#meet jade

If it wasn’t for the year he had spent here, upon the throne of Camelot, Sonic didn’t think he would be able to hold in his fury. Even then, he kept sparing glances at the armor of the closest knight, trying to ensure that the rage he felt in his heart didn’t translate a bit onto his face.

Because the chipmunk girl bowing in front of him didn’t deserve that.

(Every last one of his advisors did, though. Privately, he vowed he would save this rage for them. He wondered if his knights would join him.)

With the training of being king, though, he was able to compose himself, and size up the young noblewoman with a keen eye.

She was pretty enough, he supposed. Dark brown fur that highlighted her blue eyes, and red curls all pinned to the top of her head. She wore a dress in bright, baby blue, and it draped onto the floor in a flowy way, like it was meant to catch the breeze. Objectively, it looked absolutely stunning on her, but he started wondering about the meaning behind it. Blue, for her eyes or to match his fur? A dress that could catch the wind, for the one who called himself its knight?

"Rise," he prompted, and the Camelot accent took even greater effort than usual. He had a suspicion, and he needed it confirmed. "No need for formalities. Will you tell me your name again?"

She nodded. "Guinevere, Your Majesty, daughter of Leodegrance."

Suspicion wasn’t enough to prepare him for how his heart dropped like a stone.

>>>———>

Two hours later, he was sitting at a desk in his darkened study, writing out a missive with an ink quill, when Percival walked in. He watched the light of her candle dance, and felt her eyes on him as she sized him up. It was distracting, but a part of him was grateful she didn’t speak.

Finally, though, she gave up, and asked outright, "How did it go?"

He tensed so much the quill in his hand snapped.

Percival cringed. "Oh, dear. That bad?"

"Whose fault was this, anyway?" he groaned.

"Gawain's."

He scoffed. His loyal knight, his closest friend in two worlds, and yet. "Remind me to kill him once this is over."