(Untitled)

[snar_kay_knight]

It might be late, and dark outdoors, but it's quiet, which is something Kay requires when he wants to think. He's wandering aimlessly at the moment, still familiarizing himself with the grounds, apparently oblivious to the chill

Comments

[rightismight]

"Hello, brother," says a familiar voice from somewhere behind him. It's unlikely that Arthur has been following his brother-- and quite a bit more likely that he'd needed his own late night walk. Perhaps it's even a habit he picked up from Kay.

Then, with a touch of quiet humour: "You'll catch a chill."

[snar_kay_knight]

Kay does not stop, nor slow his pace. Shorter stride or be damned, Arthur can keep up. He'd grown up with Kay, after all, and king or not, he's still the 'younger brother'.

"Sir King," he acknowledges, simply. "Not I. We are accustomed to far worse weather than this."

[rightismight]

King or not, he knows he's never been anything other than the younger brother, and so he's not expecting Kay to slow down. He follows, perhaps feeling for a moment like they're back in Ector's house.

"Ah," he says softly, momentarily the boy who has been rebuked by the older and wiser. "You walk fiercely tonight. I could hear you from some distance."

[snar_kay_knight]

"We are not on the hunt, brother," Kay points out. And perhaps, in some sense, he was hoping to be noticed.

"And why are you out tonight, if so concerned about the night air?" The things that are nagging at Kay's mind are to do with Arthur, of course. So if he can turn the tide of conversation, it is for the better.

[rightismight]

"Perhaps I have come to seek the knight who mutters while his mail announces his path?" Arthur laughs once, and is then silent for a moment. "My thoughts ward off sleep," he adds, it being a truthful answer.

[snar_kay_knight]

"A man like that, I suspect, would make easy prey," Kay answers flatly. Then glancing sidelong at his brother for the first time since Arthur approached, "I find that I am likewise afflicted," he admits, "since arriving in this place."

Since before he found himself here, if we're being honest, but he doesn't want to broach the issues of Arthur's son and wife tonight.

[rightismight]

"He would indeed," Arthur says, still teasing in his gentle Arthur way, "too easy for a man as I." He meets Kay's gaze. "Did we not have such cause to think in Camelot?" he asks, and suddenly he sounds far too tired.

[snar_kay_knight]

"We did," Kay answers, sighing softly, "Sir King. When last I was there-" but he hesitates, trailing off and looking to his brother. Arthur, tired. He should be, has every right to be, even if he doesn't recall why.

He doesn't complete the thought, but remains silent instead.