Part II - A highly Secret Meeting at B&B’s B&B
Arthur left the dreamworld of life with the Belladonna and wandered the land seemingly aimlessly, unable to recruit anyone for his quest. Finally, after many miles had passes beneath his feet, he came upon a village that did not appear on any map. I have been on this road before, but never seen this village. Intrigued, Arthur read the road sign. “Welcome to Brigadoon.”
There’s an Alehouse, thought Arthur. “I could use a drink,” said Arthur. “And a bath,” replied Patsy.
“Welcome to B&B’s B&B” said the Hostess.
“And what might you be called, fair one?” said Arthur.
“My real name is Zoot, but most people just call me Pebbles. My parent’s own this place. We call it B&B’s B&B. Stands for “Barney & Betty’s Black Smith & Brewery. Ah, here comes my parents…”
Thank you said Arthur as he finished the best ale he had ever tasted. “I find myself in need of a blacksmith. But he must be extraordinarily special. Do you have anything like that?
“ I just might,” said Barney. “My very own employee, Dwellin the Dwalf, has a spotless reputation for enduring & exquisite craftsmanship.”
“That’s a rather unusual name,” said Arthur.
“Yes. He was a foundling. His father was a Dwarf master craftsman while his mother was an Elf sorceress of no small repute. “
“Must have had a rough childhood.”
“Yea, both sides were against him since the day he was born.”
At the Smithy…
I need you to refurbish this sword. It is a special sword, not like anything that has ever been made before. The finished product will be utterly unique, as if made by Ilmarinen, the Blacksmith to the gods, himself. Work this fire ruby, my personal Talisman of Protection into the pommel. And here is my last bit of gold to use as well.
Make it both beautiful, fit for a king, and deadly, fit for a king’s champion. And it must never be duplicated.
Oh, and one more thing, you must never tell a soul, on pain of long and painful death, that you made this sword, for I intend to tell the world that the sword was given to me by the Lady of the Lake as a sign that I am to the chosen one to rule the Empire. It will help me draw the bravest knights to my cause.
Do you have other children besides your daughter?
A son my Lord. He is out gathering dung for the fires.
And what is he called?
Robin, my Lord.
Hmm. Robin the Dung Gatherer. That’s perfect. I will take both your children into my service to ensure that you never reveal the origin of this sword you are about make. I will make Zoot dress-maker to the queen and Robin can be one of my knights. He may wish to consider hiring some minstrels to invent a past and sing his praises, the better to keep his lowly origin secret.
Part III – Arthur gathers his forces.
Months go by, and Arthur isn’t much closer to his goal. He has only gathered a handful of knights for his quest: Bedevere, Bors & Robin. The night is cold and they are huddled round a smokey campfire.
“Only five knights,” Arthur laments.
“Three sir.”
“O.K. three knights. Still not much of an army.
Bedevere bravely speaks what everyone else is thinking, “The problem Sire is that magic swords are not unique in this world. Just about everyone and their brother has one.”
Bors chimes in, “Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. You can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just ’cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!”
“I wasn’t going to say anything,” Robin muttered weakly.
Before Arthur can respond, a ghostly visage appears by the fire. He speaks!
“Arthur, if you are to be King, you must complete this quest! You must gather the 13 treasures of the Ancient World and bring them together and place them in a grail in your castle. You will start by returning to your Electorate, where you must build ships and raise an army, for your first quest is to defeat Astrid Firehair, Queen of the Island of Albion. There you must find the wise old man. He will guide you further.”
And with that, the strange white visage disappeared without a trace. However, he was no sooner gone, when another took his place. This one quite real.
‘There are some who call me….. Tim.”
In the Dark forest of Ewing – Arthur confronts the Green Knight
Of course we can chop down a tree with a herring. But let us toast your magnificence first. Drink this…
Before the Bridge over the River Perilous
None shall pass! But Arthur makes quick of the Villain. Here, drink this…
In the festering swamps of the Neeker-Neeker,
Arthur recruits a local lord who hopes to find an advantageous match for his rather reluctant son.
GET ON WITH
IT.
Yes, get on with it
As Arthur’s fame grows, he is soon joined by Lancelot the Brave, Galahad the Pure, and somewhat strangely, a dead collector. Having recruited an army, Arthur is now ready to begin his quest and invade the mysterious isle of Avalon.
Barney, Betty & the Blacksmith
The staff at B&B' B&B
Arthur's Vision
