princess gnenevire (satbk au) 🗡

1

"What're we doing here?" Lancelot questioned innocently. His helmet was resting over his quills comfortably. "I'm showing you who you will be protecting, sir Lancelot." The old man pushed open two large doors, revealing a hallway, which led to another smaller door. "...She is very ill," the old man explained. "So please be careful." Ill? Lancelot pushed open the smaller doors gently.

The bedroom was small and quaint, with windows on each side of the canopy bed. The old man scurried to the beds side. "Darling, are you awake?" The bed ruffled. A young girl popped her head out of the blankets, smiling. "Leondegrance!" She beamed ecstatically. Lancelot was baffled; this was a child, and she seemed content with herself. Why did she need a knight such as he?

"You can always call me grandfather you know," the old man teased, booping her nose. She laughed, looking over at the hedgehog curiously. "Who's that?"

"This is your new friend, Guenevire." Leondegrance smiled at her granddaughters enthusiasm. The girl climbed out of bed, running over to him. "Hello! My name is Guenevire, and you are?"

"...I am Lancelot, your highness." He got on one knee, bowing his head. The little girl was a little surprised, but smiled, taking his hand. "It's nice to meet you! Um-" she turned back to her grandfather, unsure. The old man nodded. She turned back to the hedgehog, who was still on his knee.

"Please stand," she muttered awkwardly. He looked up, clearing his throat and getting back on his feet. "Apologies. I'm not used to meeting a...young princess."

"I'm a queen!" She rebutted, huffing. "My apologies, your highness.." Lancelot but his lip; how much of a fool could he be? To assume such a thing based off of age; he'd seen young girl married off to noblemen before. Though this was family..he was the king and a mage, so..?

"My grandfather appointed me as honorary queen after my mother passed away," she explained, noticing he looked confused. "But I said I'd never get married! Boys are gross." Leondegrance laughed at this. "Alright darling, be nice."

"I am, aren't I??" She looked at the short hedgehog expectantly. "Uhm- yes of course, and your hospitality is appreciated your highness." Under his helmet, his eyes told of new content feeling, and he smiled. He wasn't used to being around children for more than necessary, but he made an oath to this kingdom to serve and protect the royal family regardless of his opinions.

"I have some matters to attend to sir Lancelot, keep my granddaughter company." Leondegrance smiled; he had old, old eyes, and they told a thousand stories in a single glance, and a wide grey mustache on his face. Lancelot hadn't even seen much of the castle, what was there to do?

Once the old king left, Guenevire started to cough. She coughed into her elbow with force that jerked her shoulders up and down. Lancelot rushed to her side. "Are you alright your highness??" He sat her down on the floor while she had her fit. Guenevire coughed and hacked; she almost couldn't breathe. This lasted for another couple minutes before she took another to catch her breath, resting a hand on her chest.

He could feel her heart beating. It was a strong, fast pace. "I'm sorry," she apologized breathily. "Sometimes I can't control when that happens.." Lancelot frowned. "It's not your fault for such a sickness."

The girl nodded, but her demeanor had changed from happy to sad very quickly. Did she have to live like this, day in day out? Lancelot frowned at the thought, that the gods would seal this child's fate in such a way. "Before you came, I was bedridden for days," Guenevire explained. "I could barely move...I was scared my last breath was closer than before.."

"Your highness..." he didn't know what to say. So he just apologized. She smiled, taking his large hand into her own two smaller hands. "Please don't tell my grandfather, he's growing white hairs enough as it is," she joked.

"But, he instructed me to-" "Lancelot, please.." She frowned once again. "This one time, please keep my secret..."

Right in that moment, his devotion was then for another reason. It was for her, a young girl desperately clinging to a sense of hope, a young girl asking so very little of him. Of course he obliged. He would oblige as long as she lived.

"I swear, madam." He nodded his face. Guenevire found herself laughing, almost from the whiplash that episode gave her. "Call me by my name as I do to you, Lancelot!" He smiled with her. "As you wish, Guenevire."