dragon_twin: (17 - still a charmer)
The stables for the Galwyddel court were small and cramped and frankly, Melou didn't like them much. Of course, he didn't have a choice as to where he housed his horse, especially today when it was raining and Aeron desperately needed a brushing out before they started back home tomorrow.

He hadn't been out there for ten minutes when he realized he was being watched. He had been almost the entire week he'd been here. "You gonna come out, finally, or hide forever?" He asked casually and not looking away from his work, but loud enough to be heard throughout the building.

A boy, wet from sneaking about in the rain, stepped into the dim light and leaned against the stall of another horse. "Did ye really live at Camelot?"

Melou smiled, recognizing the boy as Senyllt, the king's grandson. "Yeah, 'til I was about your age. Then we moved up to Gwynedd. Your Da know you're following me?"

Taking a few steps closer, the boy just shrugged. "Prob'ly. What was it like?"

"Big. Bright. Noisy. Nothing at all like here." He glances over, eyebrow raised. "Why, you thinking of running away?"

"Nah. Just curious." Senyllt grinned briefly. "Ye need help? I can fold 'is blanket for ye."

"Sure, if you want." He barely supressed a chuckle as the other boy brightened and eagerly took the blanket from him.

"Yer real tall." The boy observed.

Melou had to laugh at that. "Taller than most, yeah. Not as tall as my Uncle, though."

"Maelgwn? Northern Picts're sendin' a princess down to 'im. Want 'im to father an heir."

...that was news to Melou. He tried not to look as shocked as he felt. "Where'd you hear that?"

Senyllt shrugged, still folding. "Nobles were talkin'. S'posed to be me Da, but I guess they figger Maelgwn's a better choice."

"Huh." At least he knew now why Dingat and Tudwal were willing to side with him and Melehan, instead of his uncle. "Must have their reasons."

"Guess so." The younger prince agreed. "Ye ever actually get t'talk to Arthur?"

After a brief hesitation, Melou answered, keeping his voice even and hopefully unbiased. The last thing he wanted was to feed rumours. "Of course. Once in a while. He was usually real busy, but he'd greet us at dinner, sometimes ask about what we were learning and stuff."

"Did ye like 'im?" Senyllt pressed.

Now it was Melou's turn to shrug. "Didn't know him that well."

Either that satisfied the boy, or he realized he wasn't going to get much information, as he fell silent for a few moments before starting in on a new topic. "They want ye t'marry me aunt, ye know."

To his credit, Melou only snorted quietly, and didn't drop the brush. "They've suggested as much."

"Ye goin' to?"

"No." He answered firmly. "Not planning on getting married any time soon."

Senyllt nodded. "What 'bout yer brother?"

"Well, that'd be up to him, wouldn't it?" Melou grinned suddenly. "I"ll be sure to let him know when I get home, though."

The boy smiled back, seemingly understanding his intention, and then handed back the neatly folded blanket. "Can I do anythin' else?"

"Nah, I think I can handle the rest. But thanks."

"A'right." He hesitated, as if uncertain whether to stay or go, and then asked, "Can I see yer scar?"

"From the arrows?" Melou guessed and then leaned down, pulling the collar of his shirt over to reveal the mark on his shoulder. "It's healed up pretty good." Apparently, scars didn't just impress girls, but boys who hadn't had to face battle yet.

Senyllt gave it a good look, eyes wide, and then nodded. "Ye were lucky."

"Yeah, I was."

A brief pause followed before the boy asked another hopeful question. "Need help loadin' up tomorrow 'fore ye go?"

"If you want." Melou gave him a quick smile. "Be just after breakfast so I can get a full day's riding in."

"I'll be here." He promised eagerly, then started for the door and the rain. "See ye at dinner then."

Melou nodded. "See you there." Once the young prince was well out of sight, he let himself have a good laugh and wondered if he had been so easily impressed at that age.
dragon_twin: (17 - profile close up)
The journey to Galwyddel had been long, dull and Melou was nothing short of exhausted. He hadn't lingered long in Rheged. Better to approach them on his way back, than take the chance of them not agreeing and having to travel through their land afterward.

Galwyddel, though much the same size as Gwynedd, seemed... tiny. The court was certainly smaller and less organized, and the main keep was nothing to look at. Still, he had to give the isolated Picts credit for managing to maintain themselves on their own.

Melou was ushered into the main building and was shortly after greeted by his Aunt Rhedyn. Bombarded might be a better word, as she was perhaps the most cheerful relative he had ever met and, like all of Cadwallon's daughters, looked very much like her other sisters. Heavily pregnant, she took his arm and led him through hallways to the room that had since been prepared for him. And she never stopped talking.

He was one of Cywyllog's boys, wasn't he? So handsome and all grown up! She had been in Gwynedd still when they first came to visit when he was just a baby. Did he remember? Of course he didn't. It was so good of him to visit, all this way and why hadn't his mother come with him? Or Ffion? It had been years since she'd seen either of her sisters and she missed them so. Would he be here for very long? She would love to have someone take him to Ynys Manaw, so much like Aberffraw it was. Had he meet King Tudwal before, or her husband Cadwr, the king's cousin? They would be sure to welcome him with open arms. They always did with family and did he know of the king's youngest daughter, Eheubryd? A lovely girl and almost 15, a perfectly acceptable marrying age.

...Melou couldn't keep up. He answered as politely as possible, when he could even get a word in edgewise, and was more than happy to ignore her few last comments when they finally arrived and he was able to excuse himself for rest.

Dinner was much like at home, though on a smaller scale, and he spent most of the time watching the king and his son, Dingat, trying to figure out the best way to broach the subject he had come all this way to talk to them about. Rhedyn tried her best to include him in conversation, but ended up doing most of the talking herself. Melou couldn't help but like her regardless, and was pleased he would be able to report to his mother that her second youngest sister was more than happy.

Finally, the dishes were cleared away and the men settled in for more important discussions. Tudwal brought up the subject of the fight against Constantine first and while they ended the conversation without any decisions having been finalized, both he and Dingat seemed very receptive to the idea of having a Pendragon back on the high throne.

That was all Melou had wanted, for a first meeting. He would be here for a week or two more and felt confident he would leave with their support secured. Not a large army, but it was better than what they currently had and once one kingdom was on board, it would be easier to convince others to join.

Once again drained from the day, Melou retired to his room and slept soundly for the first time in weeks. Rheged could be worried about later.

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dragon_twin: (Default)
Melou of Camelot

February 2008

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