Arthur and Mordred bonding

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Before we begin, please set your Mordred's appearance. Eyes: <<cycle "$eye">> <<option "green eyes" "green">> <<option "blue eyes" "blue">> <<option "gray eyes" "gray">> <<option "brown eyes" "brown">> <<option "hazel eyes" "hazel">> <<option "violet eyes" "violet">> <<option "black eyes" "black">> <<option "amber eyes" "amber">> <</cycle>> Hair color: <<cycle "$hair">> <<option "dark brown, deep and rich and almost black." "dark brown">> <<option "chestnut brown, dark and lush." "chestnut brown">> <<option "light brown like honey." "light brown">> <<option "lush, dark blond." "dark blonde">> <<option "icy blond, cool and lush." "icy blonde">> <<option "golden blond, warm and lush." "golden blonde">> <<option "auburn, deep red." "auburn">> <<option "copper red, fiery." "copper red">> <<option "pure black like the midnight sky." "black">> <</cycle>> Hair type: <<cycle "$hair_type">> <<option "straight" "straight">> <<option "wavy" "wavy">> <<option "curly" "curly">> <<option "coily with corkscrew coils" "coilycurls">> <<option "coily and cloudlike" "coily">> <</cycle>> Complexion: <<cycle "$complexion">> <<option "ivory" "ivory">> <<option "warm beige" "warm beige">> <<option "cool beige" "cool beige">> <<option "rosy" "rosy">> <<option "tawny" "tawny">> <<option "olive" "olive">> <<option "light brown" "light brown">> <<option "sepia brown" "sepia brown">> <<option "golden brown" "golden brown">> <<option "russet brown" "russet brown">> <<option "dark brown" "dark brown">> <<option "warm black" "warm black">> <<option "cool black" "cool black">> <<option "deep black" "deep black">> <</cycle>> Mordred's agab (at this point in the story, trans Mordred is not yet out): <<cycle "$gender">> <<option "male" "male">> <<option "female" "female">> <</cycle>> [[Next, some questions about your Mordred's personality and attitude towards Arthur|SetMordred]]

<div class="titlelettersone" style='font-size: 100%;'>Llamagirl</div>

<<set $eye = "unknown">> <<set $hair = "unknown">> <<set $gender = "unknown">> <<set $magic = 50>> <<set $swordsmanship = 0>> <<set $persuasion = 50>> <<set $intimidation = 50>> <<set $deceit = 50>> <<set $independent = 50>> <<set $pendragon_magic = "1">> <<set $water_magic = 50>> <<set $honest = 50>> <<set $confident = 50>> <<set $impulsive = 50>> <<set $calm = 50>> <<set $kind = 50>> <<set $defiant = 50>> <<set $emotional = 50>> <<set $affable = 50>> <<set $complexion = "none">> <<set $age = "a few days old">> <<set $controlled_magic = 50>> <<set $hair_type = "no">> <<set $opinion_arthur = "none">> <<set $chapt1_3_arthur = "">> <<set $ask = "">> <<set $gawain_crush to false>> <<set $gawain_friend to false>> <<set $morgana_wood = 0>> <<set $morgana_wood1 = 0>> <<set $lute = "">> <<set $music = "">> <<set $write = "">> <<set $draw = "">> <<set $read = "">> <<set $chapt3dragonblood1 to false>> <<set $chapt3dragonblood2 to false>> <<set $chapt3dragonblood3 to false>> <<set $chapt3dragonblood4 to false>> <<set $water_type = "">> <<set $water_study = "">> <<set $dragon_name = "">> <<set $dragon_he to "">> <<set $dragon_him to "">> <<set $dragon_personality to "">>

<<link "Stats" "stats">><</link>> <<link "Credits">> <<script>> Dialog.setup("Credits"); Dialog.wiki(Story.get("credits").processText()); Dialog.open(); <</script>> <</link>>

Name: Known as Mordred Leudonus of Lothia - but more often than not called Mordred Le Fay Age: You are 10 years old. //A description of your likeness// You have $eye eyes, much like your parents, $hair $hair_type hair alike your mother's, Morgana and $complexion complexion like your father's, Arthur. <<link "« Return to game" $return>><</link>>

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<div class="titlelettersone" style='font-size: 150%;'>The Bastard of Camelot</div>

<<silently>> <<if $gender == "male">> <<set $pgen to 0, $child to "boy">> <<else>> <<set $pgen to 1, $child to "girl">> <</if>> <</silently>> A few questions before we begin! Did Arthur suggest spending time together or did Mordred ask him? <div class="choice">[[Arthur asked and Mordred agreed.|NextQuestion1][$ask to "arthur"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred asked.|NextQuestion1][$ask to "mordred"]]</div>

Are Mordred and Gawain friends? <div class="choice">[[Friends, and crushing on each other.|NextQuestion2][$gawain_crush to true]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Friends!|NextQuestion2][$gawain_friend to true]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Acquaintances.|NextQuestion2]]</div>

Does Mordred practice the magic of the Lady of the Lake? <div class="choice">[[Yes. They're learning.|NextQuestion3][$water_study to "yes"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[A bit. They're learning certain things.|NextQuestion3][$water_study to "sometimes"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[No.|NextQuestion3][$water_study to "no"]]</div>

Becoming King had come with as many restrictions as it had liberties - perhaps more restrictions than liberties, Arthur thought. He'd never liked those limitations; it's only ever encouraged him to get better at evading them, sneaking and slinking around as he and Kay used to do as kids bored at fancy, stuffy parties. So when he told Kay he needed to get away to meet with Mordred, his brother knew what to do right away. It involved a change of clothes - from the opulent and overly regal attire he was expected to wear into comfortable, practical garbs far better suited for capering in the woods - and a lot of careful skulking and swift zig-zagging on Arthur's part to avoid the crowd's attention while Kay pacified his guards and got them off his back. Once he was out of the rows of booths and pavilions - once he was treading the leaves-laden ground between the trees, Arthur felt free and relaxed and happiest he'd felt these days. <<if $ask == "arthur">> He still couldn't believe that Mordred had actually accepted to meet him, his step hastened by the anticipation of finally getting to spend some time with his child. Making up for his absence, getting to know the child he'd cast aside, sowing something he hoped would bloom in a beautiful bond where he feared nothing would grow anymore. <<elseif $ask == "mordred">> He still couldn't believe that Mordred had actually asked him to stay, his step hastened by the anticipation of finally getting to spend some time with his child. Making up for his absence, getting to know the child he'd cast aside, sowing something he hoped would bloom in a beautiful bond where he feared nothing would grow anymore. <</if>> As he got closer to their meeting spot - which, Arthur realized know, was vague enough to encompass quite a wide area - doubt was creeping up on him that he'd made ?them wait too long, that he might pass ?them by and they'd go in circles around each other. He started calling out, softly, not wanting to attract too much attention lest other people were prowling the woods at this time, away from the bustle of the fair. "Mordred?" "Over here!" He saw ?their hand between the foliage, flagging him down. Arthur shot between the trees, low branches tugging at his curls. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Mordred," he smiled sheepishly and shook his head to fend off any stray leaves. "How did you manage to get away?" Mordred gave him a once-over. "And get new clothes?" He chuckled nervously, suddenly feeling very silly for having to explain to his child how used he was to skirting his guards - some would think it was unbecoming of a king. Lancelot would definitely find it - and had even called it - a dangerous and stupid thing to do. "Oh, well, I asked Kay for some help. He brought me these and I changed quickly out of view so I may go unnoticed by the crowd." It seemed to have piqued Mordred's interest. "Your guards?" "They're willing to turn a blind eye for a while," Arthur answered then paused, scratching the back of his neck. Perhaps Mordred didn't find it such a silly custom. Perhaps ?they might even understand - after all didn't Mordred have free range of movement, enjoying the fair on ?their own if that's what ?they wished with the only eyes fixed on ?them being curious ones? "Not being able to go where you want, when you want, without chaperones and without everyone's eyes on you, is the worst part of being King." Well, there was more than just that - daily things he had to deal with - though this was definitely high on his list. He could easily name a few other grievances, petty as they might sound. "Aside from the speeches. And the paperwork. And the stress." He stopped, grimacing. He felt as if he was starting to list off all of his responsibitilies. Definitely not a good look for a king - and way too tedious to linger on right now. He shook his head to clear his mind and smiled. "Do you have a place in mind for us to go, or do we just wander about?" Mordred's face scrunched up in thought. "I know a place. Follow me." Oh, Arthur wondered if it were a place where Mordred often went. Did Mordred tread the slithering paths of the woods as often as he had back home? "You know," Arthur began, "I used to do this a lot with Kay, when we were kids. Before," he gestured vaguely towards his head, where his crown would be usually, thrust among his curls. "I even knew I was King." Once he ascended the throne he was told he could still take capers in the woods with Kay - as long as he announced in advance and had a slew of guards tagging along. It was worse in those first few years, when he was still a child. He didn't relish the fact that it seemed to stress his guards and his knights and his courtiers - but he needed this, he needed this freedom even if it were just a slightly loosened leash. Arthur skipped over a mighty root jutting out of the earth. He'd stumbled over many of them when he was little, but he liked to think he'd learned to navigate his way around a forest. He went on, "There's a patch of forest on Ector's estate, just beyond the gardens and training grounds. We used to run around with our wooden swords and pretend we were fighting imaginary foes that posed a threat to our castle, or dueling each other for honor - and the bigger share of the berries we picked. But Kay //always// let me take more, anyway." The forests weren't just a place to frolic and play - they held many treats for them, too, for he and Kay were taught from little how to tell apart what was edible and what was not. He wondered if there were any such treats nearby. He looked up, eyes roaming over the trees, falling finally on a green shock of bushes ahead. "Ah!" Arthur squinted. He could make out dark bunches of fruit. There were a few answers to what they might be, but it was hard to tell from this far away. He pointed them out to Mordred. "Please tell me those are blackberries." Mordred joined him in peering and squinting. "What else could it be?" "Dewberries," Arthur uttered the name of the blasted things with disgust - disgut, which fittingly described their flavor. "They're awful. Bitter and awful. I remember when I first tasted one, I thought it was a curious looking blackberry and when I popped it into my mouth I almost cried." Mordred let out an explosive snort of amusement. It filled Arthur with happiness. "No, they're blackberries," ?they said, giving them a second cause of merriment. "I've picked before from this very bush, with mother." Ah, so these were well-trodden paths for Mordred after all. With Morgana, which came as no surprise. Upon arriving at the bushes, Arthur could confirm Mordred's words. He plucked one of the berries and surveyed it, just to make sure before popping it into his mouth, pleased with the delicious find. As they ravaged the bush, searching for all the ripe berries, Mordred asked: "What else did you and Kay get up to?" Oh, he had so many stories to tell Mordred! He rushed to chew and swallow the handful of berries he'd stuffed his mouth with and said, "Well, we used to get in trouble quite a bit. Dad says Kay is a menance. Says so lovingly. We used to steal cookies from the kitchen." Mordred's lips twitched and ?their eyes gleamed with amusement. "Couldn't you just ask?" Arthur leaned in and dropped his voice to a conspiratorial tone: "But they taste better stolen." Mordred broke into a grin. Arthur continued, smiling: "We got up to a lot of mischief. Most of the time Kay was the mastermind, but with a big brother like that it quickly rubbed off on me." While they cleaned the bush of berries, he told Mordred about all the boring parties they snuck out of to go play on their own; the way they'd sometimes hide from tutors; the multitude of pranks Kay devised, and Arthur went along with as his partner in crime. He recounted the time they thouroughly spooked a poor, drunken noble during a summer solstice at their castle: they'd dressed up in cloaks and furs and painted masks with horns to disguise themselves as fae. [[Continue|GarethTalk]]

Are Mordred and Gareth close? <div class="choice">[[You're very close; best friends; confidants.|NextQuestion4][$Gareth to 90]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Gareth loves Mordred dearly, and gets protective over them; you're friends.|NextQuestion4][$Gareth to 70]]</div> <div class="choice">[[You're not close, but you get along.|NextQuestion4][$Gareth to 50]]</div> <div class="choice">[[You tend to avoid each other. Neutral relationship.|NextQuestion4][$Gareth to 30]]</div> <div class="choice">[[You can't stand each other.|NextQuestion4][$Gareth to 10]]</div>

Mordred laughed heartily at his stories, entertained by his and Kay's adventures. As silence settled between them, filled by the crunch of autumn leaves beneath their feet, Arthur's gaze lingered on ?them as a question he's wondered before popped in his head. He wasn't sure what answer to expect, if the question would be too intimate or bring up unpleasant feelings. Still, he dared to ask: "Are you and Gareth close?" <<if $Gareth >= 80>> "Yes, we're actually very close," Mordred answered with a tender smile that said more than even words could. Relief washed over Arthur, followed by something warmer, something softer. "That's wonderful to hear. Do you...have any stories of what you get up to?" He wondered if it would mirror his and Kay's closeness and adventures; he wanted to know more, to know anything there was to know about Mordred that ?they was willing to reveal. Mordred's eyes glinted with mischief. "Maybe...We too like to take walks into the woods sometimes, and have ventured here on solstices hoping we'll catch a glimpse of the fae. When I have the time I'll sneak sweets to Gareth during his lessons because it's always a pleasant surprise he enjoys; and he's so dilligent that sometimes it's hard to get him out of the library. Oh, and I've managed to convince Gareth to fly with me and my dragon friend, despite how adverse he is to heights." Arthur listened with a smile. The relationship between the two really did sound close-knit and sweet and it warmed his heart to hear it - especially after witnessing that cruel display put on by that Solomon girl. It had pained him to learn how people treated Mordred, when he thought that by asking Lot to claim ?them, all these issues could be avoided. He wished to inquire more upon the matter, but now was not the right time. Mordred looked so happy; so at ease. They were finally bonding the way he hoped they would when he came here. "Why do you keep away from Gareth too?" Mordred asked. The question hit Arthur squarely in his chest. He slowed down as he processed it, replaying the words in his head, then stopped altogether as the dry, sharp and explosive splinter of a branch under his boot echoed across the forest, too loud in his ears. He's asked himself the same thing, really. With Mordred and Morgana, well, there were a lot of complicated, contradicting, muddy feelings to swim through and try to untangle. Feelings that were sometimes very difficult to face. Arthur had talked to Gareth before, though. He'd never tried to avoid the boy if they were at the same event. In fact, he had been quite curious to talk with him, and Gareth had always striked him as a nice, genial child. Quite sharp, too. He'd sent him gifts, never missing a birthday, but he'd never went out of his way to reach out to Gareth otherwise. He'd given Morgana and her family quite the wide berth, after all. Mordred looked at Arthur patiently, no trace of judgement in ?their face. It somewhat eased the sudden tension that wound him up. He breathed in and out - slowly, deeply - and said, choosing his words carefully: "I suppose, as I've kept away from you and Morgana, so I've kept away from Gareth, too. I don't think either Morgana or Lot would want me around him, anyway. Lord Lot does not desire my company, that I know." Lord Lot had never liked him, Arthur was sure of it, and the man had always intimidated him. He'd also never pushed for Arthur to spend more time with Gareth, or be more involved in any way, though he always did send back thank you notes for all the gifts, the way etiquette dictated. Mordred snorted, surprising both Arthur and a poor nearby bird. "Don't trouble yourself with what Lot thinks," ?they said dismissively. Arthur had many questions about Mordred's relationship to the Duke, too, but felt this too was a sensitive subject to tread - a painful one, he suspected - but he wasn't sure if it were encouraging or not to see Mordred quite so gamely and readily disavow Lot's opinion. Instead, Arthur asked: "Does Gareth...feel my absence too?" ?They nodded. "If you're trying to be closer to me...perhaps you could try being closer to both." Yes. Yes, indeed, he should seek to make things right with Gareth, too, not just his child - to be there for his nephew as well. He hadn't ignored him, but he hadn't afforded him quite that much attention either. <<elseif $Gareth >= 60>> "We're there for each other," Mordred answered with a tender smile that said more than even words could. Relief washed over Arthur, followed by something warmer, something softer. "That's wonderful to hear. Do you...have any stories of what you get up to?" He wondered if it would mirror his and Kay's closeness and adventures; he wanted to know more, to know anything there was to know about Mordred that ?they was willing to reveal. Mordred's eyes glinted with mischief. "Maybe...We too like to take walks into the woods sometimes, and have ventured here on solstices hoping we'll catch a glimpse of the fae. Oh, and I've managed to convince Gareth to fly with me and my dragon friend, despite how adverse he is to heights." Arthur listened with a smile. The relationship between the two really did sound close-knit and sweet and it warmed his heart to hear it - especially after witnessing that cruel display put on by that Solomon girl. It had pained him to learn how people treated Mordred, when he thought that by asking Lot to claim ?them, all these issues could be avoided. He wished to inquire more upon the matter, but now was not the right time. Mordred looked so happy; so at ease. They were finally bonding the way he hoped they would when he came here. "Why do you keep away from Gareth too?" Mordred asked. The question hit Arthur squarely in his chest. He slowed down as he processed it, replaying the words in his head, then stopped altogether as the dry, sharp and explosive splinter of a branch under his boot echoed across the forest, too loud in his ears. He'd asked himself the same thing, really. With Mordred and Morgana, well, there were a lot of complicated, contradicting, muddy feelings to swim through and try to untangle. Feelings that were sometimes very difficult to face. Arthur had talked to Gareth before, though. He'd never tried to avoid the boy if they were at the same event. In fact, he had been quite curious to talk with him, and Gareth had always striked him as a nice, genial child. Quite sharp, too. He'd sent him gifts, never missing a birthday, but he'd never went out of his way to reach out to Gareth otherwise. He'd given Morgana and her family quite the wide berth, after all. Mordred looked at Arthur patiently, no trace of judgement in ?their face. It somewhat eased the sudden tension that wound him up. He breathed in and out - slowly, deeply - and said, choosing his words carefully: "I suppose, as I've kept away from you and Morgana, so I've kept away from Gareth, too. I don't think either Morgana or Lot would want me around him, anyway. Lord Lot does not desire my company, that I know." Lord Lot had never liked him, Arthur was sure of it, and the man had always intimidated him. He'd also never pushed for Arthur to spend more time with Gareth, or be more involved in any way, though he alsways did send back thank you notes for all the gifts, the way etiquette dictated. Mordred snorted, surprising both Arthur and a poor nearby bird. "Don't trouble yourself with what Lot thinks," ?they said dismissively. Arthur had many questions about Mordred's relationship to the Duke, too, but felt this too was a sensitive subject to tread - a painful one, he suspected - but he wasn't sure if it were encouraging or not to see Mordred quite so gamely and readily disavow Lot's opinion. Instead, Arthur asked: "Does Gareth...feel my absence too?" ?They nodded. "If you're trying to be closer to me...perhaps you could try being closer to both." Yes. Yes, indeed, he should seek to make things right with Gareth, too, not just his child - to be there for his nephew as well. He hadn't ignored him, but he hadn't afforded him quite that much attention either. <<elseif $Gareth >= 40>> "We're not close, but we get along well enough," Mordred neutrally replied, pushing aside a low-hanging branch. "I see," Arthur nodded, not quite sure what to make of it. He had hoped the response would have been more enthusiastically positive, though he reckoned that siblings didn't always have to be close, even those who grew up together - and Mordred was already seven years old when ?they was introduced to Gareth. Perhaps they just never formed a connection. Still, it was reassuring to know the relationship didn't seem troubled. After witnessing that cruel display put on by that Solomon girl, he wondered if //all// childred behaved that way towards ?them, if there were any willing to be friends with ?them. It had pained him to learn how people treated Mordred, when he thought that by asking Lot to claim ?them, all these issues could be avoided. He wished to inquire more upon the matter, but now was not the right time. Mordred looked so happy; so at ease. They were finally bonding the way he hoped they would when he came here. "Why do you keep away from Gareth too?" Mordred asked. The question hit Arthur squarely in his chest. He slowed down as he processed it, replaying the words in his head, then stopped altogether as the dry, sharp and explosive splinter of a branch under his boot echoed across the forest, too loud in his ears. He'd asked himself the same thing, really. With Mordred and Morgana, well, there were a lot of complicated, contradicting, muddy feelings to swim through and try to untangle. Feelings that were sometimes very difficult to face. Arthur had talked to Gareth before, though. He'd never tried to avoid the boy if they were at the same event. In fact, he had been quite curious to talk with him, and Gareth had always striked him as a nice, genial child. Quite sharp, too. He'd sent him gifts, never missing a birthday, but he'd never went out of his way to reach out to Gareth otherwise. He'd given Morgana and her family quite the wide berth, after all. Mordred looked at Arthur patiently, no trace of judgement in ?their face. It somewhat eased the sudden tension that wound him up. He breathed in and out - slowly, deeply - and said, choosing his words carefully: "I suppose, as I've kept away from you and Morgana, so I've kept away from Gareth, too. I don't think either Morgana or Lot would want me around him, anyway. Lord Lot does not desire my company, that I know." Lord Lot had never liked him, Arthur was sure of it, and the man had always intimidated him. He'd also never pushed for Arthur to spend more time with Gareth, or be more involved in any way, though he always did send back thank you notes for all the gifts, the way etiquette dictated. Mordred snorted, surprising both Arthur and a poor nearby bird. "Don't trouble yourself with what Lot thinks," ?they said dismissively. Arthur had many questions about Mordred's relationship to the Duke, too, but felt this too was a sensitive subject to tread - a painful one, he suspected - but he wasn't sure if it were encouraging or not to see Mordred quite to gamely and readily disavow Lot's opinion. Instead, Arthur asked: "Does Gareth...feel my absence too?" ?They nodded. "If you're trying to be closer to me...perhaps you could try being closer to both." Yes. Yes, indeed, he should seek to make things right with Gareth, too, not just his child - to be there for his nephew as well. He hadn't ignored him, but he hadn't afforded him quite that much attention either. <<elseif $Gareth >= 20>> "We're far from close," Mordred answered as ?they pushed away a low-hanging branch. "I'm sorry," Arthur said, voice quiet and soft. He'd hoped for a more positive response, though he reckoned that siblings didn't always get along. Much like him and Morgana, though their case was by far more complicated and difficult than any other. Mordred was already seven years old when ?they was introduced to Gareth, so perhaps they just never formed a connection. Perhaps they were simply too conflicting personalities to find any common ground. He hoped the relationship wasn't too troubled - Morded seemed to speak rather casually, but how much would it be a front? He just really wished there were people there for Mordred. Especially after witnessing that cruel display put on by that Solomon girl, he wondered if //all// childred behaved that way towards ?them, if there were any willing to be friends with ?them. It had pained him to learn how people treated Mordred, when he thought that by asking Lot to claim ?them, all these issues could be avoided. He wished to inquire more upon the matter, but now was not the right time. Mordred looked so happy; so at ease. They were finally bonding the way he hoped they would when he came here. "Why do you keep away from Gareth too?" Mordred asked. The question hit Arthur squarely in his chest. He slowed down as he processed it, replaying the words in his head, then stopped altogether as the dry, sharp and explosive splinter of a branch under his boot echoed across the forest, too loud in his ears. He'd asked himself the same thing, really. With Mordred and Morgana, well, there were a lot of complicated, contradicting, muddy feelings to swim through and try to untangle. Feelings that were sometimes very difficult to face. Arthur had talked to Gareth before, though. He'd never tried to avoid the boy if they were at the same event. In fact, he had been quite curious to talk with him, and Gareth had always striked him as a nice, genial child. Quite sharp, too. He'd sent him gifts, never missing a birthday, but he'd never went out of his way to reach out to Gareth otherwise. He'd given Morgana and her family quite the wide berth, after all. Mordred looked at Arthur patiently, no trace of judgement in ?their face. It somewhat eased the sudden tension that wound him up. He breathed in and out - slowly, deeply - and said, choosing his words carefully: "I suppose, as I've kept away from you and Morgana, so I've kept away from Gareth, too. I don't think either Morgana or Lot would want me around him, anyway. Lord Lot does not desire my company, that I know." Lord Lot had never liked him, Arthur was sure of it, and the man had always intimidated him. He'd also never pushed for Arthur to spend more time with Gareth, or be more involved in any way, though he always did send back thank you notes for all the gifts, the way etiquette dictated. Mordred snorted, surprising both Arthur and a poor nearby bird. "Don't trouble yourself with what Lot thinks," ?they said dismissively. Arthur had many questions about Mordred's relationship to the Duke, too, but felt this too was a sensitive subject to tread - a painful one, he suspected - but he wasn't sure if it were encouraging or not to see Mordred quite to gamely and readily disavow Lot's opinion. Perhaps he should consider approaching Gareth, just as he'd reached out to Mordred. Perhaps he may appreciate it. <<else>> Mordred frowned, which was not a good sign. "I gather that you're not?" Arthur carefully prodded, smile fading. "He's insuffurable," Mordred puffed out. "I'm sorry," Arthur said, voice quiet and soft. He'd hoped for a positive response, though he reckoned that siblings didn't always get along. Much like him and Morgana, though their case was by far more complicated and difficult than any other. He wondered whatever troubles brewed between Mordred and Gareth - where they simply too conflicting personalities to find any common ground? Did Gareth give ?them a hard time? The boy had seemed polite when Arthur met him, but he knew so little of him, and he was worried for Mordred. Especially after witnessing that cruel display put on by that Solomon girl, he wondered if //all// childred behaved that way towards ?them, if there were any willing to be friends with ?them. It had pained him to learn how people treated Mordred, when he thought that by asking Lot to claim ?them, all these issues could be avoided. He wished to inquire more upon the matter, but now was not the right time. Mordred had looked so happy before he brought it up; so at ease. They were finally bonding the way he hoped they would when he came here. "Why do you keep away from Gareth too?" Mordred asked. The question hit Arthur squarely in his chest. He slowed down as he processed it, replaying the words in his head, then stopped altogether as the dry, sharp and explosive splinter of a branch under his boot echoed across the forest, too loud in his ears. He'd asked himself the same thing, really. With Mordred and Morgana, well, there were a lot of complicated, contradicting, muddy feelings to swim through and try to untangle. Feelings that were sometimes very difficult to face. Arthur had talked to Gareth before, though. He'd never tried to avoid the boy if they were at the same event. In fact, he had been quite curious to talk with him, and Gareth had always striked him as a nice, genial child. Quite sharp, too. He'd sent him gifts, never missing a birthday, but he'd never went out of his way to reach out to Gareth otherwise. He'd given Morgana and her family quite the wide berth, after all. Mordred looked at Arthur patiently, no trace of judgement in ?their face. It somewhat eased the sudden tension that wound him up. He breathed in and out - slowly, deeply - and said, choosing his words carefully: "I suppose, as I've kept away from you and Morgana, so I've kept away from Gareth, too. I don't think either Morgana or Lot would want me around him, anyway. Lord Lot does not desire my company, that I know." Lord Lot had never liked him, Arthur was sure of it, and the man had always intimidated him. He'd also never pushed for Arthur to spend more time with Gareth, or be more involved in any way, though he always did send back thank you notes for all the gifts, the way etiquette dictated. Mordred snorted, surprising both Arthur and a poor nearby bird. "Don't trouble yourself with what Lot thinks," ?they said dismissively. Arthur had many questions about Mordred's relationship to the Duke, too, but felt this too was a sensitive subject to tread - a painful one, he suspected - but he wasn't sure if it were encouraging or not to see Mordred quite to gamely and readily disavow Lot's opinion. Perhaps he should consider approaching Gareth, just as he'd reached out to Mordred. <</if>> Companionable silence fell between them as they walked through the woods. It was so pleasant to just have this moment - this moment of comfort and relaxation, just basking in each other's presence, something that Arthur couldn't even dare entertain before. He wondered if Mordred felt the same. He dearly wished ?they'd ask for more moments like this, though the thought saddened him, too. He'd leave Lothia soon, and he didn't know when he'd see ?them again. If Mordred even wanted that, would it be possible? Would Morgana try to stop them again? He was set on not letting her - or anyone else - dictate whether he could or not connect with his own child. Mordred was the first to break the silence: "Where did you learn to carve wood?" A smile curled his lips. "That would be from my father. Kay and I would sit next to him while he whittled away and told us stories of the fae and his adventures as knight." He remembered those moments fondly, whether they were seated in front of the hearth, warming up on cold winter evenings, or in the grass, basking in the mild autumn sun. "Kay never did but I picked up the craft from him. At six, I made my own very first sculpture." "What was it?" "A little bird." Arthur held up his hand to roughly show with thumb and index just how little he meant. He could still see it know in his mind's eye. It wasn't very hard to envision, after all. On top of being his very first figurine, he'd seen in every time he'd visited home and entered his father's study. "Like a sparrow. It isn't much, but father still has it in his study." "And now you carve detailed dragons," Mordred remarked, admiration clear in ?their voice. Arthur bowed his head in gratitude as his smile widened, feeling a little bit overwhelmed as he always did by flattery. "What about you? Do you have any creative endeavours? I know Morgana draws." <div class="choice">[["\"I like playing the lute.\""|Chapt3ArthurHobby][$lute to "yes"]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I enjoy writing.\""|Chapt3ArthurHobby][$write to "yes"]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I like playing the lute and composing music.\""|Chapt3ArthurHobby][$lute to "yes", $music to "yes"]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I like drawing, too.\""|Chapt3ArthurHobby][$draw to "yes"]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I like reading.\""|Chapt3ArthurHobby][$read to "yes"]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I play the lute and I enjoy writing stories.\""|Chapt3ArthurHobby][$lute to "yes", $write to "yes"]]</div>

<<if $lute == "yes" and $write == "yes">> "I play the lute and I enjoy writing stories," Mordred said. "Really? That's lovely, Mordred. Perhaps you could play me a tune and show me one of your stories sometime." He'd never been musically inclined, when it came to playing himself, that is. But he loved listening. And writing stories? How creative! He always marveled at the way people could spin such wonderful tales. <<elseif $lute == "yes" and $music == "yes">> "I like playing the lute and composing music," Mordred said. "I'd like to hear you play a tune you composed." He'd never been musically inclined - when it came to playing himself, that is. But he loved listening. <<elseif $lute == "yes">> "I like playing the lute," Mordred said. "I'd like to hear you play me a tune." He'd never been musically inclined - when it came to playing himself, that is. But he loved listening. <<elseif $write == "yes">> "I enjoy writing stories," Mordred said. "I'd like to read one of your stories, if you're willing to share." How creative! He always marveled at the way people could spin such wonderful tales. <<elseif $draw == "yes">> "I enjoy drawing, too," Mordred said. "I'd like to see your drawings, if you're willing to share." He'd seen Morgana's, during her stay in Camelot, and he'd been very impressed. Mordred had a great teacher. <<elseif $read == "yes">> "I like reading," Mordred said. "Oh, what books?" Arthur was really curious what sort of stories Mordred enjoyed. Maybe their tastes aligned? Arthur loved a light-hearted story, and brave adventures or interesting mysterious. Gawain loved recommending all different types of books to him. "Perhaps I could send you some, and maybe you have some reading recommendations for me." <</if>> The sound of rushing water greeted them and between the foliage and trunks, Arthur glimpsed a river coiling through the forest. Of course; Mordred brought them near water. It didn't surprise him that much. It was likely a fondness that had been imparted upon ?them by Morgana. Perhaps a part of ?their Le Fay blood yearned to be so close to the elements ?they drew power from. Which brought him to a question he finally had the opportunity to ask once they settled down on the grass by the river. "I've always wondered. What does it feel like, the magic from your Le Fay blood compared to the Pendragon one? When you use fire, I mean." Mordred considered the question. "My Le Fay magic feels like it comes from both within and without me." ?They flexed ?their fingers as ?they talked, slowly and deliberately. "But it feels somewhat different, the Pendragon magic. It feels like it comes solely from within me." //From within me//, is how Arthur would describe his fire - solely Pendragon fire - too. Smouldering and glowing somewhere deep inside him, waiting to be kindled and spill through his veins and buzz across his skin, making it itch in a way that was not at all unpleasant. "Yes, that's what it feels like, the Pendragon fire," Arthur softly agreed. Mordred studied him intently for a moment before going on, "It still feels linked to my emotions, the way my affinity is." "I suppose you don't need any pointers in this department, then?" Arthur concluded. "It sounds like something Morgana could quite easily cover." "I suppose." A flame sprung out in ?their palm, a small and fiery demonstration. As Arthur watched it, an idea popped in his head. He reached out his own hand and summoned a twin flame. If Mordred wanted to offer demonstrations, he was more than willing to indulge ?them. "Can you pass it to your other hand?" "Of course!" Mordred did just so, bouncing the flickering fire to ?their other hand. Arthur nodded, appreciative. "You've got nice control. Though I'm not sure if it's due to you being a dragon blood or sorcerer." When he was little, before thorough practice, summoning fire was an easy task; controlling it, not so much. Mordred shrugged, willing the fire to slither to the tip of ?their index where ?they twirled it around in small, blazing circles. "Perhaps it's both." The flame kept spinning and spinning in fiery whirls, blurrying with speed into one fire circle. He wondered...he'd always loved fire story-telling, the dragons' custom of spinning tales. He'd been fascinated by it since he was little, and had come to learn the skill, too. He glanced up, teeming with sudden excitement, and met Mordred's eyes - the same ?eye as his. "How about shaping fire into stories, the way dragons do?" "I'm learning," Mordred replied, somewhat guarded as ?they eyed Arthur. ?They turned the question on to him: "Can you do it?" "Yes. Well it's not as masterful and intricate as the craft of professional dragon performers, but I can do it." He could never compare himself to those who learned the craft so extensively, so intimately and made such beautiful art. Mordred propped ?their chin in hands, all attention focused on Arhtur. "Show me." Arthur nodded. He couldn't deny the opportunity to humour and impress Mordred. He closed his hand around the still blazing fire in his palm, reducing it to a mere warm buzz across his skin, and inhaled deeply, attuning his thoughts and focus to this task, clearing his mind. He extended both hands, summoning a flame in the space between the palms. Then, as he was thought, he //felt// the flame, imagined it as malleable and pliant in his fingers, willing it to take the shape he held in mind - a flying dragon, spewing fire. Elewen, to be more precise, was his inspiration. Mordred clapped enthusiastically and Arthur laughed, endeared by the reaction. He held the fiery figure for a while for Mordred to regard, then clasped his palms to snuff it out. He flexed and stretched his fingers, the itching lingering. Arthur looked up at Mordred. "What about your connection to your dragon?" Mordred had met Elewen, but he had yet to officially meet ?their friend, though he had peeked them in the crowd. "Strong. Accolon has been helping us. He may not be a dragon blood, but he's read up on our powers and he's a patient teacher." Accolon. Of course. He tutored Mordred in the way of knighthood; in the way of a dragonblood, despite not being one himself; tutored them, perhaps, in any way Mordred needed. Guiding Mordred. Raising ?them. Being a father to ?them. What Arthur had failed to be for them. "I'm glad," Arthur said, because he was. Very much so, that Mordred had Accolon. Yet there was something bittersweet, a certain longing sadness bleeding into his words. He tried to dispel it, continuing: "It seems you've got it all covered up. I didn't have a dragon blood to guide me, either." He pulled at a corner of his tunic, casting down his gaze. He highly doubted he would have liked Uther as his teacher and that Uther would have enjoyed having him as his student, anyway. "Just me and Elewen, learning from books and scrolls. We did receive lots of encouragement from our families, and that counts too, of course. Then when I became King, Merlin started lending me help, enlisting the support of dragons to tutor us." He glanced up at Mordred. Mordred, who was a dragonblood like himself. "This is a great opportunity for the both of us, as dragon bloods. So ask whatever you wish." <<include Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood>>

<<if $chapt3dragonblood1 is false>><div class="choice">[["Your bond with Elewen. I wonder if it's the same as my dragon and I," Mordred said.|Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood2][$chapt3dragonblood1 to true]]</div><</if>> <<if $chapt3dragonblood2 is false>><div class="choice">[["Can I see your scales armor? What does it feel like?" Mordred asked.|Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood1][$chapt3dragonblood2 to true]]</div><</if>> <<if $chapt3dragonblood3 is false>><div class="choice">[["What do you think of compulsion?" Mordred asked.|Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood3][$chapt3dragonblood3 to true]]</div><</if>> <<if $chapt3dragonblood4 is false>><div class="choice">[["About Merlin...Why do you trust him? Mother says he's bad," Mordred said.|Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4][$chapt3dragonblood4 to true]]</div><</if>> <div class="choice">[["We should head back," Arthur said regretfully.|Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood5][$chapt3dragonblood5 to true]]</div>

"Your bond with Elewen," Mordred started, and Arthur waited for ?them to finish ?their thought. "I wonder if it's like mine with $dragon_name. Do you two speak telepathically often and share your feelings through your bond?" Arthur nodded eagerly - that was exactly it! It was so...exciting to finally know someone like him. "I've watched the race trial. The two of you are very skilled. Fast and..." Mordred paused, tilting ?their head pensively. "Agile. And kinda slippery. The way you squeezed through others and changed directions so quickly yet smoothly." Arthur inclined his head in deference and said, "Thank you. I'll impart the compliment to Elewen as well. She will be most delighted to hear that." Then: "You should introduce me to your dragon friend some time. I'd love to meet them." "$dragon_name? I'd love for you to meet $dragon_him too, $dragon_he's the best." Arthur propped his chin in hand. "Tell me about $dragon_him." <<if $dragon_personality == "playful">> Mordred smiled, voice full of affection as ?they told him of ?their sweet, fun-loving companion. $dragon_name sounded like a very merry individual to be around. <<elseif $dragon_personality == "friendly">> Mordred smiled, voice full of affection as ?they told him of ?their friendly, high-spirited companion. $dragon_name sounded like a very sweet individual. <<elseif $dragon_personality == "bold">> Mordred smiled, voice full of affection as ?they told him of ?their confident, daring companion. $dragon_name sounded like a very striking individual indeed. <<elseif $dragon_personality == "aggressive">> Mordred smiled, voice full of affection as ?they told him of ?their bold, intense companion. $dragon_name sounded like a very fiery individual indeed. <<elseif $dragon_personality == "shy">> Mordred smiled, voice full of affection as ?they told him of ?their sweet, timid companion. $dragon_name sounded like a very lovely individual. <<elseif $dragon_personality == "fearful">> Mordred smiled, voice full of affection as ?they told him of ?their sweet, timid companion. $dragon_name sounded like a very lovely individual. <</if>> <<include Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood>>

"What do you think of compulsion?" Mordred asked, a question that took Arthur a little by surprise. "I...I'm not fond of using compulsion," Arthur said, which was a very charitable way of saying it made his skin crawl. He grimaced, merely talking about it kindling a queasy feeling within. "I find it cruel, bending their will...Stealing it away from them entirely. It could be used for good. To soothe down distressed or angry dragons," he said tentatively. That's what Merlin had told him, though it didn't assuage him much. Merlin said that it was indeed awful but that he should know how to do it nonetheless in the eventuality of needing to protect himself. He understood perfectly well why Arthur may not use it as...liberally as Uther did (//I never quite approved of it, either, but he wasn't an easy man to reason with,// Merlin had confessed). Arthur continued, "Though I think you should first exhaust all other options, beside violence of course, to get the situation under control. Like, trying to reason with them, or calm them with your words. It is better than using violence, though. I simply try not to resort to compulsion. But if my words and deeds fail me, I do." He tried to think of it like subduing one in a swordfight, except the dragon had no sword in this fight, which brought him back to the argument that it was quite unfair. //They have fangs and claws and fire, though,// Merlin had pointed out, //and more might.// <<include Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood>>

Mordred's eyes flitted to Arthur's hands, roaming curiously over them. "Can I see your scale armor? What does it feel like, summoning it?" Arthur jumped at the opportunity. "I suppose it's like...Like moving a muscle? But you do need practice to control it. How long you hold it, how much it covers." He extended one arm and pulled up his tunic's sleeve all the way to the elbow. He had years of practice now, years of getting used to the sensation. Arthur summoned the scales with ease, willing them to bloom, scarlet and glinting, all across the exposed skin. "At first, it felt like tingling...Intense tingling, but now it simply feels like something shifting under the skin." <<if $impulsive >= 50>> Mordred reached out, timidly at first, running ?their fingers over the arm to test out the feel of the scales. Then ?they closed ?their hand around his arm, investigating with the keeness of a scholar who had just found a new species. Arthur knew what ?they must be thinking - it feels just like dragon scales. <<else>> "Can I?" Mordred asked, hand outstretched, and Arthur nodded. ?They timidly ran ?their fingers over the arm to test out the feel of the scales. Then ?they closed ?their hand around his arm, investigating with the keeness of a scholar who had just found a new species. Arthur knew what ?they must be thinking - it feels just like dragon scales. <</if>> Once done with the inspection, Mordred held out ?their own exposed arm - it was starkly fleshy and vulnerable next to Arthur's studded in sturdy ruby scales. Mordred's brow puckered in concentration; ?their fist clenched tightly; all in a desperate yet fruitless attempt to draw out the scales that were not yet ready to come out. It was quite endearing. "It's alright," Arthur chuckled. "You can't force them out. I only got my scales at about fifteen." "Fifteen?" Mordred looked so distraught, Arthur almost felt bad as he struggled against a smile. "Perhaps you won't be a late bloomer like me," he assured ?them. "Most get them around twelve or fourteen." That seemed to appease ?them. "What does it feel like, just having it out?" "Most people would probably think it must feel strange," Arthur says, "but it feels oddly natural. It's certainly different, a very different sensation, but it's almost comforting. To me, at least." He rested his arm in his lap, effortlessly making the scales recede, the motion coming as easy as that of the fingers tugging down the sleeve. <<include Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood>>

<div class="choice">[["Regarding Merlin," Mordred confidently began, determined to make Arthur understand the sorcerer was not a good man.|Chapt3ArthurMerlin][$chapt3_merlin to 1]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Regarding Merlin," Mordred tentatively began, hoping to make Arthur understand the sorcerer was not a good man.|Chapt3ArthurMerlin][$chapt3_merlin to 2]]</div>

The sun was high in the sky, higher than it had been when they'd set out. With a heavy heart, Arthur realized it was time for them to start making their way back. Soon, his guards would get restless. They took the same path back, stopping by the same blackberry bushes to ensure they really did clean them off properly, and pick any berry that escaped their initial search. There was someone waiting for them at the edge of the forest. Morgana, standing with arms crossed over her chest and an expression of painted calm that may lull some that don't know her into a false sense of safety - but the sight made Arthur's skin prickle with a million of tiny, sharp needles. She wasn't alone either; Kay stood a little way off, leant against a tree trunk. He gave Arthur a wry, apologetic smile that said: //I had no choice.// Arthur braced himself for the storm to come. Last time Morgana caught him meeting with Mordred, it was an utter disaster, and he didn't expect her to be any more pleased now, especially after he had ignored her warnings. His pulse quickened, but he tried his best to steel himself. He had the very reason for which he should fight, no matter what Morgana said, right in front of him. <div class="choice">[[Mordred wouldn't even give Morgana the chance to yell at Arthur. They put themself between them. It was their choice to spend time with Arthur and she should accept it.|Chapt3ArthurMorganaWoods][$morgana_wood to 1, $defiant to $defiant+1, $shy to $shy-1]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred wouldn't even give her the chance. They put themself between them, even as their pulse raced. It was their choice to spend time with Arthur and she should accept it.|Chapt3ArthurMorganaWoods][$morgana_wood to 2, $defiant to $defiant+1, $shy to $shy+1]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred waited to see what Arthur would do. They wished he would speak up for them this time, too.|Chapt3ArthurMorganaWoods][$morgana_wood to 3, $defiant to $defiant-1]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred freezed up, deflated. Perhaps Arthur would speak up for them this time, too.|Chapt3ArthurMorganaWoods][$morgana_wood to 4, $defiant to $defiant-1]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred came up with a quick lie. Which proved a bit hard.|Chapt3ArthurMorganaWoods][$morgana_wood to 5, $honest to $honest+2]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred lied that they only met up to discuss their powers. They could make a compeling argument.|Chapt3ArthurMorganaWoods][$morgana_wood to 6, $honest to $honest-2, $persuasion to $persuasion+2]]</div>

Mordred's hand shot out, settling over Arthur's restless, fidgeting fingers. He abruptly stilled, tensing up in surprise at the touch - was ?they trying to comfort him? Comfort //him//, when he talked about how he had abandoned Mordred...comforting him with such familiarity that he did not expect so soon, so easily. Arthur accepted it, letting the tension wash away from him. Mordred smiled and squeezed his hand, gaze soft, softer than Arthur could be on himself. <<include Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4.6>>

"You've hurt me," Mordred plainly said. "But I don't think you did it intentionally. I don't consider you a monster. To me...you seem wounded, like I am." ?They studied Arthur's face, as if the wounds were clearly written over his face, scars on his skin. Arthur said: "I know I've hurt you. And I admit I am hurt, too. That's why I hope to heal both our wounds." <<include Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4.6>>

Mordred smiled, a smile revealing a softness Arthur found harder to afford himself. "What matters is that you're making up for it," ?they said, conviction painting every word in loud, bright tones of hope. Arthur nodded earnestly. "Yes! I want to make up for it. I really do." "Exactly. That's why we're here," Mordred said and swept an arm over the forest and the river. To say Arthur was relieved was like comparing a candle to the sun; he felt overwhelmed by tenderness for this child, so willing to overlook all the hurdles they'd went through - all the pain - for a chance to heal and build something new. <<include Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4.6>>

"Oh," Mordred waved a hand airily, affecting a nonchalant tone as ?they hit Arthur with ?their next words: "Not a monster. Just a terrible father." It wasn't just like stabbing through Arthur, but twisting the blade too; Mordred must have seen it in Arthur's face for ?they hurried to take it back: "I didn't mean to be mean-" Why? After all, what ?they said was true. "No, Mordred, you're right." He let his head hang, not bearing to look at ?their face, puckered up in apologetic concern. "But I want to do better." "That's why we're here, isn't it? To mend the hurt, to heal our wounds." Arthur chanced a peek at Mordred through his brown curls. The child smiled and went on: "So that makes you not a terrible father. But a father that makes an effort." A smile curled his lips, tentatively. It was still such a wonder to him that Mordred was willing to give him a chance. It filled him with such tenderness. <<include Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4.6>>

"Oh," Mordred waved a hand airily, affecting a nonchalant tone as ?they hit Arthur with ?their next words: "Not a monster. Just a terrible father." It wasn't just like stabbing through Arthur, but twisting the blade too; Mordred must have seen it in Arthur's face. "I went too far." Why? After all, what ?they said was true. "No, Mordred, you're right." He let his head hang, not bearing to look at ?their face, puckered up in apologetic concern. "But I want to do better." "That's why we're here, isn't it? To mend the hurt, to heal our wounds." Arthur chanced a peek at Mordred through his brown curls. The child smiled and went on: "So that makes you not a terrible father. But a father that makes an effort." A smile curled his lips, tentatively. It was still such a wonder to him that Mordred was willing to give him a chance. It filled him with such tenderness. <<include Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4.6>>

Quiet fell over them; though Arthur wouldn't really call it all that quiet. All around them, the woods buzzed with life and sound. He listened to it, chasing away any lingering uneasiness or darkness, and let his gaze roam over their surroundings. The river next to them slithered between trees like a glittering snake with diamond scales. "Do you practice the magic of the Lady of the Lake?" Arthur asked. For him, it was a small way in which he could feel somewhat attuned to his Le Fay side, which still felt so strange to him. <<if $water_study == "yes" or $water_study == "sometimes">> <div class="choice">[["\"I mostly learn healing. If I need to control water, I can simply draw on my own powers.\""|Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4.7][$water_type to "healing"]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I mostly meditate, when I want to clear my mind and relax.\""|Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4.7][$water_type to "meditation"]]</div> <<else>> You shake your head. "No, though mom isn't hapy about it. Do you?" "I've found myself praying to her, just to soothe myself or to achieve some clarity of mind through troubled times. But I can't draw upon her power." <<include Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood>> <</if>>

<<if $water_type == "healing">> "Yes, and I focus on learning to heal through it. Do you?" "I've found myself praying to her, just to soothe myself or to achieve some clarity of mind through troubled times. But I can't draw upon her power." <<elseif $water_type == "meditation">> "Yes, I mostly just meditate, when I want to clear my mind and relax. What about you?" "I've found myself praying to her, just to soothe myself or to achieve some clarity of mind through troubled times. But I can't draw upon her power." <</if>> <<include Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood>>

<<if $morgana_wood == 1>> Mordred flung ?themself between Morgana and Arthur like a shield for the man, ready to weather whatever Morgana wanted to throw at him. Hitting her with ?their firm words before she might say anything to the contrary: "I want to know Arthur better, and I want you to respect my choice." Morgana fixed ?them with an unfathomable expression, one so keen and intense that it would have made Arthur squirm and wither beneath it. <<elseif $morgana_wood == 2>> Mordred flung ?themself between Morgana and Arthur like a shield for the man, ready to weather whatever Morgana wanted to throw at him. Hitting her with ?their firm words before she might say anything to the contrary: "I want to know Arthur better, and I want you to respect my choice." Morgana fixed ?them with an unfathomable expression, one so keen and intense that it would have made Arthur squirm and wither beneath it. <<elseif $morgana_wood == 3>> They stood there in uneasy silence, the charged, defeaning quiet after thunder strikes. <<elseif $morgana_wood == 4>> They stood there in uneasy silence, the charged, defeaning quiet after thunder strikes. <<elseif $morgana_wood == 5>> "Mother!" Mordred piped up, sounding just a tinge frantic. "We were just...you see..." ?They dissolved in a mess of more or less articulate sounds, fumbling for an explanation that, for all of the clumsy, jumbled words ?they managed out, nimbly avoided coming close to anything that made sense. Finally, ?they landed on something coherent, however feeble of an excuse: "Arthur got lost! And I found him. How lucky!" Morgana did not seem to find it //lucky//, or true at all to begin with. <<elseif $morgana_wood == 6>> "We were just returning to the festival," Mordred smoothly rose to the occasion. "We've met up to talk about our Pendragon powers. Surely you must understand that I had questions that he could answer. Practice is better than just reading books, and I've never seen actual dragon blood armor before. I simply wanted some advice from someone like me." Arthur had to give it to Mordred - ?they spoke with a confident calm that almost convinced him too. He doubted it would fool Morgana, though. <</if>> Morgana shifted her intent gaze to Arthur and his heart fluttered wildly. "Do you truly want this?" It was time for Arthur to finally stand up for himself and what he wanted - what both him and Mordred wanted. "Yes, Morgana," he said, keeping his voice steady, balling his hands to stop his nervous fingers from figdeting. "I want to get to know my child. I want to be in Mordred's life." "You leave tommorrow for Camelot," Morgana said, stating something that Arthur had already thought about, as if it could weaken his stance. <div class="choice">[["We can write letters!" Mordred piped in.|Chapt3ArthurMorganaWoods1][$morgana_wood1 to 1, $impulsive to $impulsive+1]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Arthur replied.|Chapt3ArthurMorganaWoods1][$morgana_wood1 to 2, $impulsive to $impulsive-1]]</div>

<<if $morgana_wood1 == 1>> Morgana tried to make into a problem something that didn't have to be one. "I see no issue at all," Arthur replied. "We can correspond-" Another voice comingled with his, sharing the same solution: "We can write letters!" Their eyes met, shining with surprised joy. <<else>> Morgana tried to make into a problem something that didn't have to be one. "I see no issue at all," Arthur replied. "We can correspond." He glanced at Mordred to catch ?their reaction. ?They was struggling against a smile, eyes shinning with delight. Then Arthur turned to Morgana. Ready to further argue with her, clenching his fists harder to still his nervous fingers. <</if>> Morgana's eyes settled on Mordred and mollified. It was a quick peek behind the mask, a flash of tender vulnerability. Then she said the words Arthur yearned most to hear, the words he had prepared himself to wring out of her with more difficulty: "Fine. You shall correspond." Arthur's gaze met Mordred's in silent celebration of their victory. "But," Morgana cut in, holding up a finger. He should have known it wouldn't be quite so easy; that there would be some sort of catch. "Don't you dare break Mordred's heart //again//, Arthur. I'm doing this for ?their sake. After all the hurt ?they's endured, ?they's still willing to give you a chance. So I'm willing to give you an opportunity. Don't squander it." That he was more than willing and ready to promise. "Yes-I mean I won't!" Correspondece ensured and the issue settled, Mordred asked what Arthur longed to know too. "How did you find us?" Kay pushed himself off the tree, approaching with a leisured gait. "That would be due to me. Lady Morgana asked me where to find you after she correctly deduced you were with Arthur. So I brought her here on the promise she wouldn't make any other threats, which well," he chuckled mirthlessly, "wasn't honored-" "It wasn't a threat. It was a promise." Kay kept his affected air of cheerful nonchalance. "Even better. In any case, Lady Morgana, I must say I'm pleasantly surprised to see you change your stance on the matter. It's easy to see you care deeply about Mordred and I hope you'll come to see that so does Arthur. And that you'll understand his absence, given the //cause// of it." The forest was pleasantly warm, bathed lavishly in the noon sun, yet cold tendrils slicked down Arthur's spine. Morgana, too, seemed affected by his words. She stiffened, face twisting with an emotion Arthur couldn't quite place - unease? pain? horror? It vanished before he could truly comprehend it, her features morphing back to that elegant coolness. Whatever that had been, it seemed that Kay's words hit their target. Arthur'd rather not think of it, though. <<if $Gawain >= 60 and gawain_crush >= 5>> Kay continued on as if nothing happened, amiably addressing Mordred and letting them know that Gawain looked forward to seeing ?them. It was lovely to find that the two had become friends. And maybe more than that soon, Kay had mysteriously said. <<elseif $Gawain >= 60>> Kay continued on as if nothing happened, amiably addressing Mordred and letting them know that Gawain looked forward to seeing ?them. It was lovely to find that the two had become friends. <<else>> Kay continued on as if nothing happened, amiably addressing Mordred. <</if>> "We should go ahead, as not to rouse suspicion," Kay suggested. Before they went on their way, though, Arthur promised Mordred that he would seek ?them out again tomorrow before he left, to say goodbye and make arrangements for their correspondence. [[Next|KayAndArthur]]

Arthur and Kay kept to the edge of the forest, shielded from view by the comingled verdant and rusty foliage of the trees and bushes. Now that Arthur's adventure was over he'd have to put on once again his scarlet, elegant garb and golden coronet and slip back into his role of King, which he was in no hurry to do. As they walked, Kay placed a hand on his arm and held his gaze meaningfully. "I'm proud of you, Arthur. For everything that you did today." He put his fingers over Kay's, smiling. "Thank you." Kay squeezed his arm briefly. "So. Tell me, how was it? Did you two have fun?" Arthur smiled widely, eager to get into it. [[The End|End]]

Hope you enjoyed it!

Your dragon friend's name is... <div class="choice">[[Malinda|DragonName][$dragon_name to "Malinda"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Drake|DragonName][$dragon_name to "Drake"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Bella|DragonName][$dragon_name to "Bella"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Finneas|DragonName][$dragon_name to "Finneas"]]</div> <<textbox "$dragon_name" "" "DragonName">>

<<if $chapt3_merlin == 1>> "Regarding Merlin..." Mordred began, a topic which deviated from their dragonblood talk but didn't surprise Arthur much. Morgana must have talked extensively - and far from positively - about the man. "Mother says Merlin is an evil man and that you shouldn't trust him." Mordred held Arthur's gaze steadfastly. Putting on a serious look to match the gravity of the matter that ?their tone seemed to imply. <<else>> "Regarding Merlin..." Mordred began hesitantly, a topic which deviated from their dragonblood talk but didn't surprise Arthur much. Morgana must have talked extensively - and far from positively - about the man. "Mother says Merlin is not a good man and that you shouldn't trust him." Mordred held his gaze. ?Their expression looked...worried, and incredibly serious, brows deeply puckered. <</if>> This was a delicate subject to tread. "Your mother, she...I know Merlin and she have history. A not very pleasant one, given his involvement in" - he cut himself off, breathing in sharply, stumbling over the words that dredged up awful recollections -"Uther's war." Morgana acted as if he didn't understand - in a way, perhaps he didn't and couldn't. He hadn't know he was a Le Fay until he ascended the throne; he didn't lose what Morgana lost. It hurt to know that the man who sired him had caused so much suffering. "But he means well," Arthur continued. Merlin had been there for Arthur from the beginning. He was the one who told him who he really was. Who helped him get ready for the ceremony that would mark him as the King - drawing the sword from the stone. He was there, guiding him each step of the way, anchoring him when he felt lost. "He's been so welcoming and supportive of me when I arrived at court. Like a rock in a river, you know? That you can hold onto while the water rushes by." "But he helped massacre the Le Fays," Mordred protested. A stab of pain lanced through him and he let out a long and weary sigh. There was so much bloodshed. But it was Uther who had caused it. "Well, it's just...Uther was brutal and merciless, but Merlin tried to rein him in as much as he could. I imagine it's not an easy job to manage, being a King's advisor, but I do believe I'm not making it any more difficult for him." He scratched the back of his neck, trying to keep under control that undercurrent of dark, murky thoughts that threatened to seize him and drag him under. He understood the powerful yet difficult, precarious position the man had found himself in as the royal advisor. Arthur straigthened himself. Uther had been horrible, but he had refused to carry on that legacy from the moment he took the throne, and Merlin wholeheartedly believed in him. "Anyway, that's why he supports my ideas, because they're the opposite of Uther's." Mordred nodded knowingly. "I've heard of your vision." "Really?" "Yes. My tutors discussed it, and people talk a lot. I hear a lot too. And well. Do you know Junia?" The name was familiar. "Your mom's friend?" "Yes. She really admires you, and always spoke highly of you. Even if mom hates it." "Oh. So you haven't only been told horrible things about me?" He sighed softly. "That's..." That was unexpected, to be sure, and...quite a relief, truth be told. A relief to know that whatever dark shadows Morgana had cast him in were somewhat brightened by another. "Reassuring. I didn't want to be painted solely as a monster to you, Mordred. Though I did abandon you, so perhaps I deserve it." <div class="choice">[[Mordred reached out to silently comfort him.|Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4.1]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"You've hurt me...But I don't think you did it intentionally. I don't consider you a monster. You seem wounded like me.\""|Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4.2]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"What matters is that you're making up for it.\""|Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4.3]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Oh, not a monster. Just a terrible father," Mordred tried to make light of it.|Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4.4]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Oh, not a monster. Just a terrible father." Mordred was more or less serious. Trying to make light of it yet letting slip by some bitterness.|Chapt3ArthurDragonBlood4.5]]</div>

What pronouns does $dragon_name use? <div class="choice">[[She/her.|NextQuestion5][$dragon_he to "she", $dragon_him to "her"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[He/him.|NextQuestion5][$dragon_he to "he", $dragon_him to "him"]]</div>

What's $dragon_name's personality like? <div class="choice">[[Playful.|NextQuestion6][$dragon_personality to "playful"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Friendly.|NextQuestion6][$dragon_personality to "friendly"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Bold.|NextQuestion6][$dragon_personality to "bold"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Fiery.|NextQuestion6][$dragon_personality to "aggressive"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Shy.|NextQuestion6][$dragon_personality to "shy"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Fearful.|NextQuestion6][$dragon_personality to "fearful"]]</div>

Now on to the story! [[Arthur and Mordred bonding (Story for November 2022)|StartStory]]