(guinevere/mommy) Stuck in the castle!

[Helena Castus]

Helena rolled around in her bed making it hard for Pandra to get her to take her nap. Helena has been a bundle of energy this morning and she was still strung up high on the energy. She was just about to turn five at some point and she was going to give everyone a run for their money yet again. After all that was what the young Princess was for. She had to keep everyone on their toes. "Helena you need a nap." "Auntie Pan I don't wanna" She stifled a yawn and plopped her head on her pillow. Pandra started to sign and that instantly calmed the young Princess down so that she could listen. Pandra always had good stories in the songs that she sang to her. there was one that she loved that always made her sleep happily after a nightmare.

Second later the young Princess was asleep and sound asleep. Her guards were stationed at the door and told to not allow anyone but Pandra or the Queen in. After all Pandra has an errand to run out in the falling snow. It didn't take long for Helena to wake up again. She shivered a little bit having not liked her dream at all. She walked to her doors and reached up standing on her tiptoes to open the door. She looked at her guards who told her to stay within eyesight. She was in the castle and she wasn't allowed out.

She ran up and down the corridors like a chicken with her head cut off and she was obviously giving her guards a run for their money as they were trying to quickly follow after her or grab her so that she would stay still for a second which she would not do. Second later hot tea was being taken through the corridor in which she was running and it spilled on top of her because she had run into the lady holding the try who immediately let the rest of the cups fall as she went to aiding the screaming Princess. Helena let out a blood curtling scream as the hot water scolded her. Tears began to stream down her face and a small bump could be seen forming on her forehead. "MOMMMMMY!!!!! Daddy! she sobbed as the lady tried to wipe the tea off the young princess and make sure that the young one was not bleeding while picking up broken clay classes. Making sure to get all the really sharp pieces that the young one could hurt herself with.

Helena let out another scream as she sat down and cried.

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[Guinevere Castus]

It was one of those days in which Guinevere offered to help her husband since he had a lot to do regarding the army, training, salaries and supplies; therefore, the Queen was left in the castle tending to the meetings King Arthur usually did. Most of them dealt with people with suggestions, questions or petitions. Others consisted on meetings with the advisors or wise men of the land and the main allies of the King. This morning she met with the elders and some messengers who spoke of the current situation of Britania, the expansion of the Saxons and the development of their settlement. She was truly interested in this because she believed that this would grant her more information and would ensure she was able to come up with a good suggestion for her husband to hear. Lately he was weary and busy, and she wished to remove some of the burden from his shoulders, though at times she was unsure how to proceed.

The meeting developed uneventful and it came to a time when none of the elders agreed and though Guinevere heard intently, she spoke little, she preferred to listen to all opinions and then come up with her own conclusions, besides, if she were to say anything they would oppose, not only because she was obviously not the King but the Queen and as such they expected her to be simply… quiet. But Guinevere was not a submissive and quiet person, but she was prudent. Unless they insulted her she saw no need in moving her lips. Her viewpoints were best expressed whenever her husband was nearby. Besides, who knew how loyal these men were, sometimes there were traitors at bay and you did not know of it. No, she best be prudent, even when at times she felt like slapping the men.

She turned to look at the door as a guard entered, he seemed out of breath and as such Guinevere stood up from her seat and said, “Good knight, speak, for you are interrupting an important reunion.” The guard paused to regain his breath; it looked like he had been running amok. She raised an eyebrow but as the man placed his hands on his knees to catch his breath he managed to say absently, “Forgive me… Highness… but your… ‘daughter’ has done it again.” He cough for a couple of times before he added unsure as to how urgent this really was, “She stumbled across a maid with some hot teapot and…”

Before the man finished his message the Queen had already left the room at a light jog. Lifting the skirts of her light green dress she moved about the castle following the noise of chaos as she did so. The guard excused the Queen before the elder men, though she would have to excuse herself. Guinevere then caught up with the noises and heard Helena crying. The moment she found them she stopped to look at what had just happened. The maid seemed desperate to remove any piece that could be harmful for the child, and at the same time cleanse the girl form the tea that had been spilled. Guinevere sighed and said, “Micah, please finish cleaning the floor, I will take the Princess to her room.” The maid nodded silently and then Guinevere smiled at her, “Yes, I know it was an accident.” The maid seemed happier then and allowed Guinevere some space to reach her daughter.

She knelt in front of Helena and said, “You are such an adorable little girl,” she caressed the girl’s golden curls and smiled at her as she rubbed her nose against Helena’s. “Don’t worry darling I am here, and I will ensure you take a nice warm bath and I tell you nice stories in the mean time, yes?” She embraced the child tenderly and then placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She slowly stood up and walked toward Helena’s rooms while humming a nice melody Merlin once taught her, whenever Guinevere found it hard to sleep. It always soothed her and pleased her senses, ensuring she forgot everything and anything that could be troubling her mind that day.

[Helena Castus]

Helena was a curious child and a free spirit keeping her cooped up in the castle always led to her practically making her guards collapse. She never meant to run into anyone though. Most people knew how to keep out of the path of the young princess. Though there were the times that many did not and this was one of those days. She continued to cry and watch the maid pick up all the stuff that had broken. She looked up through tear stained eyes at her mother as she finally knelt down infront of her. She was sniffling now and then giggled as she rubbed her noise together with her mothers. She reached her arms up to wrap around her mother. She nodded in reply to her mother telling her that she was going to get a bath and stories. Those were probably the only things that could keep the young girl entertained today. She wanted to play with others but knew that well they were all busy. Too busy to put up with a four year old running amok in the castle.

Helena hated being kept in doors. She loved running free or watching the Knights. It was snowing though and she was told she could not go out. For once she was actually staying in without trying ever hour to get herself out of the castle. This was a new thing for her because that was usually what she was trying to do. It wasn't that she didn't want to be outside she just wasn't in the mood to run towards the doors and out of them for some reason. Probably because she knew her parents would not be happy if she got sick. "Mommy what were you doing?" She wanted to know what her mother was doing earlier and why she wasn't there to have tea like she usually did at this time. That's why she was running in this particular area anyways. She wrapped her arm around her mother as they started to walk towards her room. She was humming Grandfather's lullaby and Helena was instantly calmed as her tears started to dry.

She laid her head against her mother and closed her eyes. Her mother had such a pretty voice. It was one of those moments that everyone could see just how much the young princess meant to her parents and those within the castle. She nuzzled into her mother's neck and was asleep again before they even reached her room. She's wake up though when she needed to get ready for a bath.

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[Guinevere Castus]

"Mommy what were you doing?"

She smiled, at Helena, she has such curiosity she reminded her of herself so much, it was no wonder right? “I was talking with the wise men, they had many stories to tell me darling, and you know how I love stories. Just like you.” She touched Helena’s nose lightly with the tip of her index playfully and smiled at her child. She was truly a blessing and she could not think of her life without Helena now.

Guinevere loved the effect she had on her beloved child. Just some words of comfort, some tender caresses, an embrace and the child was happy once again and could forget about what happened. Why couldn’t most persons be the same? Why couldn’t most persons be as sweet and innocent as Helena? So many troubles could be stopped and so many things could get better. But adults forgot what it was like to be a child, and immersed themselves in their own selfish ends. She sighed and embraced her sweet daughter as she walked toward the room, the maids needn’t be told again what was expected of them, they set everything and readied the water and the blankets for Helena’s bath. Guinevere knew that it was customary that royalty should not engage in everyday rustic chores, but, if there were few things she did not allowed her maids to do, that was to wash her daughter. It pleased her so much to play with her daughter and to ensure she felt happy and comfortable. Surely she would be upset if anyone else but her mother bathed her, which would be understandable.

Accidents were always bound to happen, especially when Helena was so young and needed to run in the wilderness, of course that could not be done in the middle of winter. She closed the door behind her and placed her daughter on the bed, as she seemed asleep. She smiled at such lovely image, Helena was so adorable when she slept, she wanted to hug her and stay like that for as long as possible. She truly loved her little girl. She watched as the maids silently readied everything and she smiled at them and thanked them. She knelt in front of the bed and placing her arms around her daughter and leaning her body against her she whispered lovingly, “Precious, the water is warm, and the bubbles are ready, come we must get you pretty for your father.”

[Helena Castus]

Helena knew that her mother liked stories as much as she did. She also liked telling her stories which always kept Helena paying attention. Of course it was probably Grandfather that could get her to do anything he wanted her too. There was a point in time where she was driving her parents so crazy that they had handed her off to Merlin and within seconds he had the young one obeying him and taking her naps like she was supposed too. She wasn't sure what it was about her Grandfather but he command such respect with so much as one little look. Helena of course wasn't a bad child or all the disobedient she was just curious and like to run around. Being with her mother made her want to do it more unless Guinevere was singing her a lullaby like what she as humming when she had fallen asleep.

Helena could change her moods so fast that people always wondered what was going on in her head. Some people even thought that the tension around her did not ever touch the young girl. That wasn't true. Ask her father and you would know different. She didn't like the tension or when her parents were upset and she knew that they were stressed. It made her act up a bit just so that she could see them smile or do something to make them laugh. Though she did know when she need to just do what they asked and she tried. She really did it was just way to hard for the four year old at times. It was getting closer and closer to her brithday and she liked that day cause she got all the time in the world with her mother and father. She slept through any noise that was being made as her bath was being put together.

She didn't stir until she heard her mother tell her that she needed to get pretty for her father. Helena loved her mother and father equally but there were things she liked doing with them just one on one too. She slowly opened her eyes and yawned and then scrambled out of her bed with a big smile on her face as she took off her dress all by herself. She had already learned how to dress and undress herself and prefered to do it that way. She didn't like the maids fussing over her. "Mommy, is daddy okay?" She's been worried about her father cause it didn't seem that seeing her lately made him any less tense. "He seems really upset." She didn't like that and her mother would know that. She waited for her mother to lift her into her bath.

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[Guinevere Castus]

It was so interesting how a child could inherit so many traces from their parents so easily. Just the way she looked at her as she spoke reminded her so much of her beloved husband Arthur, and the way she smiled was so like Merlin, it filled Guinevere’s heard and she had the feeling that whenever she was with Helena she was also close to the both of them, two men she held dear. Was it so wrong she should love this little girl so much? Not that she allowed her to have every thing she ever wanted, but she was such a naturally good girl, she never had to yell at her, and though she did have a lot of energy, she always obeyed Guinevere. And that was what counted, that the child was conscious enough to realize when she was being silly and hurting her parent’s feelings by being naughty. Most of the time though she was simply full of joy and energy, she filled the Castle with a summery cheerfulness despite it being winter, she truly was a treasure, “You are such a blessing Helena, never forget that.”

Now that so much seemed to go about the land, and Arthur and Guinevere were weary and a great burden rested upon their shoulders, Helena was the foundation of strength and devotion and hope for a better future, one with less bloodshed. She caressed the young girl’s golden hair as she removed all decorations from it. She did not know how much her parents needed her, but one day perhaps she would. Right now, all Guinevere could do was look after her gem and thank the gods every single day for having her in her life, and for her to be a warm sun ray for Arthur, who looked much older than he truly was now, all this weighted upon him like a thousand years of suffering.

It was so sweet and adorable how fast her little girl was growing. She watched with tenderness as she unlaced her own little dress herself and showed her mother how fast she had learned. She smiled and then walked over to where her daughter was, and, after checking the temperature of the water, she lifted her gently, kissed her tummy and giggled as she slowly placed her inside the small tub. She slowly helped her body get used to the water and the bubbles soon covered the little girl. It was then Guinevere applied some soap in dust in her hands and began washing the girl’s hair as gently as possible. In a way, not only did he wish to cleanse her daughter from the spilled tea but also bring her great comfort. “What did you do today gem?” She was so curious about what her daughter did everyday she loved to hear her tell her.

"Mommy, is daddy okay? He seems really upset."

It was hard to hide things from such a smart young lady, wasn’t it? She smiled at Helena and kissed her cheek before she began to wash off the soap from her hair, “Yes precious, he is ok, he has had busy days and a lot to do and tend to, that’s all.” There was truly no point in worrying Helena on the affairs of both Kings. She was their joy and the ray of light within the castle, why make it wither? No, her light must illuminate all corners, especially their weary hearts, “But I know he will be so happy when he sees you today, I am going to make you look divine dearest.”

[Helena Castus]

Helena really didn't have any clue about how much she truly did for her parents. She just loved being with them what time she got with them. She was fightened that one day they may get hurt or die. She didn't like that idea she didn't think she'd be okay without one of them. Auntie Pandra had lost both her parents and Helena didn't want that happening to her. Actually she was sad that it had happened to Auntie Pandra. She nodded her head at her mother not really understanding what her mother was saying but only knowing that when she was happy and playful her parents liked it and so did everyone else. She still had much to learn and no matter how sheltered she may be as Princess she knew full well that she'd have to learn some lessons the hard way because Mommy ad Daddy couldn't always protect her forever and ever and she had a strange sense of the fact that she had something she needed to do for those that followed her parents though she was not fully aware of what being a Princess really meant.

She sat as still as she cold as her mother undid the things that were in her hair. She giggled as her mommy kissed her tummy and placed her ito the small tub. She took some bubbles and put them in her hand watching them pop with fascination. Then as her mother was done washing out her hair she threw a little handful best she could at her mother with a slight giggle. He mother asked her about her day and she went to thinking about what she and Auntie Pandra had done. "counting, colors, and stories" That was all she could think about. Of course she had more words then that but she was thinking to fast. She let out a giggle. "Auntie Pan's is fun to play with, but why does she have to go away for so long?" The little girl loved Pandra like a younger sibling would love their older were they not to fight all the time.

She smiled when her mother said that her daddy was okay. "I wish he wasn't so busy. I miss playing with him." She knew that things were tense but she wasn't exactly sure why and she knew that bad man lay in wait outside the city walls. She thought about what she wanted to wear. "Mommy can I wear my pretty blue and red dress when we see daddy?" The dress was essentially all read but the buttom had a ribbon of blue and the lace on the collar of the dress was blue as well. A pretty light sky blue to be exact. The ribbon that could be tired around her waist was also blue. It looked very pretty and the person to make it was rather proud of herself.

[Guinevere Castus]

”Counting, colors, and stories"

She smiled, “What stories did she tell you about? Did you do any drawings dearest?” She kissed the top of Helena’s hair before she used a soft sponge to cleanse the girl’s body. She did it mildly and to ensure she did not harm her, for her skin was as pale as snow, and she did not wish to leave any redness in it. She smiled, if she did not have Helena she was sure she would spend many lonely hours in this cold Castle, for a moment she looked at the door, hoping that Arthur would come in, yet he was weary and every day it got worse. Being a King was not easy; yet ruling a land in close tension with invading tribes was not easy at all. She only wished she could do much more for him than simply walk these cold halls and give wisdom and support to his people.

“I love you so much Helena, I enjoy spending time with you, whenever I am not tending to our people, you brighten my day.” She caressed the girl’s cheek and said, “I have a tiny treat for you…” She moved toward the chest by Helena’s bed, she had kept it there for a time, until she perfected the gift, it was a small pixie doll, inspire din the legends and myths of old which came form Cornwall, concerning pixies who grated the land alongside the leprechauns. She walked toward Helena and showed her the golden haired pixie, “Do you like pixies dear?” She smiled.

"Auntie Pan's is fun to play with, but why does she have to go away for so long?"

She smiled at Helena and said caressing her long wet hair and moving toward the towel. She took in the fresh smell of the clean towel, it reminded her of roses and wild flowers, she turned toward Helena and said, “She has to see her family, you know lovely? They need her as much as we need you. However Pandra will be back soon, and she will tell you many more stories.” She approached her daughter and picked her up gently, and then once she was standing on the floor she began to dry her as softly as the towel itself. “You could perhaps make of a story and tell it to her when she comes back? I am sure that would please her greatly. What do you think?”

"I wish he wasn't so busy. I miss playing with him."

She smiled to her, “I know he misses playing with you as well darling, but you will see he will soon play wit you again, he just needs to find a way to manage his time, I will do everything at hand for you to spend time with him love.” Though could she really? They did not even spend as much time as she would like and she was his wife, but well, it was best to hope and not be negative, especially at times such as these.

"Mommy can I wear my pretty blue and red dress when we see daddy?"

She smirked, “Of course, you will wear that dress and then we will have nice foods with your dad.” She walked over to look for the dress, and once she found it, she began to hand Helena the undergarments; it pleased her to see how she learned to do things and how she showed her mother she could do them. She undressed herself quite easily; surely she could dress herself again. Guinevere did not treat her daughter like a useless doll, she was conscious that children learned far faster than adults, and so she was proud of her little girl.