Like I Never Left [Open/Arthur]

[luciana]

Master the Rules of the Game Until
You Play It Better than They Can

[/size][/right][/blockquote]

---

The bright morning sun shone down on the beautiful city of Camelot. In the citadel, the nobles of Camelot gathered in the courtyard in front of the white, stone castle before they leisurely made their way into the castle. It was the same every morning: meet in the courtyard and then go to the grand hall with friends. It was like an unofficial tradition at court, but it was one the nobles kept.

Then two riders entered the stone courtyard, their horses’ hooves creating a great deal of noise. The one rider was a handsome young man with dark hair who was dressed as a knight with the insignia of the le Cordier house. The knight was none other than Sir Lucian le Cordier. The other rider was not a stranger to court either for the rider was Sir Lucian’s twin sister, the Lady Luciana. She was dressed splendidly in a dark blue gown with light blue, belled sleeves. The square neckline and v-shaped waistline were embroidered with silver thread, hand stitched by Luciana herself. Luciana wore her hair down; her dark locks cascading to her waist, catching the bright sunlight.

As Lucian dismounted his dark brown warhorse, whispers and murmurs began to fly around the courtyard like a swarm of flies. For three months, Luciana had been away from court due to illness, and her return had been a popular topic of conversation.

Giving his horse to a stable boy, Lucian proceeded to help his sister down from her horse, a black Andalusian named Nox. Luciana rolled her eyes when her brother reached up for her waist. She did not see why she needed assistance in dismounting her own horse. Sometimes Luciana thought her brother took his chivalry a bit too far; this time being one of them. However, like a good girl, she placed her hands on her brother’s broad shoulders and allowed him to lift her off of the dark Andalusian.

As the stable boy led both of the equines away, Sir Lucian asked in a concerned and brotherly tone,“Now are you sure that you will be alright? You do not feel faint or anything?”

“Lucian,” replied Lady Luciana in a gentle but firm voice, breaking away from her sibling’s grasp, “I will be fine. The doctor gave me a clean bill of health, remember? Now go and join the other knights.”

Her brother was about to say something else, but Luciana gave him a look, daring him to speak once more. Getting the hint, Lucian gave his sister a quick peck on the cheek and told her that he would see her later, and then he quickly made his way over to the other knights of Camelot.

With her brother gone, Lady Luciana sauntered gracefully towards her circle of friends, which consisted of a few ladies around her age, standing by the steps near the knight statue. The hem of her dark blue gown glided over the rows of stone as she moved with grace and poise. When Luciana joined her friends, each lady greeted Luciana and welcomed her back to court, smiling and laughing like always. Then the ladies began chatting away, catching Luciana up on all of the latest gossip, and Luciana put her two cents in for every rumor she heard, causing another fit of giggles to erupt from her friends. As their conversation went on, Luciana began to feel as if she had never left court.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

---

( Tag - Arthur/Open )
( Outfit - Click )
( Words - 559 )
( Mood - Pretty Good )

[Arthur Pendragon]

After all the excitement over what had happened a few days ago, with the strange old woman seeking vengeance on the king for executing her son, everyone was in a bit of shock. They were of course slowly recovering, especially Arthur. It had not been his first near death experience, and it would not be his last, but what was surprising about this particular incident was what had saved him. Merlin. An incompetent
man who his father conveniently made his servant. Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. There was however one piece of good news and that was that the Cordier family had returned to court. Lucian was a knight of Camelot and good friend of Arthur's, as was his sister. He had heard that she had been ill for quite some time, and so was glad to see her able to return to court, and hopefully be fully recovered.

He dressed in his usual attire, finding no need to wear his armor so wore more casual clothing, yet still expensive and demonstrative of a royal. He entered the hall way, looking through the crowd though it did not take long to see Luciana. Arthur gave a bit of a smile and approached her, while she was talking to other nobles. "My Lady Luciana," he said as he was now standing next to her. He smiled, his tone polite and though he was excited, he did not overly express his emotions. There was just enough of a hint of excitement in it to recognize that he was glad to see her again. "It is wonderful to see you back in the graces of good health," he added, continuing to express that relief that her illness had not been more severe than it already was.

[luciana]

Master the Rules of the Game Until
You Play It Better than They Can

[/size][/right][/blockquote]

---

“Now, Lady Cornelia, surely you do not believe that Lady Jane is actually sneaking around with one of her household servants,” remarked Lady Luciana skeptically, shooting the blonde haired, doll-like Lady Cornelia an incredulous glance with a bright gleam in her pearl gray eyes. Luciana knew Lady Jane well enough to know that she had more propriety than you fraternize with servants. Oh how Luciana missed the court gossip. She had always been good at sorting out which rumors were false and which were horrendously true. As Luciana and her friends continued on with their chatter, a wave of laughs, gasps, and whispers float through their little circle.

Then as Luciana’s lips parted to make another unconvinced remarked, she heard a familiar voice utter her name. Turning her head to the source of the voice, she realized that the crown prince of Camelot, Arthur Pendragon, was standing beside her. ‘Oh dear,’ thought Luciana taken aback a bit by the prince’s arrival, ‘I did not even see him approach.’

"It is wonderful to see you back in the graces of good health,"

With grace and poise, Lady Luciana curtsied deeply, the skirt of her gown fanning around her as her knees bent. Then she bowed her head from a brief moment, and said, with the utmost respect, “My lord.”

The other ladies quickly followed suit, each bowing to Prince Arthur. Then as Luciana lifted her head and rose from her curtsy, the other girls mimicked her like a clique following their queen bee. Then the ladies took their leave, telling Luciana that they talk to her later. After bidding her friends goodbye, Luciana returned her attention to Prince Arthur. He was still as handsome as ever with his flaxen blonde hair and his clear blue eyes. Luciana could not deny that.

“It is wonderful to be back, my prince. I have missed the excitement of court along with a few other… things, and I do not believe I will be leaving again any time soon. My brother is treating my like a porcelain doll. He’s probably lurking about, making sure I don’t trip over a stone,” replied Luciana as courteous as ever. Her elegant voice held a hint of playfulness as she spoke. Her light, pearl gray eyes gleamed enchantingly while still holding an innocent charm, and a demure, charming smile danced across her light rose pink lips. She had missed the prince’s company in the months of her illness.
As more and more nobles of King Uther’s court moved to the Grand Hall, the courtyard was soon empty. However Luciana did not feel like going inside. She had been stuck inside for so many months that she had grown quite bored of being indoors. Besides there was bound to be a few more stragglers. She could afford to delay a little longer.

“I have grown so dreadfully tired. I do believe I shall stay outside for a little while longer,” stated Lady Luciana, turning her back to the golden haired prince and moving away from the statue a bit. Then, turning her head to look back at Arthur, she remarked, “Would you care to take a walk with me, my lord? I would so much like to hear about any adventures you’ve been on while I was gone.”

[/size][/color][/color][/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

---

( Tag - Arthur/Open )
( Outfit - Click )
( Words - 548 )
( Mood - Pumped from True Blood Season Finale )

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur watched her and the others in her company curtsy and he lowered his head in a bit of a bow, or acknowledgment really. He smiled when she explained her brothers overprotective tendencies. "It is only because he cares for you a great deal, and as a right to be so concerned since you were so terribly ill before." Arthur was not just glad to see she was alright, for she seemed to be her usual self. He at least knew her well enough to know that much about her. "That sounds wonderful," he said at her suggestion for a walk and waited for her to make her leave before turning and walking alongside her. At least this way, they would have a bit more privacy and therefore, did not have to be as formal.

"I apologize for not being able to come and visit you. It was my full intention to see how you were doing, but with everything happening here, it was difficult to get away." With the celebrations his father was putting on, there was far too much planning needed and preparations that needed to be done for the Prince to slip away, even if it was just for a day. That was the price to pay for being in any royal family. It both had its advantages and disadvantages, but Arthur would not complain about such things. "I can not keep expressing my relief that you are in good health again, and look as beautiful as always," he said honestly, giving her a charming smile.