Merlin: The Great Dragon's Last Call

Chapter 4

Gwen POV: 12 Years AD, April 6th.

I welcomed the Lady Vivan into the dinner room. Then her husband William, and then her 10 year old daughter, Alice. We all sat down, along with the knights and ate together. The Lady Vivian and I began talking.

"Gwen! I haven't seen you in so long. How are you?" She asked.
"I'm good. What about you?" I asked.
"I'm great. Where's Arthur?"
"He's not here."
"He isn't? Where is he?"
"He died about 12 years ago."
"Oh dear! I had no idea! I'm terribly sorry."
"It's ok, I remarried James, son of Bayard."
"I see now." We stopped talking for a few seconds. "It's so weird."
   "What is weird?"
   "I was under an enchantment and I fell in love with Arthur. It was hard breaking the enchantment."
   "How did you do it?"
   "It broke my heart when I heard you two got married. I tried to convince my father to let me go to Camelot. Then over ten years of waiting a prince came. I thought it was Arthur the whole time. When we kissed I lost my feelings for Arthur and realized that he wasn't him. I have never been more happy."
"That's good." I nodded my head, "William does look a lot like Arthur."
   "Yes, he does. Now let's get into important things. I was thinking that when Alice and Joseph grew older they could marry," Vivian said.
"Maybe," I said even though I knew I wouldn't let that happen unless they love each other. It reminded me of the time when Uther almost had Arthur married to some princess. Everyone continued to eat and talk with each other.

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Joseph POV: 12 Years AD, April 6th.

I hated feasts. All we did was eat and talk but I wanted to come because this beautiful girl is here. I wasn't sitting near her but I could hear her talking. Her voice was so soft. I think we might have a future together.

I got up to ask mother if I could be excused from the table. She said yes and I walked out. I heard someone stand up behind me. I walked to my room and closed the door. I walked to my table, sat down and admired the crystal that was still in my jacket after the goblin possessed me. My parents know I broke in. They forgot that the crystal is missing so I don't have to return it. I then heard footsteps and someone knocked on my door. I opened the door and it was Alice. I stared at her.

"Hello," she said.
"Hi," I said.
"What are you doing?"
"I was just about to rest."
"Oh, ok. I just wanted to see if you were doing something."
"I don't need to rest."
"Ok, what do you want to do?"
"We could hangout."
"Where?"
"Here, in my chambers."
   "What's in your hand?" Alice asked after she sat down at my table.
   "It's a big crystal. I want you to have it. So you can remember me."
   "Thanks! I will. So tell me about yourself,"
"Well, I live here."
"Obviously." She rolled her eyes at me. "Tell me something I don't know."
"I like to ride horses."
"Cool. For me it's not that I don't like to. It's just I don't do it often."
"I don't do it often either anymore."
"Why?"
"I'm too busy. My mother wants to make me strong so I'm able to fight."
"Why would she want you to fight?"
"I don't know."
"I think you would be fine not being able to fight when your king. I mean it's good to know some things, but not training your whole life for it. Let the knights do all the work and risk their lives, even if it means your a coward."
"I'm not a coward, but I do agree with..." I was interrupted by Alice's father, William.
"What are you two doing?" He yelled.
"We're just talking," Alice said with fear.
"I told you I don't want you anywhere near him!" William screamed.
I just realized how similar William was to Vivian's father. Or so I've heard from mother. "We weren't doing anything rational," I said calmly.
Mother and Vivian entered the room.
"What's going on?" Vivian asked.
"I caught these two together, alone," William said.
"Oh, William. They probably weren't doing anything wrong," Vivian reassured him.
"I'm sorry, I just don't trust Camelot. We're leaving now," William said.
"But William..."
"I said now."

I watched them leave. After they left I went back to my room to rest. I thought about what happened. Would Alice ever be able to get married? Her father is so strict, I don't think he'll let her out of his sight again.

   My mother entered my bedroom. "What were you thinking?" She asked.
   "I didn't know William was such an overprotective father. We weren't holding hands. Or anything worse. We were just having a conversation."
   "Look, I just want you to stay out of trouble. Please."
   "I never try to get in trouble."
   "I know. What were you and Alice talking about?"
   "Nothing."
   "Joseph, tell me please."
   "It's not important."
   "Anything you talk about to a girl is important. At least to me."
   "We were talking about riding horses."
   "And... there's got to be more than that."
   I sighed. "Ok so what we talked about is what I want to talk about with you."
   "And what is that?"
   "I don't want to learn to fight."
   "Joseph, you have too. You agreed to it earlier."
   "I lied because I was tired and I wanted to end the conversation."
"Joseph, please learn"
"Why? Do you expect me to the perfect King Arthur was? I'm not the kind of person to kill someone."
   "Maybe you don't have to kill anyone. You just have to know how to defend yourself."
   "As a king? The Knights can do that."
   "In a few years, you'll lead the Knights."
   "Why can't you just let it go?"
   "Because I am your mother. I expect you to do what I ask. I'm sorry to say this, Joseph, but I can't allow you to be king of you don't know how to defend yourself."
   I was shocked. My mother wouldn't let me be king if I didn't learn? I wasn't even crowned prince yet. "Then I guess I won't be king," I said.
   "You don't really mean that..."
   "I do. Just have James be king."
   "He's already crowned heir to the throne until you become of age."
   "And he can stay that way."
   "I really hope you change your mind about this."
   "Trust me, I won't."
   "I thought you matured, Joseph. I was wrong," mother said leaving the room.

I know I really hurt her feelings and I guess I'm making a big deal out of nothing. But I just hate fighting. Why can't there be peace among the kingdoms?