Chapter Forty-Three: Blood In The Water

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Tula and Garth had agreed to adopt the parentless girl, much to Camille's relief

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Tula and Garth had agreed to adopt the parentless girl, much to Camille's relief. Children were the greatest gift that the universe could possibly give to someone, in her newly revised opinion, and their souls were the heaviest responsibility that would ever be placed in a parents hands. Sometimes that pressure felt like too much for Camille alone, and so it was always a relief when she saw Arthur again; a reminder that he bared the same duty.

Upon his return, Arthur had immediately engulfed his wife in an embrace and taken Kasalus from her arms. Inky jumped out from the queens tumble of curls and rubbed against the king's cheek affectionately. It was these small moments that Camille lived for; the bond of her new family often felt unbreakable. Especially when she watched Arthur and Kasalus directing a few stray fish into the castle. It was like a game they played, and a way for the king to develop a strong link with his son. Arthur would often direct these fish to swim in a tight circle, and then Kasalus would somehow get them to disperse into a looser, oval shape. It was a small and basic command, but it filled Arthur with pride to see it.

"He's gotten bigger since this morning." Arthur huffed, gaze so fixed on Kasalus that it looked Ike's as if he were memorising his every little feature.

"Don't be ridiculous." Camille chuckled at the wrinkles that had embedded themselves in Arthur's forehead. He said this almost every day. As if the few hours that they apart felt like years to him. "He's exactly the same as he was when you left."

"No. He definitely has longer hair or something." Arthur insisted, wrapping his free arm around the queens shoulder. "Before we know it he'll be dumping us in a retirement home and taking the throne."

"Nice of you to think so highly of his morality." Camille shook her head and laughed. "Well, if he does leave us at an old folks home I'm sure he'll pick out a nice one."

Arthur grinned, leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead tenderly. "As long as he puts us in together."

"You'll find me if he doesn't." Camille teased. "You always do...you're like my own personal stalker."

"I'm the stalker?" Arthur laughed, tightening his grip on her shoulder playfully. "You're the one that kept showing up at my lighthouse."

"I was a cop." Camille said, rolling her eyes. "I was just doing my job."

"Keep telling yourself that. Maybe one day you'll believe it."

The queen nudged her husband's side teasingly and he laughed in response. It was impossible to describe the joy that he felt, with his two greatest loves wrapped in either arm. For much of his life, Arthur has been stoic and aggressive. He acted like this because he felt like he had no other option, but around these two he felt like he had the freedom to be vulnerable. To love with all of his soul and express that love without hesitation.

It wasn't long before Kasalus fell asleep in his grasp, Inky resting on top of his stomach and shifting with every breathe that the young prince took. There was nothing to be done but lay him in his room; allowing him time to dream without interruption.

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