INT. KING ARTHUR'S PALACE - THRONE ROOM - CAMELOT - DAY
ARTHUR is sitting on his throne, pondering, when NIMUEH enters the throne room.
NIMUEH
(walking towards the podium)
Is something troubling you, Your Majesty?
ARTHUR
I'm not troubled, just impatient.
NIMUEH stops at the bottom of the podium.
NIMUEH
And you have every right to be. But be patient, my King. Soon you will have what is rightfully yours.
Suddenly, the throne room doors swing open. ALLISTER, the King's Acting Lieutenant, runs in. He bows quickly and without grace before ARTHUR, his breath heavy. ARTHUR is irritated by his lack of respect but lets him off, realising something is wrong.
ARTHUR
Speak.
ALLISTER
The rebels - their numbers have increased in the northern region. Our spies have informed me that they're travelling to Cornwall. They're planning to amass an army...
ARTHUR clenches his fist.
ALLISTER
And King Cardoc is helping them.
ARTHUR jerks out of his seat.
ARTHUR
Didn't I tell you to make sure he knew his place?
ALLISTER begins to panic.
ALLISTER
I did as you commanded, Your Majesty.
ARTHUR descends down the steps of the podium and stands in front of ALLISTER, his eyes full of rage.
ALLISTER
Your Majesty-
ARTHUR drives his thumbs through ALLISTER's eyes, smiling as he screams. NIMUEH closes her eyes, unable to watch. WHEN ALLISTER becomes silent, ARTHUR throws his lifeless body to the floor and NIMUEH opens her eyes again.
ARTHUR
King Cardoc has some nerve defying me. If Lancelot was here, this would never have happened!
NIMUEH hearing ARTHUR mention LANCELOT, steps forward, adamant.
NIMUEH
Let me go to Cornwall, my King. I will teach this Cardoc a lesson.
ARTHUR
No. I need you here.
A faint smile edges on to NIMUEH's lips.
ARTHUR
(shouts)
Sir Kay!
Immediately, a hench, young man enters the throne room, a smug look on his face. NIMUEH rolls her eyes as he approaches them. SIR KAY, late 20s, senior noble and knight of the Round Table. Standing next to ARTHUR and NIMUEH, he towers over them.
SIR KAY bows exaggeratedly before ARTHUR.
SIR KAY
My great and honourable King.
SIR KAY looks at NIMUEH and reclines his posture. They both exchange scornful glares.
SIR KAY
Nimeuh.
Looking at the ALLISTER's corpse, SIR KAY smirks.
SIR KAY
I told you he'd only last a week.
ARTHUR
He barely lasted a day. I have a job for you.
SIR KAY cracks his knuckles in excitement.
SIR KAY
Does it involve breaking someone?
ARTHUR
Maybe. I need you to travel to Cornwall, King Cardoc needs to be reminded where his loyalties lie.
SIR KAY
As you wish, Your Majesty.
NIMUEH
Let me go with him, my King! I want to be of use to you and I cannot do that here.
SIR KAY
I don't need a witch who let a lowly thief slip between her fingers, accompany me. Though you'll be good sport for me and my men.
NIMUEH clenches her fist and white lightning crackles around her hands.
NIMUEH
Don't test me, boy.
SIR KAY laughs.
SIR KAY
You going to use that?
They both glare at each other in silence, SIR KAY's hand on the hilt of his sword.
ARTHUR
Continue your juvenile squabbling on your way to Cornwall. I tire of hearing the both of you speak.
NIMUEH kneels before ARTHUR, ashamed.
NIMUEH
Forgive me, Your Majesty.
ARTHUR scowls before walking out of the throne room.
NIMUEH
I will not let you down!
INT. HALLWAY
ARTHUR stops in the hallway and looks at his bloody hands. He recalls killing ALLISTER and the thrill of it excites him. With a grin on his face, he heads to the dungeons.
INT. DUNGEONS - MOMENTS LATER
Arriving in the dungeon, a group of rebels are lined up, their hands chained behind their back. ARTHUR walks down the line, surveying their faces. Most of them avoid eye contact, all except a young woman.
ARTHUR cocks his head, fascinated.
ARTHUR
Aren't you afraid of me?
YOUNG WOMAN
Why should I be?
ARTHUR crouches in front of her.
ARTHUR
Because I'm going to kill you.
YOUNG WOMAN
Good, I'm tired of living in a world with men like you.
ARTHUR is surprised by her response.
ARTHUR
So eager to die...You're not married are you?
The YOUNG WOMAN avoids ARTHUR's gaze.
ARTHUR
And you're parents...they abandoned you, didn't they?
Her expression becomes grave.
ARTHUR
You must feel so lonely. But don't worry, you aren't alone in that regard. I share your pain.
ARTHUR lifts her chin with his finger.
ARTHUR
Maybe we can help each other.
The YOUNG WOMAN becomes troubled.
CUT TO:
INT. DUNGEONS - MOMENTS LATER
ARTHUR throws a sword towards the YOUNG WOMAN, she catches it puzzled. In contrast to her, ARTHUR is armed with a rapier with a golden hilt.
The dungeon is empty, with only a few guards stationed at the corners of the room.
ARTHUR
Since I am a just and fair King, I will give you a chance to redeem yourself.
ARTHUR circles around her, like a predator playing with its prey.
ARTHUR
If you kill me, then you will have saved the kingdom from my tyranny. But if I kill you...
ARTHUR stops.
ARTHUR
Well, then you'll be dead.
Immediately, the YOUNG WOMAN lunges at him but ARTHUR easily twirls out of the way, slashing her clothes in the process. She launches at him again several times and each time he slices her clothing even more, until it was in tatters.
The YOUNG WOMAN looks down at her clothes, angrily and ARTHUR bows playfully.
Suddenly, his eyes grow darker, his stance aloof. The YOUNG WOMAN notices the change in his behaviour and she grows wary and hesitant.
ARTHUR delivers a flurry of fast strikes, all of which she struggles to deflect, his blade cutting into her skin. He dances around her like a feral dog, his eyes full of blood lust. Cutting at her knees, she drops to the floor, her pants soaked in a pool of blood.
The YOUNG WOMAN is so weak she can barely lift her head to look at ARTHUR as he approaches her. Using the tip of his rapier, he lifts her chin, his eyes glowering at her. Then slowly, he drives it through her neck till she's dead.
Taking his blade out of her neck, he wipes of her blood against her clothes. He takes a moment to gather himself.
ARTHUR
(to the guards)
Clean this up.
Immediately, they rush to the centre of the room. One of them take his rapier and the others drag the woman's body out of the dungeon.
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