Chapter 2:

THE GIRL

"I now present, King Paxton and Princess Karen Paige of Bullivere!"

"How exciting." Matthew mumbled.

Stick elbowed him in the ribs.

"Ow." Matthew grumbled as Stick smirked and motioned for Mattie to shut it.

"Come darling," Paxton hissed, pulling on his daughter's hand.

"I'd rather not."

Matthew smirked.

She doesn't like this either, he began to think before another thought crossed his head, or she's in love with someone else too.

After a few awkward and misplaced smiles from the visiting King, his daughter came into view. Her light blue dress barely brushed her toes and Matthew could hear it russling with every move she made. His father gave him a slight push and signaled for him to greet his "bride-to-be". With no small amount of reluctance, he walked to her and held out his hand for her to take. She slowly placed a pale hand into his palm and he gently brushed his lips over her knuckles.

"May I be the first to welcome you to Camelot, Princess." he said with a friendly smile.

She giggled.

Cute Matthew thought.

"Too bad you'll be the second. The carriage driver already welcomed me."

"Well then I suppose I'll have to make it up to you somehow."

She giggled again and he could hear their parent's smirks.

"C'mon. Let's go inside and eat." King Jonathan motioned towards the inviting castle doors.

"Yes, let's. It's been a long ride." Paxton agreed.

Together, the two families entered the castle and made their way to the dining hall for a filling (and rather uneventful) breakfast. After the meal, it was decided that Karen and her father were to go to their rooms for a quick rest before rejoining the royal family of Camelot for a picnic in the gardens. The moment she stepped out of the room Matthew sighed and reclined in his chair, throwing his head back and squeezing his eyes shut.

Whyyy,was his only thought, why does she like me already?

His mother smacked him upside the head.

"Sit up." Queen Margaret commanded and her son obeyed.

"You need to try harder. Did you talk to Stick yet today?" his father questioned.

"Kinda. He woke me up this morning."

"Go see him later. You need to impress her. If you don't, how will she ever accept the proposal?"

"Who says I'm proposing?"

"MATTHEW."

"Yeah, yeah, sorry. I forgot that my 'life planning committee' already decided that. Will they also be choosing my death day? God, I hope it's soon."

That earned him another smack.

"Just go find Stick, okay?"

Matthew stood up and left the room.

Stick, here I come. We better not be meditating today. I need to punch something.

"You see? He's not that bad! And quite easy on the eyes too, if I might add."

A giggle emerged from the room.

The same giggle from before, Matthew noted and stopped to listen to the conversation that was occuring in the room.

"I never said he wasn't going to be good, I just said that I might not like him, that's all."

"But I see that now that has changed, my lady."

"Well, not yet. Maybe. I don't know. We only just met!"

"True, true. But, you do have a first impression of him, don't you?"

"I mean...I guess…"

"Spill."

"I think… I think I could see us having a life together, you know?"

"Does that mean you like him?"

"It means I don't not like him. Yet."

"So, when should I be expecting my godchildren?"

"Doris!"

The two girls erupted into laughter and Matthew smirked before walking on, intending to find Stick

Intending.

Somehow he made his way to the flower garden. More specifically, Elektra's flower garden. He closed his eyes and her sweet laughter filled his head.

"You really didn't have to, Matthew."

"Why not? I owed you this. Especially after the rose incident."

"That wasn't your fault."

"I've known you for years. How could I have not known that you hate roses?"

"At least you remembered my birthday."

"How could I forget?"

"I mean, you did forget that my favorite flowers are orchids…"

They erupted into laughter.

"Now you will always have lots of orchids… and my love."

"What are you doing, Matthew?"

"Hmm?"

His trip down memory lane was interrupted by a soft voice from behind him.

Karen.

"I asked what you were doing."

"Oh. Just taking a walk."

It's not a lie, he told himself. Then why does it feel like one?

There was a short silence.

"Mind if I join you?"

"...Sure."

They walked quietly for a few minutes before Matthew decided to break the silence.

"Do you like it here?"

"I mean… I haven't really had the chance to look around but so far it seems quite nice."

He made a silent motion of understanding and they continued to walk in silence.

"Matthew?"

He looked up. It didn't feel right to hear her say his name.

Why? He asked himself, Because she's not her.

"Call me Matt."

"Okay...Matt. Do you like it here?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you've lived here your whole life, right? You know this place by heart. Every nook and cranny. The good and the bad. Do you love it? All of it?"

"I mean… I… I guess I do. This place has a lot of memories behind it, you know? I feel like if I leave or something, I'm abandoning my past. Then again, there's been a lot of bad too and some things… some things I… never mind. The point is, I don't think it really matters what I think. I'm gonna be king, right? So regardless of what I think, what I feel, I'm going to have to stay and do my duty as King. And I think part of that is finding love for this place- all of it- and all the people who live here."

"I… wow. Yeah."

He smiled.

"Too much?"

"No, no. It's good just… not what I was expecting."

"Well what were you expecting?"

"I don't know… some cute story about something you did as a kid over there with your best friend, I guess."

They shared a quiet laugh and continued to walk.

Maybe, he thought, maybe she'll understand.