Golden Days of Yore Part II
______
He made it out! Yes!
Fifty paces past the last of the royal guards Arthur let out a whoop of joy, finally removing the hood of the coat from the top of his head. He’d be eternally grateful to this-well--whatever his name had been. His hooded coat made escape possible without anyone spotting him again.
“YES…FREE!”
He laughed with elation, riding the horse so fast to make it jump over a fallen log, its hooves kicking up at the blanket of snow as it landed with grace. It felt so grand and free to have done it, escaped, to be away from the castle and everyone that expected him to act a certain way. Here no one could tell him what to do. He laughed at it, at the dirty peasant clothes he wore and the borrowed coat that belonged to a poor one. He was nothing now but just a boy who had bell toll hours to enjoy it.
The Snow. Oh it fell so gloriously now, so wet and soft. Like Gaius had said the day before and that, it was increasing. Arthur didn’t mind it at all though. He relished its added volume. He wanted it to keep falling, create snow caves and mounds that would climb to the-
It was almost magical, being out here like this, riding so free on a horse that had no insignia of royalty. It was almost like doing the forbidden. If this is what sorcerers truly felt like then maybe-
Well he wouldn’t go that far.
----
“Come on!” He beckoned the horse away from all the jumping fun. It was a bit slippery on the snowy ground and he wanted to find it anyway. Leading the fierce black-maned animal away he brought it to a rapid gallop. Holding on tight, he raced fiercely through the snow flocked trees.
It came from nowhere, the flying branch. He lost his seating in an instant. The ground found his rear and back painfully. He cried out as the horse ran off.
“Who-what?” He asked in dazed wonder, his vision blurred by the fall. Lifting his hands to his mouth he tried to whistle back the horse, but it had been spooked well enough and was not returning from its frantic descent. Lifting to a squatting position, Arthur worried. If it were bandits-
Something moved behind the tall pines and firs. Arthur called out bravely. “Eh-you there---well what are you waiting for?”
Nothing it seemed. At least not anymore. Just those words brought it out. No waiting at all.
Her-
Out.
Her?
“Are you the one who threw that branch at me and my horse?” He asked incredulously.
He couldn’t see much of her beyond being able to tell she was a girl about his age or maybe slightly younger. She was wrapped tight in a brocade velvet cloak of deepest purple, covered all the way to the top of her head. She stood protected by the tall pines and firs.
“I thought you might be a bandit.”
The voice was slightly shrill, slightly deep for a girl. Arthur lifted up on one knee, the other resting upon the ground. His head hurt a bit. Probably that attacking branch. “You hit me!” He accused hotly.
The girl said nothing, seeming to be taking in his poor attire. “Have you nothing to say for yourself?” Arthur asked with tight authority.
The girl gestured to his simple and dirtied clothing before lifting away the hood from her curling dark hair and stepping out a bit more. “I don’t think you have a right to speak to me so righteously.”
Now he could finally see her a bit better. She had the tightest locks of rounded raven bird hair, and skin the color of tanned birches. And now that she had lifted away the hood of her cloak he noticed too quickly that underneath it was a fine gown of lavender silk. Only nobility would be wearing such attire. She was a princess?
He looked down at himself. She was right. Well not really, but it didn’t matter. If he wanted to keep up this façade and if this girl really was royalty, he’d better play the part. “No-you’re of course right. Uh-er-Princess-
Her eyes widened. He wondered why. She seemed startled. Only for a second though. It soon faded as she lifted her chin. “Well right of course you are now. But you see I am not-
“You are not what?”
She seemed to deliberate, before speaking with a tiny bit of shaking. “I am not---pleased that you startled me so. Now I will be on my way.”
He jumped to his feet at that, for some reason determined to stop her, though he couldn’t fathom why. “No, wait! You can’t go!”
She turned back around, lifting her hood away again. “What do you mean I cannot?”
Arthur laughed harshly. “You’re in the middle of the woods---Princess-uh---er-Princess?”
The girl bit at her bottom lip, grimacing so tightly it was obvious something was bothering her. “Oh-Alianor. Princess Alianor. Now I will take my lea-
He cut her off, jumping to his booted feet. “Alianor? You’re King Brom’s daughter?”
She seemed petrified now. “I am? Oh-I mean of course I am. Now I must get back to my brother so if you would kindly move out of the way-
“But you don’t even have a brother. You’re an only child!”
That made her voice stumble with bumbling dismay. “Well of course-
Before something seemed to occur to her.
“Wait a minute. You are just a servant boy! How would you know such things?”
Oh-oh. Arthur agonized inwardly. He’d better stop acting so belligerent before he ruined everything. “Uh-er-I heard tell from my master. Um-my apologies Princess Alianor.” He bowed low the way his father taught him to do when kings visited.
She seemed to blush at it, before she straightened up her posture and belatedly responded. “Well that’s better. Now I’ll go-
“No.” The snow was still falling so much, hitting the ground with a bit of a harder force. Arthur reached out for her arm to stop her. She stared at him like he was out of his mind. Slowly he backed away. “Uh-eh-I can’t just let you leave. Not like this anyway. The snow’s falling and everything. And these woods, they’re not that safe.
Plus, I’ve never known a princess to just go---walking in the woods, especially on a day when it’s snowing so fiercely.”
She countered strongly. “And how many princesses has a servant boy like you known anyway?”
His eyebrows rose. That was a hearty comeback. He made a decision, bringing out his hand a bit awkwardly, showing the limits of boyhood. I’m Ar---
Oh oh.
Her eyes were wondering.
He quickly amended, touching her arm again. “ArMid. Armid. That’s my name Armid. Armid the uh-servant. I work in Camelot, you know. Princess Alianor.”
Once again there was a flicker in her dark eyes as he called her that title. He wasn’t sure why, but thought it better not to press. He had his big secret he was still trying to keep. With her being a princess, if she found out who he really was, she could tell her father, who would tell his father, and then.
Yea, best not to press it.
Seeming to weigh her choices, she nodded before turning once more to go, forgetting at first that his hand still hadn’t left her arm. “If you would unhand me-Armid the servant, I could leave.”
“And where do you plan to go? Your kingdom is ten kilometers away at the least.”
She didn’t like that answer. He added quickly. “At least uh-er my master says so.”
She frowned, her defined nose wrinkling with indecision and suspicion awkwardly laced together. “I am staying at the palace.”
“No you’re not. No one’s staying with us now. Believe me I would know because-
She stared. Arthur bit at his lip. Wrong thing to say, but he did know, and so if he knew, she was not telling the truth then-
“How dare you accuse a princess of telling a fib. I did not mean the palace of Camelot. I meant---well it does not matter. I am going to tell my father about your rudeness today Armid and-
“Okay, okay!” He put up his hands. “I didn’t mean anything ill by it. I apologize Princess Alianor. I give my sincerest apologies!”
She was still very upset obviously. “It’s not like you live in the palace.”
“NO. I’m a servant. Of course I don’t.” This was so hard. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep this up, and he was wasting time. The snow. That’s why he came out here, not to chat with some-girl. Even if she was kind of-a pretty princess. Kind of.
“But I meant another palace anyway. Now-
“Here. Just let me give you a ride back to whatever palace it is you’re--er, heading to.”
“And how do you plan on doing that without a horse? It ran away, remember?”
Whoa, she didn’t miss a beat. And she could be a bit offhanded at times when she didn’t seem completely perplexed like she first was acting. “That’s true. Well you shouldn’t be walking through these woods alone. You can come with me.”
It was partly with obligation he invited her along. Princes had to be chivalrous. And it was partly--wanting her to come with him. Something about this girl.
She looked at him with fear. It was almost like she had somewhere to get to or something to say that she hadn’t but then-
“Fine. Maybe we can find your horse.”
He smiled. “Yea.”
He started walking. She followed along behind.
He could hear her mutter something low under her breath, words muted to his ears. “Oh Abigail--what have you gotten me into?”
“What was that?” Arthur asked as Armid the servant boy.
Princess Alianor shook her head as Arthur stopped fully. “Nothing-nothing important. Why are you stopping?”
“It’s not really right for servants to lead princesses. Usually the nobility takes the lead.”
She looked around the white wonderland of forest with concern. A wonderland of hidden dangers.
Arthur amended quickly. “But-er-maybe under the circumstances I could take a bit of the lead. These woods can be a bit treacherous if you don’t know them that well.”
“Yes.” She answered quickly, seemingly with abundant relief. “Very well. You take the lead Armid.”
It took him a moment to remember she was referring to----him.
He was Armid. Oh bother.
_______
Up a mountain of powdered snow that resembled the whitest sugar he headed, making sure she was able to keep pace. Interesting. She didn’t seem like most princesses. He’d been around at least a few and all had complained about the smallest bit of precipitation. Princess Alianor simply kept her hood up over her head as he kept his borrowed one too the same, and she moved pretty fast for a girl also. Of course, maybe she was more the sort like the Lady Morgana, a girl who his father was very fond of, as he was best friends with her father, a fierce knight of course.
Arthur was once again thankful for being able to keep his fine boots. They didn’t slip an inch into the heavily packed snow. He looked back to see that she too was smartly wearing a pair of boots. “Are your feet staying warm enough?” He asked her spontaneously.
The girl, her curled dark hair all so hidden by the deep purple hood, smiled quietly, seeming a bit more eased now. “Oh yes. Thank you Armid.”
It was weird being called that. He felt almost not like himself, but he just nodded with his own bit of a smile. “Good.”
The snow increased its heaviness of falling just a bit. Arthur didn’t mind, but seemed the wind was picking up some too. No matter. It was grand to be away.
They reached a crevice in the mountain. He could just hear her stumble a bit behind. Arthur turned back rapidly, caught lightly at her waist. “Careful.” He warned.
She stared at him for a moment, something swimming in her dark eyes that she didn’t reveal, before she blushed slightly and whispered, “Thank you.”
The moment would have been extended, if he wasn’t a boy that is. Right as her near fall happened, Arthur noticed something perhaps a bit more spectacular to a prince desiring a bit of fun. At the top of the mountain, just about five paces away, was it, the long crudely wood carved toboggan. He let go of the girl instantly and rushed up to his find.
He didn’t hear her humph of disapproval as she pretty accurately, pretty quickly, made her way up the rest of the mountain, unassisted.
It wasn’t all that impressive looking, other than its size, but it didn’t matter. Arthur could tell it was just like the ones he’d spotted the servant boys using, if not the actual. And the top of this mountain, it was fantastic! They’d be able to slide down at such speed!
“What are you thinking of doing with that?” She asked apprehensively, holding tight to her cloak as the wind was stronger at the top of the mountain, pulling hard on all their clothing as the snow still had yet to relent, its falling ever so steady.
Arthur frowned at the princess with obvious intent. It shouldn’t be that much of a mystery. “Slide down on it of course.”
Princess Alianor’s dark eyes widened for a fast moment, before she shook her head with young authority. “You can’t be serious! This does not even belong to us. We can’t just-TAKE it.”
Arthur flippantly disagreed. No one told him what he could or couldn’t have, except his father, the king. “Why not? It’s just sitting here, isn’t it?” He squatted down next to the toboggan, studying how it worked with his clear blue eyes.
“That doesn’t make it okay, Armid. You should respect other people and their things, not just take whatever you want without proper request.”
Was he actually being chastised by this princess? And if so why did it not anger him as much as it should? Instead it made him feel almost---guilty?
“We’ll just borrow it, alright Princess Alianor? We’ll put it back where we found it and all.”
She still seemed highly skeptical, maybe even a bit nervous. “I don’t know.” She was gazing down the mountain with apprehension in her dark eyes, a quiver to her small lips.
Arthur stood up, feeling the yank of the wind again as it pulled his hood off. He pushed it back over his head, coming to stand by Princess Alianor. “It’s a big mountain.”
“Very big.” She echoed with a slight shiver in her voice.
Arthur gave her a sidelong look. “I used to be afraid of places like this. I always thought something would jump out at me. My father showed me though that it was kind of silly to think that way. He’s not afraid of anything.”
She turned to him, eyes quizzical. “Nothing at all?”
Arthur shrugged. “Not that I know of. Well except maybe-He doesn’t like magic. I don’t know if it’s so much fear though or just hatred for it.”
Slowly Princess Alianor nodded her head. “My Dad is brave too. He’s a good man, a blacksmith.”
Arthur questioned. “I thought your father was a king. He can’t be a blacksmith then. Others take up that position.”
She answered tensely. “No, well-he used to sometimes as a---well just a simple hobby. Of course he doesn’t have much time for that now, having to rule our kingdom.”
Arthur moved back to the toboggan, sat down on its front, stretching his legs out to settle his boots into the snow. “You’re scared to go down.”
“No!” Princess Alianor replied too quickly. Arthur looked up, his expression skeptical. She backtracked. “Well-maybe a little.”
He smiled reassuringly. His father always just pushed, but for Arthur that rarely worked well. He liked to encourage more. And since he thought it would be a terrible bore to go down the sled alone, with her watching, he was going to make a go at persuading her to come with him. “You might like it.”
Uncertainty still was wrinkling her brow, but she didn’t negate his words. “You might be right.”
Arthur smiled, held out his hand. “Come on. Give it a go.”
She shrugged, still obviously a bit fearful, but also easy to talk into riding along, almost like she wanted to be persuaded. “Oh alright. Where shall I sit? Back or front?”
Arthur perused the toboggan for a moment. The front was curved, while the back was mostly straight. It gave him a good idea where the most fearful should reside. “Front. I’ll take the back. The ropes on the sides are long enough for me to steer if need be.” They didn’t look all that firm, but he didn’t tell her that, created in a makeshift way by boys who definitely weren’t wealthy enough to get strong rope and probably too much in a hurry to safeguard completely. Shouldn’t be a problem though.
Princess Alianor looked down at her dress questioningly.
Arthur was pretty sure what she was going to say and wondered if she was getting ready to back out. Shame if she did. “I don’t think it’ll ruin your dress.”
With a dismayed look she lifted away the bottom part of the cloak, revealing a strong tear on the side of the fine gown. “Wouldn’t matter anyway. It’s already been torn. At least my mother is a se-
She stopped suddenly. Arthur stared. “She’s a what?”
Princess Alianor darted her eyes, making her way to the toboggan silently as Arthur slid fully to the back. “She’s a-a---sender---of gifts. She sends nice things like---dresses---to girls who are not as fortunate.”
Her answer was puzzling, but Arthur just slowly nodded his head. “Okay.”
He didn’t see Princess Alianor let out a hard sigh as she slowly moved down to the toboggan.
By instinct he brought out his hand. The times that princesses had visited the castle he had been expected to assist them when sitting and such. He was accustomed to it.
She smiled at him with wonder, getting her seat with his help. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
She stared. Arthur gulped. “What?”
“You just don’t sound that much like a servant boy right now. They don’t usually speak with such---firmness.”
Arthur lowered his eyes. “Well it’s er---expected in Camelot.” He quickly changed the subject. “So, how about we get this thing moving?”
She swallowed tightly. “Okay.”
Arthur scooted forward some on the toboggan, noticing how her hands were shaking. He reached out one of his to touch at her waist. She jumped some.
“Sorry, just, you seem scared and---probably better if the back one holds on, you know?”
“Of course.”
If he didn’t take command they were going to sit here until that last bell toll rang. Action was needed. “Alright, move your hands to the front. They’ll be pretty secure there. I’ve got the ropes. I’ll steer and make sure all the same that you’re not falling or such.” He proved this by grabbing the ropes and at the same time keeping his arms surrounding her waist. “Also we have to lift our feet and push far to get it going down. Just at first. It won’t take long before it’s moving pretty fast I gather. That’s when you can bring your feet up. I’ll do the same.”
“Okay. Sounds fine.”
He laughed softly. “But if it feels too fast, we’ll just drag our feet, alright? But trust me, it’ll be fun.”
“Trust you?” She questioned softly.
“Yes.”
She started to reply, but he was all action. “Alright, push off!”
Both of them did with their boots. They pumped them through the deep snow, coming to the edge of the mountain. It wasn’t so much a mountain like the kind you could see from the castle. It was much more a hill, but for young ones, especially looking over the top, it felt like a mountain.
Since she was at the front, he knew she’d see what a long way it was to the bottom. If they did a fast push off though she wouldn’t have much time to take in the impressively frightening view.
They’d just-
And soon enough---they were.
“Ah!”
She let out. He couldn’t tell if she was enjoying it or not. The second the toboggan hit the edge it had started to race down the hill, kicking up snow at their sides. “Alright?” He asked in a yell as the toboggan roared down the mountain.
Letting out a bit of a nervous giggle, she uttered it. “Yes.”
It was fast, their descent. The snow fell on them all the while. The mountainside was blurred in their view, the trees ahead and the clouded sky above. He held at the ropes like he said he would, but she seemed okay to just let the toboggan do its thing so he didn’t steer much at all.
The slide to the bottom was ultimately so quick anyway. In less than a minute or two they hit. Finally Arthur pulled at the ropes. They seemed to give a shaky tug, but they worked well enough to stop the toboggan.
She turned around, the hood from her cloak completely fallen, her dark curls wildly spinning around her small head. He winked. “You liked it.”
No question needed. She grinned. “It was fantastic!”
“Let’s do it again then!” He replied excitedly. Princess Alianor was the most fun princess he ever met. She didn’t even seem to care that her boots had dragged through the snow at the bottom.
Carefree, they headed back up the mountain, helping each other with pulling the toboggan. Two more times they went down. In between they stumbled through the snow, snickered at the other when it resulted in a fall. And assisted when it was needed. They forgot completely about time and bells, but as they reached the top of the mountain the fourth time, some of her responsible attitude seemed to beckon again. “We should probably stop after this time Armid. Our clothes are going to soak through if nothing else.”
Arthur nodded with a touch of reluctance.
Perhaps it would have been better if they had stopped after those three times. The fourth, the ropes were even shakier. The snow had started to fall with more power. They took off from the top of the mountain at a poor angle. It was not so much a fun descent as a scary one. He could hear her scream. Arthur called out, holding Princess Alianor’s waist tightly.
“Hold on!”
The ropes broke away. They slid far too fast down the wrong side of the hill. The toboggan headed treacherously for a scattering of trees. Arthur tried to steer but-
The toboggan lifted into the air. It somersaulted. She screamed. He yelled. Both lost their seating. And the last thing Arthur could remember was the hard coarse bark of the tree so directly in front of him---
Before his vision went to black.
_____
Orange. Red. Flame.
That was the first thing he was aware of. Warm. Burning. And then a pain in his leg. It wasn’t horrible, but prickling irritably at his muscles. A moan came. He realized after a few seconds it had come from his own mouth. He looked down. He was lying on a blanket with another blanket atop his body. The fire was so close nearby, burning brightly. He was in a surrounding of shrouded material, crudely built, but somehow so warm. Some feet away from him lay a sleeping girl. It took him seconds to realize who it was.
“Alianor!” Arthur exclaimed.
He moved forward on the blanket, feeling the pain in his leg starting to mostly depart. His muscles just needed to get moving. There were some scrapes on his arms too, but otherwise he seemed to be okay. Was she?
“Awake? Good to see.”
He turned violently at the voice, picking up the first thing he could find on the ground, a log for the fire. “Stand back.”
A man, with bowl cut hair, brought his hand up, a man in a simple robe of red and orange. “Fear not young Pendragon. We mean you no harm.”
Arthur kept the log raised, pushing away the blanket and attempting to leap to his feet. But his circulation wasn’t working as fast as he’d like. “I said stay back. And how---you’re mistaken.” He struggled to keep up the pretense. “My name is Armid. I’m just a servant boy, see?” He gestured to his plain moth ridden clothes. “Now who are you and what do you want with us?”
He darted his eyes down to Princess Alianor. She still hadn’t moved.
“You are as defensive as the king, but you need not worry. As I said---we mean you no harm. Your memory might not be that clear. We found you, the two of you, fallen off a toboggan. Prince Arthur.”
He stared, suspicious and wary. “Why do you keep calling me that? I already told you-
“I have a gift that lets me see deceits. Even well, or youthfully, intentioned. I understand you do not want the girl to know. You perhaps should understand---there are things she does not want you to know.”
Finally Arthur got to his feet. His hands were shaking, but he still wouldn’t put the log down. He held it up defensively, ready to swing if needed. He may only be a boy, but he’d been trained since he could walk. He knew escape maneuvers. “Why won’t she get up? What did you do to her?”
The man looked sad. “I assure you. Nothing at all. The fall was hard. She is simply resting. Your wounds are mostly healed. We have effective remedies. Now---when you are done being so---suspicious---you may join us. It is a time of feasting for the coming celebration. Christmas beckons in just days.
Arthur felt uncertain. He lowered the log just a bit, taking in the tent, the talk of remedies, and the way this person seemed to know who he was. “Are you Druids?”
Finally the man smiled and remarked quietly, with a contrary answer. “My name is Olmis. You are welcome. You and your friend. Keep her well. A meeting will come again. Destinies are linked. Even as those pretend.”
With those riddles of words, the man named Olmis backed up and out of the tent. Arthur watched him with wonder, fear, suspicion, awe---and then heard it.
“Oh-
He turned around, forgetting about Olmis for the moment. “Princess Alianor?”
It sounded odd, calling her that after Olmis’s peculiar words.
Her eyes opening slowly, she stared. Lifted to her knees. “Armid?”
Protectively Arthur moved to her. It was instinct purely and okay, he liked the girl. She was not like other princesses. “Here. I don’t know exactly where we are, but I’m going to get us out. Everything’s okay.”
Slowly she stood up too.
“Are you hurt?” Arthur asked.
She shook her head, showing that too she had some scrapes, but nothing too bad. “No---I feel okay. Just a little---
He nodded his head. “Yea, me too. I’m sorry. I guess that last slide down the hill, the toboggan did a flip.”
She shuddered slightly. “I remember. It was scary and then---just black. But Armid, where are we now?”
Arthur looked around uncertainly, shakily remembering the encounter with the odd Olmis who insisted, rightfully, but strangely, that he was Arthur Pendragon. “I’m not entirely sure. There was just a man here, said his name is Olmis and that they found us. I think he’s---I think they are Druids, Princess Alianor.”
“Then if they helped us, why do you seem so wary?”
“I don’t know. He said so many peculiar things. I just-
He didn’t finish his thought as from the outside of the tent came a rush of sound. The celebration had evidently begun. Princess Alianor gestured. “Let’s go see. It is only proper to thank those who helped us too Armid.”
Arthur held back.
Princess Alianor walked up to him, reaching for his wrist, showing her own type of command---or coaxing. “Come on. It’s a celebration. I’m sure it’ll be fine. We’ll stay only to say thank you.”
“There are rumors---more than rumors. It’s talked about all in Camelot. They use magic, the Druids. Sorcery.”
Princess Alianor nodded her head, speaking quietly. “I’ve heard of that being said too. But we don’t know for sure until we see for ourselves. It’s not right Armid to just accuse someone of something without proof or---without trying to understand.”
Arthur opened his mouth, wondering. “He said that---you have secrets. Olmis said that.”
She flinched. “Secrets?” She countered quickly though. “And how do I know you don’t have your own---Armid?”
It was true. He had a big one. Had to let it go there then. Reluctantly Arthur followed the princess out of the tent. As soon as they reached the outside the music grew volumes louder and what greeted their eyes was an amazing spectacle of laughter, song, dance, and so much more.
Camelot had feasts, but nothing like this, and yet there didn’t seem to be abundant amounts of food. Camelot feasts had goose and deer. Here the food seemed simple, hot puddings, and fruits of every kind. The one animal to dine on looked to be a wild boar. It wasn’t about just food. It was the feel of the celebration, the emotion of it. It was as Gaius had said. Christmas was much more solemn in Camelot and a feast of any kind included very ordered dancing, movements so precise. Here it was so---different.
A Yule log was burning bright in the middle of it all. The festivities were under heavy tented canopies, protecting all from the swiftly falling snow. Trees were even decorated with tiny little paper adornments. Holly and ivy were everywhere, with their sweet tangent smell. And in lurking corners hung the mistletoe, where Arthur cold just spot a tittering couple kissing underneath, before he moved away his youthful eyes.
To accompany all this was so much song, so much of instruments and voice. There were simple mandolins, tambors, flutes, penny whistles, and even teasing fiddles. The band playing them, were not sitting in precise order like they would at a Camelot feast. The instruments were not perfectly formed. They were made of scraps here and there and the musicians were in the dance as much as those listening. Almost everyone was parading around the Yule log, singing out songs of celebration. Arthur had never seen anything like it. Almost magical. Almost-
“Well there you are. Here---have some hot cider. It’s a bit spiced though. Be careful.” Olmis had come over, handing them two cups of very hot drink.
“Thank you for taking care of us. The crash was frightful.”
The man eyed the girl for a moment, before replying. “No thanks needed--- He seemed to intentionally hesitate. “Princess.”
Arthur turned to her---Princess Alianor. She seemed a bit agitated. No wonder about that. He felt the same with Olmis.
“Well enjoy the celebrations. I imagine they are sort of novel for the two of you. Perhaps more for one than the other.”
With that Olmis walked away. Arthur watched him warily, wondering now what kind of riddle he was trying to tell. As he drank some of the cider though, he felt his body relax more. It was so hot, so rich and warm going down his throat. It took away any chill. It made it like a Yule log was formed in his own being, as silly as that sounded. He noticed that Princess Alianor was watching it all with rapt attention, the dancing. It wasn’t just adults, like the formation type dancing that happened in Camelot. It was children too, moving in fun circles.
“We dance like this at home sometimes.”
Arthur stared. “You do?”
Princess Alianor commented yes and then---“Oh I mean---well something like this.”
“Yea, we don’t dance this way in Camelot.”
She turned to him questioningly. “But you’re a servant. The servants don’t dance the same as the nobles.”
They don’t?” Arthur asked, curious. “Then how do they?”
She seemed befuddled. “Well, not that I would know that well. I’m not a servant.”
He smiled a bit nervously. “And I’m not a prince.”
Her eyes turned to his curiously.
Arthur took another long drink of the cider. It was warming him up so much and---lightening his mood. He reached actually for Princess Alianor’s wrist. “Come on. Let’s dance like---the Druids do.”
She laughed at that and in seconds just like the other children and adults, they were parading around the Yule log. Turning and twisting. Spinning. Arthur watched with wonder as a glow came to the trees, almost like they were being lit. But that was impossible. There were no candles. The people, the fire, everything seemed a blurred haze of warmth and---solid heat. It was so---
His hood was down and so was hers. Her dark curls sparkled. His sandy locks shined. They laughed and spun. Didn’t feel an inch of cold. Forgot time.
Forgot---
A few too many bell tolls later, unbeknownst to Arthur, except for it was becoming a bit clear, in such a stormy atmosphere, that day was decreasing, she called out. “Isn’t that your horse?”
They were drinking a second bit of cider, playing instruments that the musicians let them borrow for the moment. He turned and sure enough, there was Sir Leon’s horse he had been riding.
Sir Leon!
Arthur looked up, finally seeming to come out of his languid haze. Night would soon be approaching. What were they doing? He had to get back? Was this some bit of sorcery that made them stay here? Was something---potent in the cider?
“Isn’t it?”
She asked again, and he nodded his head, grabbing at her wrist and putting down the instruments they had borrowed. “Come on. We have to go.”
Princess Alianor nodded her head, probably suddenly coming to the same sense he was. “You’re right. We’ve been gone so long. I just. We came here and it’s like----time just---
“I know. Come on.” He pulled her with him.
A voice called after. “Are you leaving? So soon?”
Arthur turned back around viciously. “What did you do? Did you put something in the cider? Is this whole thing some kind of spell?”
Olmis shook his head with disappointment. “No to all your questions Art-Armid. I did not see you complaining when the cider warmed you up. You needed that heat. You seemed to be enjoying yourself, but because of your father, you will not allow---never mind it all.”
Arthur accused hotly. “You don’t know my father.”
“I know his hatred of our kind. I had hoped it didn’t extend to you. It is important it will not. For if so, your fate will be different.”
Princess Alianor stared.
Arthur thought of how at least the part about his father wouldn’t be new. He’d already told her his feelings on magic.
“We have to go Princess Alianor. Come on.” He pulled her with him to the opening, ignoring Olmis, but then.
Outside of the cover of the tent, his eyes widened. The snow was falling very heavily now and the wind was whistling vengefully.
“Stay. Both of you. Children. Do not go. The storm is treacherous. You do not want to be out in it.”
Arthur swallowed hard. If Gaius had been right---
No. Whatever it was, he needed to go. And he was taking her with him. “We’ll take our chances.”
He didn’t give Princess Alianor a chance to counter. He held on tight and they moved to the outside, to the howling winds and flurried snow.
Olmis’s call came out from behind. “Be careful children. And be warned---once you leave we cannot help you again. You will be on your own.”
Arthur ignored the warning. He just wanted to get away from this place of---sorcery.
Thankfully it wasn’t hard to get the horse back. It was not as spooked as before, though noticeably not enjoying the building storm at all either. With Princess Alianor taking the front, Arthur reined the horse towards Camelot.
At least he tried.
It soon became evident that his kingdom was hidden from view. All he could see were towering mounds of snow on the ground. All he could feel was the wind whipping viciously at his clothing.
It was a fully fledged snow storm. It fell with icy precision at the pace of a sword blade swing---over and over again. It was a hideous curtain of pure white that gave no direction, no return to home. And it chilled bodies to the bone. Soon enough both of them were trembling.
“We have to find cover---somewhere!” Arthur yelled, not even sure anymore if day had turned to night or what. Everywhere was darkness and snow. The heavy clouds had obviously unleashed upon the forest. They let out their sagging weights and this was the outcome.
“Is that a cave over there?” Princess Alianor suddenly called out to him with precise notice. Arthur navigated the horse through the snow and trees, wishing he was wearing his chainmail now. It would be a lot warmer than these thin peasant clothes. At least the coat helped some.
He came to the cave, small, with a tiny opening, but they were of size to fit through he was sure.
“Good eyes!”
He brought the horse to a stop right in front of the cave and slid down from the animal. Princess Alianor followed suit. Seeing that the landing was uneven, Arthur assisted, holding onto her arm.
“Come on.”
He showed her the cave’s opening. It was a tight squeeze. Princess Alianor, without complaint, lay down as flat as she could and pulled herself into the cave. Next was his turn. He flattened his body too, squirmed like a worm. He wondered mutely if the snow had been as freezing for her when her clothes made contact with it, as it was for him. Trying to ignore the chill, he moved through until he reached the inside.
It wasn’t a complete relief.
The cave’s interior was almost as black as coal. Accompanied with the sounds of the storm outside, it made his skin crawl.
Who knew if anything else was in here with them?
Where was she even?
He gave a few seconds for his eyes to start adjusting. When the candle light was put out in his room, usually after his eyes adjusted, shadows could be seen. Not inside this dark sunken cave though. The only thing he could make out was a tinge of glowing color from what seemed to be Princess Alianor’s dress.
Princess Alianor, she was making fearful little sounds. He called out to her, about as nervous as she was, but trying not to show it. “Princess Alianor?”
“Yes? Armid it’s so dark in here.”
“I know. Maybe-maybe if we can try to gather some wood or brush we can start a fire. I know it’s really hard to see, but our fingers can find some, right?”
“Yes, we can try.”
On his knees, because he had no idea even where the top of the cave was, if they would be able to stand, Arthur crawled, trying to find something to get a fire going and have some bit of light. He joked, feeling stupid, but someone had to lighten the mood. “Well---eh---one good thing.”
“And that is?”
“We know no bears are in here. Too fat to fit inside.”
She started laughing at that. He chortled along a bit too and kept searching. The task could be seen as fruitless. There were only tiny spots of light in the cave, like the gleam of her dress that he noticed before, but they were so small as to afford no bit of true illumination. It was only what the fading day allowed, which wasn’t much of its own since it had been a dark one to begin with. They had no guarantee either that the cave would have anything they could use, but moving was better than just sitting in a dark as oil atmosphere.
After the oddness of the Druid celebration, a mixture of mystery, excitement and goose prickling bumps, a burning fire would be a kind relief.
“I think I found some stones-oh and these feel---yes like sticks, very small though Armid.”
He replied excitedly as his own find came up. “I have some longer ones, and brush. No stone though. Come on. Bring out your hand. I could see a glimmer of your gown before. Maybe I can spot it now. We can move to what we think is the center at least.”
He waited. Then he saw it, just a tiny bit of light, her gown. Moving toward it, Arthur felt with his hands to make sure he didn’t completely bump into her. She called him again with her voice and he was sure now they were sitting right next to each other. Reaching forward just a bit, he found her hands in the dark. In the curve of her palms were her find. He combined it with his. As he did so, his skin prickled, chilled.
“Are you feeling as cold as I am?
She spoke with teeth chattering. “Yes, most definitely I assume.”
“We’ll have to get this fire going.” He rubbed with the rocks and the twigs. Nothing seemed to happen. He felt her hands against his fingers.
“Here, let me try too. Give me one of the stones at least.”
He passed it over, wondering if she thought she could do much better than him. Well he wasn’t in the mood of competition to battle it out. If she was better, fine enough.
He kept rubbing, when after a few moments a glow came from where it seemed her hands were.
She did start it!
“Alianor!” He let out excitedly, amending quickly. “Princess Alianore I mean of-
She cut him off swiftly. “No matter. Look, it’s glowing!”
She was just as happy that finally they had real light to see by and a fire starting to burn. Arthur added to the pile the rest of the sticks and brush. The flickering turned to pure flame. It rose above, showing the short ceiling of the cave, one most definitely where they would not be able to stand, even being children. The walls were still dark, but now Arthur could pick out the patterns of stone. The ground was lined with some more dry grass and brush. That was how the twigs were part of it all. In fact in the corner towards the opening grew the oddest little tree. It had straggly branches and loose pines, but it was in its own way a pretty sight. As ugly as it was.
“Well now we know where the branches came from.” Arthur signaled.
She nodded her head, sitting back and holding at her knees. “I never meant to be gone this long.”
Arthur thought of how he was in his own bit of trouble. His father would have sent a search party out by now he surmised. He wasn’t sure exactly how long he had been away, but he was betting it was much longer than a few bell tolls.
“You never told me. What were you doing in the woods anyway Princess Alianor?”
Now that there was enough light to see each other by, he could spot her biting on her lip before she lifted her head. Peeking out from the purple hood were dark winding curls. She seemed to be hesitating. “You were right. It was odd for me to be there. And maybe Olmis was right. I have secrets, but Armid, you have yours too, don’t you?”
She said it so confidently, easily. He nodded his head quickly. “Yes.”
“I should probably just tell you.”
For some reason though he didn’t want to know. Something seemed it would become spoilt if he found it, if he revealed his own. Quickly he raised his hand. “No. Don’t. I don’t want to know.”
“I’m not sure I want to know yours either entirely. Not yet maybe.”
He smiled lightly. “Okay, then we’re settled on that.”
She agreed with an up and down gesture of her head and slid over to the straggly little tree. “It’s almost Christmas Eve I’m imagining. This tree looks so sad. Maybe if we-
Together, they gathered the brightest things they could from the cave. She even tore a bit more at the rip of her dress underneath the cloak, brought out a winding little piece of glimmer. They collected bits of dry grass and prettier stones. He tore at the material of Elmer’s tunic near the bottom. Then, they brought all their precious little gifts to the poor tree. Taking piece by piece, they adorned it, gave it more dignity, and when it was done, sat back to oddly admire.
“That’s better.” Princess Alianor whispered.
Arthur quietly agreed, thinking how it was something he would probably kick his foot at if he were in Camelot, but here in this simple cave, it was almost magical.
“Yea.”
His skin pricked.
“Are you alright Armid?”
He moved back against the wall of the cave, his fingers playing at Elmer’s ugly trousers. “That man Olmis was so strange, the things he said even about my father.”
“How would he know of your father anyway?” Princess Alianor asked curiously.
He couldn’t tell her his father was the king and that he was well known, well loved---and well hated. “Dunno.”
They fell into silence. The fire crackled peacefully as outside the wind was howling as if it were a thousand wolves. The snow began falling even harder, blistering at moments into the cave. Even with the fire, the cold was prevalent. The children were perhaps longing for their individual homes.
Shivering, Arthur leaned his head back against the cave, the hood covering his hair as much as possible. Even there he was cold.
Across the way, where she resided to her own part of the cave’s wall, Arthur noticed Princess Alianor removing her cloak. “What are you doing?” He asked.
She frowned before sliding closer to where he was. “It is big and warm. I don’t think even the fire can ward off all the chill. But with this---
He stared at her curiously. She shyly moved the cloak like a blanket, over part of him and kept the rest for herself. He nodded his head. Side by side they came to sit, each with a section of the cloak. Quietly they took the fire in before them.
He apologized heavily. This was his fault. He hadn’t listened to his father’s orders, or Gaius’s warnings. He made her go down that hill another time and now-
“I’m sorry.”
She shook her head adamantly. “Tis alright. I’m to blame too most likely. I did not want to leave the Druid celebration and you did.”
Dryly he pitched in. “We probably shouldn’t have left it. We were warmer there, safer.”
“You didn’t seem to think so then.”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s alright.” She soothed. “We’ve done well enough here. I think we’ll be okay now.”
He chuckled suddenly at all her brightness where most princesses would be---howling for home most likely. “We have a Christmas tree at least, as sorry as it is.”
She laughed softly now too. “Well and a fire too of course.”
He smiled through all their calamity.
“And of course---we had a fantastic time going down that hill!” She brought in with quick relish.
Arthur’s smile grew. “The best time of all.”
“Yes-so I think all will be okay. We can’t give up hope.”
“No?” He asked. She was the oddest girl. The oddest nice girl who seemed to give council sometimes with such---authority. Knowing. Understanding of less than fortunate circumstances. Ones he felt foreign to.
“No.”
She answered so adamantly that he nodded his head. “Okay then, we won’t.”
The wind did not dissipate. Outside its hissing sounded that of an angry dragon. Inside the cave, the fire flamed like its burning breath, just at a gentler pace. A hypnotic one. Arthur’s eyes grew heavy. The day had been eventful enough. Weariness was taking over. His head slid a bit. So did Princess Alianor’s as slumber became too tantalizing.
In the fire’s glow it could be seen, two children of growing age, slumped against the wall of the cave, a pair of heads leaning upon the other. Peaceful.
Destined for futures neither could imagine.
Not this night anyway.
The night that Camelot became snowed in.
The night they had no choice, but to seek refuge in a tiny cave.
A now magically glowing one.
Part III Here