Let Justice Be Done Ch. 67

"Ah, the Hero of Orkney," boasted King Leodegrance, as Arthur entered the chamber with a veranda, where the king was enjoying his lunch. Arthur hide his cringe at the title, as it was one of the many that came from the stories about him, that he felt were exaggerated. The Hero of Orkney could be no other than the Archangel Raguel. "Come, come here and let me look at you, Sir Arthur."

Within the chamber, seated at the king's table were Sir Ector, King Leodegrance and a girl that had Arthur doing a double take upon seeing. 

The king smiled upon seeing Arthur's reaction to his daughter, thinking he was taken by her beauty. 

"Ah, yes. This is my beautiful daughter, the apple of my eye, Guenevere." King Leodegrance said proudly. 

"Father, please." Guenevere said with an admonishing pout. Yet Arthur didn't feel her reaction was genuine. Her words only caused the king to laugh wholeheartedly. Guenevere gave a sigh and smiled as she turned and stood to face Arthur. "I'm Guenevere, I'm glad to meet you, Sir Arthur, for I've heard so many stories about you." She said extended her hand. 

As a knight should, Arthur took her hand and kissed the back of it. Guenevere lips twitch, before she forced her smirk down, as she always loved and was amused by this act of submission by powerful knights toward noble ladies. It can be dressed up as chivalry or etiquette but that's how she saw it.  

"I hope only good things, although I should tell you that stories tend to be exaggerated." Arthur said back with a polite smile of his own. 

"Surely tale of your bravery aren't. Sir Ector even vouched for them." Guenevere said back, a hand hiding her coy smile. 

"Well then, I hope my bravery matches your expectations." Arthur laughed in a friendly manner. 

The king gestured for Arthur to take a seat, and he had done so, as King Leodegrance and Sir Ector made some small talk, with Guenevere and a reserved Arthur chiming in every once in a while. 

"Now then," King Leodegrance cleaned his hands in a washing bowl, and dried them with a towel, before the servants and guards left the room, after a gesture from the king. "You know," Leodegrance said. "Looking at you, you have your father's eyes. The resolve that shined in his, shines in yours as well." 

Without missing a beat, Arthur politely nodded. "Thank you, your majesty."

"He had left me something I wish to gift you when you come of age." The words were vague on either side, neither confirming nor denying anything. "But let's stop talking about the past. The present is far more urgent with our attention."

As the change in his tone, the seriousness of it, the aura around the two knights changed as well. Guenevere found herself blinking, and looking at Arthur as though seeing him for the first time. Before he was a charming knight, but now, he was a gallant knight. 

"There have been rumors floating around since the Day of Orkney. Rumors of evil beasts roaming around the land, more murderous, more dangerous and more vicious than any other. Soon enough, rumor turned into eyewitnesses and reports followed." King Leodegrance stated. "My friend, King Pellinore, given his love of hunting game, had been actively hunting one of these strange beasts in his territory."

"And you wish for us to go aid King Pellinore on his quest." Said Sir Ector.

"Aiding him is the second thing I wish of you," Leodegrance said. "Thus far the number of these new black beasts numbers eight or ten, the reports aren't conclusive, but they should be greater than that. For the sake of this land, for the sake of peace, I ask of you first--for the valor and strength you have already shown," he said to both knights. "Before I send the call to other knights who wish for glory, to find and slay these beasts. 

"You do not have to slay all these beasts, three will suffice enough, and should the time come that you need my favor, you will have it." He said this specifically to Arthur. 

Arthur stilled as he understood the implicate of King Leodegrance's words. This was it, the second of his support for his eventual retaking of his father's throne. King Lot had already offered his support for Arthur's action during the battle of Orkney, and now he has his chance of getting another. 

"I will do my utmost to meet your expectations, your majesty." Arthur gave a small bow of his head. 

"I'm sure, I'm sure," King Leodegrance laughed, before becoming serious again. "The first beast I wish for you to hunt is one that plagues my lands. Southwest of here, you will find a hill were many warriors were slain in previous wars, known as the Mournful Mound. I have been getting reports of a black serpent with a magic stone at the tip of it's tail. Slay the serpent and bring me the stone. Do this and I will grant you any boon if it's within my power and willingness to give." 

Arthur blinked at the wording, before Leodegrance chuckled, and gestured with a look toward his daughter, that blushed at seeing the exchange. 

"Ah, yes." Arthur nodded, having understood. He knew eventually he has to choose a wife, yet this meeting made it seem too...abrupt. 

Rather, there was someone else he thought of, that he wouldn't getting to know more. 

"After that, I ask that you aid King Pellinore on his quest, before slaying two more black beasts, and that would be enough. I will reward you greatly when you succeed. Till then, you can come here to rest as much as you need." King Leodegrance said with finality, before smiling. "In the meantime, I'm sure my daughter will accommodate and aid you on your quest in the small things. She can act as your guide here, and I expect you to treat her with the utmost of chivalry." 

"Of course, your majesty." Arthur said promptly as that was the only answer. 

"Father!" Guenevere said in an admonishing tone. 

The king laughed and continued. "And I'm sure she would love for you to regale her with tales of your bravery." 

"I'll...try my best." Arthur gave a sheepish smile. 

Leodegrance laughed, while Guenevere acted the part of the blushing maiden.