CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Summary: Finding herself one thousand years back in the past and in the legendary Kingdom of Camelot was something Hermione had never seen coming. But with no possible way back to the future and being stuck in the past, Hermione had no option but to form a new life for herself, and hopefully without changing the timeline. Unfortunately, matters of the heart cannot be controlled and she finds herself entwined in the lives of Prince Arthur and the great and powerful sorcerer, Merlin. Hermione x Arthur pairing.
Disclaimer: I do not own canon events and characters, they belong to J.K Rowling and the creators of Merlin, and the BBC. I am not making a profit from writing and posting this fanfic. I'm also making some big changes to the Merlin plotline so don't be surprised that nothing matches with canon. If I'm being honest, it's been years since I last saw the series, so I'm mostly going off what I remember and episode reviews and notes. And I've decided Arthur won't be dying.
AN
Okay, so, I won't be able to post anything over the weekend as I'm going away with my family and will have no internet access, and in any case, all technology has been banned – no computers, phones, tablets, kill me now! I won't be back until late Sunday night and I'm at work early Monday and Tuesday and won't have any time to write or post any other chapters, so my next post most likely won't be until Wednesday night. I didn't wish to leave you on a cliff hanger and this chapter is a little bigger than previous ones, so I thought I'd post it now to tie you over.
I had hoped to have this finished by the end of the week, but as usual, I haven't been able to bring it to an end just yet and I've well and truly gone over my original plan of only 15 chapters, but never mind. We shall keep going until it is finished, which hopefully won't be so long now.
Let's see who that voice belongs to.
Anyway, enjoy!
Q&A
We'll see Hermione's opinions and adamant thoughts change soon in the new few chapters (hopefully) as there are things that I wish to happen before it comes to that.
KateKat1992 – No, I'm not going to bring Nicholas Flamel or his wife into this fic, one less character or interaction is easiest for me and it stops me from losing focus and going on a tangent.
Meldz - Already got it all planned out regarding Hermione's money and charity work, not to worry.
Page count: 13
Slowly, she turned her body to face in the opposite direction, her eyes widening at the sight of a sharp and deadly sword being pressed against Thorley's throat beneath his chin as he laid sprawled on the ground, Akela snarling and crouched low beside him and a beam of sunlight shining down on the dagger that lay forgotten.
That sword was held by none other than Prince Arthur and he looked furious. He stood over Thorley's body, his form tense, his shoulders bunched tightly, his hand held down by his side and clenched into a fist, his jaw locked, teeth clenched and face set hard. Hermione had honestly never seen someone so angry; not Thorley, not Harry, not Ron...Arthur was by far the worst. His voice had been cold, calm and commanding. Gone was the kind and charming Prince she knew and he was replaced by a warrior, a Knight, a Prince.
"What you have done is treason and I have no choice but to arrest you for crimes against the throne."
Thorley's expression was far more terrified than he'd shown with her and Akela. His face had paled, sweat slicked at his skin, his body shook and he seemed to have forgotten about his injured arm and the wolf stood beside him, snarling threateningly. His horrified gaze was locked on Arthur's face, obviously knowing exactly who he was.
Hermione supposed she should feel sorry for him. She was under the protection of King Uther and from what she could gather, Thorley had attempted to kill her with a dagger when her back had been turned but was stopped from doing so by Akela and Arthur, who had shown up out of nowhere. He had a habit of saving her life, she realised, this being the third time he'd done so since meeting. He was like her very own Knight in shining armour, but when the thought crossed her mind she shook it off violently. Arthur would never and could never be hers. He belonged with Gwen.
"S-S-Sire?" He stuttered. "I..."
"Silence," Arthur commanded and there was not a sound to be heard on the entire street, even Akela had quietened down. "I not only heard your insults, but I witnessed your attempt on Princess Hermione's life, and I am not the only one."
Whispers picked up and Hermione barely held in her sigh; well, so much for keeping her identity a secret. Soon enough word would spread through the city. It was likely they'd already known she was there after the feast, but only the nobles had seen her face. She'd give it to the end of the day before she couldn't walk down the street without being recognised.
Thorley's eyes darted to hers briefly, his horrified expression seeming to worsen. Hermione genuinely thought he was going to faint.
"My friend explained to you yesterday afternoon who I was, yet you refused to believe her. I believe you thought I wasn't pretty enough to be a Princess," she said, swapping the basket to the other arm when it started to hurt.
Arthur's frame seemed to stiffen further at her words and she didn't think it was possible. He was wound so tightly so was a little worried he'd injure himself.
"Princess Hermione is under an order of protection by King Uther Pendragon and by laying hands on her, you have committed an act of treason, of which, is punishable by death."
Sweat beaded down the side of Thorley's face.
"You will be taken to the dungeons, your case will be presented to King Uther and he shall make a decision on the outcome of your punishment. I know my father and I know his thoughts on traitors, I expect your execution to be announced no later than tomorrow morning and for it to occur the following evening."
"S-S-Sire, please?" Thorley begged.
"It is not I you must beg for forgiveness," Arthur replied.
Thorley's eyes darted to her. "Neither is it I," Hermione spoke. "I may be the one you tried to harm, but you are the one that did so and that committed treason. Your only chance of survival is convincing King Uther that you wish to atone for your sins. But given the circumstances of you laying hands on me, insulting me and making two attempts on my life, I highly doubt you will be successful in your endeavours."
She wasn't one to believe in execution as a punishment given the times she'd been raised in when it was outlawed, but now she was in a time when it was acceptable, when it was common. She ought to feel sorry for Thorley, she ought to speak with King Uther and try and convince him to find another form of punishment, but not only did she know it would be a waste of her time, she couldn't find it in herself to care, not even a tiny shred of it. She wasn't sure if that worried her or not.
"What will happen to his wealth and properties?" Hermione asked.
Arthur didn't look at her, his attention being solely on Thorley. "Unless he has family, it will go to waste."
"Do you have family?" Hermione asked the man with a raised eyebrow.
"No," he muttered.
Hermione's eyes lit up. "Well, that is just perfect," she replied. She turned her eyes to the servant. "What is your name?"
"Kaelyn," she answered.
"Kaelyn, should Thorley be executed for his crimes, all of his wealth and assets will be transferred to you. I believe that is repayment enough for his behaviour and actions against you."
The young woman's eyes widened and her mouth fell open, unable to speak in surprise.
"You can't do that!" Thorley found the courage to yell.
Arthur's sword pressed a little harder against his throat. "No? But I can, and I am in agreement with Princess Hermione. All of your assets shall lawfully belong to any and all of your servants in the event of your death. If there is more than one, they shall be divided equally between them, if not, then Kaelyn shall be the full recipient."
Hermione wasn't sure if she should be surprised that Arthur had agreed with her words so easily. She was certain it wasn't a conventional decision as usually any assets would either be transferred to the royal family as repayment, or they would be left until everything had been pillaged.
"And make no mistake; my father is not a very forgiving man in such circumstances."
Two Knights she didn't recognise stepped forward from seemingly out of nowhere and grabbed Thorley by the arms in preparation to pull to him to his feet before sending Arthur a glance as he had yet to step back and allow them the room they needed.
"Sire?" They both spoke.
Arthur snapped to attention, his head lifting and his gaze leaving Thorley as he looked to his Knights questioningly. Releasing a slow, deep breath he removed the blade of his sword from beneath Thorley's chin and he took a reluctant step back, his grip on his sword tight as he held it down by his side and he watched as Thorley was pulled to his feet roughly, a sound of pain leaving him as his injured arm was jostled.
"Take him straight to the dungeons and inform my father of the happenings this day. I shall return to the castle to speak with him as soon as I am able," Arthur instructed.
"Sire," they both said with a tip of their heads.
They dragged Thorley away from them and down the street, Hermione watching as Akela sent her a glance before he followed after them. She knew that if Thorley attempted to escape, he'd kill him, though she was surprised to see the Knights barely bat an eyelash at the sight of the large wolf following them.
She stole a glance of her surroundings, seeing the people whispering as their eyes darted between her, Arthur and the Knights and she blinked in surprise when she noticed that there were five other Knights surrounding them, as well as a shaking Ginevra and two chastised looking guards, Michel and Emerick.
She cleared her throat and shifted the heavy basket from one arm to the other. "Well, that escalated quickly."
Her words seemed to pull Arthur away from his glaring at the retreating back of Thorley and his eyes snapped to her, his gaze intense, making her feel as though he were looking into her very soul. The fury that sparked in his now dark eyes seemed to settle as he took a calming breath, sheathed his sword and within a few strides, he was stood before her.
His eyes and face softened and his hands came to her face, holding her gently but firmly as his gaze darted across her face in search of injuries. His touch seemed to set her very skin on fire and she tried to pull back from him but his hold on her was steady, refusing to let go. Once his eyes had scanned the rest of her body, they darted back up to her eyes and their gazes locked. She almost gasped at the way the anger and concern suddenly shone through, his gaze intense and unrelenting.
"What were you thinking?" He said, his worry for her and his fury at what had happened breaking through into his tone though he'd spoken quietly enough that only she would be able to hear. "The guards are for your protection, you could've been killed! You almost were!"
She barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes at his overprotectiveness, knowing it would only instigate an argument between them and it certainly shouldn't be witnessed by people in the streets.
"First of all, it wasn't my fault. There was a fight in the market place and I was separated from Ginevra and the guards by accident. I didn't know until after I'd arrived here. I knew it best to not go in search of them as chances are we would've missed each other. Ginevra knew my plans for this morning so it was best I stay where I was until they found me. Also, I was not alone as I had Akela by my side and he has proven he is very capable of protecting me should I need it."
Despite the slight twitch to his mouth at the mention of her wolf, his eyes seemed to darken.
"You should have waited for the guards before approaching Thorley. You shouldn't have approached him at all. I gave my word he would be punished for laying his hands on you."
"Yes, but I knew there was a young woman that needed protection, too, and it was best I get her away from him as soon as I possibly could. Akela protected me when he tried to cause me harm and he quickly understood that I am not someone to be trifled with. There is a side to me, Arthur. A side you would not believe I have as I keep it well hidden and it only appears when I feel it is necessary. I'm not as kind or compassionate as you believe me to be. When the time calls for it, I am vengeful and vindictive. I have a temper. When I see an injustice, I right it. I have done things that you would not believe me capable of and I do not regret my actions no matter how terrible they may be. I'm not who you think I am, Arthur, and the sooner you understand and accept that, the better it will be for the both of us," she said, pulling herself away from him and his hands fell down to his sides as he eyed her with a questioning, curious gaze.
She took a breath and reached up to push a fallen curl behind her ear, it having escaped from the pins during the debacle.
"Though I did not require your protection as Akela more than proved himself, I thank you for your help, Arthur. This is the third time since our meeting that you have come to my aid."
He took a calming breath, his hands clenching into fists before releasing and the tension seemed to melt from him as his posture though perfect, seemed to relax.
"You seem to attract danger," he commented, amusement and concern in his tone.
Hermione's mouth pulled into a smile. "That observation is entirely correct," she replied. "One day, I just might tell you of my childhood and the trials I was forced to endure."
He frowned slightly. "You said you had a happy childhood."
"I did, until I didn't and it was taken from me. I was forced to grow far too fast for a child, which is why I have always been more mature than others," she explained. "In any case, I have a lot to do and very little time to do it, so I best be leaving. I shall see you later, Arthur." She turned her eyes to Kaelyn. "This property is now yours, do with it as you wish and I shall send someone with a treatment for your injuries later in the day."
"Thank you, Your Highness," the young woman said gratefully, curtseying.
"You are very welcome," she said. She then turned her attention to Emerick and Michel, both of who had put their helmets on and looked as though they'd been giving a talking to, which she was sure they had. "Let's be on our way," she said, spinning on her heel and walking past them both, hearing Ginevra running to fall into place behind her.
"I will have other guards assigned to you," Arthur said, stepping into place beside her.
She turned her eyes to him. "You most certainly will not," she replied.
"Hermione..."
"No, Arthur," she interrupted. "It was not their fault we were separated by the crowd, and I happen to like Emerick and Michel."
"Emerick and Michel?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, they are people and they have names," she responded and a chastised look crossed his face briefly before it was gone. "They are not afraid to speak with me, they have given me enough space to feel comfortable but are able to protect me if needs be, and they aren't afraid of Akela either. I think I might make them my personal guards."
"You can't do that," he responded, slightly amused.
"No? But you can."
"Hermione..." He sighed.
"I won't hear of it, Arthur."
He grumbled beneath his breath, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Fine, I will make them your personal guards," he begrudgingly agreed. She smiled, pleased with herself. "Do you always get what you want?" He asked, seeming to be amused by her responding smug grin.
"More often than not, yes," she said and he shook his head, a laugh leaving him.
It wasn't until she neared the lower parts of the city that she realised Arthur was still beside her, looking as though he had no intentions of leaving her side and heading back to the castle.
"Should you not be at the castle?" She asked.
"I'm a Prince, Hermione. I may leave the castle anytime I wish," he replied amused.
"I meant do you not have duties that require your attention?"
"No,"
"And you could be doing anything you wish to but instead you are here with me. Why is that?"
He gave her that charming smile that always had her insides squirming no matter how hard she tried not to be affected by it, but other than that, he didn't answer her question.
As they slowly made their way through the lower parts of the city, Hermione saw the change in his behaviour and mood. His face pulled into a frown, his smile dropped and his eyes seemed to both sadden and widen as he took in the sight of the homeless, hungry and poor. Of the dirty children and crying babies, of those that begged for help and those that had resigned themselves to their fates. Judging by the look on his face, she was certain he'd never visited this part of the city before.
"I knew there were people that needed help, but I wasn't aware that it was to this extent," he said quietly. He sounded heartbroken at the realisation that his people were suffering and he'd had no knowledge of how bad things truly were.
"That is what I am here for, to help them," she said softly.
"I do try, Hermione," he promised her. "I've spoken to my father and the council, but I have little control. Only when I am King will I be able to help."
"I know, I can see you care for your Kingdom and its people. Your reaction alone is enough for me to see that, never mind your words. This is just one area, Gwen informed me there are five others in the lower city. This seems to be the centre of them all, which is why I chose this location in particular," she explained, just as the hut came into view.
"Is that it?" Arthur asked with a frown, his eyes glancing over the small structure in displeasure.
"Yes, it is not as big as my home had been in Ealdor so I will have to make do with what I have until I can arrange for either another larger building to be constructed, or I can find a property that I may purchase that is close by, though I know it will take time."
"I'll have arrangements made. With the royal stamp of approval, it will shorten the time taken to have a building built."
"Thank you, Arthur," she replied with a smile of genuine gratefulness, before she looked over her shoulder, seeing Ginevra fiddling with her hands and shuffling on her feet distractedly.
She knew that Arthur wouldn't allow her to clean the hut herself and she wasn't able to use magic with so many witnesses, which meant poor Ginevra would be given the responsibility.
"Ginevra, would you please fetch some water from the well we passed and make a start on cleaning the inside of the hut."
"Yes, Your Highness," she muttered with a curtsey, her eyes downcast before she placed the basket she'd been carrying down on the ground and then turned and all but ran to do as asked.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "I see she has not changed," he said, now looking amused at her annoyed expression.
"Unfortunately not, though I hadn't expected her to," she replied, before she set her basket on the ground, strode forward, pushed the door open and stepped inside, the smell instantly hitting her nose.
Sparing a glance over her shoulder and seeing she hadn't been followed, she muttered a charm beneath her breath to rid of the smell, that being the only magic she dared to use. Moving over to the pile of dirty blankets, she lifted the skirt of her dress and kicked them across the room and out the door, not wanting to touch them with her bare hands.
"They shall have to be burned," she commented, seeing Arthur's grimace at the sight of the filthy blankets. "Well, a quick clean is in order but with the current heat I imagine the floors should soon dry."
Ginevra made a reappearance carrying two buckets of water and Hermione retrieved some of the cleaning oils she'd bought at the market, pouring them into the bucket and seeing a scrubbing brush, of which, she had no idea where Ginevra had gotten it from. The handmaiden quietly stepped into the hut and made a start on the cleaning whilst Arthur pulled her into conversation.
It was a short while later when she heard Emerick and Michel stand to attention and she turned to follow the direction in which they were facing, seeing the young boy that slowly approached with a cautious look on his face and his hand rising as if to reach for a weapon.
"Emerick, Michel, he is of no threat, let him pass," she instructed.
They shared a glance before their bodies relaxed but their hands remained on the hilt of their swords and their eyes were locked on him.
"Good morning, Charles," she greeted softly, seeing from the corner of her eye Arthur's form stiffen and his hand came up to his sword, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "He is of no threat," Hermione repeated, sending Arthur a less than pleased look. His gaze darted to hers and then back to Charles and she let out a sigh. "Honestly," she muttered with a shake of her head. "Where are your brothers?" She questioned.
"Waiting for me to call them," he replied, his eyes moving between her, Arthur and looking over his shoulder at the guards.
"They will not harm you, they are simply here for my safety," she said. "Arthur is rather protective of me," she explained with a smile.
The young boy frowned, looking suspicious. "Are you important?"
Hermione sighed. "I suppose there is no harm in revealing my identity, it will be spread around the city by the end of the day," she grumbled in annoyance. "I am Hermione, Princess of Gryffindor city in the Kingdom of Hogwarts."
His eyed widened in horror, quickly understanding that what he'd done the day before could result in his death.
"This is Prince Arthur," she gestured to Arthur.
She understood that it would be hard for him to recognise the Prince. If he'd never visited the lower parts of the city no one would know his face and if he didn't wear his crown or cape, they would never know who he was when wearing his dark green shirt and dark breeches.
Charles released a strangled noise in the back of his throat and he took a step back.
"Charles, there is no reason for you to worry," she said softly. "No harm will come to you."
"Yesterday, I..."
"Caused no harm, you were only frightened for your brothers," she interrupted. "I do not blame you for what happened and you won't be punished for what you did, I assure you. Arthur is here for reasons he will not tell me, but I promise it has nothing to do you or what transpired yesterday. Now please, bring your brothers to me, I wish to meet them."
He looked hesitant as his gaze was darting between Arthur and his sword. Hermione sighed and with Arthur stood so close to her, she gently nudged him with her elbow, drawing his attention and giving him a pointed look.
His hand fell from his sword and his posture relaxed. "Hermione is correct, I am not here for you. She wishes to meet your brothers and I confess I find myself wishing to do so, too."
"It is fine, Charles, I give you my word and I have proven that is something of value."
He looked hesitant but he brought his fingers to his mouth and let out an impressively loud whistle and a few short moments later, Hermione's heart stopped at the sight of three young boys slowly approaching, the youngest holding the hand of the tallest one. She hadn't for a moment thought that Charles had been lying but seeing his younger brothers first hand had just made it a reality for her, and it seems she wasn't the only one as she heard Arthur's breath hitch slightly.
The tallest she was going to assume was Harrow, the twelve-year-old. He had dark brown short hair, bright green eyes, tanned skin and wore tattered clothing. The second tallest stood on his left and she assumed it was Farley, the nine-year-old. Like his brother, he had dark brown short hair and tanned skin, but his eyes were a pale blue unlike Harrow's green and Charlie's dark blue. His clothing was tattered and dirty, too. And finally was the smallest and youngest, Kenelm being only five-years-old. He was tanned like his brothers and his clothing was tattered and dirty, but his hair was different, a shaggy light brown and his eyes were bright green, even brighter than Harry's had been.
Hermione wouldn't have through they were brothers if it weren't for the fact they all had similar noses. Whilst Harrow and Farley approached cautiously, their eyes darting between the guards, their brother and herself and Arthur, Kenelm had an innocent big grin on his face, showing missing teeth and his eyes lighting up at the sight of his eldest brother. Hermione had never seen a more adorable child and if she weren't careful, she might just fall deeply in love with the little boy, in which, she'd consider kidnapping and taking him home with. She'd never once in her life contemplated kidnapping a child, and yet, here she now was doing exactly that.
He broke free of Harrow's hold and ran forward, heading straight for Charles and ploughing into his side, wrapping his arms around his waist which he could barely reach and he grinned up at his brother. Hermione felt tears welling in her eyes at the adoring way he looked at his brother, like someone would look at their idol, and she had to force them down.
"Is this the lady you told us about?" He asked his older brother.
"Yes," he answered.
"She's very pretty," he whispered loudly and Hermione felt a smile pulling at her mouth. Something about him reminded her of Tobyn.
"Thank you," Hermione said and his eyes widened, whether that was due to her having heard him or because he wasn't used to women dressed like her speaking to him, she wasn't sure. "And I must say that you are quite the handsome little man," she replied and he beamed at her. "You must be Kenelm."
"That's me," he said proudly and she smiled.
"And I'm to assume you are Harrow and Farley," she said, looking to each of them in turn and they eyed her dress cautiously, understanding that she was of wealth.
"We are," Harrow answered.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you both," she smiled and turned her eyes back to Charles. "Have you eaten?"
"No, I haven't been able to find them food this morning. They ate everything you gave me yesterday."
"Then I imagine you are quite hungry," she replied, Kenelm nodding furiously and she smiled. "If you would take a seat over there," she gestured to a small patch of grass a little ways away, "I shall be over in a moment."
Kenelm didn't need to be told twice and he all but ran to the spot, whilst the older two looked to Charles questioningly and he nodded, telling them to do as she'd said. They slowly walked away and over to Kenelm and Charles stayed behind, seeming to know she wished to speak with him.
"Where are your parents?" Arthur asked, his eyes darting between Charles and his brothers.
"Dead," he answered.
Arthur sucked in a breath. "How long have you been caring for your brothers?"
"My parents died a year and a half ago."
Hermione wasn't sure she wanted to hear the story, that would've made Charles around the age of thirteen when he was forced to take on the role of carer, and Kenelm would've only been around three, too. Far too young to lose their parents.
"What happened?"
Charles looked suspicious but answered anyway. "My mother was sick and we couldn't afford the treatment she needed, my father was able to retrieve the ingredients list so he could make the remedy himself and he was in the woods, searching for the ingredients he needed. He was killed by bandits and my mother died a few days after."
Oh God, Hermione thought, her heart breaking in two and her eyes filling with tears once more.
"You have no family?"
"No family that wanted us. I have an Uncle but he hated my mother and the same is said for us."
Arthur muttered a very surprising word beneath his breath, something she would never expect from him but she didn't blame him for his reaction.
"Thank you, Charles," Hermione said before she walked over to her basket and lifted it from the ground. "Let's get you boys fed," she smiled, making her way over to the small group and she took a seat on the ground, folding her legs beneath her and readjusting the skirt of her dress before placing the basket in the centre of the boys who sat in a circle.
"Is this for us?" Kenelm asked.
"Yes,"
"All of it?" He asked, his eyes wide.
"All of it," she smiled. "You may eat whatever you wish and however much your stomach can handle without making you poorly," she promised, her heart aching when he happily dived into the basket, searching through the apples, bread, cheese and pies and deciding on what he wished to eat first. "Slow down, little one," she said, seeing that he was trying to shove a whole pie in his mouth. "You may choke or upset your stomach if you eat too quickly. I know you are hungry but you must eat slowly."
He didn't look happy with her words but he did remove half of the eaten pie and ate his food at a slower rate. A look from Charles had his brothers digging into the offerings at a slower pace and he himself ate slowly, his eyes barely leaving her face.
"You aren't like other Princesses, are you?" He said knowingly, a smile tugging at her face when she saw Harrow and Farley do a double-take and whilst Kenelm watched her with wide eyes though not even his surprise stopped him from eating, he reminded her of Ron in that regard.
"What makes you say that?" She asked curiously.
"The way you responded to my actions yesterday, you put the needs of others before your own, you could've left that woman who I'm guessing was your servant and ran for safety, you gave me food and haven't had me arrested for what I did to you. And this morning, you've brought food and you're sitting on the dirty ground in your expensive dress."
"No, I'm not like other Princesses," she confirmed. "I'm a trained physician and that hut over there," she gestured with a tip of her head, "Is where I will be running a medical practice from until a larger building can be constructed for me. I'm here to help those that need it, which is why I've been helping you."
"The people can't afford treatments."
"They don't need to; I shall be providing treatment and aid free of charge." His eyes widened. "I have the means to help others and so I do. I have more wealth than I care for and I can think of no better way than to use it to benefit others. I am also in the process of making a deal with bakers, fromagers and farmers, where I will purchase their products and distribute them free of charge to those who are unable to afford food or who are struggling financially."
"Why would you do that?" Harrow asked, a frown of confusion on his face.
"I truly care for others. I have suffered myself and I know what that feels like. I wish to prevent others from the same fate."
"You're a Princess? How do you know what suffering is?" He replied in a tone that was mocking.
She smiled sadly. "My Kingdom was in a two-decades-long war. When I was a baby, my Grandfather, the King, sent myself and my parents away for our protection. No one knew I existed and I was raised without servants and guards. Bad things started to happen when I was eleven, people discovered my existence and they didn't stop trying to hurt me and I was forced to fight for my life. Two years ago, my parents were both killed by our enemies. I was forced to flee, to live in the woods and to never stay in the same place for more than a couple of nights. I know what it's like to be cold and hungry and afraid. I may be a Princess by title and birth, but my experiences mean I can relate to your circumstances more than I can a royal's."
Silence fell upon the small group, the three older boys exchanging glances as their eyes darted between each other and her. That silence was broken by the sound of horses' hooves against the ground and items rattling and she looked over her shoulder, a confused look crossing her face at the sight of two guards approaching, each holding the reins of a horse that pulled a cart each behind them, though it was covered by a large sheet and she was unable to see what they carried.
She looked over to Arthur, seeing that his face pulled into a smile and crossed to greet the guards. Curiosity getting the better of her, she stood and left the young boys to their food whilst she headed for Arthur, his smile widening at the sight of her.
"Arthur?" She questioned, seeing that he didn't look the least bit surprised by their arrival.
"I have a surprise for you," he said, sending a nod to the guards who both moved to the carts and took a hold of the sheets, giving them a tug until they fell to the ground and revealed the contents.
Her eyes widened and her hand came up to her mouth at the sight of the two cabinets, a small table and a larger table on one cart, and the second cart held five cots, two chairs and a pile of sheets, blankets and pillows. Her eyes darted over to him questioningly, at a loss for words.
"At dinner yesterday evening you said you needed furniture to set up your practice. I had a talk with Gaius and he told me what you would require and Gwen gave me directions, which I passed onto the guards once I'd arranged for the items to be collected and ready for transporting," he explained with a grin.
She stared at him, finding it hard to find the words to speak. "You...You did this for me?" She questioned quietly, feeling her eyes welling up with tears and her vision blurring.
"Yes, I may not be able to help the people the way I wish due to the council's interference, but they can't stop me from providing you with the equipment and facilities you need, especially when they were found in storage. By helping you, I'm helping them."
She couldn't stop it no matter how hard she tried. Her tears fell from her eyes and trailed down her cheeks and she found herself, no matter how much didn't want to, falling a little deeper.
As each day passed, she found herself finding another reason to fall deeper for him.
