Start of Something New [Arthur]

[Romily de Braose]

How did he know she was in Camelot? Did he have spies watching her every move that she had made since she left home? Romily's hands shook as she had taken the letter, now only to find that it wasn't her father's writing. What? Who was sending letters to her? And here? She opened it reading and re-reading the letter over and over again. She'd recognised the man who had brought it to her - Sir Ethan, who she remembered as a Knight at the court of Carmelide. Her father had spoken of him highly - then again he did with everyone apart from her. Her eyes scanned the letter and kept doing so until it all sunk in.

He was dead. Her father was dead? It was signed and sealed from the King of Carmelide himself. Her head spun madly. Her father was gone - and it was almost on instant that Romily felt rather guilty about not making an effort to return home to make ammends. Her home. Wolfhall was indeed in her possession - even when her father had continuously yelled at her that evening a few years ago, that she would be left with nothing but her name. The letter went on to explain that she was to return to Carmelide immediatly, but could she? Knowing all that had gone on in her home. All sad memories and not yet a happy one. Could she change that by just being 'Lady of the Manor' as King Leodegrance had written.

Romily's hand went to the wall for support as she felt her knees begin to buckle underneath her slightly. It was all too much to take in at this point. Only one person could tell her what to do in this situation, and that person was Arthur himself. She valued his opinion as he was her trusted friend amongst others. It was a long shot though, he could either be in meeting with the council or training with his knights, or just looking over papers of importance. She hadn't the heart to interrupt Guinevère in her daily business either.

Hand tightening around the paper, she stood up and made the walk upstairs to the royal chambers. Even such a short walk proved to be too long in Romily's eyes. Longer than it had ever been anyway - then again it was the current state of mind that she was in. Coming to Arthur's door, she gave a short and light knock.

Tagged: Arthur Pendragon
Timeline: After S4 Ends
Setting: Arthur's chambers, morning
Notes: Arthur, you rock with ideas! xD

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur was having a rather fantastic morning! Then again, every night and every morning had been rather wonderful ever since he had married Guinevère. Their nights were late and demanded much of their energy. Their mornings were often started with the same activities of last night. He was finding it harder and harder to pull himself from their bed every morning, having to remind himself that he was a king and he had things to do. Just as he could not take up every moment of her day . . . for as a queen, she was well invested in her own duties. It only made him wish even more that he could have been a farmer. Because that way, he could have spent an entire day in bed with his wife and not be burdened with having responsibilities elsewhere. Whatever time they could steal between the day, they took full advantage of. Married life was certainly more pleasurable and satisfying than the life of a bachelor.

And Arthur as quite glad that he was able to make this transition, rather swiftly at that. He was currently seated at his work desk, reading through a series of documents. Part of him hoped that Guinevère returned to their chambers so that she could distract him. The other part of him knew that he needed to get this done. Either way, a knock at the door pulled him from such thoughts as he turned his head and attentions to it. 'Enter," he announced. With that, the door slowly opened and Arthur immediately recognized the woman on the other end. "Lady Romily," Arthur greeted with a friendly smile as he respectfully rose to his seat. Knowing that she would not come here if her visit was going to be overly brief, he went to one of the chairs and pulled it out for her to sit. "What brings you here?" He inquired. Of course he would never reject her company. She just . . . had an almost sullen look on his face that caused concern in him.

[Romily de Braose]

She heard a voice - Arthur's, telling her to enter. That she did, toying with the letter that was slowly beginning to weigh heavy in her hands. She swept down into a curtsy as Arthur greeted her, accepting the chair he was now offering her to sit in. Romily waited until Arthur did the same opposite her and passed him the letter.

"This..." she replied, "I received it this morning - Sir Ethan of Carmelide delievered it to me...I really have no idea how on earth he managed to trace me, but apparently my father did know I was here..."

Romily kept her gracious stance whilst seated, knowing that if she relaxed she'd surely ned up crumbling. She did not want Arthur to see her weak - he'd seen too many sides of her for his liking. Her hands clasped together tightly in her lap, watching him and waiting for a reply. "I have come to a decision - It did not take much time, and I know that it will be hard. But now this is something that I must do..." she explained, "You have been so kind to me Arthur, more kind than I could have ever asked, but even I know that I cannot stay in Camelot forever - no matter how much I love it here."

Carmelide was her home, Camelot her second. She now had her title back for real, her house, the people who she considered to be her friends even if they hadn't known. No matter how sad the memories were that were held in the house, it was time to make new ones. "I just wanted to know your thoughts - whether you think i am doing the right thing.I still cannot think properly for myself - it's just been so much to take in."

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur tried to follow along with her conversation, but found himself getting a little lost. It was clear that whatever was in the letter had deeply affected her. Or perhaps it could be because her father knew where to find her, that she felt the need to return? Arthur waited for her to finish speaking, processing the information she did give him. He knew of course that she could not live in Camelot forever -- or well, the castle forever. He had offered her a place of temporary stay, just until she decided what to do. Now, it seemed that she would . . . wish to return home? Or go somewhere else? Somewhere that her father would not no? He wasn't quite sure. "What did the letter say?" He asked curiously. He would be unable to help, until she told him the content of the letter.

"Is your father asking that you return?" He further inquired. He recalled their previous conversations about this very subject. Arthur had offered to invite her father here as a means to sit down and discuss Romily's future, yet she had objected for understandable reasons considering the past she spoke that consisted of strain in her relationship with her father. So now, what had compelled her to wish to return? Of course Arthur would be supportive in either direction she wished to take. And if she came here to ask for his advice, then he most certainly give it to the best of his ability.

[Romily de Braose]

It took her a while to actually calm herself before answering Arthur's question. Romily didn't think that she would be reacting this way should this day ever come - which it now had done. She fiddled with her hands in her lap and shifted into a more comfortable position. It was as though she couldn't keep still for a few moments. Instead she now took a breath, and looked to Arthur.

"The letter was delievered to me this morning..." she began, "at first I thought that it was from my father - given the fact that one of the Knights from the Carmelide court had brought it to me. I opened it and it wasn't from my father but instead from King Leodegrance." Now that had been shocker.

"My father is dead, and I am under orders to return to Carmelide again. Apparently my father left everything to me. His money, his home...but i am sceptical as to whether I should return. For me it would mean that my status is finally restored but then again, it would mean that I would leave my friends behind to live alone in a house that holds far to many unhappy memories, rather than happy ones."

As she'd thought of earlier, yes she could make happy ones there - but with who exactly? She would have Bonnie back, as well as a few other servants who she had been quite friendly with, but other than that? She had never made any connections to any noble families in Carmelide. For her to be under orders that she come to court now scared her the most.

She sighed, "I do not know what to do." Her eyes kept their gaze on her lap. "I have made so many friends here and now it seems as though I am to be taken away from them."