"Well," Lily slowed to a stop at the castle gates. "You can leave me here."

They did not talk much throughout their walk through the city. Diarmuid, however, did notice that she was hiding her face from the crowd, and she acted instead peculiarly, almost as if she were some sort of criminal.

"I can walk you all the way. Since it is my day off, I have nothing much to do." He straightened, taking a stand in front of her.

Lily glanced at the castle and shook her head. "No," she dryly replied, "there's no need to."

The gate was rather busy for an ordinary morning; people were walking through, in and out of the castle. Diarmuid nearly thought there was some sort of fair.

Lily fanned herself for the sun was much too strong, and she was feeling hotter. "I should be heading inside. And you must go...wherever you're needed, good sir."

Diarmuid extended his hand.

Lily stared at it for a short while before she reached over to take it. She watched, embarrassed to say the least, as he brought her hand to his lips and set a kiss upon it.

"It was an honour to meet you, my lady," he mumbled against her knuckles. He lowered her hand but didn't pull away just yet. "I hope we can see more of each other in the upcoming days."

"I fear that might not be possible, dear knight." Her cheeks were set ablaze with a blush, one that Diarmuid found quite charming.

"And why is that?"

She stared at him. "The lady Morgana told me you were to stay away from women. Especially ones that are soon to wed."

Diarmuid dropped her hand immediately as if her touch scorched him. "You...you are to wed soon?"

Lily nodded. "Yes, with a farmer boy. A childhood friend of mine, he is such a charming young man." By this point, she was cursing herself for pulling lies out of her mouth, but it was all she could do to make her eyes not linger on him.

"I see...well, I wish you happiness, my lady." He bowed and then offered her a smile.

Lily felt her heart swell.

It was the fault of a farmer pushing past her that made her stumble on her footing and trip over the folds of her dress; she cursed long skirts and the poorly set roads, she would have to make a decree to get them fixed yearly. Luckily, before she could tumble to the floor and earn any bruises or scratches that Diarmuid might've caught onto in the future, the handsome knight managed to catch her midway into her fall.

It was mostly a blur in Lily's eyes, but she felt the strong arms holding her in place, she looked up through her golden fringe and stared at his amber eyes. What was happening? She cleared her throat and found her footing again, pulling from him and dusting herself off, frankly embarrassed.

"Thank you. I should be going...I am wanted. Farewell." She mumbled and then ran off into the castle, not daring to look back over at the man she had left behind.

Lily panted as she hid behind a stone column in the kitchen entryway. Her heart was thumping faster than any sparing she had ever done; it felt as if she'd run a thousand miles. Why was adrenaline coursing through her veins and a knot forming in her gut over the mere pitiful interaction with Diarmuid? One of her knights? She shook her head and drew a shaky breath.

These thoughts were dangerous. Lily shouldn't be thinking this way about a knight of hers. In fact, how many men had she ever come across as handsome and charming as Diarmuid? Probably more than a handful, so why was she out of breath when Diarmuid steadied her? Well, he was much more handsome than any other knight she'd known —oh, stop it! She was out of breath because she ran in a dress! Not because of him!

"My King!" Arthur jumped in her tracks. She turned to see Diarmuid jogging towards her, the brightest smile on his face.

Arthur felt her heart jump to her throat and took a deep breath before returning the bright smile. She closed the book in her hands and fixed her hair. "Why, hello Diarmuid, how are you?"

Diarmuid's smile didn't fall. "I am doing well. I was looking for you earlier, but I couldn't find you."

"Oh, forgive me," Arthur mumbled, "I was busy with matters of state." Matters of state meant switching out of the tight dress and fitting into her armour and ring in less than twenty minutes before anyone else decided to check up on her. The biggest ordeal was stealthily sneaking into her chambers without getting caught, and that in itself was a stress-inducing task. Who knew becoming a man would be the most tedious part of the king's day.

He grinned. "I can imagine... you need not explain it to me. How is your highness today?"

She stared at him for a few seconds recalling how tightly he had held unto her. She blinked the thought away. "Walk with me," she asked before they began making their way to the training grounds. "I am doing swell. Morgana told me you met Lily today…"

"Yes." Diarmuid nodded.

Arthur turned to him. "What...did you think of her?"

"Lily?" He asked. "She was delightful. A little sassy, but I rather fancy her demeanour."

"Really?"

"It's refreshing. And among your sister's flirting, she was…" he looked off into the distance. "Why does she never spend time in the castle?"

Arthur blinked. "W-well...Morgana keeps her locked away…"

"So she explained, but...it would be...I would rather like seeing more of her."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Lily seemed...charming."

Arthur smiled. "Charming? What part of her? She always seemed rather bland to me."

"My King,"

"Arthur." She corrected.

"Forgive me, Arthur. How can you speak of any lady like such? Especially Lily. She might not be the most cheery lady I've come across, but it is exactly that which makes me so intrigued. Have you ever come across a woman so mysterious you wish to know what she's hiding?"

"Hiding? What could a woman like her be hiding?" Arthur took a deep breath, eyebrows furrowed. She was caught off guard, had he figured something out? No, there was no possible way he'd know she was...well, a woman.

"Charm, my king, charm."

Arthur sighed in relief.

"She hides it well; I'll give her credit. But when she stopped to look at the flowers...I swear I could feel my heart skip."

Arthur's cheeks flushed bright red. "W-what do you mean your heart skipped a beat?"

Diarmuid shrugged. "It matters not. I mean, I shouldn't be saying anything about that, she is to marry. I guess I just really admire her."

"Yes...maybe."

"What does your highness think of Lily?"

"Me?"

"Yes, Arthur."

"Well, I don't like to form opinions on my sister's maids. Lily, however, is a special case. Since I met her, I've found her…" Arthur paused, thinking about her flaws. "Frankly, she's rather boring, weak, fearful, unworthy, childish, stupid...She makes me angry whenever I even land my eyes on her."

"My king!" Diarmuid gasped. "With all due respect, how dare you?"

Arthur flinched. "I...I just…" She'd never expected this behaviour from him, not with the way he idolized her.

"I may have only known her for a few hours, but don't you consider that harsh? She might not be royal or powerful, but her heart must be treated like any other, with delicacy and kindness, my king. I would've never expected something so...insulting to come from you. Don't you feel any shame to speak so lowly of your own sister's maid? And not because she is the Princess' maid, but because she is as much a person as you or I."

Had Diarmuid just scolded her for insulting herself?

Arthur ran a hand through her hair and rubbed her face. "You're right, my dear knight, forgive me for my blatant ignorance. You see, Lily and I...had a relationship." Why was she digging a deeper hole? Why couldn't she just shut her mouth?

"That gives you no excuse, my king. A gentleman never speaks ill of a woman."

"Yes, yes. I am completely in the wrong. I was blinded by anger and spoke wrongly. Forgive me."

"Ill of who?"

Arthur nearly squirmed when she heard Morgana's voice. This day was just waiting to get worse, wasn't it? Well, Morgana was bound to know one day; it might as well be early on. Maybe Morgana could pull Arthur out of the hole she dug.

"Morgana! My dearest sister!" The king took an enthusiastic step towards her sister.

Morgana eyed the king wearily and lifted an eyebrow.

"I was speaking of Lily."

"Lily?" Bewilderment coloured Morgana's face in an instant. "Lily? Were you speaking ill of Lily? Why?"

Arthur nodded shamefully. "I said some harsh and sour words about her because I still feel strongly."

"Strongly?" Morgana blinked, a frown forming on her face.

"Because of our past. Remember of our relationship and how it ended bitterly?" Arthur could already see Morgana souring up, her hands clenched into fists.

"Oh, why yes," she all but hissed, "remind me again why it was such a bitter ending?"

Arthur balled her hands into fists too, her knuckles turning white. Morgana was supposed to help her! "She broke my heart, don't you recall?"

"No, I don't quite remember…"Morgana tapped her chin. "I only remember how lovely she was...Besides, maybe Diarmuid would also like to hear your story." She taunted.

Arthur took a deep breath. "She left me because I am a king, and I cannot offer what she wishes from me. I serve my country before anyone. In any case, she is getting married, and there is not much I have to say on the matter now, is there?"

"Married?" Morgana's eyes grew. Her eyes looked as if they were glowing. She was angry, and Arthur would never hear the end of it when night came, would she? "No, no, she keeps telling people that, but it isn't true. She isn't getting married."

Diarmuid flinched. "Really? Why would she lie?"

"I am telling you, Diarmuid, Lily is not the right person for you. She can be —"

"Nonsense!" Morgana wrapped her arm around Diarmuid's, dismissing Arthur's speech, and led him back towards the training grounds. "Lily is just misunderstood. You know, she trusts me so dearly she always confides in me with her troubles. She told me she tells that to knights because she doesn't wish for her heart to break for another ridiculous and horrid man."

Diarmuid's eyes widened. Was Morgana allowed to speak of the king that way?

"Oh, those weren't her words, she just feels as if any man can break her heart. She makes that little lie to push them away. In fact," Morgana grinned as she could see Arthur's scowl from the corner of her eye, "I think she might fancy you, Diarmuid."

Diarmuid brightened. "You think so?"

"I don't just think so, darling, I know so." She bopped his nose. "Now, didn't you say it was your day off? How about you spend some lovely time with me?"

"Morgana!" Arthur called out to her, anger lacing the name.

Morgana and Diarmuid looked at the king in shock.

"Yes?" The brunette tilted her head.

"I must speak to you."

She raised an eyebrow. "But...you are?"

"In private. Now."

Diarmuid gulped, seeing the king so serious was slightly frightening. It reminded him of the wrath of Fionn for a second there. He shook his head. He should never compare his king with Fionn, never.

Morgana huffed. "Diarmuid," she fluttered her eyelashes, "I won't be long. Please wait for me. I was hoping we could have tea with Jeanne and have some fun."

"I will be waiting here, my lady."

Morgana squealed. "How are you not yet taken? I am forever thankful for that." Then she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and followed after Arthur to the office.

Arthur shut the door behind Morgana and immediately turned to her. She was livid. "How dare you make me look like a fool in front of my own knight?"

"I made you look like a fool? You made yourself into a fool, Arthur! You did it all yourself. I only took you out of it."

Arthur rubbed her face. "Morgana, you are getting out of hand! How could I have ever thought it was such a bright idea to have gone out looking like myself? You're going to ruin everything I worked for! It had been years since anyone saw the real me and it should've been kept that way!"

"I'm going to ruin everything? Arthur, I get it, you don't want to get caught, but for God's sake, it isn't healthy! You're acting like someone you're not! You are the king, and I respect that. But, Arthur, please," she begged, "think about yourself for once, not about your kingdom. Trust me that getting to be yourself outside of the castle will benefit you more than anything. Forget about the whole Diarmuid matter and just focus on you. Please, my dear sister, please just think of yourself."

"Myself?" Arthur sat on her desk. "How can I focus on myself when a whole kingdom depends on me? How?"

"Arthur," Morgana's voice was sweet, understanding and loving; she took one of Arthur's hands in hers. "A king has to be happy for their kingdom to be happy. Take note, my dear, you are meant for greatness; you will be great, my dearest sister. But only if you too are happy. You can't always be living like this; it isn't who you are."

Arthur took a deep breath. "I am a king. It is all I'll ever be."

"You are a woman before you are a king."

"I am nothing more than a king, and you better remember that." Arthur pulled away from Morgana and stormed out of the room.

Morgana was left nearly hopeless and angered. How could her sister be so dense? She sighed and pulled herself together before going to meet Diarmuid.

author's note

thank you for reading yet another chapter! I thought it would be better to keep Arthur when Arturia is a King (male looks) and Lily when she is herself; is that confusing to you guys? Please tell me if you wish for me to change it around. I just wish to make it clear that when she is called Arthur, she is dressed as a male and when she is Lily she is herself (female)