A Well Placed Blade(Arthur)

[Dante Grixis]

Dante set out on the Kingsway. His mission was simple yet complex at the same time. Kill Arthur Pendragon. As simple as all the other assassinations he had carried out. But Arthur would be presumably be under heavy guard at all times. He was at least mildly trained in fighting and tactics.

Dante could've slipped into the castle and poisoned his soup, but it wasn't that easy. Castle Pendragon was almost impenetrable to armies let alone a lone assassin. This would have to be done face to face. Blade to blade. Dante tied his horse off to an old fence post just off the road and he set himself just behind the crest of the hill. He had brought along a bow, hopefully this would be quick and easy. He pulled his cowl over his face and sat in wait for his prey. The sun was just beginning to sink into the late afternoon sky. Soon the Prince and his entourage would exit the town and begin heading to one of the smaller villages outside of Camelot for one reason or another.

As he waited he began to reflect on his life. No mother for most of it, his father was a wanted man in his homeland and he barely knew him. It struck him as strange that he had felt so much anger when his father was killed. The only concrete memory he had of him was his father sitting at the chair in their small cottage smoking hashish from a long pipe. He smiled a bit to himself at this image.

How may people had he killed in his life? Forty, fifty maybe? The majority he was paid to kill as well. He felt a twinge of guilt when he though about this. How many lives had he disrupted with his skilled hands? Many more than he could fathom he knew. He quickly shook the thought from his head. That kind of thinking got assassins killed. He was an important player in the game of life. He knew that history could change in the blink of an eye. That and a well placed blade. History would change today. That much he was sure of. In what way, only time could tell.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur rode proudly out of Camelot's tall gates, his head held high. He was seated upon one of his finest horses, whose coat was shining almost as birghtly as the Unicorns. His feet were position loosely in the stirrups, for this was to be a gentle ride to an outlying village.

With him travelled seven of his finest Knights, all clad in their gleaming armour although everyone knew that this trip would be the safest they had ever undertaken, it was more of a social visit to make sure the villagers were well.

Sometimes Arthur wished his father would do these jobs himself, but he had become so paranoid that he rarely left Camelot and if he did so, it would be more than seven guards who rode by his side. It pained Arthur to say it, but he didn't belive his father was such a good king these days.

"Beautiful day!" Said a passing merchant, his wagon full of ripe fruit from another kingdom no doubt. Arthur smiled and nodded, before pulling tighter on the reigns of his mare and pulling into a trot, his sword tapping on her flank as they moved.

As they drew near the crest of the hill, Arthur began to sense something was wrong. Slowing his horse down, he proceeded carefully, checking every direction. It was probably just a deer.

[Dante Grixis]

Dante's heart began to pound as he saw Arthur and his knights riding towards him. He slowly knocked an arrow and drew the string back. The arrows in his quiver had been soaked in his own poison, a mixture of deadly nightshade and cyanide. Even if it hit an extremity a quick death was ensured.

He remained in a spot where he couldn't be seen but he could fire arrows at his target. He lined it up, held his breath and let the arrow fly. A moment paused then he saw the arrow strike the guard immediately to Arthur's left in the throat, sending a spurt of blood and the knight toppled from his horse. Damn it all! Dante though. Ranged weapons weren't his strong point. He quickly sent another arrow flying this time hitting a rearing horse sending it over and crushing the rider.

He crouched lower beneath the hill and cast his bow aside. He had missed his chance, the bow would be no more use to him. He drew his swords from their sheathes and waited for the Prince's retaliation. He prayed that he would leave the battlefield this day, weather or not his assignment was accomplished or not didn't matter to him. Now all he wanted was to survive.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

When Arthur saw nothing, he twisted in his saddle to call the rest of the Knights forwards. There was no danger here, it was probably just his overactive senses playing up again.

The first of the knights had barely reached his side, when a spray of blood covered Arthur's arm and face. The kill was so sudden and unexpected it shocked Arthur to the core. He couldn't move or speak, to warn the others of what had happened and within seconds another arrow came flying from nowhere and hit the next Knights horse in the flank. It reared up in fright and toppled right over, pinning the rider underneath and condemning him to certain death.

Arthur was used to fights where he knew what was coming, not ambushes like this one, where he couldnt even see his enemy let alone think of ways to stop him and that was the reason he froze. Still, the second kill broke Arthur from his trance and he managed to call out "AMBUSH!"
Half expecting his knights to turn back, he was surprised to see them dismounting just behind him, heading for the other side of the hill. Arthur dismounted too, his feet unsteady on the solid ground.

The lifeless body of Sir Danyl lay still bleeding on the dusty road. Arthur shuddered as he saw the damage the arrow had caused to his body, his face had a pale green tinge and his eyes watered a terrible liquid. They had been poisonous arrows and this was no angry citizen of Camelot. Whoever was after them was a trained assassin.

Arthur closed Danyls eyes before he pulled out his sword and ran to join the rest of his men. Another lay dead on the ground-his rib cage slashed open, but Arthur didnt have time to deal with him now.

His men were gaining ground on the assassin. It looked like he would be caught.

[Dante Grixis]

Dante yelled a curse as he ducked under the swinging mace of a knight and brought his long sword up into the knight's ribcage, send him to a heap on the ground. He spun and slashed at another with his short sword and blocked an attack with his long.

He couldn't get caught. Getting caught would mean a public hanging. Meaning death. He slashed the knees of another knight sending him to the ground howling in pain. He turned and saw his target nearing the crest to the hill. He broke the attack and rushed at Arthur. He was upon the young man in an instant and he swung one sword towards his throat and the other towards his knees attempting for the quick kill.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur saw Dante coming but barely had time to defend himself against the attack. As the longsword swung at his knees he jumped, lifting his own sword in front of himself to block the shortsword. His parry was succesful but he didn't quite time his jump right. It smacked hard into his shins, cutting deep and bruising them too.

The pain was crucifying, but he couldn't let it stop him. He was Prince Arthur and he had to defend not only himself but his kingdom too. He stumbled back after the blow, but forced himself into a stance that was more offence than defence, despite leaving himself undefended.

He brought his sword round from behind him in a forceful blow, aimed directly at the assassins chest. If it connected it would shatter his ribs and cut through his windpipe, killing him. If blocked it would be a heavy force against the mans arms, and would at the least stun him for a few seconds letting Arthur try again.

His men, who were still running up the hill to where Dante and Arthur now stood fighting, were hurt and breathless. They weren't going to be much use to Arthur now, but they still wanted to try. That gave Arthur a new sense of pride and determination despite the lines of blood trickling down his legs.

[Dante Grixis]

Dante grinned evilly to himself when his blade connected with Arthur's shins. He may still win this one yet.

Dante crossed his left arm across his chest to block the strike from Arthur with his short sword. The blades connected and he cried out as the shock was sent through his arm nearly knocking the sword from his hand. He threw his momentum to the left and rolled away from his foe slightly. He saw the remaining knights approaching and he cursed quietly.

Drastic times called for drastic measures. He lifted his right arm and concentrated his energy, a fireball the size of his fist flew from his hand and connected with one knights chest. The other's slowed their advance, more wary of the foe than before. Dante knew little magic and doubted he could conjure another fireball today. Quickly he spun right aiming both blades at Arthur's chest. If they connected they would slide between the plates in his armor and strike vital organs, bleeding him out on the ground where he stood.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Sadly for Arthur, Dante did manage to block his powerful attack, but as hoped the force did hurt him. Arthur brought his sword down to his waist and then stabbed upwards, hoping to impale him through the stomach.

Dante however, had other ideas and he rolled sideways, leave the Prince's blade to meet thin air. Arthur saw that Dante was still in shock from the powerful blow and used the time to regain his own breath. His shins were numb from the deep lacerations on his legs, and he was beginning to notice the loss of blood. He stumbled as he stood, digging the tip of his sword into the ground to steady himself. It wasn't good for the blade, but he could sort that out later- If he lived to see later.

Arthur looked up in time to see Dante doing something he had never expected. A strange light was eminating from his fist, red and orange- the colours confused Arthur who assumed he must be hallucinating due to loss of blood, but as the light left the hand, Arthur saw what it was.

"No!" He yelled, gaining a new strength and rushing towards Dante. The fireball had burnt right through the chest of whoever it had collided with, and Arthur had no idea of what else this man was capable of.
Two blades appeared from nowhere, but Arthur slid to the left, where the blades just missed his waist. It was lucky, but then the Prince had always been so.

The battle was starting to take a toll now, but still Arthur was filled with a fiery determination. His blood lay in pools wherever he had been standing for some time, and to look at it made him feel queasy.

"I can kill you here Assassin." He gasped, aiming a blade as if to decapitate Dante, but unsurprisingly he blocked it simply. Arthur needed a plan.

[Dante Grixis]

Dante chuckled. "No Prince. It is you who will die." He replied simply, coldly. Dante did a side kick, more a distraction than anything and quickly followed up with a double stab aimed at the stomach.

Dante's confidence was boosted with every hit on a knight, or on the Prince. If Arthur didn't step up his game soon than he would surely perish on the hill outside of Camelot. Dante imagined the havoc his death would wreak on the kingdom. It might simply collapse under the strain of loosing its young heir, the brotherhood might be hunted even harder, the possibilities were endless. That was if he won. He had to keep a level head, if he got too proud he was likely to fail.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthurs mail held as Dante stabbed his stomach, but bruises were still left and the wind was knocked clean out of him. He doubled over and gasped desperately for air, as Dante still chuckled at him. He surely was a sorry sight, bleeding, unable to breathe and covered in someone elses blood. This man was clearly holding all the cards, and he seemed to think he had been dealt a pretty good hand too.

But what Dante didn't account for was the fact that Arthur was faking. Sure the double stab had hurt, and he had lost his breath-but only momentarily. He was now biding his time, keeping the assassins attention on him as one of his men crept up silently from behind.

"Why...are you here...Brotherhood...scum?" Arthur spat as he said the name, if it could be called speaking. He certainly was a good actor, although his legs were searing with pain which made it much easier. He sank to his knees when he saw that his Knight was now within feet of the assassin.
"Kill me then!" He yelled, praying inside that his man would reach Dante in time.

[Dante Grixis]

Dante grinned. He had managed to kill Arthur Pendragon. He raised his long sword and went to swing it down but his hand was stopped but a forceful tug from a knight that sent him flying to the ground. He cursed, he had been tricked! He rolled over and was met with a blade to his throat. He remained still as shackles were placed around his hands and feet, the heavy iron weighing his limbs down and causing his wrists to ache.

"Well played Pendragon." He spat as his hood was ripped from his head reveling his face. He glared daggers at Arthur, his face steel. He was punched in the stomach by the knight. "Don't speak unless spoken to, Brotherhood dog!" Dante coughed at the force of the blow.

"You may be able to prolong your life, but you can't escape your inevitable death." Dante said coldly to Arthur. The next punch hit him in the head sending him to the ground again. He felt himself hauled to his feet again, dazed from the blow.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur watched as the assassin raised his sword and brought it towards his throat in a broad swing that would have knocked his head clean from his body. Praying silently, he closed his eyes tight, not wanting to watch his own death. But the blow was never felt.
When he opened his eyes again he saw that Sir Merrick had reached him in time and was now holding a blade to the mans throat.

Using the last of the energy he had, he pulled himself up using his sword for leverage, and managed to stumble to where Dante now lay on the ground, being shackled as he watched. Arthur didn't recognise this man, even when his face was revealed, but he knew he must be Brotherhood. He let the words wash over him and a few moment later replied, "Who are you?"
To be perfectly honest Arthur didn't really care right now. He needed medical attention and just wanted to lay down, and the man never replied anyway.

"Take him to the dungeons." Arthur ordered, and all but two knights left instantly, carrying Dantes body between them. One of the remaining knights set about organising the horses, which in the fray had panicked and were now scattered about the hillside. The other, Sir Merrick- his saviour- stayed with Arthur.
"Are you able to walk your Highness?" He asked, not wanting to intrude too much, but also wanting to ensure his safety. Arthur nodded and stood up slowly, he took a few steps before his knees gave way and he sank to the ground.
That was the last thing he remembered.

[OOC: if you want to post now in the dungeon and then i will come speak to you in your cell once arthurs wounds have been tended to!]