It's not Betrayal

5- Betrayal

"Is that it?"Arthur asked as the party approached a steep hill, where an opening could be seen in the rock.

"Yes." Princess Mithian replied. "We should find my father inside." Her face was grim; she was not looking forward to the Knight's discovery of her betrayal.

Arthur stepped forward. "Let's go then."

The Knights approached the crevice, hesitating in sights of its omnious darkness; should they dare enter?

"Leon, Elyan, keep watch, Percival, you're with me."

Arthur couldn't shake his feeling of anxiety in his stomach as they crept through the tunnel, and Mithian's worried expression wasn't helping to calm his nervous butterflies either. Princess Mithian turned around, her facial expression unreadable.

"The burial chamber lies just ahead, at the end of that tunnel." She avoided Arthur's gaze, and shamefully lowered her head. She was not proud of what she had done, but she felt it was her only choice. She stared at Hilda with such hatred, not even a soul as cold as Morgana could not attempt to match her fury.

The burial chamber, as Mithian said, was nearby. King Arthur and Sir Percival entered to find the room empty, with nothing but a table to occupy the cold and lonely space.

"I don't understand, where's your father?" The king turned to face the Princess, confusion written on his face.

Shaking her head, Mithian whispered, "he's not here." She stared at him with with sorrow and regret, an apology in her shimmering eyes.

"Then where is he." It was not a question, Arthur knew he had been tricked.

"Arthur-"

The Princess was cut off by the sound of metal sliding on metal, the King had unsheathed his sword at the sound of footsteps. Percival followed suite. Men began entering from every possible direction, soon leaving the two Knights outnumbered and surrounded. Arthur lunged forward, attacking the closest soldier to him and the fight begun.

The clash of swords engaged in battle sounded throughout the air, the thrill of the fight pounding through every soldier in the room like a unsatisfied desire for pain. They all felt the adrenaline rushing under their skin, their thirst for blood unquenchable. Meanwhile, Arthur and Percival were struggling. They were outnumbered five to one, and Odin's men kept coming in a steady stream. Surrender was not an option, they would rather die.

Two men cornered Arthur, knowing he didn't stand a chance against the throng of soldiers. Pushed roughly from behind, Arthur stumbled into the clutches of a waiting soldier, and the two men managed to hold Arthur, a sword poised at his back.

"What wrong have I done you!" The king yelled at the Princess as he was pushed to his knees. All Mithian could do was watch in horror as her fears played out right in front of her.

"Arthur Pendragon, at last." King Odin strode into the room, a confident smile on his face. Princess Mithian ran to her father's arms, who was dragged in with Odin. "I have waited many years for this moment." His smile disappeared, a snarl taking it's place. "You killed my son. You took what was most precious to me, and now you will pay the price."

"And not a moment too soon." Morgana crooned, making an entrance, still under the effects of the ageing spell. "You are not alone in having waited for this moment, Odin." Arthur turned to see Hilda. "Appearances can be deceiving dear brother." She spat out the last word like it was poison.

"Morgana." Distraughtly he looked at his sister, the realisation and defeat dawning on his face as he figured out what had happened. She sneered at Arthur, not hiding her hatred now she had revealed her true self.