Camelot Turning Point

The four men stood at the bottom of the West Tower, staring up at the imposing stone wall and the series of embrasures that studded its face. A plan had been decided on and now it was only a matter of putting said plan into action.

It had all started at The Rising Sun. A couple of mugs of beer had led to the telling of tales, which led to boasting of talents, which logically led to a competition. No one could quite remember who had proposed the challenge, but soon enough Arthur, Elyan, Percival and Gwaine found themselves outside the walls of Camelot, staring up at the West Tower.

The challenge was simple: Each man would shoot five arrows towards the topmost arrow slit that was situated just below the row of merlons and crenels that surrounded

A longbow, however, was a beast of a different nature. It was not a weapon commonly used by Camelot's finest and could prove to be the turning point on which the competition lay.

Elyan was up first. With his background, he figured he would win hands down, so it was with very little hesitation that he let fly his first arrow. It bounced off the wall and the lighthearted jeers of his companions filled the air.

"Hey, that was only my first try," said Elyan as he armed himself again. "This one will make it in, I

"Three arrows; not bad," said the dark-haired man as he stepped to the side to let Arthur have his turn.

Grinning at his companions, Arthur said, "I'll admit that three arrows is acceptable, but just wait until I'm done. Watch and learn, my friends. Watch and learn."

Stepping up to the line they'd marked on the ground, Arthur licked his finger and held it up, testing the wind direction. At this, Gwaine snorted and chuckled, but refrained from saying anything at the look that Arthur threw in his direction. Arthur picked up his bow, notched his arrow and, taking careful aim, released the string and watched the projectile fly up and through the slit in the wall.

"Ha!" he crowed to his friends, as he lined up his next shot. Both his second and third arrows flew through the break in the stonework, though his third arrow had a bit of a wobble.

Feeling extremely confident now, Arthur let loose his fourth arrow, but he had either acted too hastily or had not released smoothly, for the arrow wobbled and wavered and then bounced off the