Mission to save the Princess

"Is there something you wanted to say, father?" Kay asked as he was summoned by his father to his chamber. They sat down at the study desk.

"Yes, it's about the Princess of Wales' arrival in Camelot. King Uther wants you to go and protect her. Keep her safe until she arrives in Camelot, whatever it takes," Sir Ector replied, a stern tone in his voice as he conveyed the monarch's task to his son.

"It is said that Vortigern sent the Saxons, pretending to be bandits, to ambush the Princess's route in the mountain forest. Protect her life and don't let that wicked dragon's scheme succeed."

"I will, father." Kay bowed respectfully and left.

He didn't ask why he was chosen among others and faithfully executed his father's order without question, like a good knight should, which made Sir Ector very satisfied with his son. He nodded appreciatively.

It seemed he could fully trust his son in aiding his daughter's monarch in the future, a sigh of relief escaping from his mouth.

…

"Leaving, Kay?" Merlin asked with a smirk on his face, watching him fully arrayed for battle – gleaming silver armor, a sword strapped to his hip, and a quiver of arrows slung across his back. A powerful warhorse stood beside him, its reins already grasped in Kay's hand.

Their current location was the courtyard, the training ground that Kay usually used as Merlin watched Artoria swing her wooden sword in exercise.

"You should have already answered that yourself, Merlin," Kay shrugged.

"I did, hah… It seems King Uther couldn't wait," Merlin sighed.

"He is dying…"

"You should know the great opportunity of this mission for you, Kay."

"Great opportunity… Hah! I think he wants me to stay away from my own sister and keep me away from the sword in the stone while I am away with the foreign princess. Did I guess correctly, Merlin?" Kay replied with a sarcastic look on his face.

Merlin touched his nose in embarrassment as Kay dismantled King Uther's purpose.

It was true though; when he was away, it would not only make him miss the opportunity to pull the sword from the stone, and it would also make him lose the chance to swear the first allegiance with Artoria. He would not be the first knight under her, which would greatly reduce his authority over Artoria and Camelot at the same time, hitting two birds with one stone.

King Uther feared the boy would be acknowledged by the sword, his noble ideal of saving Britannia likely recognized by the sword, which was not what King Uther wanted to see. He only saw Artoria as his heir, while the rest of the people's failures were her stepping stones for her ascension to become king.

Even if he wanted to defend his best friend, King Uther, he couldn't because the boy spoke the truth.

"Ahem… I will give you the best sword in the future, Kay, if you can finish this mission perfectly," Merlin promised. After all, the boy was half-student and friend too, so he could only compensate him as best as he could.

For stopping King Uther's plan to keep this boy away from Camelot politics? No way. He couldn't do that. Artoria was too important to be distracted, and this guy's influence on her was too huge, which made Merlin dare not bet on what would happen if this boy was too close to her in her first ascension as a king.

"No need. Just take care of my sister for me," Kay patted Merlin's shoulder and smirked with a sunny smile on his face, which made Merlin feel more guilty and vow to treat Kay better in the future.

"Since you refused the sword, how about I introduce you to the best woman in the brothel?" Merlin smirked with a wretched look on his face.

"Fuck you." Kay cursed and stayed away from this wretched man.

"Anyway, just let my sister know that I have always been on her side, even if I miss her first appointment as a king," Kay said with a serious tone in his voice.

"I will let her know, I swear," Merlin vowed.

"Then I will take my leave, Merlin. Goodbye," Kay waved his hand.

"Goodbye, my friend." Merlin waved too.

He stared at Kay's back and sighed.

What a good boy.

Unknown to him, Kay smirked inwardly at his own display of maturity.

Ah… Merlin, for now, I am weak and can only obey your whim and Uther's.

But it won't be too long before I take back what is supposed to belong to me.

You and Uther will regret ever crossing paths with me.