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"I am," He was?! "I must," Did he now? "If you would rather stay with the children for the duration of the tournament, I completely understand," What she wanted was HIM with their children! Not in the field every day fighting men they both knew he was more talented then to prove something to the knights, or his people! Morgana or Odin both were without honor and could get close to him with ease while he was there!

"Arthur," She began carefully, "Everyone knows you are a strong king, and a mighty warrior." She could tell from his tone that this wasn't about proving anything, so that was why it was a bit harder for her to find a reason to ask him not to. "Morgana and Odin's hate is strong, and they lack the honor to come to you personally. They could see this--your entering in the contest--as a way to get to you, and to kill you."

She could not lose him. "While I have fear for my children, I also know they will have scores of protectors and men between them and whatever might come our way. My greater worry, and fear would be for my husband, who will be giving any man--or woman--with a bit of boldness in them to have a change to bring that hate and dishonor or him on a field with everyone watching . . . . I fear the temptation of the ones who are displeased with us will be too great."

"And I fear anything happening to you."

Guinevère was glad he had plans for both, for out of the two of them, Arthur was better at being able to handle the planning to keep everyone safe. She was finding she brought many things to their marriage--more then she thought she would have been able too--but in this defensive move, Arthur held the strenght.

She could manage the castle workings, food supplies, housing of the needy whom came to them for help, and keep visiting royals happy. She could even help plan the polictic aspect of the crown by aiding in peace talks and trade agreements. Yet battles and defending the kept was something Arthur would always be better at. "You mean the children, myself and my husband." she corrected. "Because you will be by our sides, will you not?" Though she had the feeling she knew his answer and she would not be pleased with it.

"You're not saying you plan to fight in this . . . . are you?" She sounded worried and at same time there was a hint of 'no' in her tone. While she knew she could nto stop him--and she had never before when she tried--it did not mean she would not stop trying to keep him safe.

He spoke of the large contest that was coming up and she had known it would be sometime this year but knowing it was close brought back some unease. It was a good time for Morgana or Odin to attempt to get to Arthur as there would be too many unknown faces to stop everyone. At least he would be safe from the royal box with his men around him.

She was of course, assuming her husband would not fight as he had nothing to prove, and unlike the last time--kings normally did not partake. Or did they? She recalled everyone being shocked at Uther's joining but that could have been his age as well. She could only hope Arthur knew that joining would give everyone and open attempt on his life and that he would not join. "Do we have plans to protect the city with more men, or should we be looking at adding more guards on staff?"

The king was silent. Frighteningly so. "I know this comes as a surprise, sire, but I assure you that I seek nothing other then her hand. I would request no dowry, no special treatment. I only wish to be given the chance to make her as happy as I can humanly make her." Surprise might be putting it mildly.

Merrickk knew that Anna had been born early, and was smaller then most women her age. She had been a fragile child, and because of that had been more protected by her family. She was close to her father, and spent many childhood hours spending time with him. Yet now she was a woman, and while her father would always hold a special and powerful place in her heart, Merrickk hoped to hold an equally strong part, and began their own family if she was able. "I love her." He added on, a bit nervously.

Merrickk looked at the king for a moment in a confession expression before he realized what was being hinted at. "No!" He exclaimed before jumping to stand up and take a step backwards! He came here to claim the daughter not the father! " No, sire, I assure you the WOMAN that I am in love with is indeed a woman! Not yourself sire."

"Forgive the misunderstanding, I find that the idea of asking her is a bit daunting even if I am fairly sure of the reply i would get from her." He knew Anna loved him and he loved her. He hoped she would agree, but knew that her father's blessing would ease her mind and thrill her at the same time. "I know there is little but love and honor that I have to offer her, as she was born into this world and I was born a farmer, but I want you to know that no matter the difference that I would care for her and die for her if need be."

"That no other would love her and teat her better then I." He was sounding more confidant but he was also stalling. "She is beautiful and smart, with a wit that matches few other ladies that I have known. I would be honored if she agreed, and I know that in the noble world is custom to get permission first, from the father. She would like that I think, so that is why I am here sire."

"I wish to ask your daughter for her hand in marriage, and I hope to have your blessing while embarking on the first step of what I hope will be the journey we take together." THERE! That wasn't too hard.

Merrickk took the seat the the king offered him and then paused a moment to gain this thoughts. After a short second however he rose back to his feet. "I would rather is it's alright with you, sire." He said feeling the bundle of nervous energy making him want to run. He held up the little cloth sack and began trying to pull the strings. Here it was the moment.

"I have found that there is one whom I hold in the highest regard, and wish to display that my honorable intentions are indeed honorable--" The ring fell from the small bag and Merrickk bent down to one knee to grab it quickly, feeling like a fumbling idiot. It bounced a few times and he had faced many foes with a strong and steady confidence but now his fingers would not even work to grasp the ring. When he finally managed to grab it he held it up to the king to show him. "And I wish to seek to marriage."

Merrickk of Conlan had requested a moment of the king's time. He dressed in clothing that he purchased for the occasion, with his recently required coat of arms displayed on the metal around his wrist. His sword at his side, and his boots shined. It was a casual appearance for a knight, something he rarely dressed in but he wanted to appear as more then a knight when it came to what he had to speak to the king about today.

He walked to the council chambers and paused outside the door. In his gloved hands he held a small bag, and he took a moment to squeeze it to feel the hard metal in there. No one knew what he planned to ask the king for today, and while he knew a few might hold the keys to guessing, he also knew that he had spoken to none about this.

Entering the chambers he looked and found the king sitting at the table working on some papers. "Sire," He greeted with a formal bow expected of him and then waited for the king to acknowledge that this was a good time for their meeting before continuing. He felt nervous and rather wished he was fighting Morgana's army than facing the king right now.

For it might be safer then asking for the king's daughter's hand in marriage.

Thomas enjoyed his day with Arthur, and watching him train his men. Thomas rarely had left the king's side for he wanted to spend all the time he could with him. Seeing the two sides of him--one slightly more formal when public, and the much more relaxed and easy one when it was just them might have confused him had he not been expecting it thanks to conversations with his mother.

Training one on one with the king was his favorite part. He liked trying to show him what he learned, and doing his best. "I cannot wait to be a knight!" He told Arthur when they walked him back away from the field, "I want to be the best there ever was!" After he was dropped off, Guinevère spent the next few hours with her two sons, and preparing a little for Amaren's birthday. She had a few things she wanted to give him, such as clothing, a few toy, and Thomas had gone with Elyan and found a small shield for Amaren to play with. One that she noticed, held no seal yet.

Guinevère knew why, and she lifted the small shield into her hands, running her fingers over where the dragon should be. Yes, she knew why--the heir would never wield a false seal. He would have a Pendragon on it or nothing. One day, she promised herself. One day soon.

Thomas had yet to create his own coat of arms as well. As Lancelot had none before his death, it would befall to his son to create it. It would be something Guinevère would allow him to do when he was older and could make it himself.

When Arthur told Thomas that he could join if if Guinevère permitted it, she smiled and before Thomas could spin around to look at her she spoke, "You best dress then." Making Thomas spin again to look up at Arthur. "I will hurry!" He promised, before running to the wardrobe and flinging the doors opened.

Guinevère hoped that when they were a family in truth that Arthur would no longer feel the need to ask her for simple things like taking Thomas to the training fields. She wanted him to feel comfortable with the children to just be able to take them, or tell her where they would be today. Perhaps with time he would feel more like a father. For some reason, his words from almost a year ago came back to her. He had claimed that naming Amaren their name was the only way she had made him feel like a father. In some ways, she had been trying to make up for that ever since.

While Thomas dressed, Arthur joined her in the main room, allowing them to have a moment alone. "I think you have made his whole week by coming home for a few days." She admitted, knowing he had made her's as well. "As promised, I think I will try to rest today . . . . so that tonight we can have some time together." She looked at his face for a moment, trying to tell if he was getting enough rest. "If you are not tired."