A/n: Llacheu and Thomas are 13, Gwendolyn and Cordelia are 10, Elliot will be 12
Llacheu sighed as he sat in Sir. Richard's chamber listening to him drone on and on.
Llacheu hated sitting in Sir. Richard's old and dusty room while being lectured, it was the most boring thing ever.
He began to envy Thomas, whose educator was Merlin. He would even take Lady Sophia over him.
She taught Esmeralda in a big open room with a huge window so she at least got sunlight, while Merlin often taught Thomas outside.
But could he be exposed to such luxury- no- he had to sit in a chamber with no windows with the most boring man alive.
"Am I boring you, Llacheu?" Sir. Richard asked glaring.
Yes, Llacheu wanted to say, but he held his tongue.
Last time he 'disrespected' Sir. Richard, he told his mother.
Llacheu was then dragged into his parent's chamber by his mother.
His father was sitting at the table when he was dragged in, but he thought better than to say anything because of how red Guinevere was.
She then gave him a lecture of how lucky he was to get an education while many people weren't so fortunate.
"Tell him Arthur." Gwen said to Arthur who was looking on from his table.
"Yes, yes, your mother is right." Arthur agreed half-heartedly but mouthed 'sorry' when Gwen turned her back.
Later he had to help a stable boy clean up after the horses. It was horrible.
"No sir." Llacheu lied.
Keeping his glare Sir. Richard stood uo, "Let's go." He simply said.
"Pardon?" Llacheu asked.
"We're going to the library." He said.
"And then he got donkey ears and to hide in his room the entire day." Merlin laughed out as Thomas doubled over in laughter, his face turning red.
"Your joking." He stuttered out through fits of laughter.
"I'm not" Merlin promised as he watched Thomas laughing, his blue eyes sparkled as he looked up.
"What happened next?" Thomas asked.
Merlin began laughing harder this time, "H-he" Merlin tried to be speak but he was laughing to hard.
That's when the door swung open revealing Arthur, this caused Thomas and Merlin to abruptly stop laughing.
Merlin cleared his throat, "Sire" he said his voice deep from the exhaustion of laughing so hard.
Arthur eyed the two suspiciously, "What 's so funny?" He asked.
"Nothing" they answered at the same time.
Arthur narrowed his eyes before walking further into the room and looking around.
"Can I help you, my lord?" Merlin asked.
Arthur looked to Merlin distractedly while picking up one of his books and skimming through it then lazily putting it back, "Yes you can Merlin, you can too Thomas."
"What is it?" Merlin asked warily.
"I need a book about flowers." He said.
"Flowers?" Merlin asked.
"I didn't stutter Merlin, did I?" Arthur said while picking up another book.
"What do you need flowers for?" Merlin asked.
Arthur snapped close another book he picked up before turning to Merlin and Thomas before smiling.
"I plan to start a garden for Guinevere and Gwendolyn." He said.
Merlin snorted, "What did you do this time?"
Arthur glared before moving a gloved hand to touch Excalibur while moving his brown leather trench coat behind him a little, "Merlin" Arthur said calmly.
"Shut up." Merlin finished for him.
Arthur gave a tight smile, "Good, now I'll leave you two to finish your studies." He said nodding while looking to his son then Merlin.
Esmeralda stood barefoot in her classroom in a dress that barely covered her knees as Lady Sophia inspected her thoroughly.
"Point your toes." She sharply reminded Esmeralda.
Esmeralda did as told trying her best not to sigh. It was 'un-lady like'.
"When does harvest start?" Lady Sophia questioned. "Shoulders" she said as Esmeralda tried to relax.
"Autumn, madam." Gwendolyn answered.
"Why?"
"It has the most rain, therefore its good for crops to grow, madam."
Lady Sophia nodded her blonde head in approval before letting her green eyes linger on Gwennie a moment, trying to determine if she should be finished for the day.
"You may relax now, tomorrow when we see each other we'll be going to the library, is that understood?" Lady Sophia said.
"Yes madam." Esmeralda said.
"You may go, I'll be sure to tell your parents you've done an excellent job today."
Gwennie curtsied like a perfect lady, "Thank you, madam." She said looking up before smiling.
Lady Sophia gave her a pointed look before nodding, "Class is over." She said before smiling.
Esmeralda giggled before picking up her shoes then running out the classroom and down the corridors giggling.
Servants holding laundry baskets and trays smiled as their princess ran by them as she usually does when her time with Lady Sophia was up.
Nobles she passed by just shook their head in good nature.
"Afternoon princess." Some people greeted her and she gave a quick answer back as she kept running down the corridors laughing.
But when she finally got to where she was running to she stopped running and tip-toed in.
The library.
She made her way past Geoffrey's desk quietly so she wouldn't wake the old man.
But when she saw Llacheu sitting at a table with his hands on either side of his face as he looked at a book as if he were in pain, she couldn't help but giggle.
His hazel eyes shot up and he visibly relaxed when he saw it was just her.
"You're out of class so soon?" He asked looking at the hourglass on the table in front of him wishing it'll go faster.
"I am, but don't look so troubled reading can be enjoyable." She tried to reason while sitting next to him.
Llacheu looked at her and snorted, "In what world?" He asked.
She just shrugged, "You've got to find something you like." She said before standing up.
"I'll help you look if you'd like."
Llacheu didn't have to think about, reading about the anatomy of flowers were boring.
He got up and followed his sister. "What do you want to read?" She asked him walking down aisles of books.
"Something useful, like documented politics or bestiaries or the history of Camelot." He rambled.
Esmeralda stopped before looking at a book that caught her eye, she slipped on her shoes before reaching up to get it. But when she did the shelves moved revealing a hidden room.
Gwen stood in her chambers looking out the window down at the courtyard.
Her children were in class and Arthur had left out to look for something he wouldn't elaborate on.
She has been queen for about eighteen years now and sometimes it still felt new to her.
Though rumors about her had stopped she couldn't help but feel insecure as she saw noble women staring at her husband.
Many people still didn't take her seriously but she was okay with that. As long as her kingdom, her husband, her children and Merlin took her seroiously, she saw was fine.
She moved from her window and sat at her and Arthur's joined table to read over paperwork and letters.
A seal from Nemeth caught her eye.
A few years ago she had received a letter from Mithian inviting her and Gwendolyn to tea, but the day they were due, Gwendolyn almost caught her death from a cursed necklace.
But the next time they saw Mithian and Cordelia, Gwendolyn somehow went from a hate relationship to a love hate relationship.
It was reminder from Mithian that she should be arriving with Cordelia and her ward soon.
She then picked up an unsigned letter. 'I love you - A' then lavender petals erupted from the package and levitated around her.
Gwen gave out a laugh of delight.
Just then Arthur walked in smiling, "You've received my letter."
Llacheu and Gwendolyn ventured around the secret room.
"Who do you suppose worked in here?" Gwendolyn asked looking at the papers scattered on a desk and large books sitting on a single bookshelf.
"I don't know" Llacheu answered looking around but his eyes landed on a book that laid open on a podium.
He walked over to it before blowing dust off of it and looking to the cover of the book.
"Camelot's Great Purge Documents." He read out loud.
Gwendolyn heard him and walked to where he was standing, a smaller book caught her eye as Llacheu skimmed through the book he picked up.
Their were four journals and they were all neatly stacked but they looked rather old, "The Journal of Uther Pendragon." She read out loud as Llacheu had done.
Before she could open the book Sir Richard's voice rang out through the library, "Where is that blasted boy!" He shouted.
Llacheu's eyes widened in fear, "We have to go, I can't clean out stables again." He said in panic.
They quickly grabbed the books before running out the room.
Llacheu handed Esmeralda his book before randomly picking a book off the shelf and walking to great his teacher.
Gwendolyn quickly ran out the door and ran to her chambers with the books in her hand even though they were heavy.
She then pushed them under her bed.
She had to wait for Llacheu to get back.
A/N: They found books? What will they discover? Why does Arthur want a garden? Next chapter you'll finally meet Elliot and see Cordelia and Esmeralda interact.
Someone gets a surprise in chapters to come. Be sure to review, it gives me life especially LaraSmith, yes I gave you a shout out cuz your awesome along with the others who have commented.