Waiting for Him
I said my good-byes to the king and my fiancé, I was going back home for a few months. The talks had finished and Ealdor was still in the dark on two subjects. My engagement and that magic was still banned to merchants in Camelot. I needed to be with my people. Arthur, to my great displeasure, wasn't coming with me, he had to stay and attend to his people. He pulled me aside and leaned in to whisper, "I promise that I will think about you every second you are gone."
"I love you too Arthur," I said chuckling at his romantic side. I had to admit, it was creative. I mounted up and rode to a town just a few leagues away from Ealdor. It had started to get dark so we decided that since the moon was full that we could keep going. When we reached Ealdor it was late at night and not even my mother was awake.
I walked the familiar route to my rooms. They are practically identical to the ones Arthur had picked out for me at Camelot. I changed into my nightclothes and crawled into my bed closing the curtains on all sides of me. My usual dreams of things that I hope will never come to pass were replaced by snippets of memory of the love that I left behind, of Arthur. His blonde hair, his shimmering blue eyes that were as deep as any ocean, and everything about him, the way he talked, his smile, everything.
I woke up and was disappointed that Arthur was the one waking me up or that I wouldn't see him. I sighed and went to dress. I started to look for Gwen but then I remembered that she too was still in Camelot. I sighed again, this was going to be different and hard. I had to deal without the people that I had become familiar with.
My mother embraced me when I walked into the throne room. "Hello Mum," I said wrapping my arms around her. Her familiar scent engulfed me, the scent of springtime and flowers.
"Merlin, you must tell me everything!" my mother trilled happily. "But first, we must welcome the ambassadors from the Druid people." I perked up at the mention of the Druids. The image of Mordred's tears at my departure flashed through my mind. I sat in my mother's throne and Mother sat in Father's. The Druids bowed before us and I looked through the semi-large crowd of them for one small brown head of wavy hair. I spotted his eyes peeking out of a gap in the crowd.
"Lady Emrys!" he yelled and running toward me. I met him halfway and he threw his arms around my neck. I picked him up and held him as close as possible without suffocating him.
"Mordred, I'm so sorry that I put you to sleep I didn't think you would let go if I hadn't," I whispered in his ear. He just nodded and nuzzled my shoulder. My mother cleared her throat behind us so I set Mordred down and he wouldn't let go of my hand. I sat back in my spot and Mordred stood respectively behind me hand clutching onto mine.
"Hello Lady Emrys, Queen Hunith. We are an ensemble of the people that the Druids have chosen to beseech the rulers of these lands for assistance.
Lately King Uther of Camelot has decided that the Druids are to be exterminated now. We being the peaceful people you know we are need some kind of protection. We know that will mean war between Camelot and Ealdor but we need to move our people where they will be safe," a Druid man said. I stared at the floor. I didn't want to think about war, it made me sick to my stomach.
"I will have to think about it but until Mer-Emrys and I discuss it you will stay here in the castle. Marie will take you to accommodations," my mother said waving toward a young maid. She eyed Mordred and I gave him a light kiss on the forehead and told him to go and that I'd see him soon.
"What was that?" my mother asked shrilly.
"When I went to the Druid camp I met him and I grew fond of the boy. It seems that he grew fond of me also."
"Merlin, what have I told you about that? You are the future queen! I've told you that those feelings are trouble!" she scolded me like she had many other times. "You're going to get your heart broken."
"I know but I couldn't help it," I whispered. She touched my shoulder and dismissed me. I ran to catch up with the Druids but Mordred was waiting for me outside the doors.
"I'm sorry that I got you in trouble with your mother," he said softly. He held onto my hand again as we walked around not really knowing where we were going. I shrugged. "I'm sorry that I gave you trouble when you had to go back to the young Pendragon. I didn't want you to go, I wanted you stay with me."
I listened carefully to what this little nine year-old was telling me. He had wanted me to stay with him. It was endearing. "It's alright Mordred, I wanted you to come with me so that I could be with you and Arthur at the same time," I said and then sighed, "but magic is outlawed in Camelot and I was afraid that you would be arrested."
"Lady Emrys, I don't think you understand. I love you," Mordred said stopping. I looked at him to see if I had heard him wrong. I hadn't.
"Mordred, you're still young, I'm not sure that you truly know what love is. Besides, I'm too old for you and I'm marrying Arthur."
"I know, I just wanted to tell you. I know the young Pendragon is your destiny, not me," he said the last part sullenly.
"That doesn't mean that you'll never find anyone. Your first love won't be your last or greatest, that's what my father said," I said trying to comfort the young Druid.
"Arthur wasn't your first love?" Mordred asked becoming more like the child he is.
"Actually no, it was a knight's son. His name is Will, he decided not to become a knight when his father was killed so my father commanded that I never be with him. So I was a good daughter and told him that. It hurt for a while but then I met someone else, Arthur." I smiled at the thought of Will. He was still my best mate.
"Oh, are you still friends with Will?"
"Yes, he's my best friend."
"So now that I've accepted that I can't be with you does that mean that you're my best friend?" he asked scrunching up his eyebrows.
"If you want me to." I said smiling. He smiled back at me and looked around.
"The castle is bigger than I thought," Mordred said looking outside the window. "Is that a garden?"
"Yes it is. Would you like to see it?" I asked trying not to laugh at Mordred's excitement.
"Please!" he asked his face brightening. I waved him to go and he shot off to explore. I walked around and he jumped out of a tree landing in front of me. I was so surprised that a little spark of magic rippled through the air. He was pushed back a few feet and looked as surprised as I did.
"That's new," I said looking around. Then I relaxed, I was in Ealdor not Camelot. Oh great, another thing I'd have to get used to, magic. "I'm sorry Mordred, you startled me."
"I was climbing to get you these," he said handing me a red rose and an apple.
"Thank you," I said smiling despite of myself. He was such a sweet boy. He walked with me and we kept a nice silence between us. A guard came up and bowed.
"Princess, young sir, your mother sent me to tell you that dinner will be ready soon and you should get ready," he said eyeing Mordred.
"I will if you see to it that young Master Mordred gets back to his people." the guard nodded and I headed off in the direction of my chambers. I dressed and headed to the banquet hall. Our guests were all in their green clothes. I greeted them all with a smile and welcome. They smiled back and when my mother greeted them they replied curtly and clipped.
"is something wrong?" Mother asked their leader.
"They believe that Emrys should be on the throne is all. It is nothing against you Queen Hunith," he replied nicely. Mother shot me a withering glance and I sat in my place next to Mordred. The meal went well after that and when the night was through I was happy to see Mordred was alright and happy but I cried myself to sleep.
I missed Arthur, I missed Gwen, I missed Camelot as a whole. The next day I was on autopilot with the announcement of my engagement and every duty. I was only myself with Mordred because he understood.
The months away were a blur of dull royal life that mimicked the day before it. It passed quickly and when it was time to go back to Camelot I couldn't sleep.