Love Of Duty

[Arthur Pendragon]

Tag: Guinevère
Note: Better layout coming soon!

for the love

OF CAMELOT

Alymere was fairly certain his mind was made up. He still recalled his father's earlier words, speaking of marrying for love and how that made for a happy king. That his happiness was most important. And yet . . . Alymere could not shake this sense of duty he felt towards the kingdom. He would be king one day and in all his teachings from his tutor, he had learned the importance of having a wife that was strategic and would be good for the kingdom. So thus, he had to marry for Camelot's betterment. His father was not in agreement, but Alymere had learned that he was a servant to the people. This, was what he needed to do to serve them. So when the visiting king came, Alymere agreed upon the offer, without his father's consent in a sense.

While it was not public knowledge to all, the families knew. And . . . well, the king said he would speak to him later. But right now, Alymere knew what he was doing, was right. Despite that, he was still contemplating about what it would mean. Marriage. He sat at his desk in his room, documents set out before him yet his mind somewhere else entirely. Though he was glad it was not happening immediately, he knew it would happen soon enough. He supposed, in that time, he would have a chance to prepare. For he didn't know what it was to be a husband. That, was not something you could study or learn from books. Only from experience and others and . . . it all made Alymere think of Elena.

[Guinevère]

No! Guinevère walked quickly down the hall, looking for the crown prince. No, no, no, no . . . Where was he? After asking someone where the prince was, she finally found out that Alymere was in his chambers. Guinevère went there, seeking him out so she could speak to him alone. Out of all her children--ALL of them, both the ones that she'd given birth too and the ones she'd raised--she worried about Alymere the most. Even more then his brother! Alymere was the prince, and she knew the pressures that came with that. Had seen Arthur weigh them in his youth, and how he took all the pressure of the consequence on himself. Alymere had always seemed older then he was, and she worried for him. So when she would find Galahad about to get in trouble--and knowing he couldn't stop him--she would always demand he take his brother!

Arthur had Merlin. Alymere needed someone to add in fun make sure he never took life too seriously, the personal parts at least.

Guinevère knocked on his door, and after she heard him give the permission to enter; she pushed the door open and walked in. Closing it behind her, she smiled as she moved closer to where he sat at his desk. "I wanted to talk with you," she told him, "About your princess." About NOT doing this!

[Arthur Pendragon]

Tag: Guinevère
Note: Better layout coming soon!

for the love

OF CAMELOT

The light knock broke him from his thoughts as he invited the person to enter. When he saw who it was, he rose to his feet respectfully. When she told him she wished to talk to him . . . about his princess, Alymere gave a slight smile. "Of course," he said, motioning with his hand for her to join him as the other table. One best suited for a conversation. He pulled out a chair for her to sit down.

"But, she is not my princess," he couldn't help but clarify politely. Truth was, he wasn't entirely certain he wished to have this conversation at all. He imagined Guinevère's words would be similar to his fathers. But . . . as his father had married for the good of Camelot, and seeing the effects it had, how could Alymere not follow in his footsteps? Still. He would not be rude and reject the queen's company. He also knew that it it would not be one for standing, hence the reason he had already pulled out the chair for her.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère moved to sat int he chair he held out for her, "So you are not intending on marrying the girl?" She asked, as she sat and looking up at her son of her heart. This conversation had been one she'd been unable to have with Arthur. Then she'd had no choice but to be supportive, but she would NOT remain silent now. Arthur had broken her heart then, and it had stayed broken for years. Even when she'd began re-falling in love with him--knowing no one would order him away from her--shed be afraid of getting hurt, that was how much her heart had still been hurting from his choice.

She knew Alymere wasn't in love with someone--she hoped he was! Yet she wanted him to marry FOR love, not in hopes that love would find him. Waiting for him to sit as well, Guinevère continued. "Have you ever met her?" She knew he'd met many nobles and royals from other kingdoms but she wondered if he was even thinking about things, or if he was only thinking about LAND!

[Arthur Pendragon]

Tag: Guinevère
Note: Better layout coming soon!

for the love

OF CAMELOT

Once she was seated, Alymere did the same, internally bracing himself for this conversation. A strange one, to have with the second wife of his father but . . . still. He had grown to accept Guinevère, and respect her in this position. "I am," he confirmed. "I simply meant that, I do not, consider her as mine." The possessive nature of the world was something he found unsettling.

He had seen others stake claim to a woman, and some situations were rather unfortunate in how they treated their wives. Alymere supposed he'd have to start thinking of things in terms of being someone's spouse. "I have not," he answered with maintained composure. "But the match seems suitable. And if she is of similar mind, then I don't see there as being any problem." Of course she would also need to consent to it, but the invitation of marriage was there, informed to the king. And Alymere would stay true to his word.

[Guinevère]

"Suitable?" Guinevère repeated, wishing he had met her before and hinted to falling in love. That he had said anything but suitable. Uther had though that Elena was suitable, and she was a wonderful queen, but she knew it hadn't been love. She wanted love for all her children. That wish was intensified for him, as she never wanted him to have to do this alone. Was it better for him to pick someone who could stand by his side? She thought for a moment before deciding: No! He needed someone to love!

"Alymere, why do you not marry for love?" She asked, not even trying to beat around the bush. She wanted him to know that she wanted this for him. He was handsome, charming, kind, and had an honor that matched his fathers--he could find love if he let himself. Yet he was doing this on his own! Arthur wouldn't have encouraged this. She wasn't sure where this was coming from. IF he loved her, she'd support this, no matter who the girl was.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Tag: Guinevère
Note: Better layout coming soon!

for the love

OF CAMELOT

Her question seemed like a simple one, yet also held a great deal of complexity to it. Why did he not marry for love. It was true, there were marriages born of love. Some of nobles, some of commoners . . . but for royalty, it was very rare. He had done the research of it. Both through the history of kingdoms as well as more practical research when it came to getting to know other royal families.

"Heirs do not marry for love," he said, as if the answer was as simple as the question itself. Which, he knew it was not. "The good of a kingdom can very well depend on unions. None is more scared than that of marriage." A most scared bond. One that solidified any two kingdoms in ways that went beyond a mere treaty. And Alymere, wanted that for Camelot. To align itself with another strong kingdom. He would not undo all the work of his father, or his father before him. He would continue the tradition. He would continue to strengthen Camelot and ensure its stability.

[Guinevère]

Not for heirs?! Guinevère felt her heart break a little for him. "Alymere," she said his name, and tried to think of how she could help him. "I think it's especially important for heirs." She told him, "but I also think you are a man first," It was hard for her to think of her son of her heart as a man, as he would always he a boy to her. Once she wanted to be happy!

"The crown will be heavy when you take it, and I want you to be happy. I want nothing more then to know that you have a wife you love there to support you." Because he will need her. "Your father was . . . lucky, that he came to love your mother. Yet it is not always so." Sometimes they remain strangers, and sometimes they were unhappy.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Tag: Guinevère
Note: Better layout coming soon!

for the love

OF CAMELOT

A man first. Yes. He recalled his father often telling him that he was a man, before a king. But, Alymere did not yet understand the difference. Perhaps he would one day, but even now, he thought in regards to being a king. That that, would always come first . . . would it not? Perhaps the only exception being a son and brother, for he placed great value on his family. But then, the conversation began to broach on a subject that he had known was inevitable. Yet, one that he also dreaded. He knew, as a child, that the adjustment had been most difficult for him. He just, didn't handle it in the same way as his siblings. Mirela had been open to it from the beginning, bracing it. Galahad had acted out to 'deal' with it. But Alymere . . . had remained silent for the most part.

Distant. For memories of his mother were freshest in his mind, and now, here they sat, speaking of the marriage between his father and the former queen. "My mother and father were happy," he told her in a low voice, knowing, the conversation was an awkward one to bring up. That the statement itself was awkward, though he hoped, after all these years . . . it would not be something so tense. Still. It was not as if he and Guinevère had extensive conversations about this either. "As they grew to love each other, I too can grow to love my wife." He had seen a successful example of it, and while he had learned that Elena was not Arthur's first love . . . he could not -- would not -- ignore the love that his mother and father had shared.

[Guinevère]

"My mother and father were happy," he told her, and Guinevère feared he assumed she was telling him otherwise. "As they grew to love each other, I too can grow to love my wife." Reaching out to him, she grasped his hand, and held it tightly in her own. "Yes, they were." She admitted, knowing Elena had been a wonderful person. "And yes they did. I love for her that." She agreed that they had grown to love each other. Arthur had even told her they did, and she was glad he had found happiness. "I am not saying that they didn't. I am not saying you couldn't . . ."

She needed to tread careful, to not insult the precious memories of his mother, while trying to ask him to wait for something MORE. "I loved my husband too," Auden. She still missed him, but had never been happier then she'd been since she married Arthur. "But there are many kinds of love. And as the son of my heart, I want you have a love you'd move mountains for. The kind that gives you peace in war time, and strength in times of weakness. The kingdom will ask you to give everything you have to it, and having someone to share that with, someone to make you feel whole will make it easier."

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Tag: Guinevère
Note: Better layout coming soon!

for the love

OF CAMELOT

She reached out to hold his hand and he of course had no reason to pull away. She had always been kind to them, and her touch was always a comfort. But her words . . . had his mind racing. She spoke of how his parents had indeed loved each other, how she had loved her husband husband, and . . . how there were different kinds of love. But all Alymere could hear, was the way she described a certain kind of love, was not the kind his parents shared. Perhaps that was not the intention, for he knew Guinevère would never say anything out of malice, but it was all Alymere could focus on. So he listened. Quietly. Taking in each and every word. He had always been the kind of person to be silent, rather than speak -- Galahad often more than made up for that.

And so he listened. Reflected. And remained quiet when she was done explaining. His gaze fell to the table, before slightly shifting to look at their joined hands. Many kinds of love. Love that one would move mountains for. Was that the kind of love she had his father had? Was that not the kind of love that his father and mother had? His gaze slowly rose to meet Guinevère's eyes. "Are you saying, that my father never felt whole with my mother, and my mother never whole with him?" He was trying to understand. For the love his parents had, was one he aspired to. And now . . . it was apparently a different kind of love. "I know she was not his first love." Perhaps, his father had not been the first love of his mother. "But, does that mean that they could not find the same peace and strength together?" That they had not grown to love each other in such great ways?

[Guinevère]

Alymere ask her if his father had not loved his mother whole, and she knew she was blustering this! How did she explain something like this to him. HIM of all people. The son who remembered his mother. "Your father loved your mother. I am not trying to make you question it. I am not seeking to give you doubts in that. They were happy before she died." She wouldn't answer that question. She couldn't answer it, it was about something she'd never seen. He had more memories of their marriage then she did. He'd lived it. She'd left the city to avoid it.

"But they were not in love when they married. They grew to love each other, and worked at it to make it special and wonderful. Most arranged marriages do not have that. They were lucky, they were of like minds, and could find love. What if you marry this girl, and she is not someone you love?" She wanted him to find love, and not hope it happened. "I want you to find happiness, Alymere. Someone that will love you, and be there for you. Someone who . . . . someone who you'd risk everything for. Who would risk everything for you as well. You will need that."