[ARTHUR] it's a long road home

[Prince Asketel Endellion]

The large horse crested the top of the scrub covered hill. The wind had picked up, brushing the deep blue travelling cloak around the rider. He sighed, raising a black gloved hand to pull up the royal blue hood that was constantly blown off by the wind. Asketel urged the chestnut horse forwads once more, scaling the steep hillside, made slippery by the constant rainfall, which was even now pattering down on the lands. The huge chestnut war charger lowered its head as it skidded on a slippery patch of scrubland, Asketel righted the horse with a switch in position and a hold on the reins, keeping it walking forward. It wasn't like there was any point in stopping now, what with the citadel actually in sight and within a days distance. Less than that, within the hour if the road ahead stayed as it was now: more or less empty, giving his horse, Deystria, a clear path to move onto.

He had left the Black Mountains two days previously, travelling down the other side of the steep, dark hillside into the foreign lands beyond. He’d never been here before, and it would’ve been a pleasant experience if it wasn’t for the reason for his travelling. Deystria snorted, his breath coming up in a thin, wispy cloud. They needed to speed up if they were to reach Camelot before the fall of complete darkness. Turning the horse onto the clearer path, Asketel pushed the horse into a canter, covering the rough ground in long, easy, loping strides. The food he’d taken from home had lasted for three days and the rabbit he’d caught the day before had lasted just long enough, but he was defiantly relieved to see the turrets of Camelot in view. Rabbit was all well and good for a while, but he was bored of the taste already.

The stone entrance to Camelot was quiet, the peasants having returned to wherever they happened to sleep long before. The clouds above Asketel was a pure black, not a single star visible. The rain came slow and thin, the type of rain not to seem dangerous but the moment you stepped out into it, you were soaked to the skin. Asketel was pretty damp, but his amount of layers had kept his skin dry, that didn't stop the tunic of the Northern Black Mountains becoming very heavy with his waterlog. Deystria's hooves clacked smartly on the stone before Asketel drew him into a halt. A guard approched from one side of the draw bridge, the one on the other leaning on a barrel, watching. Asketel was used to addressing guards and replied to his question of 'what is your business here' with "I am here to speak with the royalty of Camelot, a messenger was sent on ahead of me. I am Asketel of the Northern Black Mountains." He finished, the guard gave a shrug and spoke breifly to his college, who scurried off in search of someone higher up in rank, Asketel supposed. Deystria shook his head, lowering it to itch his foreleg. Weary beast. And the prince couldn't blame him. Excavating his feet from the strong stirrups, Asketel dismounted, landing softly on the stone, taking a look around the impressive turrets of Camelot as he waited patiently.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Prince Arthur was in his chambers, enjoying a long soak in a bath Merlin had just filled for him. He felt it was well deserved after the day he had had, sparring in the training ground with several new recruits and then having to put up with watching Merlin polish his armour- difficult work. The water lapped gently against his sides and he laid his head back, eyes closed, fully relaxed. He had long since sent Merlin away and the peace and quiet he now had was incredibly satisfying.

~Knock, knock~

Arthur opened his eyes with a frown. Who would dare disturb his peace and quiet at this hour. It was dark outside and Arthur was not in the mood to have to go and do anything. Still he relunctantly dressed, keeping the mystery knocker waiting as long as he could before opening the door.

"Yes?" He snapped as he recognised the man at the door as one of his Royal Guards, who was supposed to be on duty at the city gates. Why he wasn't there now Arthur couldnt fathom.
"Sorry to er, bother you me lord," The man said, eyeing Arthurs still steaming bath water suspiciously. "But there be a man at the gates who says he is from The Northern Black Mountains. He wishes to speak to Royalty sire."
Arthur frowned. Camelot had no real alliance with the kingdom in the north, but the fact that someone from the land had come to Camelot, meant Arthur would need to investigate further.
"We didn't want to bother the king my lord..."
"But I was a different matter i see?" Arthur cut in, making the man blush red. "Well no matter now, lead the way!"

It took only a few minutes for the pair to arrive at the city gates, and Arthur remained silent the whole way. He was still in a sulk that the guard had ruined his bathtime and sadly that would have bearing on his meeting with the traveller.
Expecting a man, Arthur was amazed to see that the pilgrim was really nothing short of a boy. Although Arthur was only 19 himself, he liked to think he was much more important than everybody else, and so viewed himself as a man. Others did not always share the same opinion.

"Name and business?" Athur sighed, as though tired of visitors. In truth he was quite intrigued as to just what this boy from the Northern Black Mountains was doing in Camelot. Wanting to join my incredible army no doubt. he thought smugly.

[Prince Asketel Endellion]

Asketel was tired, and this wasn't just normal fatigue. He'd been tired before, after a long training session, when your muscles ached and your head felt like it was just going to fall off your shoulders, but this was different. His muscles were feeling oddly numb, except for his right arm, which he could feel was very cold. Odd. Still, he really wouldn't mind being able to change and have a good sit down, and not on a horse. Deystria's saddle was perfectly comfortable, that was its function, but a chair would be nice. Sounding like his father there. The guard still on duty was watching him without even a hint of embarressment, he was just staring. Maybe guards were trained differently here, they probably were since there was very little training for guards in the Northern Black Mountains. No-one had attacked the kingdom for years, the generations of Endellions had gone on for a long time. Who wanted the Black Mountains with their scraggy peaks and snow brushed pines. Well, he did and he didn't want it to fall to pieces over a famine.

He hadn't been watching the main road, but had been resting against Deystria, when he heard the clank of chain mail as the guard straightened to attention. He too stood up, raising his head. He was slightly shorter than the Prince in front of him, and slightly slighter in build, but no matter, none of the Endellions had been made for strength, but more speed and agility. Again, the terrain of the mountains needed some quick footed runners. At the direct question, Asketel gave a slight bow, it would've been bigger if his lower back didn't ache quite as much, but he could mask that. "Prince Asketel Endellion, sir, First son of King Bridgham of the Northern Black Mountains." So, that was the answer to the first question, had to be long enough didn't it. But, no matter. Business, well, maybe it was. "I seek aid, sir." He was a proud young man, had been brought up so, but this wasn't a time to let pride block the way, there wasn't any rivalry between the Mountains and Camelot, mostly because no-one ever visited from Camelot.

Asketel took a breath. "My Kingdom of the Black Mountains has been suffering from a famine. Our supply lines are fading and our population is dying." He explained, keeping, or at least trying, to keep eye-contact with the high Prince. He'd never really met anyone much higher in rank than himself except Kings, but this was far, far out of his comfort zone and further than he'd ever travelled. "I come...seeking help, or at least anything your Kingdom may offer." He finished quietly, he wasn't entirely sure, but his guess would be that the man in front of him would be Prince Arthur, of who his father had spoken of, it was as good a guess as any.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur listened patiently to the other young boy as he explained who he was and why he was here.
So he was the Prince of The Northern Black Mountains? Arthur, in truth, knew very little about the boys kingdom and he would have had no chance of recognising him even if he had- although perhaps the boys clothing should have given it away, but he hadn't really been in the mood to notice such things. But still, Arthur could completely understand the predicament the boy had come to Camelot with, for although neither of them were King of their kingdoms, the people meant a lot to Arthur and clearly did for Asketel too.
Arthur had a newfound respect for this boy when he found out about the famine. He believed and hoped that in such a situation, he would be able to put his pride to one side and travel to a neighbouring kingdom for help.

"In truth Asketel, I would truly love to help you. Had I the power, I would send you away with as much of our food as we could spare, and many of my men to carry it too! However, I fear to say it is my father who really holds the answer to what you seek."
Arthur smiled, hoping that the other young prince could see how much he meant what he said. He believed that this boy and his people would be a remarkable ally to have, they seemed honest and their position in the moutains meant the kingdom was virtually un-takeable.
"Come stay in the castle for a time. There you can speak to my father and we can work something out." He offered a hand to the boy.
"Prince Arthur of Camelot. It is a great honour to meet you Prince Asketel."

[Prince Asketel Endellion]

Asketel had always been one for diplomacy. Or purhaps it was just talking. In any case, he enjoyed the new situations which cropped up time after time with neighbouring villages, towns and kingdoms. In the Northern terratories, most Kingdoms were in the same prediciment, leaving them useless to aid others as they struggled on. The Southern Moutains hadn't fared too well, as Asketel had found out riding through them a few days previously. It was strange to think that he would've been the only traveller with enough food not to starve. Strange and mildly horrible.

Asketel let his expression fall into one of gratitude. He'd already been through two Kingdoms, each sending him away without even an audience, no matter how persuasive he tried to be, how much he offered and asked. Although, honestly speaking, he had little to offer. The Mountain's alliance was more or less all he had, and he couldn't easily sign anything which would give seal such an agreement. He hadn't even come of age yet, wasn't a Crown Prince. "Yours words bring more joy than I happen to have heard for days." He admitted, albeit breaking the eyecontact with Prince Arthur. It wasn't something he really wanted to say outloud, but it wasn't too important, a passing comment that he always made.

Asketel gave a warm, genuine smile at the offer, and especially the hand. He pulled off his travelling glove and took Arthur's hand. "The pleasure is definatly my own, Prince Arthur." He replied, "It would be an honour to stay in your castle, and should you ever travel to the Black Mountains, I'm sure you will always be welcomed there." Of course he couldn't speak for everyone, but he was pretty sure his father would not mind, his brother would never object and the people of the Mountains saw passing royalty so rarely it would be a novelty. "May I rest my horse in your stables, he has been riding for eight days passed and I wouldn't wish to lose him." He probably should've gotten so attatched to the horse, or at least his father had always told him so, but Deystria had been a noble and faithful stead to him throughout his life and whatever was said, he liked the horse.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

"Of course!" Arthur replied, beaming. "We have the finest stables in Albion...or so we like to say!" He laughed breaking the handshake with Asketel and clapping him on the back instead. He had never become attatched to any of his own steeds, for one he had too many to even name, but he understood (after his experience with Casalynn) that many people thought of their horses as friends. Sometimes he wished he was one of them.

"Let us walk to the stables to save your horses legs. It is not far." Arthur led the way proudly, pointing out parts of Camelot that he was particularly proud of, or that he thought it best the prince avoid.
"That there is our Guild for magic users." He pointed out the large tower that could be seen from almost everywhere in the city. "Its relatively new, but we have found it to be an exceptional asset." He wondered if magic was a freely used in Askatel's kingdom.

The pair reached the stables fairly quickly, despite Arthurs short tour so he could show off a little. A stable hand had clearly seen the princes coming and met them at the door, taking the reigns immediately. Arthur thanked him and began to lead the prince away, towards the castle itself.

"So, what was the main cause of your kingdoms problems?" Arthur asked, on a more serious note as they climbed the steps to the main hall.
"I imagine it must have been sudden to affect you so quickly?"

[Prince Asketel Endellion]

Asketel returned the beam. "You should see some of our stables, I'd say the horses live better than we do!" It wasn't true, but it did look comfortable in the warm stables. Straw was something which grew extremely well around the Mountains suprisingly enough. If only you could eat it, some of the horses did and when he was younger he had dared his brother to eat it, but he himself had never tried the...delicacy. Nor did he really want to. But, he had to say, from the looks of the outside of the castle, he doubted whether the stables would disappoint, and from the numbers of guards he assumed there would be a multitude of grooms as well. Deystria wasn't exactly going to be forgotton. Usually Asketel took a while to get used to a new place, but Camelot - whilst slightly dwarfing - was welcoming enough to ease his worries slightly.

Taking hold of Deystria's reins, he followed Arthur through the gates into the courtyard, his eyes following whever the other Prince pointed. It was certain impressive. Asketel stopped for a moment to gaze up at the large structure named by the Prince as 'the Guild for magic users.' "Magic users?" the young man repeted. "I'd always heard rumours magic was banned and prosecuted. I must be mistaken, we have very few magicians or sourcerers in the Mountains, but they are usually treated with slight hostility." He grimaced slightly. He'd only ever met one sourcerer, an old man with a long white beard and piercing eyes. "And you give them a whole guild." He smiled in admiration, following Arthur with Deystria as not to be left behind.

He allowed Deystria to be led into the darker confines of the stable, taking a quick look inside enough to see the long line of stalls with their equine head leaning over before hastening after Arthur, deep blue cloak flapping behind him. Asketel sighed, his breath clouding in front of him. "Sudden, yes, but quickly, not so much." He started, "We had an incredibly hard winter last year, my mother died in it, it destroyed most of our crops and our fields. We had stores for winter and gave them out to our people, thinking by spring all would be over. We were awfully mistaken. The ground was almost as if it had been covered in salt, hardly anything grew and what did we distributed, before long almost a tenth of our people had died and we had no way of stopping it, the surrounding kingdoms had nothing to spare, hence why I came down south," He gave a slight shrug, although his heavy voice gave away his true feelings on the situation. It wasn't looking good up North.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur nodded and grimaced as Asketel spoke of magic being outlawed.
"No you heard right." He replied, a small smile creeping to his lips, although his brow stayed furrowed. "Magic was outlawed by my father a good 20 years ago, but after a magician saved my life, he began to see that perhaps not all magic was harsh and cruel." He laughed suddenly, "He's still not completely convinced though. You should see him at Guild feasts!"

Arthur thought Asketel seemed suitably in awe as they left the stables and continued on to the castle. He certainly spent time looking in the stables, and listened intently to everything Arthur described to him which made Arthur even prouder-not necessarily a good thing.
As the pair discussed the famine in the north, Arthur was shocked to learn how suddenly it had come upon the country and how, despite their best efforts, it had just spiralled into a neverending cycle. The amount of people they had lost shocked him too and he wondered how Uther would handle the same situation. He doubted his father would give out the food from the castles stores, at least not all of it, and many more people would be likely to die before he accepted help from other cities.

"Well here we are!" Arthur said, throwing the heavy doors open, and leading Asketel into the main hall. "I will have the servants make a room up for you for tonight at least, although of course you are welcome for as long as you need." He bid a servant fetch Uther, and the two princes sat down at the long oak table.


Uther entered the hall not ten minutes after and sat himself at the head of the table.
"Asketel of The Northern Black Mountains?" He grinned, "Surley not?!" Arthur guessed he was in a good mood, and that it would hopefully bear well on his answer to Asketel's request.
"My boy, I have not seen you since I visited your homeland, what, 18 years it must be! You were not so tall then!" He laughed and ordered a servant fetch some wine and food for the visitor.
"Why is it you come to Camelot?"

[Prince Asketel Endellion]

"I should tell my father that. He doesn't trust many people, especially those who can beat him without a sword." Asketel replied with a grin. King Bridgham was much prouder than Asketel or any of his family were, if he could, he wouldn't let you get a word in edgeways. With his own family he tended to argue for the sake of it because he knew he was right. Frustrating it was. Asketel had spent years attempting to get an idea through the court, and it had only been a combined effort between him and Cormac that they'd managed to ask him anything, however trivial. He wasn't a harsh man, and when it came to his people the fairest Asketel had yet to meet. Obviously he wasn't the most unbiased party. But, the King put his people before his Kingdom. Oddly enough before his daughter, Asketel's younger sister. But that might've just been a rather obvious mistake, hopefully one which wouldn't happen again. "What are magic users like, I've never truely met one, at least one that I'd known." He asked quickly, his curiosity evident. He'd never been that interested in magic, but when you thought about it, who wouldn't be interested? He also wanted to know how one had saved Prince Arthur's life, but doubted that would be a polite question.

Asketel stared at the enterior of the hall, eyes flicking from ornate pillar to elegant tapestry. "Woah." He muttered to himself. This was really rather a lot bigger than the one back in the Mountains, he wouldn't swap it for anything, but it was incredibly impressive. "So...you hold your balls and formal events here. How many people can you get in here?" He asked before he realised he had. Trouble with letter your thoughts run away. His castle never needed more than a couple of foreign nobles in, so it was smaller, more intricate in design with a lower ceiling and lighter pillars. "And thank-you, so very much for the hospitality. For a first time visit you know how to show a visitor a good time." He laughed softly to himself, taking a seat on the long table. What would happen if you had one person at one end and one at the other, would they be able to hear each other without shouting?

The doors opened once more and Asketel pushed his chair back, standing up. He gave a bow, his blue cloak of the mountains curling around his side. He pushed it back. "My father sends his greetings, only too sorry he couldn't come himself but he has not been able to ride for many years." King Bridgham had lost his leg in battle and therefore no longer travelled, which could make him incredibly frustrating to talk to about recent ventures. Asketel took a deep breath, and the explaining would start once more. "I come in need of help, sire. My people are starving plagued by a famine, our crops have failed and we have no means of support. I come asking if Camelot may spare some privisions for my people." He finished, still standing. He was never quite sure with different royalty whether he was allowed to sit whilst talking or whether he should stand and address the king or not. Oh, lord hopefully he wouldn't offend.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur took a back seat, settling himself against a pillar in the corner as he watched, and listened, to his father and Asketel discuss politics. He truly wanted hsi father to agree to lend a hand with the boys kingdom, but feared it might come at a cost.
He stifled a laugh as Asketel remained standing through his small speech. The boy was clearly unused to being in the presence of foreign royalty and he looked awkward as he poised halfway between seated and standing.

"Well," Uthur said slowly, finally replying to Asketel's plea. Arthur mentally crossed every part of his body in the hope the king would say yes.
"I feel that, in the event that we did share our resources with you," He stood up and walked to the window, looking out across the courtyard where his people rushed about their business, "I would need something in return." He turned back to face the young prince with a smile on his face. Arthurs hopes sank, what price was he going to ask Asketel to pay?
"Any suggestions?"

Arthur left his spot on the pillat to move and stand by Asketel. It was a bold move, and he knew Uther would see it as a sign of defiance.
"Arthur?" He questioned, a small smile creeping onto his face as though he was mildly amused that his son had his own mind.
"Father, I think your being unreasonable..." He began, "How can you let more people in The Northern Kingdom perish while you make Asketel pay for the help they need? Its inhumane!"
Uther's smile vanished, turning into a slight frown.
"I wouldnt make him pay before, Son" The tone of his voice made Arthur break eye contact, "I would need something after, to show he was grateful as it were?"

[Prince Asketel Endellion]

The young Prince wasn't sure what to make of the request. He glanced down at the polished woodwork of the long table, wracking his mind around anything he might have to offer. Any suggestions? He wasn't in the best frame of mind for delegation at the moment, his patience wearing slightly thinner than usual. Did it really look as if he was carrying offerings of rich silks, gifts and gold? If he was, he was missing it. The only gold was the edging around his travelling cloak and the embroidered tree of the Northern kingdoms, although that wasn't even real gold, just gold thread. Deystria was a good horse, but he doubted an offering of another horse would really do a great deal, and he didn't want to walk home. Yes, his patience was thin. He'd have to remind himself that this was further than he'd so far gotten with anyone else and this was their kingdom, not his.

Asketel turned his head when Arthur moved, contemplating opening his mouth to say something, but deciding not to. Maybe he should've, he'd never wanted to become between father and son. His left hand, out of usual and continual habit, let the side of his cloak fall over his hand and he curled the fabric between his fingers. It was an instinctual movement, one he didn't think about at all now. He did it when he was out of his comfort zone and had nothing else to do. He glanced up at Arthur, since he was an inch or so taller than himself, a glint of thanks in his eyes. A lot of princes wouldn't take this sort of stand for another kingdom, especially one to which they held no alligence. On that note, not many members of royalty would do so at all with no prior evidence as to a return fee. Or any nobility he'd so far come across. Arthur was definately a new stage in the development here.

"Sire." Asketel spoke up finally. "I'm afraid that I know of little I can offer in return. My Kingdom has few resources save it's stratergical position. The only item that comes to mind is an alligence, my father has spoken of forming an alligence with Camelot for some years. This is the only thing I can think of." He finished in a tame, yet weary manner. He'd have to ride back up North to recieved a signed edition, but if this helped, he'd ride there and back, changing horses on the way, stopping as infrequently as possible. If, of course, that was going to work, but the Northern Mountains held no treasures except the position and possibly the masonry of the castle.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

"An alliance is all I ask." Uther smiled, Arthur didn't believe it was truly sincere. He was really feeling for the poor prince, who stood looking even more awkward across the table from the king of Camelot.
"Father shall i show Asketel to his chambers?" He interjected, wanting to rid both of them of the awful situation the king had presented them. He agreed and Arthur walked tot he door where two guards pushed open the heavy doors.

"I'm so sorry about..."Arthur said dejectedly, pointing back at the great hall which they had just left. "He can be rather, selfish and egotistical!" How ironic that was coming from Arthur. He continued up the stairs and led Asketel along a wide corridor. These were the rooms that housed all the guests who visited Camelot. Most were empty now, although the visitor from the empire of Ming was staying in one at the far end. The chambers Arthur had had prepared for Asketel were much grander, rivalling those that Arthur had for himself. The bed was draped with the finest silks and the furniture was of a rich, dark wood which looked as expensive as it was.

"I trust these rooms will be suitable?" Arthur smiled as he pushed open the door. He hoped that the other prince would not hold him responsible for his fathers faults and that Asketel would be willing to join him on a hunt in the next few days.
"Our horses will of course be free for you to use, should yours still be tired."

[Prince Asketel Endellion]

He let out a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding in. If he'd been any further north it would've clouded up, but luckily it was subtle enough here. Hopefully no-one would've noticed, or at least chose not to comment on it. An alligence he could offer, at least at the beginning it would be simple, easy, it was until Camelot brought back the favour. Help the Mountains, what could they do to help Camelot. Their army was small, resulting from the small population. Still, the positive aspects were more pressing at this time. He gave a slight bow, glancing thankfully over at Arthur for his suggestion, as Uther swept passed, leaning one arm against the high back of the wooden chair he hadn't really used after the King had entered.

Following Arthur out of the vast hall, Asketel caught the edge of his cloak to stop it sweeping around his legs. He'd need to get someone to fix that, the hem was fraying slightly. Not, a pressing matter, though. "There's definately no need to apologise." He replied, keeping his head up as he walked. There was certainly no call to slouch in a foreign castle, especially one who had him a guest, no matter how much he might want to just drop his shoulders and drag his feet. "I suppose all kings can be, my father definately can be." Which wasn't an understatement. If it didn't involve his people, didn't matter to him. Incredibly frustrating it was, especially as Asketel was not asking for help from a whole new kingdom, one he'd never been to. Slightly hypocritical at heart.

Asketel stepped into the draped rooms, a smile rekindelling on his weary features. "Suitable? It's like a palace in a single room." He commented cheerfully. He turned back to Prince Arthur. "You've shown more kindness and hospitality than anyone, especially me, a stranger to you, could ever ask for. I hope to repay the favour sometime in the future." He praised, an unexpected welcome, but one so desperatly sought after. "If there's anything I can do whilst I'm here, don't hesitate to ask."

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur moved towards the door as Asketel gave his thanks.
"Just join me on a hunt over the next few days and perhaps keep me company at court?" HE laughed, "I do hate some of the duties we have as prince! But it will be good to have somebody who knows how i feel!"
He bowed, showing his respect to the other boy and closed the door behind him.

As Arthur walked down the hall he thought of all the times he had wished he had another boy or girl in his position. A brother or a sister would have been nice, then perhaps his father wouldn't have put so much pressure on him. Now that Asketel was here, he would have somebody who understood what life was like for him. First he would show him a Camleot hunt.