Drea
The next evening Merlin came in and told me that King Arthur wanted to see me and Percival in his private chambers. I wondered what the King wanted. Hopefully there were no problems.
"Percival, could you please wait outside for a few minutes? I would like to speak to Drea privately," the King said when we entered. Percival looked a little surprised, but he did not seem worried when he walked back out. So I tried not to be either.
"Please sit down, Drea," the King said with a polite smile and gesture.
I sat down nervously on the edge of the chair that he had indicated. He sat down on the other side of the desk, across from me.
"So, Drea," he began. "I owe you a very big apology."
"What do you mean, Sire?" I asked, frowning in surprise.
"Four years ago you came here to Camelot to seek refuge. Bravely you stood up before the council and myself to give testimony of what you had seen and suffered. Your effort greatly assisted me and my men finding and destroying the Dorocha.
"But then I let you down. You put your trust in me, but all you got as thanks was four years of living in usurpation, loneliness and fear."
King Arthur looked me sombrely in the eye while he spoke.
"But Sire, that was - "
" - Not my fault?" The King raised his eyebrows meaningfully. "Drea, the Camelot I hope to be King of, is a place where all people get to feel safe, to feel respected and appreciated, no matter their station, their age, gender or circumstances. But if people like Elvin and Gertie could get away with mistreating you the way they did, it's only proof that I was not so close to reaching that goal as I thought. I have been naïve and careless and because of that, you have suffered. I only wish I could change the way things happened, give you back the months and years that were taken from you. Please forgive me."
He paused, still looking at me. There was a genuine look of guilt in his eyes. I realised that beneath it all, he was just another person. One who had thoughts and feelings and struggles like everybody else. Still, the situation had a strange upside-down feeling to it.
"I … I forgive you, Sire."
"Thank you, Drea. Still, I am determined to try and make it up to you, which is why I now adopt you as my warden. From this day forward you belong to the house of Pendragon with the same rights and privileges as if you had been born within it. As if you had been my own sister."
"But Sire … That's … I can't … " I was greatly startled. I was a poor girl from Clunsdale. How could I ever be a Pendragon, a royal? It just wasn't possible.
"Here is the document to prove it. It's yours to keep."
He handed me a very formal looking piece of parchment. I took it, but didn't read it. I just stared at him.
"Don't worry, Drea. I would never force you to live a noblewoman's life if you didn't want to. The meaning of this is, for one, that you lost your family and I would like to offer what I can in way of a replacement. I feel like I owe you that. You will always have a home here in Camelot, and no matter what kind of trouble you should find yourself in, you can always count on my help. That's my word of honour." He paused for a while to let me take in what he was saying. "Secondly, there is a more private perspective which you should take into consideration. I don't want marrying Percival to be your only option. Marrying for love is a far better thing than marrying for comfort."
"Oh … " I could see what he meant. Marrying Percival had in fact been my only option, even though I had not thought of it that way myself. If I had not loved him, it would have been another matter. "Thank you, Sire. But all the same, I still want to marry Percival. I love him so much that I could not bear to live without him."
I could hardly believe I had spoken so openly in front of the King. Maybe it was because I was in love. People say that makes you do strange things. But I think it was also because of King Arthur's humble conduct. I thought he was truly a remarkable King, even though I had never met any other Kings to compare him with.
"Good," he said, sounding satisfied. "There is also another matter we need to set straight. I have been informed that only one and a half month was left of your apprenticeship as a basket maker. Is that correct?"
"Yes, Sire."
"Under normal circumstances you would have to fulfil your apprenticeship to completion in order to receive your letter of mastery. But as I have received numerous witness' accounts that you not only know how to make baskets of the finest quality but also is capable of running a workshop, I see no reason why you should not receive your letter now. Here," he said, handing me another parchment. "You may call yourself a fully authorised basket maker. Of course it's up to you whether you would like to set up business or not."
"Thank you, sire."
"Oh, and here are the wages you were cheated for," he said, producing a bulging pouch that clinked dully when he set it on the table before me. "Your mistress has not paid all of it yet, but here is the full amount in advance. You need not think further about it. I suppose you will need a little extra savings when you are married, even though of course, as my warden, you will be granted a befitting dowry."
I gave up on trying to find words. It was too much. My whole world was upside-down now, not just the situation.
"Is it time we asked Percival to come back inside?" King Arthur asked after a little while where I just sat there, staring, completely dumbstruck.
"Yes, Sire." He rose from his seat to go to the door. "Well, one thing, Sire," I finally put in and he stopped. "Thank you. For everything. Thank you very much."
"Thank Guinevere when you see her. It was her idea. And please, call me Arthur. Not 'Sire'."
"Yes, Si- I mean … Arthur." It felt completely wrong to address him so informally. But I was a Pendragon now, a noble. Though I would probably never get used to that idea. I certainly did not have any wish of living like a noble.
Thrilled, Arthur and I told Percival all of the good news when he came in. He was just as surprised and grateful as I was. "I never thought I'd marry a royal warden," he grinned, looking at the document Arthur had presented me with.
"Guinevere and I would be honoured if you would hold the ceremony as well as the celebrations here in the castle," the King said.
"We would like that," Percival said, casting a side glance at me. I nodded. Then we agreed on a date and Arthur said Guinevere would speak to us about all the other particulars, because planning a wedding was not exactly his own forte.
Walking back to Gaius and Merlin, we spoke excitedly about our future prospects.
"With both of our savings, and your dowry, we will not need a thing, Drea," Percival said. "We can buy a house in the town. A really good one. I'll start looking tomorrow if you want! Then you can move in there as soon as possible."
"That would be wonderful, Percival."
When we were back outside Gaius' door, he took leave of me with another kiss; one that was a little longer and bolder than the last. It positively made my head spin.
