章 10: A rock to the head

Moira, ever the one to get serious after an emotional situation, wiped her eyes and met her new Sire's gaze.

"Sire, you need to be more careful with yourself. You jest, but you cheated death itself. Please be careful with your body." She warned, and surprised by such concern, Artie smiled.

"Why thank you for being so concerned, Moira. I will keep it in the back of my mind." Artie began to move towards the doors and Sir Kay moved, supporting the new Sire while Sir Percy attached the holy sword to her hip first before supporting her other side.

"Wait Sire, you are still not stable on your feet." Artie grinned at the two attractive men on either side of her.

"Wow, this is nice. I've never had so many people worried that I would die from a fall before. I appreciate being carried here was fine, but my wound is dressed again and I am now in a dress that is…far more elaborate than my previous one. Being seen carried by two of the round table knights might discredit me, even if everyone knows I fell from the sky heavily wounded. I need to instill confidence, especially given what I am about to do." Lady Morgan sighed, as she helped Lady Guinevere to her feet and the two moved towards them.

"You are being too dramatic, but I do agree with you. Sir Kay, Sir Percival, let the new King chosen by the sword walk on her own. If she embarrasses herself, it wouldn't reflect badly on any of the knights at least." Sir Percy's face hardened, while Artie grinned and gave Lady Morgan and thumbs up. Lady Morgan gave her a confused look in return.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Lady Morgan. Would one of said knights be kind enough to lead me to the chambers Sir Lancelot was speaking of earlier?" They were only about halfway towards the doors when they were pushed open without knocking and in stormed Merlin. Every body except Artie's tensed. He grinned as he caught sight of Artie with the holy sword attached at her hip.

"A little birdie told me that the sword chose you." He chuckled, and Artie wanted to throw something heavy and damaging at him.

"Merlin, I know that wasn't a little birdie. I am going to warn you now, while I am still smiling, that if I catch you spying on me in any capacity, I will not be pleased. And it won't end well for you, unofficial protector of this land or not." HIs eyes widened, the green swirls intensifying before his grin grew even wider. It had entered the uncanny valley, and Artie winced.

"You know too much about my role here, I can see it in your eyes. Your challenge is accepted, new King." Lady Morgan, who was hearing this for the first time, watched the two with interest. She had noticed how Artie had treated Merlin at the round table, but if she knew more information about Merlin, it would make sense.

"Merlin, you just admitted to spying on the new King. That's an act close to treason." Lady Morgan teased, and Merlin shrugged, his eyes glowing brighter.

"As she stated, Lady Morgan, only if I get caught. The new King isn't too forgiving, is she?" The people in the room who had been interacting with Artie didn't agree with his statement, but maybe it held true for the wizard. Artie huffed.

"You don't even know what I'm on my way to do, and yet you say that. Sir Percy? Ignore Merlin, and please show me the way. I don't want to be late." Sir Percy nodded, and began to lead the way. Artie noticed that he'd shortened his strides so that Artie didn't strain her wound, and she smiled. Sir Percy threw a smile towards Merlin, who smiled back. Sir Kay quickly slid past him to hold open the door for the group as they entered into the hallway. The two guards standing outside straightened at the sight of all of the important people, especially the now dolled up new sword wielder. Moira and her partner remained in the room, determined to clean up now that everyone was gone. Merlin tottered behind the group, chittering to himself behind everyone, as Sir Percy led the way, Artie followed him, the two Ladies followed her, and Sir Kay finished up the group.

Sir Percy led them down a few sets of hallways, chattering away to Artie and explaining the routes. Artie nodded, pretending to remember everything, while actually working on not letting the pain of her wound influence her facial expressions. Sir Percy ended up leading them to a huge room with three thrones at the end of it up a few steps of stairs. With no one else currently in the room, Artie let Sir Percy support her up the stairs, and even let the two knights help lower her into the throne in the middle. The two other ladies' sat on the thrones on either side of her. Merlin stood off to the side, a bit in the shadows cast by the large pillars that held up the roof.

"So, are you going to tell us why we are here?" He asked, and Artie shook her head. She felt a little awkward sitting in her throne, the sword still on her hip, and the pain building up on her tense wound.

"Merlin Merlin Merlin, sometimes surprises are worth the wait. Please be nice and quiet throughout this interaction please." Merlin inclined his head, clearly too interested in what was about to happen to think to interfere. If Artie was honest with herself, so was everyone else. It was why Lady Morgan and Lady Guinevere hung around still. They were curious about the vision she had seen when she'd picked up the sword, and what it had to do with Lord Byron.

They had to wait a little bit longer before signs that the group she had sent off had arrived back. At least, partially. Sir Bedivere and Sir Tristan opened the large doors at the end of the hall first, surprised at the sight before them, before they bowed their heads in acknowledgement of Artie. Artie, now slipping into a new persona, nodded at them, before they allowed the next man to enter.

He was wearing all purple in real life as well as the flashbacks, and he looked to be the size of a whale. The clothes barely fit on him, and must have been expensive. He was well groomed, his mustache on point, and his hair slicked back. If she didn't know any better, he'd remind her of a warm and welcoming uncle. Her skin crawled.

He entered, quite confident in himself, since he was the first one to be called before the new King. Too bad he didn't question why.

"My, I didn't expect to see a woman." He said out loud, loud enough that everyone could hear him. His voice was high pitched and haughty, and Artie took an instant dislike to it. His evil wasn't pretty. Artie hated him. She really did. Her grip tightened on the throne as she smiled at him, using her teeth. Merlin looked away from Artie to stare at Lord Byron.

"Lord Byron, it is nice to finally meet you." Artie told him and the silly man took her smile at face value. She turned to Sir Percy. "Sir Percy, I have a feeling he is going to try to run. When the time comes, please hand me something round and easy to throw, like a rock." Percy, surprised, just nodded and stepped back until he was hidden behind the throne Artie sat in. "Lord Byron, I heard you were a lovely advisor for the previous Kings, so I wanted to meet you for myself. Forgive me, I've sent Sir Lancelot out on a quick errand for me and I would like to wait for him to arrive before we begin any serious discussions. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to hear more about yourself." He seemed to be tickled pink at the chance to talk about himself. Artie wanted to snort. The idiot hadn't realised that she'd basically threatened him while bookending it with asking him to talk about himself. It was clear he didn't view her as a threat. He was going to regret that.

For 20 solid minutes he droned on and one about his accomplishments and even briefly mentioned that he loved helping those of lower status than him. Especially with getting them into schooling and up and out of poverty. It disgusted Artie that everyone thought he was this wonderful guy. But she also asked herself, who would doubt him? Up until now, there hadn't really been evidence that something awful was happening. Maybe it was her own bias, and radar that made her different. She just hated anyone who messed with kids.

It was as he was naturally nearing the end of his discussion and everyone was getting tired of hearing him, that Sir Lancelot pushed open the doors. Sir Lancelot, for his part, hadn't shown himself as an overly emotional guy, so seeing the shock and horror on his face moved her. Artie rose to her feet, forcing herself not to react as her wound stretched.

"Ah, Sir Lancelot. I trust you found everything in order?" She asked. Stunned, but not one to ignore an order, he nodded. He shared a look with the other two knights near the doors. Artie turned her gaze to the clueless Lord Byron and smiled.

"I've been told that you are a kind man, Lord Byron. Is that so?" He nodded eagerly, clearly wanting to please her. Artie turned her attention to the sword on her hip, before pulling it out and raising it to her eye level. She noticed how everyone watched her movements in anticipation. "I'm sure you are unaware, but I come from…humble beginnings, so forgive me if I don't know how to address this properly." Everyone held their breath, including Lord Byron. "I've been told by you and others that you take in orphans and the impoverished into your household to raise them up and out of their poor circumstances, yes?" He nodded again. "Well, with the powers that the holy sword have given me, they have spoken of something completely different." Artie lowered the sword until it hung loosely in her hand. "Lord Byron, while I have been busy distracting you, Sir Lancelot and others have been raiding your home." He didn't get indignant, and instead he went white. It was the smoking gun. "Lord Byron, are you going to try to justify what you've done?" He began to sputter, his face going from white to a splotchy, reddish tone.

"Y-You can't accuse me of anything! You are just a little girl! An imposter King!" Artie laughed at him.

"In your bedroom, when lying in bed you look at that little six pointed star as if you know everything. Once having pressed the star you walk down a small hallway to your torture chamber, because that is what it is. You torture the children you so graciously take into your home, do things to them that should never happen to such small beings, and then they die. They are supposed to be protected, yet you kill them, treat them like cattle all because they are poor and therefore won't be missed." The look of horror on every face was priceless. The colour of his face just proved that everything Artie had said was true.

"H-How did you-" Artie's smile was cruel as she looked down on him.

"The sword told me, and my friend made me promise that if I ever came across the likes of you, that they would be caught and punished to the full extent of the law. Take him to his cell." He floundered, and Sir Percy without being signaled handed Artie the rock he'd found. Sir Lancelot was ready to tackle him as Artie weighed the ball in her hand before aiming, and throwing. Lord Byron had turned around, about to attempt to run for the door when the rock hit him in the back of his head and he went down. Sir Percy whistled, impressed with her strike. Sir Lancelot looked up at where Artie stood, holy sword in hand, wearing one of Lady Guinevere's older dresses, but still looking every bit of the new King she was, and he sighed. He knew this was the sign of a new reign, he just hoped this one lasted longer.