"A Westland Seeker in Prince Arthur's Court" by Jodie and Vaidah Chapter 2/5
A Westland Seeker in Prince Arthur's Court by serendipityxxi and alorarose.
Series: Legend of the Seeker and Merlin
Rated: PG
Summary: Richard and Kahlan hide the box of Orden and hangout in Camelot's dungeons a lot.
Genres: Drama, Romance, Crossover
Disclaimer: All your Seeker are belong to Disney and all your Merlin are belong to Arthur. We do not claim to own anything except the crazy crossover ideas that float around our brains. No moneh is being made off our crack either.
Spoilers: Episode 1x12 of Legend of the Seeker and all of Series 1 of Merlin. This fic starts at the end of 1x12 and assumes teh sexy!tiemz were.. uh not there. (Blasphemy, I know!)
Authors' notes: This fic starts at the end of 1x12 and assumes teh sexy!tiemz were.. uh not there (Blasphemy, I know!) as the tomb of the last Seeker in this story was not in some wonky Mayan temple but in Camelot instead. This fic is complete and we'll be posting 1 chapter per day.
Chapter 1: Word count: 3126
Chapter 2: Word Count: 3288
Chapter 3: Word Count: 2773
Chapter 4: Word Count: 1555
Chapter 5: Word Count: 4454
"You can find Gaius in there," Arthur pointed out the door. "I must inform my father that we have guests, but I will come back for you as soon as things are ready."
"Thank you, dear boy." Zedd replied and knocked on Gaius' door. Kahlan hung back a little, unsure of the reception Zedd would be getting from his 'old friend'. The last old friend Zedd had met had promptly tried to push a son on him and while Kahlan was sure Gaius couldn't do that, she also was a bit worried Gaius wouldn't be too pleased to see Zedd either. After all one didn't drop off the face of the midlands for twenty years without telling anyone you were leaving without raising some tempers when you reappeared.
"Come in, please come in," Gaius called from inside. He was hunched over his large table, using a magnifying glass to read the incredibly small print in a book on special herbs. He was making a list of things for Merlin to do and it couldn't hurt to have the boy keep a look out for certain things.
"Always with your nose in a book my old friend." Zedd greeted from the doorway.
Gaius raised his head in surprise and blinked a few times before a smile spread across his face. "Is that you, old friend?" he set down the magnifying glass and toward Zedd, hoping his eyes weren't deceiving him. "where have you been hiding all these years!"
Zedd coughed. "Well that's neither here nor there. But here I am! Safe and sound, for the moment." He came forward to embrace Gaius. The two men had trained together long ago, Gaius had been the only person who had ever given Zedd any real competition in terms of talent and imagination. Gaius could always be counted upon to invent something on the spot. Zedd hoped he still could. "I hear you, my friend, have given up that hobby we both enjoyed so much?"
"Well, not by choice," Gaius said slowly. He glanced at the door to make sure it was closed and made a surprised sound when he realized someone else was there. "Isn't she a bit young for you?" he eyed the taller man.
Zedd laughed. "I'm flattered but this, is Kahlan Amnell, the Mother Confessor."
Kahlan stepped forward, green skirts trailing. "It is an honour to meet you Gaius." She said with a small smile.
"You brought a Confessor here?" Gaius looked up at Zedd, shock on his face. "Are you mad? If the king should see her..."
"These are dark and dangerous times for us all, my old friend." Zedd replied seriously. "Our other traveling companion is the first true Seeker in a thousand years. I am sure news of Darken Rahl has reached even Camelot. We need your help Gaius, the fate of the world may depend upon it."
"Well, when you put it that way," Gaius sighed and moved to the side. "Please both of you, have a seat. I'll make some tea for us. It seems we have a lot to discuss." He glanced at the clock and wondered what was taking Merlin so long. Surely a morning hunt shouldn't last this long. Also, depending on what it was Zedd needed, it would be Merlin's help he'd be needing, not Gaius's.
"Thank you," Kahlan replied. "I know this is a lot to ask of anyone, but if you knew, if you'd seen what Rahl has already done..." her voice trailed off as she thought of Dennee, of the entire town of Brennidon, of Shar. "Our mission is of the utmost importance. We need to find Kieran's Tomb. Zedd says that it is rumoured to be here in Camelot, we were hoping you would know something of it."
Gaius set the tea down on the table and took a seat himself. "Aye, I know something of it. Kieran's tomb is deep in the caves below the castle."
"Is there a way to access it without being seen?" Kahlan pressed.
"If you can get past the guards," he nodded. "Which, is unfortunately easier than one might suspect."
"Can you tell us the way?" Zedd demanded. "I think Richard, our Seeker, can handle dispatching the guards if they're that easy."
Merlin practically fell through the door and stumbled out of the way so Richard could come in after him. Two miles was nothing to walk but Richard had insisted they run it. Merlin was sure no air was ever going to reach his lungs again.
"Richard," Kahlan greeted. "How did you know we were here?"
"Arthur told us," Merlin managed.
"Oh for..." Gaius got up and pushed Merlin down to sit at the table, picking up the tea cup so the boy's head didn't hit it when it dropped to the table. He tugged on his head to lift it enough to put the tea in his view. "One would think you just ran for 20 miles."
"Seemed like it," Merlin took the cup gratefully and gulped down the tea before he even tested it to see if it was too hot.
"Only two." Richard put in, with a smile at Kahlan. "There'll be pheasant with blackberry sauce for dinner tonight." He revealed with a grin that Kahlan couldn't help but echo.
"Hopefully there'll be salt this time," she teased.
Richard laughed and nodded his head, eyes twinkling at her.
Zedd eyed his two charges with ill disguised worry. The thing between these two was brewing beyond the simmer it had been at in their first few months of travel. He'd have to do something soon - what, he did not know. Richard knew the danger and so did Kahlan and yet... He sighed to himself and turned to Gaius.
"Well I for one am famished! When will dinner be? And do you think we might have a chance to run that errand I was asking you about before it Gaius?" He asked.
Gaius had been watching the exchange between the two also. He wanted to ask Zedd about it but he didn't know how much he wanted Merlin knowing. "Merlin," he prodded the boy's head from where it lay on the table. "You've been beneath the castle, haven't you." It was more a statement than a question. He had been watching the boy afterall. "My friends here need to go--"
"I can't go down there," Merlin said, unmoving, unsure of how Gaius knew he had been there. He was worried what he'd say about him talking to the dragon and... worse. Angering the dragon.
"Why ever not?" Gaius sat down beside him to put himself in Merlin's line of sight.
"I just can't!" Merlin quickly lifted his head from the table. "I won't go down there."
"Merlin," Gaius frowned and carefully examined the expression on the boy's face. "What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything," he shook his head and stood up, starting to head to his room. "I can't go down there."
"Perhaps it's better if we don't force the boy to do something he doesn't want." Zedd stepped in.
"Can't you just tell us how to get there?" Richard asked. He could assume why they needed to get below the castle had something to do with the tomb.
"Merlin can get you there unseen," Gaius said, his eyes never leaving the boy.
"Gaius..." Merlin turned around to look at him.
"It's alright, relax," Gaius sighed. "Merlin will take you down there," he said to Zedd.
"Gaius!" Merlin said firmly. "I told you I cannot-"
"Stop," Gaius frowned. "I don't know the details but I can take a guess and whatever it is you said or did you will take care of it. This is more important."
Merlin opened his mouth to protest again but was cut off by Arthur suddenly bursting into the room.
"Dinner is almost ready," Arthur informed them cheerfully.
"Well, that was fast." Said Zedd. "Your chefs must be the finest in all the land to turn a pheasant out so swiftly."
"They're just used to my father's appetite," Arthur grinned.
"None can match Ze--Thad's." said Richard fondly. "Not even a king's."
"Gaius, I hope you'll join us for dinner as well," Arthur said then looked to where a door just slammed. "Is he alright?"
"He'll be fine, you know Merlin," Gaius smiled softly. "I am honoured for the dinner offer but I must decline."
"Are you sure? I thought you and Thaddicus might want to continue your discussion." Kahlan insisted.
"It'll be fine to continue it after you have eaten," Gaius assured her. "Indeed there is a lot more we need to discuss."
Zedd nodded. "We shall call on you again then."
~~~
The Pendragon himself was just as arrogant as his son. However, he was a gracious host and was most grateful to the trio for rescuing Arthur. He was a very well educated man and spoke with Zedd at length on the history of Camelot and the Pendragon line which both men were familiar with.
Richard enjoyed the pheasant he’d helped Merlin catch and thought Renn would have enjoyed it a great deal. He hoped Merlin would be having some of the pheasant though he wasn’t at their table. Royalty did not dine with their servants. It irked Richard’s innate sense of fairness but it wasn’t like there weren’t royal courts in Hartland.
He lost track of the conversation for a while until Kahlan who was sitting at his left put her hand on his arm and said “Oh, I don’t think so, Richard seems really tired.”
“Huh?”
“Would you care for a bit of sparring after we've digested dinner?” Arthur asked again. “You have a very fine sword and I imagine you must handle it well. I’m always interested in learning techniques from outside of Camelot in case I stumble across them in battle.” Arthur explained.
All eyes turned to Richard’s but he most felt the piercing stare of the King’s. Desperate to be out of such scrutiny Richard nodded his head. “Yeah, sure. Let’s go. It’ll be fun.” He grinned.
"I'll catch up with you. Make sure he doesn't beat the crown prince too badly." Zedd murmured to Kahlan when they had all exited the dining hall, Richard and Arthur leading the way. Before she could even ask where he was going he had already disappeared.
~~~
Uther watched the sparring from the balcony, keeping a close eye on the man his son was practicing with. He was wary. He didn't trust their poor excuse for traveling through Camelot and grew nothing but suspicious of them. Something about the old man was bothering him also.
He turned his attention to the woman they were traveling with. The way she was watching the fighters was very telling and he didn't even have to guess at what relationship might be between the two. The sun glinting off a sword made his gaze return to the men sparring and for the first time he took note of what the sword looked like. He started to make his way downstairs to get a closer look.
Richard swung his sword up, swiftly breaking Arthur's parry. The young prince was quite good, he was impressed with his skills and Richard had come to really know the difference between decent sword fighting and the truly skilled in the last few months since picking up the Sword of Truth. He would have liked to have trained with Arthur for a time, gotten to know the different moves they'd perfected in Camelot. For right now though, he was tired after a long day of hiking, game hunting and enforced politeness while dining with a King. He just wanted to hide the box of Orden and maybe get a good night's sleep before they set out again in the morning. Richard feinted to the right and then lunged to the left his sword coming up in the motions of a Sicilian Switchback - an up down up sort of motion that was intended to catch and sweep the handle of his opponent's blade out of his hands on the last upstroke, he'd learned it in Brennidon from his not brother Mark - but Arthur saw him coming and was able to block the move. Richard grinned at the other young man, very impressed with him and was about launch into a sixte parry to block what he assumed would be Arthur's next attack when he felt a heavy hand land on his shoulder.
Richard swung around with the Sword of Truth, pressing it neatly to the person's neck only to find himself holding King Uther Pendragon on the wrong end of his sword.
Richard dropped his sword arm hastily. "I'm sorry your Highness. I didn't realize it was you." He panted out, heart still beating fast.
Uther gazed down to examine the sword. "You have excellent technique," the king complimented, using the comment to gain him an extra moment to look at the sword. He finally looked back at the man, who truly did look apologetic about his quick reaction. "Is that the Sword of Truth?"
Kahlan, who'd been watching the exchange from a seated position nearby quickly rose to her feet. "Almost but not quite," she called out, walking quickly up to them. "He's heard all of the Seeker stories and is quite enamoured with them. I had the sword made up for him as a birthday present last year." She told Uther.
Uther turned around to look at her. "I see..." he said slowly, as he watched her carefully. He looked back and forth between them. "And what is so enamouring about the stories?" he asked Richard after noting the interesting expression on his face.
Richard carefully schooled his features to not show how brilliant he thought Kahlan's lie was and tried hard to think of what Gryff would say. Richard had lived as the Seeker for too long to actually think being the Seeker was anything but dangerous.
"It's the adventure and the nobility of the Seeker in the stories." Kahlan answered for him, eyes locked on Richard she continued, "A true Seeker is someone who is brave and clever and passionate! Dedicated to serving justice and breaking tyranny." She turned to Uther and finished "A Seeker is a true hero, we could all do with finding the legend fascinating in times such as these."
"Times such as these?" Uther turned to fully look at her. "What do you mean by that?"
Kahlan paused, could these people really have no knowledge of Darken Rahl and the threat he posed?
"Surely you've at least heard of Darken Rahl?" Richard asked, sword sheathed and twitched towards the back of his leg rather than the front. They couldn't leave the box or Orden here if these people didn't even believe there was a threat!
The King glanced around to make sure no one else was close enough to hear them and then eyed his son who looked about to ask a million questions. "The only threat to Camelot is magic and those who use it," he growled. "Like the Seeker."
Richard bristled visibly. "The Seeker is a threat only those who believe in propagating injustice." He argued. He'd understood where the man was coming from, Westland had held no magic since the boundary went up and he'd grown up with it as only a threat and not a thing of wonder, but to ignore it entirely and to leave his kingdom open to attack because of that... Well that was folly no man, certainly not a king, should be allowed to entertain.
"And is magic just?" Uther tilted his head to the side and regarded Richard curiously. "Those who would use it against their fellow man to get what they want and to create imbalance? No!" Uther shook his head. "Magic is a threat!"
"And yet you ignore the threat of Darken Rahl? A man who has the most powerful magic in a thousand years?" Richard demanded. "You pretend he doesn't exist, keep the knowledge of him from the captain of your guard?" he jerked his head at Arthur. "And then you tell me the Seeker, the only man capable of defeating Rahl, is a threat to you and yours?" Richard's voice shook with his anger, he couldn't believe this man's willful ignorance.
"Who is Darken Rahl?" Arthur looked between all of them. "What is a Seeker?"
Uther's face turned red with rage and he pulled Richard away from Arthur. "You will not come to my kingdom and run your mouth off, putting worries into the heads of my people. My kingdom is secure!" he said in a harsh whisper.
Kahlan stepped forward then, placing a hand on Richard's arm. "Richard is only concerned for your kingdom, your majesty. We have seen what Darken Rahl's forces can do it and it is truly horrific. Surely you'd rather know about an enemy that could come after you at any moment than remain vulnerable to an attack. That's all Richard is trying to say." She assured him.
"You think I don't know about any and all possible threats to my kingdom?" Uther turned his anger to Kahlan.
"I guess you just don't do anything about them then." Richard couldn't stop himself from replying.
"I'll show you what I do to threats to my kingdom," he growled at Richard. "Guards!"
"Father!" Arthur stepped forward, about to protest but the look on the king's face was enough to make him fall back.
Richard took a step back and warily reached for his sword, eyes darting around the area as Uther's guards materialized from the doorways. Kahlan's hand closed over his on the hilt of the Sword of Truth and she shook her head sternly at him.
"I think things are getting out of hand here." Kahlan began. "Richard and I didn't mean to imply that your kingdom wasn't well run. If you'll be tolerant enough to grant us leave we'll be on our way." She said, tugging Richard back another step.
"Perhaps you'd like to join him in the dungeon?" Uther looked at her curiously.
"There's no need for anyone to end up in the dungeon tonight. Richard and I are sorry we offended you and we'll be leaving your kingdom as soon as possible." She insisted. Richard could hear a hint of the Confessor coming out in the compellatory tone she used.
"Lock them both up," Uther told one of the guards, "and find me the old man." He glanced at Arthur before turning to head back inside. Their Seeker story was just as flimsy as their excuse for being there and his suspicion was growing even more now. He tapped his lip in thought and turned around to look at the guard. "Bind her hands."
"No!" It was Richard who spoke, he shook Kahlan's palm off his hand as he drew the sword from its scabbard. "This is unnecessary! Is this how you treat people who rescue your son?" He demanded of Uther's retreating back. He eyed the guards surrounding him,there were a dozen of them in heavy armour. He didn't really want to kill any of these men, they weren't his enemy.
"Don't worry," Arthur said quietly after his father had moved a bit further away. "I will figure something out."
Richard still hesitated to sheath his sword but Kahlan nodded at him and then at Arthur. "Please, we really didn't mean to upset him. We'll tell you all about Rahl if you can free us."
"I'll do the best I can," Arthur nodded to them then headed off to find their friend who was most likely with Gaius.
Series: Legend of the Seeker and Merlin
Rated: PG
Summary: Richard and Kahlan hide the box of Orden and hangout in Camelot's dungeons a lot.
Genres: Drama, Romance, Crossover
Disclaimer: All your Seeker are belong to Disney and all your Merlin are belong to Arthur. We do not claim to own anything except the crazy crossover ideas that float around our brains. No moneh is being made off our crack either.
Spoilers: Episode 1x12 of Legend of the Seeker and all of Series 1 of Merlin. This fic starts at the end of 1x12 and assumes teh sexy!tiemz were.. uh not there. (Blasphemy, I know!)
Authors' notes: This fic starts at the end of 1x12 and assumes teh sexy!tiemz were.. uh not there (Blasphemy, I know!) as the tomb of the last Seeker in this story was not in some wonky Mayan temple but in Camelot instead. This fic is complete and we'll be posting 1 chapter per day.
Chapter 1: Word count: 3126
Chapter 2: Word Count: 3288
Chapter 3: Word Count: 2773
Chapter 4: Word Count: 1555
Chapter 5: Word Count: 4454
"You can find Gaius in there," Arthur pointed out the door. "I must inform my father that we have guests, but I will come back for you as soon as things are ready."
"Thank you, dear boy." Zedd replied and knocked on Gaius' door. Kahlan hung back a little, unsure of the reception Zedd would be getting from his 'old friend'. The last old friend Zedd had met had promptly tried to push a son on him and while Kahlan was sure Gaius couldn't do that, she also was a bit worried Gaius wouldn't be too pleased to see Zedd either. After all one didn't drop off the face of the midlands for twenty years without telling anyone you were leaving without raising some tempers when you reappeared.
"Come in, please come in," Gaius called from inside. He was hunched over his large table, using a magnifying glass to read the incredibly small print in a book on special herbs. He was making a list of things for Merlin to do and it couldn't hurt to have the boy keep a look out for certain things.
"Always with your nose in a book my old friend." Zedd greeted from the doorway.
Gaius raised his head in surprise and blinked a few times before a smile spread across his face. "Is that you, old friend?" he set down the magnifying glass and toward Zedd, hoping his eyes weren't deceiving him. "where have you been hiding all these years!"
Zedd coughed. "Well that's neither here nor there. But here I am! Safe and sound, for the moment." He came forward to embrace Gaius. The two men had trained together long ago, Gaius had been the only person who had ever given Zedd any real competition in terms of talent and imagination. Gaius could always be counted upon to invent something on the spot. Zedd hoped he still could. "I hear you, my friend, have given up that hobby we both enjoyed so much?"
"Well, not by choice," Gaius said slowly. He glanced at the door to make sure it was closed and made a surprised sound when he realized someone else was there. "Isn't she a bit young for you?" he eyed the taller man.
Zedd laughed. "I'm flattered but this, is Kahlan Amnell, the Mother Confessor."
Kahlan stepped forward, green skirts trailing. "It is an honour to meet you Gaius." She said with a small smile.
"You brought a Confessor here?" Gaius looked up at Zedd, shock on his face. "Are you mad? If the king should see her..."
"These are dark and dangerous times for us all, my old friend." Zedd replied seriously. "Our other traveling companion is the first true Seeker in a thousand years. I am sure news of Darken Rahl has reached even Camelot. We need your help Gaius, the fate of the world may depend upon it."
"Well, when you put it that way," Gaius sighed and moved to the side. "Please both of you, have a seat. I'll make some tea for us. It seems we have a lot to discuss." He glanced at the clock and wondered what was taking Merlin so long. Surely a morning hunt shouldn't last this long. Also, depending on what it was Zedd needed, it would be Merlin's help he'd be needing, not Gaius's.
"Thank you," Kahlan replied. "I know this is a lot to ask of anyone, but if you knew, if you'd seen what Rahl has already done..." her voice trailed off as she thought of Dennee, of the entire town of Brennidon, of Shar. "Our mission is of the utmost importance. We need to find Kieran's Tomb. Zedd says that it is rumoured to be here in Camelot, we were hoping you would know something of it."
Gaius set the tea down on the table and took a seat himself. "Aye, I know something of it. Kieran's tomb is deep in the caves below the castle."
"Is there a way to access it without being seen?" Kahlan pressed.
"If you can get past the guards," he nodded. "Which, is unfortunately easier than one might suspect."
"Can you tell us the way?" Zedd demanded. "I think Richard, our Seeker, can handle dispatching the guards if they're that easy."
Merlin practically fell through the door and stumbled out of the way so Richard could come in after him. Two miles was nothing to walk but Richard had insisted they run it. Merlin was sure no air was ever going to reach his lungs again.
"Richard," Kahlan greeted. "How did you know we were here?"
"Arthur told us," Merlin managed.
"Oh for..." Gaius got up and pushed Merlin down to sit at the table, picking up the tea cup so the boy's head didn't hit it when it dropped to the table. He tugged on his head to lift it enough to put the tea in his view. "One would think you just ran for 20 miles."
"Seemed like it," Merlin took the cup gratefully and gulped down the tea before he even tested it to see if it was too hot.
"Only two." Richard put in, with a smile at Kahlan. "There'll be pheasant with blackberry sauce for dinner tonight." He revealed with a grin that Kahlan couldn't help but echo.
"Hopefully there'll be salt this time," she teased.
Richard laughed and nodded his head, eyes twinkling at her.
Zedd eyed his two charges with ill disguised worry. The thing between these two was brewing beyond the simmer it had been at in their first few months of travel. He'd have to do something soon - what, he did not know. Richard knew the danger and so did Kahlan and yet... He sighed to himself and turned to Gaius.
"Well I for one am famished! When will dinner be? And do you think we might have a chance to run that errand I was asking you about before it Gaius?" He asked.
Gaius had been watching the exchange between the two also. He wanted to ask Zedd about it but he didn't know how much he wanted Merlin knowing. "Merlin," he prodded the boy's head from where it lay on the table. "You've been beneath the castle, haven't you." It was more a statement than a question. He had been watching the boy afterall. "My friends here need to go--"
"I can't go down there," Merlin said, unmoving, unsure of how Gaius knew he had been there. He was worried what he'd say about him talking to the dragon and... worse. Angering the dragon.
"Why ever not?" Gaius sat down beside him to put himself in Merlin's line of sight.
"I just can't!" Merlin quickly lifted his head from the table. "I won't go down there."
"Merlin," Gaius frowned and carefully examined the expression on the boy's face. "What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything," he shook his head and stood up, starting to head to his room. "I can't go down there."
"Perhaps it's better if we don't force the boy to do something he doesn't want." Zedd stepped in.
"Can't you just tell us how to get there?" Richard asked. He could assume why they needed to get below the castle had something to do with the tomb.
"Merlin can get you there unseen," Gaius said, his eyes never leaving the boy.
"Gaius..." Merlin turned around to look at him.
"It's alright, relax," Gaius sighed. "Merlin will take you down there," he said to Zedd.
"Gaius!" Merlin said firmly. "I told you I cannot-"
"Stop," Gaius frowned. "I don't know the details but I can take a guess and whatever it is you said or did you will take care of it. This is more important."
Merlin opened his mouth to protest again but was cut off by Arthur suddenly bursting into the room.
"Dinner is almost ready," Arthur informed them cheerfully.
"Well, that was fast." Said Zedd. "Your chefs must be the finest in all the land to turn a pheasant out so swiftly."
"They're just used to my father's appetite," Arthur grinned.
"None can match Ze--Thad's." said Richard fondly. "Not even a king's."
"Gaius, I hope you'll join us for dinner as well," Arthur said then looked to where a door just slammed. "Is he alright?"
"He'll be fine, you know Merlin," Gaius smiled softly. "I am honoured for the dinner offer but I must decline."
"Are you sure? I thought you and Thaddicus might want to continue your discussion." Kahlan insisted.
"It'll be fine to continue it after you have eaten," Gaius assured her. "Indeed there is a lot more we need to discuss."
Zedd nodded. "We shall call on you again then."
~~~
The Pendragon himself was just as arrogant as his son. However, he was a gracious host and was most grateful to the trio for rescuing Arthur. He was a very well educated man and spoke with Zedd at length on the history of Camelot and the Pendragon line which both men were familiar with.
Richard enjoyed the pheasant he’d helped Merlin catch and thought Renn would have enjoyed it a great deal. He hoped Merlin would be having some of the pheasant though he wasn’t at their table. Royalty did not dine with their servants. It irked Richard’s innate sense of fairness but it wasn’t like there weren’t royal courts in Hartland.
He lost track of the conversation for a while until Kahlan who was sitting at his left put her hand on his arm and said “Oh, I don’t think so, Richard seems really tired.”
“Huh?”
“Would you care for a bit of sparring after we've digested dinner?” Arthur asked again. “You have a very fine sword and I imagine you must handle it well. I’m always interested in learning techniques from outside of Camelot in case I stumble across them in battle.” Arthur explained.
All eyes turned to Richard’s but he most felt the piercing stare of the King’s. Desperate to be out of such scrutiny Richard nodded his head. “Yeah, sure. Let’s go. It’ll be fun.” He grinned.
"I'll catch up with you. Make sure he doesn't beat the crown prince too badly." Zedd murmured to Kahlan when they had all exited the dining hall, Richard and Arthur leading the way. Before she could even ask where he was going he had already disappeared.
~~~
Uther watched the sparring from the balcony, keeping a close eye on the man his son was practicing with. He was wary. He didn't trust their poor excuse for traveling through Camelot and grew nothing but suspicious of them. Something about the old man was bothering him also.
He turned his attention to the woman they were traveling with. The way she was watching the fighters was very telling and he didn't even have to guess at what relationship might be between the two. The sun glinting off a sword made his gaze return to the men sparring and for the first time he took note of what the sword looked like. He started to make his way downstairs to get a closer look.
Richard swung his sword up, swiftly breaking Arthur's parry. The young prince was quite good, he was impressed with his skills and Richard had come to really know the difference between decent sword fighting and the truly skilled in the last few months since picking up the Sword of Truth. He would have liked to have trained with Arthur for a time, gotten to know the different moves they'd perfected in Camelot. For right now though, he was tired after a long day of hiking, game hunting and enforced politeness while dining with a King. He just wanted to hide the box of Orden and maybe get a good night's sleep before they set out again in the morning. Richard feinted to the right and then lunged to the left his sword coming up in the motions of a Sicilian Switchback - an up down up sort of motion that was intended to catch and sweep the handle of his opponent's blade out of his hands on the last upstroke, he'd learned it in Brennidon from his not brother Mark - but Arthur saw him coming and was able to block the move. Richard grinned at the other young man, very impressed with him and was about launch into a sixte parry to block what he assumed would be Arthur's next attack when he felt a heavy hand land on his shoulder.
Richard swung around with the Sword of Truth, pressing it neatly to the person's neck only to find himself holding King Uther Pendragon on the wrong end of his sword.
Richard dropped his sword arm hastily. "I'm sorry your Highness. I didn't realize it was you." He panted out, heart still beating fast.
Uther gazed down to examine the sword. "You have excellent technique," the king complimented, using the comment to gain him an extra moment to look at the sword. He finally looked back at the man, who truly did look apologetic about his quick reaction. "Is that the Sword of Truth?"
Kahlan, who'd been watching the exchange from a seated position nearby quickly rose to her feet. "Almost but not quite," she called out, walking quickly up to them. "He's heard all of the Seeker stories and is quite enamoured with them. I had the sword made up for him as a birthday present last year." She told Uther.
Uther turned around to look at her. "I see..." he said slowly, as he watched her carefully. He looked back and forth between them. "And what is so enamouring about the stories?" he asked Richard after noting the interesting expression on his face.
Richard carefully schooled his features to not show how brilliant he thought Kahlan's lie was and tried hard to think of what Gryff would say. Richard had lived as the Seeker for too long to actually think being the Seeker was anything but dangerous.
"It's the adventure and the nobility of the Seeker in the stories." Kahlan answered for him, eyes locked on Richard she continued, "A true Seeker is someone who is brave and clever and passionate! Dedicated to serving justice and breaking tyranny." She turned to Uther and finished "A Seeker is a true hero, we could all do with finding the legend fascinating in times such as these."
"Times such as these?" Uther turned to fully look at her. "What do you mean by that?"
Kahlan paused, could these people really have no knowledge of Darken Rahl and the threat he posed?
"Surely you've at least heard of Darken Rahl?" Richard asked, sword sheathed and twitched towards the back of his leg rather than the front. They couldn't leave the box or Orden here if these people didn't even believe there was a threat!
The King glanced around to make sure no one else was close enough to hear them and then eyed his son who looked about to ask a million questions. "The only threat to Camelot is magic and those who use it," he growled. "Like the Seeker."
Richard bristled visibly. "The Seeker is a threat only those who believe in propagating injustice." He argued. He'd understood where the man was coming from, Westland had held no magic since the boundary went up and he'd grown up with it as only a threat and not a thing of wonder, but to ignore it entirely and to leave his kingdom open to attack because of that... Well that was folly no man, certainly not a king, should be allowed to entertain.
"And is magic just?" Uther tilted his head to the side and regarded Richard curiously. "Those who would use it against their fellow man to get what they want and to create imbalance? No!" Uther shook his head. "Magic is a threat!"
"And yet you ignore the threat of Darken Rahl? A man who has the most powerful magic in a thousand years?" Richard demanded. "You pretend he doesn't exist, keep the knowledge of him from the captain of your guard?" he jerked his head at Arthur. "And then you tell me the Seeker, the only man capable of defeating Rahl, is a threat to you and yours?" Richard's voice shook with his anger, he couldn't believe this man's willful ignorance.
"Who is Darken Rahl?" Arthur looked between all of them. "What is a Seeker?"
Uther's face turned red with rage and he pulled Richard away from Arthur. "You will not come to my kingdom and run your mouth off, putting worries into the heads of my people. My kingdom is secure!" he said in a harsh whisper.
Kahlan stepped forward then, placing a hand on Richard's arm. "Richard is only concerned for your kingdom, your majesty. We have seen what Darken Rahl's forces can do it and it is truly horrific. Surely you'd rather know about an enemy that could come after you at any moment than remain vulnerable to an attack. That's all Richard is trying to say." She assured him.
"You think I don't know about any and all possible threats to my kingdom?" Uther turned his anger to Kahlan.
"I guess you just don't do anything about them then." Richard couldn't stop himself from replying.
"I'll show you what I do to threats to my kingdom," he growled at Richard. "Guards!"
"Father!" Arthur stepped forward, about to protest but the look on the king's face was enough to make him fall back.
Richard took a step back and warily reached for his sword, eyes darting around the area as Uther's guards materialized from the doorways. Kahlan's hand closed over his on the hilt of the Sword of Truth and she shook her head sternly at him.
"I think things are getting out of hand here." Kahlan began. "Richard and I didn't mean to imply that your kingdom wasn't well run. If you'll be tolerant enough to grant us leave we'll be on our way." She said, tugging Richard back another step.
"Perhaps you'd like to join him in the dungeon?" Uther looked at her curiously.
"There's no need for anyone to end up in the dungeon tonight. Richard and I are sorry we offended you and we'll be leaving your kingdom as soon as possible." She insisted. Richard could hear a hint of the Confessor coming out in the compellatory tone she used.
"Lock them both up," Uther told one of the guards, "and find me the old man." He glanced at Arthur before turning to head back inside. Their Seeker story was just as flimsy as their excuse for being there and his suspicion was growing even more now. He tapped his lip in thought and turned around to look at the guard. "Bind her hands."
"No!" It was Richard who spoke, he shook Kahlan's palm off his hand as he drew the sword from its scabbard. "This is unnecessary! Is this how you treat people who rescue your son?" He demanded of Uther's retreating back. He eyed the guards surrounding him,there were a dozen of them in heavy armour. He didn't really want to kill any of these men, they weren't his enemy.
"Don't worry," Arthur said quietly after his father had moved a bit further away. "I will figure something out."
Richard still hesitated to sheath his sword but Kahlan nodded at him and then at Arthur. "Please, we really didn't mean to upset him. We'll tell you all about Rahl if you can free us."
"I'll do the best I can," Arthur nodded to them then headed off to find their friend who was most likely with Gaius.