Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one you recognize. The idea was mine – I think – though most likely others who occupy my residence would argue otherwise.

A/N: A very young Arthur and his handling of the loss of a Knight after assuming command of the group. The Knights we know from the movie are beginning their tenure at the fort as fully-trained Knights while the existing crew wraps up their years. A mix of movie crew and my own.

"We do not bite, you know…"

Arthur started at the quiet voice over his shoulder. His head turned toward the sound while his eyes trailed, lingering on the corpse a mere arm's length from him. He refocused his attention on Kay, noting that the slightly taller man had stepped forward and was now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him, observing his dead brother with an impassive expression. Arthur found he could only shrug and shake his head slightly before turning his attention back to the deceased.

"Well, let me clarify that…most of us do not bite and those who do tend to prefer far…prettier quarry, shall we say?" Kay nodded toward the table. "And Brunor shall be doing, well, much of nothing…" Kay's voice trailed off and no sooner had the words left his mouth than he regretted them. He saw, out of his peripheral vision, the flinch a moment before the whispered acknowledgement from the young Roman Officer reached his ears.

"I know." Arthur stammered his response quietly and shifted his weight. To be this close…to have Kay say such a thing and, further, to speak it so matter-of-factly… Arthur felt his stomach lurch as his nerves threatened to fail him. It was not as though he had never witnessed death this close. He could recall his own father's body being laid out similarly…could hear his mother's mournful wail of her husband's name, her tearful cries for him to return to her as well as how she had turned upon the Roman soldiers who had tried to pull her away. But this – this was different. He – Arthur – was solely responsible for Brunor not riding back to the fort with his brethren…

Kay bowed his head briefly before stepping forward and placing a hand on Brunor's chest. "I am sorry…that was uncalled for…"

"No. It was the truth…" Arthur shook his head vehemently and blinked back tears. "And I am responsible for it being the truth…"

"No, you are not." Kay turned and pinned Arthur with a gaze that the young commander knew meant he should silence his tongue. Once Kay knew the silent message had been understood, he continued, his hand remaining upon the unmoving chest of his fellow Knight. "Brunor was a Knight – a seasoned veteran. As such he knew he had no business being caught near the edge of the forest and he also knew better than to give the Woads any opportunity to surround him. Brunor ignored those things and he paid the price."

Arthur shrugged and shook his head. His gaze flicked from the stern gaze of Kay to Brunor's pallid countenance and then to his boots while sore, tired shoulders heaved with a shrug and a sigh. "I should have listened…should have seen…"

"Aye, you should have but did not. Surrounded by battle worn Knights who have seen and experienced…who tried to tell you, to warn you what was coming… Aye, indeed you should have heeded their wisdom but that is a moot point this evening." Kay nodded, his sandy hair scrubbing his forehead as he turned his gaze from Arthur back to Brunor's corpse. "You did not and so we find ourselves here, where all commanders of men find themselves one day: staring at a corpse and wondering what went wrong, how this could have been prevented, and vowing to heed those with far more experience so this will never happen again…except it will. Again and again, you will find yourself standing somewhere staring at the body of someone you feel responsible for."

"They will never follow me again…"

"They will if you show you have learned or are willing to learn, to trust in the battle earned wisdom of the Knights that surround you. Show them that this was a grievous and painful mistake but that it was just that – a mistake and not something you intend to make habit." Kay turned and watched as Arthur looked up from studying his boots, dark curls nodding slowly at first and then with more determination. "Good. It is late and there is naught more to be done here, so I would suggest sleep…" Kay patted Brunor's chest then stepped away and patted Arthur's shoulder. "Go and rest, Arthur…tomorrow is another day…"

Arthur nodded slightly as he felt Kay pat his shoulder and listened as Kay started toward the door. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes before speaking quietly yet resolutely. "My fate is here, upon this island – to die in service to Rome but they shall not share in that… I swear this to you, Kay…I shall do all in my power to see that they do not…" He listened as the sound of Kay's boots first stopped then became loud and sounded as though they grew closer… Arthur was completely unprepared when his arm was gripped tightly while he was spun round, finding himself face-to-face with a very angry Kay.

"Do not ever…" Kay hissed and then paused to bite his tongue before he said something truly regretful. Choking back his anger and loosening his grip on Arthur's arm, Kay willed ire tinged calmness into his voice. "Do not ever speak to me…to any of us…about fate." He paused and snorted. "Fate is nothing more than a pitiful excuse for poor judgement that is utilized by those with no backbone, with no stomach for accepting responsibility. It is an insult to those who live this every day as well as to those who have given their lives in their duty or service or whatever we are calling it this year…" Releasing Arthur's arm, he gestured to the ashen figure laid out as he spoke. "And furthermore, do not promise to any of us, or to yourself, things that are not within your control. You can promise us that you will not force us to worship your god…or that you will not force us to bend our knees to you like servants…but do not…" Kay stepped closer and lowered his voice, poking Arthur in the chest and gesturing around to the fort at large. "Do not ever promise what you cannot guarantee with absolute certainty. Because you will fail and when you do, it will demoralize not only those who serve under you but you as well… It will cast doubts and aspersions upon you as well as your command – and believe me that is not something you wish to happen because both your honour and their loyalty are not easily regained."

Arthur stared wide-eyed at Kay, never before having seen such a passionate and angry side to the Knight who had been acting as his chief counsel since he had taken over command. "I…I...I only meant that I would do my best…"

"Then leave it at that, Arthur. Sometimes the less that is said, the more you keep your mouth shut, the better it is for everyone." Kay snorted and shook his head, unable to believe he was now quoting that bastard old goat to their commanding officer. Taking a deep breath, Kay exhaled slowly. "Now, Arthur, do me and everyone else in this fort a favor and go to bed. Rest and sleep as best you are able." For emphasis, Kay inclined his head toward the door and, when Arthur failed to move, Kay gave the man a light shove toward the door with another whisper for him to go to his quarters and rest… He watched as Arthur stumbled a bit, then nodded and hurried out the door. Once Kay could no longer hear Arthur's heavy footsteps retreating, he took another deep breath and quietly beckoned the eavesdropper to stop being rude.