❧ ｔｈｒｅｅ

[clumsiness]

[ Backdated for the morning!

When Elena turned in the night before, she expected to wake as she always did; in the room the castle provided and by herself. So, when she rolled over and her arm brushed up against another warm body, her reaction was understandable. What does a princess do when she finds an intruder in her bed? She snatches up a pillow, hurriedly sits up and promptly wails on the offender without taking the time to see who it was.

Granted it's a pillow, so it's a feeble weapon. Someone should tell her that. ]

I do not know.. [ swat! ] .. how your found yourself [ swat! ] in this bed, but it is not yours!

[ swat! swat! and then there's a yelp as, on the last swat, she manages to lose her balance and tumbles backwards rather ungracefully out of bed. ]

Comments

[excalibured]

Hey! [He wakes with a start, at the first smack into his head with a pillow, and the accompaniment of a sharp, female voice. His first cause of action is to try to fend off the onslaught of feather death, whilst trying to sit up and get a good look at the intruder, when...

She tumbles out of the bed. He takes a soft moment to pause, unsure if he'd like to laugh or remain bewildered by the entire situation. He settles for a mix of both, and with an eyebrow arched high in amusement he peers over the edge of the bed at Elena, smirk in place.

He's had two others invade his bed in the last handful of weeks, castle and drink induced both, to be offended over the matter any longer]

I think, Elena, that you will find it is my bed.

[clumsiness]

Arthur? It couldn't be, I..

[ Bewildered, she finally takes a moment to survey the room and realizes that he's right. And that? Makes her feel incredibly silly for that previous outburst. She's just going to sit here, thoroughly embarrassed for the attack, before she finally gets to her feet. ]

Is this the castle's doing? I would have remembered coming here.

[ Wouldn't she? She is so confused, so she's just going to claim a seat at the foot of the bed and sigh. After taking some time to regain her composure, she shoots him an apologetic look. ]

I apologize for hitting you.

[excalibured]

It is. It is nothing to be concerned with, should you not end up with someone completely horrible, in which case, it would take more than a pillow to defeat them.

[Just, you know, saying] It is fine. The castle does this often enough that I have become used to alarming mornings.

Are you alright? That...Was quite the fall. [He is so laughing at you]

[clumsiness]

You want to laugh. Well, go on, then.

[ She looks at him pointedly before snatching up the covers and wrapping herself up in them. Don't look at her in her nightgown! Also, if he laughs, he's taking another pillow to the face. ]

I am more resilient than I look, do not worry. You only startled me.

[excalibured]

[Oh don't worry. He is.

And like an good King, he takes the pillow to the face with dignity. And a snerk, of course]

Wonderful to hear. Did you require an escort back to your room?

[It is late, and there are definitely unsavoury people here, Morgana amongst them now. It's also a gentle reminder that it's really too early to be doing anything but sleeping, and he'd like to get back to that now]

[clumsiness]

[ Princess-y eyeroll! Only not really. She shakes her head, adding in: ]

I can manage, my room is not far away. You can sleep peacefully knowing you will not be hit with a pillow again.

[ She sits up, promptly dumping the blanket on his head. Her amusement is short-lived, however, as she hears a soft thump. Brows furrowed a bit, she glances back over at Arthur but doesn't say anything just yet. Did he also hear that? ]

[excalibured]

I'm certain I shall. Goodnight, Elena.

[But he's slightly alarmed by that noise. The castle wasn't the sort to generally apply more than one person to a room as a prank, and he'd have noticed anyone else coming in, regardless of his state of sleep. They'd have made too much noise.

Unless...]

What month is it, do you know? [There's a slight undercurrent of urgency to his voice]

[clumsiness]

[ At first, he gets a curious look but eventually she'll answer his question for him. But first! She's standing up and walking toward the source of the noise she heard.

She sounds a little distracted, but that's only because she's wary of whatever this might be. That's right, Elena, be wary and confront the very thing that's making you do so. ]

Of course I do. May.

[excalibured]

Stop!

[He doesn't mean it to come out so sharp, but...If it's what he thinks it is...If he has a new partner, it means...Well, it means Lucius is gone. He's never done this with anyone but Misa, but he's never seen anyone paired to anyone new and retain their old child. Only received them if one was missing.

He...Well he's not ready to face that. To have him replaced by someone else, as if it were simply that easy. That easy for anyone but a magical castle.]

Come here, and you'll want to sit. I should explain.

[clumsiness]

[ The volume of his tone makes her jump, as she was pretty focused on that door. So don't mind that slightly annoyed look, Arthur. Her features soften when she notes his expression so, without further hesitation, she turns on a heel and reclaims her seat on the end bed.

Annoyance has given way to concern. ]

You know what is beyond the door.

[ It's not meant to be a question, the sharpness of his voice just a moment ago gave him away. ]

[excalibured]

[He takes a moment to answer, and then nodding, he'll direct his gaze towards her. Normally, he'd be ever the gentleman and re-direct it over her shoulder, but it's serious and he'll keep it steady on her eyes]

You will not like this. Behind the door...Is a child. Every year, around this time, the castle will bring two people together, for some undiscovered reason, and grant them a child.

While...Presumably magically created, they are real and alive, and certainly...Are genetically connected to their 'parents'.

[A pause] But they shall only stay a week.

[clumsiness]

[ From his vantage point, he has the best seat in the house when it comes to gauging her reaction. Initially, when he mentions she would not like this, she prepares herself for the absolute worst -- and that's where the roller coaster ride of emotions begins. Anxiety gives way to surprise as her eyes trail away from his and linger on the closed door just ahead of them. Once she realizes he spoke of parents (and thus the child beyond that door -- if it was a child -- was their own, her facial features soften.

At this point, Elena has several false starts when it comes to actually trying to put her feelings into words but never once does her expression reflect anger. A princess' (who would ascend the throne to become a queen) crowning achievement, once she was bound in holy matrimony, was to produce an heir for her king. That heir would ensure that their bloodline, their family, would continue ruling the kingdom. But this was not Gawant or Camelot and the man seated beside her was not her king, though an arrangement had been attempted in the past.

She's torn, noting that it feels like her belly is full of butterflies. Despite not really knowing for sure what might be beyond the door, once has to expect the unexpected in this strange world, she doesn't even remember getting to her feet and crossing the room to the door. Rather than turn the knob once she reaches it, she shifts a bit and eventually extends an arm so that she can offer Arthur one of her hands (palm up). The expression on her face, far from the one littered with anxiety before, is calm and reassuring. Even if it is a week, even if he is wrong and the newly added door turns out to house an empty room, she felt that the two of them needed to see this through together. If a baby was behind this door, it would be cruel to walk away from it now. ]

A child..

We cannot leave them in there.

[excalibured]

[He stops short of trying to grasp onto her shoulder to stop her from leaving. Her reaction is admirable, especially considering the parameters of their relationship. Considering that whilst the people of Paradisa are more modern, and think nothing of magical happenstance...This is still a large thing to accept, and could affect a reputation amongst those from home, should they ever find out.

And while he knows she's right, and would never dream of doing that to a child, he still doesn't want to know. Doesn't want to accept it. He's weary, and in the last scattered memories from home and this place, grief is etched into everything. It weights him down and it's been so long since he's felt anything else.

He's not sure he can just add another name to the tally just yet. But he gets out of the bed regardless, because he's never been this pathetic, and he curls his fingers around hers]

Of course not.

[clumsiness]

[ She squeezes his hand momentarily, then tugs him after her as she opens the door and steps into the room. Almost instantly her expression turns to one of surprise as she's met with a child, a rather adorable girl, who nearly flies out of bed before locking her tiny little arms as best she can around her middle.

It's only when the girl buries her face into her leg that she releases a breath she couldn't remember holding and rests her free hand atop of her head. It's almost like the realization that this is partially her child hasn't set in just yet. Elena releases Arthur's hand and carefully crouches down after untangling the girl's arms from her leg. While speaking, she gently runs her fingers through Elizabeth's hair to soothe her. The gesture is quite natural, as if this weren't awkward to her at all.]

There, there..

What is the matter? Did you have a bad dream?

[ A pair of very familiar eyes look up at her, then at Arthur, before the child shakes her head and reaches for her father. Pick her up, papa! Then, while wearing one of the cutest smiles ever, she exclaims: ]

Mama, papa.. Morning!