How to become king Arthur

Chapter 10: An Explenation

The knights kept firm grips on my arms as they walked me through the woods. The world was spinning around me and I leaned heavily on them. The one to my right was carrying the bag with the head and ring in it. The two of them were almost as pale and sweaty as I was. The world was swimming before my eyes as a small town came into view.

"We need to hurry," I mumbled, "It will spoil."

"Shut up," one of the knights said nervously as he banged on a door. When did we get there? Where was I again? A women in her mid-forties answered the door.

"Mabel, we need food for this chap, now," the same knight who told me to shut up said.

"Alright Denny," she said and then paused before adding,"Who is he?" Denny let go of my arm and I crashed to the ground. The woman, Mabel hefted me to my feet and I somehow ended up slumping in a chair.

"What's that in the bag Red?" she asked. The knight slipped it behind his back.

"Nothing," he mumbled. Mabel put something down I front of me, a bowl.

"Can you hold a spoon love?" she asked. My eyes managed to make out the utensil I raised a shaking hand to reach it but I couldn't get my hand to hold it for more than a second.

She ended up feeding me, like I was a child again. Then, in the time before the soup was done and before Denny was back, I blacked out again.

~

"No," said a woman's voice, "You cannot move him, he was nearly dead when he got here and has been sleeping for over a day. He needs time to rest and recuperate." A day?

A day?!

I was up in a moment, my head spun as I stood but it only took a moment before I regained my balance. I stumbled out from behind the curtain and into the small cottage. In a moment my eyes were calculating, one door at the other side, only knife in sight was five feet away. The woman was sitting peeling potatoes and I could finally see why they called him Red. His hair was the colour of fire and was sticking in all directions. Denny was lounging in the corner but my bag was nowhere to be seen.

"Ah, he's awake," Denny said, walking over with long calculating strides. The soft thrum of adrenaline pounded through me as I prepared for a fight.

"Sit down," he offered with a wave to a chair.

"I'll stand thanks," I said, "Now, we need to get to the king."

"First tell us who you are," Denny said, crossing his arms. The women rolled her eyes at him.

"I'll tell you when we're on the road," I snapped as I looked around for the head. Denny was bigger than me, by a long shot and he must have been twenty years old. I should have been afraid of him, but all I felt was worry. Where was the head? Ring? I hadn't committed murder and nearly killed myself to have some second rank knight ruin it all.

"Give me a name," Denny commanded. He drew his sword and began to fiddle with it. My mouth opened, then closed, "Don't remember it? Lost it along with your pride?"

"My name is Arthur," I hissed.

"And where are you from?"

My eyes flickered around the room and I took a step back. I closed my fingers around the small shovel behind me. It was there to scoop out coals from the fire but I had a feeling it would play a more significant part in life that day.

"Where are you from?" Denny repeated. I looked at him for a while and wet my dry mouth.

"I am from a Saxon city," I said, "But-" I never got to finish my sentence for Denny was swinging his sword at me. I raised the small iron shovel and interjected the blow, the impact sent vibrations down my arm.