An Era of Peace and Prosperity

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur was in perhaps the best mood he had been in a long time. Things in Camelot finally seemed to be going well. The kingdom was won back -- yet again -- from Morgana before her wrath could do more damage. While she destroyed crops and homes, the people were all working together to rebuild every and repair the farmland. It did not seem like Camelot would fall under a food shortage, which was all the more reason to celebrate. But it was not only from this perspective that things were well . . . for Arthur's heart was happy. And the reason was a single name: Guinevère. After all that had happened, and all they had lost -- Isolde for example -- Arthur realized that there were more important things in life, then holding on to something that was only causing him, and her pain. He had forgiven her, and proposed to her again. She'd accepted, and neither had wanted to waste any more time. After a matter of days, they were wed. It was a small wedding, only their close friends being present -- Merlin, Gaius, Elyan, Percival, Leon, and Gwaine and of course Godfrey and a couple of witnesses.

Many parts of their life would not be private, so they wanted to keep the intimacy of their wedding by only have a few people there: their family.The coronation was a different matter. It was a large celebration, though not all royals were able to come for it too was last minute -- as again, they did not wish to waste any more time. Arthur could not be happier. He had a wife whom he loved more than anything, and a queen who would be the greatest queen that every ruled in all this world. She had a connection with the people, and a kindness, compassion and wisdom that was incomparable to anyone else. And . . . she was instantly loved by all. Guinevère just had that effect on people, and he felt honored that he was the man standing by her side as husband. While he did not like to be separated from her, today he had no choice. She was with the royal seamstress and a few others -- like Rosa -- having a gown fitting. Or well, gowns. With her position, also came the need for a new wardrobe and Arthur didn't want her to feel any restriction when it came to coin. All that was his, was now hers.

While he wished he could be there to see his wife in her new queenly attire, he knew it was inappropriate. They had already broken several traditions: like her being a servant, but also . . . the fact that they shared a chamber. It was not at all heard of for a king and queen -- or any royal for that matter -- to live in the same chambers, as the queen was always given her own, but it was just yet another tradition that they were more than happy to break. But for now, Arthur was out in the courtyard, deciding to take a walk in the market, amongst the people. Everyone seemed to be in such high spirits, and he was no exception to this. He greeted a few that he passed, though the market was crowded, and wonderfully so. Yes. Arthur knew that Camelot's time of peace and prosperity were upon them. And he couldn't wait to explore it, with his wife and brothers in arms.

_{Setting: In the Camelot market
Time of Day: Early Afternoon
Timeline: After the season 4 finale
Tag: Brynn Reade}

[Brynn Reade]

Everyone was happy in Camelot now and everything was as it should be, after Arthur had pulled the Sword out of the stone in front of many Camelotian fugitives and Brynn along with them. He had taken the kingdom again and it was rightfully his, Morgana had been thrown off a second time and this time hopefully for good. The hope for a bright future after the crowning of Queen Guinevère was almost palpable in the air. Everyone smiled, some extremely cheery citizens were working with songs and tunes on their lips – and all that only made Brynn Reade, goosemaiden of Camelot stick out even more. For she was not smiling, her eyes didn’t shine with happiness. She was walking, guiding her geese through one of the the little archways and gates seperating the city of Camelot from the surrounding meadows where she usually spent her day. She almost wasn’t seeing where she was going, biting her lips and trying to fight down the growing annoyance and bad mood inside her. Now it was finally catching up with her, the realization of what had happened yesterday. As if to mock the general bliss all around, Brynn’s own happiness had got a dinstinctive dent.

Of course, if she was completely honest with herself, this hadn’t come so unexpected after all, it had been a gradual process of herself and Alex taking each other for granted, somehow losing the love they had felt for each other for so long. Everyone had just expected of them to marry and live happily ever after, their families had taken this as a fact as much for granted as they had taken their love. In the end, they had talked it out, but the revelation had been shocking still. Even though their decision to stay friends but go their separate ways concerning love had been mutual, it still felt horribly final and depressing. She knew that practically every other serving girl that was still free would now jump at the chance to get her hands on Alex, he surely wouldn’t stay alone for long. She wouldn’t begrudge him his happiness of course, but having to stand by and watch it, maybe even been subtly pricked by the serving girls how stupid she had been to let him go… it was nothing she was looking forward to, indeed.

What they both hadn’t been looking forward to was the talk they had had with their families last night, telling them of their decision. This was nothing you could just drop as a hint by the by, and their reactions had been as Brynn had feared it. Meaghan Reade had been visibly appalled, and Elinor, her little sister had immediately feared she might lose her best friend now, Alex’ little sister Lita. The only person not saying anything had been her father, but that was to be expected, since he was even less outspoken than Brynn herself. Maybe he had even guessed as much for some time, since he usually saw more with observing than asking questions or commenting. But all in all, the thought of somehow having let down everyone’s expectations including her own had pretty much ruined her mood for probably days to come, which made her the odd one out in Camelot’s happy society. She, who normally couldn’t be fazed by much, suddenly found herself snapping at the tiniest incident. And it didn’t help the geese were catching on her volatile mood and decided to be insubordinate pricks.

Now she was leading them through the outskirts of the marketplace, and suddenly Martin the gander and Queenie, his favourite mate started bickering even while walking. They hissed with opened beaks, extending their long necks towards each other and letting them flick forward like snakes, also flapping their wings and in due course rousing the other geese until they were one bickering, chattering heap.
”Oh, will you be QUIET!!!” she snapped, exasperatedly, lashing out with the whip she rarely ever used on them to strike Martin on the back of his neck. “This is the last thing I need today!”

[Arthur Pendragon]

Among his thoughts and the peaceful and calm air, Arthur heard some commotion in the distance. Not enough to cause alarm and draw his sword, but enough to capture his attention and feel the need to find the source. It was just outside the marketplace, and as Arthur drew closer, he saw what -- or rather who -- it was. A familiar face to him, for he and Brynn had been through some interesting circumstances. Firstly at a time when nearly everyone else was under a sleeping spell and they'd gotten her family to safety. And then because she had grown close with a friend of Guinevère's, a man who had displayed bravery in saving Guinevère's life during Cenred's attack on the city.

So yes. It seemed that he and Brynn had quite an interesting past, and while he may not know her well, he knew her well enough to know that she seemed not to be her usual optimistic and cheery self."Is it a bad day for the geese, or for their maiden?" Arthur asked, with a bit of a smile, not sounding mocking, but there was a slight tease in his voice. Though it was concern that had caused him to speak and he hoped that she did not misinterpret that for mockery. "Or perhaps both?" He added, unsure if she would even talk to him about such things, but he could at least make the effort to ensure she was alright. After all they had been through, he could surely do that.