*sigh*

Well, I watched "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword"...

This is the aftermath.

Enjoy.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Thorns and Coins

Prologue

It was dusk when they came. Henry was sitting at the kitchen table, sweaty and grimy from a hard day's work, when he heard the clatter of their boots on the gravelled path leading up to his house.

He was just about to start eating the supper his daughter had made for him, before the approaching Blacklegs had thwarted his plans and disturbed his peace.

Henry did not know why they were coming to his house at this hour of the day, but he was sure they were not going to place another order. Something bad was about to happen, that was for sure.

Quickly, he jumped up from his seat and rushed to his daughter's chamber, desperate not to make much noise.

"Gwendolyn", he whispered as he shook her shoulder.

"Gwen, you need to wake up." Henry tried to keep his voice calm and steady, but the loud knock at the front door started to make him frantic.

"What is it, pa?", Gwendolyn answered with a voice thick from a deep sleep. She rolled over and had to blink a few times before she could see the silhouette of her father properly. Another loud knock downstairs, and she bolted up straight; eyes widening with fear as she recognized the voices outside of her window. She wanted to ask her father what they wanted, but her words got stuck in her throat.

"Be calm, Gwen. I will take care of them." Henry had grabbed the shoulders of his daughter in an attempt to reassure her, but he could already feel how badly she was shaking.

"Take your brother and hide. Leave, when something goes wrong. Don't come back for me."

"But, papa –", Gwendolyn tried to object, but her father's stern look silenced her.

She could hear many loud voices now, and more banging at the door as the soldiers called out for her father.

"Be strong, sweetheart.", Henry reminded his daughter, and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before he hurried downstairs.

"Henry, open the goddamn door – now!"

Henry could feel his heart thumping hard in his chest; his usually steady hand trembled as he reached for the handle and finally yanked the wooden door open.

Shock ran through his body at the sight before him. A dozen Blackleg's, wearing the result of his excellent work, were standing in front of him; swords drawn and bows raised.

"Commander – w-what is going on out here? What is your matter?"

A nasty smile tugged at Commander John's lips as soon as Henry started to speak, and it was another good example why people had given him the nickname Mischief John. The high-ranking Blackleg was delighted to hear that the blacksmith's fear of the soldiers had not faded since their last big visit.

"Well, Henry, our beloved King Vortigern figured out that you have been stealing from him for the last few months. All just to increase your own wealth, and now we're here to let justice prevail."

Henry was flabbergasted. "Wealth? Stealing? I've never stolen anything in my life, Commander!"

Commander John took a quick step towards the blacksmith as he was raising his voice, and the man before him backed away like a mongrel that had been kicked.

"Tax fraud and openly lying to the king's guard? Henry, you're not doing yourself a good service here.", The Commander said, clicking his tongue and shaking his head in mock disappointment.

"Now," The taller man walked past the blacksmith into his house while his soldiers waited outside for his command. "you have exactly two options to get out of this delicate situation."

Henry followed the Commander and watched as said man took a seat at his kitchen table, boldly shoving a spoonful of his supper into his mouth. "This is good.", he judged and dabbed his mouth with a nearby napkin.

"You're getting off track, Commander. What are those two options?", Henry asked coldly, and suppressed the urge to spit on the ground at John's feet.

"Did your lovely daughter cook this?" The Commander looked around the large room, which was now fully illuminated by several candles. "Where is she anyway?"

"She's in the city along with Edward, visiting a family friend. They won't be back for a while.", Henry lied. He knew that the Commander had always fancied his daughter since she was only of a young age; barely a teenager.

"Hm", John nodded. "Guess I'll have to pay her another visit in a few days then."

"Commander", Henry said through clenched teeth; his hands balled into tight fists. "What are the options?"

The Commander noticed that Henry seemed aggravated, and it pleased him. "All right, Henry" He rose from his seat and sauntered over to the culprit. "You either pay the amount of a thousand silver coins you owe the king right now, right here, to me – or" His thin lips split into a malicious smile. "you plead guilty, beg the king for forgiveness and work off your debts in Camelot as an inmate."

Henry's mouth went dry. "That's too much! I – I don't have that much money and if I give you all my savings, there won't be enough to feed my children and pay the suzerain."

Commander John shrugged his broad shoulders; creating a metallic creaking with his armour.

"Not my problem, Henry. Your action will always cause consequences. Didn't your mother teach you this?"

"I didn't do anything, Commander. I always paid my taxes to the king." Henry avoided to look at John's eyes looking down at him with a triumphant glint.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Where are we going?"

Gwen felt another impatient tug at her nightgown. "Be quiet, Edward!", she shushed her little brother for the second time since she had awoken him.

"Is there someone in the house? I can hear voices." Edward grabbed a hold on Gwen's arm; clutching to it out of fear of the strangers. "Where's dad?"

Gwen listened intensely, and tried to hear what they were talking about. She had recognized two voices already. Her father's and – a cold shiver ran down her spine. One of the Blacklegs Commander, John.

"That's too much!", she could hear her father say full of frustration, and it made her gasp quietly. It had been a long time since she had heard her father sound that emotional.

"What is going on, Gwen? I'm scared."

Gwendolyn bit her lip. She was scared, too. However, she kneeled next to her brother, and cupped his small face with both of her hands. "Don't be, Ed. It's going to be fine. We – we're going to be f –"

A loud thumb cut her off mid-sentence and drew the siblings attention back downstairs.

"Dad!"

Quickly, Edward slipped out of his sisters grip before she could react and bolted down the stairs.

"Edward, no!"

The punch Henry had thrown at the Commander's jaw had been quick and with full force, and the throbbing pain in his right hand was unpleasant, but bearable. He knew that he was innocent, that all accusations towards him were false, but he also knew that he had no chance to get out of the situation anyway. It was only now his action would cause consequences; and it was only now they were justified.

"Dad!"

Both heads snapped up as the blacksmith son came running down the stairs, towards the men.

"Edward", Henry gasped quietly as his heart sank.

"You son of a bitch dare to lay your fucking hands on a commanding officer and now it turns out you lied to me again?", The Commander growled as he watched the boy fling himself into the arms of his father.

"Yorick! Eskil! Byron! Arrest this man!", he barked, causing three more Blacklegs to abruptly enter the house. Suddenly, Edward was pulled out of his father's arms by John while the remaining three guards enchained the blacksmith.

Henry did not resist in any way as his hand were cuffed with his own work. However, John noticed the man's nervous glance upstairs.

More guards filled the house; playing havoc downstairs while Edward cried, reaching out for his father, although the grip of the Blackleg officer's large hand on the back of his neck hurt him.

"Let go of my boy, John. He didn't do anything. He's only ten.", Henry pleaded with the Commander.

But, John had nothing in storage but a degrading look for the man in chains. "Byron", he called one of his soldiers over instead. "Go upstairs and take someone with you. Find his daughter."

Byron nodded, a smug grin on his lips. The Commander licked his lips mischievously; tasting the dried blood in his mouth. Blood the blacksmith had caused.

"Bring her to me."