Author's Note:
Great, now I'm getting writer's block on my writer's block reliever… (Argh!)
Three days after Arthur had sent out his invitations to the princesses of the surrounding kingdoms he was waiting patiently in his throne room, which for him wasn't patient at all. The throne room was empty, as the royal court had been adjourned for the day. Aunt Lillian had gone for her afternoon stroll through the palace and Arthur was casually sitting on his golden throne.
Even at the age of twenty, Arthur's 'boredom-sit' had remained since he had discovered the most monotonous times of his day as king. He sat with his legs over one arm of his throne, his golden and emerald crown slightly tilted off its usual centre on his head with his cheek pressed against his palm.
This was one of the few moments where his nonchalant, teenager self –known as Artie- decided to shine through. Artie counted the tiny, golden lion heads emblazed on the back of his throne. His eyelids were half-drooping over his pale green eyes. He was nearly asleep from boredom.
Now there was a distinct difference between 'Artie' and 'Arthur' that few people are able to connect.
You see, Arthur, had become known through his position as king and how most people addressed him while he was king. Arthur was a respected, serious, king, who was calm and collected.
At the other end of the same spectrum, was Artie, who was the inner child, well… more often teenager, that was appearing less often. He was around when any close friends were. He was witty, sometimes unsure, and a little stubborn-minded when he decided to show up.
And that is the difference between Artie and Arthur. Well, that's how he saw it anyways.
Artie's arm was beginning to ache from poking each lion's opened mouth, and he could already feel a crick developing in his neck from trying to keep his head up.
"King Arthur!" Fiddlesworth's reprimanding voice hollered from the other side of the throne room.
Artie growled. He pushed his crown back into place and straightened up to glared at his head servant.
"What is it now, Fiddlesworth?" Artie asked with a wide-mouthed yawn.
"Your lunch is being served and the responses to your invitations are back." Fiddlesworth stated.
"Good." Artie hopped off of his uncomfortable throne. "You can read them to me on the way there." He stated as he brushed past Fiddlesworth, his arms stretched out in front of him.
The head servant grumbled inaudibly, straightened his large hat and followed his master out of Far Far Away's throne room.
Lillian smiled faintly as she watched her only nephew walk into the dining room for lunch. He was late, as usual, but just seeing him cheered her up. The kind queen pushed aside her bowl of lemon-scented water as he sat at the head of the table.
Fiddlesworth was at his ear, explaining and scorning like usual.
"Okay, quit telling me random stuff and get to the point Fiddlesworth." Artie stated irritably. "Who's coming and who's not?"
Fiddlesworth inhaled and then sighed. "Princess Siobhan from Ireland will be coming." He pulled out a lengthy scroll of invites. "Princess Anita from Spain. Princess Gertrude from the kingdom of New Duloc will be coming but Princess Linda from the kingdom of Duloc won't because she's already arranged a marriage." Fiddlesworth cleared his throat. "Princess Marilyn from Worcestershire is now Queen, so she won't be coming. Princess Betsy from Holland will be attending. And an assortment of high ladies and our own Princesses from Far Far Away." Fiddlesworth gasped for much-needed air. "Most of them will be bringing their families if they are attending." He finished off smoothly, closing the scroll with a snap.
"Wait." Lillian held up her hand. "What about the Princess from the kingdom of Far Away?" She enquired.
"We sent a messenger this morning, so news should be returning shortly, my lady." Fiddlesworth stated.
As if on cue, a puff-sleeved and puffed trouser wearing messenger dragged himself into the dining room, his trumpeters slithering weakly behind him. "News…" He panted heavily. "From- Far Away…" He groaned.
"And that would be?" Fiddlesworth asked bitterly before either of the monarchs could.
The messenger paused for a moment to collect his wits. "Princess Adel from the kingdom of Far Away will be attending your royal ball, sire…" The messenger stated.
"Thank you." Fiddlesworth shooed away the royal messenger and his minstrels. "Now, leave…" He narrowed his beady eyes. "Go collect you fee from Nancy and be off."
The royal messenger and his trumpeters slugged out of the room, still exhausted from their trip.
"You don't have to be so blunt." Artie stated.
"It's part of my job." Fiddlesworth narrowed his dark brown eyes. "Says, so in my résumé." The head servant turned on his heeled boot and left the two royals to their lunch.
Artie sighed and absent-mindedly dunked his fingertips into his bowl of cooled off lemon-water.
"Is there something on you mind, Arthur?" Lillian asked.
"I don't know, Aunt Lillian…" Artie shrugged and pushed aside his bowl. "I guess all I really need now is… some guidance."
"Well I'm always here when you need me, Arthur." Lillian gently patted Artie's forearm. "You know that, don't you?" She looked into his eyes reassuringly.
"Of course." The twenty-year old smiled warmly. "It's just-" His juvenile smile faltered slightly and he sighed. "Well… I was kind of thinking…"
"Yes?"
"I was thinking that maybe I could invite Shrek and everyone else over too…" He rubbed the back of his head. "You know, get to see the triplets after all of these years."
Lillian smiled broadly. "I think that's a wonderful idea, Arthur."
Artie's juvenile smile returned to his face once again. "You think so?"
"I know so, Arthur." She smiled. "Don't criticize everything you do, just because you're king."
Artie smiled weakly and shrugged. He cleared his throat and squared his shoulders self-confidently. "Is there a royal messenger present?" Arthur asked politely.
"Yes, Sire!" A small voice responded; it had a cute lisp on every 's' sound making it sound 'sh'.
A young girl wearing a short, strawberry-red sundress with matching tights stepped into the dining room.
"How may I serve, King Arthur?" She smiled and retrieved a scroll and fountain pen from one of the outer pockets of her apron.
"Send an invitation to Sir Shrek and Princess Fiona to bring themselves, and their children to Far Far Away, in time for my royal ball." Arthur smiled at the messenger. "Send another invitation to Donkey and Dragon with the same information, and to Puss'n'Boots as well."
"Anyone else, sire?" The female messenger enquired.
"That'll be all for now." Arthur nodded. "Send the invites with due haste." He pressed two gold coins into the messenger's palm.
"Right away, King Arthur." The messenger bowed to the two monarchs and left the dining room.
Author's Note:
Well that's it for this chapter.
P.S. To previous readers of "Magic, it was Just Magic": I'm currently re-writing and editing the story so I should be back to update it soon!
Manga Girl #6