KenderCleric's Challenge #11 - The Last Knight


Summary:

The age of Camelot was a shining moment amid the darkness of the middle ages. Wizards and Witches stood together under the rule of King Arthur and his Chancellor Merlin. Sadly though the brightest flames burn out the fastest and the dream that was Camelot fell.

As Arthur's body was taken to the Isle of Avalon to await the time when his people would need him once again Merlin met with those Knights of the Roundtable who had survived Arthur's last battle. At the side of one of the Knights stood the haggard and weary form of the man's Squire.

The boy was no older than fourteen, but had shown great promise. He was of common stock from a family of Potters, but he had greatly impressed Sir Gawain and Arthur. They had watched as the boy would observe the other Squires and Pages of the knights from a distance and try to lean as they did. Rumors about the village outside the gates of Camelot spoke of the boy's tireless attempts at training all the while maintaining his work at his father's shop. While these things impressed the knights and their King it was not until Merlin joined their observations that things changed.

"The boy is a Wizard. I have observed him commit several acts of accidental magic during his attempt at training as a Squire. In time, and with proper training, he could be a most formidable knight to whatever king would have him," spoke Merlin quietly to Arthur and Gawain one evening.

The next morning history was made as the Potter's child was named squire to Sir Gawain. It was a position that while not establishing any rank among even the lesser nobles did hold the promise that one day the child could be knighted and named a noble himself. Though saddened by the absence of their son the Potter's family was ecstatic over the boon granted the child.

Now, the boy stood beside his master and the other knights as the single surviving Squire of the battle. His three years of training as a Page, Squire, and Wizard had only proven Merlin's words to be true. The boy held a fire to prove himself worthy of the immense honor he had been granted and soaked up his instruction.

Merlin spoke quietly to the knights imparting his last bits of wisdom. The events of the battle and Arthur's wounding had left the Magus with a heavy soul and he longed for rest himself. Alright the dark times had begun to encroach on the legacy of Camelot and like the knights before him Merlin wished to try and save what of Arthur's dream he could.

"Go where you will good knights. Only you of Arthur's most trusted are blessed with the ability to summon your King when the time comes. It is a gift the Sisters have imparted upon each of you."

The wizened Wizard turned his eyes upon the lone squire beside Gawain and gave him an intense look. "Yourself included young Squire. In time you would have been knighted by Arthur himself and welcomed at the Roundtable. Once you have completed your training Gawain has been given leave to name you a Knight of his realm in Arthur's stead."

Proud smiles adorned the numerous knight's faces as the squire gaped at Merlin. After a moment the mage turned his gaze back upon the knights. "Go now. Your legacies shall endure and even should the time of Arthur's return be long past your lifetime your families shall carry the call in their hearts."

With that the Wizard, Knights, and Squire separated to each live out their respected stories.

When Squire Potter was at the age of nineteen Sir Gawain fell in battle. The squire was quick to avenge his master's mortal wounding with a fury nearly unmatched on the field that day. Gawain's final act before succumbing to death was to name the young man a Knight of the Realm.

As the darkness of the middle ages finally enveloped what was left of Arthur's old kingdom the magical peoples began to hide themselves away from the muggles. Sir Potter was no different as many of the knights he had so long admired had died or vanished into history. Now he was equally untrusted by the commoners and other Knights for his use of magic.

So it was that Sir Potter was among those who helped to found the hidden magical community of Britain. It was in those early days that he, alongside families such as the noble merchant Longbottoms, the French exile Malfoys, and scholarly Dumbledores, helped lay the groundwork for what would eventually become the Wizengamot.

Now, the year is 1997 and Harry Potter is starting his journey toward his fate. His first steps take him to his family's cottage at Godric's Hollow where he shall discover his family's noble legacy and the "Power the Dark Lord Knows not".


The Challenge:

Write a story where Harry is the last living descendant of the Knights of the Roundtable. Harry discovers his family's origins and that he has the power to call for Arthur's return and with him Excalibur. This is the power the Dark Lord knows not. Harry must find and destroy the horcruxes and be prepared to fight at Arthur's side if the free peoples of Britain stand any hope of defeating Lord Voldemort and his ever growing army.


The Rules:

• Harry must locate, capture, and destroy Voldemort's horcruxes.
• Harry must find out how to call for Arthur's return.
• Arthur is, for all intents and purposes, a muggle. He does, however, wield Excalibur which is an extremely potent magical artifact.
• Harry's fate is still to face and destroy Voldemort, but he is unable to do that by himself, or even with the aid of the Order, because of the size of Voldemort's army.
• Harry must aid Arthur in destroying Voldemort's Army so that Arthur can in turn aid Harry in destroying Voldemort.
• Harry CAN NOT wield Excalibur.

 

I don't know about this one, Kender. I liked the back story but it didn't give much plot. It sort of just seems like another 'Super Ancestor!!!' story. What's the difference between the plot after the sixth book and the new one you just made? All that seems different is that Harry now has an uber!ancestor with a magical sword that can hack people up.

 

1. Harry's ancestor, while talented, was not uber. His ancestor was not King Arthur. His ancestor wasn't even an actual Knight of the Roundtable. He was, however, a loyal follower of Arthur and Sir Gawain and thus bestowed the gift of being able to call for Arthur when Britain needs him the most.
2. The difference in plots is that in canon Harry goes for the horcruxes then Voldemort. In this challenge he can't go for Voldemort due to the size of Voldemort's forces and the havok they're causing. Thus, the need for Arthur, Excalibur, and <insert author's plot devices> to help Harry get to Voldemort. There are a lot of different ways the author can work within this challenge to make an interesting conclusion to the Potter series that doesn't involve "The power of love". /gag
3. Consider this challenge a "write your own book 7 that doesn't suck like we're all afraid Rowling's will". The only difference is the slight backstory and plot twist of the King Arthur element.

 

Ah, I guess that works. I can just see how many ways this story can go wrong. Arthur, with his dark magic repelling sword (Think Link from Zelda), can blast back killing curses and can take on a hundred magical enemies at once. I know that isn't how you planned it to be written and I believe a good author could write this without making it uber!AncientAlly saves the day!!!!

 

So, Harry can't go after Voldemort because the man has too many minions. What's the difference between Harry pulling Arthur and Excalibur from his hat then calling up his uber goblin warriors? I just don't see a definite twist that makes this an original theme. I mean, as you said up there, I guess you are just wanting a HBP story with a bit of a spin to it; but as you can see from the lack of post-HBP stories, the plot idea with Horcruxes is already hard enough to get a muse going with, much less adding on a mystery he needs to solve. This one just didn't go for me.

 

Meh. Not everyone can like every challenge that's for sure. Though I will just say that, imo, the main difference between Harry having Arthur on his side as opposed to Goblins is simple: there is not a chance in hell that the goblins as depicted in canon (meaning hardly at all) would help Harry to jack squat other than go to and from his vault. Past that...Arthur and Excalibur are just cooler than a bunch of 4' tall green guys.

I mean really...goblins? Having King Arthur is far, far better than Goblins, Vampires, Werewolves, or any of the other "magical creature allies" I've seen Harry get stuck with. Christ...even an army of brainless blond bimbo Veela would be better because at least then Harry might get laid before getting dead.

....and I really have no idea where I was going with this now. /shrug

 

I think that was a depressed shrug, Kender. Go get a hug from Lady Skittles or something, make you feel better. So the Lord of Plot Bunnies(self-titled) has an xcel moment... okay, that's way to harsh on you, this plot-bunny was good enough for thought but I don't know a writer who could pull off both the horcrux hunt and mystery.

I totally agree, King Arthur is way cooler then any army of goblins, but I'd take an army of house-elves over him any day. Definitely.

 

Oh...you go to far my good sir. You go too far indeed.

I have no desire to comment upon your obvious lack of imagination into how this challenge may be done. I will not bother to point you in the direction of countless possible plot scenarios that draw from Arthurian Legend. We shall not discuss your apparently limited view of what could be made possible when Harry Potter summons back the Lord of Camelot.

No. I shall not be drawn into such a conversation. Let those of greater vision and imagination see the challenge for what it is while some lesser men seek out House Elves and Goblins with which to form an army.