A/N: Update: The gas leak is fixed and I didn't even get to explode anything.
I've got to stop packing extra things into my stories, things just get out of hand. As much as I like scar reveals, I hadn't planned on this being one- but then it really wouldn't have made sense for Arthur not to notice. Of course, I could have simply gone the 'he doesn't actually have any' route and/or not say anything, but... yeah, this is how short stories become bloated.
I'd been thinking about going back to Errol, and then someone asked about him and sealed the deal ;)
I was going to go back to the main action in this chapter after his bit, but the tone was too different so you get another mini-chapter (I say as if all the chapters of this story aren't small...)
Errol sat on the bench in the king's antechamber, heels on the edge as he hugged his knees.
Should I have followed?
The king hadn't given him any indication as to what he should be doing now and, frankly, he had used up all of his courage just coming forward.
So here he remained.
Thoughts and memories flashed across his mind against his will and he found himself choking back sobs, rocking slightly on the bench.
"What's wrong?"
A soft voice asked, a tentative hand touching his shoulder.
The scribe flinched back violently, nearly knocking his head against the wall.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you..."
Just then Errol realized who was addressing him and scrambled to stand and bow.
"Your majesty!"
"Nevermind that."
The queen guided him back down onto the bench.
"Tell me what's bothering you?"
"Oh, I couldn't- I mean, nothing m'lady."
A brown eye met his in an accusatory stare.
"I can understand if you don't want to share, but do not try to deny that you are upset."
And really, he had had enough of doing so.
All his resistance was washed away in a moment and he broke down in tears, a torrent of incomprehensible words falling from his lips as the queen murmured comfort and held him gently.
He had recoiled from the contact initially, but Livenn had never been gentle with him and Errol found himself relaxing in this warm and tender embrace.
For the first time in months he started to believe that things just might get better.
