Artie woke up, confused and uncertain where she was. It took her a moment to get her bearings.
She blinked a couple of times, remembering that she'd woken up like this before already. There were some differences though. The drapes above her were purple, unlike the red she had woken up to before. And when she glanced around the room, she realised she wasn't as alone as she had been last time. Moira was sitting next to her, and was working on a knitting project while she waited for Artie to wake up. Artie's eyes felt crusty and gross, and she wondered how long she'd been asleep. Moira noticed that Artie's eyes were open, and instead of startling, she paused her work and gave a soft smile to her.
"You've been sleeping for quite some time, Sire. Everyone has been worried. I'll send word to the knights that you are awake. It's been a week since you pulled the sword from the stone." Confused while Moira was being so sweet, Artie moved to sit up and Moira put down her work to help Artie do so. The pain in her midsection had reduced in the time she had been unconscious. Moira, smiling, pulled some pillows out from behind the bedframe to fluff up the area behind Artie. Artie wasn't going to complain, since this felt like lying on a cloud while practically sitting up straight. Moira stared at Artie for a moment before heading towards the door. "Try to stay out of trouble while I grab some of the knights, Sire. I have only one heart, and I need to keep it for my husband." She winked when she got to the doorway, before she opened it. She had only stepped outside for a second before Artie could hear loud murmuring behind it. Within a few seconds, the door was reopened and Sir Lancelot walked in. He stormed in, a serious look on his face before he looked over at her. His face turned red almost immediately and he spun on his foot, his large shoulders shaking slightly.
"Your Highness, please, I did not mean to walk in on you partially clothed." Artie, unsure what he meant since she'd only just woken up, glanced down at her body. She realised that she had a bandage on that barely covered her breasts, but didn't have a shirt on. It must have been so that Moira, Merlin, and maybe Lady Morgan could check the wound without worrying about her modesty too much. Artie chuckled.
"Sir Lancelot, I am not offended or even concerned." Artie told him and he cleared his throat.
"But, as a lady, I apologise for seeing something only your husband or lover should see." Artie felt a teasing grin split her face.
"Sir Lancelot, I have no one like that in my life, and honestly, I don't care if anyone sees my breasts. I've never cared. Everyone has nipples." He coughed, cast a glance in her direction, before moving towards the bed again, his back still to her. Artie shook her head at his foolishness.
"You may say that now, but I would rather be cautious. I would hate it if you couldn't trust me because you thought of me as a pervert, Sire." He seemed actually worried about it, and Artie couldn't help but chuckle at him. If he had looked at her, he would have seen how bright her eyes were.
"Sir Lancelot, you forget, I know your type and I know I am distinctly not that. I am anything but elegant and ladylike." She pulled the sheets up over her wrapped chest. "But, I also hate making you uncomfortable. I've covered up enough, Sir, as long as my bare shoulders don't entice you." She teased, and Lancelot turned to face her, his cheeks lightly pink.
"You, Your Highness, are far more elegant and regal than you give yourself credit for. You played a very important role in getting Lord Byron to confess, and I am sure many knights fell in love with you on that day." Artie grinned at his serious words.
"Oh? And were you one of them, Sir Lancelot?" She was having a great time watching his cheeks turn a darker shade of pink. He shifted on his feet, clearly awkward.
"I grew more respect for you, that is for sure." He muttered, his grip tightening on the sword at his hip. Artie was having fun, but she also knew he had to be here for a reason. There was a gentle knock on the door before Moira entered and her assistant followed her in. Artie was going to need to learn her name, since she was basically Artie's second handmaiden.
"I doubt you are here just to have me tease you. What's happened while I've been healing?" Artie asked as Moira and her friend went around the room and started gathering clothes for her. Sir Lancelot cleared his throat.
"I'll turn my back as I brief you, Your Highness." He said it to Artie, but it was really meant for the two ladies. Artie was having a grand time having the Sir Lancelot so embarrassed around her. Stoic Lancelot had a hard time dealing with women, and that was why she had loved and hated his love story with Guin. Whenever he developed emotions for her, they were very serious. Guin had fallen for Arthur in the end, and poor Lancelot had to let his feelings fester and grow into a deep wound. It was the reason he eventually left the knighthood, but now that Arthur had passed….Well, they'd have to see what would happen.
Moira and her friend helped Artie to her feet, and she tried not to show on her face how the muscles in her stomach clenched and that caused her pain. It was nothing like when it was still an open wound, but it wasn't pleasant that's for sure. Gritting her teeth, Moira changed her bandages for fresh, new ones before Lancelot began to speak.
"Over the past week, all the crimes committed against the common people were revealed, and so were the corrupt officials who helped hide his wrongdoings. He was executed the day after his crimes were revealed and his head hung from the front gates as an example. You weren't awake to give feedback on what to do so I followed Merlin and Lady Morgan's advice on this. The public was outraged at what he had done, and we've only just begun to clean up those who aided him. The children haven't been found yet, but we won't give up until they are found and laid to rest." Artie nodded as the two women began truly dressing Artie, but they were far faster than before. Maybe they had practiced, since it only took them about ten minutes until they were pulling a dress over Artie's head. They also didn't lace the back tightly so that her wound wasn't compressed, which Artie was thankful for.
"And everyone's reaction to how quickly a new king was found? And that the new king is a woman?" He was silent for a moment before he exhaled.
"Well, may I be honest for a moment, Sire?" Artie laughed.
"You are allowed and expected to always be honest, Sir Lancelot." He chuckled at her tone.
"Most of the knights are fine. The people, however, are a different story. They haven't seen you yet, and this has caused some concern. Of course, we told them that you had been injured and were healing, but they believed this to be an excuse. They think you are like the women of the land, and so since they haven't seen you with the sword they think you have faked pulling it out. But demands to see you have increased over the week. Merlin is doing his best to quell the people, but I am glad you are finally awake." Artie nodded, understanding what he meant. People liked to believe in what they could see, especially when it came to politics.
"No one trusts a ghost to run a country, especially not a female one. Alright, so where is Merlin? So I can put some of those rumours to rest." Artie asked, as Moira and her friend played with her hair, trying to put it up but the curls weren't going to behave for them. Artie could tell that Moira was getting frustrated.
"He's with Lady Morgan near the front gates of the castle. We'll have to make a detour when we go to meet them. As soon as you passed out, Excalibur went back to rest in the sword. It's a common practise when the owner is unconscious from a wound, but that also might have fed the rumours since Arthur never-he never let the sword go back into the stone if he could help it." Artie sighed, noticed the pain in Lancelot's voice as he spoke of his friend.
"That's because the fool never rested, and didn't have a chance to. Honestly, this might be the last time the sword is going to rest in the stone for me as well." Artie's smile was a little warped, as she remembered how alike she was to the former King. She sighed, shaking her head. "Well, let's go pick up the sword first." Moira cleared her throat.
"You are not leaving twice without your face done, Sire." Lancelot stiffened at Moira's tone while Artie laughed. She glanced at the two women. The friend, the blond and blue-eyed girl who had comforted Moira when Artie had been swarmed, had gone white at Moira's tone while Moira had a defiant look in her eyes.
"Putting your foot down, eh Moira? Alright, but make it quick. I never did my face up that often before this." Moira got to work. She grabbed a little stood to stand on to work since she didn't want Artie to have to sit down and hurt herself more. They worked quickly, obviously taking Artie's joking words to heart, and she found that the other girl was way faster with her hands when it came to Artie's hair. It made sense, since it appeared she also had the same curly texture to her hair as Artie. It was also clear to her that the two of them were used to working on noble women. They stepped back with smug grins once they were done.
"You're stunning, Your Highness." Moira exclaimed and Artie grinned at the ladies.
"It's obviously your help that made me this way. Alright Sir Lancelot, lead the way please." He turned and she watched him stare at her in stunned silence. "What? Cat got your tongue?" She teased, and he swallowed.
"You're beautiful, Sire. I am surprised once more, that you are not married." Artie laughed at his honest admission, even as his ears turned pink again.
"It's my personality that drives them away. Most men, even in my time, don't like a woman like me. Most of the…knights on my force saw me as their big sister or not even as a woman. Granted, I was very harsh on them." She chuckled. "And any man outside of the squad didn't want to be involved with a woman who was married to her job. I'd had several dates that ended with me being called in to help finish a case and the men didn't appreciate that they weren't my only priority." Lancelot stared at Artie for a moment, before a soft smile touched his lips.
"Well, given the change to your position now, any man you marry here will have to get used to it. They will hold the Queen position, and will have to behave in a way that fits such a title. Even when you give birth, they will have to raise the children." Artie was glad that he had swiveled so quickly on his feet to head for the door so he didn't see the shocked expression on her face. She was surprised to learn that the King and Queen positions weren't gendered, and that Sir Lancelot was very much rolling with the punches. From her earlier interactions, he had seemed set in his ways. But it appeared that she had misjudged him. Huh.