Don't Let It Break Your Heart ; ( Arsha )

[Sasha]

So Sasha was heading back to Camelot. Again. She was always leaving and she was always returning. It was becoming a come and go kind of thing, and they always seemed to welcome her with open arms. In her travels she had mostly explored forests and vast grassy meadows and beautiful mountains. But now she was back she felt a warmth come over her. Only this time it would only be a short visit for a week or two until she moved on. It never got lonely, her brother Nicolae Rei Jacob was always at her side. They were a small couple together, and she would have to say she was the more commanding of the two.

Coming upon a very small clearing of low yellow green grass and not so much sunshine as it was shaded by the trees mostly, Sasha spotted a young man and a horse nearby. The man was sitting up against a large oak on the other edge of the clearing. She could barely see him, but she could that he had blonde hair.

Arthur?

Nicolae came up from behind her. “What are you looking at?” He inquired. Sasha glanced toward him but then shifted her glare back to 'Arthur'. There was no way that she could tell if it was him, but the man sure looked a lot like him. She was a little afraid to approach him in case it was not Arthur. But this was Camelot so if it was not Arthur Pendragon, it would probably be a knight or noble.

"Look who it is," she commented with a smile.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur hadn't been able to take it anymore. He knew that he should be making preparations for his coronation tomorrow . . . but he just could not focus. He could not be around all those people offering their condolences to him, because tomorrow they would be offering their congratulations. His father's funeral had been this morning, and while he did not publicly cry . . . that did not mean he felt the strong pain of his loss. Last night, he had spent it in a large room with his father's lifeless body. His father's lifeless body . . . because of Arthur. Because of the fact that he had killed Odin's son; because he had just lay there helplessly while his father sacrificed his life to save him. Because Arthur had foolishly tried to find an answer in magic, only to be betrayed and cause his father a sooner death. Arthur had never blamed himself for something so greatly. But Uther's death was blood on his hands. And regardless of what anyone said . . . he would never exempt himself of such blame. So he needed to get away. He needed to be away from everything. Merlin and Guinevère were busy with the preparations for tomorrow.

He knew Guinevère was excited for this, as well as mourning with him for the loss. He had spent some time with her after Uther's funeral, but soon they had to busy themselves with the duties for tomorrow's coronation. It was not something Arthur was ready for. He felt unprepared. He did not know how he was going to handle the pressures and burdens of being king. All he knew, was that he had no choice. That he wanted to mourn right now and he had to keep a strong front for everyone to see a king of strength; not one consumed with grief. So he had escaped the city for just a little while. He told a few people where he was going, but did not want escorts or anyone to accompany him. Had Guinevère been free, he would have just spent time with her. But she was not, and he would not ask her to inconvenience herself. Plus, he couldn't find her. Instead, he'd taken advantage of the bright day and rode out into the woods. He wasn't sure how long he was riding for.

Only that he finally decided to let his horse rest. Tying it up to a tree near a lake, Arthur rested his back against a tree trunk. He was dressed in his casual attire -- perhaps for the last time, for as king he would be expected to wear his armor and cape whenever he left the castle -- even within the castle walls. His eyes were closed, but he was not asleep. He was just to compose his racing thoughts. Taking deep breathes. Not letting himself cry, but letting himself grieve. A voice broke the silence . . . an almost slightly teasing voice. "Look who it is." Arthur would have easily recognized his voice but opened his eyes curiously. When he saw who it was, he quickly rose to his feet in surprise. "Sasha?" He questioned, stating the obvious but the shock of seeing her after so long was hitting him rather hard. "Lady Sasha Tiberius," he more formally greeted, though almost in a slightly teasing was. He could not let others see him in such a weakened state. He had to force a smile on his lips, however small it may be. The joy of seeing a former friend however was sincere.

[Sasha]

“Prince Arthur Pendragon,” Sasha greeted him formally but with a deep friendliness in her voice. She was so glad to see him again! It had been so long! The last time she had seen him was about a year ago after he defeated Morgana le Fey. Anything could have happened in that one year so she would surely ask him. “You haven't changed a bit!” She added cheerfully.

“Greetings, Sire,” Nicolae joined in happily. It was great to see him acting so comfortable around the prince. It did not seem like long ago that he was more nervous than she was around him. She knew that Arthur had given him a firm and solid warning to not try anything with her. Even if Nic would never do anything horrid to her, she still thanked Arthur for being so caring for her.

Sasha advanced toward Arthur a few feet, only a short distance between them now. “How are you?” she asked him with a huge smile. “It's been a year!”

[Arthur Pendragon]

"Prince Arthur Pendragon." Now that was a title that would soon be put to rest. For he knew that his position as Prince, was no longer valid. That come tomorrow, he would be referred to as king. It sounded so . . . bizarre. To ever hear himself referred to as King Arthur Pendragon. But alas, it was not a matter he had choice in. He knew that this would one day come. He only wished that he'd not been responsible for his father's death. Her words also revealed that she did not hear about the King's death. Or if she did, then she knew his coronation hadn't happened yet. He would tell her in time, but for now did not wish to do anything to dampen her evident cheer in seeing him. While he felt it as well, he had a more difficult time expressing it. He did however smile when she said that he hadn't changed. "Neither have you. Though, you look a great deal happier." Which gave her a certain radiance, that he was extremely glad for. He had worried for her. For their friendship. After their last conversation filled with heartache and his regret over not having been more honest with her . . . he'd wondered how she had been.

He knew she was strong enough to be alright, but seeing it now was just such an immense comfort. When Nicolae spoke up, Arthur realized that he had not even acknowledged him. Sasha's brother. The family ties that she had revealed to Arthur over two years ago, made him slightly more comfortable with the man being around Sasha in the way he was. It was less shady for a random man to be around her, as oppose to her own brother. "Nicolae," he greeted, nodding his head a bit, a smile still on his lips, especially as she walked closer to him. "I'm well," he told her. A bit of a lie but again, he did not wish to darken the mood. Not yet. "It has indeed been far too long." A year since he'd last seen her. A year since she left Camelot. "I am glad to see you well and safe. How have you been all this time?" He asked, wanting to know what she had been doing for the past year. And was just grateful to see that no harm had come to her. Or if it had, it was not enough to scar her. Either that, or she was just doing a remarkable job of not showing it.

[Sasha]

"Neither have you. Though, you look a great deal happier."

That was certainly true. With her travels she'd become much happier. Her heart still ached for the prince, but she had learned how to live with it. She'd never be with him or be his wife, so why keep thinking about it? Or well, that's what she kept telling herself. But she didn't want to think about that now, so she pushed it to the back of mind and stopped a few feet away from the prince saying, "I've seen many places with Nicolae. It sounds strange... but I think the life of a nomad is better for me. However, that doesn't mean I won't want to pay a visit to Camelot every now and then." As long as King Uther and his son Arthur didn't have a problem with her coming and going.

"And how is your father the king?" Sasha asked Arthur innocently. If she had known that his father was dead she would never have asked anything like that. But that was what happened whne you weren't around the catch the details of Cameot. Nicolae just stood there in the background of the conversation, not wanting to interupt it. The nomad servant knew that his sister valued all the words the prince said to her.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur gave a small smile upon hearing her speak of all the places she had seen with Nicolae, a man that she had previously revealed to him was her brother. It certainly made him feel better about the man's intentions toward Sasha. "It is not strange," he assured her. "If this is what is best suited for you, then I am glad you have found something that gives you peace and happiness. So long as you do indeed return for a visit now and then." If it was the adventurous lifestyle she sought, then he was happy for her. He often wondered what it would be like; to just freely roam the land, without anything tying him down. Of course he had far too many responsibilities to enjoy such a liberty . . . but it did not mean he didn't think about it. In fact, it was what intrigued him all the more to such a notion; knowing that it was an impossibility in his life.

He was never destined to be a man who was able to put his desires above all others. It only made him feel the heavy weight and intense pressures of being king . . . a day that would come tomorrow. "And how is your father the king?" Her question was directly in sync with his thoughts. Then again, his father's death was all that consumed Arthur's thoughts. It was why he had escaped from the city for a little while. He knew there was no use lying to her. That sooner or later, she would learn the truth for herself. That didn't mean that the question was an easy one for him to answer. Not with the wounds of his loss being so fresh in his heart . . . as he doubted they would ever fully heal. Pausing for several moments, allowing a passage of silence, Arthur concluded that there was no easy way to say it. That he could only just reveal it. "My father recently passed on from this world," he said, his voice dry while speaking it though it remained steady and composed.

[Sasha]

Sasha was glad to see him looking happy. She hadn't seen him for so long. She would have to tell him to explain everything that had happened since she'd left. "I may come and go, stay away long years," she smiled. Sasha loved traveling. She never liked to stay in area long, always on the move. . . until it seemed that she had reached the edge of Albion. Someday, she promised herself, I will see the entirety of this world. I shall see edges of this earth. "But I will never leave this kingdom completely. I have ties to it; my father lived here, and I was born here. And you are a great friend of mine." She wondered if she'd ever find the urge to settle down and have a family with someone. She was 25 years old, halfway through the third decade in her life, and she hadn't even fallen in love with more than one man. And that man hadn't even loved her back. She hadn't really made progress in that area. She just wanted to enjoy her life, and she guessed that's all that really mattered.

When she heard Arthur's answer to her question about his father, she was completely taken aback. Now, she had NOT expected to hear that he had passed away. No, she had expected to hear something casual. . . maybe something along the lines of 'He is doing fine, as usual' or 'He is very healthy'. Not. . . not. . . that he had passed away. Her smile immediately dropped off her face, and her expression became a surprised frown. "Oh. . . Arthur. . ." The Lady Sasha began sympathetically. Her own father had died ( worse, he had been murdered ), yet she could not think of the right words to say to the prince. . . or well, technically king since his father was dead. "I. . . I am so sorry. I know what it is like to... to lose a parent. I know what you must be going through." And she meant that deeply. "Oh my God. I am so sorry."