," Arthur started. "I am … Sir Arthur Penn, of … Albion. And these here are my faithful squires, Leon of Lexion and Lancelot of Crewe."
The old man looked between the three of them, the twinkle entering his eyes again, before he gave a short nod, a contemplative look in his eyes.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, my Lord," the old man said, giving a small bow, before leaning down to pick up his bag.
"And may I ask where you're all headed this fine day?" the man asked, eyes straying to Arthur every now and then,
"Ealdor," Lance replied.
"To the tournament, I assume?" the man asked.
"Yes," Lance replied.
"Well, I hope you remembered your patents, my Lord," the man said, looking Arthur in the eye. "They're limiting the field at Ealdor. Noble birth must be established for four generations on either side."
Arthur froze; all his plans and hopes being dashed by the old man who stood in front of them. They didn't have any patents, and they had no idea where to go to get one's that would be good enough to fool the officials.
"Of course," the old man continued. "If you have … misplaced them, I could certainly be of assistance."
"Really?" Arthur asked, eyes narrowed as he took in the man's amused face, as he reached into his satchel, taking out a stack of papers and holding them out to Arthur.
Taking them cautiously, Arthur looked down at them, eyes quickly scanning the words, grateful that Balinor had made him learn to read and write as well as ride a horse and fight with a sword.
He froze again.
"These are patents," he said, looking up at the old man, handing the papers over to Lance and Leon.
"They are indeed," the old man said.
"But … they're my patents," Arthur said, confusion running through him.
Was there already a knight called Sir Arthur of Albion?
"The man wasn't robbing me for my money, my Lord," the old man said, his eyes turning a golden colour as he held his hand out, vegetables popping up where his hand was pointing.
"You're a warlock," Arthur said, looking up at the man in awe.
He'd heard about warlocks and witches, but they were incredibly rare, with only a few living now, either living in the King's palace or with great Lords and Ladies.
"My name's Gaius," the old man, Gaius, said a soft smile on his face.
Shaking his head, Arthur looked from the papers to the man, confusion running through him.
"Why would you help me?" he asked.
"Because you have a destiny, Arthur," Gaius replied. "And a piece of paper shouldn't stop that."
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A/N - So Merlin was originally meant to be in this chapter, but it got pushed back, I promise he will be in the next one. As always let me know what you thought :D