The Grandfather of Albion!

[albions_clotpole]

Well, this is very very exciting indeed! There's an unexpected lull in the usual meetings for the kingdom of Albion and so one High King is free to roam at will.

A few decades ago, this sort of thing would immediately call for extra training, or maybe some hunting, but now Arthur has something much more important to do (and it has nothing to do with age! No matter what Merlin suggests).

He is on his way to visit his grandson!

Little Custen is just over a month old now, and though Arthur sees him quite often he's especially exciting about this particular visit. He has something for the newest generation of Pendragons. Something quite precious indeed.

Hopefully, the baby won't be napping.

Comments

[arlliwiangoch]

Tarrwyn's always been rather good at that. Her sister may have inherited an insane amount of intelligence, but Tarrwyn's got all the charm, and social skills.

Then again, she's always had an affinity for Arthur, right from her first arrival in Camelot.

"He is. Everyone keeps telling me how healthy his is." By healthy, they mean large but given the hazards of being an infant, even with all the powers of Morgana and Merlin to help, any extra advantage is a lucky one. "He looks like his father. I can't see any of me at all!" Not that it bothers her. She's rather fond of how her husband looks.

[albions_clotpole]

Quite so!

Arthur has to agree that Custen is very large indeed. But seeing as mother and baby are fine - better than fine even! - it's all good.

At Tarrwyn's comment he peers closely at Custen. "He has your eyes I think."

[arlliwiangoch]

At least Tarrwyn's now confirmed as a woman quite capable of bearing children: something that several royal families would kill for, literally.

"They may change still." Right now, Custen does have her eye colour, but Tarrwyn sounds completely unconcerned about it. Granted, she's completely biased.

She bounces the baby just a little, then pats his back, just in case there is just a little left that needs to be spit up. When nothing comes, the next is obvious.

"You want to hold him, or just stare at him?"

[albions_clotpole]

True, but it would be nice if they stayed blue, Arthur's a great believer in children taking after both parents.

He laughs at her question and holds out his arms.

"Hold him, of course, who can resist a Pendragon after all?"

[arlliwiangoch]

"Certainly not me." She jests, while handing over her son, carefully, despite his size.

"I can't imagine anyone resisting him either. Think of the ladies from afar coming to compete for him." Granted, ladies initially came to Camelot to try such things with Amhar, long before she was married, but quickly learned they would get nowhere.

[albions_clotpole]

Arthur raises his eyebrows. "Rather early to be thinking about that?"

Don't go making him feel really old now, Tarrwyn!

He takes Custen carefully as a father five times over he's quite used to it now. He gives his grandson's stomach which earns him a giggle.

"Hey there, would you like a gift from your old Grandfather?"

[arlliwiangoch]

Her mouth opens in shock! "Uncle Arthur, I didn't mean --" still the idea makes her laugh. "I meant that women everywhere will be falling for him. He's too handsome for them not to."

As it stands, the maids fuss over the little prince, telling him how lovely his is. At least there shouldn't be any self-confidence issues.

[albions_clotpole]

"I know I was just teasing." Arthur laughs shaking his head with a grin. He turns back to look at his grandson.

"Well, you can't really blame them, we Pendragon's are blessed and curse by our looks." No self-esteem problems there.

"Now, Custen, I have a little present for you." He reches into the pouch around his tunic and draws out a small silver disc. "Something special for my first born grandchild."

He clears his throat because even after all these years it's still an emotional subject. "It belonged to your great-grandmother."

[arlliwiangoch]

Tarrwyn moves a little closer to look. Custen, in true baby fashion, just waves his arms at the shiny object.

"Is that Ygraine's?" Tarrwyn's just as fascinated. For all the criticism she's heard of Uther, there's never been an unkind word said about his queen.

"It's beautiful."

[albions_clotpole]

Arthur chuckles at Custen and moves the sigil about so it catches the sunlight.

He looks up at his daughter-in-law with a wistful look. "It was. It's the only thing of hers I have. But I want Custen to have it."

[arlliwiangoch]

Tarrwyn's going to be, well, Tarrwyn, and give what she always does with presents: a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She's always one to be enthusiastic with all presents, and her gratitude is always genuine. It's been the same since she first arrived in Camelot.

"Custen couldn't have a better grandfather." Her son, though, is still playing with the shiny new object. "I should hang it over his cot, so he'll see it every morning."