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Post by Evie Perroy on Jan 28, 2010 1:30:30 GMT
After her shift at the tavern, Evie quickly got changed and headed up to the barracks to spend the rest of the day training. She knew she needed to improve if she was ever going to hold her own with the likes of Dante and Henry. Speaking of, she had bought their precious stone with her to the grounds, deciding it was far too valuable to be left behind in her room in the slums.
She had put a dress over her armour, and then an apron, so the egg could sit snugly in the apron pocket. It was quite large and conspicuous, however, but it didn't draw that much attention. Passes by probably assumed she was a little bit tubby, or was in the early stages of pregnancy. The egg was so warm and light, that Evie quite forgot it was there and as she walked along, planned instead what she was going to do in the next training session with Arthur.
Thump
She collided with someone, and reeled backwards, hands instinctively reaching for her abdomen to feel that the egg was ok.
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Post by Prince Arthur Pendragon on Jan 28, 2010 21:56:11 GMT
"Evie?" Arthur said in shock as he placed his hands firmly on her shoulders and tried to keep her from completely losing her balance. He hadn't seen the girl in a while and something about her seemed different now. It was almost like she was...glowing? Arthur took a few steps back, wondering exactly why she seemed to full of light and instantly spotted her fuller stomach. Pregnant.
"I havent seen you in a while!" He said, forcing a smile and trying not to look at her 'bump'. They had had a training session scheduled and he was shocked and appalled that she was going to fight in her condition. Arthur had never really spoken much to Evie, but from what he had gathered in their short sessions, she was not married nor did she seem to have a long term partner either and it made Arthur feel uneasy and slightly ashamed to be in her company. Children out of wedlock was heavily frowned upon in Camelot.
"Are you, coming to fight?" He asked nervously, not really wanting to know the answer.
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Post by Evie Perroy on Jan 30, 2010 11:41:36 GMT
A pair of strong hands kept Evie from losing her balance. With a shocked expression, she looked up at Arthur, who stepped back when he recognised her. He had an odd look on his face.
"I haven't seen you in a while!"
Evie wasn't sure if this was a chide, after all, she hadn't been to the training grounds in quite a while; she had been distracted from the night she met with Dante for the first time. She smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry I haven't been up to the barracks much, I've just been a bit busy recently..."
"Are you, coming to fight?" Evie was unsure whether it was her imagination- or did Arthur look nervous? She couldn't think why. After her last training session, he surely couldn't be nervous about fighting her, she was a relative novice in sword fighting and the other skills she had barely touched upon. The only other time men looked at her like this was when they were attempting to woo her, and Evie didn't consider for one second that the heir to the throne would be interested in a low like her, not with all of the beautiful women at the court that she had heard so much about.
"Of course." she replied lightly, cradling the egg that warmed the pouch with one protective arm. "I was just heading there now..." Arthur continued to look concerned, so she added, "Is everything alright sire?"
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Post by Prince Arthur Pendragon on Jan 31, 2010 18:31:27 GMT
Busy she had said. That must mean she didn't want anyone to know about the baby- perhaps she was ashamed after all. Arthur still struggled not to stare at her large belly, and as she repositioned her arm to cradle it, Arthur flushed a bright red.
"Well," Arthur began, removing his cloak. He placed it around her shoulders and pulled it around the front so that it might hide her stomach.
"I think it might be best if we left combat for a while, don't you?" He ushered her forwards by placing a firm arm round her shoulders.
"Perhaps we should go and visit Gaius, I hear he is excellent when it comes to these sorts of matters."
It wasn't Gaius' usual place to see to pregant women (they would normally visit a female), but Arthur knew that Gaius was the best there was, and as a member of army, he believed Evie deserved that much. Thoughts of illegitimate conception started to play on his mind and he suddenly decided that Evie might need somebody to talk to about the situation.
"You know I am always here if you need to...to talk?" He was still a bright shade of scarlet and he kept his head down, finding it easier to discuss matters if he didn't have to see the evidence.
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Post by Evie Perroy on Feb 4, 2010 11:30:43 GMT
Evie stood silently in wonder as Arthur pulled his cloak around her shoulders, "I think it might be best if we left combat for a while, don't you?" he put his arm around her and Evie allowed herself to be walked forwards, mumbling, "Um, okay..." as she did so. She wondered why Arthur was being so nice, and also if he meant to leave combat for their training session to focus on another aspect of assassin training.
"Perhaps we should go and visit Gaius, I hear he is excellent when it comes to these sorts of matters."
So they were going to learn to make poisons? Evie wondered why Arthur was speaking so cryptically, but was in two minds about questioning the Prince. She had no education and so assumed any misunderstanding must be on her part.
"You know I am always here if you need to...to talk?" At this Evie stopped dead in her tracks. Arthur had flushed a bright red, and was looking down at the ground unable to make eye contact. Evie was suddenly very confused. Why was he so nervous? Could it actually be that he did like her. At this thought, she hurriedly pulled away from his arms and turned to face him. Whilst the Prince was undeniably attractive, she just didn't think about him in that way.
"Arthur, I mean, Sire... Look, I... I...don't know what you mean. Talk to you about what? My training? Why aren't we training in physical combat like last time? And what can Gaius have to teach me that you can't?" She looked at his down-turned eyes, hoping he would answer the torrent of questions and shed some light on his weird behavior.
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Post by Prince Arthur Pendragon on Feb 7, 2010 12:33:02 GMT
Arthur stopped as Evie did and wondered whys he pulled so quickly away from him. He wasn't sure if he had upset her in some way or if this was simply the reaction of a worried young woman. He wondered if perhaps he was the first one to work out what her secret was, although he couldn't imagine that the bump had sprung up over night. Or did childbirth work that way? He didn't have a clue.
He wished Gaius or even Merlin were here. They knew about this sort of thing didn't they? Arthur wasn't one for being kind and compassionate no matter how good his intentions were and even now he was spending more time looking at his boots than reassuring the worried Evie.
"Arthur, I mean, Sire... Look, I... I...don't know what you mean. Talk to you about what? My training? Why aren't we training in physical combat like last time? And what can Gaius have to teach me that you can't?"
Arthur looked at Evie in shock.
Did she not know and think this was natural weight gain? Was this some sort of joke? Or perhaps she was just in denial.
With a sigh Arthur bent down on one knee in front of her he began to speak, trying to explain what was going on.
"Evie I, I don't know how to ask this but, do you..." He trailed off, blushing again and unsure how to word the next part.
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Post by Evie Perroy on Feb 8, 2010 11:53:03 GMT
Evie almost keeled over in shock when Arthur got down on one knee. She peered over the bump in her dress, looking down at him incredulously.
"Evie I, I don't know how to ask this but, do you..."
Her eyes widened as Arthur began to form a question, and Evie suddenly pieced everything together: why he was so nervous, stammering over his words and now was down on one bended knee... He was proposing to her! Evie was all at once shocked, flattered and embarrassed and this mix of emotions rendered her speechless.
"Sire..." she finally managed to breath, then bit her lip. She could not afford to offend the Prince, but did he not realise the massive class difference between them? "Arthur..." she addressed him less formerly, her words soft, "You know I'm just a... just a low don't you? How can you...? I mean, I can't accept your hand. It wouldn't be right." The words fell awkwardly from her lips as she stared down at the kneeling Prince before her.
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Post by Prince Arthur Pendragon on Feb 10, 2010 18:38:31 GMT
If Arthur hadn't already been the brightest shade of pink possible, Evie's words certainly would have rouged him. He stared back at her, mouth gaping in shock as she denied his marriage proposal!
Was she trying to disguise her own embarrasment by turning it into something else? Or had she secretly been harbouring feelings for him for some time? He decided it must have been ther latter, for he was the Prince and she could never have had the audacity to try and humiliate him...could she?
"Evie." He said slowly, rising from his position on bended knee. "I think you may have the wrong end of the stick." He took a step back, worried someone might see the situation going on here. God forbid they might even think it was his baby!
" I am very flattered that you have these feelings for me, but I am a prince and although you are very attractive..." He trailed off, trying to keep eye contact but feeling guilty for crushing an already temperemental womans feelings.
"I cannot marry you yet." His eyes grew wide suddenly as he realised what he had said and he added, "Or anyone!"
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Post by Evie Perroy on Feb 19, 2010 14:56:05 GMT
"I think you may have the wrong end of the stick." Evie breathed a silent sigh of relief at these words. She knew there had to be an explanation for the Prince's behaviour... He stood again, and she removed his cloak from around her shoulders and offered it back to him as he continued to speak.
" I am very flattered that you have these feelings for me, but I am a prince and although you are very attractive..."
Evie's mouth formed a little O at this, and the outstretched arm holding the cloak dropped down to her side.
"Sire..." she began to protest shaking her head, but the Prince continued,
"I cannot marry you yet."
"Yet?!" Evie's voice was high and faint, and the Prince quickly added,
"Or anyone!"
The subject of his marriage and the expectations of a Prince were obviously topics Arthur was awkward talking about, and Evie wanted to move away from the subject quickly.
"Arthur, Sire. I like you, but not in that way, I never said... I think we've mixed our meanings up. When you dropped to your knees, I assumed, stupidly assumed, you were proposing to me. I'm sorry, of course I realise you're the Prince, and my tutor, but... you've been acting so oddly just now, I didn't know what to think? So, marriage aside, what's going on?"
She handed the cloak back to him during her broken speech, and waited with her arms folded above her bump for Arthur's reply.
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Post by Prince Arthur Pendragon on Feb 19, 2010 19:06:45 GMT
Arthur realised then that Evie most definitely had no idea that he knew about her pregnancy. It worried him slightly that she could be so dense, for it was hard to ignore the lump with her arms folded and resting on it, perhaps she wasn't Knight material after all...
"Evie," He began patiently, "Your secret is, well, not so much of a secret." He pointed at her swollen belly and smiled.
"Everyone can see that you are quite plainly pregnant!"
His red cheeks had finally faded to their usual pale-peach but his embarrassment at the unfortunate girls situation hadn't. If she didn't feel ashamed he certainly felt enough for both of them, and he very eager to get her out of sight. The instant she passed his cloak back to him, he moved around behind her and once again covered her with it. He could not have rumours about his unwanted love child being spread through the court!
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Post by Evie Perroy on Mar 5, 2010 18:12:19 GMT
Evie just stood dumbstruck as Arthur pointed to her swollen belly and announced he knew that she was pregnant.
"Wh..what!" she finally managed to splutter, shrugging his cloak away as he attempted to cover her up again. "You think I'm with child, you think that..." she looked from Arthur's face down to her stomach, and back again. Suddenly everything clicked into place. "Ohhh, you think I'm with child' she repeated in a knowing way. Suddenly everything made sense.
Arthur's actions seemed very well meaning now that the haze of confusion had passed from Evie's eyes, and she couldn't help but start laughing.
"Arthur, sire, I'm not pregnant. I swear, although I can see how you thought I was. I just have this in my apron pouch." with these words, she pulled out the warm egg from her dress and held it in both hands for Arthur to see, "See, no baby. Just this... thing... which I'm looking after for a friend." she added hurriedly, and placed it back inside the dress. In her wish to clarify her and the Prince's misunderstanding, she had completely forgotten that the egg was supposed to be a secret. Stolen goods. Given to her from her brotherhood assassin boyfriend- Arthur's sworn enemy. She realised her mistake and her fingertips went cold. Quickly trying to steer the subject away from the egg, she directed a question toward Arthur and began to move away.
"Now that's over, can we train now? I'll head up to the training grounds to get ready?"
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Post by Prince Arthur Pendragon on Mar 5, 2010 18:25:23 GMT
"What is that?" Arthur asked, picking up his cloak which Evie had shrugged onto the ground. His eyes were wide with fascination and intrigue because he had never seen anything so strange in all his life, and that was saying something.
As he rose from fetching his cloak he stopped, his eyes level with the egg shaped object, and was that humming he could hear? He straightened in shock as Evie hid it away again and acted as though nothing had happened.
"Well you can't train with that in your pocket can you?" He asked somewhat accusingly. "It might smash or break...and who knows what might be inside. It could posion us both!" He was yelling now and he didn't know why. He couldnt explain what had come over him but he felt like he needed to protect the orb or at least safeguard it.
"Where did you get it?" He asked finally. "And mind no lying, you'll be thrown in gaol before the words pass your lips."
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Post by Evie Perroy on Mar 23, 2010 13:37:20 GMT
"I found it." Evie lied instantly; she was reckless and not one to be threatened by anyone- even the Prince himself. She liked Arthur, yes, but she knew she had to protect the Brotherhood at any cost. She decided the Prince's biggest weakness was embarrassment- he'd demonstrated that much just minutes ago, so she continued in a similar thread...
"You know I live in the slums, it's hard to identify who people are all the time. I work as a barmaid in this tavern.... and truth is, it doesn't pay well." here she threw in a lip tremble for added effect, "Men...men pay me for extras." This wasn't strictly the truth, Evie had only engaged in that desperate lifestyle for a few years after her father died, and hadn't been with men for money once in the last year.
"There was one man, the other night, he didn't have money... so he gave me this as payment... I don't know what it is, but I'm guessing it's valuable." This last part was the truth, she really had no idea what it was. Evie took the egg into her hands again. It seemed to be making a soft sort of noise and Evie cringed slightly- it wasn't helping her to convince the prince that it was a worthless artifact.
"It's mine." she said, a little too possessively, and so added, "I mean, until I get it valued and sell it..." She waited for Arthur to reply, ready to leg it if he attempted to throw her in prison.
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Post by Prince Arthur Pendragon on Mar 23, 2010 19:03:40 GMT
Arthur stuttered a few wordless sounds before he blushed crimson again and managed a weak smile. Why was this girl so remarkably shameless? The slums were always a sore point between Arthur and his father, in fact they had recently had many an argument trying to decide whether some of the less stable buildings should be fixed or flattened altogether.
When it came down to it, Arthur too had no idea what the egg was. It sure didn't look like a harmless stone, and the humming noise it was emitting definitely screamed magic, but what should he do? Weirdly he felt a strange compulsion to protect the item, as though it needed looking after until it, what hatched? He struggled to fight the urge but in the end decided to go with his gut.
"I can't let you keep it Evie." He said solemnly holding his hands out as if to take it from her. He smiled apologetically and nodded at the orb. "You know it will only be stolen or destroyed if you take it back to the slums. You can trust me. Upon my word I will keep it safe."
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Post by Evie Perroy on Mar 28, 2010 22:28:55 GMT
Evie opened her mouth to protest then thought better of it. She couldn't directly disobey the heir to the throne; whilst Arthur and her had a relatively amicable relationship, she didn't like to imagine what he'd do if she directly said no.
"You know it will only be stolen or destroyed if you take it back to the slums. You can trust me. Upon my word I will keep it safe."
She sighed, and let Arthur slip the warm egg from her grasp. What would Dante say? How angry Henry would be! These thought raced through her mind as she eyed Arthur holding the egg. Perhaps they'll be able to steal it back? she could hope, resisting the urge to snatch the egg and run back the way she'd come. That idea would be far too rash, Dante was a wanted criminal and she couldn't link him, or Henry, to another crime.
"What will you do with it?" she asked; although she was frustrated at her own stupidity, Evie was a little curious as to what it is. "Will you tell me if you find out what it is, or what it's worth?"
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