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chased your ghost across the yard
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Posted on May 2, 2013 at 05:03:22 AM by a r t h u r



“All you have to do is show her around,” Arthur said a little wearily, “then you can do whatever you like for the rest of the day.”
“Couldn’t Dred do it?” Tristan asked as he stared out of the window of his father’s study. It looked out over the stable yard and the walled garden beyond. It was, not surprisingly, the former that the prince was looking at with a wistful look. He was still not healed enough to ride, but he was desperate to spend time with the horses.
“Her mother was friends with your mother, Tristan,” the king said, his voice taking on a firmer quality, “that should mean something.” The boy’s eyes flicked to the floor as he shuffled his feet, feeling a sudden surge of guilt in the pit of his stomach. Only his father knew exactly what to say to make that happen. He frowned.
“All right,” he agreed after a pause, “fine, I’ll do it.” Arthur smiled, and patted his son firmly on the shoulder,
“Thank you,” he said, moving around the desk and sinking down into his leather upholstered chair, “besides,” the King teased, raising an eyebrow, “you might actually find that you like her.” Tristan rolled his eyes, and Arthur chuckled as the knocking came at the door.

“Lady Alethea,” Arthur smiled as the girl was shown into the room. She was a pretty thing, he noted as he gestured to the seat before his desk, inviting her to take it. This left Tristan as the only person in the room still standing.
“You slept well, I hope,” the King continued kindly, “if you need anything, do not hesitate to ask. If there is anything you feel you can’t discuss with me, then my sister, the Lady Morgana, would be more than happy to help.” Visiting ladies, Arthur thought, usually fell under the care of the queen. With Tristan being a child, and thus unmarried, Morgana was left as de facto first lady of the Kingdom. He hoped that the arrangements would be satisfactory to all parties, in this life and in his previous existence, he had only had sons, teenage girls were a mystery to him. Morgana, at least, was an expert in that department having been one herself not very long ago.

“This is Prince Tristan,” Arthur continued, gesturing in the boy’s direction. Tristan looked directly at the girl with bright green eyes and a relaxed, friendly smile, bending at the waist in a small courtly bow,
“My Lady,” he said by way of greeting. When he straightened up, he adjusted his sling slightly, so that it sat more comfortably on his shoulder. Glancing at her again, the prince offered a more sheepish smile, shrugging apologetically for his ungainliness. Arthur watched him closely, before turning back to Alethea. “Tristan has agreed to give you the guided tour and answer any of your questions.” Father and son looked most alike in appearance. The rather square line of the King’s jaw was reflected in the Prince’s, though his was still a little more rounded. They each had wavy brown hair, although Arthur’s was a shade or two lighter than his son’s, Tristan’s being closer to chocolate in tone. Tristan’s eyes were green to his father’s grey, and were set a little larger in his face. His cheekbones promised to be sharper, although the noses were almost identical.

“I apologise,” Arthur said, “I had hoped to spend more time helping you to settle in, but eventualities have arisen that require my attention. I will hopefully see more of you towards the end of the week.” He offered her an encouraging smile, hoping that he was not overloading her with information on her first morning. “I promise, Tristan is quite capable, you’re in safe hands.” Tristan tried in vain to cover a snort of laughter, and he made eye contact with Alethea before glancing down rather pointedly at his injured arm nestled in its sling, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Arthur sighed inwardly – he supposed he should at least be glad that his son wasn’t prone to shyness...that was a positive...surely?
“Have you got any questions before I leave you both to it?” he enquired patiently, “or would that be a better question for the end of the day?”

photography and editing by merlin



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