Camelot
November, 507 AD
Kilgharrah did manage to locate the people who escaped the attack on Camelot and we were pleased to find that it was a large crowd, and that they weren't camping too far away from where we left Arthur, Tristan and Isolde. The great dragon let us down onto the forest once more in the very early hours of the morning and we hiked all the way to where we'd spotted the makeshift settlement.
"Show yourselves!" commanded a harsh deep voice that emerged from the shadows.
I started and drew my bow as I turned around, only for the tip of the arrow to collide with a sword. A huge grin formed on my face when I saw who my attacker was and I instantly lowered my weapon, as did he.
"Is that any way to treat the future queen, Percival?" Merlin asked him teasingly.
"Merlin and the Little Menace," the tall blond acknowledged before pulling us both into a hug, his big muscular arms having no trouble embracing two people at the same time.
Another set of footsteps was heard as Percival let us go and we turned to find Leon. A huge smile of disbelief formed on his lips.
"Hi, buddy!" I greeted before jumping to hug him as well.
A third figure came out of hiding and, before I could even process what was happening, Merlin was running towards it. My eyes widened as he and Gwen collided against each other and kissed! Then I shared a surprised look with my fellow knights.
"Get some, bro!" I cheered once the pair pulled apart, both of them blushing furiously.
"Shut up, Astra," Merlin grumbled while the girl looked away with a shy smile. I chuckled at them, excited by the prospect of all of us becoming a family, and I went to give Gwen a hug.
Leon grabbed my arm when I separated from the girl and I turned to him to find a heavy expression upon his face, his brow furrowed as he searched my gaze. "Where is Arthur? Is he..." He trailed off and gave me a sad knowing look as trouble filled his eyes.
"What? Dead? Nah. The sleepin' beauty's sleepin'," I quickly responded. He sighed in relief. "We need y'all's help, though," I added while exchanging a weary look with Merlin.
"Why? Is he all right?" Gwen asked as her face turned concerned.
My brother let out a sad sigh before explaining briefly, "He has lost all confidence and does not believe he is fit to be king anymore."
"We figured out a way to set his brain straight, but we need an eager crowd to watch," I continued.
"Which is why we need you and all of these people," Merlin finished.
Percival, Leon and Gwen exchanged some glances before returning their collective attention to us. "All right. What shall we do?" Leon inquired.
Merlin and I quickly explained the plan (with a few twists to the truth we know), and our friends seemed excited by the idea, more than eager to do their part.
"You can count on us," Leon affirmed with a grin.
"We must hasten back to Arthur, then," Merlin told me. I nodded in agreement. He turned back towards our friends and said, "We will meet you there as soon as we can."
I tilted my head as I watched Percival and Leon share a small smirk. "We have something that might make your journey easier," the former stated, then he winked at me when I frowned.
Did they find a magic carpet, or something?
The two knights and Gwen led us through the woods and we waved to a few of the people who stopped to stare; ignoring the hushed whispers they exchanged as they eyed us in a manner I couldn't decipher. They're probably just surprised to see us and wondering about the King.
My jaw dropped when I looked past some trees at a corded-off section of the forest. What stood before me certainly isn't a magic carpet. It is three-thousand-million-trillion times better!
"Dallas!" I exclaimed as I took off sprinting towards the Thoroughbred, whose ears perked up when he heard me, and he trotted up to me, a spring in his strides as he nickered. "You're really here, I can't believe it!" I mumbled into his mane as I hugged him tightly, breathing in his horse-y scent.
I turned my head, still resting it against his neck, to look at my friends and ask, "Where did you find 'em?"
"We did not. They found us," Leon responded.
A big smile grew on my lips when Cinderella, Shakespeare and Tequila approached me as well, and I giggled when the mare rubbed her head against my side, causing me to stumble against Dallas and I steadied myself by putting a hand on his shoulder.
My eyes travelled to look at Tolkien, then Santo, Falcon, and Gaius's mule. I let out a sigh of big relief when I found that all eight equines appeared to be in good shape. They were only slightly muddy.
"Thank you so much, guys," I told my friends.
"It is our duty to serve you, your majesty," Percival replied with a goofy grin.
I pointed a menacing finger at him. "Don't call me that. I'm gonna make it illegal to call me that if we survive all this."
"When we survive this," Gwen promptly corrected.
"I like your optimism," I told her with a wink.
Merlin cleared his throat and I turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "We should get going. It won't be long before Arthur wakes up," he said.
Ah, right. That's what we're supposed to be doing instead of petting horses. I thought something was off.
I hopped off Dallas and left him to graze beside Falcon and Tequila as Merlin and I approached a still sleeping Arthur. The burden he's carrying was visible even as he slept; his brow slightly furrowed, his jaw clenched, and his breathing slightly laboured. Part of me wishes we could let him sleep and fix everything on our own so that he'll be smiley again when he wakes up. But... we can't... so...
"Well, he kicked you multiple times the other day, so I think it's only fair," I noted in a whisper as we stood above the sleeping beauty. I mean, the King.
Merlin snorted. "I am not going to kick him awake, Astra."
"You're no fun," I mumbled as I pouted.
Instead, he crouched down and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Arthur's eyes instantly shot open and he seemed disoriented for a few moments as he blinked rapidly before his gaze settled on me.
"Morning, sunshine!" I said with a cheeky grin.
Arthur frowned as he sleepily asked, "What is going on?"
"There's something we need to show you," Merlin responded and he walked back to the horses without another word.
With a clearly annoyed huff, the King stood up and grabbed his sword, which had been lying on the ground beside him. Then he moved presumably to hug me, but he paused as his eyes landed on something behind me – the horses, I assume – and his lips parted.
"Ah, yeah. We found the horses," I stated the obvious and reached up to kiss the side of his jaw before skipping over to Dallas and wrapping my arms around his neck again.
Arthur eyed Merlin and I sceptically as he walked up to us. "This had better be good, because this really is not the time for one of your games," he grumbled groggily.
My brother and I shared a glance and rolled our eyes at the same time before mounting our horses, then I motioned for Arthur to do the same. He raised an eyebrow as he stared at Tequila.
"What's wrong?" I inquired.
"There is no saddle, no reins…" he protested.
"Dude, they're perfectly safe," I assured him with a snort. "I trained them."
He let out a sigh and lazily climbed onto his horse.
"Astra and I were talking about last night and how you were saying how you had given up all hope, how you were a poor leader and a shoddy king..." Merlin began as we started to walk.
Arthur's eyes darted between us. "Shoddy?" he echoed with an offended look.
"All right, shabby," my brother corrected while sending me a small amused grin.
"Thanks," the King mumbled sarcastically.
"Whatever, vocabulary's not the point here," I pointed out.
"Right. Well, I was reminded of a tale Gaius once told me," Merlin continued.
Arthur tilted his head backwards and rolled his eyes. "Merlin – I am really not interested in your favourite bedtime stories."
My brother stopped Falcon with a soft 'woah' and he turned his head to look at the King, quirking an eyebrow as he requested, "For once in your life, just listen."
"Yeah, we're tryin' to help ya'," I threw in as I narrowed my eyes at Arthur.
He raised his hands in mock surrender and allowed Merlin to continue speaking.
"Many years ago, before the birth of the five kingdoms, this land was in an endless cycle of bloodshed and war, but one man was determined to end all that," my brother recounted as we asked our horses to keep walking. "He gathered together the elders of each tribe and drew up plans for the lands to be divided. Each would respect the others' boundaries, and rule over the land as they saw fit. That man was Camelot's first king, ancestor to all that followed, including you, Arthur."
The King seemed to grow more and more bored with each word as his eyes darted around to look at the balding forest. "Bruta," he stated.
"You know the story," Merlin realised.
"Yes, every child in Camelot does," Arthur responded with another eye-roll. "Can I go back to bed now?"
"No, 'cause there's more to the story and we bet you haven't heard it," I shot back.
"Really?" he responded disinterestedly.
My brother and I shared an annoyed look, then we exchanged a smirk. Here comes our made up story!
"When Bruta was on his deathbed, he asked to be taken deep into the forest," Merlin kept going.
"And he used his last remaining brutal strength," I paused to chuckle at the intentional pun, "to push his really cool sword into a rock."
"If his lineage was ever questioned, this would form a test – only a true king of Camelot could pull the weapon free," my brother completed.
Arthur moved Tequila in front of Dallas and Falcon and he stopped him sideways as he gave us a sceptical look. However, there was a glint of hope in his eyes that told me that maybe we will really be able to get away with this stunt. "Are you two making this up?" he questioned.
"No," I quickly said.
Merlin and I glanced at each other and nudged our horses forwards so that he wouldn't see our faces and figure out that we are, indeed, making this up. "Of course not," my brother echoed as he took the lead again.
"All right. If it is true, why have I not heard this story?" Arthur interrogated.
"Well, history isn't really your strong point, is it?" Merlin sassed.
"And where is this rock?"
"Oh, it was lost many years ago during the Great Purge," my brother answered.
"But we found it during one of our magical-herb-collecting trips," I threw in with a smirk.
"Medicinal," Merlin muttered under his breath. I waved him off.
Arthur stopped Tequila again and his eyes darted between us once more, probably questioning our sanity. Then he scoffed. "I have never heard so much rubbish in my entire life."
"Are you calling Gaius a liar?" my brother inquired.
"No, I am calling you two gullible," the King shot back.
It was my turn to scoff as I turned to my brother with a scowl. This is what we get for trying to help! He gave me a soft reassuring smile and pushed Falcon a couple of more metres forwards, getting past a thick barrier of trees. I got Dallas to follow and we finally arrived at the clearing that holds the mystical sword in the stone. A big grin formed on my lips at the breath-taking sight of it. The pictures we took a bit over a year ago don't do it justice!
"What is this, then?" Merlin called out to Arthur, who'd hung back.
The King and his horse appeared on the scene and he seemed stunned when his eyes landed on the weapon.
The sword shone with golden sparks under the cool November sun, which almost-supernaturally bathed it in its light.
Oh, dear! I'm really here, aren't I?! I'm gonna witness this iconic historical moment! In first row! And I kinda helped to make it happen!
Merlin and I shared a smile and hopped off our horses, then we moved closer to the rock on foot and I motioned for Arthur to follow us.
"Behold!" I chirped as I pointed at the inscription I made Merlin carve onto the rock with magic. When I asked him to do it, it was only meant to be a joke from me to myself. As it turns out – it now helps to back up the story we told Arthur!
'Whosoever holds this sword, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of King of Camelot.'
Just as planned, Percival, Leon, Gwen, some other knights, and the civilian survivors from the attack on the castle began to step out from their hiding places among the wilderness. Most of them, if not all, sported hopeful looks as they came face-to-face with their King, eyes widening in wonder. My heart swelled with pride at the sight and I linked an arm with Arthur's as I grinned up at him. It's plain to see that the people's confidence and trust in him hasn't wavered despite his own feelings; and I pray that he can see it, too.
"What the hell are you two playing at?" Arthur asked in a whisper as he turned his back to the people to face my brother and I.
"We are proving that you are their leader and their king," Merlin responded.
"That sword is stuck fast in solid stone," the King pointed out, a semi-horrified look on his face.
"Yup," I said.
"And you are going to pull it out," Merlin told him with a smirk.
"Astra, Merlin – it is impossible."
"Arthur – you are the true king of Camelot," my brother said sternly.
The King turned his head to gaze over the sea of people that had amassed around us, then he turned back to us with a bewildered expression. "Do you want me to look like a fool?!"
"The opposite, actually," I responded.
"We are going to make you see that Tristan is wrong," Merlin continued.
I grabbed Arthur's hand. "You're special, Artie. A thousand centuries won't create another one like you."
"You and you alone can draw out that sword," my brother stated.
The scleras of Arthur's eyes reddened slightly as he looked between the sword and us for a few moments. Then he released a shaky exhale and hesitated before taking one step towards the rock. I kissed the back of his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze before letting it go.
"You two had better be right about this," he mumbled as he stuck his normal sword on the ground before taking another step towards the stone. Then another one, and another one, and another one, until he was standing right in front of the legendary piece.
I shifted closer to Merlin and grabbed his arm, feeling my heart racing with anticipation as the King stared down at Excalibur.
Arthur took another gaze at the crowd before slowly placing both of his hands on the hilt of the sword. Then he started to pull, his shoulders tensing up as his arms took on the effort. It didn't budge, but I'm not worried. I know that Merlin has to make it dramatic, or it won't have the same effect.
"You have to believe, Arthur," my brother reminded him.
He started to breathe heavily as he continued to struggle against the magically stuck sword.
Merlin glanced down at me and we shared a nod before he spoke again, "You are destined to be Albion's greatest king." Arthur let go of the sword and took a step backwards, seemingly analysing the situation once more. "Nothing, not even this stone, can stand in your way."
He glanced back at us and I noticed that he looked absolutely terrified. I guess he really does believe the story and he wants to prove to the people that he can do it.
"You've got this, Artie," I encouraged him with a small smile.
"Have faith," Merlin said.
Arthur nodded and returned his attention to the weapon. He closed a single hand around it again and gripped it firmly before taking a deep breath. He held on for a few moments, then he started pulling on it once more, this time much more steadily and confidently.
Sparks jumped out of the tight hole in the stone as the blade made friction with it. A faint golden glow surrounded it as it finally left its confinement.
I wrapped my arms around my brother's torso as happy tears began to leak from my eyes, my heart racing from the thrill. He returned the embrace, a breathless chuckle leaving him, and we watched as Arthur proudly held Excalibur in the air while staring up at it. The sun shone down on the pair in a divine manner, asserting his position as King beyond doubt.
Hollywood could never replicate this.
"Long live the king!" Leon shouted with a proud smile, and a collective chant of the same words began to echo through the forest, a wave of joy being shared amongst the people. And why wouldn't they be happy? After all, they have their King back and he's primed to take back his kingdom now that he believes again!
"Are we geniuses, or what?" I whispered to my brother as we shared a big proud smile.