Remember Your Duties

[Arthur Pendragon]

The past few days and the next few days would be extremely busy in the castle and city. Hosting tournaments often held that result. There was a great deal left to do, apart from preparations that Arthur had to help with, he needed to train and practice to be the victor. His father was fully expecting him to win, and that in itself held a tremendous amount of pressure on the prince. He knew he was good -- after trained rigorously since birth -- but he also knew that there were a lot of people in this tournament. A lot knights, some young and some old. Some with excelling skill and others with more experience. He could not be so confident that he would for sure win. All he could do was try his best and if he lost, then his father would know that his best was not good enough. How did he prove he was someone worthy for the throne when he was losing tournaments, showing such weakness to others? How could he be the leader for knights, who were the force that citizens of the kingdom relied on for safety and security?

He had to do all that he could to win -- without cheating of course. This was something that was not so easy, especially with his idiot manservant Merlin, who could barley hold a sword. He couldn't even last one training session, as he was not physically fit to endure the duration of it. He could not even hold his balance every time Arthur struck him with his weapon. He was so very useless! He was even missing Morris, for his previous servant -- the one that Merlin ironically defended -- was looking like the most brilliant person ever when compared to Merlin. Never the less, he had to make do with the incompetence that plagued him. What choice did he have? He at least had target dummies that would be more of a challenge than Merlin. At the same time, Arthur was finding himself oddly enjoying Merlin's company. The fact that he remained unpredictable in what he said -- especially during their first encounter -- was something that intrigued the young prince. That was part of the reason he kept him around . . . he knew he'd be bored with another mundane servant if he did not. Speaking of servants, Arthur was setting out to find a particular one.

Mostly because she was the newest servant in the castle and Arthur only knew that because he had helped her get this position. He had met her in the woods under unfortunate circumstances -- for she was getting kidnapped to be sold for money -- but at least it had led to something better. He hoped she was settling in well. She was so young and Arthur felt sympathetic towards her. He wasn't sure why but he felt a bit protective over her, even since seeing the way she had been mistreated, and hearing that she had no one else. Even though she was a servant, and the class difference between them was great, she was still a person. A young girl who had needed help. Walking through the hall, fate made his job all the easier for she was coming the opposite way. What was her name again? Damn it. Arthur should remember this. Aliena? Alexandra? Alice? Ali---yaha! "Aliyaha," he acknowledged, hoping that was actually the right name. It sounded right when he said it, but who knows. He didn't exactly converse with servants on a daily basis. "Have you been informed of your duties for the next few days?" They would be a bit different than the general duties, for she would be busier. She would be expected to wait on the noble families that came to stay with them for the duration of the tournament, and help prepare and serve at the feasts.


_{Setting: Starts in the hallways, will probably move throughout the castle
Time of Day: Late Morning
Timeline: During Valiant, or before the tournament starts and noble families are coming
Tag: Aliyaha Bennett}
Notes: Thanks for the title!

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[Aliyaha]

The past few days has been the most busiest days Aliyaha would have ever guessed. But here she was in the castle of Camelot and she had Prince Arthur to thank for. The prince of Camelot and the only heir to the throne! She knew that he was someone important, a lord perhaps or a higher ranking noble. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she would encounter him. Nor did she think he would give her a job in the castle. A member of the royal family. She took a deep breath, the excitement over that day was still fresh in her mind. She wouldn’t forget it. Aliyaha would be forever in Prince Arthur’s debt. Only if her parents were still living. But would she have gone to Camelot then? Would the events from the past few weeks still happened? She bit down on her lower lip as she walked down the hallway, a load of fresh blankets in her arms. She was carrying them to the noble quarters. Aliyaha had been up since dawn to make sure the rooms were well prepared for the noble families that were arriving. Before she had left the servants’ quarters one of the elder servants had told her what she would be expecting for the next couple of days. There would be a tournament for the knights and Arthur would be in it, he had told her. Noble families would be coming in to watch the event and Aliyaha was expected to wait on them.

Excitement filled her as she started to clean the quarters. Maybe she would get a chance to watch the tournament. If she wasn’t so busy, Aliyaha frowned a little. Her father, a guard working for their previous owners, had often told her stories about the tournament. It was something for the knights to improve, or prove, their skills. A small smile started to spread across her lips as she stared around the room, satisfied that it looked the way she pictured it. She hummed tonelessly a little as she skipped down the hallways, her next destination was the kitchens to see if she needed to do anything. Her eyes brightened slightly as she thought back to the day that she had almost burned the food that she was cooking when she was with the master and the mistress. The mistress had thought she was ready to be in the kitchen as well as her mother. They were ever so wrong. A small giggle escaped from her at the memory and the look on their faces. Aliyaha was in high spirits as usual. Her ears pricked forward as she heard her name being called. She frowned a little as she turned, her eyes widen a little as they sparkled. Arthur was heading her way. “Prince Arthur,” Aliyaha greeted politely as she curtsied. “It is always nice to see you up and about,”

She was well mannered for a servant. Well any servant would have to be. Aliyaha nodded to his question. “Before I left the servants’ quarters a servant told me that I would be waiting on the noble families that would be coming in for the tournament. But that’s all he said before he left.” The fifteen year old rose from her curtsy and linked her arms behind her back. “What would you be doing sir?” she inquired. “I know the prince would be expected to participate in it but that’s all I know,” her cheek s turned slightly pink at her question. It was a simple question but Aliyaha couldn’t help but to feel a bit ignorant. It wasn’t her fault though. Her curiosity sometimes get the better of her. Plus she always loved to learn about anything. She considered it a good thing that Isabel had taught her how to read and write. She had learned it from her father after all. Her eyes glimmered a bit sadly at the thought of her parents. Aliyaha wanted them to be here. She knew they would enjoy it as much as she did. She sighed softly to herself as she raised her head to look up at him. Her hands brushed against her dress, which was a dark grey today and plain as usual. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and braided to keep it out of her face when she worked. Aliyaha bit down on the inside of her cheeks as she waited for the prince to speak.

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur watched her curtsy and gave a bit of a smile. While he did not often converse with servants, he did feel that granting her a position in the royal household was a decision he would never come to regret. She seemed so comfortable here, and more importantly, she had a place to reside, and a way to earn an income. For an orphan, especially one slowly heading towards adulthood, it was indeed essential for them to hold such a position. While he could not help everyone in the kingdom -- not matter how much he wished he could -- at least there were a few that he came across in which he could extend aid to: Aliyaha was the most recent one. "I could say the same about you," he said a bit jokingly though there was truth behind his words. Mainly, for the reasons that had just recently entered his thoughts: about how it was good to see her working, content, and comfortable. And alive, most importantly for he feared that had he not come across her that day . . . well, he did not even want to imagine what sort of future she had when fate was left up to a handful of merciless bandits.

He gave a short nod when she explained of what general duties she would be given for the next several days. "Have they given you more detailed and explicit instructions as to how to wait and serve on visiting guests?" He asked. He was unsure if any of them had time to thoroughly explain. Hell, Arthur didn’t even have time but he made it for one of two reasons. First, that lingering sort of feeling of protectiveness towards her. And secondly, because it was a good way to take a bit of a breather between all the chaos. "Or are they planning on doing so soon?" He further questioned, wondering if she was planning to follow along to witness how servants were expected to care for noble guests of the castle. It was imperative to make a good impression on them, for they were the royals of the entire kingdom and it was easy for a reputation to get tarnished.

He gave a slight smile, though it was strongly reassuring to her. He did not mind answering such questions, for she was still getting a handle on how things worked around here. Because he knew her personally, he found himself wanting to help ease that transition for her and to help her better fit in this lifestyle of servitude and work . . . even though she had told him upon their first meeting that she had previously worked as a servant in another household. "My duties during the tournament will be as you said, an entrant, as well as playing host to all the visiting families." Only the way in which he tended to them was very different. It was more about entertaining them, making them feel at ease and comfort in his home, getting to know them, enduring horribly boring speeches at the feasts . . . that part he was not looking forward to. "Which basically includes being hospitable hosts so that they will not feel unwelcome." Which was also why it was of paramount importance for servants to fulfill their duties diligently. "This will be your first tournament I assume?" He asked, in terms of both serving those in it, as well as watching it in the arena.

[Aliyaha]

The young girl couldn’t help but to smile. Her eyes were twinkling with a bit of mischief. She was growing to love the palace. The best part was the kitchens. She was free to come and go as long as she ate her snack quickly and get right back to work, which she always did. The cooks were starting to get to know her after seeing her popping in and out. Her arms were linked behind her back. She did see little of Arthur now that the tournament was slowly approaching. Then again she remembered seeing little of him before then. Aliyaha wondered if his duties as a prince was preventing him from doing that. At that thought her cheeks turned a little crimson. What was she thinking? She bit down on the inside of her cheeks to keep herself from saying anything for a while. Not until she was sure that she was calm and under control anyways. “You look well sir,” Aliyaha commented. She was trying to make the silence disappear. If Aliyaha hadn’t met him she wondered what would have happened to her. She would have probably been sold already and not to a kind master. The bandits would have made sure to set her up with a cruel one.

She could already see the beatings and the days without food. Not to mention trying to survive the days with little sleep. Aliyaha shuddered a little to herself. A look of fear crossed her eyes for a moment before the mischievous look appeared again. She hoped that he was not paying attention. The young girl shook her head, bringing herself out of her thoughts. “No sir. That was all they had said.” She answered, the corners of her lips twitched downwards into a small frown. Not for the first time since she had come here did she feel a prickle of fear. Aliyaha wondered how on earth was she going to manage the extra duties that came with the tournament as well as her normal ones. I’ll somehow managed, she thought as she tried to fight down the rising fear. I just have to try hard not to think about that. Aliyaha frowned as she wondered the same question that Arthur had just asked her. “I…don’t know sir,” she had a look of complete confusion on her face. She hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. “I didn’t think they would have any time soon sir. With the extra duties being piled up and everyone running around,” She added as an afterthought, a thoughtful look was starting to cross her features now.

Aliyaha managed to return his smile with one of her shy ones. She nodded to what he was saying. “That must bring a lot of pressure,” she told him without thinking. Her cheeks turned crimson as she quickly glanced down at the ground. “Sorry sir. I…I spoke without thinking,” her voice was soft. I must learn to think before I speak, she thought. She still couldn’t believe that had slipped out. Aliyaha nodded to what he was saying again. “Yes sir. I have heard stories about the tournament from my father. He was a low ranking knight who died in battle,” The young girl surprised herself with the information that she was telling him. She had never really discussed her parents with anyone. But yet here she was telling the prince of Camelot about them. Funny how things ended up turning out, she thought wirily. I’ve always dreamed about watching the tournament, she thought to herself but she never said that out loud. “Would I be able to watch it sir?” she inquired curiously. All the servants had said that she would be waiting on the noble families and making sure that everything was going well. They never mention anything about watching the event, although she would very much like to.

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[Arthur Pendragon]

“You look well sir." That was certainly reassuring to hear. That he didn't look like a total wreck, despite the chaos of today. But he knew it was more important that she looked well; well and healthy. He remembered noticing how tired she had looked when he first met her, afraid that she had been weak from her travels, but impressed by her strength over having journeyed so far on her own. "As do you," he said with a soft smile. "I'm glad to see that you are adjusting well here." It had been one of his better decisions to give her this job. If he had not, what would have become of her? Would she had just resided in an inn for a few days? Or worse, on the streets? Arthur hated to see people in such a state, but he also knew he could not help every single person at once. One at a time. Slowly and steadily, he would do what he could.

Arthur listened as she explained that what she had been as ambiguous as she had first mentioned . . . and that they would not have time. He didn't want her to feel confused, and more importantly, they would need all the help they could get. As she was still rather new in her job, she needed proper and explicit details of her duties, rather than just being left in the dark. "I will make sure someone instructs you as to what you need to do," he told. He could easily get one of the servants to help. Not his idiot manservant Merlin -- as he would need him to do a hundred other tasks -- but maybe Morgana's handmaiden, or someone else who has worked here for some time. "Don't worry," he said with a reassuring smile, his words more meant for comfort above anything else. Yes. Arthur Pendragon was offering words of comfort to a servant. Not a hugely common occurrence, but there it was.

"That must bring a lot of pressure." These words surprised him, but he smiled and even let out a short chuckle upon hearing her honest thoughts. Even if they were a slip of the tongue -- as she apologized for them immediately after wards. He took no offense to them though. In fact, he found it a bit amusing that someone had been bold enough to say such a thing. "An apology is not necessary," he told her, his eyes holding a small hint of amusement, more than anger or irritation over her saying such a thing. "Besides, you're words aren't untrue," he said, with a bit of a smirk, actually admitting the pressures that he felt. Well, some of them. He wouldn't actually come out and say it . . he was merely agreeing with her observation, for it was absolutely correct. There was no need to lie about it. Around his knights or other royals, he would deny it, and probably just boast about how exceeding skills. But there was no need to act in such a way to Aliyaha.

He had not known that her father was a low ranking knight who died in battle. She had not offered such personal information to him i the past, and she had his deepest sympathies. "I'm sorry for you loss," he said, giving his condolence over such a thing. He knew her father was no longer living . . . but had not known the manner in which he passed on from this world. "He sounds like he was an honorable man," Arthur told her, able to say this with complete sincerity. Any man who gave his life for Camelot was regarded as nothing but brave and honorable. "What was his name?" Arthur asked. He may recognize it, even if he had not met the man. For Arthur made it a point to know as many of the knights of Camelot as he could . . . whether it be through actually meeting them, or hearing stories of them from others . . . or perhaps even honoring their death. If this man was one of the casualties of war, then Arthur most certainly wanted to know who he was. He wanted his mind to gain recognition for such heroic acts.

"Would I be able to watch it sir?" Arthur gave a faint smile when she asked the question. "I hope you do," he told her, knowing that sometimes servants did not have a choice. But if things were properly organized then some were able to watch the tournament . . . where as others chose not to. "If this is your first one, then it would hardly seem fair for you to miss it," he added. There were many annual tournaments, and as she now resided in the city, she would see more and more of them. But as this was the first one that would take place since her arrival, it could be exciting for her to watch it.