The Orphan King and The Witch of the Woods (KINGDOM Arthur X Female OC)

Ch. 6: A Boy's Promise

The sun was setting by the time Arthur was finally allowed to exit the orphan house and explore the fields outside it once again. And this time, he made sure to bring Lily along with him, letting the girl ride with him on Miles' back.

They were just quietly riding through the fields, overlooking everything that had once been the boy's home. And as Arthur looked around, he realized just how much he missed it all...

And he couldn't help but glance towards Lily, safely tucked between his arms as he held the reins around her.

The girl quietly watched the fields with a smile on her face, not really noticing the boy behind her looking at her at all. Instead, her eyes were on the woods bordering the fields yet again. The Wallowing Woods.

Arthur notices, and he looks towards that place as well.

It still looks gloomy, just as it had always been. But he still had to admit that even he felt compelled to go near it.

"I had a dream a few nights before," Lily suddenly spoke, and Arthur turns back to her. The girl continues after looking back at him. "I was playing near the Wallowing Woods when a fairy came to the border. She was very pretty, and she asked me to follow her..."

"Into the woods, you mean?" Arthur asks.

Lily nods as she turns back to the forest. "Mm. She was holding her hand out to me, and she was calling my name... Her voice was very soft, too."

The girl's words led Arthur to have a worried look forming on his face. He glances back towards the woods, then he looks ahead again as he urges Miles to keep moving.

"I wonder," Lily speaks again, "what would have happened if I had gone with her."

Immediately, Arthur tightens his grasp on the reins, and the horse stops, neighing as if huffing in frustration. The boy then freezes, and Lily notices this. Immediately, she turns to him to see him frozen, looking ahead and looking rather scared. "Lily... don't ever go near those woods, you hear me?" he then tells her as he looks back at her, sounding very cautious.

Lily is confused, but she nods nonetheless.

Eventually, they continue going over the fields, talking about other matters until Arthur's coronation comes up in their conversation.

"So when is your coronation going to happen?" Lily asks, not much curiosity in her voice like usual.

"Dann says it could happen around the end of spring," Arthur replies, looking far ahead. "He says it should be done as soon as my garments are finished by the tailor."

"Hmm..." Lily hums quietly, looking down at the flowers Miles plods through.

Arthur looks at her concernedly yet again, then he speaks. "Do you want to come see the coronation at the palace when it happens?"

Immediately, a bright smile spreads itself across Lily's face. "Really? I can go?" she asks as she turns to face the boy behind her.

Arthur laughs lightly as he ruffles the girl's hair. "As long as you promise to be on your best behavior, then of course, you can."

"Oh! Can Peter come, too?"

Arthur looks away as he seems to think, then he shrugs as he turns back to the girl before him. "Definitely. He'll accompany you to the palace."

Lily squeals in excitement, almost jumping and making Miles huff exasperatedly. Immediately, the girl stops, and she laughs nervously as she gently pats the horse. "Sorry, Miles..." She giggles, then becomes silent once again when another thought crosses her mind. "So... what about you?"