12. Arthur

Lucy jumped out of bed in surprise. She wasn't expecting him to come knocking at her door. She glanced down at her dress to make sure it was appropriate then approached the door to open it for him.

She shyly hid behind the door, not ready to face him yet. What was she supposed to say to him? He was probably expecting her to marry him like everyone else seemed to. It wasn't fair that the decision was already made for her, without her say.

Instead of picking a fight, she simply greeted him with a fake smile as she used the door to separate her from him,''Good evening, what can I do for you?'' She asked curtly.

''May I come in?'' He asked. ''I'd like to speak with you privately, if you don't mind?''

As she hadn't had enough surprises for one day, he threw that at her.

''Um,'' She mumbled, thinking about her answer, ''I suppose you could.'' She hesitantly stepped aside to let him in her room. He entered casually, looking around as of he had never seen the place before.

''I expect that your accommodations have been up to standard.'' He commented.

''And then some.'' She nodded in agreement. She wasn't very good at small talk.

''So what did you want to talk about?'' She asked.

''I wanted to apologize.'' He said simply as if it made all the sense in the world.

''For what?''

''For being away so much.'' He explained.

''I understand that you have responsibilities.'' She said skeptically. Sure she hadn't really seen him much in the last few days, but who said she needed to see him every day. She didn't quite understand where this was coming from. He wasn't obligated to make time for her in his busy schedule.

''Still, I worry about you.'' He sighed after a moment of silence.

''Well don't.'' She glared at him. ''I can take care of myself.'' Lucy was a full grown, independent woman. She didn't need the King to worry about her safety.

''Can you?'' He asked aggressively, suddenly stalking towards her until she backed into a wall and he caged her in with his arms. He knew she had potential, but was she willing to tap into that potential and really work for it.

She stared up at him with big doey eyes. Her heart was beating a million miles a minute and her brain couldn't think fast enough to form a reasonable reply.

''Could you even defend yourself right now if I were to force myself upon you?'' He asked soberingly. His breath fanned over her cheeks, causing her to blush bright red. He smelled surprisingly sweet. He was so close to her in such a sexy yet menacing way.

Who said I want to defend myself against you? Lucy thought to herself.

''Maybe.'' She answered sarcastically. A part of her didn't want to worry about this right now. She had a dozen other things to think about.

He pulled away, giving her some much needed space. ''I want you to attend the training academy in addition to your sessions with Mága.''

With enough oxygen again for her brain to function properly She responded sassily, ''I'm not one of your soliders, you can't tell me what to do.'' Then crossed her arms and glowered at him.

''Then do it for yourself.'' He suggested with a shrug of his shoulders.

She gave him a pointed look. What was he trying to get at?

''Why do you care so much?'' She asked him suddenly. She had heard it from everyone else that he liked her, but she needed to hear it from him in order to believe it.

''Because...'' He mumbled, rubbing at his neck as he fumbled for an answer.

''Because?'' Lucy asked.

''Because, I don't know, you stand out. You're different from the other girls.'' He answered anxiously.

''So it's true, you want to marry me?'' She fired at him before even listening to his response.

''Well, I would like to get to know you more before that but one day, yes.'' He answered positively.

''Do I get a say in this marriage proposal?'' She asked a bit more harshly.

''Of course you do, why wouldn't you?'' He asked, slightly confused.

''No reason,'' she shook her head of her previous assumptions, ''I just want to make sure this isn't one of those situations where you demand I marry you before I even have the chance to find out if I like you or not.'' Lucy explained herself quickly.

''You are free to make your own decisions. I have no intention of taking your independence away.'' He replied simply with a bit of a smirk on his face.

''Thank you, I appreciate that.'' She smiled looking away from him. She was slightly embarrassed by her line of questioning. She just wanted simple things in life and it felt like her future had already been determined for her.

''Lucy,'' He said softly, causing her to look up at him, ''I know you are going through a lot right now, I just want you to know that you are not alone.''

After everything Mága had told her earlier this afternoon and now this, Lucy didn't even know where to begin processing from. She was a mage who didn't even know anything about being a mage. Her sister was also a mage doing who knows what, gods know where. If that wasnt enough, she then had to come to terms with the fact that one day, she will have to marry the hunk of a man standing before her.

Unsure of what to say next, she simply decided to step towards him and hug him. It was something that she didn't know she needed until this very moment. She snaked her arms around his waist and at the same time, his came around her shoulders, pulling her in closer. The gesture was sweeted than expected. She buried her head in his chest and for a split moment she felt safe, comfortable, and slightly invincible. She was used to dealing with things on her own and since Mary's disappearance she has felt completely useless and alone. Yet, for some reason, here in his arms, she felt like she could take on the world and do anything. He gave her strength she didn't realize she needed.

''I will go to the academy.'' She finally said, pulling out of his embrace. His eyes lit up and he smiled.

''Would you really?''

''Yes, it is about time I learn to be useful.''

''You were never useless.''

''Whatever you say, but I'm doing this because I want to, not because you do.''

He just smirked. ''I should leave you to be then, you'll need the extra rest, tomorrow is going to be a long day.''

''Yes.'' She nodded in agreement, but also slightly disappointed that he was leaving already.

''Goodnight Lucy.'' He bowed formally for her.

''Goodnight Arthur.'' She curtsied in return. He smiled then let himself out.

Lucy fell back on her bed and sighed. He was too good for her. She couldn't believe it, he seemed to genuinely like her, yet she couldn't seem to understand why. But she wanted to prove to him that she was strong, independent, and smart. Someone worthy of his affections.

Several hours later of still trying to get to sleep, Lucy couldn't stop thinking about Arthur arms around her. She felt so safe there and desperately missed his presence. She wondered how blasphemous it would be to find his bed chamber. She considered it for a moment but then thought better of it. Instead she rolled over again and tried to get any amount of sleep. She let exhaustion set in and finally slipped into a peaceful darkness.