The halls of the palace echoed with the sounds of gunfire and men screaming, with the occasional explosion from a grenade. Percival ran as fast as he could towards the Kings chambers, the screams of men and women dying badly rattled his brain. It was a horror he never believed would stain the hallowed halls of the palace, this was the sacred seat of the Royal Family. The attack was timed to perfection, it was just after four am and the guards were in the last stretch of a long night shift. They were tired and not at their optimal level of awareness, and although they were above average, the late hour had dulled their reflexes. Sappers had used the shadows of the dark night to approach the gates and place heavy explosives against the hardened wood and steel doors. The explosion when it came was massive and very few of the guards on duty were able to avoid serious injury or death.
It sickened Percival to think of the good men and women that were blown to hell by the explosion. It only took a few minutes for the remainder of the battalion to organise and begin the fight back. But, as they say, the gate was open and the horse had bolted, the enemy was flowing through the breached gates like water. As he rounded the last corner to the hallway that led to the King's chamber he saw that the Captain of the King's Guard was placing the last of his men in a defensive perimeter.
"Are you set here, Tolliver?" He demanded of the Captain.
"Yes Sir, I have a full platoon of Battle Armour ready to defend the King." The Captain replied immediately.
"Excellent, prepare for a full evacuation of the Palace senior staff and their families. I do not want a single live person left behind, I don't want to leave the dead and severely injured, but we have higher priorities.
Understood?" The Guard Captain nodded tightly, it went against the grain to leave anyone behind, living or otherwise. "Head for the entry to the catacombs and await the King and the Prince there. I have ordered the gates opened and a squad of Sappers to prevent anyone following us." He explained. When the Captain disappeared to make the necessary preparations he opened the Chambers Door and strode across to the inner sanctum.
He entered Uther's office and saw the King standing behind his desk writing something on a very ornate piece of what looked like parchment. Off to the right sat Arthur, Uther's only child and Heir to the throne, on the floor setting up a small fort for his toy soldiers. He was oblivious to the hell that was being unleashed in the halls outside his apartment.
"Good evening Uncle Percy." The boy chirped. "I am about to defeat the evil Hordes with my armoured soldiers." He explained.
"That looks to be an excellent fort, my Boy. The Hordes don't stand a chance." Percival said lightly to Arthur. The boy smiled proudly and went back to his preparations.
"Michel!" Uther called, the door to the next room opened and beautiful woman approached the King and curtseyed.
"Michel, sil teplait, amene Arthur dans sa chambre et assure-toi qu 'il est pret a patir."
"Oui Monsieur." She reached down and gently explained to the boy that they had to go to his room. Arthur was clearly disappointed, he was looking forward to showing his father his tactics. It was exciting to be up at this late hour as it was. But he knew that he must follow his Nannies directions, he was a good boy and knew that his father needed to speak to Uncle Percy for a reason. Maybe it was about the fireworks he heard before, he loved fireworks, but his father had told him he must wait, so he would wait.
The door to the other rooms closed and Uther turned to Percival.
"So my brother has played his hand?" He asked, knowing the answer.
"Yes Sire, he has ordered attacks all across the country, and he has a very large loyalist force to back him." As he finished an explosion rocked the palace and dust fell from the plaster ceiling.
"I knew it was coming, but like a fool, I held a fools hope that my brother would not sully the Pendragon line so." A small tear rolled down the King's cheek and dripped onto the parchment. "I prayed he would come to his senses and see that he was making a monumental mistake. I suppose that makes me the fool then, eh Percy?" He looked at his oldest friend.
"The only fool is Harold for his arrogance and treachery." Percival was angry. "You have no choice but to destroy this coup in detail and hang the survivors from the highest gallows that can be built."
"You are correct, my Friend." He moved around the desk and stood looking his friend in the eye. "Percy, I have a very dangerous mission for you. It is of vital importance that you succeed and that you DO NOT question my motives or stray from the mission."
"I am, ever, at your service, My King." Percival dropped to a knee.
"Please stand, Old Friend." Uther thought for a long moment before continuing. "Sir Percival, I need you to gather my son and his meagre belongings and spirit him out of the Capital and get him as far from this as you possibly can. I have placed a large sum in an account under your name and there are secure properties in ten different countries. Do not tell me where you go, just go and disappear."
"Uther, we can defeat these treacherous dogs." Percival protested.
"Percy, we have been friends for longer than I care to remember, this is something I need you to do. Do it for the Country, for the Empire, but most of all do it for Arthur." Uther moved over to a wet bar on the side board and poured two generous measures of the Scotch that they only shared on very important occasions. He handed one to Percival and raised his glass. To our long friendship, you have ever been the rock I could anchor to and feel safe." They swallowed the amber liquid in one gulp and put the glasses carefully on the desk. "My brother has planned well and executed to perfection, there is no tomorrow for me, but Arthur is the future of the Empire, protect him, school him, make him the leader that I know you can. Remember the place where we said we would retire to, where the women were perfect and the food strange but divine. I would so have loved to run amok with you there, Old Friend."
"As would I, Uther, you were always a brother to me." Percival embraced Uther for the last time, he understood the meaning of Uther's words clearly. The door opened and Arthur strode through in his small army day uniform, he was the very picture of a miniature soldier. Uther knelt before his son and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders.
"Son, Uncle Percy is going to take you on a long journey, this is a very important part of your education for when you are King after me. I need you to follow his orders as though they were mine and always strive to be the best soldier and King you can be, do you understand?"
"Of course Father, I need to be smart and strong like you so I can destroy the Hordes that might come in the future. I will do as you say, I promise, I will miss you, will you visit me?" Arthur asked, his voice small and more than a little scared. But he was like his mother in that he pushed the fear aside and did what duty and responsibility demanded, even at one month shy of his fifth birthday.
"Tolliver!" Percival called to the Guard Captain outside the chambers. A moment later the man strode through the door. "Take Arthur and Michel and wait for me in the hall, I will be along momentarily." Tolliver saluted and looked down at Arthur.
"Are you ready for an adventure, Arthur?" Tolliver asked the Boy.
"Father says that adventures are over rated, but, I think I should like to have one, Tolly." Arthur told the massive Guardsman.
"Then we shall go and find adventure together." He said as he led the boy from the room.
Just as Tolliver reached the doorway, Arthur rushed back in and hugged his father fiercely, Uther's heart broke in that instant and hugged the boy back not wanting to let go. He was desperate to see his son grow into a man and take the helm of the Empire, for he knew down deep that Arthur would be a greater King than he could ever be. Arthur pulled back and looked into his father's tear filled eyes.
"I love you Daddy."
"I love you too, Son." With that, Arthur turned to the door and walked out without a backward glance.
"I will protect him as though he were my own son, Uther." Percival said.
"I know, my Friend, I know." He said with a slight crack in his voice. "Now go and get him far from here, I will hold the traitors at bay long enough to give you time to get away." He grasped the Sword of Power that lay on his desk and slipped it into its scabbard. "I will never yield Excalibur to my brother, he shall never possess the power to rule the world." He said in a deadly whisper. "Go Sir Percival." Percival nodded and strode out the door.
Uther watched his friend depart his chambers, it was the hardest moment of his life, but it was written and could not be erased. The sound of his guard escorting Arthur and Percival faded and then was gone. Uther took a knee and drew his sword, placing the tip on the floor, he pressed the pommel to his forehead and said a quiet prayer. Remained silent for a moment, he needed to centre his mind and force all other distractions from his head. That done he stood and strode from his office for the last time.