And so, it begins….
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Her eyes haunted him. They always had done and always would do. They haunted him even now in his drunken stupor. Those bright forest green eyes with their flecks of blue and grey. They kept looking at him, showing him everything and yet nothing. She told him the truth and yet lied. She told him everything and then again nothing. Her knew little of her and yet she laid his soul bare. She haunted his dreams, leading him through Camelot, laughing and joking as she took his hand and pulled him away from his duty. She danced in the fields and laughed as he took her in his arms and held her close as they watched the sunset together. Everything was right in the world. Nothing could go wrong.
And yet it could. Arthur woke with a headache but as a general rule he never really suffered from hangovers. He had half expected to find those eyes watching him as they had done the previous morning, but they were not there. It took him a moment or two to realise that she had gone. Left him whilst he was too busy to stop her. He had tried to catch up with her but it had been no use. He had been just a little but out of time and there had been no way to go after her. He needed a magician, and Camelot suffered from a lack of them. Arthur sighed. He'd been betrayed. Alethea had broken two of her promises to him and Merlin had done the complete opposite of what he had been asked to do. Arthur had tried to persuade her to stay and had asked Merlin to do the same, but it had seemed that Merlin had told her to go. Arthur wondered why she had left him now. Had he done something wrong? Or had it not been his own fault?
She'd be home by now, although whether she would remember him or not was another thing completely. Arthur had loved her and yet never told her. He now regretted taking the chance when it had been in front of him. Perhaps if he had said something then she would have stayed, or she would still have gone. Arthur knew he would never find out. The letter was still on the table where he left it. Her script was easy enough to read, just not as elegant as many he had seen before. She had asked to be forgotten, but that was one thing Arthur could not do for her. Looking about the room, trying not to remember her in the room, Arthur found no sign of his armour, nor of any of his servants. How was he supposed to fight without armour?
Going to the door, Arthur shoved his hand in his pocket and felt his fingers clasp around something. Drawing it out, Arthur found the dragon pendant in the palm of his hand. It had been Alethea's and was the only thing that remained of her. Smiling slightly, Arthur put it back in his pocket as a pang of sadness hit his heart. He would never see her again and this, along with her letter, was the only reminder of her. Biting his tongue, Arthur walked down the corridors, seeing ghosts wherever he went. Everywhere he looked she was there. Stood by a window, opening a door, climbing stairs. Arthur knew it was his imagination, after all she was home now, but he wished she was still here with him.
Arriving at his destination, Arthur hesitated for a moment or two before actually knocking on the door. He had shouted at his servant the day before for not following orders. He knew Merlin would not forgive him easily for it. Finding the door unlocked, Arthur walked inside, the stench of herbs and medical potions hitting his nostrils. His armour was on the table and he found Merlin sat beside it, his head in a book. He didn't even move when the Prince walked in, just turned a page. Glancing at the script, Arthur could have sworn that it was Alethea's writing that Merlin was reading, but he didn't have a chance to prove it as the servant shut it suddenly.
"You're late." Arthur stated, as he looked around and felt his gaze rest on the top with the wolf painted onto it. Arthur sighed. It was yet another painful reminder of just what he had lost.
"Sorry sire."
"Help me into my armour. I don't want to be late for the tournament."
"Yes sire."
There was an uneasy silence as servant helped master into his armour. Nothing was said between them as Arthur went to the tournament. Merlin headed to do his job, whilst Arthur wondered if there was anything left worth fighting for. Other than for his father's pride, Arthur reckoned there wasn't.
As the final stage of the tournament began, Arthur watched the first fight. The victor would be fighting him. Sir Sagramore was tall enough, strong but agile and held a good defence whilst his opponent, a Sir Gerard was small and nimble but kept dropping his guard. Arthur could tell straight away who he was to be up against. The arena was filled with more people than ever, all wanting to see who would win the tournament. King Uther had the best seat in the nobles' stand, whilst Morgana and Gwen sat beside him. Hearing metal clash upon metal and the crowd cheer, Arthur knew that now it was his turn. Sir Gerard was carted off by two men towards Gaius for help. He had suffered quite a few nasty blows.
The adrenalin causing his blood to pump around his body quicker than usual, Arthur could hear the crowd cheer him on. The noise echoed in his ears and he took a few deep breaths as he stepped out to meet his opponent. Sir Sagramore wished him luck, and Arthur did the same before they locked swords. The sound of metal rang through the air as both fought for glory and honour. Sweat forming on his brow, Arthur fought with such ferocity and anger that he caught Sagramore off guard. All of his emotions were poured out in this battle, And Arthur's anger for Alethea's disappearance came out in this battle. However, Sir Sagramore soon fought back. As Arthur took a minute to glance around the arena, he swore blind that he saw Alethea. Taking another look, it nearly cost Arthur his life.
Not dropping his guard again, Arthur began to stab and thrust and parry and attack, desperately trying to gain some ground. He had no idea whether his mind was playing tricks on him, but he was certain that if she was real then she had returned for him. He didn't ask himself how. He just knew that he now had a better reason to win. As the sun bore down and both men began to get tired, Arthur found himself disarmed and at the end of a sword tip. the blood rushed to his ears and Arthur knew that Sagramore wouldn't even dare kill Arthur, but he also knew that he had been partaking in a dance of death. Who knew what would happen? The adrenalin kicking in, Arthur felt the small bits of fear begin to set in. He needn't have worried though. The crowd watched with baited breath as Sir Sagramore took a moment to take in his victory. Arthur smiled slightly and got to his feet, disarming and knocking out his opponent in the space of seconds. The crowd cheered. The Prince had done it again.
Receiving his prize of a bag of gold coins, Arthur smiled, thanked his father and then headed off through the crowd. He needed to make sure that she was really here. His heart leapt as he caught sight of a red gown and he followed it through the town, certain that it was her. Everything was right from the behind. Her hair, her figure, everything. She seemed to quicken her pace but Arthur matched it, eventually grabbing her wrist and stopping her, ready to tell her his feelings for her. It was just as well that he didn't launch straight into a her around, he discovered that it wasn't her. Disheartened and certain that he had lost her, the Prince went to his chambers to get out of his armour and bathe before the feast that night.
His chambers were as he had left them, his bed unmade and things thrown everywhere. It would seem that none of the servants had actually bothered to come and do their job today. Apparently they had been too busy doing other things. Sighing, Arthur found a tub filled with water in front of the fire. Testing the water and finding it to be just right, he stripped off and climbed in. Savouring the warmth and the cleanliness, all of the dirt and troubles were washed away at the same time. Washing his hair, Arthur wondered just how he was going to settle his mind. How would he find Alethea without scaring her away? That was the question. Finally, as the water turned cold, Arthur dragged himself from the tub and dressed for the banquet. Perhaps he would find Alethea there.
The feast was a large affair and everywhere he went, Arthur was congratulated on his victory. He received many pats on the back that night and everyone had cheered when he had entered the hall. Now he was swarmed by all of the knights who had fought well but simply hadn't been good enough to win. Over the following hours, many toasts were made to him and Arthur was shown off by his felt good to have made his father proud, and for once it would stop the criticisms for a few days. Merlin was nowhere to be seen, no doubt having his nose still in that book, whilst Morgana kept near him, trying to comfort him. Arthur didn't need comforting though. He had seen Alethea. She had returned. She was back, and he had a second chance to tell her( although strictly speaking it would be his fourth, but who's counting?) This time he would take it and tell her.
As the night wore on, Arthur headed out onto the balcony, gazing at the night sky over the kingdom that would one day be his, wondering just where exactly Alethea was hiding. Was she staring at the same sky in Camelot? And if she was, then why was she hiding from him anyway? Was it that she feared his wrath? Did she think he would be angry at her betrayal? Well, he was slightly angry at her broken promises, but he could forgive her. The next time he saw her, Arthur would be anything but angry. In fact, he would take her in his arms and tell her that he loved her and try and persuade her to stay for good, although the chances of that happening was like having a month of Sundays. Nigh on impossible, but it would be worth a try.
Going to his chambers that night, feeling much happier, Arthur fell asleep and dreamed of happier times spent with Alethea, enjoying a good nights sleep and waking with a smile on his lips. Today was a new day. A good day for Arthur was to go and find Alethea. This time he would be taking no chances. This time he would tell her everything before she even had chance to say sorry. He didn't even care to think of how she had come back if it required magic, nor did he care to wonder what or who exactly she had come back for. He just wanted her. He need to see her.
Getting ready for the day ahead, Arthur skipped breakfast and immediately headed out into the town. Happy for once in a long time, Arthur had a spring to his step. He was a man on a mission and he would succeed. The sun shone down over Camelot and Arthur smiled. Suddenly life seemed a whole lot brighter.
