Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews and sorry for such a late update. My muse has gone on a vacation, far, far away from my brain. I don't know what to write. Anyways, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
.:|Silver|:.
Dinner went by relatively smoothly if you ignored Arthur's seductive words to the maids and Alfred trying to ignore it all. All the royals, and Mattie, were seated at a long dinner table with the other court people, engaged in conversation and trying to act normal. Not that it was working. Having a pirate in their midst was anything but normal. Even though Arthur acted normal enough…
Currently, the pirate was watching the others eat, his fingers steepled as he watched each one of them with beady eyes. It was kind of freaking Alfred out, because the pirate's gaze was resting on him. After dinner was finished, and the plates were being taken away, all the people were excusing themselves, bidding each other good night. The young king bade each of the court members goodnight and watched them leave. Soon it was only him, Yao, Arthur and Matthew left, excluding the maids. The Ace excused himself, hugging his brother in farewell before leaving. Yao just watched the Royal Couple before nodding and leaving too. That left Arthur and Alfred together. The teenager tried to think of some way to run away, but found himself unable to speak as the pirate approached him. His Queen paused in front of him, studying him curiously before offering his arm.
"Care to join me on a walk, Your Kingliness?" he asked, just a tinge of sarcasm in his voice. The King flushed. Shouldn't it be the other way round? With the Queen holding his arm? Either way, he didn't want to get on the pirate's bad books (even though he probably already was) and hesitantly took the offered arm, following him outside. They walked silently for some time until the pirate disengaged his arm from the teen's stopping at the top of a small hill. They both looked out, studying the faint flickers of the lanterns in the town. A light breeze blew past, ruffling their hair and making its way away, twisting around the trees. Arthur let a small smile twitch his lips before he turned his gaze to the King beside him.
"You've grown up," he remarked, turning his gaze back to the town. The silhouette of a horse carriage was making its way down a winding path. The younger blond let out a small chuckle.
"I have."
There was a short silence. The pirate broke it.
"Do we have any bodies of water nearby?"
"Yes. Why?"
Arthur gave the other blond a raised eyebrow.
"Awfully curious, aren't you, love? It's none of your business."
"Fine. Follow me." Alfred gave up on getting answers from the green-eyed man and simply led him to the lake. It had been there a long time now. The lake was an old one, and one situated, apparently, at the perfect place to use magic. Alfred had tried spells before, but they never worked for him, so he had no use to go there. Except he and his brother went there for the heck of it. He smiled slightly and stopped when they came near the lake.
Its surface was unbroken and reflected the light of the crescent moon overhead. All the stars and their constellations were reflected perfectly on the water's surface. Beside the king, Arthur nodded appreciatively. He took slow steps towards the water and crouched down near the banks of the lake. He let a finger trail in the water, closing his eyes.
Tamesis…? Tamesis…? He called softly. There was a slight rustle of leaves. Alfred was quietly watching the pirate; watching the way the moonlight glinted off his hair and made it look silver, the way his skin looked paler than before and how very fragile he looked. Vivid green eyes suddenly shot open and a wraithlike figure materialized over the water. It had pale silver hair and its body seemed to be made out of mist. Little drops of water hovered around the figure, making it seem like it had its own stars hovering around it. He was wearing a tunic made from clinging mist and his feet vanished into mist too.
"Arthur…?" asked a soft voice, a voice that sounded like waves against the seashore. The pirate looked up with an emotionless face.
"Greetings, Tamesis," he replied in the Ancient Language of the Deck, Arala. Alfred was surprised to find he could understand it. The spirit let out a rippling laugh before his attention turned to the King. Tamesis studied him for a while before elegantly inclining his head.
"Greetings, Alfred Jones, King of Spades," he said, drifting closer to Arthur. The green-eyed man was standing up now, his eyes hard.
"Leave him alone, Tamesis. I came to tell you I wouldn't be near water for quite some time. Siofra is not in any condition to go anywhere," he explained. There was another silence. Alfred took the tie to study the spirit curiously, noting down the different facts about him so he could write them down later on. Tamesis stopped hovering, gentle feet touching the water's surface and barely leaving a ripple.
"When will you be back?"
"Not for quite some time, I'm afraid. I just wanted to inform you of my absence from the seas."
"Very well. I shall wait for your return. I cannot watch over you though. I cannot fulfill the promise made to your grandfather if you aren't near the sea…"
"I know that. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
The king watched the two converse, in shock about the whole situation. Sure, he'd heard about Arthur Kirkland having a spirit on his side, but he didn't know it was true. He was also struck by how otherworldly Arthur looked at that particular moment. He looked like a spirit himself. He watched them closely and blinked when he heard his name being called. He slowly moved forward, coming to a stop beside the pirate. Tamesis watched him before inclining his head regally.
"A pleasure to meet you, Alfred Jones. A pleasure indeed. You will make sure Arcturus is well?"
"Of course, your majesty," stammered Alfred, trying to remember more words of Arala. Surprisingly, they came to him quickly enough.
"Don't call me majesty, Alfred Jones. I am but a servant to the great king Moruadh… But you will keep Arcturus safe, yes?"
"I doubt he needs my help…"
"Tamesis. Call me Tamesis."
"I doubt he needs my help, Tamesis. He can take care of himself."
"That much is true, yet I want a promise from you… that he will remain unharmed until he returns to the sea…"
"I will try my best…"
"Good. It had better be so, for if I find any blemish on him, I shall destroy your puny palace and give you a slow and torturous death."
With that lovely ending, Tamesis disappeared into mist and vanished, leaving the two Royals alone. Arthur gathered himself and let out a snort, pulling his coat around himself tighter as he began to walk away.
"Coming, Your Kingliness? Or do you want me to send out guards once I get back?" he called, already walking away. Alfred rushed after him.
Brilliant. Another obstacle.
The walk back to the castle was silent. Arthur didn't speak, choosing to walk with silent footsteps and glare around at anything that moved. Which included Alfred. They walked into the castle courtyard and then through the main gates, ingoring the maids. Well, at least Alfred ignored them. The pirate gave them a dismissive growl before he stalked up the stairs. He paused at the top step, looking down at the teen who was starting to climb the steps. The king saw him watching and raised an eyebrow reaching next to him and coming to a stop, looking kind of hopeful,
"Yes captain?" he asked. The pirate smirked.
"Watch out for the fae," he said with a sinister look, disappearing into the room he had commandeered in a flurry of red robed. Alfred trembled. Damn that man wanted him dead!
Well? What do you think? Good? Bad? Okay? Sorry for the late update. Please review ^^
.:|Silver|:.
