Leon knocked on the door with a shaking hand. He turned around as he waited to check his reflection in the mirror. His ginger hair was swept back off his face and he wore his armour with his red cape flowing from his back. He ran his hands through his hair a couple more times just to check it was right.
He didn't notice the door open and a giggling Evelyn standing in the door way as he turned back towards the door she was standing with her arms folded across her chest. She was holding onto her laughter and Leon began to blush slightly, then he began looking at her, her brown hair pinned tightly up with a few loose strands curling down across her face, she wore a lilac dress that hugged her frame and as she looked at him her green eyes made him melt slightly.
"Erm...are you ready...Too..." Leon scratched the back of his head still smiling awkwardly.
"Yes..." Evelyn once again linked her arm with Leon still holding up the train of her dress in her other arm.
"How often do you have celebrations here?"
Leon laughed "we're not all party animals you know..."
"I know...I mean...I" Evelyn pulled her eyes to the floor feeling her cheeks redden.
"Its fine my lady I mean, we used to celebrate alot when the king was well, when the lady...was still here but now...we don't."
Evelyn held an eyebrow "well, I feel special now."
"You are."
Evelyn looked up at the knight who was now wondering if he should've said that or not.
"I mean...I..Err..."
Evelyn giggled "I know, I know..."
She just smiled and for a while she just felt comfortable. "People will ask questions you know Leon."
Leon looked down at the girl curiously. "what do you mean my lady?"
"people will wonder with you...escorting me if we are...you know...courting..."
Leon laughed slightly. "well...we've only met earlier, but of course if you would like to..."
Evelyn felt herself blush "as you said we've only just met... I mean...I'm not saying I wouldn't like to...but ...I'm not sure my father would approve at all..."
Leon nodded "I understand. perhaps we can still be friends" Leon felt a little calmer near her now and Evelyn felt the same. A broader smile came over Evelyn's mouth.
"I would like that alot."
They had now reached the great hall and they paused outside the doors. "You ready?" Leon asked softly.
Evelyn took a breath in and looked up to Leon her arm entwining tighter on his.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
As they walked in they found most eyes on them, all young male eyes on the new lady in court and the ladies eyes on Leon, and King Edmund's eyes glared suspiciously at Leon.
Leon paused at the table that the king sat on and kissed Evelyn's hand "it was a pleasure spending some time with you my lady,"
"And you sir Leon."
Evelyn then walked behind the table and sat at her place beside Arthur. Leon nodded to Arthur and then stopped beside Edmund "it was a pleasure talking to your daughter earlier my lord, you have done a good job raising her, she is I fine woman."
Edmund nodded in agreement. "Yes she is, however she is still just a girl, she has a long way to go yet."
Evelyn heard this and rolled her eyes at her father's protectiveness when he would learn that she could look after herself when it came to personal affairs.
Arthur tilted his head towards the Princess, "that over there is my servant Merlin; if you need anything he will help you"
Evelyn nodded graciously, "thank you." She looked over to where Arthur had been gesturing. Standing on the side the boy looked over to the princess he grinned as he caught her eye.
His black hair was short and cut tidily and his large grin only made Evelyn smile more.
The feast went quickly and Evelyn couldn't remember the last time she had eaten such great foods or had a greater time.
As the eating drew to a close Evelyn sipped her wine and looked over to Leon. He was sitting beside the knights that she had met earlier although their names slipped her mind she defiantly recognized the one with a scruffy beard and longer hair, he was the flirty one and he was talking to a young servant girl who was staring at him with raised eyebrows.
Evelyn wasn't listening when the music started and the prince had to tap her on the shoulder, he held out a hand and offered to dance with her.
Evelyn nodded knowing how it would look if she refused. He took her hand and she held onto his shoulders as they slowly moved across the floor, other couples soon began to join them and Arthur leaned in to talk to the princess.
"you like Leon?"
"he is a fine knight." Arthur looked towards the knight for a millisecond.
"that he is, one of the best I have."
Evelyn knew what was coming and she wanted to avoid it to the best of her abilities. "have you considered allowing anyone here to court you?"
Evelyn raised an eyebrow, this statement was of course widened to include everyone in Camelot but Evelyn knew that he was talking about the red haired knight.
"my father would not allow it."
"why not?"
"I must marry a prince or a duke or a royal. Someone who would make a good leader, someone who could rule my kingdom for me rather than with me or letting me do it."
"is that what you wish to do?"
Evelyn's eyes snapped onto the blue of Arthur's
"no one has ever asked what I wish."
Arthur grinned "I'll take that as a no then. Well...as a royal and as you are in my kingdom I'm going to do you a favour" he grabbed Evelyn's hand and pulled her to the side of the room.
"where-"
Arthur paused in front of Leon, "Leon I insist that you escort Evelyn back to her room when she is ready, and perhaps accompany her now while I talk to her father."
Leon smiled slightly and nodded "it would be my pleasure." He replied and Arthur winked at Evelyn as he walked away.
"you don't have to-"
"it would be an honour my lady if you would dance with me."
Evelyn felt her heart pump faster as Leon pulled her closer to dance even though they moved slowly Evelyn found herself taking deeper breaths she wanted to lean in and kiss Leon but she knew this was to public.
As the song drew to a close Leon grabbed to wine glasses and stood to the side, his back against the wall and himself facing the princess.
"it would be an honour my lady if you would take a ride with me tomorrow, perhaps accompany me on my patrols,"
This had taken a lot of courage from Leon and he smiled nervously as he awaited a reply.
"As I said, my father would not allow it."
"perhaps I can persuade your father it would do you good as an aspiring queen to see how a knights day is spent."
Evelyn felt herself blush and with a small smile she nodded in a reply.
"I suppose if you put it that way."
"excellent I shall approach your father now with the topic" he offered his arm but Evelyn declined she didn't want to arouse suspicions and she decided she should probably talk to arthur's servant.
"I'm going to go talk to Merlin."
Leon nodded and walked over in the direction of Arthur and Edmund.
Evelyn stepped over to the servant holding a pitcher of wine, "hello." She said sweetly and the boy gave her a startled look.
"Oh...er..hi...i'm Merlin you probably shouldn't be talking to me my lady."
"I should. Arthur told me that if I needed anything I should talk to you." Merlin nodded.
"I suppose so then yeah, what do you need?"
"Its not what I need...its more..." Evelyn decided she needed to cut to the chase.
" I need well...help" she looked over to Leon and Merlin's eyes followed he got the message as soon as he saw the knight talking to her father.
"Leon's a nice guy, he would never hurt you or anything."
"oh its not that...i know that its just...no one can know..except you and Arthur..."
Merlin grinned he liked secret relationships, and he loved playing matchmaker.
"In that case, I'll spread rumors that you and leon have grown close but he has asked to court you and you denied...leave that to me."
"thank you Merlin" Evelyn didn't know why she spoke to the servant or why she told him about her and leon, she guessed it was because she was attempting to avoid her father so she left it there.
"thank you Merlin. You're a good man."
"better than most" he snorted "its nice meeting you my lady"
"and you Merlin."