The Exile of the Princes

 From the Mage Slayer Chronicles

---

Overview

The Exile of the Princes represents one of the most difficult decisions in King Arthur's reign—the heart-wrenching choice to send his infant sons Jack and Dredmur away from Camelot to protect them from The Master Balor's renewed attempts to corrupt or destroy the royal bloodline. This strategic sacrifice, carried out through the placement of the boys with a loyal farmer and the secret assignment of Sir Lancelot as their guardian, would shape the entire future of the kingdom and the cosmic war between light and darkness.

The Balor's Reemergence and Royal Threat

Signs of Returning Darkness

Following Arthur's victory in the Dragon Wars, the realm enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity. However, as the king's sons grew from infants to young children, disturbing signs began to manifest:

Supernatural Manifestations:

• Shadow Sightings: Dark entities observed near Camelot's walls
• Corrupted Dreams: Nightmares plaguing the royal family and court
• Magical Disturbances: Unexplained fluctuations in protective wards
• Prophetic Warnings: Seers and oracles speaking of renewed darkness

Intelligence Reports:

• Giant Movements: Scattered reports of giant activity in remote regions
• Dark Magic Resurgence: Increase in corrupted magical practices
• Missing Persons: Unexplained disappearances in outlying areas
• Celestial Signs: Ominous portents in the stars and natural phenomena

Direct Threats to the Royal Children

The Master Balor's Strategic Focus: Unlike his previous approach of broad military conquest, The Balor's reemergence showed a specific focus on Arthur's bloodline:

Targeting Royal Heritage:

• Prophetic Significance: Ancient prophecies identified Arthur's lineage as crucial to the cosmic conflict
• Divine Blood: The royal bloodline carried enhanced capacity for channeling both light and dark power
• Symbolic Value: Corrupting Arthur's own sons would represent ultimate victory over the forces of light
• Strategic Investment: Royal vessels would provide the perfect combination of power and legitimacy

Escalating Attempts: As the boys grew, the threats became increasingly direct and dangerous:

Infant Vulnerabilities (Ages 0-3):

• Psychic Intrusion: Attempts to influence the babies through dreams and supernatural means
• Corrupted Servants: Infiltration of palace staff by agents of darkness
• Magical Assault: Direct attacks on the nursery through dark sorcery
• Possession Attempts: Efforts to plant dark entities within the children's developing minds

Childhood Dangers (Ages 4-6):

• Abduction Plots: Organized attempts to kidnap one or both princes
• Corruption Agents: Introduction of corrupted individuals into the boys' daily lives
• Magical Gifts: Cursed toys and objects designed to gradually corrupt innocent minds
• Environmental Corruption: Attempts to taint the very air and water around the children

The Turning Point Crisis

The Night of Shadows: The decisive moment came when The Master Balor made a direct assault on Camelot itself, specifically targeting the royal nursery:

The Attack:

• Dimensional Breach: The Balor opened a portal directly into the palace
• Shadow Army: Legions of dark entities flooded the royal quarters
• Protective Failure: Even Merlin's strongest wards proved insufficient
• Direct Confrontation: Arthur and the remaining knights fought desperate battles within the castle walls

The Children's Peril:

• Immediate Danger: Both boys nearly captured by shadow entities
• Corruption Exposure: Direct contact with dark forces left spiritual marks on both children
• Prophetic Activation: The attack triggered ancient magical protections in their bloodline
• Future Implications: The exposure made both boys permanently visible to dark forces

The Narrow Escape:

• Heroic Defense: Lancelot and other knights fought their way to the nursery
• Magical Intervention: Merlin sacrificed significant power to drive back the attackers
• Arthur's Choice: The king made the immediate decision that the boys could no longer remain in Camelot
• Emergency Evacuation: The princes were secretly removed from the castle that very night

Arthur's Impossible Decision

The Weight of Kingship vs. Fatherhood

Torn Loyalties: Arthur faced the most painful choice of his reign, balancing his duties as king with his love as a father:

Royal Responsibilities:

• Kingdom's Safety: Keeping the boys in Camelot endangered all citizens
• Strategic Necessity: The Balor's focus on his sons weakened overall defenses
• Symbolic Leadership: A king who couldn't protect his own children appeared weak
• Divine Duty: Responsibility to preserve the prophesied bloodline for future battles

Paternal Anguish:

• Father's Love: Deep desire to raise and protect his children personally
• Family Unity: The pain of separating the royal family
• Missed Childhood: Knowing he would miss their formative years
• Uncertain Future: No guarantee he would ever see them again

The Council's Debate: Arthur's advisors were divided on the best course of action:

Arguments for Keeping the Princes:

• Royal Protection: Camelot's defenses were the strongest in the realm
• Magical Wards: Merlin's protective spells could be strengthened
• Knight Guard: The Round Table could provide constant protection
• Symbolic Value: A king who couldn't protect his own family appeared defeated

Arguments for Exile:

• Target Removal: Taking the boys away would reduce threats to Camelot
• Hidden Protection: Anonymous placement would make them harder to find
• Prophetic Fulfillment: Ancient texts suggested the princes must be "hidden until the time"
• Strategic Deception: The Balor would waste resources searching for them

The Final Resolution

Arthur's Decision: After days of agonizing deliberation, Arthur made the choice that would define the rest of his reign:

Strategic Rationale:

• Greater Good: Protecting the kingdom took precedence over personal desires
• Long-term Thinking: The boys needed to reach adulthood to fulfill their destiny
• Prophetic Guidance: Ancient texts suggested this separation was necessary
• Tactical Advantage: Hidden princes could be trained without enemy interference

Emotional Cost:

• Personal Sacrifice: Arthur chose duty over personal happiness
• Family Separation: The royal family would be broken apart for an indefinite period
• Paternal Guilt: The weight of abandoning his children would haunt him
• Uncertain Future: No guarantee the strategy would succeed or that reunion was possible

The Farmer's Selection and Placement

Choosing the Guardian Family

Criteria for Selection: Arthur and his advisors carefully selected the family that would raise the royal princes:

Loyalty Requirements:

• Proven Devotion: The farmer had served Camelot faithfully for years
• Discrete Service: History of keeping secrets and avoiding attention
• Rural Location: Far from major population centers and political intrigue
• Humble Circumstances: Lifestyle that would keep the boys anonymous

The Chosen Farmer:

• Background: Simple agricultural worker with a small farm in a remote village
• Character: Honest, hardworking, and completely loyal to Arthur
• Family Situation: Established household capable of raising two additional children
• Cover Story: Would claim the boys were distant relatives left orphaned

Security Considerations:

• Remote Location: Village far from major roads and trade routes
• Low Profile: Community where strangers were rare and noticed
• Agricultural Cover: Farm work would provide physical training disguised as chores
• Communication Network: Secure methods for occasional status reports

The Secret Transfer

Operation Planning: The movement of the princes required careful coordination to avoid detection:

Covert Transport:

• Night Movement: Transfer conducted under cover of darkness
• Multiple Routes: Decoy convoys sent in different directions
• Magical Concealment: Merlin provided spells to hide their passage
• Knight Escort: Small, elite guard for the actual transfer

Cover Story Development:

• False Identities: The boys were given common names and background stories
• Age Adjustment: Slight modifications to their apparent ages for additional security
• Personality Profiles: Coached on behaviors appropriate to their new social class
• Memory Modification: Limited magical adjustment to help them adapt

The Handover:

• Farmer's Briefing: Detailed instructions on the boys' care and training
• Financial Support: Covert funding to ensure proper upbringing
• Emergency Protocols: Plans for evacuation if their location was discovered
• Communication Methods: Secret ways to send updates back to Arthur

Lancelot's Secret Mission

The Guardian Selection

Why Lancelot: Arthur chose his greatest knight for this crucial assignment based on several factors:

Combat Excellence:

• Unmatched Skill: Greatest warrior of the Round Table
• Giant-Fighting Experience: Proven ability against supernatural threats
• Tactical Intelligence: Strategic mind capable of long-term planning
• Absolute Loyalty: Complete devotion to Arthur and the royal family

Personal Qualities:

• Discretion: Ability to maintain deep cover for extended periods
• Teaching Ability: Skills necessary to train the boys without revealing their heritage
• Cultural Adaptability: Eastern background provided outsider perspective
• Spiritual Strength: Buddhist training offered resistance to corruption

Strategic Value:

• Intelligence Network: Could serve as Arthur's eyes and ears in the region
• Threat Assessment: Experienced enough to recognize supernatural dangers
• Escape Planning: Capable of evacuating the boys if their location was compromised
• Communication Link: Trusted messenger between the boys and their father

The "Fremde" Identity

Cover Identity Development: Lancelot assumed the persona of a wandering foreigner to explain his presence:

Background Story:

• Foreign Origin: Played up his Eastern heritage as explanation for his outsider status
• Wandering Worker: Presented himself as a traveling laborer seeking occasional work
• Cultural Curiosity: Used his genuine foreign background to justify unusual knowledge and skills
• Humble Demeanor: Concealed his noble bearing behind a simple farmer's manner

Community Integration:

• Gradual Acceptance: Slowly became accepted by the village community
• Useful Skills: Contributed practical abilities that made him welcome
• Respectful Distance: Maintained enough separation to avoid deep scrutiny
• Protective Presence: Positioned himself to watch over the boys without being obvious

Training Methodology:

• Disguised Lessons: Taught combat skills through games and farm work
• Moral Education: Provided ethical guidance through stories and examples
• Physical Conditioning: Built strength and agility through daily activities
• Tactical Awareness: Developed strategic thinking through seemingly simple exercises

The Guardian's Burden

Emotional Challenges: Lancelot faced significant personal struggles in his secret role:

Professional Isolation:

• Hidden Identity: Unable to reveal his true nature to anyone
• Missing Fellowship: Separated from his Round Table brothers
• Reduced Status: Treated as a common laborer rather than a knight
• Communication Limits: Restricted contact with Arthur and Camelot

Responsibility Pressure:

• Dual Duty: Protecting both boys while maintaining his cover
• Constant Vigilance: Always watching for threats without appearing paranoid
• Training Balance: Teaching skills without revealing their royal heritage
• Future Preparation: Readying them for an unknown destiny

Growing Attachment:

• Paternal Feelings: Developing genuine love for the boys he protected
• Moral Conflict: Balancing loyalty to Arthur with care for the children
• Secret Knowledge: Knowing their true heritage while watching them grow up ignorant
• Anticipated Loss: Understanding that his mission would eventually end in separation

The Boys' Development in Exile

Jack's Growth and Character

Early Childhood (Ages 6-10):

• Natural Leadership: Displayed instinctive protective instincts toward others
• Physical Development: Grew strong through farm work and Lancelot's training
• Moral Foundation: Absorbed lessons about protecting the innocent
• Humble Perspective: Genuinely believed he was a farmer's son

Adolescence (Ages 11-16):

• Combat Training: Advanced skills in fighting through "games" with Fremde
• Intellectual Growth: Learned to read and study through access to books
• Character Formation: Developed strong sense of justice and compassion
• Identity Questions: Began wondering about his origins and purpose

Emerging Destiny:

• Royal Instincts: Natural nobility shining through despite humble upbringing
• Protective Nature: Consistently chose to defend weaker individuals
• Leadership Qualities: Others naturally looked to him during crises
• Hidden Power: Bloodline capabilities remained dormant but detectable

Dredmur's Parallel Development

Contrasting Path: While raised in the same environment, Dredmur developed differently:

Early Ambition:

• Recognition Seeking: Constantly trying to prove his superiority
• Competitive Nature: Turned every activity into a contest with his brother
• Status Awareness: Seemed to sense he was meant for something greater
• Training Excellence: Often outperformed Jack in formal exercises

Character Divergence:

• Pride Development: Growing arrogance about his abilities
• Entitlement Issues: Believed he deserved special treatment
• Moral Flexibility: Showed willingness to bend rules for personal advantage
• Isolation Tendency: Increasingly separated himself from community values

Vulnerability to Corruption:

• Power Hunger: Desire for abilities beyond normal human limits
• Recognition Need: Craving acknowledgment of his special nature
• Moral Compromise: Willingness to consider questionable methods
• Identity Crisis: Sensing his hidden heritage without understanding it

The Exile's Strategic Impact

Benefits of the Strategy

Immediate Protection:

• Threat Reduction: Removing targets significantly reduced Balor's focus on Camelot
• Concealment Success: The boys remained hidden for over a decade
• Training Opportunity: Allowed development without constant supernatural interference
• Strategic Deception: The Balor wasted significant resources searching for them

Long-term Development:

• Character Formation: Both boys developed strong foundations (though differently)
• Combat Preparation: Lancelot's training created formidable fighters
• Humility Lessons: Jack learned to value common people and simple virtues
• Hidden Growth: Royal bloodline powers developed naturally without corruption

Political Advantages:

• Succession Security: Protected the royal line for future generations
• Strategic Surprise: Hidden princes could emerge when most needed
• Moral Authority: Rulers who understood common life could better serve their people
• Prophetic Fulfillment: Satisfied ancient requirements for the chosen champions

Costs and Consequences

Personal Sacrifices:

• Family Separation: Arthur missed his sons' entire childhood
• Parental Guilt: Constant uncertainty about their safety and development
• Lost Bonding: No father-son relationship development during crucial years
• Identity Confusion: Boys grew up without knowledge of their true heritage

Strategic Vulnerabilities:

• Reduced Protection: Boys were more vulnerable to individual threats
• Limited Resources: Single guardian versus entire court protection
• Communication Gaps: Difficulty coordinating responses to changing threats
• Corruption Opportunity: Isolation made them more susceptible to individual corruption attempts

Unintended Outcomes:

• Dredmur's Resentment: Eldest son developed feelings of abandonment and entitlement
• Jack's Humility: Younger son embraced common values over royal privilege
• Delayed Recognition: Both boys unprepared for sudden revelation of their heritage
• Corruption Success: Dredmur's character weaknesses made him vulnerable to Morgan's influence

The Revelation and Return

Signs of Discovery

Increasing Threats: As the boys approached adulthood, signs appeared that their location was compromised:

Supernatural Activity:

• Strange Lights: Unexplained phenomena in the forest around their village
• Dream Intrusions: Both boys experiencing vivid, otherworldly dreams
• Animal Behavior: Livestock and wild animals acting erratically
• Weather Anomalies: Unnatural storm patterns and atmospheric disturbances

Enemy Reconnaissance:

• Stranger Sightings: Unknown individuals observed watching the village
• Magic Users: Practitioners of dark arts detected in the region
• Giant Scouts: Isolated reports of giant movement in nearby areas
• Communication Intercepts: Enemy agents attempting to gather intelligence

The Final Crisis

Lancelot's Last Stand: The exile period ended tragically with the discovery and attack that cost Lancelot his life:

The Giant Assault:

• Location Compromise: The Balor's forces finally tracked down the princes
• Coordinated Attack: Multiple giants assault the village simultaneously
• Lancelot's Sacrifice: The knight died protecting his charges
• Truth Revealed: Final moments used to reveal the boys' true heritage

Jack's Awakening:

• Combat Activation: First use of royal bloodline powers in giant combat
• Identity Revelation: Learning his true parentage and destiny
• Mentor's Loss: Losing the father figure who raised him
• Heroic Emergence: Transformation from farm boy to giant-slayer

Dredmur's Path:

• Separate Journey: Already under Morgan's influence during the attack
• Corruption Acceleration: Crisis used to deepen his transformation into Mordred
• Family Betrayal: Set on path to eventually confront his brother and father
• Prophetic Fulfillment: Beginning of the final conflict between light and darkness

Legacy and Historical Significance

The Exile's Success and Failure

Strategic Achievement:

• Life Preservation: Both boys survived to adulthood despite constant threats
• Character Development: Jack developed the qualities needed for heroism
• Combat Preparation: Both princes received excellent training despite their isolation
• Prophetic Fulfillment: The exile satisfied ancient requirements for the final conflict

Tragic Costs:

• Family Destruction: The royal family was permanently fractured
• Corruption Success: Dredmur's corruption proceeded despite protective efforts
• Mentor's Death: Lancelot's sacrifice ended the protective period
• Kingdom's Crisis: The boys' return coincided with the kingdom's greatest threat

Historical Impact

Immediate Consequences:

• Jack's Heroism: The younger prince emerged as a champion against giant forces
• Dredmur's Corruption: The elder prince became a vessel for ultimate evil
• Arthur's Grief: The king faced the loss of both sons in different ways
• Final Battle Setup: The stage was set for the prophesied confrontation

Long-term Implications:

• Royal Succession: The exile fundamentally changed the nature of Camelot's monarchy
• Heroic Legend: Jack's story became a template for future hero narratives
• Cautionary Tale: Dredmur's fall warned of corruption's power even among the noble
• Cosmic Resolution: The exile period was crucial preparation for the final cosmic battle

Lessons and Themes

Parental Sacrifice

Arthur's Choice: The exile represents the ultimate parental sacrifice:

• Love Through Distance: Protecting children by staying away from them
• Duty Over Desire: Choosing responsibility over personal happiness
• Faith in Others: Trusting others to raise his most precious possessions
• Long-term Thinking: Accepting present pain for future hope

The Nature of Identity

Nature vs. Nurture: The boys' different development despite identical upbringing explores fundamental questions:

• Inherent Character: How much personality is determined by birth versus environment
• Moral Choice: The role of individual decisions in determining destiny
• Environmental Influence: How upbringing shapes but doesn't determine character
• Hidden Heritage: The way true nature eventually emerges despite concealment

Corruption and Protection

Vulnerability Despite Care: The exile's mixed results demonstrate important truths:

• Corruption's Persistence: Evil finds ways to reach targets despite protection
• Individual Responsibility: Ultimately, each person must choose their own path
• Love's Limitations: Even perfect care cannot guarantee perfect outcomes
• Vigilance Requirements: Protection requires constant attention and adaptation

---

The Exile of the Princes stands as one of the most poignant and strategically crucial decisions in the Mage Slayer universe. Arthur's choice to send away his beloved sons represents both the ultimate parental sacrifice and a necessary strategic gambit in the cosmic war between light and darkness. The exile's mixed results—producing both a hero and a villain from the same protective environment—illustrate the complex interplay between fate, choice, and the persistent power of both good and evil to shape individual destiny.