d r a g o n b o r n

“Being able to discuss with Sir Gawaine will certainly help me quite a bit, I’m sure. Especially to know which rumours to dismiss outright from the jump.” Gawaine’s squire answered honestly. It was definitely an essential piece of his background that would help him in this grail quest. “The Lady of the Lake is certainly a powerful asset for the kingdom and for our family.”

Grace buried her face in her hands and let out a mighty groan. “I forgot about the fight with Caelia.” All the Robin drama had pushed everything else from Grace’s mind. She couldn’t believe the mess she had created. “And after the King said such nice things to me…I swear, I didn’t go to the ball intending to start fights. It’s just when someone gets under my skin….I can’t help it. I always want to say something back, even when it’s not in my best interest.” She raised her head and looked pleadingly at Kai. “Should I just let this all die down? Or should I make the rounds to say my apologies…”

“I’m painfully aware of mine. I can’t shoot an arrow a full 600 yards without shattering the bow and sending splinters into my own face for one.” The archer joked in response to his question, choosing not to acknowledge any issue of alcohol. She hadn’t been drunk last night, merely buzzed. And that was what made it so much worse. “To be fair, I had no intention of that argument. I literally just spoke to a man while I waited for her to return.” That was the truth, there was no more simplifying it for her. She knew she hadn’t done anything wrong and hadn’t warranted the treatment she had received. “Ah! Knowledge. The long pursuit for which there is never a finish line, except your own limitations. I can understand why that would be a driving force for some pursuing immortality.”

Caval had been planning different ways to get leads on the Grail since he had heard about it. It was, honestly, his dream to find it. To be heralded as the man who was deemed worthy by the Grail itself. “Yes… I’ve a few leads. The man who squired me searched for the Grail for years and came close supposedly, though his worldliness and my father’s betrayal put a rather sudden end to that.” He stated, wondering how much more he should share. “There are certainly monasteries and churches it has stopped in. Though I will also go and consult with my grandmother to see if there is anything she can add as a guide.”

Grace raised a hand defensively to shush him. “Don’t make me feel worse than I already do. I swear that I’m going to abstain from all drink for at least a fortnight.” Whether she would stick to that vow was another story. She took the tea gratefully, sipping at is if it might bring her some energy. “Thank you for making sure I got out of there. I’m not sure what would have happened if I had stayed.”

“Well, that’s good then. It means you’re at least aware of your own limitations. That’s a good thing for any person to be.” The redhead stated as she approached. “Good to know that even legends are still mortal though. Because let’s be honest, who really would want to live forever? It would be such a drag. You’d do everything you wanted to within your first… what, 100 to 200 years? And then you’d just start getting bored and doing any stupid thing that came to mind. Not the life I would want for myself. No thank you.”

nottinghamsgrace‌:

“Pardon me, Kai, but this is none of your business.” Grace’s eyes were watering, but she refused to cry in front of Robin. She tried to duck under Kai’s arm, just so she could see Robin’s face. “If that’s all you think of me, then why bother making niceties when we see one another? If all I am is some propagandist,” she spat the word, “then just ignore that I exist! I have plenty of company!” She stopped trying to edge past Kai, and instead, wrapped an arm around his steady waist. “People who understand why I leave. Right, Kai?” @littlexrobin​ 

Robin was no genius. Or least she didn’t think of herself as one. But she knew what Grace was implying as soon as it was said. So that was it then. A reason she had chosen not to come back. The redhead turned away from the blond and towards the man. The one that Grace had called Kai. “I would’ve said you were lucky, once upon a time.” her mouth was dry already, which wouldn’t have been expected in the middle of the night though she had already sobered up so maybe she was already hungover. The whole night had felt like a hangover. “But whatever happened with the two of you and all of you people in this fucking castle…” It was barely more than a whisper as Robin tried to get her thoughts in a line as she looked back at Grace. “I hope you find happiness in your search for your legend. And I hope you know I loved the girl you were when you left. But I have no idea who you are anymore and this… this place has fucked you up. So I’m going to emulate that girl who was my hero, and I’m going to leave. And you can be me, and you can stay. You know where I’ll be.” The redhead was surprised at herself. She had expected more tears. Or to be louder. But she didn’t have the energy for it anymore. Starting to turn, she looked at Kai. She wanted to say something, extend an olive branch of peace or at least understanding that there was no ill will, but she couldn’t find the energy for the words. She simply offered a small nod to him before turning on her heel and making a beeline for the door, the tavern, and her rented bed.

@oftheshadow​

“You are making it everyone’s business, Grace,” Kai pointed out, glancing at the people staring all around them pointedly. He caught her when she tried to duck past him, figuring that the only way this could get worse was if it came to actual blows. Then she wrapped her arm around him, and he inwardly groaned. Of course she’d find another way to make it worse, it was Grace.

He felt for the girl who turned to leave, he understood what she meant. Court change people, whether they liked it or not, for good or for ill. Some people thrived here, it brought them to life and they grew and learned, while others were so caught up in the games that they became a shadow of their former selves. It wasn’t just a twisted place, like some believed, but having so many vibrant personalities and bright minds in one place could have explosive results. He kept a firm grip on Grace as Robin departed, figuring it was for the best if she had time to calm down... and from the scent of Grace’s breath, time to sober up. “Come on, let’s find you a place to lie down,” he told her, guiding her towards a side passage.

“When did you get so wise,” Grace teased, trying to keep things light despite the heavy weight that she suddenly felt around her heart. Kai was right. The cost would be high, and it would certainly change her. But would that change really be for the worst? “Maybe it would change me for the better. Make me more stable. Give me something to stay for.” She was touched that he thought she would make a good queen. She knew there would be a lot of people participating in the trials, and while his support wouldn’t change the outcome, it meant a lot to her. As the music stopped, Grace stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “You can be done dancing now. At least with me. I can’t promise no other ladies will try and charm you into dancing with them.”

Grace rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.” Instantly, she knew Kai was the right person to ask. He was honest with her, at least. Plenty of people would have lied to her, said anything just to get her to move on and enjoy the party. She stayed quiet for a few beats of the music, genuinely thinking it over. “I don’t know,” she finally said, deciding that honesty was the best policy - at least with Kai. “If anyone else asked, I’d say for sure that I could give it all up. I wouldn’t want them to doubt me. But the truth is…,” she looked him straight in the eye, willing him to understand, “I like my freedom. I like to travel. I already feel like I owe the Kingdom something, so that wouldn’t be new…but not being able to come and go…that would be hard.” 

I don’t understand how any of that is fun for you.” She frowned. “Is this what you do at most festivities? How can you ever learn what your tolerance is if you don’t try?” She countered. “Or perhaps what else you may be good at,” she smirked watching the arms across the chest. How dramatic was he? She thought jokingly to herself. “Oh I’m not worried.”

“Is it really so difficult to understand that some people just don’t find dancing fun?” Kai replied, raising a quizzical brow at her. “I avoid most festivities, but apparently the King thinks I should be here to welcome all his guests.” He shrugged, crowds of nobles mingling and gossiping was far from his idea of fun. “I never said I wasn’t good at dancing, just that I don’t like it. What makes you think I’ve never tried?” Perhaps the fact that Kai hadn’t attended a ball since he was a teenager. For the last fifteen years, he’d avoided this kind of frivolity. 

“Very true. Although to be honest, I wouldn’t make you call me Queen Grace. Something tells me you’d wear a mocking smile every time it left your lips, and I don’t know if I could resist laughing at that.” She grinned wider, picturing the moment. As funny as it would be, she had trouble imagining a stationary life. “Tell me the truth,” she said as they moved, ignoring the rest of the crowd and zeroing in on Kai. Grace knew that Kai wasn’t her best friend, nor was he someone who should be giving her advice…but that was almost better. He had no reason to lie to her. Even their sexual relationship was casual. They expected very little from each other, so honesty, she thought, would come easier to him. “Do you think I could do it? Stay put long enough to be a good queen?”

“Is that your way of saying you want me around more?” Grace raised a joking eyebrow, although she couldn’t help but notice the pang in her gut. What she wouldn’t give to be missed by someone who didn’t hate her for leaving. Her millisecond of self-pity was interrupted by Kai, which she was happy for. A grin spread wide over her pretty face, “I shouldn’t encourage that, it isn’t exactly potential Queen behavior, but that sounds fantastic. Will you do it to someone else sometime when I’m around? Let me enjoy the show?”