How to become king Arthur

Chapter 16: Hoodwink

Once a rider had been sent to find the great wizard known as Merlin, Remus, the advisor had me sent to bed. Not that in my condition I would object. When I got there I saw a bed with a thick duvet, a crackling fire place and a new set of dry clothes. I stumbled forward and put them on, wishing also for a new stretch of fabric for my chest. Having wet cloth tied tirelessly to your skin made it rather itchy.

I walked over to a vase of flowers and dumped them out the window before resting the empty glass container by my bed in case I grew ill. Then I crawled under the thick duvet, feeling overwhelmingly comforted by the heavy feather blankets and soothing mattress. I quickly fell into a dreamless sleep, waking up only when a maid dropped off some soup and water and also when my stomach insisted.

I slept for a long time, before I was gently awoken by the sent of elmwood bark smoke. It was a very expensive bark to smoke. It smelled much better, however, than the smoke from the fire wood as it was softer and sweeter. Slowly, my eyes flickered open and I found myself looking at Merlin. He was smoking on a long dark pipe, looking at the fire with an intensity I wasn't sure I wanted to diverge to me. Though I couldn't very well lie there, or fall back asleep, so I sat up and stretched.

"Hello Merlin," I greeted. The man turned and faced me, eyes dark and serious.

"Ara! Are you feeling better?" he asked. I cringed slightly at the use of my name but nodded. I was feeling surprisingly better, "Good, you've been sleeping for long enough."

"How long have I been under?" I asked as Merlin turned his stool to face me instead of the hearth.

"You slept through the day of the tournament, the night and it is nearly sunset the next day. However, this does not matter, we have a plan to derive," Merlin smiled. I frowned.

"Merlin," I said, "I'm a little confused about what exactly happened yesterday. Remus was saying something about being a King and the lost line of Pendragon."

"Yes Ara, that is correct," Merlin said with a smile, "I asked you if you knew the history of Camelot, of the Welsh and you surprised me with your lack of knowledge.

"Fifteen years ago, the King Uther of Camelot gave birth to a son. But due to a deal he struck with me, the boy came with me. His name was Arthur, I gave the boy to Ector, saying it was his bastard son."

"I know that," I scowled, "I've been called-"

"Do you want me to finish or not?" Merlin snapped. I sighed and nodded for him to go on, "Now, shortly after I placed Arthur in his new home, the King grew ill. Now I tell you, this was not part of my plan, but I think it worked out well. He died and suddenly, we were without King and ruler. Remus, Guinevere's father, took over but he was never raised to be a King. This country has been falling into ruin.

"When Arthur was only six, I showed myself to him. Although I did not tell him the truth, I did teach him how to rule. He was very different from you, he was kind, patient, he preffered to use his wits as opposed to his ability with a sword. He was to be our ruler, and then he fell ill.

"It was not what I wanted, or planned in the least. We were truly without ruler and it was too late to find another boy to mentor. Then you came. Ara, you are no Arthur, but I saw a defiance in you that can only lead to good things. With a little more compassion and patience, you will become a great King."

"This makes no sense," I said, rubbing my head, "Why would they pick me? They don't know I'm your fill in Arthur."

"When the King Uther first died, the country did not know there was a son. They came to me to try and find a solution, a fair way to decide the new King. I placed a sword in a stone in the courtyard and said that the man who could remove the sword from the stone would be the new King. Many tried, but none could pull it from the stone."