Arthur catches Alina

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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]]

<<silently>> <<if $gender == "male">> <<set $pgen to 0, $child to "boy">> <<else>> <<set $pgen to 1, $child to "girl">> <</if>> <</silently>> A few questions before we begin! What's Mordred attitude at the beginning towards meeting Arthur, up until the scene in Morgana's study when you can reinforce your view/change it? <div class="choice">[[Hopeful.|NextQuestion1][$chapt1_3_arthur to "hope"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Anguished.|NextQuestion1][$chapt1_3_arthur to "anguish"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Confused.|NextQuestion1][$chapt1_3_arthur to "confused"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Hated him.|NextQuestion1][$chapt1_3_arthur to "awful"]]</div>

<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 $chapt3_alina = 0>> <<set $chapt3_alina1 = 0>>

<<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>>

<a href="https://nyehilism.itch.io/twine-template/">Twine Sugarcube Template</a> <a href="https://www.motoslave.net/sugarcube/2/docs/">Sugarcube 2 Documentation</a> <a href="https://github.com/ChapelR/custom-macros-for-sugarcube-2">Chapel - custom macros collection</a> <a href="https://github.com/cyrusfirheir/cycy-wrote-custom-macros">Cycy's custom macros</a> <a href="https://unsplash.com/">Unsplash</a> for sidebar images (<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/P8LZaU52NME">light mode</a> and <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/pDKoVuXYKxU">dark mode</a>)

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

What emotion/opinion of Arthur did Mordred settle on in the study scene with Morgana? <div class="choice">[[Hopeful.|NextQuestion2][$opinion_arthur to "hope"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Anguished.|NextQuestion2][$opinion_arthur to "anguish"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Indifferent.|NextQuestion2][$opinion_arthur to "indifference"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Hated him.|NextQuestion2][$opinion_arthur to "hate"]]</div>

What's Mordred's attitude towards Alina? <div class="choice">[[Defiant.|NextQuestion3][$alina_attitude to "defiant"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Meek.|NextQuestion3][$alina_attitude to "meek"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Calm.|NextQuestion3][$alina_attitude to "calm"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Tries to ignore her.|NextQuestion3][$alina_attitude to "ignore"]]</div>

In the lodge scene with Arthur and Elewen, after asking to meet Mordred to talk over things, what did Mordred do when Arthur expressed his desire to be a father to them? <div class="choice">[[Hopeful.|NextQuestion1][$chapt3_lodge_arthur to "hope"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Anguished.|NextQuestion1][$chapt3_lodge_arthur to "anguish"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Indifferent.|NextQuestion1][$chapt3_lodge_arthur to "indifference"]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Hated him.|NextQuestion1][$chapt3_lodge_arthur to "hate"]]</div>

It was a beautiful day for a fair, a good note on which to end the tournament. The sky was a clear light blue, milky where faint, thin streaks of cloud hung, and the land underneath it streched colorful and lively. Rows upon rows of stalls with vivid banners and striking paint, swarmed by humans and dragons just as lavishly adorned. Yet Arthur felt like a storm cloud hovered over him. It'd been following him ever since that faithful duel, never quite able to escape its gloomy shadow for long. It darkened and seemed to pelt him with hailstorm whenever his eyes fell on those poeple who his cowardly inaction had so cruelly affected. Kay refused to blame Arthur. He'd been angry after the incident, furious in a way that he rarely saw his brother, but it was all directed at the Champion Knight. It wasn't even that Kay yelled, or scowled, or harangued anyone beside the initial clamor in the knights' pavilion where he'd rounded on Lancelot with astonished horror; no, Kay //seethed//, with a disappointment that was vaster and deeper than his fury. [[The day before|DayBefore]]

Now on to the story! [[Arthur catches Alina Solomon bullying Mordred (Story for November 2022)|StartStory]]

"Reckon I could get through feverish Lancelot more successfully than his everyday counterpart?" Kay asked the night before, with a dry, wry sort of mirth that lacked any genuine amusement. They were sitting in the parlor of Arthur's chambers, nursing cups of tea and their own bitter feelings, while Lancelot was ailing in his quarters. Arthur tried to smile, but it had been more of a fleeting grimace. <<if $chapt1_3_arthur == "awful">> He tightened his hold on the porcelain cup. The warmth bit not unpleasantly into his fingers, and he took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet, fruity wisps that wafted from its red-tinged depths. It soothed him, if only a bit. "He better be open to hearing you out, feverish or otherwise, because I will not stand for him hurting Mordred or anyone close to Mordred again, and claim to have done it on my behalf." <<else>> He tightened his hold on the porcelain cup. The warmth bit not unpleasantly into his fingers, and he took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet, fruity wisps that wafted from its red-tinged depths. It soothed him, if only a bit. "He better be open to hearing you out, feverish or otherwise, because I do not intend to stay away from my child anymore." <</if>> Kay had leaned forward, placed one hand on Arthur's knee. His gaze, like his touch, was comforting and gentle, but his tone was firm and his words unminced. "I do not blame you for what Lancelot did to Sir Accolon - that's his doing through and through. He guided the sword, he dealt the blows. But Arthur, I would have blamed you entirely for letting him continue to walk over you in such a way. I know Lancelot's your friend. He..." and here Kay had hesitated, like many times before when Lancelot had angered him, as if he questioned whether this was the point at which the man had crossed a line and their friendship laid in the past. "He's my friend, too," he finally settled on, somewhat warily. "And friends should respect your decisions." [[Back to the fair|BackFair]]

"Mmm, these are so good." Arthur was dredged up from his gloomy memories to the sunny present, blinking dazedly as his gaze focused on Hilde Alistair. "So good," she repeated, muffled by a mouthful of jam-filled, crescent-shaped pastry. Kay laughed. It was a genuine, unrestrained, bright laugh that warmed Arthur. "We should order some for the road," Hilde continued. Then, with a playful wink: "For Gawain, of course." "Definitely just for Gawain's sake," Kay agreed and winked back. "Unless you finish them all before we can even taste them." Hilde looked at him askance and with mock indignation said, "I'm eating for two, thank you very much." She touched her belly - round and full and well-contoured under her mint green dress - briefly, lovingly. Arthur felt a familiar sadness tug at him, but he didn't let it bob to the surface. Instead, he piped in: "An order. What a good idea. I should get some sweets for Guinevere too." Hilde and Kay hummed in agreement, smiling sympathetically. "Do you think they'll give me the recipe too if I ask nicely?" Hilde mused, licking powder sugar off her fingers. Kay picked up a pastry and inspected it critically, as if weighing the quality of a sword. "I think I can make out some of the ingredients, and guess the others-" The two of them launched into a back and forth on the matter. Arthur had nothing of value to add - all he knew about pastries was that they were good and he very much liked to eat them - and his attention slipped to the crowd. A part of him hoped that if he stared hard enough, he'll be able to make out a certain someone who shared his eyes among the sea of faces. Then Bedivere and his husband joined in at the table and the culinary discussion, and their arrival briefly broke him out of his focus. Their voices had turned to background sussurus again when Kay nudged his leg under the table, making him flinch. Their eyes met, and Kay's held a silent inquiry. Arthur inclined his head, and his brother deftly excused them from the table. "What's bothering you?" he asked, and Arthur said: "I'd like to seek Mordred." Kay nodded, unsurprised. "Well, then," he said, clapping his hands and smiling. "What are we waiting for? Let's look together." //Look together// had sounded very encouraging and motivating, and while Arthur had absolutely no intention of giving up on his quest, it quickly became apparent that searching for Mordred among the fair was akin seeking a needle in a haystack - if the haystack was a confusing labyrinth of stalls and ever-moving swarm of people. Kay had come up with an efficient system, at least. They'd look in different directions, and pass messages through the guards that followed Arthur at all times. Arthur saw, for the second time since they started searching, a gaggle of kids that looked Mordred's age. He did not want to presume or hope that Mordred would count among them, but his heart dared for him, fluttering as he pushed on to get a better view of the group. His gaze roamed desperate over strange faces, until it fell onto one all so familiar, even though he knew it only for a few days. There ?they was - Mordred! His heart soared, only to immediately take a sudden, swift, painful plunge. The scene he had come upon looked far from friendly, as he would have expected. <<if $alina_attitude == "defiant">> The group of children Arthur had initially glimpsed were hovering some distance away from Mordred; only one of them, who stood at the front, straight and proud and redheaded, appeared to be actually speaking to Mordred. He couldn't hear a word they said, but the redhead's smile was too sharp to be mistaken for any semblance of nicety, and they loomed over Mordred like vulture over prey. Mordred, to ?their credit, did not look cowered. ?They faced the girl with their chin thrust forward and their expression fierce and familiar. He'd seen that undaunted, fiery assuredness painted on Morgana before. For a moment, he was overwhelmed by the resemblance, the same way he was when he first laid eyes on ?them. <<elseif $alina_attitude == "meek">> The group of children Arthur had initially glimpsed were hovering some distance away from Mordred; only one of them, who stood at the front, straight and proud and redheaded, appeared to be actually speaking to Mordred. He couldn't hear a word they said, but the redhead's smile was too sharp to be mistaken for any semblance of nicety, and they loomed over Mordred like vulture over prey. And just like prey, Mordred cowered, drawn into ?themself, looking as if ?they wanted nothing more but to sprint as far as ?their legs could take ?them, but just as a cornered animal, feared the predator would be quicker on the draw. <<elseif $alina_attitude == "calm">> The group of children Arthur had initially glimpsed were hovering some distance away from Mordred; only one of them, who stood at the front, straight and proud and redheaded, appeared to be actually speaking to Mordred. He couldn't hear a word they said, but the redhead's smile was too sharp to be mistaken for any semblance of nicety, and they loomed over Mordred like vulture over prey. Mordred, to ?their credit, did not look cowered. ?They stood with ?their head held high and fists clenched, facing the other child with a poise that was familiar. He'd seen that undaunted, severe composure painted on Morgana before. For a moment, he was overwhelmed by the resemblance, the same way he was when he first laid eyes on ?them. <<elseif $alina_attitude == "ignore">> The group of children Arthur had initially glimpsed were hovering some distance away from Mordred; only one of them, who stood at the front, straight and proud and redheaded, appeared to be actually speaking to Mordred. He couldn't hear a word they said, but the redhead's smile was too sharp to be mistaken for any semblance of nicety, and they loomed over Mordred like vulture over prey. A vulture that Mordred seemed to be waiting to be gone. Standing still, as if doing so might lead to the child leaving ?them alone, weathering the storm as stoically as a stone. <</if>> The sight distressed Arthur. It pulled the heart out of his chest, wrung it out as if it were a cloth to be dried, then threw it back within his bruised ribcage, bruised over days - years! - of mistakes and doubts and open wounds that had plagued him. And yet in this upsetting scene, Arthur saw an opportunity. An opportunity to finally do good by Mordred, to finally employ the power he held the way he should have done during the duel two days ago. [[Continue|ConfrontAlina]]

Arthur strode forward, propelled by grim determination and steely desire for vindication, yet feeling like he bled with every step he took, walking barefoot on glass. The crowd parted for him, for the King who moved like a gust of wind between billowing curtains, and the sudden motion caught the attention of one child who sat there, watching Mordred be preyed upon. Her eyes locked on Arthur and his increasingly obvious trajectory, and bugged out with horror. She shot forward towards the redhead, and her startled lunge sent a ripple of alarm among the group; one by one, more children turned to behold their King approach. The girl who first saw him clamped her arms around the redhead's, pulling at her with terrified urgency. Yet the girl brushed her off as if she were a mere, vexing thistle on her coat, and never took her eyes off Mordred. Seeing that Arthur was almost upon them and there was no talking to her, the group fled, stumbling over their feet and pushing into each other as they did. It wasn't until he spoke that the redheaded girl took notice of him. "What's going on here?" The girl froze. It was as if someone had dumped an ice-cold bucket of water over her, and the sheer shock sent her muscles and nerves into a paralizying stupor. Then she sprung back, senses coming back all at once, and looked over her shoulder, no doubt seeking those who had abandoned her. Slowly, relunctantly, as if some invisible great hands had to turn her against her will, she faced her King, brown eyes wide with terror. <<if $opinion_arthur == "hope">> <div class="choice">[["We were just going our separate ways," Mordred calmly replied. They didn't want more trouble.|AlinaLecture][$calm to $calm+1, $chapt3_alina to 2]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Having a pleasant conversation, isn't that clear?" Mordred spat, sardonic.|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 3]]</div> <div class="choice">[["She's picking on me. Like she always does." Mordred would have been immensely grateful if Arthur were there to help them.|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 4]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing," Mordred said meekly. They didn't want to cause more trouble.|AlinaLecture][$meek to $meek+1, $chapt3_alina to 5]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred said nothing. Wasn't it clear?|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 7]]</div> <div class="choice">[["She's picking on me," Mordred said, tears welling up. Hoping Arthur would help them.|AlinaLecture][$crybaby to $crybaby+1, $chapt3_alina to 8]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing." Mordred didn't want trouble. But tears welled up all the same.|AlinaLecture][$crybaby to $crybaby+1, $chapt3_alina to 9]]</div> <<elseif $opinion_arthur == "anguish">> <div class="choice">[["We were just going our separate ways," Mordred calmly replied. They didn't need Arthur's help.|AlinaLecture][$calm to $calm+1, $chapt3_alina to 1]]</div> <div class="choice">[["We were just going our separate ways," Mordred calmly replied. They didn't want more trouble.|AlinaLecture][$calm to $calm+1, $chapt3_alina to 2]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Having a pleasant conversation, isn't that clear?" Mordrd spat, sardonic.|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 3]]</div> <div class="choice">[["She's picking on me. Like she always does." Mordred would have been immensely grateful if Arthur were there to help them.|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 4]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing," Mordred said meekly. Mordred didn't want to cause more trouble.|AlinaLecture][$meek to $meek+1, $chapt3_alina to 5]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing," Mordred snapped. They didn't want Arthur's help.|AlinaLecture][$calm to $calm-1, $chapt3_alina to 6]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred said nothing.|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 7]]</div> <div class="choice">[["She's picking on me," Mordred said, tears welling up. Hoping Arthur would help them.|AlinaLecture][$crybaby to $crybaby+1, $chapt3_alina to 8]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing." Mordred didn't want trouble. But tears welled up all the same.|AlinaLecture][$crybaby to $crybaby+1, $chapt3_alina to 9]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing." Mordred didn't want Arthur's help. But tears welled up all the same.|AlinaLecture][$crybaby to $crybaby+1, $chapt3_alina to 10]]</div> <div class="choice">[["She's picking on me, like she alwasy does." Mordred thought that helping them now was the least Arthur could do. He was a King, and supposedly wanted to be their father.|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 11]]</div> <<elseif $opinion_arthur == "indifference">> <div class="choice">[["We were just going our separate ways," Mordred calmly replied. They didn't need Arthur's help.|AlinaLecture][$calm to $calm+1, $chapt3_alina to 1]]</div> <div class="choice">[["We were just going our separate ways," Mordred calmly replied. They didn't want more trouble.|AlinaLecture][$calm to $calm+1, $chapt3_alina to 2]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Having a pleasant conversation, isn't that clear?" Mordred spat, sardonic.|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 3]]</div> <div class="choice">[["She's picking on me. Like she always does." Mordred would have been immensely grateful if Arthur were there to help them.|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 4]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing," Mordred said meekly. They didn't want to cause more trouble.|AlinaLecture][$meek to $meek+1, $chapt3_alina to 5]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing," Mordred snapped. They didn't want Arthur's help.|AlinaLecture][$calm to $calm-1, $chapt3_alina to 6]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred said nothing.|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 7]]</div> <div class="choice">[["She's picking on me," Mordred said, tears welling up. Hoping Arthur would help them.|AlinaLecture][$crybaby to $crybaby+1, $chapt3_alina to 8]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing." Mordred didn't want trouble. But tears welled up all the same.|AlinaLecture][$crybaby to $crybaby+1, $chapt3_alina to 9]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing." Mordred didn't want his help. But tears welled up all the same.|AlinaLecture][$crybaby to $crybaby+1, $chapt3_alina to 10]]</div> <div class="choice">[["She's picking on me, like she alwasy does." Mordred thought that Arthur helping them now was the least he could do. He was a King, and supposedly wanted to be their father.|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 11]]</div> <<elseif $opinion_arthur == "hate">> <div class="choice">[["We were just going our separate ways." Mordred calmly replied. They didn't need Arthur's help.|AlinaLecture][$calm to $calm+1, $chapt3_alina to 1]]</div> <div class="choice">[["We were just going our separate ways," Mordred calmly replied. They didn't want more trouble.|AlinaLecture][$calm to $calm+1, $chapt3_alina to 2]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Having a pleasant conversation, isn't that clear?" Mordred spat, sardonic.|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 3]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing," Mordred said meekly. They didn't want to cause more trouble.|AlinaLecture][$meek to $meek+1, $chapt3_alina to 5]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing," Mordrd snapped. They didn't want Arthur's help.|AlinaLecture][$calm to $calm-1, $chapt3_alina to 6]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing." Mordred didn't want trouble. But tears welled up all the same.|AlinaLecture][$crybaby to $crybaby+1, $chapt3_alina to 9]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Nothing." Mordred didn't want Arthur's help. But tears welled up all the same.|AlinaLecture][$crybaby to $crybaby+1, $chapt3_alina to 10]]</div> <div class="choice">[["She's picking on me, like she alwasy does." Mordred thought that Arthur helping them now was the least he could do. He was a King, and supposedly wanted to be their father.|AlinaLecture][$chapt3_alina to 11]]</div> <</if>>

<<if $chapt3_alina == 2>> Arthur was vaguely aware that people were starting to stare. He was far more preocuppied with the startling, painful realization that unraveled before his eyes. He was too focused on Mordred, on ?their perfectly composed expression, on ?their $eye eyes that met his, eyes he knew so well and felt so strange at the same time. "We were just going our separate ways," Mordred replied, the picture of calm. "It didn't seem to me like that," Arthur protested, brow creasing. Whatever it was that made Mordred push back against him now - a lack of trust and faith in Arthur, or a stubborn sense of pride - Arthur couldn't relent, not when he could offer his aid. <<elseif $chapt3_alina == 1>> Arthur was vaguely aware that people were starting to stare. He was far more preocuppied with the startling, painful realization that unraveled before his eyes. He was too focused on Mordred, on ?their perfectly composed expression, on ?their $eye eyes that met his, eyes he knew so well and felt so strange at the same time. "We were just going our separate ways," Mordred replied, the picture of calm. A certain haughtiness limned ?their features, striking Arthur yet again. Mordred was Morgana's child, every inch of ?them. "It didn't seem to me like that," Arthur protested, brow creasing. Whatever it was that made Mordred push back against him now - a lack of trust and faith in Arthur, or a stubborn sense of pride - Arthur couldn't relent, not when he could offer his aid. <<elseif $chapt3_alina == 3>> Arthur was vaguely aware that people were starting to stare. He was far more preocuppied with the startling, painful realization that unraveled before his eyes. He was too focused on Mordred, who turned to him and met his gaze with $eye eyes he knew so well and felt so strange at the same time. Mordred smiled, but the curl of ?their mouth was devoid of any humour or mirth; it was a sharp, wry, caustic line. It struck Arthur how much ?they looked like Morgana, her child through and through. "Having a pleasant conversation, isn't that clear?" <<elseif $chapt3_alina == 4>> Arthur was vaguely aware that people were starting to stare. He was far more preocuppied with the startling, painful realization that unraveled before his eyes. He was too focused on Mordred, who turned to him and met his gaze with $eye eyes he knew so well and felt so strange at the same time. Eyes that now pleaded with him, widened to doleful roundness. "She's picking on me," ?they said, "like she always does," and each word landed like an arrow straight into his already bleeding heart. <<elseif $chapt3_alina == 5>> Arthur was vaguely aware that people were starting to stare. He was far more preocuppied with the startling, painful realization that unraveled before his eyes. He was too focused on Mordred, face angled downwards, cast in mournful shadows. "Nothing," ?they spoke the bold-faced lie in a quiet, meek voice. "It didn't seem to me like that," Arthur protested, brow creasing. Whatever it was that made Mordred brush him off now - a lack of trust and faith in Arthur, or a stubborn, foolish refusal to ask for help - Arthur couldn't relent, not when he could offer his aid. <<elseif $chapt3_alina == 6>> Arthur was vaguely aware that people were starting to stare. He was far more preocuppied with the startling, painful realization that unraveled before his eyes. He was too focused on Mordred, on ?their $eye eyes that met his, eyes he knew so well and felt so strange at the same time. Eyes that raged like a forest on fire - ravaging and unforgiving. "Nothing," ?they snapped and he was struck both by ?their viciousness and how much ?they resembled Morgana, every inch her child. "It didn't seem to me like that," Arthur protested, brow creasing. Whatever it was that made Mordred push back against him now - a lack of trust and faith in Arthur, or a stubborn sense of pride - Arthur couldn't relent, not when he could offer his aid. <<elseif $chapt3_alina == 7>> Arthur was vaguely aware that people were starting to stare. He was far more preocuppied with the startling, painful realization that unraveled before his eyes. He was too focused on Mordred, on ?their $eye eyes that met his, eyes he knew so well and felt so strange at the same time. Tired eyes of someone tried again and again. The redhead was too choked to reply, and Mordred didn't say anything either, letting a pregnant pause settle, a silence that was answer enough. <<elseif $chapt3_alina == 8>> Arthur was vaguely aware that people were starting to stare. He was far more preocuppied with the startling, painful realization that unraveled before his eyes. He was too focused on Mordred, on ?their $eye eyes that met his, eyes he knew so well and felt so strange at the same time. Liquid, hazy eyes filled with tears that cleaved through him. It struck him too, in that moment, that he'd seen that expression before, in the mirror. It struck him how alike ?they looked in that moment. "She's picking on me," ?they said, "like she always does," and each word landed like an arrow straight into his already bleeding heart. Arthur felt a sudden, overpowering need to offer Mordred comfort, to soothe ?them, but knew not how; he reached out a hand slowly, hesitantly, like approaching a scared animal - Arthur himself a scared animal coming out of his shell - then halted, unsure whether the touch would be welcomed. Mordred watched the motion with comingled surprise and anticipation, a yearning that looked almost tortured. Arthur closed the distance before he could overthink it, before he lost his courage, and squeezed ?their shoulder. <<elseif $chapt3_alina == 9>> Arthur was vaguely aware that people were starting to stare. He was far more preocuppied with the startling, painful realization that unraveled before his eyes. He was too focused on Mordred, on ?their $eye eyes that met his, eyes he knew so well and felt so strange at the same time. Liquid, hazy eyes filled with tears that cleaved through him. It struck him too, in that moment, that he'd seen that expression before, in the mirror. It struck him how alike ?they looked in that moment. It was with those teary eyes and unsteady voice that Mordred said the bold-faced lie: "Nothing." Arthur felt a sudden, overpowering need to offer Mordred comfort, to soothe ?them, but knew not how; he reached out a hand slowly, hesitantly, like approaching a scared animal - Arthur himself a scared animal coming out of his shell - then halted, unsure whether the touch would be welcomed. Mordred watched the motion with comingled surprise and anticipation, a yearning that looked almost tortured. Arthur closed the distance before he could overthink it, before he lost his courage, and squeezed ?their shoulder. <<elseif $chapt3_alina == 10>> Arthur was vaguely aware that people were starting to stare. He was far more preocuppied with the startling, painful realization that unraveled before his eyes. He was too focused on Mordred, on ?their $eye eyes that met his, eyes he knew so well and felt so strange at the same time. Liquid, hazy eyes that cleaved through him. Yet despite the tears clouding ?their gaze, contempt limned ?their features. It was with an unsteady voice that Mordred said the bold-faced lie: "Nothing." Arthur felt a sudden, overpowering need to offer Mordred comfort, to soothe ?them, but knew not how; he reached out a hand slowly, hesitantly, like approaching a scared animal - Arthur himself a scared animal coming out of his shell - then halted, unsure whether the touch would be welcomed. Mordred stumbled back as if Arthur approached ?them with fire, and directed an aggrieved glare at the hand. It roundly confirmed Arthur's suspicions and he let his hand fall, helpless. <<elseif $chapt3_alina == 11>> Arthur was vaguely aware that people were starting to stare. He was far more preocuppied with the startling, painful realization that unraveled before his eyes. He was too focused on Mordred, on ?their $eye eyes that met his, eyes he knew so well and felt so strange at the same time. Mordred did not look cowered, but fortified. "She's picking on me," ?they said. "Like she always does." ?They held Arthur gaze with meaningful intensity. A call for help, he realized with painful clarity. Arthur felt a sudden, overpowering need to offer Mordred comfort, to soothe ?them, but knew not how; he reached out a hand slowly, hesitantly, like approaching a scared animal - Arthur himself a scared animal coming out of his shell - then halted, unsure whether the touch would be welcomed. Mordred stumbled back as if Arthur approached ?them with fire, and directed an aggrieved glare at the hand. It roundly confirmed Arthur's suspicions and he let his hand fall, helpless. <</if>> Arthur took a deep breath, preparing to fill the role he needed to, steeling himself for what he had to do. He summoned now what he liked to think of as his "Kingly attitude", which was akin donning a crown - or, more fittingly, an amor. An armor he equipped before his battles, where the Court was his battlefield and words were wielded like swords and cut just as sharply and deeply. It was a simulacrum of what he wished he could effortlessly claim to be: poised, calm, patient yet firm. A dependable, fair leader, one you looked up for counsel and stability. To be for the Kingdom as Merlin was for him. He modulated his voice as best as he could to Merlin's smooth, patient cadence. "What's your name, child?" Despite his steady, measured voice he could still feel the knot between his brow, a tightly-strung tension. The redhead looked like an entirely different child now. Her face, previously so nastily twisted, showed nothing but naked dread now. One would have thought she were the one terrorized. Arthur did not relish it, but he could not forget the hurt in Mordred's face. "A-alina," she could barely get it out. The name rang a bell in his mind, but he had to be sure. "And your surname?" Arthur needed to know who he was speaking to; who was this child that bullied his own, and which parents needed to discipline their child better. The girl gulped, throat bobbing up and down nervously. "Solomon." Arthur nodded. As he suspected. He'd spoken with some of the Solomons, in the intermissions between trials, at the banquets, including Alina's mothers. They'd seemed like perfectly lovely ladies, who talked proudly of their four children, which made this all the more disappointing. "I've been told you wish to become a knight of the Round Table," Arthur recounted. It wasn't hard dredging up that piece of information: the Solomon's had a prolific number of sorcerers in the family, so Alina was the one to stick out like a sore, sad thumb everyone pitied, being magicless. They'd call her an ambitious, brilliant squire that one should keep their eye on though, and it felt very much like a not-so-subtle nudge to Arthur. Well, here he was, eyes peeled on her. He didn't quite like what he saw, but she was still a child, and children did stupid things, even if in this instance said foolishness seemed more like cruelty that was hard to overlook for Arthur. This could yet prove beneficial for Alina Solomon, a reminder of what the Round Table stood for. A lesson to do better. "This is not very knightly behavior of you," he admonished, and here his measured voice broke, allowing hurt to seep through. "Why are you doing this?" Alina reddened to extraordinary degrees, eyes bugging out. She opened her mouth, and replied in a confused, angry and defensive explosion of words: "Be-because ?they's a bas-" She cut herself off, but Arthur knew what she had meant to say. "Because Morgana..." She stopped altogether, frenzied and helpless, and crossed her arms. Because Mordred's a bastard, and Morgana's hated by all. But Mordred wasn't a bastard, not officially. He'd asked - begged - Lot to claim ?them so that ?they wouldn't have to suffer for something that was not Mordred's fault. He could barely bring himself to look in Lot's eyes, but he'd entreated him to do so, and Lot had no choice but to obey his King. Arthur would have liked to believe that it was more than obliging a command though, that the man had the same understanding that Mordred should be shielded from such shame, but with every day Arthur spent in Lothia, he'd become terribly desolate when it came to its Duke's compassion. "Miss Solomon, I will have a discussion with your mothers about this." He couldn't even begin to fathom the extent of //this// - was this an odd happening? was this a daily occurance? "Now, I would like you to apologize to Mordred." Somehow, the girl turned even redder, to the point that Arthur was starting to feel concerned for her. <div class="choice">[["Go on, apologize," Mordred smiled too wide. Seeming to relish this.|Chapt3AlinaLecture1][$chapt3_alina1 to 1]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred waited patiently.|Chapt3AlinaLecture1][$chapt3_alina1 to 2]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I don't need her apologies. She's not sorry about it, she's sorry she got caught.\""|Chapt3AlinaLecture1][$chapt3_alina1 to 3]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred just waited, standing awkwardly.|Chapt3AlinaLecture1][$chapt3_alina1 to 4]]</div>

<<if $chapt3_alina1 == 1>> "Go on, apologize," Mordred smiled, a smile that was veritably //Morgana//. Wide and sharp and ferocious. Mordred might as well have cursed out Alina and her entire family, the way the redhead looked at ?them. <<elseif $chapt3_alina1 == 2>> Mordred just waited, poised and patient. <<elseif $chapt3_alina1 == 3>> "I don't need her apologies," Mordred bitterly said. "She's not sorry about it, she's sorry she got caught." Mordred might as well have cursed out Alina and her entire family, the way the redhead looked at ?them. <<elseif $chapt3_alina1 == 4>> Mordred shifted ?their weight from foot to foot, head bowed, looking more penitent than the girl supposed to be making apologies. <</if>> Alina seemed reluctant to do the one simple - and right - thing she'd been requested to do, and Arthur thought he might need to prod again. But she turned towards Mordred, red-faced and stiff, and spoke one of the most clinical apologies Arthur had heard. "I am sorry, Mordred." "Now go on," he dismissed her. "I shall talk with your parents later." The girl bowed lowly, almost prostrating herself, putting much more feeling in the jumbled farewell directed at Arthur than her apology, and fled. He watched her go, and watched the crowd who in turn had its prying eyes set on them. He raised a hand, calling out airily, still clinging to his Kingly role: "Please, carry on." The crowd obliged. Now he could finally shed the act, relieve himself of the tension. He turned to Mordred with a soft smile. <<if $chapt3_alina == 4 or $chapt3_alina == 8 or $chapt3_alina == 11>> <div class="choice">[["Thank you," Mordred smiled warmly.|Chapt3ArthurHelp][$chapt3_alina1 to 1]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Thank you," Mordred was grateful, but their smile was sad. "I'm not sure it'll stop her, though."|Chapt3ArthurHelp][$chapt3_alina1 to 4]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred wanted to thank Arthur but the words faded as they remembered he didn't do the same for Accolon.|Chapt3ArthurHelp][$chapt3_alina1 to 5]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Thank you," Mordred said stiffly. It was the least Arthur could have done.|Chapt3ArthurHelp][$chapt3_alina1 to 6]]</div> <<elseif $chapt3_alina == 1 or $chapt3_alina == 6 or $chapt3_alina == 10>> <div class="choice">[["Thank you," Mordred said bedrudgingly.|Chapt3ArthurHelp][$chapt3_alina1 to 2]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I didn't need your help.\""|Chapt3ArthurHelp][$chapt3_alina1 to 3]]</div> <<elseif $chapt3_alina == 2 or $chapt3_alina == 3 or $chapt3_alina == 5 or $chapt3_alina == 7 or $chapt3_alina == 9>> <div class="choice">[["Thank you," Mordred smiled warmly.|Chapt3ArthurHelp][$chapt3_alina1 to 1]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Thank you," Mordred was grateful, but their smile was sad. "I'm not sure it'll stop her, though."|Chapt3ArthurHelp][$chapt3_alina1 to 4]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Thank you," Mordred said bedrudgingly.|Chapt3ArthurHelp][$chapt3_alina1 to 2]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred wanted to thank Arthur but the words faded as they remembered he didn't do the same for Accolon.|Chapt3ArthurHelp][$chapt3_alina1 to 5]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I didn't need your help.\""|Chapt3ArthurHelp][$chapt3_alina1 to 3]]</div> <</if>>

<<if $chapt3_alina1 == 1>> Mordred replied with a warm smile of ?their own. It reached ?their eyes and brightened ?their whole face. It made Arthur's heart expand in his chest. "Thank you. I don't know if it'll make her stop, but thanks for at least intervening." Arthur frowned. Mordred was still smiling, and ?their gratitude was clear on ?their face, yet the words felt so hopeless, so sad, and somewhat nonchalant at the same time. "I'll make sure she doesn't, Mordred," he assured ?them as conviction and determination crystalized in him. He had the power to stop this, and he would. "This is unacceptable." <<elseif $chapt3_alina1 == 2>> Mordred crossed ?their arms, eyeing Arthur begrudgingly. "Thank you," ?they said, somewhat discontented. "Though I don't know if it'll make her stop." Arthur frowned. The words felt so hopeless, so sad, even as Mordred's face was braced by contemptuous appreciation. "I'll make sure she doesn't, Mordred," he assured ?them as conviction and determination crystalized in him. He had the power to stop this, and he would. "This is unacceptable." <<elseif $chapt3_alina1 == 3>> Mordred crossed ?their arms, face locked in stony rancour. "I didn't need your help," ?they said. Arthur wilted under that gaze, but he could understand why Mordred wouldn't be elated to receive help for him. He'd failed ?them so many times already. Though he wished he could prove to ?them that he wouldn't stand to the side anymore - and this incident he'd witness troubled him deeply. "This is unacceptable, Mordred. I'll make sure she stops." <<elseif $chapt3_alina1 == 4>> Mordred looked up at him and smiled, but the smile was rueful, weighted down by hopelessness. "Thank you. Though I don't suppose it'll prevent her from doing it again." Arthur frowned. "I'll make sure she doesn't, Mordred," he assured ?them as conviction and determination crystalized in him. He had the power to stop this, and he would. "This is unacceptable." <<elseif $chapt3_alina1 == 5>> Mordred looked up with soft, warm eyes, mouth sketching a vague curved line. Before it could bloom into a smile, ?their lips twisted and ?their eyes shuttered, turning cold and guarded, and when ?they spoke, it was with a tone of hurt resentment: "Thank you, for whatever it's worth. I don't know if it'll make her stop though." Arthur could understand why Mordred wouldn't be elated by his help. He'd failed ?them so many times already. Though he wished he could prove to ?them that he won't stand to the side anymore - and this incident he'd witnessed troubled him deeply. "I'll make sure she doesn't, Mordred," he assured ?them as conviction and determination crystalized in him. He had the power to stop this, and he would. "This is unacceptable." <<elseif $chapt3_alina1 == 6>> "Thank you," Mordred said primly. There was nothing soft or tender in ?their face. "Though I don't know if it'll make her stop." Arthur could understand why Mordred wouldn't be elated by his help. He'd failed ?them so many times already. Though he wished he could prove to ?them that he wouldn't stand to the side anymore - and this incident he'd witnessed troubled him deeply. "I'll make sure she doesn't, Mordred," he assured ?them as conviction and determination crystalized in him. He had the power to stop this, and he would. "This is unacceptable." <</if>> They stood in silence, watching the world continue to revolve around them, colorful, cheerful. Arthur felt detached from it all, discomfitted by this terrible revelation. "Is this...Is this a common occurance then?" Mordred pulled at a string of ?their lace-up shirt. "Welcome to my life." The bitter sharpness cut through Arthur like a poisoned sword. Arthur knew the people of Lothia - and their Duke himself - to have an unkind opinion of Morgana, and by extension, Mordred, but he thought this was all that is was: gossipping material. He didn't want to believe that children would be so cruel to each other, that Mordred's official status wouldn't offer ?them protection. That people would be foolish enough to pick on Morgana's child. Didn't they fear her? "I would have thought Morgana might have done-" Arthur arrested himself. He spoke too quickly, thoughtlessly, realizing only mid-sentence how it might come off, in light of recent events. The memory of Lancelot, puking and heaving and gasping on the feast floor flashed before his eyes, unbidden. "I don't mean anything-" he correted himself, then wondered if perhaps Mordred hadn't expected him to suggest //that//, and if this stumbling only made it all worse, "-Well," he floundered, but Mordred spared him, saying: "She can't constantly threaten people and expect to stay at court." Mordred paused, pensive. It...made sense. Some people had already expressed to Arthur tactful confusion as to why he had yet to officially exile his half-sister. They must have thought Arthur afraid, or foolishly compassionate. Then Mordred said: "And Alina's a Solomon. No matter how many times mother has talked with her moms, Alina's been given a stern talk, left me alone for a while, then got back at it." That was reprehensible. Arthur knew little of parenting - and he loathed both to assume parents neglectful, and child wicked, but there must have been a certain fault on both sides that facilitated this continued poor behavior. He hoped that, if all else failed - includng goodwill - than at least the order of a King will be respected. <<if $chapt3_alina1 == 1>> Mordred sighed a drown-out, weary suspire. "I just...I just wish you would have done the same for Accolon. Stop the trial like you stood up for me now." Their eyes locked. Mordred looked wounded, and ?their next question, so simple yet so complicated, and almost desperate, pained Arthur too. "Why didn't you?" Why didn't he? Why didn't he, why didn't he, why didn't he? The question circled around his brain, rattled and ricocheted with anguished echoes. "I just...I just froze, Mordred. I'm so sorry." Nothing he said could warrant his inaction. Mordred had all the right to be mad at him. "I know it's not an excuse." He ducked his head, because he could not meet Mordred's eyes. He felt he'd crumble completely under it. Instead, he fixed his fretful fingers. "I had a talk with Lancelot, after the duel. Well, it was more of a fight. We don't usually fight." Arthur hated fighting, especially with those close to him. He didn't want to fight Lancelot, like he'd seen him quarrel so many times with Kay. He went on, "Yes, we do have arguments but this time I...I couldn't believe what he's done." //I couldn't stay silent this time//, Arthur didn't voice the thought. "How is Sir Accolon?" He'd inquired after Accolon before, summoning enough courage to ask that of Morgana. She'd stared at him with a loathing that scorched him. //Fine, but he wouldn't have gotten in that state to begin with if you kept your dog on a shorter leash,// she'd said with no small amount of bitterness. "Recovering," Mordred said, and the contentment underlying ?their tone of voice put Arthur at rest. <<else>> "Knightly behavior," Mordred snorted, almost startling him. "You didn't have any problems with Lancelot attacking Accolon, though." Their gazes locked, Mordred's accusatory. "You didn't stop him, either. I suppose it's a lot easier to tell off a child than someone your age." //You didn't stop him, you didn't stop him, you didn't stop him.// The same accusation, the same admonition that circled around his brain, rattled and ricocheted with anguished echoes. "I just...I just froze, Mordred. I'm so sorry." Nothing he said could warrant his inaction. Mordred had all the right to be mad at him. "I know it's not an excuse." He ducked his head, because he could not meet Mordred's eyes. He felt he'd crumble completely under it. Instead, he fixed his fretful fingers. "I had a talk with Lancelot, after the duel. Well, it was more of a fight. We don't usually fight." Arthur hated fighting, especially with those close to him. He didn't want to fight Lancelot, like he'd seen him quarrel so many times with Kay. He went on, "Yes, we do have arguments but this time I...I couldn't believe what he's done." //I couldn't stay silent this time//. Arthur didn't voice the thought. "How is Sir Accolon?" He'd inquired after Accolon before, summoning enough courage to ask that of Morgana. She'd stared at him with a loathing that scorched him. //Fine, but he wouldn't have gotten in that state to begin with if you kept your dog on a shorter leash,// she'd said with no small amount of bitterness. "Recovering," Mordred said curtly. It was like the sweep of a blade, quick and sharp and enough to draw blood. <</if>> <<if $chapt1_3_arthur == "hope">> There was a reason Arthur had set out to find Mordred - though it was more of a hope that he held, and seeing ?their face would have been enough for him, face that he had carefully committed to memory. He shifted his weight from foot to foot. It was a lovely day with lovely weather for autumn, neither too warm or too cold or too windy or too humid. Yet a wave of warthm washed over Arthur, a prickle of tepid sweat licking down the back of his neck. He felt nervous all of a sudden, more nervous then he'd felt swooping in to help Mordred. He was well accustomed to slipping into his role of King - but the role of father was strange and foreign to him, yet he wanted to learn. He plucked up his courage and said: "I wanted to ask you if you'd like to spend some time together. We could catch up...Maybe I could give you some pointers, since we're both..." //Dragonbloods//. He didn't say the word, but he didn't need to. It was a genuine offer, one he was rather enthused about and hoped Mordred would be too. It was the first thing he could think of for them to bond over: their shared blood, their shared powers. <div class="choice">[["\"Yes, I'd love that.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 1]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I'd like that, but I'm worried...if Lancelot finds out again.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 2]]</div> <div class="choice">[["I don't know..." Mordred hesitated. They were still upset about what happened to Accolon.|Chapt3ArthurGo1][$chapt3_go_arthur to 12]]</div> <<elseif $chapt1_3_arthur == "anguish" or $chapt1_3_arthur == "confused">> There was a reason Arthur had set out to find Mordred - though it was more of a hope that he held, and seeing ?their face would have been enough for him, face that he had carefully committed to memory. He shifted his weight from foot to foott. It was a lovely day with lovely weather for autumn, neither too warm or too cold or too windy or too humid. Yet a wave of warthm washed over Arthur, a prickle of tepid sweat licking down the back of his neck. He felt nervous all of a sudden, more nervous then he'd felt swooping in to help Mordred. He was well accustomed to slipping into his role of King - but the role of father was strange and foreign to him, yet he wanted to learn. He plucked up his courage and said: "I wanted to ask you if you'd like to spend some time together. We could catch up...Maybe I could give you some pointers, since we're both..." //Dragonbloods//. He didn't say the word, but he didn't need to. It was a genuine offer, one he was rather enthused about. It was the first thing he could think of for them to bond over: their shared blood, their shared powers. He almost didn't dare to hope Mordred would want this too, but he was nothing else if not stubbornly optimistic. <<if $opinion_arthur == "hope">> <div class="choice">[["\"Yes, I'd love that.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 1]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I'd like that, but I'm worried...if Lancelot finds out again.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 2]]</div> <div class="choice">[["I don't know..." Mordred hesitated. They were still upset about what happened to Accolon.|Chapt3ArthurGo1][$chapt3_go_arthur to 12]]</div> <<elseif $opinion_arthur == "anguish">> <div class="choice">[["\"Yes, I'd love that.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 1]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I'd like that, but I'm worried...if Lancelot finds out again.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 2]]</div> <div class="choice">[[A part of Mordred wanted to say yes, but they were afraid they'd only hurt themself more. They shaked their head in refusal.|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 3]]</div> <div class="choice">[["I don't know..." Mordred hesitated. They were still upset about what happened to Accolon.|Chapt3ArthurGo1][$chapt3_go_arthur to 12]]</div> <<elseif $opinion_arthur == "indifference">> <div class="choice">[["\"Fine, but just because you're the only one...like me. And I have questions.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 4]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I think you should leave.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 5]]</div> <<elseif $opinion_arthur == "hate">> <div class="choice">[["\"Fine, but just because you're the only one...like me. And I have questions.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 4]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I think you should leave.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 5]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"I don't want anything to do with you.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 6]]</div> <</if>> <<elseif $chapt1_3_arthur == "awful">> There was a reason Arthur had set out to find Mordred - though it was more of a hope that he held, and seeing ?their face would have been enough for him, face that he had carefully committed to memory. He shifted his weight from foot to foot. It was a lovely day with lovely weather for autumn, neither too warm or too cold or too windy or too humid. Yet a wave of warthm washed over Arthur, a prickle of tepid sweat licking down the back of his neck. He felt nervous all of a sudden, more nervous then he'd felt swooping in to help Mordred. He was well accustomed to slipping into his role of King - but the role of father was strange and foreign to him, yet he wanted to learn. Unfortunaly, he doubted Mordred even wanted him to try, which felt both awfully fair and terribly unfair. He had no right, but he wished Mordred would give him a chance. He didn't blame Mordred for it, though: Arthur blamed himself, and a part of him blamed Morgana too. "I suppose I should leave you then," he said but made no move to leave. Desperately hoping against hope that Mordred might actually stop him, searching ?their face for any glimmer or give or hesitance. <<if $opinion_arthur == "anguish">> <div class="choice">[["Wait...you don't have to." Mordred did want to spend some time with him.|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 7]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Wait...You don't have to. But I'm also worried." Worried if Lancelot finds out again.|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 8]]</div> <div class="choice">[[A part of Mordred wanted to tell him to stay, but they were afraid they'd only hurt themself more. "You should go."|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 9]]</div> <div class="choice">[["Wait..." Mordred hesitated. They were still upset about what happened to Accolon, yet a part of them wished Arthur woud stay.|Chapt3ArthurGo1][$chapt3_go_arthur to 13]]</div> <<elseif $opinion_arthur == "indifference">> <div class="choice">[["You should", Mordred agreed firmly.|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 10]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"Wait. You're the only one...like me. And I have questions.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 11]]</div> <<elseif $opinion_arthur == "hate">> <div class="choice">[["You should", Mordred agreed firmly.|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 10]]</div> <div class="choice">[["\"Wait. You're the only one...like me. And I have questions.\""|Chapt3ArthurGo][$chapt3_go_arthur to 11]]</div> <</if>> <</if>>

<<if $chapt3_go_arthur == 1>> Mordred beamed up at him, and it dispelled all the lingering, gloomy clouds of worry that hung around Arthur. "Yes, I'd love that," ?they said, and Arthur echoed the words in his mind, happily dazed. "Truly? Well, then." He scanned the crowd for the guards that he knew to be watching him from a proper distance, but never too far away from him, always ready to jump in the fray if need be. Unfortunately, sometimes he made their job a nightmare. He was in the habit of sneaking away from the people who were supposed to know his whereabouts at all times. But he considered himself capable of relieving them of their task for a bit: he was after all a dragonblood, and trained as a squire. Lancelot hated this habit of his, but lucky for him Kay was his eager enabler. "I have to speak with someone first but you go on ahead and I'll meet you afterwards. The woods, behind the lodge?" Mordred nodded and Arthur left. He had a wide smile that made his cheeks hurt, but he didn't care. He could burst with happiness. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodYes]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 2>> Mordred smiled weakly up at him, and the lingering, gloomy clouds of worry that hung around Arthur started to dispel. "I'd like that, but I'm worried. What if Lancelot finds out again? I don't want any more harm to come to Accolon." An arrow straight to the heart. "I promise you, Mordred, that won't be the case." Mordred considered the promise, then nodded, and joy washed over Arthur anew. "Well, then." He scanned the crowd for the guards that he knew to be watching him from a proper distance, but never too far away from him, always ready to jump in the fray if need be. Unfortunately, sometimes he made their job a nightmare. He was in the habit of sneaking away from the people who were supposed to know his whereabouts at all times. But he considered himself capable of relieving them of their task for a bit: he was after all a dragonblood, and trained as a squire. Lancelot hated this habit of his, but lucky for him Kay was his eager enabler. "I have to speak with someone first but you go on ahead and I'll meet you afterwards. The woods, behind the lodge?" Mordred nodded and Arthur left. He had a wide smile that made his cheeks hurt, but he didn't care. He could burst with happiness. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodYes]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 3>> For a moment, Arthur thought Mordred might actually say yes. Then ?they shook ?their head, and he crumbled, undone by despondency. He kept his voice as steady as he could as he said, "I understand. Enjoy the fair," and left. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodNo]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 4>> "Fine, but just because you're the only one, like me," Mordred said, lowering ?their voice. "And I have questions." ?They leveled Arthur with a sober, solemn expression, betraying nothing more other than scholarly interest, squashing any hope with ?those words and ?that face that this could be anything more. He crumbled, struck by disappointment. He understood, even if it hurt, and obliged Mordred. "I could try to answer them," he said, summoning a faint smile. "Well then." He scanned the crowd for the guards that he knew to be watching him from a proper distance, but never too far away from him, always ready to jump in the fray if need be. Unfortunately, sometimes he made their job a nightmare. He was in the habit of sneaking away from the people who were supposed to know his whereabouts at all times. But he considered himself capable of relieving them of their task for a bit: he was after all a dragonblood, and trained as a squire. Lancelot hated this habit of his, but lucky for him Kay was his eager enabler. "I have to speak with someone first but you go on ahead and I'll meet you afterwards. The woods, behind the lodge?" Mordred nodded and Arthur left, small smile still clinging to his lips. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodQuestion]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 5>> Mordred pressed ?their lips in one stern, steely, taut line. "I think you should leave." He crumbled, undone by despondency. But he understood, and he obliged, keeping his voice as steady as he could as he said, "I understand. Enjoy the fair," and left. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodNo]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 6>> Mordred crossed ?their arms and turned a frown on him. If this hostile display were not enough, ?they said, firm and stern: "I don't want anything to do with you. Understand that already." Arthur crumbled, undone by despondency. Trying his best to keep his voice steady as he said, "I apologize. Enjoy the fair," before he left. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodNo]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 7>> "Wait," Mordred said and the single word pierced the gloom that hung around Arthur, blindingly bright. "You don't have to leave." Arthur felt incandescent with hope. "You'd like to spend time with me?" he asked and Mordred nodded. "Well, then." He scanned the crowd for the guards that he knew to be watching him from a proper distance, but never too far away from him, always ready to jump in the fray if need be. Unfortunately, sometimes he made their job a nightmare. He was in the habit of sneaking away from the people who were supposed to know his whereabouts at all times. But he considered himself capable of relieving them of their task for a bit: he was after all a dragonblood, and trained as a squire. Lancelot hated this habit of his, but lucky for him Kay was his eager enabler. "I have to speak with someone first but you go on ahead and I'll meet you afterwards. The woods, behind the lodge?" Mordred nodded and Arthur left. He had a wide smile that made his cheeks hurt, but he didn't care. He could burst with happiness. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodYes]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 8>> "Wait," Mordred said and the single word pierced the gloom that hung around Arthur, blindingly bright. "You don't have to leave." Arthur felt incandescent with hope. Mordred went on: "I'd like to spend some time with you. But I'm worried as well. What if Lancelot finds out again? I don't want any more harm to come to Accolon." An arrow straight to the heart. "I promise you, Mordred, that won't be the case." Mordred considered the promise, then nodded, and joy washed over Arthur anew. "Well, then." He scanned the crowd for the guards that he knew to be watching him from a proper distance, but never too far away from him, always ready to jump in the fray if need be. Unfortunately, sometimes he made their job a nightmare. He was in the habit of sneaking away from the people who were supposed to know his whereabouts at all times. But he considered himself capable of relieving them of their task for a bit: he was after all a dragonblood, and trained as a squire. Lancelot hated this habit of his, but lucky for him Kay was his eager enabler. "I have to speak with someone first but you go on ahead and I'll meet you afterwards. The woods, behind the lodge?" Mordred nodded and Arthur left. He had a wide smile that made his cheeks hurt, but he didn't care. He could burst with happiness. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodYes]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 9>> Arthur caught a glimpse of some tempest, warring emotions battling over Mordred's face. Then ?they said: "You should leave," and Arthur crumbled. Undone by despondency, trying his best to keep his voice steady, he said, "I understand. Enjoy the fair," and left. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodNo]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 10>> Mordred pressed ?their lips in one stern, steely, taut line. "You should leave." He crumbled, undone by despondency. But he understood, and he obliged, keeping his voice as steady as he could as he said, "I understand. Enjoy the fair," and left. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodNo]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 11>> "Wait," Mordred said and the single word pierced the gloom that hung around Arthur, blindingly bright. "You're the only one like me," ?they continued, lowering ?their voice. "And I have questions." ?They leveled Arthur with a sober, solemn expression, betraying nothing more other than scholarly interest, squashing any hope with ?those words and ?that face that this could be anything more. He crumbled, struck by disappointment. He understood, even if it hurt, and obliged Mordred. "I could try to answer them," he said, summoning a faint smile. "Well then." He scanned the crowd for the guards that he knew to be watching him from a proper distance, but never too far away from him, always ready to jump in the fray if need be. Unfortunately, sometimes he made their job a nightmare. He was in the habit of sneaking away from the people who were supposed to know his whereabouts at all times. But he considered himself capable of relieving them of their task for a bit: he was after all a dragonblood, and trained as a squire. Lancelot hated this habit of his, but lucky for him Kay was his eager enabler. "I have to speak with someone first but you go on ahead and I'll meet you afterwards. The woods, behind the lodge?" Mordred nodded and Arthur left, small smile still clinging to his lips. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodQuestion]] <</if>>

<<if $chapt3_go_arthur == 12>> Mordred hesitated, ?their indecisive face the battlefield of warring, complicated emotions. And the winning one did not seem to favor Arthur. Mordred's face twisted, brow knotting deeply, and Arthur felt his own expression crease and furrow. Crumpling like a used tissue, as wrung out as he felt. "It's still hard..." Mordred said. "I'm still upset for your inaction, when Lancelot attacked Accolon." Of course. Arthur should have known that such a wound would not heal quickly, that Mordred could not simply overlook such a thing, and he couldn't even blame ?them for it. Yet it stung all the same. "I understand," he replied, trying and failing to keep his voice steady, undone by despondency. "Whatever you think it's best." <div class="choice">[[Mordred were too hurt right now. "I think you should leave."|Chapt3ArthurGo1.1][$chapt3_go_arthur to 1]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred were hurt, but they wanted this. "Fine. I'll go with you."|Chapt3ArthurGo1.1][$chapt3_go_arthur to 2]]</div> <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 13>> "Wait," Mordred said and Arthur did, chest fluttering wildly with hope. ?Their indecisive face was the battlefield of warring, complicated emotions. "Yes?" Arthur prompted when Mordred didn't continue. <div class="choice">[[Mordred were too hurt right now. "I think you should leave."|Chapt3ArthurGo1.1][$chapt3_go_arthur to 4]]</div> <div class="choice">[[Mordred were hurt, but they wanted this. "Will you stay with me?"|Chapt3ArthurGo1.1][$chapt3_go_arthur to 3]]</div> <</if>>

<<if $chapt3_go_arthur == 1>> "You should leave," Mordred said, pained. Arthur crumbled, undone by despondency. He kept his voice as steady as he could as he said, "I understand. Enjoy the fair," and left. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodNo]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 2>> "Yes, I'd love that," ?they said, and Arthur echoed the words in his mind, happily dazed. "Truly? Well, then." He scanned the crowd for the guards that he knew to be watching him from a proper distance, but never too far away from him, always ready to jump in the fray if need be. Unfortunately, sometimes he made their job a nightmare. He was in the habit of sneaking away from the people who were supposed to know his whereabouts at all times. But he considered himself capable of relieving them of their task for a bit: he was after all a dragonblood, and trained as a squire. Lancelot hated this habit of his, but lucky for him Kay was his eager enabler. "I have to speak with someone first but you go on ahead and I'll meet you afterwards. The woods, behind the lodge?" Mordred nodded and Arthur left. He had a wide smile that made his cheeks hurt, but he didn't care. He could burst with happiness. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodYes]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 3>> "Will you stay with me?" Mordred asked. Arthur felt incandescent with hope. "Truly? Well, then." He scanned the crowd for the guards that he knew to be watching him from a proper distance, but never too far away from him, always ready to jump in the fray if need be. Unfortunately, sometimes he made their job a nightmare. He was in the habit of sneaking away from the people who were supposed to know his whereabouts at all times. But he considered himself capable of relieving them of their task for a bit: he was after all a dragonblood, and trained as a squire. Lancelot hated this habit of his, but lucky for him Kay was his eager enabler. "I have to speak with someone first but you go on ahead and I'll meet you afterwards. The woods, behind the lodge?" Mordred nodded and Arthur left. He had a wide smile that made his cheeks hurt, but he didn't care. He could burst with happiness. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodYes]] <<elseif $chapt3_go_arthur == 4>> Whatever hope Arthur may have felt dispelled as Mordred shook ?their head and said, pained. "Nothing. I think you should leave." Arthur crumbled, undone by despondency. He kept his voice as steady as he could as he said, "I understand. Enjoy the fair," and left. [[Continue|Chapt3ArthurWoodNo]] <</if>>

Arthur floated through the crowd, swaddled in an overflowing joy that welled from his chest and spilt out, his being unable to contain such jubilation. He searched for Kay, but Kay found him first. "I heard you found Mordred," he said and studied Arthur's face. Whatever he saw moulded his face into one of open curiosity. "What happened, exactly?" "There's...much to tell. And something important I must do later," Arthur replied, conscribing to fulfill his promise as soon as he was back. "But first, I need your help." He held Kay's gaze meaningfully. "Mordred wants to spend some time with me, and-" Kay nodded knowingly. Arthur needn't say more; they've done this before, and Kay knew the steps as well as he knew the basics of swordfighting. Get Arthur changed, distract the guards, make an opening for him to slip away. "I got you." Then he grinned, wide and toothy. "Let's go." [[The End|End]]

Arthur waddled through the crowd as if through murky, muddy water, lost and desolate. He searched for Kay, but Kay found him first. "I heard you found Mordred," he said and studied Arthur's face. Whatever he saw moulded it in pitying sympathy. "What happened, exactly?" "There's...much to tell. And something important I must do," Arthur replied, pulling himself together. "I must talk to the Solomons." He had a promise to fulfill. [[The End|End]]

Arthur weaved through the crowd. His heart ached, yet it was with a certain bittersweet happiness. He'd take this opportunity to be around Mordred, if only to impart his knowledge to ?them. He searched for Kay, but Kay found him first. "I heard you found Mordred," he said and studied Arthur's face, but seemed to come away more puzzled. "What happened, exactly?" "There's...much to tell. And something important I must do later," Arthur replied, conscribing to fulfill his promise as soon as he was back. "But first, I need your help." He held Kay's gaze meaningfully. "Mordred wants to ask me some questions, regarding our...shared powers." When Kay quirked an eyebrow hopefully, Arthur shook his head. "Only that. Can you-" Kay nodded knowingly. Arthur needn't say more; they've done this before, and Kay knew the steps as well as he knew the basics of swordfighting. Get Arthur changed, distract the guards, make an opening for him to slip away. "I got you." Then he smiled. "Let's go." [[The End|End]]

Hope you enjoyed it!