Long may he reign
Maleagant rode through the streets of Camelot with a solemn expression, his mind burdened with thoughts of recent events, not the least of which was how ridiculous he looked with that crown on his head. His father’s death was hardly enough to shake him. The old man had been dead to him for a long time, but the implications of his passing still weighed on his mind. He was King of Gorre now. He always thought that when he took a throne it would be the one of Camelot, but as he rode through the kingdom he found himself in a position he never believed he would be. He was happy without it. He had a prosperous kingdom of his own, and he he had a loving wife and two beautiful children. Gods he had missed them. He didn’t know it was possible to miss someone as much as he had missed his family.
As he approached his estate he looked around, taking in the sights of the city and wondering how much of it would be left once the Saxons took Camelot. So much had changed since he’d made the alliance with King Cerdic. He was a King in his own right now, with an army at his disposal and a people to care for. They were his responsibility, and he would not fail them the way Arthur had failed. More than that, he was a father now. It was his duty to make the world a better place for his children. Rhys and Rowena were more than his legacy, they were his life.
So much had changed since the first time he had ridden into Camelot, scorned by Guinevere in favour of the bastard king. He was a husband now, a king, a father… a brother. How is it than in so little time so much had change? He had been so alone and now… now he had so much to lose. He had sworn allegiance to the Saxons out of anger, but now he would respect that alliance out of love. When Camelot burned, as it was bround to with all of its enemies drawing nearer with every breath, he would continue to stand. Gorre would continue to stand. His family would continue to stand. Because he had always known loving more meant having more to lose. What he hadn’t know is that it also meant having more to fight for. And if there was one thing he was good at in his wretched existence it was fighting.
King or not, it seemed some things would never change, and Maleagant was torn away from his thoughts by someone standing absently in front of his horse. At this rate he’d make it through the crowded streets faster on foot. “You have the entire bloody street at your disposal, must you stand right there?” He wasn’t a patient man to begin with, but on this occasion he was particularly eager to get home. “Some of us have families to get home to. Ideally at some point this damned year.”