Chapter 16

It was guessing I had been in my room for about four days; I hadn't eaten much at all. There was a soft knock at my door 'it's probably Lancelot again.' I thought to myself he had been persistent at first, trying to get me outside and moving around. I think Tristan told everyone to leave me alone and to give me some space.

"Jess?" Arthur's voice said from behind the wooden door.

I didn't move from my bed. It was a surprise to hear Arthur's voice I let out a small 'come in.' but my voice was croaky and sore from all the crying I had done so I doubt he had heard it.

The door creaked open and Arthur walked in.

"How are you feeling?" he asked sitting down on the bed.

I stared at him for a moment not sure what to say, I thought it was pretty obvious how I was feeling.

"Right, never mind." Arthur said shaking his head.

"Me and Guinevere are engaged." He said smiling.

"Really? Congratulations." I said trying my best to sound happy for him.

"You're the first we've told, don't say anything ok? Were announcing together soon." He added

I didn't answer just smiled at him

"Your not alone you know?" he said gently

I sat up so I was next to him and dangled my feet of the bed.

"Has anyone else been in their room for the past 4 days?" I asked staring at my feet.

"Six." He corrected. Turns out I had been in here longer than I thought. "I think there used to it, all of the knights have lost people close to them to many times to count." He added.

"My uncle died when I was 7." I said a little stupidly

"And did you get over it?" he asked

"I didn't really know him…" I said wishing I hadn't mentioned it.

He smiled and wrapped his arm around me.

"How do you and the knights deal with it?" I asked wiping away a tear.

"I can't speak for all of the knights, but I just…get really angry and then after you're angry you hurt a lot and then the best thing is that one day you remember something he said or did and you laugh instead of cry." He said smiling at the thought.

I thought for a second it wasn't hard to remember a good memory I had with Noah there were so many. Neither Arthur nor I said anything after that I sat there thinking for hours. Arthur didn't move once just kept holding me.

I woke up the next day the sun was shining through my window and I found instead of feeling depressed and tired I was starting to feel active and social.

I combed my hair and put it into a loose braid. Before I new it I was walking down the steps leading out to the courtyard.

I was relieved when the knights weren't acting any different; Arthur pulled me aside and introduced me to a middle aged plump lady her hair was blonde and slicked back.

"Jess this is Mary." Arthur said motioning to the lady.

I shook her hand while looking curiously at Arthur, Why was he introducing me to her.

"Tristan tells me you're good with children." Arthur said I looked past Arthur to Tristan who gave me a wink. I wasn't very good with children at all I lost my patience very easily.

"Well actually, I…" I started

"Great, go with Mary she will explain everything to you." Arthur said cutting me of and pushing me towards Mary. He seemed eager to get away from Mary I soon found out why.

"Jess another bishop from Rome is coming here in two weeks." She said her voice was the most annoying sound I had ever heard and she spat nearly every word she spoke. "The children in the village are putting on a small play for his arrival." She added I cringed as a piece of spit flew out of her mouth and landed on my arm.

"Am I in the play?" I asked hopefully

"Heavens no dear, you will be writing it and working with the children." She said dragging me to a table. I sat down as she told me what I would be doing.

10 minutes had passed before I excused myself saying I had to quickly talk to Arthur. I stood up and walked to the table were the knights were.

"Jess get back over there." Arthur said with a hint of laughter in his voice.

"Arthur, she's a very nice lady. I just can't talk or spend any time with her." I said hitting Galahad in the arm who had started to laugh.

"Did I mention she spits when she talks?" I added

"Jess, sometimes you've got to play through the pain." Arthur said trying to hold in a laugh.

"What?"

"I don't know, just get back over there." he said smiling

Tristan started laughing as well; I gave him a fake smile before turning back to Mary.

For 20 more minutes I endured her piercing voice before she took me across the courtyard to where a group of children were eating and playing I guessed they were all from 6 to 10 years old. I had tried several times to get out of this but Mary kept insisting.

"Children…CHILDREN." Mary said getting the kids attention.

"This is Jess; she will be organizing your play." Mary said giving the kids a sweet smile.

I gave an awkward wave as the kids all turned to look at me.

"Right I'll leave you to it." Mary said clapping her hands together and walking off.

"What...But what do I?" I called after her.

"You'll be fine dear." She said with a wave of her hand and disappeared around the corner

I noticed all the knights had moved to a closer table to watch they all quickly turned away when I looked in there direction.

I turned back to the children who had all sat down in a neat circle. Maybe this wasn't going to be so hard after all. 20 minutes later I had gotten nowhere Lancelot and Tristan had felt sorry for me and come over to help. I had tried to get the kids to come up with an idea for the play.

"Okay I just want to tell you that this play is serious, that means that all of your ideas, while interesting, are stupid." I said to the kids Tristan gave a fake cough, I wasn't too good at talking to children.

"No unicorns." I said to an 8 year old girl

"No Worms."

"No dragons." I told a little boy

"No Magicians." I said to a 10 year old boy who had suggested it about 8 times.

"Now we still need a wise man, anybody got any suggestions? I asked. as the 10 year old boy raised his hand.

"I swear to god if you say magic wise man I'm going to…" I said before Lancelot kicked my foot making me stop.

The sun had gone down and we had at least written the play and all the kids new their roles.

I sighed and turned to leave my muscles hurt from standing up for so long I ran into Lancelot who was blocking my way.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" he asked nodding towards the children.

I turned to see them all still sitting in their circle watching me attentively.

"Oh right…you can go." I told them and they all stood up and ran of in different directions.

It turned back and walked with Lancelot to were Arthur, Galahad and Guinevere were all sitting.

"How was it?" Arthur asked as he started to laugh again.

Galahad stood up and walked over to Lancelot I sat down were he used to be sitting and watched as Galahad and Lancelot both walked away.

"They finally left, now it's just the three of us." I said smiling at Guinevere and Arthur.

"That's great Jess." He said unenthusiastically.

"Oh, I get it. If I was gone you two would kiss. Life's not fair huh?" I said smiling at Arthur.

He gave me a look while Guinevere laughed.

"Did you tell anyone we're engaged?" Arthur asked me

"Yes Arthur, I have no self control and I told the barmaid you're engaged."

"Ok, no need to be sarcastic." He said taking a sip of his drink.

"No, seriously, I have no self control and told the barmaid you're engaged." I said smiling at them.

I thought I had been annoying enough for one day so I excused myself and headed towards my room.

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