~o~o~*~O~*~o~o~
At the gardens...
I sat on one of the stone benches beside Lancelot. He seemed a bit tense.
"So, about the girl..." I felt really uncomfortable. I tried fiddling with my cape to feel less awkward. "How do you think she was linked to a fragment of your past?"
Everything was silent at this moment. Not a single sound was heard at this time. It was just my voice and the wind softly blowing anything in its path.
"She felt so familiar. It was like it was really her." Lancelot's eyes were face on the soft grass swinging through the breeze.
"Who?" I cocked my head to his direction.
This is interesting...
"My childhood friend." He took a deep breath not making eye contact with me. "I first met her when I found her asleep under a tree in the forest. She was all alone."
"Could you explain to me how both of you met?" I was eager to know more.
Flashback...
A small boy was wandering alone in the forest. It was part of his daily routine. He would usually visit the Lady of the Lake. Today was different. Along his path was a girl taking slumber under an oak tree. The little boy came closer only to awaken the little girl. He was very curious about this girl, knowing that it was rare to see someone his age at this location.
"What do you want?" The little girl asked defensively, arms crossed over her chest. Her green jewel-like eyes were gleaming with anger mixed with fear.
"N-nothing... I was just wondering why someone like you would stay in a dangerous place like this." The young lad's voice trembled.
Long golden hair...Shining green eyes...Pale skin...Rosy face...
"If you question why I am here, I'll ask you, why are you here?"
"I usually come here to visit my friend. How about you?" The little boy smiled.
"I wanted to take a nap here, since my brother won't stop bothering me." She answered flatly.
"How was your sleep, then?" He sat beside the little girl.
"You had the nerve to ask that. Yeah, my nap was nice... Until you arrived!" The little girl snapped.
The little boy continued to stare at the girl. 'She is so adorable!' he thought.
"What are you looking at?!" The little girl raised a brow.
...
"And that was how we first met." Lancelot smiled reminiscing a part of his childhood.
I just sat there. It's like everything he said was connected to a small part of my past.
Wait... Lancelot was the little boy who I would meet every single day. He was the one who play knight with me.
"You'll be the princess and I'll be the knight." A young Lancelot brought out his wooden sword.
"Princess?! I wanna be a knight too!"
"Fine, you could be a knight." He gave me another wooden sword.
I really do wonder if that was him.
"When was the last time you her?" My palms started sweating.
"It was a very long time. After the last time I saw, I saw a letter left in the usual place we met in the forest." Lancelot took a deep breath.
I'm sorry couldn't meet you the last time. And maybe the last moment we see each other will really be the last one. I'm really sorry. My father says that I have lost focus in my training because of meeting you. He says I haven't been paying attention to my daily work. I tried reason out with father, but he still forbade me from seeing you. And one last thing, please don't forget me. I want you to remember me. I hope we cross paths in the future.
"I never saw her again... I would take any chances to see my dear friend. Even if others tell me it's just a silly childhood, I still miss her. She was the one who filled the empty holes in my heart." He took another deep breath.
Now, I really think it was him. I remembered giving a letter to my friend, before I stopped seeing him. I feel a little guilty now. Lancelot still remembers me and he would do anything to see me. Until now, he still cares. And I've forgotten about him.
"Where do you think she is right now?" I avoided his gaze.
"She's probably a housewife right now." There was a bit of sadness in his voice.
"How could you tell?"
"People who live in the villages get married earlier than knights or royalties." He simply explained.
"If you had the idea that she is happily married, what would your reaction be? Be honest." This is getting a little too personal.
"If she was, I'd be glad. But it's like the holes in my heart would form. If she was happy with someone else, I'd feel hollow and lonely." Lancelot gave his most genuine answer.
"What about Princess Guinevere?" I think that question brings up everything.
"I do love her, but whenever I think about my childhood friend, Guinevere starts to fade. Lately, I've been wondering if I should accept that she'll marry you." He seemed confused.
"Lancelot... I too, am really wondering about that. I don't know if I want this union. I promised myself that this time I'll make a great change myself. I want to fall in love without regretting about that act. I want to let out my feelings to someone who'd understand me." Keep it together! If this conversation goes on, I might reveal everything.
"You know what Arthur, you kind of remind me of my friend." He smiled.
"In what way?" I tried to feel less awkward.
"You act like her, you talk like her, and you even look like her. When I'm next you, I feel like she's there." He said.
"Oh..." I felt the heat rising from my cheeks.
I felt a hand pull the ribbon of my hair.
"Wha-!" Not again! I experienced this with Guinevere. My hair fell on my shoulders. Lancelot pulled me near him. His arm snaked around my waist and his other hand on my cheek. His face was so close to mine. The tension was rising. He lowered his face anymore. Darn it! He misses his friend so much that he thinks I'm her. Actually, I am her, but still. I can't break free, his grip was quite strong. I couldn't do anything, so I closed my eyes.
"I'm sorry, Arthur." He let go of me.
"It's fine. I forgive you, but if you do that to me in front of the other knights, you'll pay." I said playfully.
"Thank you. I didn't know what came to me. It's just that I see her in you." He blushed.
"Yeah. If you didn't let go of me, you would have kissed me." I covered my face in embarrassment.
"Yeah, I almost kissed the king. It won't be such a bad thing." He chuckled.
I lifted my head and saw the sun setting down the mountains. It was a nice scene.
"It's getting late. I think we should get inside the castle." I suggested.
"May I escort you to your room, Arthur?" Lancelot offered.
"Yes, you may." I smiled.
"You know, you really look feminine right now. I could almost fall for you, if you really were a lady."
"Thank you, I guess." I looked away from his face. Darn, I'm blushing again! I'm not blushing because of Lancelot!
...
"I appreciate you taking me to my room, Sir Lancelot." I stood by the door of my room.
"Anything for the king." He was about to leave.
"King? You only see me as the king. Lancelot, don't believe in everything you see. You might be deceived, if you really see who I am." I closed the door.