Ch-12

Summer was in full swing as I sat by the river, the water rushing past, its constant flow a stark contrast to the turbulence in my mind. Our company had grown, now numbering 47. What started as a band of hedge knights and sell-swords had turned into something bigger. I had wanted this, but now that I found myself at the head of it, I wasn't sure if it was the right move.

Edric, Ser Oliver, and the others had practically pushed me into the leadership role. No one wanted to follow someone they could beat with a sword, and so I became the leader. I was good at tactics, battle, and keeping people alive. But was I leading them toward the future they deserved? Or something worse?

The weight of my knowledge, of my memories from another world, had been pulling me down for a long time now. I had seen this world's history play out before, from Robert's Rebellion to the War of the Five Kings. Knowing what was coming... it was like having the gods themselves whispering in my ear. But the question was, should I try to change it? Or let things play out as they were meant to?

I knew the power of small actions, the butterfly effect. One wrong move, and the future I knew could spiral out of control. Or maybe it already had.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed Edric approach until he spoke. "Hey," he said.

"Hey," I replied, turning to face him.

"You haven't been yourself lately," he said, sitting down next to me. "You know you can trust me, right?"

I took a deep breath. Edric had always been the one I trusted most. If I was going to share my secret with anyone, it would be him. Lately, these thoughts had been weighing on me so heavily that I could barely focus on anything else. Every time I swung my sword or gave an order, a nagging voice in my head reminded me of the future—of what I knew was coming. It was suffocating, and I couldn't carry the burden alone anymore.

"I need to talk to you," I said, the weight of my words hanging in the air.

Edric looked at me, his usual easygoing demeanor fading as he saw the seriousness in my face. He didn't press me, just waited patiently. That was Edric—always knowing when to push and when to stay silent.

"I think it's time I share something I've kept to myself for too long," I said, the decision finally settling in my chest. "Lately, it's been consuming me, and I can't keep it inside anymore."

He nodded, encouraging me to go on without saying a word.

I stared at the river for a moment longer, watching the water flow, unstoppable and constant, like time itself. Then, I turned back to Edric. "This... secret I've been holding—it's about the future, Edric. About what's coming. And it's not just guesses or visions. I know things, things I shouldn't. And it's driving me mad."

The silence stretched between us as he took in my words, but I knew Edric would understand.

I continued, "I've had strange dreams for as long as I can remember. Dreams of another world. Of the future. You could even say... I'm two people in one body. I knew things before they happened—Tywin Lannister attacking King's Landing, the Greyjoy rebellion. And there's more. More coming. Westeros is about to be torn apart by war, and I don't know if I should get involved or stay away."

Edric's face lost its usual humor as he realized I wasn't joking. He listened carefully, thinking it over. "Look, that explains a lot," he muttered after a moment, lost in thought.

"These aren't just prophecies, Edric," I said, my voice firm. "They aren't vague riddles. I've seen these events play out—battles, deaths, betrayals. And I don't know what to do with all of it. I could save people. I could stop certain deaths, change things for the better. Or... I could stay out of it entirely. We could go somewhere far away and live quietly."

Edric leaned back, considering my words. "You know, prophecies often lead people astray," he said, his eyes narrowing as he weighed his next words.

"These aren't prophecies. These are certainties," I countered. "I know what's coming."

Edric sighed, then smiled faintly. "You've already made up your mind, Arthur. You just don't realize it yet."

I frowned, caught off guard by his response. "What do you mean?"

He chuckled. "If you had truly decided not to get involved, you would never have taken the knight's oath. You wouldn't have led us all this way. That oath, the life you're living now—it's because you've already chosen. You just don't want to admit it."

His words hit me like a hammer. He was right. The knight's oath wasn't something I took lightly. I swore to protect the innocent, defend the weak. That wasn't the path of a man who would sit back and let chaos take over.

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I stood. "I guess you're right, old man."

Edric rose too, watching me closely. "So, where are we going now?"

"To King's Landing," I said, feeling a new sense of purpose surge through me. I started walking toward the camp, Edric following behind with a knowing grin.

The future wasn't set in stone, not anymore. And I was going to make sure of that.