Disclaimer: I still own nothing, bah!
Who Said Arthur Was Insensitive?
You light the sky
So way up high
Your voice is sweet and true
Your hair is soft and curly
And your dress is sort of swirly
The way you mop and clean and sew
How you manage, I don't know
Arthur smiled in satisfaction as he looked at his composition. He really had no idea why people made such a fuss about poetry, he had composed his great work in a matter of minutes.
It had started that morning when Arthur and Merlin had been present with Morgana and Gwen for breakfast, the only reason being that Arthur had been compelled to waken early to begin training a fresh intake of would-be knights.
Over breakfast, Morgana had been discussing with Gwen the merits of beautifully written poetry and how difficult it was to achieve. After several minutes of listening to the two young women, Arthur could no longer hold his tongue.
"Poetry is written by namby-pamby adolescents who are too weak to hold a sword and who can only try to win a woman through gushing vapid lines to girls who don't know any better," he scoffed.
"Oh, really? Then I suppose you could produce more elegant and meaningful prose?" The challenge was in Morgana's eyes.
"I don't need to prove my point, my argument is proof enough." Arthur was dismissive.
"Well, they do say that poetry can only come from someone who is both strong and sensitive." Gwen directed this to her mistress.
Merlin stifled a grin as Arthur looked indignantly at the two women.
"I'll have you know I am strong and sensitive. I shall show you. Come on, Merlin." The prince strode out of the dining hall, taking his injured pride with him.
Merlin had to read over the lines a few times before bursting into loud guffaws much to the consternation and embarrassment of Arthur. It was several minutes before Merlin could straighten himself up, a hand clutching his side. "Ah, I think I've got a stitch." He wiped away tears of laughter.
Arthur spoke with as much dignity as he could muster. "Yes, well, it's only a rough draft and I haven't finished it yet."
"Arthur, you can't possibly give that to Gwen and expect her to be pleased with it," Merlin recovered enough to see the seriousness of the situation.
"I don't see what's wrong with it," huffed the prince.
"In that case, let me show you. You might be arrogant, spoilt and supercilious but I still wouldn't like to see you hung by your more delicate parts of your anatomy which I'm sure that Gwen would do and Morgana would likely gladly help her." Merlin waved the piece of paper under Arthur's nose. "Firstly, your rhyming is dreadful – curly and swirly?"
"Um, I couldn't think of what to rhyme 'curly' with."
"Secondly, you're talking about the way she cleans?"
"Well, she is good at it," protested Arthur.
Merlin sighed resignedly. "Arthur, there's a good reason why she called you insensitive." A thought suddenly occurred to the sorcerer. "Have you written one for Morgana?"
"Of course, I already had it delivered to her."
Merlin groaned, Arthur would surely pay for his attempts at writing verse.
Morgana's slender fingers broke the wax seal of the note and she unfolded the paper. Grey eyes became tinged with gold as she felt the anger build from the words on the page.
With long dark locks
That suit your frocks
You truly are a picture
You swing a sword so deftly
Even though the steel is hefty
People from many lands marvel at your beauty
What shame that you can be so snooty
"Gwen," she called, "you have to come and see this!"
hope u liked. as ever, reviews are very welcome x