002

"I see you're awake. Good evening. My name is Alvara Ljos Alf and I'm the queen of the Royal Forest of Alf" the queen said.

Arturia stood up and looked at her "A pleasant evening to you as well Queen Alvara. My name is Arturia Pendragon. It's a pleasure to meet you, your majesty." she said bowing slightly.

Both the Queen and the warriors were shocked by the child's behavior and choice of words and etiquette.

"You're quite interesting I must say." the Queen commented after recovering from the shock.

Arturia, unaffected by the Queen's comment, just raised a brow and said: "I get that a lot "

"Oh, is that so?" the queen asked, to which she responded with a nod. The queen then sent away the two warriors so that she could speak with the 'child' alone.

"So, Arturia, can you tell me about yourself?"

"My name is Arturia Pendragon, I love to read and learn and discover new things. I dislike too much noise, unorganized stuff and noisy people."

"I see. Is there anything you enjoy doing?"

"Learning new stuff"

"Anything else?"

"Bird watching, reading, playing several musical instruments, taking care of children, being with animals, cooking, taking care of plants, training using weapons, improving my magic, crafting stuff, forging weapons, hunting, talking to spirits-since they're more rational than humans most of the time,etcetera etcetera."

The queen fell silent because what Arturia said she enjoyed is something a normal child finds boring or troublesome. And also the fact that she can talk to spirits.

Noticing the queen's silence, Arturia decided to ask if there is a problem.

"Ah no, nothing. You said you enjoy playing musical instruments, right?" the queen asked obviously avoiding any further attempts to dig into the topic.

"Yes, I did" is the girl's only repy.

"Can you play the piano?"

"Yes."

"Then, can you play a piece for me?"

"In the middle of the night Your Majesty?"

"Please? I wish to hear it"

"Can it not wait until morning? I do not wish to wake the other residents of this place."

The queen just looked at her with big, innocent, hopeful eyes.

'I hate myself'

The girl then agreed and followed the Elven Queen to the music room.

It is definitely not because the queen looked like a little child asking for sweets. Certainly not.

A Human and an Elf walking side by side in the corridors of the High Elf Palace would surely catch the attention of everyone and that is what exactly happened.

Every elf they pass will bow down in respect to the Elven Queen and will be left in awe and confusion as to why their Queen is accompanied by a child and most importantly, a human.

Though despite the fact that the elves are naturally prideful, they cannot bring themselves to ridicule the human. Not because she is a child, but because of the fact that the child-despite being a human-walked through the corridors confidently, shrouded with an air of authority and bewitching elegance.

With her head held high, eyes filled with knowledge, wisdom and mischief, she charmed them unknowingly until they reached their destination.

◾

Without saying anything I walked to the grand piano and played a tune. And the moment I did, I was pulled away from reality.

This is a tune that my late friend Irisviel often played. To the others it might seem like a melancholic song, but to me it is a lullaby.

Ah, how nostalgic...

I remember the first time I heard this tune was after I woke up from a dream...

A dream where my people are happy and alive...

A dream where my knights are having fun with the members of the Round Table despite the ranks...

A dream where Guinevere and Lancelot are living happily, taking care of their children and... Married.

A dream where my child, Mordred is the King with Morgan and I standing beside her as her Royal Advisers...

I wonder if it was because of that dream accompanied by this song that I felt tranquility...

Every time I hear it, I feel that same tranquility...

I remember that exact same dream..

It calms my heart and put my soul at ease...

◾

While the King played the tune, the Queen was left speechless. The very few elves left awake found themselves inside the music room watching the King perform. While those who were in the midst of slumber were brought around by the tune carried by the wind.

The forest fell into silence as the animals both wild and tame kept quiet as they listened to the song of the King.

The song is slow and melancholic but it brings a beautiful message.

Like a letter of love written by a poet who never had the chance to voice out their desires...

With her fingers as the pen, the notes as her alphabet, the melody as her words and she, the musician herself as the author... The Selfless King allowed the world to hear the story of her love, devotion, dreams.

And for the first time, in the Royal Forest of Alf nothing else can be heard other than the story of the Selfless King.