This chapter purely exists because I wanted to show some of Arthra's personality! :D
CHAPTER SEVEN: ARTHRA
“Desrin! How do you expect to keep up with me when you’re riding like an old grandma?” Arthra asked, throwing back her pretty head in a laugh.
Desrin, a fair-haired lad of about fourteen, rode up beside the pretty girl, trying to answer cooly and mask the shyness in his voice. He had long had a crush on Arthra, and she was all but oblivious to it. Artham, however, had known, and had a special disliking for Desrin.
“I didn’t know you were going to ride like the blasted wind!”
Arthra just laughed, a beautiful, unmistakable sound that sent Desrin’s heart pounding.
“Did we lose my father?” Arthra asked, steering her horse around.
“Apparently,” Desrin said, a little bit of relief in his voice. Artham made him nervous.
“We should ride back for him. I don’t want him to get worried,” Arthra said, starting off at a light trot.
Desrin sighed and slowly started following after.
Soon, they found Artham, who was talking to another man, who happened to be Desrin’s father.
“Des! We have to get home!” his father said, smiling at the two young riders.
“Yes father. I’ll see you later Arthra,” Desrin said, with a slight bow of his head.
“Bye,” Arthra replied, making sure to wave at Desrin’s father, Lord Correnwald, her favorite lord of her uncle’s.
She soon rode side by side with her father, in a serene and pleasant silence.
“Love, you think you can watch Janner and Kalmar for a spell this afternoon? Me, your uncle, and aunt have some work to do, and your mother is in town.”
“Oh yes Papa! You know I love to watch them!”
Artham smiled, treasuring the bright smile she gave him. “I know, dear. You had better get in and washed then. The meeting’s in less than an hour.”
“Race ya back?”
Artham laughed. “Alright, on three.”
He paused for a moment, then, with a mischievous gleam, cried out, “Three!”
He bolted off. Arthra gasped in mock offense, then laughed and followed after him.
While the meeting was in session, Kalmar has just been laid down for a nap. So, Arthra sat with Janner on the couch and read books. She tried to show him some of the words, and he did all right with it. But he much preferred to listen.
When Kalmar awoke, Arthra cuddled and played with him on a blanket on the floor, while across the room Janner played with blocks.
Both boys loved Arthra very much, a sweet light entering both of their eyes when she came into view. They were like that for an hour more, and then her uncle and auntie came in.
“Ah, I see you’ve done a fine job again, Arthra,” Nia said, smiling and taking Kalmar in her arms.
Arthra smiled. “I love watching them. If ever you need more help, I’d be willing to do it!”
Esben laughed, and he pulled his niece in a hug, kissing her on the head. “Well then, looks like we can fire that nanny.”
“Uncle Esben!”
“Kidding, my love, kidding. Now, I believe you need compensation for your time.”
“Oh uncle, you know I don’t do it for that.”
“I know, but I want you to go down to the marketplace with Natalia this afternoon and buy yourself something.”
With that, he slipped a gold coin in her hand. She smiled at him. “Thank you, Uncle. When’s Natalia leaving?”
“Now.”
“Oh! But Papa will wonder- “
“I’ll tell him. Now go!”
She smiled and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, uncle!”
She dashed off, and, within an hour, her and Natalia returned, giggling. Arthra bought a new book, but she almost forgot about with all the fun she had with Nat.
“Arthra, my love!” Her mother was calling her.
She dashed upstairs, calling goodbye to Natalia over her shoulder. “Yes Mama?”
“I need you to go bring this to Wendy and Podo, in their cottage on the castle grounds. It’s just a cookbook I borrowed. Would you be a dear and do it for me?”
“Yes, mama.”
“Thank you, darlin’.”
Arundelle kissed her daughter’s forehead, and soon, Arthra found herself flying out of the castle towards the cottage. On her way, she bumped into Bonifer, who was checking the mail.
“Good afternoon, young princess,” Bonifer said.
“Mister Squoon,” Arthra said, with a bow. Like her father, she shared a wariness of that old man. But, no matter, she was now at the Helmer’s.
“Hiya dearie! Come in, come in, I just put on a spot of tea,” Wendolyn said, ushering the girl in.
“Thank you Wendy. My mother wanted me to drop off this cookbook for her.”
“Ah! Goodness gracious! Maker knows I’ve been looking for this all week! I plum forgot that I lent it to your mom. Thank you love.”
Wendolyn took the book, and then Podo came downstairs. “Ah! Hello young lady!”
He wrapped her in a big bear hug, which made Arthra giggle.
“Hello Podo.”
“You stayin’ fer lunch?”
“Only if Wendolyn says.”
“Ah! I say. I’d like the company.”
Arthra giggled and handed Podo her cloak. “Well, all right. Thank you.”
She sat down with the old couple for lunch, and, just as Arthra was about to have a cookie for desert, there came a sudden knock at the door. Podo got it, and, with a cold word of greeting, he ushered in Artham.
“There’s my daughter. Haven’t seen you since this morning.”
He smiled, but the look was tight, and he seemed annoyed. Arthra suddenly felt dread. Perhaps she shouldn’t have stayed for lunch. It would not be worth her father’s anger.
“Thank you for having her, Wendolyn, but I need her now for a while.”
Wendy nodded, not saying anything to him, but kissing Arthra and telling her she could take the cookie home.
As they left and started walking back, Arthra burst into tears.
“Papa, I’m sorry I didn’t ask permission to stay for lunch! And then I went with Natalia without asking. Please don’t be too mad.”
Artham placed a hand on her shoulder and tilted her face to look at him.
“Love, I’m not mad at you at all, and I fully expected you to stay for lunch. I just…I missed you is all. I’m sorry I came off mad. I’m not.”
Arthra looked up at him with shining eyes.
“You sure?”
“Positive…as me beating you this time to the castle!”
Artham ran off, and Arthra laughed, gathering her skirt, and racing after her father.
Tagging @PaiWingfeather (✨Unaligned✨, BLC, AMLC, Oreo Warrior) @Marki Sel and @J. M.
I hope you enjoyed! Let me know if anything seems weird or wonky!
appears out if nowhere Hey... sorry I haven't commented in so long. Just wanted to say that I love your writing style. Like, a lot. I've been reading since The First Well and I've loved watching this fic take place!
aaawww this was so sweeeettt <3 <3. i loved it so much! artham really needed that after the way Podo was treating him😠
I caught up with your story… and can I just say, ‘Hey, how’s it going? Name’s Flynn-‘ Oops heh… sorry about that. I meant to say…. WOW! I LOVE THIS STORY AND WOULD LOVE TO BE TAGGED FOR IT!!! PORR ARTHAM 😭😭😭 (good job on the story!)