Return of the King of Knights

[the_once_and_future]

Who: Arturia, any Briton, or anyone with a reason to be in Camelot
What: The Queen returns
When: 5 August, early morning
Where: Camelot, either in the courtyard outside the great hall or inside

It was the early hours of dawn, when the city began to wake from its slumber for a new day of work. The medallion of the sun hung low on the horizon, a brilliant magenta as it filtered through the rolling fog along fields of wheat, barley, and rye. Farm hands had just begun to lead their sheep and cattle out to pasture, and squires started their task of tending to the mounts of their knights. Apprentices to various trades were already performing the morning chores their masters tasked them with, occasionally dodging shopkeepers rolling up the curtains over their stalls. It was a day like any other.

It was into this idyll that the small company of knights rode, weary to the bone but none the worse for wear in spite of their previous battles. They had left behind their their families and friends to join the campaign; each knight's spirits were light if for no other reason that they would see their loved ones again. They were exhausted, but at long last, they were home. The Black Company had returned to Camelot.

The knight at their head dismounted with ease and grace, giving Llamrei a fond pat before a somewhat bewildered stable-hand led her away. The company followed suit, awaiting the dismissal of their leader. A final "huzzah!" heralded their departure, eager even in their weariness for their anticipated reunions. Yet, even in this otherwise joyous homecoming, Arturia ap Pendragon frowned slightly as her sea-green eyes scanned the courtyard, as if expecting to find something there that was conspicuously absent. But whatever she expected to see was not to be found.

Though every bit as weary as the knights she commanded, Arturia carefully suppressed any sign of it, deliberately presenting a vision of strength and poise for the sake of the subjects who needed to believe in her. The sovereign must be the rock upon which the kingdom rested; she must not show frailty and must exude all the virtues of chivalry at all times. Their victory must be nothing short of the expected outcome, as natural as the waves against the white shores of Gwaych, the province the Black Company had successfully defended from corruption.

With measured, graceful steps, the Queen of Britain made her way to the great hall.

[OOC: Prose or action tags are fine, whichever is your preference.]

Comments

[greyerrant]

A tremendous warrior in white battle-plate, which is as scarred as the man who wears it stands in the great hall, surrounded by a retinue resplendent in the cerulean colors of the warrior-kings of Ultramar. They hold massive, boxy guns of some make at high port, and are girt with gladiuses at their waists. The white-armored warrior keeps a similar weapon, though of older and more battered make locked to his leg-plates, and bears a huge, toothed blade in addition to the gladius, holding a horsetail plumed helm under one arm, and he starts with recognition of Arturia as she approaches, speaking in a deep voice.

"Arturia! You look like you have come from the wars, were you waylaid on the way back from Summer Court?" His gray eyes suggest a certain concern, though his huge, craggy face carries little expression. His bodyguard shows none at all, helms concealing everything behind ceramite and adamantine.

courtyard

[meidokay]

"Halt."

Kay stood at the door, serving in place of the porter. None of the regular porters could be found on this day. She would have to remember to give them some raps on the head and shoulders later for making her assume their work.

"What manner of man comes here?"

The answer seemed to be almost obvious. It was her King and the king's knights returning to Camelot. But Kay had seen many manners of things during her years as a knight. Just from various magical mishaps alone, she knew that one could not tell an individual by mere appearance. She would need some proof before she could allow anyone, even the King, to enter the hall.

[xiao_lan_long]

An exhausted-looking young lady, still recovering from Summer Court, greeted the monarch once she was within the castle.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty," she said with a sleepy bow...before noticing that something is odd here.

"Er...did you just get back from Court, my lady? And do your hair differently?" she asked as politely as she could. A part of her noticed that, under the queen's usual impressive aura, something felt...different, and she was trying rather poorly to define it.

[formerly_known_as_prince]

If Arturia's paying attention, she'll notice another girl in armor, waiting at the gates for an audience with her. Utena's armor is shabby and oxidized so badly it's hard to tell what the metal was originally. There are leaves in her hair. Clearly she's traveled a ways to be here and hasn't had more than a country stream to bathe in since. A hedge knight if there ever was one.

If acknowledged, she'll bow. "Your grace, I have heard of your foundation of the knights of the round table. I have come to ask to join."

But perhaps she's been paying attention and recognizes the girl who led the van for the Crusade Company when they drove out the dragon raiders.