He turned to his father.

"It's not true, right? Tell them this is a mistake." He pleaded.

"Of course it's a mistake!"Miraz snapped. " You expect us to believe this peasant boy is my brother's son?"

He marched down from his podium and Arthur watched in dread as he began to make his way towards him. Only when he approached him, the lieutenants stepped forward and drew their swords.

"You dare draw your swords against me?" He asked venomously.

"Please return to your seat, my Lord. There's no need to make a scene." Commander Boulivir said.

"And let you feed us this lie? Please, this is obviously fake!" Miraz said.

"There is a simple solution to all this." A familiar voice said.

They all turned and watched as Queen Nymeria rose to her feet and approached them. She turned to the Oracle.

"If I heard clearly, if he is indeed the son of Oberon then whatever lot he holds will change color?" She asked.

"That is correct." The Oracle replied.

Nymeria then turned to Miraz.

"Would you like to test the authenticity of the words spoken by your Oracle, my Lord?" She asked him.

"If you so insist." He said through clenched teeth.

He turned and beckoned to one of his man servants.

"Pedro, come here." He said.
The young boy approached his master.

"Swap lots with him." He instructed him.

The boy approached Arthur and held out his blank lot. Arthur handed over his to the boy and immediately as the boy took his, its color faded and it once more became blank. The servant boy then gave his to Arthur and they all watched as young Pedro's blank lot turned a deep red in Arthur's hand.

"Well then, my Lord, you have your answer." Queen Nymeria said. "Now, please. Waste not our precious time any further and take your seat Lord Miraz and let's get this over with. We are travelling folk and this argument of yours doesn't seem to hold any water. Unless of course you would like to seek out a witness to the legitimacy of his claim?"

"If such a witness exists and it's an unbiased one." Miraz said with scorn.

"A witness does exist." The commander said.

He turned to Henry.

"It's true. He is my sister's child. Both my sister and King Oberon asked me to keep Arthur's existence a secret." Henry said.

Nymeria turned to Arthur and gave him what he saw was a sympathetic smile.

"Let Atlantis hail her new King." She said.

With that she turned and returned to her seat leaving Arthur staring at the lot in his hand. Everything was happening too quickly and all of it seemed like a dream to Arthur. All the blood had drained from his face and he felt cold all over. This was obviously someone's sick joke. He turned to his father.

"Is it true?" He asked.

"Yes." Henry said without so much as looking Arthur in the eye.

"How long have you known?" He asked.

"I was there the day you were born. When the midwife put you in my arms when you were little babe." Henry replied.

"So you lied to me? My whole life?" Arthur asked with a laughter of disbelief. "All of it has been a lie?"

"Arthur, listen to me..." Henry began but Arthur was no longer listening.

He turned and began to slowly walk away. He could hear someone calling to him but his thoughts were far away. He could no longer breathe and needed to be far away from this place in order to clear his head. When he got to the courtyard, he broke into a sprint, not aware of where he was going but only needing to get away.

When he came to, he found himself standing by the bay. Watching the ships of merchants coming and leaving the docking bay. How easy it would be for him to get onto one of those ships and just sail away, leaving all these things behind him. He could start a new life elsewhere like he had always dreamed. Become someone else.

Only he was already someone else. He was an old dead king's bastard and the man whom he believed was his father his whole life was in fact merely an uncle. With his hands on his head, he sank to his knees. Surely fate couldn't be so cruel? He watched the sailors as they loaded the numerous parcels and bags they had. He sat back on his heels. It was peaceful out here. He could forget all his woes.

"I knew I would find you here." A voice said from behind him.

He turned and found a hooded figure. One he knew so well now. She approached him and sat beside him.

"What do you mean?" He asked, his voice was breaking and he suddenly realised for the first time that he was close to tears.

"Strange? I too love to head off to the Aegean to clear my head." She said. "I know what you're going through. When I was six years old I was crowned Queen after my father died. I was still grieving and I had no experience but my people don't believe in a regent so I had to sacrifice for my people. That's what expected of a ruler."

"I don't want any of this!" He said in despair.

"I know, I saw your reaction. But like I said, we sacrifice for our people." She said. "Think about it. Oberon knew he has a brother who was ready to take over after him. A brother who had apt experience in running a kingdom and yet he chose to leave it all to a son who didn't know him. Whom no one knew. Why do you think that is?"

"Does it matter? Forget what I want, I don't know how to be king or how to run a kingdom and even if I did, apparently I'm a bastard. Who will accept being ruled by a bastard?" He asked.

"Personally I don't understand what all the fuss is about. In Venetia, there is no legal marriage so the concept of a bastard doesn't exist." She said.

"What do you mean? Your parents were king and Queen. surely they were married one way or the other." He argued.

"No, not really. He was King and she was the love of his life so he chose to live with her as his Queen. That didn't mean they couldn't be with other people. My own father was not the son of my grandfather's queen but of a certain bar maid." She replied. "No one really cared about it. In Venetia you would be very much welcome. The Desert Lords don't seem to mind this whole thing. Besides, think about it this way. You grew up amongst the people, you know how the crown has let down your people and what would be good for them. I can't think of anyone better for the job."

"You really think I can do it?" He asked, doubt in his words.

"Well you did bring a drawing of my great Abba's imaginary sword to life, I'm sure you can rule a kingdom." She said with a reassuring smile. "Speaking of my great Abba's sword."

She produced an intricately carved box from within her cape. He looked from it to her as she handed it over.

"A gift for the new king of Atlantis." She said with a smile.

"Nym, I can't accept this." He said.

"Well that's too bad. I can't imagine anyone more deserving." She said in persistence.

He looked away. He had never felt such despair.

"Please. In all honesty it bothered me that I had to pass this to someone undeserving. I have only known you for days but I am quite relieved it had to be you." She pleaded with him. "And I have no doubt you'll make a wonderful king."

He turned to face her and took the sword in his hands, albeit begrudgingly. He wanted to tell her so many things except he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps from behind them. Whatever feeling of reassurance, however she'd calmed him, it all disappeared when he saw who it was. Those feelings were immediately replaced with the despair and the dread.

"My lady." The commander said in greeting to the young Queen.

She gave him an acknowledging nod. She turned to Arthur and gave his shoulder an encouraging squeeze before she stood up. She turned and made her way back. Leaving Arthur with the men who'd pursued him.

"What do you want from me?" He asked them without looking up at them.

He didn't bother keeping the anger and hurt from his voice.

"Son, I know you're angry with me but I implore you. Don't make any rash decisions." Henry pleaded.

This sounds familiar, Arthur thought. The Oracle had said something similar. He took a deep breath to steady his breathing.

"I'm not the person you're looking for. I don't know the first thing about ruling a kingdom." He said to the commander.

He hadn't replied Henry's words. He'd purposely ignored him. It was rude, he knew, but he had no kind words to the man he'd called father his entire life. Henry seemed to notice this but he knew better than to pry. Arthur needed space to heal.

"You can learn, as your father hoped." The commander.

"Father, huh. Honestly I don't know what that word means anymore." Arthur said as he stared into the horizon.

He stood up and turned to face them. The company consisted of Henry, commander Boulivir and a dozen of the King's guard. He didn't know what to say to them but he realized they were waiting for orders. From him. It took a lot of his willpower not to panic.

"Okay then. I suppose I have a lot to learn." He finally after a moment of silence.