Arthur made his way up the hill which overlooked a beautiful lake. He always wanted to get closer to it. Since he was young he felt a calling to it and to that isle in the middle of it. He knows what's out there. His father made sure to drill it into his head that under no circumstances was he supposed to go further than this hill. No further from this exact spot he's standing on.

"Son. This is the border do you know what that means?"

"That from this point we are no longer in Camelot?"

"Well, yes. But more importantly it means that you are alone. Defenseless. No matter how strong you are or what craft you master you will be dead past this point."

"Why? You have taken me out of Camelot before. We went to Northumbia just two summers ago to celebrate the anniversary of Lord Eldred's youngest son."

The king smiled slightly before kneeling down to look at his only son and heir. "That was different. Lord Eldred is an ally to our Kingdom and has been for several years."

"What if we make an alliance with whatever king or lord lives at the isle?"

Uther blinked before turning to look at the isle. "There has never been an alliance with those barbarians and there never will be. We have unspoken agreements, but that is as far as our diplomacy will go."

"But why? Shouldn't we want peace?"

"We do with other kingdoms. You must learn Arthur. One day you will be king, and peace will not be an option. I don't just mean with the Isle but with other kingdoms diplomacy can only go so far and there are several kings that prefer war?"

"Why."

"You ask a lot of questions."

"I want to know everything you know, father. I want to be a great king like you."

"And you will be. It is in your blood."

"So why can't we go past the border and make peace and why do people prefer war?"

"I'll let Geoffrey answer that he is your tutor after all."

"Okay. So, what are we doing next I want to go horseback riding and you promised you were going to teach me to use a bow and…"

"Sire." Interrupts one of the King's knights.

"Yes."

"Gaius asks for your presence right away."

"Dad you said-"

"Arthur be quiet. Now go tell Gaius I'll see him when I return. I specifically told the staff that I would be spending the day with the Prince today."

"Yes of course, but Sire it's the queen. She has fallen ill."

Arthur wiped a tear from his face as he sat and stared at the isle. He didn't learn to use a bow that day. Nor did his father teach him. Instead Sir Leon one of the older squires and his best friend taught him. His mother's illness was tougher than any of them realized and at the age of seven Prince Arthur Pendragon lost his mother and the kindness of his father.

He knew nothing, but duty from that day. Training was no longer fun, just a skill he had to hone. He mastered a sword, a lance, a bow staff, a cross bow, a mace, a bow and arrow, horse riding, tracking, hunting. As well as excelled in academia. He learned history and politics. Studied math's. Became fluent in German, French, English, and Latin. Yet, nothing he mastered was ever good enough for his father's attention.

Now today was supposed to be his coronation. He was supposed to be King today. He never felt more unprepared for anything in his life. He's twenty as old as his father was when he first became King. Yet, today he had no guidance. He always thought his father would be there for him. Sure, he would be distant, but he knew deep down his father cared for him and now his father was dead as well.

"WHY! How is this fair!" Arthur yelled out. He found a rock and kicked it watching as it rolled down the hill. It wasn't enough. He grabbed at another rock pulled his arm as far back as he could before throwing the rock forward. He didn't expect to hear it land he was far too up for that yet the loud THUNK and distant 'oww' was unmistakable.

Arthur crouched down onto his stomach and turned to look down the hill. He saw a figure in the distance getting off a small dingy and walking towards land.

A barbarian. What was he doing so close to the border? His father said they were never supposed to leave the Isle?

Slowly crawling backwards, he made it a certain point before he rose and ran back down the other side of the hill till he reached his horse and took it to a quick gallop in the direction of Camelot.