Watched the Disney movie, "Sword in the Stone" and hated the way they showed Arthur's life as a child So, I wrote my own. Warning for mentions of historically appropriate physical discipline.

Kingsword

Son of the Dragon, of Night and the Slaughter -Heather Dale

It was hard being newly knighted young lord sometimes. One had the damsels in distress, the monsters, the warlords, and all of that battle. But one also had a squire who following at his heels who needed guidance to evolve from a frightened boy into a man.

Kai's new squire was his young foster brother, Arthur. The child was a good sort, but he caused trouble wherever he went. It was so lucky he was so lovable.

Kai remembered when Father had brought him home from his journey. It was the night before his eighth birthday. Instead of a puppy as Kai had hoped, it was a new infant "He's a distant relative's son," he explained, looking quite nervous. "We must find him a wetnurse."

Mother hadn't been too pleased. "A distant relation?" she asked, looking up sharply. Her green eyes blazed with fury. "I never imagined you would…"

"It's not what you think, Enide, my heart," Father said, looking quite nervous. "Please, let me explain."

Mother looked like an angry cat. "I suppose the baby just magically appeared."

"Well…no, but there is a reasonable explanation," Father said, looking like a frightened mouse. "Please, at least hear me before you pass judgment."

"I look forward to this," Mother said, her usually genial demeanor terrifying.

"Kai, my good boy, go to your room. Your mother and I must speak," Father said, ruffling his hair.

"Can't I listen?" Kai pleaded. Something was happening and he needed to know.

"Steward Hugh, conduct the little lord to bed," Mother said coldly. "We definitely must speak."

The steward picked up Kai and returned him to the nursery. "Now, be a good boy," he said, before closing the door.

Kai had strongly considered being a good boy and waiting in his room.

He just decided to choose a different path of sneaking out and trying to listen in at the top of the stairs was a good idea. He heard a few whispered words, but it was too low to make it out. He would have to creep closer. As he did, he felt a hand grasp his shoulder. Steward Hugh looked furious. "I came with warmed milk and a biscuit as a treat for the birthday boy before bed," he snapped. When he noticed the empty bed, he went searching.

Instead, Kai was taken back to bed by the ear without information, warm milk, or the biscuit. He had fallen asleep quite annoyed with the world.

When Father came into the nursery the next day, he had been quite disappointed with Kai. "You must learn to obey orders, my son. Someday, your life could depend on it," he had said. "You have a new little foster brother who will follow your example. You're going to be eight, old enough to be a squire. Someday, you will be a lord."

"I'm sorry, Father." Kai knew that expression. He was in a great deal of trouble.

"I'm sorry too that I'll have to welcome you to your eighth year with a very hard lesson," Father had said, and took the boy over his knee. He yanked down his hose. Kaihad pleaded for mercy but was ignored. "Don't reach back, or I'll start over," was all Father would say, before bringing a stinging hand down on Kai's backside.

Kai howled in misery as Father continued smacking. It wasn't the hardest thrashing he had ever gotten, but the first is always memorable. Although Father insisted it had been sixteen slaps, plus three swipes of Father's belt, Kai was sure it had been a thousand.

Father had even made him stand in the corner, with his blazing bottom on display, hands on his head. "If you rub, you won't like it."

When he thought Father's back was turned, Kai did rub. Father did notice and Kaimost certainly didn't like being bent over a knee and given an additional ten (Kai still maintained it was a hundred) slaps of his father's palm. "You only have yourself to blame," Father had said as Kai pleaded for mercy.

After another stint in the corner, Kai was finally allowed to redress and meet his new foster brother. Mother seemed to have warmed up to him considerably. Warming up had been the mission of the day since his bottom felt scalded. "You must promise to love and care for him," she had urged. "He will look to you as an example."

With such an introduction, Kai should have hated Arthur, but that had been impossible. He was such a dear little thing, sweet and impossible not to cuddle. Everyone doted on him as he grew and turned into an angelic little moppet with long golden hair, big blue eyes, and a winsome smile. He charmed the cooks out of tarts, he coaxed Mother to sneak him biscuits, and he even convinced Kai into piggyback rides around the castle. No one could mistake them for blood brothers, Kai had black hair and green eyes, after all. It didn't matter. Arthur was his brother in all ways that mattered and Kai would fight anyone who disagreed.

Even normally stern Father had a soft spot for him, although he had no problem giving the fosterling a few sharp swipes on the backside when Arthur was not following orders. Arthur always howled at his punishments, even though they were more flicks than smacks.

Being older did not always have advantages. When Kai misbehaved, he had to offer up his poor backside to Father's belt, a most welcome meeting.

When Arthur got older, He began following Kai around, Kai still loved him, but sometimes fantasized about throwing him into the millpond for a cold ducking. Arthur was a clumsy little fellow, with much curiosity and little forethought. A good heart, to be sure, but wrapped in a bundle of boyish foolishness. He knocked over arrow cases, tripped over books, and always had his head in the clouds. Still, a single smile and Kai forgave him.

Now, Arthur was eight and had become his squire. Poor boy had a lot to learn and Kai resolved to make sure he did. Of course, it wasn't enough to teach. A knight had to punish his squire for mistakes. The teaching was hard, but the disciplining felt terrible.

It had been only a year ago that he had been a squire to Father. He had been under the constant threat of the belt. He comforted himself that he hadn't been such a daydreamer, but he didn't ask for confirmation. He didn't want the answer.

Of course, all those thoughts stopped mattering the day Arthur disappeared.

Next Chapter: Arthur and the Faeries