Let the Crown Prince's 25th Birthday Banquet Begin! *Action Sequence* 15th November 1005

[not_a_clotpole]

The great Banquet Hall of Camelot has been decked out for this special occasion, banners of Pendragon red with the golden dragon in the centre.

The various nobles and knights of Camelot are dressed in their best tonight and the tables are laden with delicious food and dozens of candles flickering in golden candelabras. The servants (and Merlin) are in the background.

The King, the Crown Prince and the Lady Morgana are at the head table and the King rises to deliver a speech.

It's one of King Uther's better days, because magic isn't even mentioned once! Not even in reference to Morgana's disappearance and Arthur's finding her after all that time.

And so the party shall start! The wine will flow and the guests might get a bit rowdy after a while...

Feel free to approach the birthday boy!

Comments

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

"Not at all, Sire." Gwen smiled at him, and, to keep the illusion, poured him some more wine. "Would you like anything else?"

[not_a_clotpole]

A sly little smile lifts the corner of his lips.

"I would...but it would be most inappropriate to say what it is to a lady."

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

"In that case, perhaps Merlin should start coming over here, instead of me." A blush spread over Gwen's cheek's, and she looked around the table, to make sure nobody was paying too much attention to them. "I should probably go back now."

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur's got into the wine a bit, so he's a little less careful at the moment.

He pouts. "You'd inflict Merlin upon me on my birthday? Have you no mercy?"

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

"I have plenty of mercy. I just don't want people to notice the extra attention I'm paying you." Arthur being less careful than usual meant Gwen had to make up for it. "Cleaning spills and refilling your drink can only take so long before it starts to look suspicious."

[not_a_clotpole]

"I'll behave, I'll behave," Arthur promises, looking a little desperate.

"If anyone asks I'll tell them I'm trying to get you to reveal Morgan's surprise."

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

Gwen, noticing the slightly desperate look on Arthur's face, smiled. "I suppose that's a believable excuse."

[not_a_clotpole]

Well, Arthur feels much better about life now.

"Do you any idea what's she's planning to get me? Is there a possibility I'll be horribly embarrassed? Or get wet."

She did threaten to throw him down the courtyard well once, no joke! They were 8 and 10 at the time, but the fact remains.

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

"Not a clue," she answered, laughing. "But even if I did, I wouldn't tell you and risk ruining the surprise."

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur sighs, he'll have to wait with bated breath then... since he was nice enough to get her that dagger, he'd like to think she's not going to get him something pathetic.

Not that she ever has, but Arthur likes to be selective.

"I suppose I should let you serve your lady then..." Smiles. "Try not to stay away too long, though."

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure I could, even if I wanted to. This part of the table is a mess, and Merlin's no good at cleaning anything up." Gwen smiled back, and made her way to check on Morgana. Eventually, though, she'll sneak back up on Arthur, and refill his cup again. Maybe with water this time.

[not_a_clotpole]

That's a very good plan, Guinevere, Arthur hardly ever gets drunk, but it's not a pretty sight when he does.

When Guinevere returns he'll be chatting away with Sir Leon, laughing over something that happened in training.

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

Apparently Gwen knows this, and she knows that cutting him off, for the time being, at least, is the best way to avoid having someone carry an unconscious prince back to his chambers.

Due to lack of player the part of Sir Leon will be played by me...

[not_a_clotpole]

The Camelot guards will thank Guinevere for this courtesy! Arthur hates been carried anywhere.

Sir Leon turns to her with a smile, he can't quite recall her name. "Tell me, miss, do the maids watch training often."

"'Course they do," Arthur retorts.

"In that case, do they ever find it...amusing to watch?"

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes I suppose we do." Gwen smiled at Sir Leon, and filled his cup. "It depends on what you're doing."

[not_a_clotpole]

"Amusing!" Arthur is hurt. "We're a professional unit, keen, fighting fit, ready for action. We could never look silly."

The look Sir Leon gives Guinevere is clearly amused. "Do you agree, miss?"

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

Gwen looked between the two men, still smiling. "I don't recall saying silly, Sire. Just amusing."

[not_a_clotpole]

"Amusing? How can it be amusing if it's not silly?" Arthur pouts sadly. He turns to Leon. "This is all your fault...you're too damn tall, we look ridiculous when we fight against you."

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

Gwen was doing her best not to laugh at Arthur's pouting. "It's. amusing in the same way a tournament is amusing, Sire. Not because it's silly."

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur finally get is...drink has made him a little slow...

"Oh! You mean entertaining!" He turns to Leon. "She means entertaining." He repeats. "Told you," he waggles his finger at the other Knight.

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

"Yes, my lord, that's exactly what I mean." Keeping herself from laughing was getting more and more difficult.

[not_a_clotpole]

"Are you fully satisifed I'm right?" Arthur addresses Sir Leon, who's losing the battle way more than Guinevere is at the minute.

"Of course, sire," bows respectfully.

"Good! Now what did you get your fearless leader for his birthday?"

"Aside from assurances that you're right, sire?"

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

Gwen took the change in subject as an excuse to escape for a few minutes, going to see how Merlin was doing and checking in on Morgana and the king. When she was satisfied that everyone was fine, she returned to Arthur. "Is there anything I can get you, Sire?"

[not_a_clotpole]

"Just your lovely self," Arthur at least still has control of the loudness of his voice. He smiles at her in a rather silly way...

"The knights have given me a new crossbow and a mace."

Now of course, these things can be provided by the royal armourer, but the chap is notoriously slow, so this is quite a gift!

[neverlostfaith.livejournal.com]

"That sounds like a lovely gift. You can never have too many weapons."