17. Gossipy Wenches

Not long after Arthur left, Lucy too emerged from the bed chambers dressed in her newly awarded pants and tunic. Today would be much like the previous, eating breakfast, meeting with Mága to study, then going to the Academy for the remainder of the afternoon.

''Pardon me, Miss Lucy but why did King Arthur just exit your room?'' Bea asked kindly. Lucy threw a quick glare at her for saying 'miss', and Bea looked away tentatively.

''I believe the real question is when last night did the King enter my room.'' Lucy replied without further explanation, leaving Bea with a dumbfounded expression.

Lucy had no time stop and converse and instead headed directly to the dinner hall to eat before meeting with Mága for her daily lesson. Beatrice followed behind her quickly, desperate for any gossip about the irresistible King.

''Well?!" Bea asked persistently.

''Well what? Nothing happened.'' Lucy shrugged her shoulders taking her seat at the table as breakfast was being served. As usual, Arthur and his knights were never at the table, leaving Lucy with the company of the women of the castle. Gossipy wenches.

''Something must have happened.'' Bea insisted, she wouldn't let Lucy get away without revealing at least one juicy detail.

''What happened?'' Maggie asked curiously, joining the intriguing conversation.

''The King was in Lucy's room this morning.'' Bea revealed without the slightest hesitation.

Maggie looked surprised but smiled anyway, ''That is quite an interesting development.''

''Indeed.'' Bea agreed with her.

''It would be, if anything actually happened, but all that we did was sleep.'' Lucy sighed at the gossipy women.

''You're telling us you haven't even kissed yet?'' Maggie asked, even more fascinated.

''Even if we did, a simple kiss hardly counts as something.'' Lucy rolled her eyes.

''To me it does!" Bea near yelled.

''So have you then?'' Maggie asked curiously.

''Well,'' Lucy looked away. It wasn't a big deal that he had nearly made her heart explode with joy when he kissed her this morning; twice, none the less. He did it so naturally, she didn't even have time to consider it. It was simply perfect, something she could get used to waking up to every morning.

''You did!?'' Bea called her bluff. ''I knew something happened!'' She cheered, proud of her 'prediction'.

''It's not important.'' Lucy heaved a heavy sigh. She didnt want to talk about it yet. Talking about it made it real, which was something Lucy wasn't ready to accept yet.

''I won't ask anymore, but I am so happy for you! You're so humble, no wonder he likes you,'' Beatrice smiled brightly at Lucy, in a very friendly manner.

''I, too am happy for you, and Arthur. I hear he gets everything he wants.'' Maggie sneered cunningly. It wasn't fair that she had been here the entire time, as a representative of the people, and he brings in a seamstress and has suddenly found love. It was pathetic and unbelievable.

''He can't just claim me because he wants too. If I choose to be with him, it's because I want to, not because he demands it. He came to my room last night, not the other way around. But you know what, I get it. I don't belong. Please I beg you, take your complaint up with the King.'' Lucy glared at Maggie. How dare she attack her integrity? Lucy wasn't hungry anymore, and decided a few extra minutes in the library would do her some good.

As she got up from the table, Maggie spoke, ''It makes sense now, I must be too much woman for him if he takes you to bed.'' She spouted, looking at Lucy's dull gray mens clothes that she had received from the Academy.

It took all the strength Lucy had not to say or do something she would regret. She simply dismissed herself from the table and happily went to the library, alone. She couldn't believe the nice happy woman she met the first day here had completely turned on her. She never had enemies before, especially like this.

The library had provided her with solace and comfort. It was a grand place, yet still felt cozy, even without the fireplace lit. Every book was a story waiting to be relived. Lucy stared at the shelves full of lives, wondering if her story would one day exist there too. What once felt like a boring meaningless life was now full of purpose, mystery, and possibility. It was almost overwhelming, how much had changed so quickly.

She didn't get as much time as she would have liked to think as Mága entered the library in a hurry. The fireplace suddenly lit, and Lucy could feel the energy radiating from Mága in the form of an aura.

''Is everything okay?'' Lucy asked.

''No, I must return home immediately. I am sorry. I must postpone our meetings until further notice.'' Mága said gruffly. She seemed mad about something, Lucy could feel the tenseness coming off her in waves.

''Oh. Is it anything you want to talk about?'' Lucy asked.

''Not really, if you don't mind, I must be going.'' Mága sighed impatiently.

''Before you go, I wanted to ask you something.'' Lucy stopped her quickly.

''Yes?'' She rolled her eyes.

''Have you ever dream walked before?'' Lucy inquired.

''What do you mean?'' Mága looked confused. It was something she hadn't thought about in a long time.

''Like have you ever entered someone else's dreams and like talked to them?'' Lucy tried to explain her experience from the previous night.

''No, it's not possible.'' Mága dismissed. It had been rumored about but she hadn't met anyone who had really honed the skill.

''So no mage has possessed that power before? No one has ever astrally projected themselves?'' Lucy asked, remembering the term she had been told in her dream.

''Where did you learn that term?'' Mága asked skeptically, she knew she hadn't said it to Lucy before.

''Unfortunately, I don't think you'll believe me.'' Lucy sighed. What was thd point of even telling her if she wouldn't believe her?

''Where? Tell me.'' Mága insisted on knowing.

''In a dream, I visited one of my mom's sisters. The last remaining Oracle Sister.'' Lucy answered hesitantly, slightly worried Mága wouldn't believe her.

''Which one?'' Mága asked curiously. After the sister's split up nobody really knows what happened to them.

''I don't know, I didn't ask.'' Lucy suddenly realized. She also began to wonder, how much did she really know about her mom? She was determined to learn more, with or without Mága's help.

"Lucy, I don't have time for this. I will be back in a week or so, can we talk more about this then?" She asked impatiently.

"I'll be here." Lucy smiled falsely. Everyone today just seemed to be getting under her skin in one way or another.

Mága didn't spare her another moment and left as quickly as she came. Lucy was rather thankful, as she desperately wanted a quiet moment to herself. The castle felt confining though, as if her freedom could be interrupted at any moment. She was already in her new trousers that horse riding seemed even more appealing. Lucy resolved in that moment that pants were much better than long skirts, and she would make herself some for regular wear and we more fashionable.

Eager to breathe some fresh air, Lucy scurried to the stables. Upon arrival Rowan greeted her with a delighted smile.

"Mornin' lass, what can I do for ya this fine mornin'?" he asked, accent thick in his voice.

"I would like a horse please. Abel if he is available." Lucy replied with a pleasant smile. Rowan was a nice boy, and that was a relief compared to the string of women that had so far occupied her day.

"I must apologize miss, for our majesty has Abel out currently." Rowan informed the eager girl.

"And Cain?" She asked.

"With Sir Bedeivere." He answered sympathetically. She frowned a little, would any horse be available, she worried.

"Then whatever is available is fine." Lucy replied with a shrug. It really didn't matter to her as long as she could get away for a little while.

Rowan returned a short time later with a soft coal and white speckled mare, with a silver mane, already saddled and ready to ride. "This is Blizzard. She doesn't go riding much anymore, but I think she will be a great match for you." Rowan reassured Lucy, handing her the reins. She looked over the horse admiring her beauty.

"You say that as if she would be my own personal horse." Lucy laughed.

"Well, actually she would be. She needs a rider, and you need a horse. What more could you need?" Rowan asked, a little confused.

"I guess, I just didn't expect such a courtesy." Lucy sighed. She didn't want special attention because of her rumored relationship with Arthur.

"Well of course m'lady! You will soon be the King's betrothed, right?" Rowan asked curiously.

"Where did you hear such a thing?" Lucy asked, trying not to be offended by the curious boy.

"Why, our majesty of course. He and Sir Bedeivere were talking about the future of Great Britian." Rowan answered.

"Well, I am not betrothed to anyone, nor do I deserve special treatment if I were." Lucy explained. This was exactly why she didn't want to get involved in the first place. The responsibility felt too great.

"Right." Rowan agreed. Lucy smiled at him and lead the horse out of the stable before mounting the beautiful mare and riding off. Rowan wished her a good day as she rode away from him.

She rode up to the cliff side to where Mága took her to enjoy the peace and quiet. She needed time away from everyone, she could barely hear her own thoughts anymore. She had felt the never ending drama already weighing on her. Every conversation brought her more grief and hardship. She kind of wanted to go back to her quiet boring life, before she met Arthur and her sister disappeared. She didn't want the rumors, the heart ache, or the drama that came with jealous women and people of status and royalty.

She didn't deserve these powers or this attention. she was a nobody. A terrible sister. An orphan that didn't no a lick about her heritage and ancestry. She really didn't even know herself anymore. If her doubts weren't present before they surely had begun to weigh on her now. The pressure was real to be this perfect person, to know what she was doing, and who she was meant to be, but she didn't. She felt like a fish out of water, fumbling through the day pretending that this all made sense and that it was obvious who she was.

She prayed to no deity in particular to have someone watch over her and give her strength. To grace her with confidence and the ability to be brave enough to face any task that presents itself in her way. She knew this would be her life for a while, but she needed the courage to do this. She needed to be smarter and stronger in order to find her sister and bring her home.

Author's Note:

So I'm a day late :( (and a dollar short - as the saying goes), but I didn't want to give you something half finished when I could give you a better full chapter just a little later than planned. I really did try to stay up and get it done but I was exhausted. This came out to about 2000 words, so yeah, longer than usual. Got some great things coming! It was a long week though, I'm glad its finally the weekend.

Now how bout that chapter? Haha!