"It's my fault." He said with a dark expression. "If it wasn't for me, that girl would still be alive."

The entire time he never looked up at the commander. He couldn't. Not after what had happened.

"No, your Grace. You did nothing wrong." The commander reassured.

"How can you say that?" Arthur asked in disbelief. "I insisted they join me. I gave her the bread and it was poisoned. If I hadn't she'd still be alive!"

"You couldn't have known it was poisoned, your Grace." The commander pointed out.

"Yeah right." Arthur replied with a snort. "Like I didn't know nobody wants me here? I don't belong here and now I'm being cruelly reminded!"

"That's not true your Grace. You do belong here." The commander said. "Whoever did this, we'll find them and they will be punished. You have my word."

This didn't reassure the young Arthur at all. Rather, it only added to the dark feeling that was brewing inside of him. He'd never felt such anger in his life. In fact, it was more than anger. It was a hot burning rage and it was growing.

"Do whatever you must." He said to him.

The commander nodded before he turned on his heel and left. Leaving Arthur on his own although he had no doubt that his security had been intensified. He turned as he heard the knock on his door. Before he could answer, however, one of the guards that were posted within his room turned to him for confirmation. Taking a deep breath, he gave a nod and the guard opened the door to the guest.

His mood only darkened when he saw who his visitor was. Henry. The older man was no longer dressed in simple blacksmith garb. Rather he was now dressed more like a knight.

"Your Grace." He said with a bow.

"What do you want? Arthur asked.

"I know you probably hate me right now ..." Henry began.

"Hate is a strong word." Arthur interrupted. "I feel more betrayed."

"And I understand how you feel." Henry replied in remorse. "I am sorry for everything but you must believe me when I say it was all for your safety. If I could go back in time I would make the same choice."

As Arthur regarded him, he felt some of the anger within him subside.

"So you're a knight now?" He asked as he regarded Henry's garb.

"Uhm.." Henry stuttered.

"I get it. You don't have to feel obliged to tell me anything. You never did, after all, these past sixteen years." Arthur said.

"Well, I was knighted on my twenty sixth birthday." Henry explained.

"Then why did you give it up?" Arthur asked curiously.

"I made a promised to look after you. I couldn't do that if I continued my duties as a soldier." Henry said slowly. "But taking them up again seems to be the best way to protect you now."

"You promised my mother?" Arthur asked.

"Yes." Henry replied with a sad smile.

"Tell me about her." Arthur requested.

"Uhm.. Sure. What would you like to know?" Henry asked.

"Everything." Arthur replied. "We should probably seat down."

He offered Henry a seat.

"You're quite like her. You have her eyes, hair and her good heart." Henry began with a fond smile. "Of course she was a little more clumsy but if there is one thing you certainly got from her is all that talk you used yo do about sailing the seas and travelling foreign lands. Your mother, however, tried to actually sneak onto a merchant ship when she was eight."

"What? Why?" Arthur asked in interest.

"Well, she was always curious so she had decided to become a pirate."

"Wow that's just... Wow." Arthur said with a laugh.

"Yes she was impulsive. But that's just what made her special. That and her big heart." Henry continued.

"How did they meet?" Arthur asked.

He didn't need to elaborate. Henry knew exactly what he meant.

"It was on the day I was knighted." He began. "She had come watch me receive my honors. He had just been crowned King so it was his duty to knight us. After I was given the honor she was the first to congratulate me so that is how they met."

"I see." Arthur said with a sad smile. "I wish I could have met her."

"I know. And I know she would have loved you and protected you. In fact I think she watches over you and protects you all the time." Henry reassured.

"Someone wants me dead." Arthur said, the bitterness returning in his voice.

"What do you mean?" Henry asked in confusion. "Has something happened?"

He looked at the young boy with a worried expression.

"Someone tried to poison me this morning." Arthur replied as he stood up from his seat.

He made his way to the window so he could gaze upon the landscape.

"And it would've worked it I hadn't so generously offered to share my breakfast with the servants. Now, because of me, an innocent girl is dead." He continued.

"None of this is your fault." Henry reassured him. "If anyone is at fault it's the person who thought it right to take your life."

"That's not what her family will think." Arthur pointed out.

"That is what they will think. They knew her duty was to serve." Henry said. "You're not responsible and they will understand."

"And what happens the next time someone dies because of me? Will people still think my hands are clean? As long as I remain here my life will constantly be in danger and because of it someone else will die in my place." Arthur said.

"That won't happen. You have my word." Henry said as he stood up .

He slowly made his way to where Arthur stood.

"I will protect you with my life." He reassured him.

"And if it costs you yours? Am supposed to be okay with that?" Arthur asked with a frown as he looked at his father figure.

"Yes. As you should be should others give their lives for yours. You should accept their sacrifice and honour them because it is your duty as their King." Henry solemnly replied.

"But I don't want to be King!" Arthur said in despair. "Why can't you all see that? I don't want it. Except nobody seems to care what I want anymore."

He turned away from him once more.

"This place... It's suffocating me. I can't breath. I don't know what to do." He continued sadly. "I just... I just wish everything would go back to the way it was. When everything was so much simpler."

"You have be strong and endure it all. I have absolute faith in you." Henry said in reassurance.

******************************

Once he left the young King, Henry waisted no time seeking out commander Boulivir. It didn't take long either to find him as the commander was interrogating the kitchen staff who were all being detained. When the commander spotted his visitor, he bid his lieutenants continue without him before joining Henry.

"Henry, to what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked curiously.

"Why didn't you tell me what happened?" Henry asked.

"What are you talking about?" The commander asked, feigning innocence.

"Oh don't play games with me!" Henry snapped. "You know exactly what I'm talking about!"

"You're right." The commander replied with a sigh. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry."

"You didn't want me to worry? They tried to kill him, Boulivir. There is no way I wouldn't worry." Henry pointed out. "I warned you this would happen. But did you listen? No. Because you were so caught up in Oberon's selfish plans!"

"Our King did everything he could for the wellbeing of his people." The commander replied slowly.

"Even if it cost Arthur his life, it seems." Henry pointed out bitterly. "He may have been Arthur's father but even now I am the one who is more concerned about his welfare."

He regarded Boulivir sternly.

"But I suppose there's nothing that we can do to right any of it now. The only thing we can do is protect him to the best of our abilities." He continued.

With that, he turned on his heel and left. Leaving Boulivir along with his lieutenants.

"Commander," one of them said.

"Sebastian." He acknowledged. "Has anyone said anything?"

"Not yet but someone was cornered whilst trying to flee." Sebastian said. "When we tried to question him, he tried to slit his throat. After we searched him we found a note."

He handed the note to the commander. Reading it, the commander felt a chill go down his spine.

"And where is this man?" He asked.

"We have brought him bound into the tent as you requested." Sebastian replied. "Shall we interrogate him?"

"Yes, but I think we should take him to the King so his Majesty can partake as well." He told them.

With that, they headed to the tent where the prisoner had been kept. Except... The prisoner was gone.