iv. dictated

[heloise]

Many of you expressed a need to return home for the sake of some great purpose, as if the castle's choosing is not so arbitrary.

Or perhaps it is because we all believe our purpose great.

And, a man's home is his castle.

[ Lucrezia is lying on the snow by the duck pond, hiding from the festivities today. Her white and gold dress serves almost as a disguise, though her blue coat forming a puddle nearby does not. She watches the sky and haltingly hums a song. ]

Comments

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[impetuous]

That is where it gets interesting. You see, the trident could not go to someone unworthy. Someone who would let his friends alone or remain on the sidelines or refuse to heed a call for help. What he had seen in the other room was not the real trident. Had he taken hold of it, he would have been lost in the citadel forever. This the princess explained to him and when he took her hand, the trident appeared magically in his other. When the knight and the wizard found him, they were beside themselves with joy. There, they pledged their allegiance to the new king and his princess and thus a new king was crowned.

[Not bad for a story cobbled together on the spot from various pieces of his life.]

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[heloise]

How wonderful.

[ She raises her hands to the air and claps, giggling all the while. ]

If I had known sooner what a masterful storyteller you are, Gwaine.

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[impetuous]

[He stands to bow deeply to her.]

I am not. But to win a smile from you, I can be one and more.

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[heloise]

[ And he bows like a gentleman too. She gets to her feet and takes a few steps closer while shaking out snow from her skirt. He is a tall one, but she has had practice with her brother, so she stands on tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek. ]

There. A smile and more.

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[impetuous]

[He looks pleasantly surprised before a cheeky grin breaks across his face.]

I believe I've a few more stories I can share.

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[heloise]

[ She chuckles. ] You must save them for me, dear Hesiod, for another time. The chill has reached my very bones.

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[impetuous]

Ah. Then, permit me. [He holds his out his arm for her to take.]

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[heloise]

[ A gentleman. She happily places her hand on his arm and lets him lead her back. ]

Do you know which you are, Gwaine? Are you the wizard, the knight or the friend?

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[impetuous]

I'm the knight.