Arthur traveled into town with Sir Ector and Sir Kay, only stopping at a few inns to rest along the way. Three lengthy days the journey took, but at last, the men arrive at the humble city of Leeds where the famous sword of Excalibur was rumored to be.

A few gallops past the hillside and the three men were at glance at the vibrant city. Rolling hillsides of grass and stone decorated the beautiful town. Small vendors and carts filled with sellers lined the pathway leading to a tall silvery stone that encircled the middle of the town square, its metal gleaming in the light.

"Come one! Come all to the sword called Excalibur!Try and pull with all your might, but only he who is worthy will loosen the sword from its fate!" a tall knight announces, leading the group of men who gathered into a line. Ten knights sent by the city governors secure the area, making sure all the men were not unruly and in plain sight.

Arthur hops down his steed, carefully taking in the image of the stone. It was a very large rock with a great sword in it. The rays of the sun shone on its polished surface making it look more lethal then it was.

Arthur carelessly stepped forward, ignoring the line of young men wrapped around the stone, bewitched by its gleam. "Aye lad, back of the line is behind there" a fellow knight warned, lifting his head to point at the line that circled around the city square and grew in size at a distance.

"Charles! Lewis!" Sir Ector beams, greeting his old friends with glee. Prior to being the worst father in the world, he was a true and valiant knight who served under King Uther. Before he could progress as a head knight, he was injured in battle and dismissed from the force. He hugs each knight and laughs, pointing to Kay and Arthur in the distance. "You must meet my son!" he brags, "Kay! Come!" he calls, eager to introduce his heir to his friends.

Kay beams with pride, realizing that Sir Ector purposely left me out his introductions and smoothes his wrinkled blouse and riding pants. "Wait in line and call for me when it's my turn!" Kay demands.

"And what will you be doing?" he scoffs, curious as to why he could not join him. It was because of him they came to this town.

"I will rot in this heat Arthur! You know I am sensitive to the sun!" he snaps, pushing the reigns of his horse into Arthur's hands. How greatly Arthur wanted to protest, for he knew it was unfair, but he understood there was no use. They had been treating him like this for many years so.

"He seems wonderful" a youthful lad, about a year older than Arthur chuckles behind him. Arthur turns to face the voice, nodding in recognition.

"The best" he sighs. Both boys look to each other and chuckle in familiarity, tying their horses to an empty tree before they head to the back of the line.

"Lancelot, Lancelot de Luc" the young boy introduces himself.

"Of the lake?" Arthur asks. He nods and looks to the floor before continuing his introduction. "Both my parents...I mean, may they rest in peace" he mutters beneath a silent breath, "I was raised as an orphan, then taken in by the Lady of the Lake" he says.

"Arthur" he follows, "Just plain old Arthur" he admits and they shake hands. Arthur takes a moment to look at the handsome man, inspecting his distinctive features and jawline. He was a handsome fellow, tall and daring in stature. He measured a few inches taller than Arthur, but just a FEW.

"Ah, more girls" Lancelot grinned, pointing to a group of girls walking down the path. They pretend not to notice the line of men, purposely exposing themselves to the lingering gazes of each man.

"They are scoping out who will be their next husband" Lancelot teases.

"Or king?" Arthur suggests through a sly grin.

"I don't take them for the type to be subjected to the title of concubine" Lancelot frowns, looking forward to see the status of the line. Each boy continues to joke and converse, munching on sharp cheeses and bread packed for the lengthy wait. Arthur liked Lancelot, seeing the charm he had over every lad he met. He would make a great companion and fellow friend.

"So, if I do not become king, I will be training to join the knights" Lancelot informs Arthur.

"So young?" Arthur suggests but is met with a chuckle from Lancelot. "One is never to young to serve their country and King" he smiles, nudging him in play. Arthur smiled but pondered his words.

It was true and if he did decide to join the forces of the knights, he could escape Sir Ector and Kay. Merlin already trained him in battle and spar. What more was he waiting for?

____

At last, the line advances. Arthur and Lancelot were now just a few steps behind the tall sword in the stone. Arthur pushes a hand over his face to search for Kay in the crowd and saw him lounging under a tree, fanning himself with fatigue while Sir Ector talked with a few men.

"KAY! COME ON!" Arthur calls for his older brother.

"Finally!" Kay cheers, shooting up and running to cut the line. "The wait was long but I am here" he brags, pushing Arthur out the way.

Arthur steps to push him back but Lancelot holds his shoulder to calm him down. "He is not worth it Arthur" he advises. The men in front try to pull the sword out but are only met with failure.

"NEXT" the knight yells. Kay walks forward, stepping up to survey the crowds. He sneers at the line then looks at me with pride. "When I am King you will be my servants! Each and every one of you!" he vows, "And Arthur?"

"What" he groans.

"You will be my jests" Kay gloats, pivoting on his heel to face the sword in the stone. He spits in each palm, rubbing them together for a more secure grip. Then, bending down to the ground, he pulls the sword from its site but of course, it does not budge.

"rrfffffkkkf" he grunts, his face turning a dark red from the strain. He must have remained there for a few seconds, maybe even minutes trying to snap it free. "I feel it wiggling! It is almost free" he grunts through clenched teeth.

"Delusional" Lancelot muttered beneath a tired breath to the snickers of the crowd. Ordinarily, the men became impatient watching him struggle and began to chatter.

"COMMON!" one man yells impatiently.

"HURRY UP!"" another lad behind Arthur calls. Arthur smirked as he saw his brother fall to the ground and get up again. He looked pathetic.

"Shut up! ALL OF YOU! I waited for my turn! You shall too!!!" Kay fumes, sending death glares to each man before he turns to try again, but it was no use.

"COME ON LAD! GET OFF!" the knight muttered, pushing him out the way so the next man could try. Arthur chuckles and turns to make his way to the tree where he left his horse.

Finally!

They could go home and leave.

"You give it a go Arthur" Lancelot suggests, stopping Arthur in his path.

"Lancelot....my purpose here was not to pull the sword" he explains.

"Arthur, you waited all this time? Just try it" he demands, pushing him towards the stone.

"Arthur!!! As king?" Kay interrupts Lancelot, snickering in disbelief "When pigs fly! No, when horses fly! How daft and flimsy of you to think that he, plain old ARTHUR, of all the men here! How can you think he could be king?" Kay roars, searing into Arthur's insecurities.

"That's it!" Arthur cursed, pushing Kay to the side to approach sword in the stone. Knowing now, that this was indeed the legendary sword called Excalibur, Arthur tried to pull it from the stone.

He tried once to no avail than a second time, but still, he could not pull it out.

A heavy sigh escapes his lips as he looks to the sword set in the stone. It would not budge although he pulled it with a strength so mighty.

"What a loser" Kay scoffs beneath a loud breath as he watches his brother struggle.

Maybe it was the strength of Kay's teasing or the years of emotional abuse from his family that gave Arthur the courage to grasp the end of the weapon once again. He let out a sharp breath and closed his eyes, clearing the images in his mind.

"You will be king" a voice echoed in his head.

Arthur took in some air, then, with his arms gripped to each point, he wrapped his fingers around base's end.

"You will be king," the voice spoke again.

Then for the third time, Arthur pulled with all his might, grinding his teeth with strain and ----

-SHRINK-

The sword drew out and the crowd grew silent.

Arthur was king.

Author Note

Kay is mad annoying, but not more annoying than Chrissy Teigan.....and that's saying a lot.

FYI: Arthur believes Sir Ector and Kay are his BLOOD family. Only Sir Ector knows that Arthur is not his real son!(kay doesn't know either).