Herald Of A New Age

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur was sitting in his chambers at the table with a pitcher of wine and two place settings. He was expecting company to dine with him. It was early afternoon, around lunchtime, and he had extended the invitation a hour before hand to the most unexpected of guests. Alistair the Druid. Arthur did not get along with that man. And he in turn, did not get along with Arthur. The only reason they tolerated each other was for Isadora's sake. Isadora, who was a dear friend of Arthur's and had been greatly supportive during the recent difficulties he had been faced with. First his father's death, and then . . . Guinevère's banishment. But right now was not the time to lament about such things, though it was almost constantly on his mind. There was another matter at hand that was of dire need to be discussed. And that was: the fate of the druids. Last night, Arthur had made a promise, he had given his word to the young boy that the druids would no longer be hunted.

That they would be accepted and exempt of any crimes of magic. It was a promise he intended to make good on, otherwise he would never have given his word. In exchange, the boy had given Arthur something so priceless: his forgiveness. Arthur knew that he did not deserve it, not after having led such a raid that resulted in so much bloodshed. But now as king, he was trying to right as many wrongs as he could. The boy had also spared his friend which only further proved that they did not want violence, but peace. Arthur always believed that the druids were a peaceful people, and had tried to defend them to his father. But of course, his father's hatred of magic was overwhelming. Arthur's was not the same. And he planned to free the druids from the burden they felt of being hunted like criminals. They would be embraced like civilians. And Arthur would protect them as he would his people. For they were part of Camelot and it was his responsibility to ensure the safety and security of all Camelotians.

He was in the works of making this declaration official, but it was not yet public. He had a meeting earlier this morning with the council and told them of his plans. They were in the midst of working up a document to formalize this. Which brought Arthur to this moment now. He knew that Isadora, Alistair and the newest addition to their family, could not stay too much longer. During the duration of Alistair's stay, Arthur had avoided him. Now, he had sent out an invitation, asking him to dine with him and to come alone. Because, after all the tensions between them . . . now was the time to right more wrongs. Now was the time to assure him that his people would be safe, and to stop fighting for their rights. That there was no need to be violent. Ultimately, him and Alistair both wanted the same thing: peace. And now, perhaps the two men could be civil and reach a new level of understanding between each other. One that they had never truly obtained before.


_{Setting: Arthur's chambers
Time of Day: Early Afternoon
Timeline: The morning after Herald of a New Age
Tag: Alistair
Notes: Time to make Alistair start shittin' kittens!}

[Alistair]

Why the bleedin' hell did people put berries and nuts into bread? More disturbing; Why could he not stop eating it? The challenge of this endeavor was not to finish the whole thing; but discover a way to get the kitchens in Gwent baking it; without admitting to liking anything this kingdom made. Disturbing challenge indeed.

The interruptions that came was enough that Alistair forgot the bread; and everything else he was thinking. The king was summoning him to his private chambers for a meal? He made the servant repeat the message about ten times before deciding that it was a trap and he wasn't going to go.

Only he knew he had to. Alistair made the servant wait there while he dawn the sword belt; the side dagger that did nothing more then got int he way of his arm; put a dagger in each boot, and picked up the heavy club to carry with him. After a moment of thought; he left the club but tucked another dagger under his shirt; and the final one up the shelve of his shirt.

He was now ready to lunch with the king. "Lead." He told the servant; not knowing the way and wanting something between him and whatever was coming his way. The king had NO reason to meet with him; and they'd avoided each other this whole trip.

Why now? What had he done this time? Was this about the horse and the maid? It was the only thing that made sense; and Alistair was not going to apologize for that! "Knock." He told the worker; making sure he stood back from the door.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Right on time, Arthur heard a knock on the door. "Come," he spoke as he rose to his feet out of respect. When Alistair entered his chambers Arthur looked at him from head to toe. The man looked far too armed to be joining the king for lunch. He could tell the servant's slight discomfort as well, for no one should be so heavily armed when sitting with the king, alone and unguarded. But Arthur knew Alistair would not kill him. For the news he had to share with him today was not one that would enrage him. But one that he hoped to ease the tensions between them. Admittedly however, Arthur felt a bit bare for he had no sword strapped to his belt. He was completely unarmed and the closest weapon he had, was his sword that was near his bed. Never the less he did not go for it. He just eyed the man and gave a nod to the servant to dismiss him.

"I do believe I invited you for lunch and not for battle," he said in ever so slight teasing. He motioned with his hand for Alistair to have a seat at the table as Arthur sat back down in his chair. He supposed he should be grateful that he agreed to come at all. If he did not, he was unsure if it was something Isadora would be adamant about him doing. For she of all people was aware of the strong tensions between them and anyone who knew them to that extent, would be shocked to find out that they were alone in a room together, one far more heavily armed than the other. "Thank you for coming," Arthur said politely. Perhaps in the most polite tone he'd ever used with the druid before. Polite, yet still formal.

[Alistair]

Alistair followed the worker into the room and took notice of the unarmed king; who mocked him for his weapons. "I sought to seek out the training grounds." He lied; trying to explain his weapons when in truth he did not trust the Pendragon summons. The unknown was a fear for him; and this here was unknown! He'd not seen it coming! Alistair did not often see everything; but he would have thought this meeting alone in the royal bed chambers might have been something worth seeing.

Pulling out the chair; Alistair looked in it before trying to figured out one one sat down with a sword belt on. Did you move it forward; or stick it though the arm hole? Eventually; Alistair pulled the belt off and put it on the other end of the table. Not removing his other weapons. Was he to be poisoned then? They had nothing in common; why meet with him here? Where no one could stand witness? Threats? A 'request' to not come back like he'd requested of his lady love? "Why would a busy King wish to lunch with his foes?"

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur wondered if the man was looking for traps on the chair. For little did he know that he was trying to determine how to sit on it with all the armor he was clad in. Eventually the man took off his belt and set it to the side, finally sitting down. And not wasting any time as he immediately inquired the reason for Arthur having invited him here. The way he said it made him sound suspicious. That was something that Arthur could understand. He had given Alistair no reason to trust him in this way. For it had never been important to Arthur in the past. He had not trusted the druid after his criminal acts against his father, Isadora, and then Guinevère. But now, it was not a time to speak about their harsh past. It was a time to plan a prosperous future. Where two groups of people came together, unified with peace. At the same time, Arthur decided he may as well have slight fun with this moment.

Try to relax the druid some. Or make him more anxious. Either way, they would ease into the conversation. "There is no need to rush the conversation. First, have some wine. Eat some food." The servant came to pour a cup of wine from the pitcher into Alistair's cup, while another did the same in Arthur's. The food was also slowly starting to come in. Commencing with bread, fruit and vegetables, and then pheasant as the main course. It was all set at once however for Arthur had told the others to leave him in private with the druid. So all the food would be set out, and they could speak business. Eventually.

[Alistair]

Why the hell were their two pitchers? What was in his? Alistair didn't think that he would try to openly to kill him; but he also never met a Pendragon he could trust. After the events of the man's no-wedding; he didn't want to know what was going on in his head. While Alistair knew it would never be an issue; for he kept his woman too busy in his bed to have the will to seek out another; he knew that should he had found her with another man; he'd not have locked the man in a cell. He'd have removed every limb from his body. All five of them.

Lunch with a Pendragon? Why? What were they not rushing? Nobles and their bloody annoying tendency to never get straight to the damn point. That was all he wanted; to know why he was here. Something solid. Something that didn't leave him like he was in the middle of that annoying labyrinth. Alistair waited until the worker's had set everything down; before standing and very openly switching Arthur's and his own cups. Right where the king could see him. "A toast then. To . . . lunch." So the king would have to drink; or expose any ill will.

[Arthur Pendragon]

"A toast then. To . . . lunch." Arthur raised his cup to honor those toast that the druid proposed. It was clear that the man did not make many toasts in his life. Which was hardly a surprise. It was clear that he was a man of few words, so Arthur didn't expect him to spout off an eloquent speech to give a toast in front of him. "And to peace," he added holding his cup up for a few more moments before taking a sip from it. Peace was something very important to Arthur, and it was what he hoped to achieve after this meeting, starting with the druid. There had been enough tension between them. Though, the tension was more so due the fact that Alistair had kidnapped three people that Arthur cared about, more so than the fact that Alistair was a druid. Quite honestly, Arthur's judgment on the man was not so much based on that. He contradicted the reputation that druid people had, which was that they were people of peace and secrecy. Alistair seemed to be one of hostility and public actions. Never the less, today was not a day to argue with him. It was a day to inform him that the druids were safe from persecution.

Arthur did not expect other kingdoms -- even allies -- to necessarily follow suit, as no other kingdom had made such a public proclamation. But in no way, would Arthur regret this decision. It was something he owed the druids. He could not bring back the lives that had been lost, but if the spirits of one of the boys he had been responsible for his death for could forgive Arthur . . . then surely, the druids who still lived now would hopefully be able to do the same. Arthur would not ask for their forgiveness though. Only that they give him a chance to make things right. Starting, with this formal document. He set the cup down and motioned for Alistair to start taking some food, waiting for his guest to do before Arthur did the same. "How is the Lady Isadora and Princess Sabina?" He asked casually. He wasn't sure if that would provoke him, and while Arthur was in a way stalling this . . . he was also genuinely curious. Making sure that everything was alright with them. Isadora had been such a great support to him after . . . that night . . . that he hoped she was well. He would of course make it a point to see both her and Sabina before they departed back to Gwent.

[Alistair]

Alistair looked at the little king as he toasted to peace; as well as lunch. The gestured for Alistair to pick what he wished to eat first; he still felt uneasy but he reached for his food of choice first; and put it on his plate. He did note; however; which parts the king took bits from and from where his own were from. If they were not from the same parts; he would not bit them.

The king was now asking about his family; and it left[ him feeling guarded. On edge; and he did not like it. "Why am I here?" Alistair got to the point; rather then try to drag it out. He wanted to know; and he did not wish to speak of his family; and of lunch. These men were not friends; and even while they had at times tried; they had found they could not be. A Pendragon and Druid would never be friends.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur knew he couldn't drag this out forever. Plus, he had to admit that he was toying with the druid a bit. He knew his direct ways, and their interactions in the past had been less than pleasant. Now however, he directly asked the question again and Arthur knew the man deserved an answer. Otherwise, he may leave. Or he may take advantage of the armory he was wearing. "You are here because I wish to discuss an important declaration I have made recently." He would also need the druid's help in locating others to spread the word. While Arthur would make a public announcement of this, he knew that with the secrecy that the druids lived in . . . it would take that much longer for them to hear about it. If Alistair knew of any druid camps, then surely he would not mind informing the people of their freedom and their rights that were long overdue.

"It will be announced once the document if finished being drawn up," he continued, knowing that he was just further toying with the druid by dragging it out. He also knew that he was speaking in a very nonchalant tone about the entire thing. Making it sound as if it was a small matter. But, when he got to the important words, he paused action and looked at Alistair. There was no sign of jest on his own face for he wanted the man to know that this was a certainty. That it was now law. "From this day forward, the druid people will be liberated from persecution, and given all the rights and freedoms that they deserve." Because they were a peaceful people, and it had been long enough that their kind had been hunted for nothing. They had saved Leon, used magic to heal others. They were no longer the enemies, and Arthur awaited to see Alistair's reaction to this news.

[Alistair]

The little king was talking about papers and announcements; and Alistair found himself wanting to hit the man. Why was he here? Their was no common ground between them; and anything the king decided normally only annoyed the bloody hell out of him. Finally the little king spoke again; and reviled what he wanted. Had Alistair been a less controlled man; the king would have been hit. Yet his words removed all annoyance from him.

"From this day forward, the druid people will be liberated from persecution, and given all the rights and freedoms that they deserve."

Bloody f%#cking hell; the king was freeing his people?! Alistair felt as if the stones that were under his feet; and the very chair that held his weight were gone. There was a spinning in his head that he wasn't sure was an actual feeling or if it was just the king's words playing over and over.

Alistair had made Gwent his home; put his faith in his princess and prayed on every star that ever touched the darkness of the night sky that she would be able to do more then he could. Never in all his years would he have thought that a Pendragon would be the one to right the wrongs; and give his people a chance.

Turning so he was firmly in his chair; Alistair bent forward slightly; and stared down at his large hands. He could almost see the blood and grim and dirt on them from the years of fighting for his people. He could hear their pleas; and his chest throbbed where he had been shot by an Pendragon arrow!

He swallowed; though his mouth was dry from the too many thoughts and feelings that were pounding in his head and chest. Finally managing to look back up at the Pendragon King; Alistair began to think. He tried to speak a few times; though his mouth only moved with no sound. "Explain." He demanded; though it came out sounding almost pained. Inside he was no hurting; but feeling the weight of the fear from his people being lifted.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur watched the druid carefully and he had reacted in a way that Arthur never would have expected. He may not know Alistair well, but he knew him well enough to know that this was not how he ordinarily reacted. In their conversations in the past, nothing had phased the druid. Not when Arthur told him that magic had claimed his father's life, nor when he confessed to breaking the law to help a druid boy. So this very reaction, truly showed the king how moved he was to hear this news. Isadora often spoke of how Alistair fought for his people -- going against the typical druid's way of peace -- but never the less, fought for their rights. Now, he would not have to fight anymore. At least not in Camelot. After many moments Alistair spoke with a single word: Explain. Arthur knew he owed him an explanation. Even though the king wasn't the best at vocalizing his emotions and deep thoughts, he would do his best. To show Alistair that this was just not something that he had decided to falsify peace between them.

He meant every single word. "Despite my contradictory actions, I never believed the druids to be anything but a peaceful people." That much was true. He had often tried to defend them to his father, but he would not hear of it. He wouldn't even consider it because . . . the druids had magic. "I am not proud of my actions in the past." Humility. Regret. Shame. Things that Arthur would not often admit to anyone . . . especially a man who may as well be a stranger to him. Not only that, but a former enemy. "But I give you my word, that from now on, the druids are safe in Camelot. They will no longer be hunted. They will not be condemned. They can live freely and in peace throughout the kingdom." Arthur would not give his word, unless he meant it. For a man was nothing if he held no honor; if he did not make good on his vowed word. He stopped there for now, letting the news continue to sink into Alistair's mind; allowing him to absorb this information.

[Alistair]

The king wasn't really explaining anything; but his words were expressing his earlier ones better. "But I give you my word, that from now on, the druids are safe in Camelot. They will no longer be hunted. They will not be condemned. They can live freely and in peace throughout the kingdom." Closing his eyes for a moment; Alistair reached his hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose; trying to think. It was odd to feel the slight moister there. He could hear his uncle's harsh words in his head; trying to torment the weak emotions from the young child he had been. After spreading more then half his life hiding everything; he did not know how to express a single emotion in this moment.

Inhaling deeply; he pinched his nosed slightly harder; hoping the pain would make it easier to single out one thought or feeling in his head and deal with even just one of them. When he could drop his hand; and open his eyes he looked at the king again. "Why?" Knowing his words were informal; and blunt; but he could not help it. His mind would not work enough to ask the many questions he needed too.

His daughter was safer here then in her own kingdom. Gwent was still ruled by the king's laws; and Druids were outlawed at birth. While not hunted; if found they were magic users in a kingdom that treated magic like the plague. He had to lie about his bloodlines in order to keep everyone safe. They used magic to keep their child from having his visions; and he knew that if anyone recognized what the child worn then they'd be exposed.

Now this young king was freeing his people. Why? What made his so far from his father? How did a man of hate raise one to free what he hated so much?

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur just watched the man as he continued to react to the information. He knew it was something that change the entire face of the kingdom. For it was the first law made in over twenty years that accepted tolerance of magic users. He asked him why and there were many reasons for it. Of course Arthur was not going to go into detail about what had brought it to light recently. About the specific raid on a druid camp that kept him up at night; that made him hear the screams of the woman and the cries of the children. It would haunt him for the rest of his life. And he knew that he deserved the burden of his actions . . . for the guilt weighed heavily on him. All he could do now was promise the druids a bright future, even if he had contributed to such a darkened past. "Because it is long overdue," Arthur answered simply but with a strong tone of sincerity.

"Because what has been done to the druids, is injustice." They had done nothing to deserve to be hunted. And Arthur no longer wanted them to be punished for something they were so undeserving of. Especially when they had only helped them in the past. "And because of the very fact that you have to ask that question." Because he had to ask why the druids were being freed from punishment for crimes they did not commit. Arthur didn't want Camelot to be an unjust kingdom. He wanted peace. He wanted justice. "I want Camelot to be a kingdom of peace." He wanted all the bloodshed to end. He didn't want war, nor wanted to hunt people who didn't deserve to be treated like criminals. "And the druids have been nothing but a peaceful people," he added, wanting Alistair to know that he was not oblivious to this fact.

[Alistair]

It was over due; but that did not tell him why. What had inspired the Pendragon to amend the wrongs of his father now? "Because what has been done to the druids, is injustice." Something that Alistair had claimed for years; and no one had given a damn; yet he could not bring himself to point out his years of fighting; bleeding; and dying when the king was freeing his people. He could only sit there and try to let everything absorb into him.

"I want Camelot to be a kingdom of peace." Saying it meant one thing; but proving it was another; and it seemed the Pendragon was willing to prove it with more then just his words but his actions. "And the druids have been nothing but a peaceful people," Most of them. Alistair knew a few of them had not been so; his own name foremost on that list.

He did not know words well; but there were some he did know. "No one has ever done something of such before; and it shows what sort of king you will be." He told him; looking over at him. "I was born in Camelot; but I have never claimed to be of this kingdom." And now his lies would keep him from doing such; "If your words prove with time to be true; and you do as you say now . . . "

"Then you will be the first man that I would respect as a king." The only one.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur listened to the druid's words, and it filled him with a strong honor in hearing how he respected him as a king. Despite the harsh punishments implemented by his father in the past. Alistair, a man who despised Uther, now respected his son. While Arthur would never condone the druid's actions, he had not been the first to rebel against Uther. He was merely the first who got close enough to the king potentially do him harm. He was tired of fighting and being angry with everyone though. He knew he had to prove himself as a king. For he carried the burden of his father's enemies; of the wrong that was done to them . . . of the vengeance they sought out. Morgana was the biggest example, though she was far too corrupted for there to be any justification. "Your words honor me," Arthur admitted to him truthfully, wanting to be honest about that.

Wanting him the know that he did not dismiss them; that he did not just expect them because he was a king. He knew Alistair did not respect a man because of titles. But the fact that he had earned this man's respect . . . meant a great deal to Arthur. "I won't be able to bring peace to Camelot alone. I will need as much help as a I can get." Because he was not too proud to admit that he needed aid; that he needed to build his list of allies . . . starting with potential allies within the kingdom. "I can not change the past," he began to say to him. "And I have many regrets about how the druids were treated." Of how Arthur treated the druids . . . of how he had led campaigns and raids against them. "Let us work toward a brighter future." As allies, rather than enemies.

He was allies with Gwent, but he was not allies with Alistair. Alistair was a druid above all other things. He had roots, ties to his people that were unbreakable. He knew it could not have been easy for him to give all that up for the woman he loved. A great sacrifice, and the fact that Alistair had done so showed that he was a man capable of affection, both in giving it and receiving it. With his words, Arthur extended his hand to the druid, a sign to show that he was willing to put the past behind him . . . if Alistair was. To, as Arthur had said, work toward a brighter future. Arthur could look past his actions, for he knew that his father's against the druids had been far more violent. All the young king now needed was a chance to prove that he was not his father. To step out of the shadow that everyone assumed him to be. He had his father's strength, but different judgment . . . and that was what would be what built Camelot to a kingdom of peace.

[Alistair]

"Your words honor me," His actions honored himself; not Alistair's words. No words spoken by him could express what this meant to him. The Pendragon--Arthur--knew that Alistair fought for his people that he would die for their cause. While before it had been a source of odds for the men; now they had a common goal. "I won't be able to bring peace to Camelot alone. I will need as much help as a I can get." Help; he would need help. Alistair knew he was tired to Gwent but he wanted to here and helping his people; the people of his daughter. Yet he could not.

"Let us work toward a brighter future." He held out his hand; and Alistair looked it for a moment before reaching out his own in a firm grasp. "I will aid you in your quest for peace."He swore; knowing that there would be much to do. Fear was hard to kill. Hard to change the hearts that held such fears. "There is much misunderstanding between the two worlds; and I have come to see such things with my time in her world." Where one side saw evil; there were in fact people. Fear caused one to attack and one to hide in caves. It would takes time to make them embrace as brothers.

Letting the king's head go; Alistair stared at him; still not having gotten his features back into his impassioned expression. "There is much fear between our worlds."

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur felt oddly relieved when Alistair took his hand, shaking it. He quietly released a breath that he had not even realized he'd been holding. While he knew from the druid's reactions and words that he seemed more . . . accepting of Arthur than he was of the previous king, Arthur still felt immense reassurance in this one gesture. For it symbolized a great deal. A promise of a peaceful future, while letting go of a painful past. After properly shaking his hand for a few moments, he released his grasp on it. "Thank you," he said gratefully when Alistair assured him that he would help him. He could truly overlook Arthur's past transgressions. Many blamed the young Pendragon for all the wrong doings of the past . . . and Arthur was just relieved that Alistair would no longer be one of those people.

If he could sway the druid's mind, was it possible to convince others too? Was it truly possible to make friends out of former enemies? Annis' anger had been Arthur fathers, but most of the practitioners of magic were angry with his father rather than him. Yet, linked them both strongly together. Alistair's acceptance of him represented a great deal to Arthur; it gave him hope that he could continue to act like a strong king and prove to the people that he wanted peace. "I know," Arthur admitted in a low voice when Alistair spoke of how there was much misunderstanding and fear among both worlds. The people feared magic for they were taught to despite it. The druids feared the people for they were persecuted and punished for their magic. This tension that existed between these two drastically different words, was something that Arthur wanted to eliminate.

"I wish to alleviate that misunderstanding and fear," he began to tell him. Not only with putting this law in place, but with personally telling the druids that they no longer had to fear persecution; that they were free."I would ask a great favor from you," Arthur continued. He knew he could not ask for the whereabouts of the secretive druid camps. He did not want to impose on their privacy -- knowing that they remained elusive and well hidden for good reason. Nor did he want to arouse any suspicion in Alistair as to why he would need such information. "I lack the knowledge of the druid camps throughout Camelot." Again, with good reason, but by starting to say this, he hoped Alistair would soon catch on to what he was saying.

"If you could, at your convenience, go to these camps, or contact any druids that you know and inform them of this news." Arthur was not sure how willing he was to do this, so would added further reassurance should he have any doubts in the Pendragon's intentions. "I plan to make a public announcement but I wish for this declaration to spread to the druid people as quickly as possible." For it was ultimately them that the news benefited and Arthur wanted the word to spread as quickly as possible. "You will not be followed nor questioned should you decide to fulfill my request." Leaving Alistair the freedom to deny it, for Arthur did not want to seem as if he was commanding or ordering the druid to do anything. It would be his choice entirely and as Arthur said, it would be a favor to him as well as one to the druids.