King Arthur

King Arthur is a mythical figure from Earth that has occasionally been alluded to by Earthers so far. Strangely enough, the Frost Faeries claimed to know the man as well as his legendary sword.

Frost Faerie allusions

As the Frost Faeries learned that Erin was from Earth and could see and speak with them, they professed to knowing her world. They refused casual talk “Unless ye’ve brought Calabrum with ye ta this world”, then teased Erin with alternate names of Calabrum: Caliburn, Kaledvoulc’h, Calesvol, Escalibor and The Sword of the Once and Future King. As Erin recognized the last name for Excalibur and linked it to The Sword in the Stone, the Faeries gave up on the fool who mixed up these two legends.

Five days later, Erin told Ryoka about the Faeries knowing Arthur, and the Faeries called him a stupid wanker. Ryoka also made the connection between Caliburn and the Sword in the Stone, and the Faeries refused any further comment on the topic. Later that same night, a Faerie intruded into a dream of Erin and wheedled out the permission to gorge herself on "all the sugar in your kitchen". In return, Erin found a sword in the stone and drew it out in her dream, but was prevented from taking it out of the dream by the same faerie who claimed that she was “not a king, but you would be, and twice damned to take what is not yours”.

As Ryoka got to know Ivolethe better, the Faerie told her King Arthur stories after Ryoka loudly assumed that Ivolethe wouldn't know anything anyway: “I was there when the boy became a king! I witnessed the instant the true king fell, and I have seen countless miracles besides! I saw the three kings die to each of Lugaid’s spears! [...] I will tell you for the one true king of Camelot! His sword still sits in Avalon, waiting for his hand to draw the ancient blade!”
Afterwards, Ryoka had to listen to the tragic end of the tale of the King of Knights. His kingdom in ruins, his knights dying on the field, and only the hope of his eventual return to keep spirits strong in the dark times to come. Thus, the King of Camelot closes his eyes and breathes his final breath. Ivolethe also knew the person behind the legend of Myrddin, probably indicating that Merlin had little to do with King Arthur.

Ivolethe later made another reference to the King of Knights, but the relationship between the Faeries and King Arthur was dropped from the story, with the abilities of the Faeries to apparently travel both worlds not further explained; this being their largest secret apparently.

Trivial allusions

• Erin pointed out that King Arthur stories never mention innkeepers.
• Trey pointed out that King Arthur would reveal himself after his incognito episodes.
• Flos wasn't impressed by Arthur stories told by Teres and Trey, stating he was just a pawn of fate. Pulling out swords from stones isn't measure for a king in Flos' opinion, either.

Meeting Arthur

At the end of Volume 7, King Arthur is finally met for an extended period of time by Ryoka. She talks with three versions of King Arthur: Boy Arthur, Young King Arthur, and Old King Arthur. All of these forms are debating taking Excalibur from its stone using their experiences in different points of their lives in the debate. Once they all decide to take the sword, they will no longer remember their time there in the fae lands.

Quotes

• (To Ryoka)“I am King Arthur.”
  
  • “I am King Arthur.”
    
  • “I’m just Arthur.”

• “The sword in the stone. Where it always is. I have yet to pick it up. Or rather, I have. I just haven’t pulled it from the stone.”
• “We are all here at once. You see, it is a moment that defines us.”
• “I confess. I am pondering my fate. It is a terrible decision I must make.”
  • “As am I.”
  • “I am not. But I come to tell the other two what may be. Each time. Forever.”
• “If I draw it, I will become all you say, Miss…what was your name again?”
• “Ah. Well, then you know my story. If you know my name. That gives some meaning to my life. I will have to build a kingdom. And get two stupid Dragons to help me fortify the ground of my castle.”

• “I have been told all of it. I will be a great king. Form an order of knights who will do great things. We will save my kingdom to be, and make it great. But I will fail my wife. My friend. My son will be my end. I will die bitterly. All these things I know. So—I am debating whether to pull out the sword.”
  • “Wait a while. You can still wait. If the burden is too much…”
  • “If not me, then who? My kingdom will fall to ruin if I do not draw the blade.”
  • “Lancelot. If I knew…”
• “You see, the instant I throw the broken blade—I will forget this. Only here, do I have the right to know my future and still choose.”
• “A young woman? Yes. Yes, she did. She came dreaming. She nearly took it out of her dream—but one of the Winter Court stopped her. Just as well. What was she?”
• “Then she would have woken as a King. Of…innkeepers. Or just a King. And the terrible fate of ours would be shared by her. In some other way.”
• “Stories?”
• “Does Albion not stand in your world?”
• “Stories. I commanded the greatest kingdom the world had ever seen. The deeds of my knights struck awe and hope into the hearts of all who heard them and fear into that of all of Albion’s foes! And that is all Camelot…all my kingdom…”

• “Have you learned nothing? Logic matters little with such things here. I am choosing. And right now, I’d rather a drink.”
  • “I could choose not to. Even now. Even from whatever time you come from, Ryoka Griffin.”

  • “I could choose not to.”

• “I’m but a boy. And he is a dying old man.”
• “But I am the Arthur of your stories. You say they tell stories of me?”
• “—Then. Chivalry is not dead. Nor will it ever be. Nor is it now.”

• “For the King of Innkeepers who will never be! For honor time and time again!”