Even though it was late at night, Agravain still brought all the widows and children before my throne.
I knew why, it wasn't hard to guess his thinking. These people weren't from my kingdom; they were outsiders. And as such, he wanted them to swear their fealty to me and to my throne.
Personally, I didn't think we should keep the children up any longer for something like that; it could wait. However, I allowed him to go ahead with it.
From atop my throne, I watched them go through my home. I saw the joy and wonder in the children's eyes as they beheld my great city; it warmed my heart.
These children, innocent as they might look, carried great scars in their souls. They had experienced things no adult should suffer, much less a child. So, to see that a spark of innocence still lingers was heartwarming.
It also didn't hurt to finally see someone truly appreciate the beauty of my Camelot. The interest in their eyes is so different than that of my normal visitors.
With only a slight delay as they moved past the Round Table. Children, no matter how traumatized, couldn't resist its allure.
Agravain led the group into the throne room with his usual commanding presence, his voice echoing against the stone walls. "My King, I present to you the ones Sir Kay and Sir Ector have brought back. They await your will."
The widows and children entered cautiously, the grandeur of the room striking them silent. The high, vaulted ceilings, the banners of Camelot, and the radiant glow of the throne filled the space with a sense of majesty.
The children, all young girls, huddled close together, their wide eyes darting around. One of the smaller ones whispered, "Is this really where the King of Knights lives?" Her words, though soft, seemed to echo in the stillness.
I sat on my throne, observing them. The contrast was striking—tiny, trembling girls, still carrying the weight of fear and uncertainty, standing beside the widows, whose hardened faces bore the marks of a life lived under the Red Room's shadow.
I allowed them a few moments to gaze in wonder and to find themselves. After all, they were all nervous, small and big. Before the throne of the lion king, these widows could only tremble.
Finally, I signaled for Agravain to begin.
He stood beside me, his armor and clock pristine; his face seemed far older than he was, and it held a certain stiffness. "You stand before the White Lion King, Ruler of Camelot, King of Knights and Lord of Storms, and Goddess of the End, Arthuria Pendragon!"
As he finished introducing me, I reached up and removed my helmet and watched as their eyes grew wide as they beheld my face, their sharp eyes easily making out the fact that I was a woman.
"And your new King, if you decide to stay within my Kingdom." I finally said and smiled down kindly at them.
The room was silent, save for the faint rustle of cloaks and the shuffling of small feet. The widows and children stared, their eyes flicking between Agravain and me, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.
A murmur rose among the widows, many exchanging wary glances. The revelation of my identity had caught them off guard. The small children, however, didn't share the same reservations. One of the youngest girls tugged on the sleeve of a widow standing beside her.
"She's a queen?" the child whispered, her voice filled with awe.
Yelena stepped forward, her posture tense, her gaze sharp as ever. "You're a woman." Her tone wasn't accusatory, but it was laden with questions unspoken.
I met her gaze evenly. "Does that trouble you?"
She hesitated before shaking her head. "No. Just… unexpected."
I smiled faintly. "Life is often full of the unexpected. But make no mistake, though I am a woman, I am your king if you choose to stay. A king who will not use you as pawns but as people with the freedom to choose your path."
The tension in the room shifted slightly, the widows' shoulders relaxing, if only marginally. One of the older widows stepped forward, her voice hesitant but steady. "And if we choose not to stay?"
"You are free to leave," I said simply. "Camelot offers sanctuary, not chains. Your will is your own here."
The woman blinked, clearly taken aback by the response. The idea of freedom, of a choice without consequences, was foreign to them.
One of the children, emboldened by my gentle tone, took a step closer. "Will there be knights to protect us? Like the ones who came for us?"
I lowered my head slightly to better meet her eyes. "Yes. Camelot's knights protect those who cannot protect themselves. That is their sacred duty."
The girl nodded, seemingly satisfied, and stepped back into the cluster of children. The widows remained cautious, their years of training and survival instincts keeping them guarded.
"I know it is a lot to ask, so soon and while you are tired from your long travel, but ask I must and ask I shall. Do you accept me as your King? Or do you seek a life outside of my realm?" I asked, forgiving my gentle tone and instead using that of a ruler.
The weight of my words hung in the air, as did the weight of the decision I forced them to make. Though I already knew what they would reply. For what choice did they have but to follow me?
Cruel as it might be, where else could they go? With so many kids under them? while hunted by what remains of the Red Room? The simple answer was that they didn't have anywhere else to go.
They realized that too, and Yelena, who seemed like the leader, asked one final question. "If we serve you, that just means we will be citizens of Camelot, right? Now that we have to work for you or anything?"
I nodded, meeting Yelena's gaze with unwavering resolve. "That is correct. To serve me as your king does not mean servitude. It means you are a part of Camelot, a citizen of this land, free to live your life as you see fit."
The room was silent as Yelena processed my words. Her sharp eyes scanned my face for any trace of deceit, finding none. Behind her, the widows murmured softly, exchanging cautious glances.
One of the older widows, a woman with streaks of red in her hair, stepped forward. "And if we wish to work? To earn our keep, as it were?"
I smiled faintly. "I do not lie, so I will be honest with you, I hope you will work for me. I'm sure you have noticed that my knights are ill-equipped in the deals of the outside world; I hope you can bridge the gap, not as combatants, but in other roles."
The same widow raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical but curious. "Other roles? What exactly do you mean?"
I leaned forward slightly, my gaze steady and sincere. "Advisors, attendants, envoys—roles that require knowledge of the modern world. You've lived in it, navigated its complexities, and survived its worst. That experience is invaluable."
Yelena folded her arms, still guarded. "So, you want us to be your modern-day interpreters?"
"Only if you wish it," I replied. "However, while Camelot will take care of the little ones, you, who are adults, are expected to take care of yourself, so getting a job isn't a bad idea."
Finally, Yelena spoke again, her voice quieter now. "If we say yes, we're not just trading one master for another?"
I shook my head firmly. "You are not pawns here. You are people—citizens of a kingdom that values your freedom and your will. If you choose to serve Camelot, it will be because you believe in what it stands for, not because you are coerced."
The same child from earlier took a hesitant step forward, clutching the hem of Yelena's sleeve. "Will we be safe here?"
I met her gaze. "Yes, little one." You will be safe. Camelot protects its people, always."
Yelena inhaled deeply, the weight of responsibility clear in her expression. She looked at the other widows, searching for confirmation. Slowly, one by one, they nodded.
Yelena turned back to me, her voice steady despite the emotions threatening to surface. "Then we accept. We'll swear our loyalty to Camelot and to you… our King."
I inclined my head, my voice firm yet warm. "You have made a brave choice, one I will not take lightly. Welcome to Camelot—your new home."
-----
Early the next morning I was back on my throne, my Knights kneeling before me. "Sir Ector, Sir Kay, why don't you give us a report of your mission?"
Ector listed his head, looking up at me as he began his report. "My king, the witch sent us near the main base of the Red Room, and we were able to find it rather quickly, not giving them a chance to flee or properly mount a defence.
Kay straightened beside him, his usual humor absent. "Even then, they still had plenty of defences, and weapons, we had to unleash our Noble Phantasms to destroy their base quickly."
"We were worried they might try to harm the youngest ones, if they thought they would fall." Ector clarified. "So we made quick work of their defences, and raced to meet up with the Widows."
"Once we did." Kay took over. "We managed to persuade them to side with us, and under their lead, we eliminated the rest of the Red Room, though key leadership roles weren't at the base, so those escaped."
They continued to explain their actions, giving justifications and answering questions along the way. The other knights in particular were curious about the military power of the outside world.
In a world without knights, how did they fight? However, learning about the weapons and their uses had them scuffed.
"Sitting in safety far away and raining death down from above? Sounds like a cowardly way of fighting." Mordred said, and his statement only met nods by the rest.
I didn't speak up to disagree, because it was true. Only when you were bathed in the still warm blood of those you killed, when it ran down your face, when you had to clean it off your clothes, did you fully understand your actions.
The modern war had moved into something so far removed from what my knights knew that it might be something else entirely.
"Alright." I nodded as they finished their report. "Go send for their leader, and Sir Bedivere, if you would please go and entertain the young ones, I'm sure that after a night's rest, they are eager to meet more knights."
(end reached)
So, the widows... did they agree to join too easily?
This is meant to be somewhere right before they crack the full-on mind control, a time where mistrust is high, where Natasha just fled, some secretly hold the hope to be free themselves. Yet fear and control keep them there.
So when they get a chance, they take it.
Are they fine with what Camelot offers? Maybe not, but they don't have much in the way of options, the kids needs somewhere safe to stay, and Camelot might be one of the only places in the world that can be that.
after all, the widows have seen their powers, so they understand that the Red Room can't just send in some soldiers with guns to bring them back. Are they planning something in the background? I'm sure the widows aren't gonna take it easy.
they are smart, so they aren't about to start a fight without a good reason, and certainly not with magic knights.