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Garrett: *he chuckled* Well now it’s both. *he grins and then teases jokingly* I’m required to care now? You drive a hard bargain, Jane.
Jane: *grinning wide with clear pride, she spoke evenly, eyes sparkling with amusement* I learned from you. *She leans back on the lounge, casting her gaze out to the grounds again, saying simply,* If it isn’t how you want it to be, change it. Then it will be.
Garrett: *He smirked, proud to hear that from her. He puts his arm around her, squeezing her shoulders and kissing her cheek.* I don’t think there’s a power on this Earth that could keep all of you as children.
Jane: *She laughs as he pulls her in, letting her eyes flutter shut. For a moment she ignores all else but her father’s embrace, the solid warmth keeping her safe. Then she nods, saying teasingly,* Well, I don’t want to remain a child.
Garrett: I know you don’t. *he exhales again, admitting to himself reluctantly* I suppose you aren’t one anymore either. *he kisses the side of her head* But, you’ll always be my little girl. *His little, outspoken, driven, independent and tough little girl.

ancelstierre:

Cast Video Diaries - Merlin Series 1

austeralia:

An indefinite compilation of people who have my heart (in no particular order) → Sam Claflin

lovepb13:

Guinevere, the warrior queen

Lucy: *she comes to a stop in surprise, her arms dropping to her side as she sees Charles leaning against the edge of the stall. She bit her lip, narrowed her eyes, then says as genially as she could muster given his expression—* Rick isn’t here.

Charles: *has his arms crossed on his chest as he leans back on the wood post, his eyes unfocused as he regards the horse beside him. Startled to hear Lucy, he spun around and looked at her, exhaling and insuring he counted to ten before he spoke,* I assumed.

Lucy: *she blinks awkwardly, tilts her head and says incredulously* So you came to speak to me, my lord?

Charles: *presses his lips together at the title but doesn’t comment on it, and pushes himself off the stall, following her as she resumes walking to feed them* Yes, I did.

Lucy: *She sighs. It’s a long, suffering kind of sigh with the world behind it, but she keeps her word polite and clipped. If she could head off the questions, she thought, it wouldn’t be so bad. Civility wasn’t hard. She could tell herself that, in any case.* So, which is it going to be?

Charles: *wrong footed, his accusatory frown not moving as he exhales,* Lucy…

Lucy: Which is it? How could I ask him to do this? *Her skirt flutters as she turns, and her hand comes to rest on her hip as she looks at him evenly.* Or is it how could I let him?

Charles: *Well, at least the thoughts had crossed her mind. With a quiet groan, he nods and finally says simply,* Both, I suppose.

Lucy: *She takes a breath. Taking care to speak with short syllables and a polite tone, the words are not without fervor.* Rick is a fully grown adult capable of making his own decisions, something his family seems to frequently forget. I am not ‘letting’ him do anything, Charles.

Charles: *There was a not of urgency he believe her as well, he noted, wondering if he was pleased or aggravated to see her guilty.* Yes, I am aware of that, but you won’t bother telling me you aren’t the least bit happy?

Lucy: Happy? *incredulously* Happy, that by stating his desire to see me, his father kicked him out of his own home?

Charles: *simply* I’m glad you see the fault in this choice.

Lucy: I find fault someone should think me so threatening that they must bar me from ever crossing their path. And fault in someone telling him to make the choice between happiness and his house, yes.

Charles: It isn’t just his house-

Lucy: I know that. *aggravated* That’s the part that doesn’t matter so much. His father not calling him son on the other hand -

Charles: Is wrong. *firmly* And he needs to come hom-

Lucy: He doesn’t ‘need’ to do anything he doesn’t want to do. *sharply, turning back to the horse to keep herself from speaking again. A beat falls before she continues, saying softer,* Am I happy he admitted to wanting to see me? Happy that I can see him every day? Yes, of course I’m happy about that. You’re right, I won’t lie to you about that, it’s foolish. But, I am also happy that he decided to stand up for himself, make his own damn choice about what he values in life instead of what others tell him he ‘should’ care about.

Charles: *He stiffens.*

Lucy: *turns back, her hand hovering over the horses snout* As to the other, I didn’t. I did not ask him to do this. I would not ask him to give up his family anymore than he’s asked me to give up mine. *she presses her lips together, saying under her breath* His father’s the one that put the choice in front of him.

Charles: The father you yelled at.

Lucy: *winces, and her teeth sink into her bottom lip hard* Yes. The father I told the truth to.

Charles: *fervently* You had no right to speak to him that way. Uncle Cyrus—

Lucy: No, I didn’t, my lord. *simply, which cuts Charles off and places him in silence. She lowers her hand from the horse and moves to the next again, reaching back into her basket. Her words were soft.* But I didn’t think I would ever see Rick again, and I was angry. Incredibly angry.

Charles: I did not say you had not the right to be angry, Lucy. I said-

Lucy: Look, Charles. *She lowers the basket and turns to him, exhaling as she regards him a few steps away.* I was heartened— incredibly heartened, to see all of you come after him. And I was impossibly grateful that you did not try and tell him to leave with you.

Charles: *uncomfortable* I care, about him Lucy, whatever you think.

Lucy: *nods, her chin lifting and saying softer* No, I believe that. I do. I believe his father does to. *She exhales.* But I still suspect that your refraining yourself had more to do with your sister’s presence than mine.

Charles: *doesn’t say anything, just looks at her evenly*

Lucy: *nods quietly and shakes her head, something falling behind her eyes* That’s what I thought.

Charles: This has—this isn’t right, Rick has lost his inheritance, his life—*repeating* he needs to com-

Lucy: Needs to be free to make his own choices. *snaps again, hands tightening around the strap of basket until her knuckles are white*

Charles: Fine, I want him home then! I miss him - I counted on him - I just - I want him home. *drops his hands incredulously as his voice rises* Is that what you want me to say?

Lucy: *softer, a hand comes free from the basket to tuck a strand behind her ear* It’s at least more honest.

Charles: *bites his bottom lip, just staring at her and says quite hopelessly,* I just…I never thought…

Lucy: *as he trails off, she supplies quietly,* You never thought he would have anything to do with a muggleborn.

Charles: *fairly bluntly* Yes.

Lucy: *she quiets and then looks at him sideways, having the feeling this has a lot more to do with him than with Rick, though she didn’t doubt he cared.* Anymore than you ever expected to speak to me as more than a servant.

Charles: *eyes narrow, stung by the truth of it and saying tersely* Are you suggesting-

Lucy: That we’re friends? *snorts* No. I know better than that, my lord. *Her lips flick.* I know you still think I’m beneath you.

Charles: You are.

Lucy: *she looks to the ceiling, muttering a quick prayer* Am I not human, Charles?

Charles: I didn’t say you weren’t. *firmly* I don’t find you a threat either. But you don’t live the way we do- you are not raised to it, you do not belong a part of it.

Lucy: *incredulously* You think I’m not living in this world? *Brow arches* I am in your world. That’s what Rick didn’t understand either, Charles - I am in your world. My best friend is your sister’s half-brother, I’m friends with Etta. I work where you live. No, I don’t live the way you do, but just because my place in your world is not worthy of your notice, I am very much a part of your world already.

Charles: *exhales, his skin crawling for a second, never considering it that way, before he says pointedly and with clear defense,* My father-

Lucy: Oh, Fathers! *she rolls her eyes* Imagine my shock.

Charles: *snaps* My father is a great man, Lucy, he helped defend this town when it was attacked - he rode out against that dragon to protect your life as much as mine.

Lucy: Bravery in battle does not mean one is without ignorant prejudice.

Charles: Do not speak about him that way.

Lucy: I saw it in your eyes, Charles, your disgust for the size of my house- your disdain for the idea of someone having to work. I am well aware of how you consider me.

Charles: *his nose wrinkles, uncomfortable, but blunt- considering how blunt she was,* I consider you as someone important to my cousin. And at the moment am showing you far more respect than you’re showing me.

Lucy: *she bites her bottom lip and says quietly, an eyebrow arching* Well, am I wrong?

Charles: *he stiffens and then shakes his head* Rick is worth more than this.

Lucy: *she takes a deep breath, lifting the basket and letting it rest against the stall. She pushes the horse away, as he nosed instantly for the white linen, finally saying softly,* What exactly do you think “this” is?

Charles: *He shuffled his feet in the straw, eyes fixed over her shoulder. Finally, he repeated her.* Your- *he falters*-house—

Lucy: *snorts at his falter and says crisply* Don’t worry about offending me. You could call it an outhouse. Rick did.

Charles: *his eyes widen, though he had to admit it sounded like something Rick would have said — that was why this made no sense — and bit his lip, saying simply* I am worried about offending you, Lucy, I am worried about pushing my cousin further away.

Lucy: *With a sigh, she nods and echoes him quietly,* I consider you as someone of importance to Rick as well, Charles.

Charles: *sudden emotion passes through his eyes and he looks away to hide it, nods, and returns to what he was saying with determination,* Rick was groomed to be a Lord, Lucy, not to work in a tavern.

Lucy: And Rick was groomed to take a wife arranged for him, have affairs with whomever he wished and deny his bastard children. I know how it works, Charles. This isn’t about whether or not he has to work in the tavern.

Charles: What he’s giving up-

Lucy: You couldn’t fathom doing. I won’t say he’s not struggling with it- and of course he is! I repeat, I didn’t ask him to do it! I never meant to cause him any ill!

Charles: *blunt* You did though.

Lucy: This is my fault?! *She puts her hand over her heart, eyes wide and eyebrows high* You’re seriously going to blame me when I hadn’t even spoken to Rick since the ball? And before that since he told me to shove off and grow up?

Charles: *he blinks* If that’s true- then why would you even-

Lucy: Want him? Because I care about him! Because he’s the best person to ever come into my life - no thanks to those who have mistreated him since he was born. *She throws her hands up in frustration and shakes her head* And gee, I wonder why he’s ever felt unloved by his family! You can’t come up with any reason I would forgive him?

Charles: *eyes narrow* Lucy, that wasn’t what I said. I have no trouble believing that someone would love him. I have trouble understanding why he would -

Lucy: Want me? *brow arches higher*

Charles: Want this. *he gestures at the stables, frustrated* Working in the tavern, living in a one-room house, unable to see his friends and family -

Lucy: *She winces, echoing defensively,* You say those things as if I wanted it for him. So Charles, let me put it this way, clearly again. I did not ask him to do anything. *she pauses* Actually, that’s not true: I asked him not to insult me. I asked him to think for himself. I asked him believe in himself. You’re right, I’m a terrible person.

Charles: I didn’t say you were a terrible person, Lucy. *honestly* I honestly believe the opposite.

Lucy: *taken aback by that, she says quieter* Oh.

Charles: So please, don’t think you know everything that’s in my head.I came to see you because I know you care about him, and you have to see how this is hurting him -

Lucy: And so I should unlock the chains I have on him? *she looks around, patting her skirts so they flutter into the straw* Seven hells! I misplaced the key.

Charles: This isn’t a joke, Lucy.

Lucy: *shakes her head quietly* It is, Charles. If you honestly think I have hoodwinked him somehow, caught him in a trap, it is absolutely a joke. I didn’t do anything to him he didn’t do to me. *quieter* You’re not alone in wanting him with you.

Charles: *bitter* But apparently, I don’t really care, I’m just trying to control him -

Lucy: *defensive* I didn’t say that.

Charles: You’ve said that in everything you’ve said to me, Lucy.

Lucy: *tiniest pause, and then admits quieter* Yes, I suppose I did, my lord.

Charles: *exhales, but he says softer* You don’t have to call me that.

Lucy: *blinks in surprise, but she says stiffly* I am not without manners. I know my courtesies.

Charles: And I’m saying that once you’ve insulted my entire character, feel free to call me Charles.

Lucy: *she shuts her eyes, wincing and says slower* I didn’t mean to attack your character…Charles.

Charles: *He pauses and then says with a tiny smile,* Well. I suppose I did mean to attack yours.

Lucy: You’ve insulted my entire way of living. *fairly, with her own small smile*

Charles: If I’ve done that, then I apologize.

Lucy:  I know you think it’s shameful to work and share a kitchen, do your own cooking and laundry. You think Rick has no business doing any of that. That he certainly doesn’t have any business with me.

Charles: *frustrated exhale*

Lucy: There’s another ‘part’ of ‘this’ that you’re not grasping, Charles. Yes, I’m muggleborn. Yes, I don’t have a wand and I can’t vote, and I never went to Hogwarts. I understand these are things you value as critical, but they aren’t something that mattered when it came to Rick and I. *speaking soft and honest* You don’t see what I see. You don’t see how much my parents loved me, to work so hard and for so many hours to have me.

Charles: *firmly, aggravated* My parents love me too-

Lucy: *exhales* I didn’t say they didn’t. But my way of life is so far removed from you, you’re trained to ignore it as less than you, and it’s not. I find value in a days work, Charles, I like working with my own two hands and knowing I accomplished something. When you looked at my house and saw nothing but a few dishes, a single rug and blanket, the open Bible and the lack of tapestries, you saw things of no value. You didn’t see that the dishes’ paint chips and marks were because I helped paint them, that blanket was made by my mother when she was pregnant with me -

Charles: How could I have seen that?

Lucy: Think to ask, then! Think that there was anything worth more than writing off as dirty and not worth your time! Because if it isn’t silver and gold and diamonds —

Charles: *snaps* Stop. You don’t know, Lucy, what it is I value. My mother made me a blanket too - and I have it in a drawer, for my own son whenever I have him. 

Lucy: *She smiles a bit suddenly, exhaling and says softly,* That’s why I’ve kept mine too.

Charles: *He was surprised by that, the sudden common thread between them making him uncomfortable and smile all at once. Comforted by the notion she understood that, he said quieter,* Really? *tiniest tease* Not going to make your own?

Lucy: I am terrible at embroidery. *amused honestly*

Charles: *his lips flick, chin coming up; he looks at her in surprise*

Lucy: *blinks* …what?

Charles: *tiniest laugh and he waves his hand* Nothing. It— you just…reminded me of my sister, for a moment.

Lucy: *She smiles, nodding.* Leah and I agree on that. And on the pointlessness of trying to learn an instrument when you clearly have no musical talent.

Charles: *he chuckles* She hit her instructor with the flute.

Lucy: I would have done the same. *tiny pause, adds quieter* …If I had a flute.

Charles: *His eyes lift back to hers, and he nods absently with a daze back in his eyes* See. Lucy, I don’t think the things you have are bereft of value. I think…that Rick has a better life at court.

Lucy: *she winces, but looks him in the eye and says firmly after a moment, honestly asking* Was he happy?

Charles: *He has no response for a few moments, remembering Rick asking him that very question, the obvious negative response in his own drunken snort and joke. Charles doesn’t take his eyes from hers, and after a long pause, he asks quietly and just as challengingly,* Is he happy here?

Lucy: *she presses her lips together, and finally says softly* Ask him.

Charles: *He bites his lip and then nods slowly, fiddling with the fine button on his shirt and saying pointedly after a few moments,* He wasn’t always unhappy at court, Lucy.

Lucy: No. *agreeing easily with a nod, turning back to her basket.* But I know he was unhappy without me.

Charles: *unable to refute that, he looks at her back and says quietly,* And you?

Lucy: *she goes still and turns back to look at him slowly, before she finally just nods, saying calmly with wide eyes and a tiny smile* As he was without me, I was without him. Do you care?

Charles: *honestly* I care about Rick. I care that-

Lucy: You don’t want me to turn around and run off on him.

Charles: *blunt* Yes.

Lucy: *just as blunt* I won’t. I’d do anything to be with him, Charles. And I’d do anything to see him happy. *softer*

Charles: *he bites his bottom lip* Anything? Even if those things end up not going together?

Lucy: *she nods though her breath caught* I’m not the one who doesn’t respect his decisions, Charles. You should, speak to him though. Perhaps he could fill in the gaps of your understanding.

Charles: *tiniest exhale, but he just nods, deciding to ignore the fact it was a bit insulting to assume those gaps, because they did exist: he wasn’t aware how sex with her could be worth, all of this loss, why there weren’t plenty of other women worthy of him at the court, and he raises his chin a bit as he looks at her. Finally, he says softly,* You are, a part of my world now Lucy.

Lucy: *she smiles a bit and nods* You’re a part of mine too, Charles, it works both ways. I’m…sorry, for any offense I’ve offered.

Charles: *eyebrow arches* Oh?

Lucy: *fairly* As you’re sorry too.

Charles: *snorts and admits with a soft little ‘ah’ that it wasn’t much, but he did feel something akin to regret. He watches her for a long while as she works, and then finally admits in a soft exhale,* I don’t want to insult him.

Lucy: Then treat him no differently today than you did yesterday. *lifting a sugar cube in her hand, offering it to the horse with an open palm* Except respect he made his own choice. *tilts her head and says lightly* Wouldn’t hurt to admit to him you like me.

Charles: *he laughs* You are assuming, aren’t you?

Lucy: And impertinent. *nods, looking at him with a tiny grin*

Charles: *he pauses as he looks at her smirk and suddenly realizes where he’s seen it before: on Rick’s own lips. He blinks at the sudden resemblance between them, but there’s a flash of understanding — it’s not about the sex — before what he’d understood slipped away from him and he sighed. A grin spread across his lips anyways, saying with a simple tease,* Yes, that too, milady.

Lucy: *Her smirk widens in astonishment, and she says slowly* Charles—

Charles: *easily waving her off* I have taken far too much of your time, Lucy.

Lucy: *As he turns, she lowers her head to curtsy properly, feeling lighter than she had when she’d seen him, a seed of hope planted deep.*

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