The Deck, Saturday Late Afternoon

[bitchprince]

Last night had been distinctly odd, but how it ended had taken some of the edge off, at least. If Arthur didn't know better, he'd almost even be able to convince himself the day was going to be sort of all right. Or, at least, not completely insane.

Instead, he was going to take a seat on the deck with a bowl of fruit and some bread for a late breakfast. Uther Pendragon taught great lessons about paranoia.

He was just going to be pleased that at least he hadn't wound up sleeping in the preserve last night.

[[ open, especially to any blonde spawn that might want to assault him ]]

Comments

[bitchprince]

"Oh. There's another one."

That part was mostly to himself. He had to manage some resigned exasperation at someone. "You're on Fandom," Arthur said, then paused, and said, "You're sure you're-- mine?" Oh, please, let the answer be no.

[destinybitch.livejournal.com]

That just got him a look that truly named his heritage as Pendragon. "Yes, father."

[bitchprince]

"Terrific," said Arthur.

He took the prerequisite few seconds he'd need to compose himself without-- going off on a fit on the boy. "Sit down. What is your name?"

[destinybitch.livejournal.com]

"Arawn," The boy said with the sort of patience that came from dealing with Da and father on a regular basis. Adults were just stupid.

[bitchprince]

"Right," Arthur said, somewhat non-plussed, and took a strawberry to eat. "And your mother would be...?"

It seemed like an apt question.

[destinybitch.livejournal.com]

"I don' have a mum, father." Again with the stupid adults. ...with strawberries. He reached for one without asking. Princes did not ask.

[bitchprince]

What was it with these children and eating all of his breakfast? Arthur eyed the boy, but let him go about it. He looked hungry. "That's ridiculous," he said, "Children don't simply-- appear."

That wasn't just about the means of Arawn's birth, no.

[destinybitch.livejournal.com]

"Ask Da," Arawn said with a shrug.

[bitchprince]

Arthur was having some trouble processing that answer.

"And who," he started, nearly thought better of it, but finished relentlessly, "is 'Da'."

[destinybitch.livejournal.com]

"He's Da an' the best court magician in all of Albion." He was allowed to be proud of them both.

[bitchprince]

"Your father's a sorcerer?"

Why was Arthur feeling a distinct sense of dread coming on?

[destinybitch.livejournal.com]

"'course he is," Arawn said, chin held high. "An' you're the king of everything."

[bitchprince]

"At best, I'd be the King of Camelot," he pointed out. That sense of dread was looking to reach up and strangle him now. "If you're from any point in my future."

[destinybitch.livejournal.com]

"I am?" Arawn asked, giving him a slightly suspicious look.

[bitchprince]

"I could also be hallucinating you," Arthur offered, "Or you could be from some..."

He waved his hand vaguely. "...magic. Thing. Er. Your other... father..." And didn't that sound completely ridiculous? "...is a court sorcerer."

[destinybitch.livejournal.com]

"Da said was was a good thing outta somethin' bad," Arawn said, looking a bit worried now. "Is he here? Where's Da?"

[bitchprince]

"I don't know," Arthur said, with something that had wanted to be annoyance but really came out more as worry and a dawning sense of just what the answer would be, "Who your Da is."

[destinybitch.livejournal.com]

"Da's Merlin, father. You're--you're supposed to know that!" And now he was five seconds from crying. But princes did not cry! Not even when they fell down at sword practice and got a cut.

WHICH ONLY HAPPENED ONCE.

[bitchprince]

Arthur was going to rub his face rather firmly in order to process this information. "Merlin's your father," he repeated. "He's--"

Why did he just feel like a lead stone sank further down? "--In the castle."

[destinybitch.livejournal.com]

"Where else would it be?" Arawn asked.

[bitchprince]

"He's in the castle," Arthur repeated. He felt another headache coming on. "You'll stay-- here. Eat."

[destinybitch.livejournal.com]

"Oh." Arawn tugged on his pant leg once. "Can we go home now? I hafta be ready early tomorrow. 've got training."

[bitchprince]

"We'll go home... later," Arthur promised. It was a desperate promise to be sure. "Today, we'll be here. Now--" He held up a strawberry.

[destinybitch.livejournal.com]

"I won't be late?" Arawn asked, taking the strawberry.

[bitchprince]

"I think we can forgive it just this once," Arthur said. He really had no idea how to handle this, beyond staring at the child, beyond doing his best to do-- whatever a father was supposed to do.

Or... something.