The crowd surrounding the castle waited for young girl who had been the topic of conversation for the last three weeks to arrive. The clouds were grey, though no rain had yet fallen, as if it sensed the depression that clung to the day. People stood with their black umbrellas ready for the rain that they knew would fall, yet for now they remained closed and by their sides.
The King stood in the middle of the castle steps, gazing solemnly at the approaching car. He wore a black suit and stood with his hands clasped in front of him, the picture of silent strength in the time of sorrow.
Beside him stood a little boy, no more than ten. Though he had blonde hair unlike his father's grey and vivid blue eyes unlike the King bluer green there could be no denying the family relationship. He wore a matching suit to his fathers and stood in almost the exact same stance, though it didn't suit him like it did the King.
He wondered about the girl he was about to meet. What would she be like? His father had informed him that he was to be on his best behavior and to be especially nice to her while she was here at the palace with him.
Suddenly the crowd around the gates got louder as the guards pushed them back to make room for the approaching black car.
The press got louder as the King and his son approached to car, stopping two feet away waiting for one of the palace workers opened the car door. There was a moment of silence before a small girl stepped out daintily. She couldn't have been any older than the prince though she was much smaller. She was as pale as a ghost except for her hair which was as dark as night. With the wind blowing so hard that the prince was surprised that she didn't fall over.
The King took a step forward to approach the girl.
"Lady Morgana, we are so sorry about your loss. I am only glad that we will be able to have you here with us during this tough time."
She looked up at him and gave a small smile that didn't quite reach her face. "Thank you, your highness," her voice was even as she gave a little curtsey, keeping her face away from the flashing cameras.
"Uther. As long as you are with me I would like you to call me Uther."
"Uther."
"And though you haven't seen him since you were children, this is my son Arthur," he pushed the boy forward slightly with his hand on his back.
Arthur reached out his hand to girl, not quite sure what to say to this strange figure in front of him.
She turned her eyes on him and he looked into the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. He blushed and moved his feet awkwardly.
She reached out her hand and shook his for a moment.
"Please come inside," he motioned the two children to follow him and they entered the castle, leaving the press behind them.
"Would you care for a tour of the castle?" Uther asked the girl cautiously once it was only the King, the prince, and her.
She shook her head. "Can I just go to my room please?"
Uther looked down sadly at the poor girl and nodded. "Of course, I'll show you where it is."
She walked beside him barely taking in the giant castle while Arthur walked a step behind.
Uther lead them to the hall closest to where Arthur's room was and pushed open the door.
The walls were cream and the floors were wooden with a giant dark wood canopy in the center with a huge comforter. There was an elaborate mirror in the corner and a desk and window that looked out onto the castle courtyard.
Arthur felt bad for the girl. Though it was one of the nicest rooms in the palace and Uther had especially ordered in new furniture, the emptiness of the room left it still looking like a guest room. Not some place a girl his age would live in.
"I'll leave you for a while. If you need anything just dial 1." Uther said looking down at the Morgana.
She nodded but kept her gaze ahead. "Thank you."
Uther looked toward the girl and considered what to do. He wanted to reach out and comfort her as he knew her father would have but he didn't know what to say. This would have been his wife's job had she still been alive.
He finally reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze before turning and walking away.
Morgana stepped into the room and immediately walked towards the window to stare out.
Arthur didn't know what to do. His father hadn't told him it was alright for him to leave yet the girl didn't seem to even realize he was there.
He should just go to his room and play his X-Box. He had done his duty; there wasn't anything else he could do.
He wished he knew the right thing to say, but the inability to comfort people was a family trait. He made a decision though: if she was the princess and he was the prince then he was going to protect her no matter what. He was a prince which would mean she had to be the princess, so he had to fight away the evil villains and protect her from harm. That was how it worked in the movies.
He turned and walked out of the room, not realizing how much his life had just changed by the quite girl staring out the window.