𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 𝕿𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊
𝔖𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔶: The fate of an entire kingdom rests upon the shoulders of a young woman, the love of her life, and their best friend. Will they be able to find the strength to beat the hardships that come with that responsibility...
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📍 Camelot
⏳February, 507 AD
The cool rush of wind in my face felt a thousand times sweeter now that I'd gone so long without it. The smell of wood and leafs in the forest was almost intoxicating. And I'd certainly missed the freedom of an open space ahead – no fences, no gates, no prying eyes. Just the seemingly endless brown and green expanse around as my horse's hooves thundered powerfully below me. Were it not for the sound of keratin colliding with the ground below, I would've almost believed we were flying.
I glanced backwards and my eyes widened when I realised that Gwaine and Fallyn were nowhere in sight. I must've really gotten into this galloping thing. Feeling slightly guilty about leaving my friend behind, I slowed Dallas down into a trot, then a walk, and finally a halt; then I rewarded him with a piece of carrot and allowed him to graze while I waited for my companions to catch up. They did so about a minute later.
"If I did not know you, I would think you were trying to run away," the brunet knight noted as he slid the Arabian mare to a stop next to my Thoroughbred.
I gave him a sheepish grin, "Sorry, I got lost in the moment."
"I cannot say I blame you. I would go mad if I was forced to stay inside for so long," he replied with a snort.
"I wasn't forced," I argued in a weak mumble.
"Coerced? Guilted?"
I narrowed my eyes at him for a moment before responding, "He's just been extra worried, that's all."
Then we began walking again, in silence.
If you must know, Arthur had been keeping an extra tight grip on my metaphorical reins ever since Uther passed away, refusing to let me out of his sight for long periods of time and keeping me in the castle under the pretence of 'administrative matters' or 'needing my company'. I never once complained. I could empathise with him. And I didn't like being away from him, either, knowing that murder attempts were almost a weekly thing for us.
Also, if he needed someone to cling to for comfort, I was happy to be that person. I wish I'd had that back in Texas. I don't want to be ungrateful to Gustab and Kelly, they did their best and I never really told them the truth about what went on. But I still had to go through hell on my own, and I'd die before letting Arthur experience the same.
Eventually, though, Gwaine convinced him to let me join him on his patrolling shift. The Prince – I mean, King – hadn't been too thrilled with the idea at first, seeing as the brunet knight and I aren't exactly the most serious of people. But he'd finally relented after I'd confessed how much I missed being outside and around nature. I mean, I still work with the horses every day, but a confined riding arena can never equate to the open wilderness. It's where I feel more in-touch with myself. At liberty to feel and think whatever. Something that I desperately needed. Uther's death hit me much harder than I'd be willing to admit aloud, and I couldn't let it show inside the castle. Not when Arthur needed me to stay strong.
