CHAPTER 21 : WEDDING BELLS
Actually, once he had made the decision to have Dan as his manservant until Humphrey returned, they fell into an easy friendship and Arthur was pleased with his choice. Everyone called him Daniel but Arthur and Gaius addressed him as Dan, the name he had when Arthur first knew him. He worked out well, was very respectful yet Arthur felt relaxed with him.
What he didn't feel relaxed about was the upcoming wedding. The king had told him that his presence was required at the head table and that he was counting on him to behave as a Crown Prince. Uther liked Sieur Thierry who had settled very well into the Camelot household. Arthur could find no fault with him and was quite friendly with Gregoire, his younger son.
The problem arose when Arthur was told that he was expected to dance with not only Marie-Soleil but also her little cousins who were in the bridal party.
"Bur Father, I can't dance and I really don't like girls!"
"Well, the sooner you learn to like them the better!" was the king's only comment.
True to his word, the king had sent the Lord Chamberlain to arrange for Arthur to learn the basic dance routines and all the bowing etcetera that accompanied them. He hated it and felt stupid cavorting around the dining hall with another squire. He usually chose either Edmund or Piers as his partner as they could then laugh about it afterwards. Piers was easier to dance with as he was light on his feet and as a result, Arthur didn't end up with sore toes and bruised shins as he did with Edmund.
The wedding went off well. Arthur had to admit that Marie-Soleil looked pretty as a bridesmaid. He did dance with her and it wasn't that bad as they discussed the holidays which were upcoming and the Tournament. She was impressed that Arthur was going to be in the demonstrations put on by the squires. Her cousins were not as much fun. What was he to say to a stupid nine year old who just kept gazing at him. She only came up to his waist and he had the hardest time not laughing as she resembled a sack of cabbages with legs.
The surprising thing was, that during the weeks following the wedding when the guests were still in Camelot, he saw quite a lot of little Donatienne as she was crazy over horses and was Marie-Soleil's favourite cousin. She used to visit them in Martin's class and even went riding with him. Arthur decided not all girls were bad, he knew at least two that he liked.
Uther was seen smiling when Arthur and Marie-Soleil danced. He had his hopes that one day, he would watch Arthur dance with his bride. Luckily, he never said anything to Arthur which was just as well as, at his age that would have been enough to put him off girls for life!
The Summer Tournament arrived with all the excitement it usually created but this year one member of the royal family was missing from the royal stands. Arthur was on the field with his squires. They attended the opening ceremonies and answered Sir Rupert's cry, "For the Love of Camelot!" with their short swords held high. Arthur was in his element as two proud men watched him. Between displays, Uther leaned over and reminisced to Gaius, "The baby is all grown up! How I wish Igraine were here to see him!"
Arthur also partook in the mounted display when the squires rode in formation with each one leaving the group to spear a ribboned ring. Everyone of them was successful. They reassembled on the field before the royal box and Uther acknowledged them and congratulated them on their excellent work. For once in his life, Arthur was proud to be the son of a man who had recognised the hours spent in learning and practising.
Ash was handed over to her groom and Arthur joined Gaius in the stands to watch the remainder of the opening ceremonies. Once again, as the time came for the competitive classes, Gaius took himself off to the infirmary tent. Uther motioned to Arthur to occupy the chair next to his and Arthur complied. He had to laugh as he saw Donatienne and Marie-Soleil almost bouncing off their seats with excitement. Wait until they saw the jousting the following day!
That evening, Arthur was beside the king again at supper. It was getting easier as the king often included him in the general conversations. Arthur was well versed in all the workings of the castle and the kingdom and the king was pleased with Geoffrey and Martin's work with him.
Following supper, the king left the meal and the court remained enjoying themselves. There was dancing but Arthur's mind was full of the day's activities and he excused himself along with his father. Gaius and he went off to the Court Physician's chambers to review all that had happened, Arthur was still as high as a kite.
When Gaius remarked on it, Arthur laughed and said, "For years I have sat or stood beside you watching the squires and today, I was one of them. Gaius it was fantastic. If it is this great as a squire, imagine what it must be like to compete as a senior squire. Did you know that Gielbert will be initiated into the knighthood at the beginning of the winter." Arthur laughed. "Of course you do, I think I must have told you that at least a hundred times."
"Yes, I believe you have. Arthur, I want to be serious now. I have a special present for you. Tomorrow, you will be fifteen, I think it is time."
He got up went over to a shelf and removed a little wooden box. He put it on the table but put his hand over Arthur's when he went to take it. "Let me tell you the story first. The year before you were born, Geoffrey came to Camelot as a young knight. He was a talented artist as you know from the drawings he gave you of your first visit to Yewdene. He made lots of sketches of Camelot and some of the residents. He found them when you were seven and made a miniature of one particular sketch."
He removed his hand and motioned for Arthur to open the box.
Arthur slowly opened it and nestled in deep blue velvet was a portrait of a blond lady. His heart jumped and he looked up at Gaius and he nodded at him. Slowly Arthur lifted the miniature from its bed of velvet. It was magnificent. He knew there was only one lady's miniature which Gaius would want him to have. His hands started to shake and he returned it to the box and cupped his hands around it.
"It's Mother isn't it?"
The familiarity with which Arthur could speak that word compared to the coldness which he used for the word father, was heartbreaking.
Gaius said gently, "Yes, it's Igraine."
Arthur smiled sadly and looked up at Gaius.
"Your father does not know of its existence as Geoffrey painted it just for you. I also have the preliminary sketches which you can have later on. I don't know how to say this...but...keep it for yourself. One day, you will want to share it with your own family, to show your children their grandmother but I would advise against mentioning it to Uther. I know that he would want it but it is from me to you...Happy Birthday, Arthur. Thank you for fifteen years of love and wonderful experiences. I am so proud of you and always will be."
Arthur looked at the man who had united him with the mother he had never known. "Do I look like her Gaius?"
"Arthur, not only do you look like her but I can see her lovely manners and her way of treating people. That is when you are behaving yourself! Now off to your chambers, before you have a silly old man crying..."
But it was Arthur who was crying as he hugged Gaius, thanking him for his present and holding the little box close to his heart as he left the room.
That night, he lay in bed after Dan had helped him get settled. He kept the little box under his pillow as he thought about the wonderful things which had happened today. Suddenly the displays of the squires were secondary as this day would always be remembered by Arthur as the day Gaius and Geoffrey had enabled him to see his Mother for the first time!
Jousting tournaments were being held today and Arthur was up early to meet with Gaius and make their way to the lists. Gaius would again be in the infirmary tent but he'd watch a few challenges first. Arthur enjoyed watching the intense focus of the horses, the younger ones literally leaping almost out of their skins, waiting to feel the pressure from their rider's legs and the knowledge that finally they would gallop, hell-bent-for-leather, to the end of the list.
It was exciting to watch but also nerve racking as sometimes, there were horrendous accidents and one year there had been a fatality when the knight's lance had slipped and skewered his opponent's horse through the chest. Death was almost instantaneous but the silence of the crowd was louder than anything Arthur had ever heard. It was not a pretty scene and Martin had insisted that they left but Arthur knew that the horse's body would be dragged from the area by the heavy cart horse which was tied near the knight's tents.
Gaius had explained to him that the horse had been having a great time before it was hit and it died so quickly that most people watching were relieved that it had been a fatal hit. Sometimes, knights were hurt but Arthur always knew that it had been their choice to compete unlike the horses who were given no choice.
"Gaius, have you ever lost a knight in the jousting?"
"Yes!"
"Who?"
"Arthur, why this morbid curiosity?"
"It's not morbid, it's factual, I'm a squire and it must be part of the history of Camelot."
Gaius sighed. "It was a young knight, Sir Sumner. He fell off and his horse stumbled over him. That didn't kill him as he had broken his neck in the fall."
"And you can't fix a broken neck, Gaius?"
"Not that kind of a break, his heart had already stopped."
"Gaius, if I fell and broke my neck, would you try very hard to save me?"
Gaius wasn't happy with this conversation but as he had never intentionally lied about his medicine and techniques. He said, "Arthur, I would do anything to save you, if there was even the smallest chance that you would survive. You know that..."
"I just wanted to make sure, as one day I will be competing in the jousting and I would like to think that you would try your best if I was injured."
They made their way to the lists, passing the knights and their squires who were preparing for the challenges.
Gielbert and Pitch were competing and Arthur said a little prayer that they would both be kept safe.
Lady de Saute-Chevreuil was sitting in the royal stands and Sieur Thierry was competing, as was his son Valentin. Marie-Soleil came over to sit next to Arthur with Donatienne. She sat between the two of them her eyes wide in wonder at the horses, the wonderful accoutrements, the harnesses and the speed.
The combination of the standards of each knight which the squires paraded before they arrived on the field and the excitement of the spectators made the affair colourful and almost mind boggling. Arthur was conscious that as the lance crushed against the first apponent's shield a little hand grabbed his squeezing it hard. He was going to brush it away but he understood that Donatienne didn't realise she was holding his hand; he suddenly felt proud that she would have considered him brave and capable of looking after her. Finally, she gave up removing her hand after each pass, she just sat holding his. He thought that some girls weren't so bad!
At noon, a two hour break was held and as he stood up, Donatienne smiled guiltily and slipped her hand out of his. "Can I sit beside you this afternoon, Arthur?"
"Yes if you want to..,"
"I feel safer next to you because you are very brave."
Arthur smiled. Lady de Saute-Chevreuil caught his eye and nodded, "Thank you!" Arthur blushed, he wasn't used to all this female attention but he decided that after all, it must be because he was now fifteen and a man.
After lunch, there were more challenges and this time Arthur sat with Marie-Soleil on one side and Donatienne hanging onto his hand on the other. This must be what it would be like to have a little sister.
Luckily, there were no horrendous accidents.
Later that evening, there was the Tournament Supper. Arthur was next to his father when Sir Rupert walked forward to ask the knights and assembled guests to raise a goblet and toast Prince Arthur on his fifteenth birthday. His mind flashed back to the first time that had happened and how much he had wanted to shout 'For Love of Camelot' but didn't know the words and wanted to do it the next night but he wasn't invited to the dining hall.
His fellow squires were serving at table in addition to his regular server. Tom made sure that they had ample opportunity to serve their prince and Arthur nodded his thanks to each of them with a sincere smile. Romney and Piers served him and poor Edmund had to serve Uther with Peter. Arthur hoped that they didn't drop anything but there were no mishaps and everyone seemed happy with their presence.
The king leant over to him and handed him a folded sheet of parchment, "Don't open this until you are back in your chamber tonight. Happy Birthday, Son!"
"Thank you, Father." Arthur had a momentary feeling of guilt knowing that he possessed something which the king would have coveted if he had knowledge of it.
Following supper, Gaius and Geoffrey joined him in his chambers for a nighttime drink. Arthur who had already managed during the day to tell Geoffrey how thrilled he was with the miniature, was pleased that they would be able to look at it together as he had given Dan the evening off to celebrate with his friends after the meal.
"What did Uther give you for your birthday?" said Gaius. "He did remember, didn't he?"
Arthur remembered the folded parchment sheet, he pulled it out of his tunic and offered it to Gaius to read. "He gave me this at supper and told me not to read it until I was in my room."
"...and..."
"I haven't looked at it yet, go ahead, you read it to me!"
Gaius solemly unfolded the sheet and read.
"My dear Arthur,
I was proud seeing your participation with the Squires yesterday and, as a result, I have decided that you will receive the Ceremonial Armour which a Crown Prince wears when reviewing in the company of the King, the troops of Camelot. Please treat it with care and wear it proudly. It will be passed down to your son, if you feel that he is worthy of it, when he reaches fifteen.
Wear it in good health! Your Father, Utherus Rex
Twenty-fifth day of September, AD 527"
"Arthur, this is a very big honour. The king alone makes the decision whether or not that armour is worn by the Crown Prince. He must be very proud of you. Geoffrey will help you compose a fitting letter of thanks and I look forward to seeing you, standing beside your father.
"Great, but will I be responsible for cleaning it as well?" Arthur couldn't help saying.
"I doubt that the Master of Armoury would allow you to have anything to do with it apart from wearing it. What do you think Geoffrey?"
Geoffrey laughed, "I think, you're right! Congratulations, Arthur, it is a great honour. Once classes start again, we'll get down to writing the letter, it will be have to be quite formal. You should however thank the king when you next have the opportunity and we can follow that up with the letter. Is that alright, Gaius?"
"Yes, that should cover all the bases! Well, Arthur, I'm ready to turn in. I hope that you had a nice birthday."
"I did, and it started last night with the portrait." He included Geoffrey in this statement with a big smile.
The two friends got up to leave the chamber and Gaius called over his shoulder. "Heard you have a girlfriend, Arthur. You were seen holding hands with her during the jousting!"
Arthur looked embarrassed. "Don't worry" said Geoffrey, "It was very gentlemanly of you to take care of little Donatienne. I'm sure, she is your number one fan!"
Laughing, the two of them left Arthur's room. Three years ago, he would have been mortified if Gaius had suggested such a thing but he realised that he must be growing up as he was able to shrug his shoulders and smile to himself.
The next morning that he had classes, Arthur asked, "Geoffrey what do you know about the Ceremonial Armour? Is it kept in the armory?"
"I believe so."
"Can we go and look at it now?
"I don't see why not, once you have completed those grain quota taxes. Your father was pleased that you able to discuss the taxes seriously over supper last week."
Arthur set to work and had soon figured out how to tax a miller for a percentage of his income, which in reality would be a percentage of the grain which he received in payment from the farmers for his services.
Finally they made their way down to the armory and in a glass fronted case which for some reason Arthur had never paid much attention to, he saw his armour. He was impressed, it was all silver, with a red and gold dragon on the breastplate. He approved as it reminded him of a knight's tournament armour.
He was allowed to try on the gold coloured cloak but he would have needed the assistance of the Master of Arms to try on the whole kit and caboodle.
He returned to Dan for lunch and was able to tell him about his father's present. Edmund and Piers also stopped by the armory on their way to the training sessions to see his present and were impressed.
There was just one sad note, Arthur valued more Gaius and Geoffrey's miniature than he did the king's gesture regarding the armour. There was still a wall dividing father and son which had been weakened but not breached. In Gaius's mind, the wall was impregnable no matter how hard Uther tried, Arthur would never be willing to let his king into his heart. Gaius acknowledged that the finest form of love is forgiveness and Arthur was not ready...