Future Brother In Laws

[Arthur Pendragon]

"No, if we are to be brothers, there aren't indeed...Arthur." Elyan was certainly right about that. Arthur did not want his brother in law to call him 'Sire' or 'My Lord King' or anything along those lines. He wanted to establish that now as well, rather than wait. For now, Elyan could fall into the habit of calling him by his first name. For as he previously recognized, it had taken Guinevère years to grow comfortable with such a thing. Obviously there was a difference. Guinevère had stuck to formalities almost as a reminder of why they could not be together. Elyan did so out of respect, though it was unneeded with Elyan being part of Arthur's family one day. "I am glad with what we achieved today, I'm sure Gwen would be happy too." "You are certainly right about that," Arthur agreed with a smile. "I know it was important to her, for us to reach an understanding. I do not want her to worry about such things." Worry about her brother and the man she loved to be at odds with each other. "Thank you for coming. You are a brave man to seek me out. I would've been to much of a coward to come to you."

Arthur would be lying if he said that these words had not surprised him. To hear Elyan thank him for such a thing, when Arthur felt that it should be him expressing gratitude to the blacksmith. "It was not bravery that brought me here today, but the love I have for your sister. And the massive apology that I owe you and her both." He had already apologized to Guinevère separately, and he knew he had to do the same with Elyan. "I would not call you anything remotely close to a coward," he said in a sure voice. He may not know the man well, but he knew him well enough to be rather confident in his statement of what he was not. And that was a coward. He had seen the way he fought, the protective way he had pushed Guinevère behind him when they had just escaped the castle and had been ambushed by a couple of men. "Besides, the wrong doing was mine. It was my duty and responsibility to come to you." Because regardless of what anyone said to ease his mind, he knew it was his fault. And did not wish to be assured otherwise.

[[ PAGE TWO!!!! WE ROCK!!! . . . YOU ROCK AS ELYAN !!!!! ]]

[cherryblossom131]

"I would not call you anything remotely close to a coward." That warmed Elyan's heart, to be regarded like that by the Prince. The Prince who had fought battles and killed monsters on a very near daily basis, at least that's what his sister had told him. But seeing as she was in love with the man, it could have been a slight exaggeration. It still made him lift his head a bit higher. He was very grateful for the Prince's apology although he knew it wasn't really his fault. It was his father's, and his ridiculous laws. Elyan had no doubt about that, if the hate Elyan felt in his heart for the King was anything to go by. "Thank you, my lo...I mean Arthur. That means a lot coming from you."

"Besides, the wrong doing was mine. It was my duty and responsibility to come to you." Elyan creased his eyebrows. "I think I can establish, after this conversation, that that is not true. You are not to blame for what happened. I know that I definitely don't blame you." He realised just then, how guilty Arthur must feel about what happened. It wasn't even his guilt or burden to carry. It made Elyan angry to think that the real man to blame probably didn't feel an ounce of guilt, while his son was heavily burdened with it. Elyan would never voice his thoughts of course. The King was still Arthur's father. It puzzeled him to no end how a man as cold-hearted as Uther could have raised such an honourable man. "I think my sister would agree with me when I say you shouldn't carry this around with you. It is not your burden to hold."

((I'm really sorry it took so long to reply, I actually had no idea there was another page! HA! YOU ROCK TOO! ))

[Arthur Pendragon]

"Thank you, my lo...I mean Arthur. That means a lot coming from you." Arthur smiled when he corrected himself in referring to him by his first name, rather than with a title. With Guinevère, it had become habit to call him by his first name when they were having a casual conversation, and it seemed to take more thought -- as well as serve as a painful reminder -- when she referred to him with a title. Of course, this was slowly starting to change. With Elyan now though, it was easy to understand the habit of using emphasizing his rank . . . but again, Arthur wished for that to change. And the man was catching on rather quickly. It was his next words that Arthur immensely and genuinely appreciated. Though Arthur would not exempt himself from guilt . . . to know that Elyan did not blame him for what happened, meant so much to him. Even if he disagreed.

But of course, he was not going to start a debate about this. Elyan was like his sister in that way; always trying to alleviate any guilt that Arthur felt. "That means a great deal Elyan." For if anyone had the right to blame him for what happened -- apart from Guinevère -- it would be Elyan. "I value your opinions and respect you for them. So to know this, makes me truly grateful." He valued him because of who he was related to. But also now because he would be his one day brother. As they had previously stated in the conversation. "And I will not disappoint you nor betray the faith you hold in me." In terms of protecting Guinevère, and making sure that something like this never happened again. "I think my sister would agree with me when I say you shouldn't carry this around with you. It is not your burden to hold." Arthur couldn't help but smile with a hint of amusement when he said this.

Because he was absolutely right in how he spoke for his sister in this situation . . . aware that Guinevère had nearly said the same words to him. Almost word for word. "You really do sound exactly like her," Arthur said teasingly, though meant it. One of the many reasons that Arthur loved Guinevère was because of her compassion and kindness toward others . . . Elyan seemed to be the same way, in how he told Arthur not to carry around such a burden of guilt. "But again I thank you, for your understanding. It takes a person with a strong heart to say such things, and grant their forgiveness or lack of blame to someone under such circumstances." Arthur had been so nervous coming in here, and now, he felt more confident than never. That Elyan would welcome him into his small family, and allow Arthur to take Guinevère under his care, as her husband. One day.

[[ No worries!! You don't have to apologize at all!! ]]

[cherryblossom131]

"You really do sound exactly like her," he knew it was just a tease, but Elyan still felt rather proud to be compared to his sister in that aspect. Gwen had always been good with words, so for Arthur to say that he sounded like her... "Thank you, Arthur, I'll take that as a compliment." It still felt slightly odd to call him by his first name but he knew he would get used to it... eventually. "And you and I both know that that is a great compliment," he said smiling.

Elyan frowned slightly when Arthur mentioned 'someone under such circumstances' referring to himself. But Elyan would not argue with him, especially after all they had achieved in the span of one conversation, which still surprised him. It seemed Arthur had made up his mind about being to blame for the recent events and Elyan knew that even if he tried he could not change it. He was sure his sister had already tried enough for the both of them. He just hoped that this wouldn't be something Arthur would carry around for the rest of his life, that is no way to live. Elyan knew that better than most.

"You don't need to thank me, forgivness or anything along those lines is a given in my family and if we are to be brothers, you needn't even ask for it." Elyan wanted Arthur to understand that. It had always been that way in his family for as long as Elyan could remember. His parents had taught him and his sister the importance of forgiveness, no matter how difficult it was to give it. Gwen had grasped the concept faster than Elyan of course, but Elyan was still aware of it. Elyan had needed his fair share of forgiveness in the past, so if he didn't offer it to Arthur, that would surely make him a hypocrite. "Seeing your immense love for my sister, I'm sure we will be brothers." That would never cease to unnerve him, the idea of his baby sister married, but at least it was to a man as honorable as Arthur. The little boy in him was dissapointed by the fact that he wouldn't get to threaten and beat up his sister's intended like he always wanted to. Elyan quickly shut him up.

[Arthur Pendragon]

"Thank you, Arthur, I'll take that as a compliment." As he should. For Arthur would never speak negatively about Guinevère. He admired her far too much to ever offer an ill word about her; he couldn't even think of one if he tried. Not that he wished to. For she represented all that was good in this world, and it was one of the many reasons he had fallen in love with her . . . because of that goodness. "I wouldn't mean it as anything else," he assured him, returning the smile, glad that Elyan seemed to have understood the tease. Furthermore, that he took it in a positive light rather than a negative. "You both such having a strong, consideration toward others," he further explained, speaking what was on his mind.

That he could see parts of Guinevère in him, for he knew her better than her brother. And of course, in a different way. For he knew Guinevère as his love, and would know Elyan as his brother. Arthur wanted to thank him again for his next words, but it would contradict the point Elyan was trying to make. So instead, gave a small nod of his head in acknowledgment. "I hope, that if you ever find I have offended your family's honor, that you will come to me." That he would not hide it from him, for Arthur would want him to come forward. Rather than harbor such emotions for only himself to bare. He meant this of course in terms of Guinevère and Elyan, should Arthur ever unintentionally offend either . . . but also, in terms of their father, Tom. It was not a topic he wished to blatantly introduce, but one that he hoped that Elyan would address to him should he have any questions or concerns.

After all, if he resented Arthur for his father's mistakes, he wouldn't be the first. But in this particular matter, they would be justified. For as Guinevère had pointed out over a year ago, Arthur could have done more to protect her father. To try and help him; find him before the guards did. Defend him further. There were so many regrets on his part . . . and knew that no amount of good deeds would absolve such a wrong doing. "Seeing your immense love for my sister, I'm sure we will be brothers." Arthur continued to smile at the less grim subject that the one haunting his mind. "I gave my word on it, so it shall be. Whenever I am king, she will be my wife and queen." The latter was something he knew she was uncomfortable with; the former she had said she could easily see herself in such a role.

[cherryblossom131]

"I hope, that if you ever find I have offended your family's honor, that you will come to me." Elyan doubted Arthur would do anything like that, but then again he couldn't forget Arthur was still a noble, despite being a lot kinder than most. But they all had a certain arrogance about them, that none of them could fully shed. Not even the great Arthur Pendragon, if Elyan's hazy memory of a blonde haired pompous prince served him correctly. But it wasn't their fault really; it's just how all nobles are raised. But he'd be lying if he said Arthur hadn't changed since Elyan had last been in Camelot. Something told him Gwen probably had something to do with that. If it ever happened he'd know Arthur wouldn't mean it, he just might do it by accident. "Don't worry, Arthur. I won't hesitate to point it out." He chuckled.

Elyan listened intently as Arthur spoke about Gwen being his wife and queen. Images of his little sister on a throne with a crown atop her head flooded into his mind. She would be the perfect queen, he thought. Ever since they were children she was always very organised and calm. She was probably the only reason their family didn't completely fall apart after their mother's death. To be honest she looked after him more than he looked after her when they were children, despite him being the older sibling, and more so as they grew up since he'd always get himself into all sorts of problems. She was almost the complete opposite of Elyan, although she'd had her fair share of trouble. Despite not being born a noble or a princess, she'd always had a natural sense of grace and regality about her. However, unlike a lot of nobles she was always humble and could understand the people in a way that they never could; in a way that Arthur never could. She reminded him of their mother in that sense. He smiled. "She would make quite the queen, I think. The people will love her."

Elyan knew Gwen loved Camelot, despite all the bad things that had happened here; him leaving, their father dying and now to add to the list, she'd almost gotten burnt at the stake for sorcery. Elyan couldn't help but think that he could have done more to prevent them all. He could have been a better brother and stayed when she so obviously had needed him, instead of the selfish person he was. Maybe if he had stayed, he could have prevented their father's death. Elyan wasn't the type of person to dwell on the past or even spare a thought for the future, but after everything that had happened, he knew he had to change. He had to be more responsible, and caring and above all reliable. He knew that last point had always been an issue but he was going to change that now. "I think Gwen has put everyone's needs above her own for too long now. I'm ashamed to say I have not been the brother she deserves. But now I make it my duty, and yours too if what you speak is the truth," although Elyan didn't doubt it, "to take care of her for a change. She deserves love, care, safety and true happiness more than anyone I know."