Bench Talk

I sat at a bench that looked over the training area where the men drenched themselves in sweat. Aurelius had not slowed down from what I could see, which made me feel a little comforted, but it was very little. Uther was also there to help with training, even though it has been decided that Uther will not be going to battle. Camelot would not know what to do with itself if it should lose both of their Pendragons. At least that is how it has been described to me. Watching them fight I was surprised by how much different they appeared comparatively to the way they fought before, no expressions ever crossed any of their faces and it left me feeling overwhelmed and alone on this cold stone bench.

"Would you mind if I joined you?" A gentle voice asked.

I looked to my right to see Igraine standing, the sun shining behind her, making the ringlets that framed her face radiate. I motioned for to sit and she flashed a sweet smile at me. She was wearing a dark blue dress today that made her sapphire eyes seem deep and endless.

"I am uncertain we have ever had the chance to speak with one another like this, my name is Igraine." She stuck out her hand, light and delicate.

I shook her hand and smiled. "My name is Fia."

"That is a lovely name she said." She raised her hand to my head and rubbed a few strands of my hair between her fingers. "Your hair is very lovely as well. I do not think I have ever seen anyone with such a bright color. I must say I am quite jealous of its beauty." She never seemed to stop smiling, and I wondered if our people back home ever smiled as she does now.

"Oh, thank you." I said, modestly looking back towards the training grounds. "How are you enjoying your stay here?" I asked.

"I am very grateful to be here. I cannot tell you how long I have waited for the day I could be with Uther. I have loved him ever since we met." I looked over to see her gazing dreamily at Uther, who was holding a shield that Aurelius was striking at.

I did not understand what she meant by loving someone the instant she met them. Love was something completely foreign to me. Edgar tried to explain it to me once, after he had told me some story of love, but none of it made sense to me. How someone could end their life for love was beyond me. "You were married at the time, though, were you not?" I asked.

She looked over at me and her smile drooped a little, but never did it disappear. "I was, but it was a loveless marriage. Our parents wanted our kingdoms to have peace between one another, so we were forced into marrying each other. I thought I would learn to love him, but the moment I met Uther I knew I could never love another." She kind shrugged, as if she had no control over her emotions. "I of course miss the presence of my former husband at times, he was good company, but I feel his death was almost a gift to me, as horrible as that sounds."

It sounded dreadful. How anyone could be grateful for a death was beyond me.

Lady Igraine stood up and gave me a smile. "Well, it appears the men are off to clean themselves up for dinner, would you care to accompany me to the dinning hall?"

I shrugged and stood up. "It would be my pleasure." As odd as speaking with Igraine was, I was grateful for the distraction she provided, and suddenly I felt I understood Uther's actions, if only they weren't so caught up in one another.