The King Has Returned . . . [Arwen]

[Guinevère]

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[Arthur Pendragon]

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[Guinevère]

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[Arthur Pendragon]

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[Guinevère]

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[Arthur Pendragon]

It took him a few additional moments to process her words because he was distracted with all the kisses she was giving him. Each time she pulled away to speak, all he wanted was for her to come to him again. "I find myself liking the queen's orders," he said playfully, speaking against her lips because he could not tear himself away. However, her fully non disjointed phrase caused him pause. Only because he had never heard her curse, not even lightly. It was not as if it fully mattered, for Arthur saw nothing wrong with it. It only showed that there was something else he had not known about her. He wondered if he should bring light to it, or leave it. Either way, he just looked at her with a slightly raised eyebrow. finally deciding to speak on it. "Guinevère," he said in that teasing way he sometimes spoke her name. "Since when did you curse?" He asked playfully, an amused smirk on his face. He became distracted from the awaited answer when she spoke of more benefits of going to another room. Not only because it had a bed . . . but because they would be able to be reached easier, for the sake of the children.

That was enough to motivate him to shift over there, rather than spend the rest of the night like this. When she told him to get up, he waited for her to move off of him, knowing he lacked the strength to push away. "As you wish my Queen," he said teasingly, speaking with submissive compliance to her 'orders'. He did not move right away though. He just sat there, watching her, his eyes lingering over her perfect figure. Just by standing there, clothed or unclothed, she filled him with such strong desires. He did not break out of this trance until she turned to face to him, covering her front with her dress. He broke out of his distracted daze -- only somewhat though. Enough to realize that he needed to stand up. Finally, he rose to his feet, smiling at her with clear lust in his eyes as he walked toward his pants. He pulled them over him, knowing that if he did not do so quickly, then he would just toss her dress aside and . . . they would never move from this room. When his pants were on and tied, he looked back at her. "Can I help you with your dress?" He offered, knowing he was slightly eager to do so.

[Guinevère]

"Guinevère, Since when did you curse?" That gave her pause. She had nto even relized she let out a slip, and the reminder of how much changed and the last few years were pushed right back to her. How much she was afriad of lossing him, and how they did not know if this was just one night, or one week, or one lifetime that he had been given back.

"Can I help you with your dress?" Smileing, but it not reaching her eyes, Guinevère pulled it over her head and then turned to give him accress to the laces that ran up the back of the dress. Guinevère didn't comment on the cursing part, but she did find her self facing the staute that held up his chainmail. "You should bring this with you." She told him, moving forward once the laces where done to reach her hand out and touch it.

"I use . . . . " To come here to be close to him, "I used to come in here at night, and rest my head on the shoulder." Pretend it was him. "Especally when I dind't know what to do, and the pressure was building too high." Turning to look at him she found her self needing him all over again. "I know nothing is how you left, and everything seems so driffernt but . . . I want you to know Arthur that there was never anyone else I turned too."

"No other men in my life. No one but your memory." She didn't want him to see or hear something that might make him wonder. "That I --that one thing that could never change is how much I love you. how much your childern love you. . . . . "

"I never img--" The high pitched scream of a child filled the hall, seconds before foot steps filled it. "Arthur! The childern!" She cried, moving toward the door, not bothering with her shoes. Knowing that Arthur would not only beat her toward the door, but be the first to rush in to protect his family.

[Arthur Pendragon]

When she turned her back to him to give him access, he smiled as he began to tie up her laces. Not without stealing a few kisses in between though, his lips caressing her soft skin as he bound her dress together. He knew that if he let it linger for too long then he would just reverse his work and they would never make it to the guest chamber. So he just tied them, gently giving one more kiss on the back of her neck, before letting her hair fall over it. It was rather fortunate that she spoke, for her words distracted him from doing more to her. "You should bring this with you." His gaze went from the back of her to where her head was facing. Realizing, that what she was looking at . . . was his chain mail. He stared at it for a moment, seeing the way it covered a statue; as if it belonged to a . . . dead man. He didn't say anything, as he went toward his shirt, picking it up and pulling it over his head, not bothering to tie the lace at the top of it. He proceeded to pull on his boots, fully dressing himself so that no one would question why he was so disheveled looking when emerging a room with the queen.

He also continued to listen to her words, the painful reminder that he was not here for her when he should have been. Now that he was fully dressed, he began to walk toward her, hearing how she used to come here, how she used to put her head against something that he wore almost on a daily basis, how she had been at a loss of what to do at times, as if he had the answer. He looked at her with a soft, apologetic expression. Knowing that he could not say anything to make her feel better. He could apologize, over and over, but was aware that it would not fix the past five years where he had abandoned her and the children. He moved even closer to her, finding any sort of distance far too painful between them because . . . well, because he didn't want to be apart from her any more. Not emotionally nor physically. It seemed they had overcome that distance, but it was by no means compensation for the past few years of her life. "No other men in my life. No one but your memory." These words filled him with strong gratitude, and it had touched on something that Arthur wanted to thank her for, just trying to find the right opportunity. He was grateful, because she had waited for him in a sense.

She had waited for him, even though she had not known he was coming back. He never once doubted her loyalty to him, but . . . he also was not naive enough to believe that opportunity never presented itself. That other kingdoms, kings and princes, surely extended their hand to her with the proposal of marriage to strengthen Camelot and build peace toward the kingdoms. That this unification, could have helped Camelot. It could have given her a husband to support her, and a man that her children could call father. The thought made him feel a strong pain in his heart, and a strong, intense wave of jealousy and anger toward anyone who would try to claim his wife as their own . . . but he never would have blamed her if she had take this route. In fact, he would have understood completely. But she had not. She had chosen a more difficult path, because she stayed committed to him even though he had not been here. It meant more to him than he could ever say and he wanted to thank her, not just through his actions of taking her to bed, but through words as well. And this, now, provided the perfect opportunity to do so. He did not interrupt her though. He waited for her to finish speaking, finding himself overcome with sentimental joy at her words.

That she loved him. That his children -- without knowing him -- loved him. The latter was also thanks to her, for he knew that the reason they held any remote love for him, was because of the way she must have talked about to both of them. That she had honored his memory more than anyone else could have. And once again, it meant the world to him. Especially since she did not know that one day he would return. "I never img--" Within a second, everything changed. A scream filled the otherwise silent halls and footsteps could be heard racing through the halls. Guinevère's words caused Arthur's eyes to widen, but hardly stall or hinder his reaction. It was a good thing he was dressed at least! But even then, he would not have cared. He quickly grabbed his sword that had been left on the side and raced out of the room. He did not wait for her. In fact, part of him hoped that she would stay back, but knew that was not in her nature. He didn't even take the time to try and convince her. He just bolted into the room, pushing aside anyone else who got in his way, and threw open the door, immediately rushing in. What he saw upon entering, caused his heart to nearly stop beating.

[Guinevère]

Arthur had beet her to the door, and her heart was pounding so hard she didn't know how to handle it. By the time Arthur reached the room she heard Anna yell, 'PAPA! Papa's here!! You have to go away now! My Papa will make you go away!!' When she turned into he room she saw her daughter pulling her son back, as they both stood on the bed, and her son looking very much like his father as he held a dagger before him and his sister behind him with one hand.

As the man over them, with the sword looked back at Arthur, Guinevère had to hold her breath not to scream ash Amaren dove forward to embed the dagger in the man's leg, and then turn to grab his sister and pull her away more. 'Anna!'

There were other men in the room but her only thought was to get to her children. Skirting the edge as the guards and Arthur took on the men in the middle she ran for the bed. When she arrived, the man was standing back up to glare down at her babies. You Pendrgon brat! He cursed down at them, and by that time, she was behind him. He had the dagger in one hand, holding it up at if to look at it, shocked at that her young son had done to him.

Coming from behind, and grabbing the man's hand she pulled hard, letting her weight cause the dagger to fly forward and into his neck. He dropped quickly, but she didn't stand and look, but instead climbed on the bed and grabbed, Anna. "Don't look!" She cried, hiding her face into her shoulder. "Aramen, don't look!" She wanted to spare him the sight, but he didn't look away from his father. Guinevère had to pull hard on him to get him to the servant's steps.

From there she knew how to disappear . . . . .

From there, there was only one place safe to go . . .

One place Arthur would know where to look for her.

She was going home. "RUN!" She yelled at her son, pulling and pushing him down and into he steps, before taking his hand and forcing him along. Arthur would make sure none followed her. She had that much faith even after five years.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur heard his daughter call for him, and that was enough to cause the anger to rise in him. The man near his children looked to him and Arthur gave him a deadly cold glare . . . enough to distract him while Amaren stabbed him in the leg. Arthur was once again, all the more proud of him and knew that he would be praising his son for that later. In the meantime, the rage finally dominated him as he charged toward the men. He didn't hesitate for a second. Unfortunately, the other intruders blocked his path from reaching his children. An obstacle but one that was not too formidable. He didn't even look at Guinevère, for he instantly distracted himself by allowing his sword to slice through the air, in an almost musical way; the tone of Excalibur unlike any other weapon he'd ever held or even lay witness to. Its swift movements and lethal sharpness made the fight not dragged out. Even the guards did not have to intervene too much, for Arthur's anger was strong enough for him to kill the men quickly.

He heard someone curse his son and his head turned in that direction, just in time to see Guinevère's action that caused the man to crumble. He attention was divided between fighting the man in front of him, and watching his wife with the children. It was not until she had grabbed them, told them to run and exited the room, that Arthur felt he was able to breathe with ease. Knowing that they were not in the midst of this combat. But also knew that they were not safe. "Follow them! Protect them!" He ordered the guards, having to raise his voice above all the clanging of metal. He knew that they did not take the orders of him as a king, but rather, as a reminder that they were to protect the queen, prince and princess of Camelot. He would have rather gone, but knew that in the middle of combat, he could not just run after them for he would be followed. So with that, they hurried out of the room after them, leaving Arthur with Agravaine's men to fight off.

They were better trained than bandits, not as well trained as him. Thankfully. It did not take long for victory to grace the battle, as his sword penetrated the last standing man's chest with such precision and easy insertion . . . that it only further showed the strength of the sword that Arthur would never be able to stop wielding. Now that he had this one, he could never use another sword again. Pulling out the blade from the man's chest, he looked around the room to make sure that there was no one else. He even looked out the window to make sure no swarm of men were there. When he was satisfied that all were dead, he kept his sword firmly in his hand and ran through the servant's halls in attempt to find his family. He prayed that they were safe! That no more men had ambushed the castle and found them. He also felt that growing need to find his uncle and bring his attempts on his wife and children to an end. Arthur would find that man, even if it killed him . . . again.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère pulled them thought the halls and out of one of the servant's entrances. With everything going on inside, there were not many about. She walked toward the training fields and pulled the the children more and more until the reached the lower towns and then her former home unseen. 'Mama, we are out od the castle! We aren't allowed out of the castle! Where are we going?' He was asking more and more questions but the only thing she could see in her mind was that man over them both with his sword.

"Shhh, soon we can talk, just wait." She whispered to him, as she pushed open the the door to her old him, surprised to find the fire and candle already lit but not thinking about that not. Putting Anna down she put her hands over both of them looking for injuries, "Are you both alright? Did they hurt you? Are you ok?" Shew as asking and Anna nodded, while her brother started to and then looked over toward the back. Guinevère turned to look back that way and froze. A young man, who was wearing what looked like wet dark clothing. It took her a few moments to see that ti wasn't wet but bloody.

Pushing the children behind her she was about to make them run but the boy or young man spoke, "My lady?" She asked hesitantly, "I didn't know were else to go." He seemed frightened but she wanted her children away from him. Turning she reached for the door but froze again at his next words. "Emrys said to wait fr the king. I don't understand. There is not a king." Turning quickly back to the young man she knew who he was. The messenger that everyone was looking for. "Amaren, I need you to be very brave and take Anna to the back, and keep her there. Draw the curtains and don't peek, ok?" She asked while keeping herself between the children and the clearly dying man. To the young man she spoke, "Give me the message," but he shook his head, "Emrys said only to the king. And only to the king I shall speak it. . . . but he'd dead. Am I supposed to die?"

Once the children were in the back she moved forward to help him move tot he table, "I need you to lie down on it." She told him, "I don't want to die, my lady." She didn't want to see him die, no one needed to die again! "The king is not dead, you are doing good. Clearly Emrys didn't think you would die or he would not have given you the message to give to my husband." She hoped, "Clearly your not meant to die tonight . . . "

She just had to keep him alive long enough to see Arthur.

[Arthur Pendragon]

There were few places that he knew Guinevère would go to, where he could find her. Places that were special to them, or just places that no one else would necessarily think of. The first was his mother's room. And the second was the room in the garden. As he was in the castle, he started with the first on the list. Knowing that that was where his children had initially been attacked, but Arthur wondered if they went down there anyway. Perhaps the guards were there as well? For he did not yet come across them. He could feel his heart pounding so heavily, afraid for the fate of his family. He prayed with everything in him that they were safe and away from this harm. Would they ever truly be safe though? Would they ever truly be out of harm's way? It seemed so impossible, especially considering they had been attacked twice in the same night! Is this what their life was like? No wonder Guinevère was so afraid for them.

Because Camelot was now such an unsafe place where people could just stroll in and attack his family. He needed to change this. He needed to bring Camelot back to a kingdom that was secure and safe for his wife and children. He ran down the stairs and paused at the end of the hall, just in time to see someones feet before they disappeared through the thresh hold of the door. Arthur paused for a moment, and instead of racing ahead, he approached with the utmost caution as he took slow, but rushed steps, gripping his sword tightly and holding it out defensively in front of him. When he arrived at the opened door, he put his back against the wall, taking a deep breath before leaping into the room, freezing at the sight he saw. His uncle, pulling out a dagger from one of the guard's neck's. Both of the guard's he had sent to protect his family were now lying on the ground dead.

His eyes slightly widened, but he quickly regained himself and held his sword out in front of him, taking slow steps toward Agravaine. "Drop the weapon," he told him in a strongly cold and commanding voice. Agravaine complied, the dagger falling from his now open palms. He held his hands out on either side of him as Arthur neared him slowly, while Agravaine slowly took steps back to counter his advancements. "Do not move," Arthur added in the same cold tone. Agravaine did not look like he was going to try and fight him. Not when he knew the power of the sword in Arthur's hand . . . not when he surely knew that Arthur would kill him -- uncle or not -- if he tried. "Come now Arthur, surely we can reach an understanding --" But before Agravaine could say anything more, Arthur cut him off. "Do not speak!" He yelled in a raised voice. He didn't want to hear any more of his lies and poisonous thoughts.

Agravaine had done enough harm to him and his family. Arthur' kept his weapon up and ready, but in that split moment that he looked at the guards to see if they were alive, Agravaine took full advantage. He pulled out a dagger to throw at Arthur, but thankfully, he had seen it just in time and his reflexes did not fail him as he swerved to the side to avoid it. With his failed assassination attempt, Agravaine took it as an opportunity for distraction and made a run for it toward the door. Arthur had recovered quickly though and just seconds before his uncle could pass the sole entrance and exit of the room, Arthur raised his weapon and used the hilt of Excalibur to strike him across the face. This was strong enough to render his uncle unconscious as he collapsed to the floor. Arthur looked at him for a moment, so enraged that he gripped the handle of his sword, with the point facing downward and raised it, as if it would directly stab his uncle in the chest.

He was about to lower it to the point of no return . . . when he stopped. He wanted to kill him. So badly. For all that he had done. It was his fault that his family was in so much danger. It was him who had lured him into a trap that had caused Arthur's death. It was because of him that he had missed the last five years of his life! And he wanted Agravaine to pay. But . . . he was his uncle. He was his mother's brother. Regardless of his disrespect toward her -- falsely swearing on his life multiple times, and acting like he was honoring promises he made to her -- Arthur could not kill him. Not when he was lying in this unconscious state, so vulnerable. Arthur almost wished that he had engaged in sword combat with him, for that way, he could claim his life out of pure self defense. But right now, he would be murdering him in cold blood. Something that Arthur could not do. And also something he was frustrated with himself for not being able to do.

For this was far better than what Agravaine deserved. The man had taken so much from him already. He was not going to let him take Arthur's honor. So he lowered his weapon, tucking it under his arm while he dragged his uncle to the other side of the room. He stopped midway, walking over where there was some cloth. He picked it up and proceeded to bind his uncle's hands and feet with several tight knots. It would take time to get out of them; time that Agravaine would not have. Knowing he would be unconscious long enough, Arthur held his sword once more and exited the room. He hurried back up the stairs, almost immediately running into a group of guards. They looked at him skeptically, almost as if they were about to raise their weapons to him, but Arthur spoke before they had the chance. "Agravaine is down the hall. Take him to the dungeons." He didn't care if they would not take orders from him. It was the logical thing to do so it was not as if they would object to this. Arthur didn't even wait to see their response. He rushed back them, bolting up the stairs.

His family was not down here, so his next stop would be to check outside. Agravaine had been waiting for them in the room, so he took this as a sign that he had went to the wrong spot . . . that Guinevère and the children were still out there. And once again, he found himself praying that more of Agravaine's men did not find them. He raced through the garden's, going to the secluded room and throwing open the doors to find it empty as well. The hope he had came crashing down as he just looked at the vacant room. He did not linger in there, quickly stepping out and rushing through the gardens, to the courtyard of the castle. She said that she did not let the children go beyond the gates . . . so where could they be? In the towers? In the guest room that she had spoken of? No. They had to have gone to a different level. But where. Arthur knew he was wasting time just standing out in the courtyard trying to figure it out, but he was feeling more and more panicked with each passing moment of not knowing whether they were safe . . . or even alive.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère never let the children leave the castle's walls and they had never once been out of the citadel. Doing so now had to be frightening for them, but after seeing them attack twice with in hours of each other she knew the castle was no longer safe. The news of Arthur had pushed everyone ofter the edge and it wasn't even public yet.

The man on the table was bleeding--dying--and she was doing her best to lie to him and keep him alive until she could find someway to get word to Arthur. If she could but get him resting, then she could get a neighbor to run for guards.

She needed to see the wounds but he had blood, both dried and wet all over him. "Amaren! I need water, bring a pitcher." She called as she tried to wipe away what she could, while putting pressure on one of the man open wounds. "Agravaine did this?" She asked softly, "he wanted the message, but Emrys said to give it to only the king." What was so important?

"Amaren! Water! Please!" She called before looking at the man, "The king will come soon, you need to hold on until then. He will come." She heard soft foots steps and looked down to see Anna holding a vase of flowers. 'This has water in it Mama.' "Anna!" Guinevère took it from her and then turned her daughter to look away, "I need your brother to lift the heavier one, tell him to hurry!"

'Is Papa the king? Amaren said he was.' "Yes, he is the king, tell Amaren to come quickly, please Anna it's very important." 'But, he went to find the king.' That was when her heart stopped . . . .

Amaren on the other hand, was very good at two games. The first was keep away: Where he would hold something over his head and not let Anna have it. The later was the game where he and Anna would hide and someone would try to find them. They had gotten so good, that he could get past the guards that protected the royal floors.

Getting past the ones along the wall however, was a lot harder. In the end, he had to wait for what felt like a year before one of them moved to 'see a man about a fish' and the other one was looking away. Once he was in, he could find his way back to the fighting and get his Papa. Amaren climbed the steps, and ran as fast as he could, until he reached a hall were their were men. A few of them looked at him, and while they were wearing Pendragon coats of arms, he knew better then to trust faces he'd never seen before.

Turning he ran as hard as he could the other way--not sure where he was going on the lower levels, but knowing enough that he knew which way was closer to the inside and which way lead out. Ducking into the throne room, he ran to hide behind the throne, trying to catch his breath.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur had decided that he would search the castle thoroughly before he began to look in the cities. He was supposed to be keeping his presence as secret as possible, and it was clear that from the looks of the guard's thus far, they weren't sure what to make of them. Some must have been new and didn't recognize him. Others just seemed genuinely confused. Either way, he would try to attract as little attention to himself as possible. So as he went through the halls, he tended to hide in the shadows and avoid confrontation and any encounters with the guards and men scouring the castle to look for the missing queen and children. There was so much chaos. Between the disappeared queen, Agravaine getting caught, and Emrys still gone . . . not one seemed to know what to make of anything. There was no leadership. For not even Leon -- who Arthur assumed was now the army's general -- was here to give any sort of direction as to what their next course of action should be.

Fortunately, the chaos helped him blend in the crowd better. Though his fear of his missing family was growing, each step he took; he room he checked with no success. He had gotten desperate, to the point of just opening every door and checking every single room. He would go through the halls when others were not there. It was so strange to have this feeling of hiding from his own men. Something that he had never thought he'd needed to do. But tonight, it was imperative. Until they knew for sure what was going on, it was safer to just avoid them completely. Arthur opened the room to the council chambers, but there was no one. Then the grand hall, no one. Then the throne room. His eyes searched around but saw nothing. He turned to close the door when he heard something. It was so faint, but it echoed in the other wise silent room. He was used to even the faintest breathing, for when hunting and tracking . . . it was extremely important to be aware of all surrounding sounds.

He turned back around, his eyes giving another thorough look of the room. He took a few steps closer toward the middle of the room, and it did not take long for him to realize that someone was hiding under the throne. No. Not just someone or anyone. He slowly began to walk around the throne to see . . . his son! A burst of relief washed over him. "Amaren?" He both acknowledged and asked. Acknowledge because he was so relieved to see him! Asked because . . . what was he doing apart from Guinevère and Anna? That made him so worried for them, yet so relieved to at least see his son. His eyes were already searching over him for signs of any injury. He quickly crouched down in front of him, putting his hands on the boy's small shoulders. "Are you alright?" He questioned, his eyes getting a better look now that he was closer. "What happened? Where are your mother and sister?" So many questions . . . yet still such strong relief in his son's safety.

[Guinevère]

Someone opened the door and he did nothing but breath. Later in life he would learn the importance of knowing how sound traveled in this room, but for now it was what gave him away. "Amaren?" Looking up, he saw his Papa. "Are you alright? He gave a strong nod, shaking his head more then he had while trying to catch his breath.

"What happened? Where are your mother and sister?" Instead of answering right away, he stepped forward and hugged his father. Running from the house they were in, and trying to here here, and from the men he did not know had him shaking from the fear. He still would do it again, but he was shaking from the fear of never being this much on his own before. "S--safe." He said between gasps of air.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur paused for a moment, taken aback by his son's arms suddenly coming around him. It was not in the least bit unwelcome . . . he had just always thought Amaren had his reservations and hesitation when it came to his father suddenly entering his life. And now, he was here, hugging him, and Arthur's heart swelled with happiness. His reaction was hardly delayed, as he put his arms around his son's small body, even going a step further to lift him up in his arms, holding him close with one arm, and still clutching his sword with the other. He was still wary of the dangers that lurked about, so would not give up his weapon. Nor would he deprive himself of the opportunity to hold his son. "Safe." Safe. Another wave of relief hit him.

They were safe. He suddenly felt like everything would be alright. That they had survived another attack. But, how many more would come? Was this just another usual day in the Pendragon Palace at night? "Can you tell me where they are so that we can go to them?" He asked softly, still holding his son as he began to walk toward the door to exit the throne room. He wanted to ask why he had run away from them, but right now . . . he just wanted for them to all be together. He wanted to see for himself that Anna and Guinevère were safe. That no harm had come to them either.

[Guinevère]

He felt his father lifted him and walk out of the room. He wanted to demand to walk like a big boy, but at the moment the fear was more then his pride, leaving him to hold on and try to remember where the house was. "I don't know how to to back." Which was hard for him to admit.

"Mama took us from the castle, wouldn't let us talk. She said it wasn't safe. It's a house in the city." And there was more, "There was a man there, and he was covered in blood. He said he had a message for the king, but I think he was dying. mama seemed worried. So I went to find you."

"Are you the king?"

[Arthur Pendragon]

When Amaren began to explain the general location of where they had gone . . . Arthur almost instantly had a strong inkling as to where she had taken the children. There was only one house in the city that he could think of her to go to. Her own. "Don't worry, we'll find her and Anna," he assured him. Because Arthur knew where he was going. He made his way through the halls, taking as indirect a route as possible so that he would avoid the guards. He didn't want them stopping him, thinking he was an intruder trying to kidnap the crown prince of Camelot. So it was still best to just avoid them all together. He listened to Amaren explain that there was a man there, covered in blood. Arthur hid his concern, not wanting to alarm his son . . . even though he knew what this meant. It was the messenger. The one that Agravaine had been looking for.

Had he found him first then? Did he refuse to talk? Either way, whatever Agravaine got from him, he would not be able to report back to Morgana. For he was trapped in the dungeons below. This information however made Arthur slightly quicken his pace to get to Guinevère's home quicker. "Are you the king?" Arthur looked at his son, giving a slight smile as his question. "I am," he told him. Rightfully, he was the king. But right now . . . he didn't know who he was. Or what he was doing it. He wanted to speak of how one day, he would be king but was going to avoid all topics focused on Arthur's death. It was definitely not the best subject to explore right now, least of all with his son. "But more importantly, I am your father. And I will make sure that no one else can hurt you or our family." Their family.

[Guinevère]

"Then he does have a message for you? From Emrys?" He asked as she went out and were heading though the city. As they grew near, Amaren seemed to know they were going the right way. "How did you know where to go? Is mama going to be made that I did not tell her I left?" However, as if to answer his question, the door to Guinevère's former home flew opened and she hurried out to him.

Her dress was much darker, and red in many places but she didn't care whens he saw Arthur holding his son. "Don't you -EVER- do that again!" She whispered in a yelling tone, so no one would wake and noticed what was happening. walking with them back to and into the little house before pulling Amaren from him and hugging him tightly. "I was so afraid for you!"

After a moment the curtains in the back parted and Anna RAN forward and jumped up at Arthur's feet, clearly meaning for him to hold her. 'Papa! Papa!' They were all together! Not clean, and she feared of the things they had seen this night--they children were so young. Yet for the moment, she was just glad that all was well.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur didn't have the chance to answer either question from Amaren, for a very worried Guinevère approached him, scolding him for running off, but Arthur knew it was done out of fear for his safety. And she was right. "Don't be too hard on him," Arthur said, knowing that next time, Amaren may not be so lucky to evade the threats that filled the castle. Regardless, Arthur knew that it was because of him, that he was here with them now. "I would never have found either of you had he not come." They would have to have a talk about it later, but for now he was just thankful that everyone was alright and safe. He did not fail to notice the blood on her and was about to ask what happened, also realizing that Anna was not around! Was she -- "Papa! Papa!" And the final wave of relief washed over him when he saw his daughter.

Safe, and unharmed. He swooped her up into his arms and spun her around for a moment, before just holding her close to him. "My princess," he said softly smiling as he kissed her forehead in pure relief. He looked at Guinevère once more, to ensure that no harm had come to her. But the blood had distracted him, and that was when gaze went to the bloodied body on the table. One that was still alive, but it did not look like he was for long. Arthur slowly put Anna down, needing to hear the message before it was too late. "Amaren, take your sister back there and closet he curtains," he instructed. He slowly took a few steps towards the man who was covered with blood. His eyes looked over him, feeling sympathetic for his fading life. "Can you tell me what happened?" He asked, now here to hear the message from Emrys. From . . . Merlin.