HELLO MY LOVELIES!

So it's currently 2:30 in the morning and I couldn't help but write this since my mind was stuck on Medieval Jlaire mode as I was trying to write an update for The Huntress and the Wizard. But I don't think all would mind so this happened instead lol.

Anyway! I hope you guys enjoy this little quick write up I've made. It skips quite a bit but I was just going with the flow and chilling soooooo yeah.

Enjoy!

As the Prince of Camelot, the sole descendent from the Arthurian line, you would think I enjoyed the thought of being king. That being the one sole further wielder of Excalibur and the protector of the most well-known kingdom this side of the hemisphere would be the dream of any young man within my lands.

But I never wanted any of it.

When I was young, I couldn't wait to uphold the ideals that my Grandfather had created. I couldn't wait to hold Excalibur as my own and protect the mortals within the lands I knew I was going to claim. But this was before I saw the turmoil that the crown had created for those dubbed inhuman within my city walls. Before I witnessed first hand the horrors those with magical abilities had to go through all due to the beliefs my family had placed within our people's minds.

Before I met her.

She was a sorcerous. That much was obvious to me with her white and black hair being evidence of her ties to magic and I could have sworn by just how intoxicating her eyes were that she must have cast a spell on me, but I knew this wasn't true when she smiled toward me.

"You're on the wrong side of the forest to be on your own, Prince James." I couldn't even speak as I looked over the witch's features. She was nothing like I was told magic wielders would look like or from what I have seen first hand. I was told they were all either ugly gruesome human-seeming beasts. Compare the stories to how the only other magical people I have ever met had been old man Merlin and his son Douxie, and I thought that there were only two sides to this unknown spectrum.

But she was beautiful. More lovely than a setting sun on a summer day or the glistening waters of the nearby lakes. With small splattered freckles looking as if they were painted by a flick of God's own brush and a smile so heavenly sweet, I couldn't see her as the horrific creatures Arthur would tell me of as a child. Then she giggled in such an angelic tone that it caused a blush to appear on my face as I rose to my feet underneath the old willow tree.

"Do you speak, my liege? Or do you bite your tongue?"

"I-I speak, my lady. It's just-." I swallowed dryly as I looked into her hazel eyes. There were flakes of gold and purple within them, only showcasing further her ties to the magical arts as I tried my best to speak. "I just have never met your kind before. Besides the two I was raised with in the castle."

"Another reason you should not be out here on your own, Prince James." She gave a sweet smile as she took a slight step forward. "Unlike me, there are many revenge-seeking beings within this forest. There are many your grandfather has scorned." I gave her a lopsided grin as I adjusted my light blue vest that covered my white tunic.

"That I know more than anyone, I believe. I came here to escape Camelot for a little while. I never meant to fall asleep under this willow tree." I brought my eyes up to her once more as a few words fell from my lips without a second thought. "But I'm quite pleased I did since I've met you here." The witch crossed her arms over her chest as she gave me a pleasant smile.

"I heard of princes being charming, but I never thought I would witness it myself."

"With that smile, my lady, I would think many would fall to your feet."

"Well, I have many fall before me but it was never due to my smile." Her smile turned into a small smirk as she then suddenly held out her hand before me. "You may call me Claire, my liege. I'm the last daughter of the ancient house of Nuñez."

"The ones my grandfather once battled against?" I gave her a confused look as I took her hand as if it was second nature to me even though my mind was ragging with a form of anxiety I had never felt before.

"Who else?"

"Then why are you so kind to me at this moment? Am I not who you're supposed to despise?"

"From what I can tell, you are nothing like King Arthur just as I am nothing like my mother." I flashed her a happy smile as I leaned forward and placed a single kiss to her knuckles.

"This I seem to be lucky for."

"Prince James?! Where have you gone?" I pulled my eyes away from the witch as I looked over my shoulder for a moment.

I must have been gone for a while for them to come looking for me.

I turned my attention back toward the witch as I gave her a nervous smile.

"Seems I have caused some trouble I must answer to. My apologies." I gave her a small bow which she gave a small laugh in reply to that only caused the blush on my face to deepen in shade.

"No need to apologize, Prince James. I guess I shall go then. Before they believe I have done anything to you." I gave her a confused look as her hand slipped itself out of mine.

"Why would one think such a thing?"

"I'm a Nuñez, my prince. People have dubbed me many things within my life and I doubt any of them have been kind."

"Will I see you again?" She gave me a gentle smile as hurried footsteps came closer to us.

"Only if you desire it." With a snap of her fingers, a small black and purple circle appeared under her feet that she fell through with ease. I've seen such spells enough to understand that she had teleported herself to someone safe as the sound of my faithful friend Tobias came closer to me while the remains of the portal disappeared.

"James! Queen Barbara has had us searching for you since the sun was high! What are you doing here? You know the Forsaken Forest is not safe for you to enter on your own." I gave my dearest friend a smile as all I could think about was the freckled-faced witch I had met not long ago.

"I lost track of time. I'm sorry, my friend."

"It's not I you should be apologizing to, James. Your mother is quite furious with you at this moment."

"I'll make it up to her." Tobias gave me a confused look as he placed his steel hammer onto his shoulder.

"Make it up to her? You act like you're planning on running out here again." I felt a half-smile take over my face as we started walking out of the forest together. My armored best mate beside me as my mind still swirled about with thoughts of a hazel-eyed sorcerous.

"That's because I do."

I would go back to that tree for months on end just for a chance to speak to the witch. There were days I was able to meet her at the willow tree and speak with her for hours while others would either leave me disappointed since I could only spend a few minutes with her or by the fact that she wasn't there at all. But throughout these months, it was my little secret I kept as my heart began to yearn for the presence of the tanned skinned witch. Even though we were still strangers in a way, I felt as if I was beginning to become something so much more with the beautiful maiden. Especially since she confided within me that the reason she's not able to meet me at times was due to how she's the sole caretaker to her little brother who, due to my grandfather, was now the last male of her line.

"My mother made sure we were safe before the last battle she had with your grandfather because even though she was planning on the king's fall, she also knew that she and my father would as well."

"So she brought you here?"

"Since it was the place of magical creatures and the land that she knew he was too fearful to cross over into himself, yes. A cottage isn't too far from here where my brother and I keep each other company within."

"At least he has you then and you him." She smiled toward me as we sat under the old willow tree together. Her normal black and purple cloak she would wear was discarded beside her as I realized even more that she wasn't anyone I have met before her since she wore black leather breeches with a purple and black corset top with short off the shoulder ruffled sleeves to match. Her hair was longer than I thought as she had it cascading over her shoulder instead of tied back into a low bun she had when I first met her. I couldn't help but think of how beautiful she was even though within Camelot she would have been seen as a disgraceful woman with such attire. If not for the fact that she actually was blessed with magic, she would have been tied to a burning pyre by just how much she seemed to not care for the norms of our society.

Well. At least mine.

"I'm luckier to have him than anything." She turned her head toward me and gave me a sweet smile once more before looking down at her black leather boots. "If it wasn't for him at times, I don't think I would have kept my sanity within this forest. Loneliness can change a person."

"I understand completely, Claire." She whipped her head back toward me as she gave me a confused look. "All because I live within a castle with many people moving in and out of the high stone walls does not mean that I'm not lonely myself. It actually makes it worse, if I can be honest with you."

"You can be honest with me as much as you desire, James." I smiled as I noted that she dropped the title of 'Prince' from my name. We expressed toward one another that we agreed to treat each other like our titles meant nothing to one another even though it was obvious we cared less for them anyway, but possibly due to her training in politeness as the ex-lady of house Nuñez, it caused her trouble to not address me as 'Prince'. Yet it seemed she finally grasped the ability to do so.

"The only person that truly kept me company was my best friend Tobias. Even as he's a knight now and my personal guard, we still act as we did as children together. My mother disagrees with it at times since I need to seem mature before I take the throne soon, but I never cared to try much to her dismay." She giggled at this as had a soft smile dancing on her face.

"I was the same with two friends of my own when I lived near Camelot. Merlin's son Douxie would always swing by since my mother knew his before her passing and my friend Zoe would always find an excuse as to why she needed to appear around them. Between those two, I was never as 'Lady Like'," She used air quotes for a moment as she continued. "As I was supposed to be."

"I had the same kind of tension between me and my grandfather, ironically. He always thought of me as someone that was too weak to become king due to my 'sensitivities'." I used air quotes as she had as I let out a small laugh. "He wasn't wrong, but that doesn't mean I didn't hate it still."

"Too sensitive to rule? Is that what he truly believed when it came to you?"

"As much as he believed in anything else."

"Too sensitive. Personally, I believe that being sensitive especially to your people only showcases how much you care for them and what could possibly happen as well. Makes you seem as if you care for more than just battles and weapons but for the policies that come with ruling as well." I flashed her a smile as I brought one of my knees up to lean my left elbow onto the top of it.

"And here I thought I was seen as weak by those of your caliber."

"You were never weak in my eyes. Even while our families were enemies. I always knew you were a lot more than others led you on to be."

"Hearing that from you is a lot more of a compliment than you think, Claire. Thank you."

"Just the truth, James." I smiled at her within that moment as I knew already that her truth meant more to me then more than anything else within the world.

Even as times got harder throughout the next few months. I knew that I wanted her to be apart of my life. For better or for worse. It didn't matter what would happen to me, just as long as it was her that I got to see at the end of the day.

Even if it meant going against what was desired from me.

"Your mother wants you to marry before she gives you the throne." I sighed as I leaned against the old willow tree.

"Yes, and she does not care to see who it is with either. Something about how she wants to marry again herself but doesn't want it to strip the title from me." Claire gave me a soft look as a playful smile danced on her face.

"At least she's being considerate about the whole situation. Speaking to you before she decides to run off and do it herself. My mother nearly forced me into a marriage until I made it evident that I wasn't going to accept it myself." I gave her a smile as I crossed my arms over my chest with a small chuckle escaping me.

"You really are something else, aren't you, Lady Nuñez?" She gave a smirk as she poked her right index finger into my chest.

"So aren't you, Prince James." I chuckled at her once more as I looked into her hazel pools with a soft smile.

"Do you regret it? Not accepting it, that is." She brought her hand back to herself as she placed them onto her hips with a small smile.

"Honestly, I do not regret a single thing. If I had accepted, my brother would have been left alone. Also, I hated the blonde boy with every being in my body so I think I might have killed the poor bastard before anything could have happened between us."

"Is it bad that I do not doubt you have the ability to do so?"

"Not at all." She flashed me a smile as she took a small step forward. "It's good to keep in the back of your mind."

"You wouldn't harm little old me now would you, my lady?"

"I don't think I could even if I wanted to, James." I felt a small blush take over my cheeks as she took another step closer. "But what about you? What do you think will come from your probably forceful courting?"

"Mother is actually letting me choose."

"Does anyone catch your eye then?" I felt a soft smile take over my face as I noticed just how close the two of us were. I knew that I could reach out just the slightest and bring her into my arms like I have dreamed of at this point in us meeting each other more than a hundred times over.

"Only one." I couldn't pull my eyes away from hers as I kept myself from reaching out toward her and engulfing her into my arms and touch. I desperately wanted to, but since I knew that it could possibly not be welcomed by her, I kept myself at bay.

"Would I know her?"

"More than anyone else." She placed a hand onto my left shoulder as she nearly closed the space between us as her presence is as close as she was caused me to no longer have a way out if I wanted one.

But honestly, I don't think I would have even if I did.

As she placed her other hand onto my opposite shoulder, I couldn't help but bring my hands onto her waist as we were merely inches apart from one another.

"If that's true, you do know what kind of hell she would bring if she was spotted back in Camelot. Her family isn't most well-liked since their fall against Arthur."

"If anyone was to give her troubles, I would end them myself if need be." I saw a smile grace her lips as a small giggle escaped the sorcerous.

"So you would marry that daughter of your grandfather's most hated enemy? Let alone a sorcerous." I felt a smile as I felt her fingers dance up the sides of my neck and intertangled them into the back of my hair.

"If she would have me. I wouldn't ask her to leave her brother behind though. He would be placed under my protection as well if she wishes."

"I would bring turmoil between you and all those around you, James."

"I wouldn't mind the turmoil as long as you would be with me, Claire."

"We've only known each other for a little over nine months."

"I would know whichever other lady of the court that is thrown at me much less." I rubbed my thumbs gently onto her sides as I wanted so much to just lean in and prove to her that my words were as true as hers always were to me. "I would not mind the sideways glances and the threats. I would not care for those that believe I have broken some unspoken rule. All I would mind is that I would be with you."

"I just want to make sure that this is what you desire from me."

"There is nothing else I could wish for more within this world." I whispered lowly to her as I realized once more how close we were. Our faces mere inches apart as she leaned into me ever so gently. As I looked into her hazel pools for a split second, I suddenly gained the confidence to lean in and capture the witch's lips as softly as I could. My mind felt as if it went into a haze as I closed my eyes with every piece of my being felt as if I went to a state of heavenly bliss. Stars seemed to align as everything within me told me that this was how I was supposed to spend the rest of my life. Not being king, but being within her touch. Not taking a throne, but receiving her love.

And I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

When we pulled apart, the sound of hurried footsteps came near as Tobias was calling out toward me as he did all those months ago but I did not want to remove myself from the witch as I had done before.

"You'll come with me, won't you?" I looked into her eyes to search for any kind of reaction, but she seemed to only look up toward me with eyes like that of saucers as Tobias' footsteps came closer.

"I would have to ready Enrique."

"I would wait right here then." I saw a smile dance across her face as her nose brushed past mine for a second as if the sound of Tobias' voice did not change anything as to what she wanted to do.

"Then how could I say no?" Without another word, she captured my lips once more as I closed my eyes almost instantly at the feel of her soft lips against my own. I kept my hands on her waist as she simply dropped her hands onto my shoulders as Tobias made his appearance clear to us.

"Ja- Oh sweet mother of Arthur." We pulled apart suddenly as Claire instantly hid her face into the left side of my neck to hide what I knew was an embarrassed look on the witch's face as the knight gave the both of us a surprised look. "Well. That explains why you keep running off now." I just chuckled as I looped my arms around her as I placed my cheek gently against the side of her head. I didn't mind the knowing look that Tobias was giving me or how I knew that I was going to be given an earful by my mother when we reached the castle as I held the sorcerous within my arms. Nothing could have made me regret what I have done or what I have said to her.

And as the years went by, nothing held me back from making them true, either.

"I never cared for these." I chuckled at Claire's brother as he adjusted the small crown on his head that symbolized how he was tied to the Queen of the castle. I walked up behind the now ten-year-old as I fixed the crown for him with a simple smile dancing on my face.

"You know, when I was your age I did not care for them either."

"How do you deal with it then?"

"I just remembered what it was for and that I had to get used to the extra weight sooner or later." I placed my hands onto the blonde's shoulders as I knelt down to look him in the eyes. "Do not think of it as anything more than having pride in who you are and who you come from. That's what got me through the years."

"So just think that I'm supporting you and sister?" I nodded my head with a simple smile as I gave his shoulders a reaffirming squeeze.

"Exactly."

"What exactly are you two troublemakers brewing? I hope you two do not wish to cause ruckus today." I looked over toward my left where Claire's voice had appeared to see her wearing the tiara that seemed to fit her so well after I had first seen it placed upon her head. She still dressed as she would when we would meet at the old willow tree, but to me, that is what made her the same woman I thought had cast a spell upon me. Honestly, I wouldn't change a thing as she still looks just as beautiful as she did back then.

Even with the obvious swell of her stomach.

I smiled at the thought while I brought myself back up to my feet. I gave her a wide smile as she approached me and her brother before replying to her.

"On my best friend's wedding day? I would never. You know that, my love."

"You've caused trouble for less." I gave her a smirk as I placed a hand around her waist. "I'm starting to believe you might be too much of a bad influence on my innocent brother."

"Don't you think it's a little too late to have come to that conclusion, Claire?"

"Ah yes," She rubbed a gentle hand over the small swell of her stomach as she looked up at me as a sparkle appeared in her hazel eyes. The same purple and gold flakes dancing within them as they always had. "I'm quite stuck with you, aren't I?"

"Would you change it if you had the chance?" She glanced between me and her little brother for a moment before looking up toward me with a wide smile gracing her face.

"Not a single thing."