Haha, here it is! The little um sequel deally to Promises part 1. Obviously since they have the same title. Ok, so it may not be entirely accurate, but whatever. It was a bunny, it bit me and I had to write or else the killer plot bunny would eat me or something. Yeah. I highly suggest reading the first part if you haven't lol. Anyway, enjoy.
Title: Promises part 2
Rating: G (the awwwwwwwww...rating)
Summary: The promise is fulfilled.
"Do you promise?"
"I promise."
Arthur never forgot the promise made that day, not in twenty years. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he still held onto it as if there was a chance of it being fulfilled. But how could his father fulfill his promise when he was dead. As if there was a chance of hope. What made him hold on to it?
A figure appeared in his room, shadowy and dark. There was no sound of footsteps on the stone floor. Arthur could not see the man's face, it was hidden beneath his hood, yet he was not afraid. The man drew closer and stood beside his bed, casting off his hood and revealing his face.
"Father.." whispered Arthur.
Lucius smiled, but said nothing. He was the exact image that Arthur remembered him to be. His dark hair was cropped close to his head, shorter than Arthur's was now, and a pair of intense grey eyes gazed back at him, matching his own. The armour was similar to Arthur's own, Roman made.
"Father..." Arthur started again, "You-..you didn't come back...your promise-..."
"But I have now," Lucius replied, "I promised I would return and I kept it." He reached over and brushed a stray lock of hair out of Arthur's face. His hand was wet and cold.
Arthur glanced at the window in his room, "Is it raining?"
"No, it stopped some time ago," Lucius said.
Pausing, Arthur looked up at him again. "Father, why didn't you come back? Why did you wait?"
"Because I had to wait. I don't know that I could explain it to you, Artorius, but you have to understand that I did not want to leave you in the first place. I never did. Just as I don't want to leave again now, but I must."
"No Father," Arthur pleaded, tears welling in his eyes, "Stay here with me, don't leave!"
"I have to, Artorius," Lucius smiled sadly, "Farewell my son." He placed his hood up over his head and walked back out into the shadows.
Arthur bolted up in bed, "No! Father come back!"
"Arthur!" Lancelot strung his arm across his friend's chest, trying to keep him down, "Arthur, calm down. I've been telling you for the past few minutes, he's not here." The knight was surprised at the strength Arthur still posed. He turned as Dagonet also came to his side, his large hands pushing on Arthur's shoulders, both of them trying to get him to lay down again.
"Arthur, listen to me," Dagonet said slowly, sounding quite calm as he always did, "Calm down before you hurt yourself."
The struggling stopped and was replaced by a fit of shuddering coughs. Sweat dripped down Arthur's face, his dark hair was stuck to his forehead. Dagonet's grip lessened and Lancelot gently rubbed his chest. After a moment, Arthur turned his fever glazed eyes to the knights beside him. "Lancelot? Dagonet?" he questioned.
Dagonet nodded, "Lay back, you're sick."
"My Father, he was-.."
"A dream, Arthur," Lancelot said, "He was never here, I'm sorry."
"He was, I saw him-" Arthur protested, but started coughing instead. "He came back, like he promised."
"It's only been us for the past day, Arthur," Lancelot sighed, "You have a fever, it was just a dream."
Slowly Arthur laid back. A dream, how could it have been a dream, he felt his father touch him. No, the promise was fulfilled. He could breathe easier now, the coughing subsided. With his father's promise of return lifted from his mind, Arthur finally fell back to a restful sleep.
"I hate when that happens," commented Lancelot, dabbing a damp cloth on Arthur's face to whip the sweat away.
Dagonet sighed and rubbed his face, standing up again, "It is hard. Too many memories." He felt Arthur's forehead, "Though, I think his fever may be lowering, that is good."
Lancelot nodded in agreement. He sat in silence for a long time. Both of them knew of the relation; the last time Arthur had seen his father, he had been sick. A similar situation triggered the memories perhaps.
"Be strong, my little Artorius," Lucius Castus smiled down from the stars above, "I have kept my promise."