18. Hopeless

''Come here often?'' Arthur asked out of no where.

Lucy turned around suddenly to face him. She was slightly startled by his presence. ''Recently? Yes, actually.'' She laughed to herself. This was the second time in a matter of a week she had been to this spot.

''I like the view up here. You can see the whole city from here.'' She glanced at him as he came up beside her.

''The view is quite beautiful.'' Arthur agreed, looking at Lucy the whole time.

''Yes, and so was the silence. What can I do for you sir?'' Lucy asked. A moment to herself, thats all she wanted. Was that too much?

''I don't want you out here alone, the Saxons have been seen around, uninvited.'' Arthur explained.

''Are we ever going to find my sister?'' Lucy turned to him and asked. She was beginning to feel hopeless.

''I'm sorry dear, but it seems like your sister doesn't want to be found.'' Arthur sighed, being the bearer of bad news.

''I just want to know that she is alright, you know?'' Lucy also sighed. She felt so many things going wrong, she wondered if anything was meant to go right.

''Come, let us go back to the castle, then I will escort you to the Academy. Don't want you skipping lessons now, would we?'' He said with a hint of sarcasm.

She smiled back at him, glad that he was here with her. ''That would be lovely, thank you.''

They rode together back to the stable in silence. It was a natural silence, one where it didn't feel uncomfortable. It was what Lucy was looking for all day, for someone to just be there for her, not because she needed them, but because they wanted to. When they arrived Rowan took their horses, then Arthur led them back inside to grab something to eat quick.

Lucy noticed as they walked through the castle everyone stared, but not at him. No, much worse, they stared at her. The King walked beside her as if she were his equal, his queen. They walked evenly, their pace matched perfectly. It was a sign of respect that he walked together with her instead of a step ahead of her, and everyone recognized the importance of that.

''Good afternoon your Majesty, Miss Lucy.'' Beatrice greeted them when they entered the kitchen.

''Fetch the lady something to eat.'' Arthur commanded and the cook immediately went to work. A few short minutes later Deborah returned with a basket full of goodies.

''Thank you,'' Lucy smiled, ''but I hardly think all of that is nescessary,'' she said, looking the basket full of meats, cheeses, and fruits that most people wouldn't see in a lifetime.

''We have plenty, I assure you its fine.'' Arthur laughed, stealing a grape from the basket.

Lucy stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest, ''It's far from fine. Just because you can afford an abundant amount of forgien delicacies doesnt mean you should flaunt it. Deborah would you please just make me a simple sandwich.''

''Yes dear.'' The plump lady nodded then went to work.

Arthur stepped closer to her, intrigued by her out burst. ''Is a man not allowed to do something nice for a lady?'' He asked with a hint of confusion and his head cocked to the side.

''A man should do something a lady would appreciate, not something so heinous that would have everyone talking.'' Lucy retorted.

''Over some food?'' He asked, baffled.

''Especially over some food. If I brought that basket into the Academy I'd be kicked to the curb in a heartbeat.''

''Sargeant Edwards wouldn't do that to you, besides I should have sent you to George in the first place.'' Arthur rambled, barely paying any attention to Lucy's reaction.

''No Arthur, I don't think you get it. I don't want to be showered in gifts and riches. I don't want the special treatment. I want to earn this on my own.'' She said, shaking her head, Stepping further away from him. ''I think I should go.'' She apologized and dashed out the door towards the Academy.

The remainder of the afternoon went as expected. She arrived, performed a solid hour of physical training, then studied survival skills until they were released at dusk. She kept mostly to herself, but she felt the stares on her back. It wasn't until she began to leave that someone finally stopped her to talk.

''So its true, you're the girl that King Arthur enrolled?'' Asked a tall boy with long brown hair. He was one of the smarter boys of the class, who apparently had a bone to pick.

''Excuse me?'' Lucy asked, sure that she had misheard him.

''Is he not brave enough to protect you that you have to do it yourself?" He asked, puffing out his chest.

Lucy cocked her head to the side and studied him for a moment. Did she really want to enter this conversation?

''I think you're mistaken.'' Lucy said simply.

''You got something to say? Say it!" He growled at her.

She squinted her eyes at him, and glared.

''No, but I feel like you do. I don't owe you an explanation for anything.'' She explained.

''Why can't you just answer the question?'' He growled and continued glared back, but also slightly taken aback by the lack of affect he had on her. He felt challenged by her and he didn't like it.

''Well, maybe I would if you had asked me nicely as to why I was attending the Academy and I would have considered it more.'' She answered and he glared at her more.

''Fine, then. Why are you at the Academy?'' He asked hesitantly.

''That is hardly asking nicely.'' Lucy laughed and shook her head at the boy. ''But I am here to learn, become stronger. I need to find my sister and I sick of being helpless in her search.''

''So the King didn't get you in here?'' He asked, pointing to the building they had just exited.

''I hardly think that's relevant,'' Arthur answered suddenly, throwing his arm over the boy's shoulder, ''what's your name kid?'' He asked, charming as ever.

''Tarin.'' The mouthy kid answered rather awestruck.

''Well Tarin, it's time for you to be getting home now, don't you agree?'' Arthur asked, leading the boy away.

''Hey, leave him alone. He didn't do anything wrong.'' Lucy said in attempt to defend the boy.

Arthur gave the kid a look that said 'choose wisely'. Tarin nodded, waved goodbye to Lucy, then ran off towards home.

''What was that for?'' Lucy inquired with slight annoyance.

''What?'' Arthur shrugged his shoulders with a half smirk on his face.

''Why'd you scare him off? I was talking to him.'' She glared at him.

Arthur smiled back at her. ''He's not important, and we have a conversation to finish.''