Lucy in Avalon // Lindensea 3

V

Lucy didn't feel safe until she reached the lawns, and then she ran to the front doors of the castle, where King Meriadoc was taking a turn down the gravelled path.

"Why, good morning Princess Lucy," he said in surprise. "I see you enjoy early exercise too. It's a shame to miss the loveliest part of the day, isn't it?"

"Good morning, King Meriadoc," said Lucy, rather shakily, wiping her brow, and glancing behind her.

"Are you quite alright, my dear? You look as if you might have rather overdone things," the king said in concern. "You shouldn't run so, you look terribly pale."

"I'm alright now," said Lucy. "Just catching my breath. I went down to the lake, and it looked so pretty, and then I worried I'd taken too long, so I ran back to the castle."

"You may take as long as you like, you don't need to run," said the king solicitously, telling her she should have a nice slow amble with him to cool down before eating or drinking.

Lucy walked with the king around the edge of the lawn, chatting about soothing subjects. She had quickly decided not to mention the bandit – if she did, the lake would be declared out of bounds, Nurse would no doubt say they'd all be murdered in their beds, and insist on Lucy being confined to her room, or even on her returning home. But she found she got on well with the king, who told her to call him Meriadoc, and she said he could call her Lucy.

At last the king seemed to think it was time for breakfast, and led the way into the great hall, where food was laid out. And sitting at the table, wearing a dark green dress and with their long black hair now unbound and combed smooth as silk, was the bandit! The bandit gave her a wicked smile, looking at her with bold black eyes.

Lucy stared in absolute horror, as Meriadoc said, "Oh Lucy dear, this is my daughter Eden, that you missed meeting last night. Eden, say hello to Princess Lucy."

"Good morning, Princess Lucy," said the bandit demurely. "I hope you slept well. Father, I went out this morning, and got some fish for breakfast. Do you enjoy fishing, Princess Lucy?"

"It's Lucy, Princess Eden, and yes, we fish in the River Tayo all the time," said Lucy. "Mostly chub and eels, but I got a perch once."

"We've got trout for breakfast," said the bandit, "and it's just Eden. Let's not bother with all the princess nonsense when it's only us."

Lucy thought Eden had a nerve, and gave her a cold glare over her (admittedly delicious)grilled trout. Running had given her an appetite, and Lucy ate her way through grilled trout, poached eggs, oatcakes with honey, and raspberries and cream, before her conscience smote her.

"Meriadoc, may my nurse please have some food taken up to her? I'm sorry, but I completely forgot about her," Lucy said guiltily.

"What, she's still too unwell to leave her room?" said Meriadoc in surprise. "Does she need a physician?"

"No ... I think she might be a bit shy," Lucy said.

"Tell you what. I'll have Eden's old nurse take up your nurse's breakfast, and they can have a good chinwag together," the king said. "I'm sure she'd like someone to talk to more than anything else. It's terrible being all alone in a strange place." He gave the order to a passing servant.

"My old nurse Melia is the biggest gossip in the castle, and she loves to chat," Eden said. "Yours will feel better once she has a friend here."

"Anyway girls, I have some letters to write," said King Meriadoc, getting up from his chair. "Why don't you two have a cup of tea and get to know each other better? And take Lucy down to the lake again, Eden. She said it looked very pretty this morning."

Notes

Princess Eden is named after the River Eden in Cumbria. Its name is a corruption of the Brittonic word ituna, which has been translated as "rushing water".

Oatcakes are a delicious food from the north of England which are like crepes made from oats, and can be served as either a savoury or a sweet. I never knew what this word meant in books (I imagined some sort of oaty bun) until I went to the UK and ate them, so I'm letting you know if you are the same.

The name Melia is based on the Brittonic word meli, meaning "honey". I don't know if it was ever used as a name in ancient Britain, but it's a popular choice in fantasy fiction.