How to become king Arthur

Chapter 13 Upside Down Savior

Five Years Later

"Come on Arthur," Kay sneered from a top his horse, "Just try it."

Snickers rose up from the group of knights around me. They were no noble knights though, veterans of any great wars, simple 20 year old spoiled brats born into nobility. To be honest, they weren't even the most skilled with a blade or on a horse. They just liked the idea of battle, of valour and of risking their lives, but would wet themselves at the slightest sign of danger. Though it sure made them seem impressive when they visited brothels.

Not all the knights there were like that, but my foster brother and his clique, as sure as stone were. I sighed, left without much choice. If I didn't attack, Kay would convince his father I had done some great evil and would have me without food for a week. If I did attack and beat him, as I easily could, the outcome would be even worse.

So I reached up and lay a hand on his arm he jumped down on top of me and placed two hands on my neck. I lay in the dirt as he laughed, rubbing my face into the ground.

'So this is me great destiny eh Merlin?' I wondered as laughter rose up around me.

"Come on Arthur, you didn't even try," Kay protested, "Lets do it again, and you give it your best shot alright?" He patted my head as we stood making me scowl.

"My best shot?" I clarified with narrowed eyes.

"Is that not what I said? Did I not make myself clear?" Kay mocked as he mounted.

"Alright," I mumbled.

I placed my hand on his arm again and he jumped just like before. That time though, I did give it my best shot. I kept my hand on his shoulder as he jumped and I took a step back. He landed hard on the ground. I yanked him to his feet and slammed my knee up into his stomach over and over until he rammed me into the ground. I used his momentum and weight to propel him over top of me before I stood, grabbed his sword and pressed it to his throat in one smooth motion.

"Good enough for you?" I snarled. His face was red before he started laughing, as if him getting beaten by his squire was part of the plan.

"You're getting better Arthur, but you mustn't think that I didn't let you do this," he chuckled, "One must let their squire win every once and a while. Now give me my sword back."

I tossed it up, caught it and handed it to him by its hilt. He grabbed it and stood before sticking my head under his arm. I flipped him without thinking, like one swats a mosquito when it bites you.

"That's the last straw Wart!" he bellowed. And I ran, knowing better than to stick around.

It brought me back to the days when I ran from Wessex, but back then I was much smaller and had a much larger head start. This happened every once and a while, I would push Kay too far and would end up hanging upside down from a tree in the middle of the woods. Usually he would come back for me sometime in the night when Ector asked why I hadn't come in yet. Occasionally I would have better luck.

"How do you always manage to do this?" a voice asked from behind me. I grunted and twisted up in attempts to loosen the knots around my ankle. I heard her dismount and the blonde came into view to pull the gag out of my mouth.

"How are you today Guinevere?" I asked conversationally. She chuckled and shook her head before crossing her arms.

"Maybe I should just leave you there for a little but longer," she teased.

"That's a Kay kind of mind set. You're above this," I protested.

"Actually you're above this," she said with a wink. I huffed, but knew that she wouldn't let me down until I asked. Guin thought I needed to work on humility by asking for help more. I simply didn't like having to depend on others, was it really so bad to be independent? Apparently.