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"Please please don't tell anyone. Merlin and Hunith wants to keep this quiet. Please please keep this to yourself" begged Arthur.
Annabeth couldn't help but smile, enjoying the sight of seeing a king begging a milkmaid for her silence.
"I'll keep quiet your Highness."
"Great!"
"Only if you answer all my questions."
Arthur frowned but decided it won't do any harm as long as she didn't ask anything that would jeopardize his kingdom.
"Alright, Beth was it? What do you want to know?"
The girl beamed, pleased to get her way and asked the first question quickly, "Why are you really here?"
"My wife and I are here to see Merlin's mother for medical advice."
"Oh, medical advice for what?"
"I'm afraid that's private" answers the blonde, smiling politely.
Annabeth pouted, unhappy that she didn't get an answer but moved on, "How much longer are you planning to stay?"
"We're leaving tomorrow actually."
"So soon?" asked the young maiden, surprised by how short the man's stay was.
"Yes I'm afraid my wife and I can't stay for long. We have a banquet to host when we get back."
"A banquet! Is there an occasion?" Beth asked, wondering why the king and queen were away so close to an important event.
"Ah yes, our guests from Nemeth are coming."
"Are you close to the Nemeth royals?"
Arthur flushed remembering that he was actually set up with the very princess of Nemeth to be his new bride. He also remembered how well Gwen had taken the news when he told her the story when Mithian introduced herself at the wedding. Things could have been much worse and Mithian seemed genuinely happy for him to be reunited with Gwen.
I am very lucky...
"My question-?"
Arthur snapped out of it then and was about to answer her question but was interrupted.
"Annabeth!"
The milkmaid cringed and turned slowly to see a very irritated Mordred coming toward her and Arthur.
"Sir Mordred" she greeted politely.
"What were you doing?" questions the druid knight, straight to the point.
Anna narrows her eyes at him as she answers him hotly, "Nothing of concern to you."
Arthur looked at the two and wondered what made Mordred formed such an expression and what kind of history did the two have.
"Go home Annabeth"
"You can't tell me what to do."
Mordred scowled but was interrupted by Merlin who was coming toward them, "Why are you two always fighting?" he asks tiredly.
The milkmaid pouts, pointing a finger at the curly-haired knight, "He likes to pick on me. He's mean to me!"
Mordred scoffed, "That's rich, I doubt you'll let anybody boss you around seeing how you are."
"Don't talk as if you know me."
The druid knight was about to retort but Merlin came between them.
"Enough you two. Anna, I'm sure you're expected at home for lunch so you should hurry along."
Annabeth frowned deeply but said nothing. With her head held high, the men watched her leave.
Merlin turned to Mordred about to say something but Annabeth called to him.
"Merlin! Give your family my love!"
"Will do!" the neckerchief wearing man yelled back.
Once she was finally out of earshot, Merlin spoke to Mordred, "Why are you two always fighting?"
"She needs to stop being a busybody" says Mordred, annoyed.
The father among the three men sighed, "She's just curious. You don't need to give her such animosity."
"I hate people poking in business that's not their own."
Merlin sighed. Druids were private people so he can understand to an extent how threatened they would feel if anyone invaded it. However, Mordred still shouldn't treat people like that.
"Am I invisible?"
The two magic users turned to see Arthur looking slightly peeved.
"Nah, so what was your royal pratness doing with Anna?" chuckled the king's manservant.
"Why do you care hmm? She's not a lover or anything is she?"
Mordred snorted and Merlin chuckled, "She is not my type Arthur. Trust me."
"So what is your type?" the blonde asks, curious.
Before Merlin could answer, Gwen called for Arthur from the window but when the blonde stepped forward, the magic users were quick to notice his unusual movement.
"You're hurt. Come on, we'll help."
Despite Arthur's protests, the two men helped support their blonde king as he limped so that they can make their way back to the house together.
Later that night at dinner, Arthur was still thinking about the pretty milkmaid and decided to ask his knights about her to see if they knew anything.
"Do any of you know an Annabeth from around here?" Arthur asks quietly at the dinner table while Hunith, Gwen, Merlin and Mordred were in the kitchen cleaning up and washing the dishes.
Leon frowned, "That's the name of that girl that talked to us the other day right Percival?"
The tall man nods before turning to his king, "Why do you ask milord?"
"I'm just curious is all. Mordred doesn't seem to like her very much."
Gwaine snorted, "The feeling is mutual trust me. It's quite obvious the two of them do not get along."
"But why though?" Arthur asks, his interest peaked. "Mordred always seemed like a polite and friendly fellow. I don't understand why he treats her that way."
Leon frowns, "The boy is rather private. He doesn't mention much of his past maybe he feels his space is being threatened by her."
Arthur says nothing, looking thoughtful.
That night, Gwen moved to the bed to lie her head on her husband's shoulder much to his surprise.
"Is something the matter?"
Gwen didn't move and spoke quietly, "You've been taking a lot more walks than usual since the start of this trip. Do you always feel the need to clear your head? You could talk to me you know."
She turns her head so her eyes met his making Arthur smile and lean forward to kiss his wife on the forehead, "I am fine. I promise."
"Alright, but may I walk with you tomorrow?"
"Why?"
"Just want to explore the woods is all. Tomorrow is our last day."
"Yes...quite right. Alright, we'll walk together tomorrow."
Gwen smiles and pecks her husband's lips before moving to her side of the bed to sleep, leaving Arthur to his thoughts.
What are the chances we'll see Layla or even her son tomorrow?
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