A Sword For King Arthur

The snow had fallen around the fortress on the hill.

Arthur walked out of the woods and approached the hill.

It had now been 3 years since he ascended the throne as Arthur King of the Britons.

3 years since he had pulled that sword out of the stone.

And now he could really use a new sword.

The sword had been even slightly rusty when he had pulled it out of that stone and been acclaimed king.

Now it was even more rusty.

Especially since his page had dropped it in a barrel of ale and left it overnight before he went to retrieve it.

Now both sword and ale were ruined.

Damn that was exceptionally good ale too.

Arthur wasn't sure what to do with the page but his advisor Merlin (who also had a fondness for the occasional mug of ale) had sent his page on a mission to the Picts in the far north to deliver a message.

After the page had been sent off, Arthur had asked Merlin what was in the message.

Merlin said he had made a comment about the manner of dress Pictish men wore.

The page was never heard from again.

Arthur entered the fortress and walked through the streets of the walled town.

He approached his own large hut and entered.

He warmed himself by the fire.

Merlin entered the room and bowed, "Majesty."

"Well, Merlin, I really need a new sword," said Arthur.

"I'll see that the blacksmith forges you a new one," said Merlin.

"Thanks," Arthur said, "he's an excellent craftsmen but I wish I had a sword that could make me invincible in battle."

"Every warrior, prince and king throughout history wishes he had such a sword but no one of them did," Merlin answered, "why should you be any different?".

"Good point," Arthur agreed as he helped himself to some broiled fish from the pot.

Arthur sliced up the fish on his plate and then stopped.

"What's this?" Arthur held up an item he found in the fish.

"It looks like a woman's ear ring, Majesty," Merlin moved in for a closer look.

"So it is," Arthur mused, "you don't suppose there's a woman who inhabits the bottom of one of our kingdom's lakes do you?".

Arthur put the ear ring back on the table.

Merlin retreated to his study.

A sword that was invincible in battle. A woman who inhabited the bottom of a lake.

Why did Merlin think there might be a connection between the two?

To be continued.