Guinevere looked at her husband who was sitting across from her signing documents as she read over letters.
She could tell he was in deep thought, and it had nothing to do with the papers in front of him.
"My love?" Gwen said in concern.
Arthur's head snapped up before his frown deepened.
" Yes Guinevere?" He asked in distraction.
Gwen arched a brow, what was going on with him?
"Are you alright, dear? You seem a bit... off."
"Fine, I'm fine. It's just a feeling." He assured.
"A feeling?" Gwen repeated.
"Yes, a feeling."
"Like one of Merlin's feelings?" She asked.
"Don't be ridiculous Guinevere, I feel like I've forgotten something important." He explained.
"Like what? The tournaments, the feasts?" She asked.
"No, not that" he said.
But the knocking on the door cut their guessing game short.
"Enter" the king and queen said together.
A servant entered their room and bowed.
"My lord, my lady." He said bowing, "Are you ready to have lunch served to you?"
"Yes, but Llacheu and Thomas will join Merlin on a ride today, so inform lady Sophia, that Gwendolyn will not be attending class today and she will be dining with Guinevere and I." Arthur said.
"Yes sire" he said before walking out.
Gwen put down the letter she was holding before glaring at her husband, "Speaking of Llacheu, he's under the impression that he should enter the tournaments this year."
Arthur couldn't help but smile, "Is he know?"
"He is, and he is not allowed to participate."
"Of course he can't participate, well not this year anyway, maybe fifteen."
"Arthur!" Gwen said terrified.
"What?" He asked confused.
"That's terribly young."
"No it isn't, that's how old I was when I started out."
"Arthur" Gwen started.
"I'm sure he knows he's not participating, just relax Guinevere." Arthur said before looking back at his paperwork.
"I am relaxed" she defended.
Just then Esmeralda walked in smiling brightly.
"To your left" Thomas called out as Llacheu ducked the sword that aimed at his side.
Llacheu's opponent was an older knight who helped him train while Thomas would just watch.
The sparring match went on for a while until Llacheu finally disarmed the panting knight.
"Good job my prince, Sir George will be pleased when you finally become a knight."
"As will I." Llacheu said shrugging off his gloves and handing them to a servant while he was handed water by Thomas.
"Why don't you ever join practice?" Llacheu asked Thomas.
" Why should I?" Thomas asked.
"I don't know. Self defense or something." Llacheu answered.
"I have magic," he simply said.
"Magic, of course" Llacheu said smiling a little as they made their way to the stables to ride out with Merlin.
Arthur remained silent at his daughters requests.
" A pony?" He asked.
Esmeralda nodded her head vigorously, "Yes, Cordelia should be here in two days along with other princesses and wards, so I want new dresses and a new pony."
"Gwendolyn, darling. You don't have to impress everyone" Guinevere said.
Esmeralda took a bite of some of the fruit on her plate and smiled so innocently, that none of her parents believed in her demands.
"I know, it's just fun." She said.
"Okay" Arthur said in defeat.
"Arthur" Gwen said.
"What? How can you deny her anything?"
Gwen stared at them a while before sighing, " This is the last time." She promised, knowing there was no use in trying to convince Arthur no.
"Oh thank you. I promise I won't ask for anything else until my birthday." Esmeralda beamed.
" Don't make promises you can't keep." Arthur said leaning back in his chair.
Gwendolyn and Guinevere gave out small laughs.
Merlin flung his bag over his shoulder as he got off his horse.
Llacheu and Thomas lightly kicked their horses and quickly dismounted to catch up with him.
"What are we looking for again?" Llacheu whined.
"Magikó kí̱po" Merlin said.
" That is?" Llacheu asked.
"Magic garden, translated by the Greeks. You ground the petals together, do a little magic, then poof, you have a beautiful garden." Thomas explained.
Merlin gave a pleased smile before pulling out three pairs of tweezers from his satchel.
"Nice to know I don't talk to myself when I'm teaching." He said.
"It's hard not to pay attention when I have to sit in there for about three hours." Thomas replied taking two pairs of tweezers from Merlin's hands then handing one two Llacheu.
"Take notes from Llacheu." Merlin teased causing Thomas to laugh and Llacheu to glare.
"You try sitting through a lecture from Sir Richard." He complained.
"Okay, you know the drill, it's a small bright red flower. Find as many as you can. You two stay together. We'll meet in a little." Merlin said.
Thomas and Llacheu nodded before getting to work.
"It's not fair we have to pick flowers, that's for girls. I'm a prince, future king of Camelot, I don't have to do such petty things."
Thomas rolled his eyes, "Pariet autem lucens flos", he murmured while his eyes turned amber.
That's when a bunch of small red flowers flew towards him.
"Exsultantis" He said and they gently piled in front of him.
Llacheu looked to Thomas in amazement.
"You should get to work." Thomas smirked.
Llacheu glared before looking down at the petals in front of Thomas and stalking away.
Thomas gave a small laugh.