Forbidden Love (Rewritten) | Arthur Pendragon

37 • OICHE SHAMHNA

A year had passed since the coronation of the High Queen, and so, a year had passed since Usad's reunification and declaration of independence. And many things occurred in that long yet short period. Morgana's betrayal left Uther so utterly heartbroken that he had become a shadow of himself. So weak and his spirit so destroyed that he was no longer apt to lead the Camelot. He did not step down, and the council did not have the power to destitute him, but in the face of such a situation, Arthur had no choice but to take the reins and lead as regent. And with the support of his Knights of the Round Table, he managed to rebuild Camelot. All was well. Except for one thing.

All was going well, except for the negotiations regarding Usad's official regain of autonomy. The relationship between the two kingdoms had greatly improved. Arthur often visits Alvenes for tournaments and Usadian holidays and vice versa. He had even aided in boosting West Usad's economy by giving several tools to help farmers or easing the commerce laws in favor of Usadian merchant guilds. However, though the Pendragon House had no say in Usad's politics anymore whatsoever, officially, the state was still a dominion of Camelot. And it was time to change that.

"Aren't you a little too joyous for someone who's about to battle with a bunch of old men over semantics?" Gudmund asked. He had been watching Eowyn for the last minute, who was excitedly watching out the window of the carriage.

"Must I remind you that you are probably their age, Gudmund?" Eowyn shot back. Gudmund was perhaps even older than Camelot's council, but as he was Ljosalfar, he barely looked forty. "Besides, officially, we are attending a banquet for the celebration of Samhain."

"And unofficially, we're going to take back what is ours from these cowardly thieves."

The negotiations have been stalling for months due to the reluctance of Camelot's council to give up Alandsby. Lord Agravaine, Arthur's uncle who had come to aid his nephew when the news of Uther's inability to reign, was the one most reluctant to fight for the city. The harbor town was a strategic point of great profit for the owner. Large merchant ships from overseas nations stop in Alandsby to then travel to Albion. Therefore, many merchant guilds and other businesses boomed in town. For the past year, the harbor business had become one major source of income for Usad since the profit stopped going to Camelot. Naturally, the council wanted to retain parts of the rights. And naturally, Usad did not want to cede any part of the rights. Hence, the negotiations were not going anywhere.

"If we decide on the offensive approach, they will close off. We must play our cards carefully."

"They are already closed off, Your Majesty," Gudmund replied. "You are Ljosalfar; they don't trust you."

"Arthur does. That's all that matters."

"But Arthur is not king yet," Alfhild pointed out.

Eowyn heaved a sigh as she lazily leaned on the carriage wall to gaze out the window. "You two are so pessimistic. I wish Ulric were there."

Gudmund laughed at her remark as Alfhild remained of marble, like the usual. Now, ten months ago, Ulric and Eldrid got married, and soon, only weeks ago, Eldrid became with child. For the negotiations, Eowyn was to stay in Camelot for quite a long period of time. For months, probably. Therefore, she temporarily relieved Ulric from his functions as Royal Knight. She did not want him to leave his pregnant wife or to miss the birth of his child. So Alfhild took upon his mantle, and Gudmund, who had been very invested in the negotiations, also came along. Eowyn liked their company a great deal, but they could be a little too serious at times.

Still, what their company represented to Eowyn could not be replicated anywhere else. After all, the three of them represented the very last Ljosalfars. For a long time, she believed to had been alone with no one to look at and think "They are like me." With no one to relate to. And then these two appeared, and her little world widened. Gudmund, especially, brought her precious knowledge. He was a full-blood Ljosalfar who still retained the know-how of his ancestors. He was, akin to Gaius, a living encyclopedia. He'd tell stories of previous battles or Ljosalfar legends that would have been forever lost had he died (which is why she had gotten a scribe to write all his stories down to keep them in the Royal Archives).