“Ex-Calibuuuuuurrrrrr!!!!!” Artoria swung her holy blade with as much force as she could muster and shattered the barrier of dark magic Morgan Le Fey had erected damaging her.
“D-damn you Arthur!” She shouted. “I may fall here but my ultimate revenge will still come! He will be your destruction!” Were her final word before succumbing to her wounds.
Artoria sighed and around her the Knights of the Round Table were getting rid of the remnants of Morgan’s magical defenses. Merlin came up to her. “Congratulations my king, another job well done.”
Artoria got annoyed as she always did when Merlin spoke in that annoying tone of his. “Come with me, Morgan said something about an ultimate revenge. We need to nip it in the bud.” The two entered the witch’s underground work shop. Around them were vials of magical ingredients and half finished experiments.
Nothing around them seemed like it could have been Morgan’s ultimate revenge and were about to give p on finding it there when they heard a noise. The two turned and saw a small figure climb out from a hidden crevice in the wall.
Artoria could only stare as she realized what this was. A small child that looked exactly like her, this must be the ultimate revenge Morgan had spoken about. An illegitimate child, whether it was actually true or not would be all the lords would need to have an excuse for rebellion; and if it was a little older the child could rally them itself marching an army on her.
“Are you king Arthur?” The small child asked with a slight lisp. All Artoria could do was nod. “I’m Mordred, I’m really happy to meet you! I’ve heard all about you! Are the other knights here? Can I meet Lancelot, or Gawain? What about Tristan?” The child was now bouncing up and down in excitement. “Morgan told me all about how brave and cool the Knight of the Round Table are! You guys are my heroes!”
Artoria’s fist clenched around her sword. This child, this innocent child could bring down everything around her by just existing. What could she do.
Break
Young Mordred wiggled through the small window and safely landed on the soft hay below. He had put the hay there the other day for this exact eventuality. He got up and ran from the castle she was being imprisoned in. Unfortunately almost immediately he ran into a figure in a full suit of armor.
“Gareth!”
“Oh Mordred what are you doing here? Don’t you have lessons on the castle today?” The knight asked.
Mordred pouted. “They’re so boring! I just want to learn swordplay already! What does it matter if I know about whichever emperor founded Rome?”
Gareth just laughed. “Well I’m not to sure myself but if the king wants you trained in that stuff he must have a good reason.”
Mordred blushed and started sputtering. “N-no! I-I’d never dis-disagree with the king!”
Gareth patted the young child on the shoulder. “Don’t worry I understand what you meant, and I agree that learning all that history can be pretty boring.” Mordred nodded. Gareth looked left and right to make sure nobody was around. “How about I take you to my secret training spot and I can show you a few moves?”
Mordred nodded vigorously. “Yeah!”
Break
Mordred’s lance broke against Gawain’s shield sending him to the ground.
The master of ceremonies for the tournament shouted. “Gawain is down! Gawain is down! The young up and coming knight Mordred just unseated the one expected to win the entire tournament! What will this kid do next!”
Gawain laughed as Mordred helped him up and they moved to the competitors tents. “Very good Mordred. You got me good.”
Mordred grinned. “It was just luck.” She looked at the horizon where the sun had just set. “A few more minutes of daytime and I would have been done for.”
“You’re still the one that won in the end. After all you couldn’t have held on until sunset if you weren’t incredibly skilled. I can see why Arthur wants you at the Round Table.” Gawain smirked at his last sentence.
“W-what!” Mordred shouted drawing more than a few stares.
Gawain laughed at the knight’s reaction. “Don’t tell the other knights, they were hoping to surprise you, but King Arthur has been watching your more recent activities to see if you were worthy and you passed with flying colors.”
“N-no I’m not ready! I haven’t even slain a dragon!”
“Mordred trust me if slaying a dragon was a requirement for being on the Round Table most of the seats would be empty. I only barely managed to do it alongside the king. You are ready, after all the king has taught you how could you not be.”
Break
Mordred could barely contain himself. He had known about his connection with he king of course, but never in his wildest dreams had he expected it to be acknowledged. However here he was kneeling before the king and the assembly of lords.
“Mordred, you have been a knight of great renown these last few years. Since a young age you have excelled at all virtues of knighthood and chivalry. That is why here, in front of all the lords of my kingdom I give you this.” From behind him king Arthur produced a beautiful sword more dazzling than any silver. The lords around them gasped when they realized what it was. Clarent the sword that was bestowed on the succession of king ship.
“As Guinevere and I have not been blessed with a child there is nobody else I would care to call my son.” Arthur presented the blade to Mordred. “Here I present you with this sword, and along side it the role as my successor.” Mordred took the sword and stood proud alongside the king. “May you do Camelot proud my son.”
“I will, father!”
Break
Mordred found himself summoned in a strange shed. "Holy Grail War huh? Guess that means father already had a shot at it!" She looked around and saw a scared kid on the floor. "Servant Saber here, the succesor to King Arthur! Are you my master?"