With All My Heart || Arthur Pendragon

26

Mira walked along the corridor heading back to her chambers. She thought absently, mainly about Osric. She turned a corner and almost walked into King Uther himself!

"Your Majesty, my apologies" she gasped dropping a curtsy.

"Lady Mira, we were just talking about you" he replied.

Mira stood, noting his use of we, and looked up to see Osric. She screamed inside but managed to keep calm on the outside.

"All good I hope" she replied with a small smile,"If you'll excuse me, my Lord".

"Why don't you walk with us?" asked Uther.

Mira couldn't say no, even as much as she wanted to. Uther was the King of Camelot, the greatest of the Five Kingdoms. She already had an uncle who wanted to kill her living in the same Palace as her, the last thing she needed was for Uther to develop a new found dislike of her.

Right when she thought she was in for it, she heard footsteps.

"Arthur!" smiled Uther fondly.

Mira glanced over her shoulder to see the Prince walking up to them. She was so relieved! Just seeing him calmed her down, yet her heart sped up a little.

"Father" Arthur smiled, stopping beside Mira.

"Have you met Sir Osric?".

"Yes, we had the pleasure of meeting a few days ago" Arthur smiled, but Mira noticed he was tense and his eyes were cold.

Osric bowed his head. "My Lord".

"I'm sorry, father, but I'm afraid Mira is quite late for Sir Gwaine".

"Oh, yes! Forgive me, Sire" she lied, dropping a curtsy.

"My Lady" Uther smiled.

Arthur offered his arm to Mira and she took it gladly. He guided her around the corner and along a few corridors, until Uther and Osric were completely gone.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Fine. Thank you for saving me" she replied, then caught herself,"I mean, not from your father, from Osric!".

He laughed. "I know. I thought you needed to get out of there".

"Thank you again" Mira smiled,"I'm guessing Gwaine doesn't actually need to see me?".

"That might have been a slight lie" he chuckled.

Suddenly they heard footsteps and voices.

"That sounds like..." Mira trailed off, going pale.

"Gwaine's chambers are on the corridor to the right of the stairs, we're not meant to be here" the Prince murmured.

"Oh...".

"In here!" Arthur whispered, grabbing her hand and leading her towards a tapestry on the wall.

"What-".

Suddenly he pulled back the tapestry and they were inside a secret hole in the wall. The tapestry fell shut, hiding them in the dark. They breathed as quietly as they could.

"She was nineteen when I last saw her, Sire" they heard Osric saying.

"Why did she leave?" asked Uther.

"I believe she was kidnapped, my Lord".

Arthur's hand tightened around hers.

"By who?!".

"I don't know, but I will be sure to tell you when I find out. I think they are in Camelot".

Their voices faded down the corridor and Arthur and Mira waited.