That one tart was all that Ethyn could manage before his mouth refused to open any more for food. So he sat in pleasurable misery and chatted with the other members of the dinner party until the conversations finally came to a close.
By the time Rhodri stood and everyone followed suit, Ethyn no longer felt like he might burst. But he did need to use the washroom. Urgently.
"We must all do this again sometime." Rhodri seemed most pleased. "I have been kept youthful by your company."
"You are still very young, Father." Rose smiled prettily at the king.
"Flattery will get you far, my dear. Even if I know it is not true. I thank you all, but I must bid most of you goodnight. Rose, if you would attend me after saying farewell to these gentlemen?" Rhodri gave his daughter a meaningful look.
"Of course," Rose curtsied. The others showed their respect to the king before he left the banquet hall. Captain Rabert joined him at the door.
"It has been a most delightful time," Sir Ashton bowed as he backed away from the table. "I hope you will not think me rude, but I must be going."
"It was very wonderful to see you. This evening would not have been the same without you," Rose smiled warmly. She took the knight's hand in hers and squeezed it in appreciation.
With Sir Ethyn just behind, Caitlyn came alongside her mistress. "Indeed," the lady-in-waiting said. "You are most welcome any time, Sir Ashton. I do hope we will be seeing you after your mission is complete."
"Since Sir Ethyn will be protecting you ladies, I know the palace is in good hands." Ashton bowed deeply to both the ladies and his comrade.
The green-eyed knight pushed away the small twinge of jealousy he had felt when he saw Rose take Ashton's hand. It was unbecoming and unfair. "May you have great success in your mission," he wished the other knight well.
"I shall see myself out," Ashton began to back away.
"Allow me to accompany you, at least to the door," Caitlyn offered.
"I will as well. Unless I am supposed to accompany you to see your father?" Ethyn wasn't sure exactly what was expected. All he knew was how much his bladder was begging to be released.
"My friend, Sir Alde, will accompany me to the king's chambers." The princess looked to Sir Ultrian, who nodded his agreement with her statement. Until that point, Ethyn did not know his first name. Rose continued, "If you and Lady Cait would meet me outside the king's suite in a short while, I would be most obliged."
Ethyn did not want to leave Rose alone with a man who wanted to court her, but as the princess did not seem concerned, he decided to trust her even if he didn't like it. There really was not much he could do about it anyway, so the redhead decided that he may as well focus on what he could control, his hasty exit.
"Lady Caitlyn," Ethyn offered his arm.
For the first time all evening Ashton's expression soured slightly. "Always determined to out-class me, aren't you Sir Samberg?" he said dryly.
Caught off guard, Ethyn chuckled nervously, "I don't know what you mean. I was just trying to do my duty."
Caitlyn quickly hooked onto Ethyn's elbow and held out her other hand to Ashton. "I think I can handle having you both walk me out."
Taking the hint, Ashton offered his own elbow and the three moved away from the princess and Ultrian in unison.
Ethyn moved along with the beautiful brunette on his arm in silence. He had many more questions to ask her, but none he felt comfortable voicing in front of Sir Ashton. For his part the other knight also seemed uncomfortable.
A silent exchange passed between Caitlyn and Ashton before he cleared his throat. "I am sorry for my crossness a moment ago. It was uncalled for. If I am being honest, I have always felt slightly inferior in your presence. I let my insecurity get the better of me."
Ethyn tripped, taking two long strides before being able to fall back instep with the other two. "Me? I know you don't mean me. I am the one people use to make themselves feel better. Just ask Nuall!"
"No one pays what he says any mind unless they are a fool. He is very jealous of you and your ability. I suppose for a moment I was too. Forgive me." Ashton was surprised by the strange smile that appeared on the other man's face.
"I have always thought you were the one who was perfect. Perfect manners, perfect swordsmanship, perfect hair..." Ethyn unconsciously touched his own unruly bangs. "Trust me, you have nothing to be jealous about."
The two men locked eyes over Caitlyn's head. "It seems neither of us do," Ashton nodded confidently as they reached an understanding. "I do wish you well in your endeavor."
"And I in yours," Ethyn answered easily. Although he still felt inferior to Sir Ashton, he did not feel the same nagging resentment that he did when the evening began. They could be friends.
But by now the urge to go to the privy had all but overwhelmed Ethyn. He would really have to figure out a better way to handle meals in the palace.
"If you will excuse me, I need to go to the washroom. I hope you will not think me rude, I will be back in a moment." Ethyn gave a hasty bow, unwilling to put more pressure on his abdomen.
"Just make sure you use the correct one!" Caitlyn called after him.
"What does that mean?" Ethyn heard Ashton ask as he retreated.
"It is a little joke that Sir Samberg and I have..." the woman said coyly.
"Oh? Do you have many little jokes like that?" Ashton's voice had a strange quality to it that Ethyn could not define.
Unfortunately, he had no time to hear the lady's answer. Duty called.
Rushing to the bathroom, Ethyn mumbled to himself. "The nerve of Lady Caitlyn thinking I could possibly go into the ladies' room again! Who does she think I am?"
Reaching the door of the washroom, Ethyn triple checked the entrance before barreling inside. There was no pink in sight.
Relief had never felt so good. The pressure in his belly finally eased. Leaving the washroom, he felt like a new man.
Now he could focus on the more important things, like figuring out what his new job entailed. Ethyn would make sure to get as many details as he could from Caitlyn before they returned to Rose so that he would look at least half-way intelligent about his job in front of the woman he had agreed to protect.
Surely the all-knowing Caitlyn, who seemed to see every goings-on in the castle, would be able to give him insight into what was expected.
If she was indeed rooting for him, then surely the lady-in-waiting would do everything possible not to see him fail.
Confident in Caitlyn's ability, Ethyn was ready to forge ahead.
Or so he thought.
As he turned onto the corridor outside the banquet hall, he was met with a surprise.
'I didn't see this coming…'