Remembering - Part 2
Myc shook his head and stepped forwards. "It doesn't matter, I'll take you there. Come on!" He smiled and moved through the crowd. Greg walked quickly and followed him, the both of them weaving in and out of tight clusters of chatting people.
[To be continued...]
Greg ran after Myc, making sure to never loosen his grip on the other boy's hand. He knew that the moment he let go, he would be lost again in the crowd. As they pushed through the people, Greg was able to see through the gaps to the outer edges of the market. He began searching for glimpses of his father and their cart, but it wasn't until Myc had dragged him to a standstill, that Greg saw his father again.
Standing there, chatting with Mrs. Turner, was his dad. The old lady was petting her cat and arranging muffins in a basket when Greg caught sight of them. He let out a gasp and ran forwards. "Dad!" He shouted, before he threw himself at his father and wrapped his arms around him. Greg's dad laughed and picked him up to hug him.
"Ran off there, eh lad?" He smiled down at his son and ruffled his hair.
"'m sorry," Greg's reply was muffled by the clothing and shoulder his face was pressed into, but they could all hear it just fine.
"That's alright. The castle and market are certainly a sight for us herders. And I suspect you didn't realize just how easy it is to get lost in this bunch." Greg's dad gestured towards the still bustling crowds. Greg shook his head, and then nodded quickly.
"Yeah, I would never have found you, ever! But then I found Myc, and he helped me! He's really smart." Greg beamed at his father, wiggling around in his arms until his dad put him back down. Greg stepped over to Myc and gestured towards him, still beaming widely. Myc's face was flushed red, but he was smiling just as widely as Greg. Greg's dad looked down at the pair of them and smiled.
"And who's this, then?" He said, before glancing to the side as Mrs. Turner let out a little gasp. He looked at her in confusion, but she just just shook her head.
"My name is Myc, sir." Myc glanced between Mrs. Turner and Greg's dad nervously for a moment, before stepping forwards with his little hand outstretched. "Pleasure to meet you."
Greg's father's eyebrows flew up and his eyes widened in surprise. "Oh ho!" He said, reaching down to grasp the hand in his. "A little gentleman! Well, Mr. Myc, it's a pleasure to meet you too. I hear from my son that you helped him find his way here. Thank you." He shook Myc's hand and smiled.
Greg began jumping up and down wildly, chatting away a mile a minute about the things he'd seen and heard in the center of the market. His father and Mrs. Turner made the appropriate noises and surprised faces while he spoke, sharing knowing smiles when Greg looked away. Myc watched it all for a moment, before joining Greg in his minute by minute retelling of their journey through the crowds to the muffin cart.
Speaking of muffins...
"Mrs. Turner?" Myc asked.
The old lady turned to look at him, and the cat in her arms jumped down to rub against his ankles. Myc giggled and knelt down to pet the cat. "May I have a muffin, please? And Greg too, please." He turned his best pleading look on her, and she let out a laugh.
"Of course, dear. You can both have two if you want, there's plenty to go around. And I baked extra blueberry, because I know their your favourite." She smiled down and handed him and Greg each a muffin.
"Thank you! Thank you so so so so much!" Greg's enthusiastic reply earned a giggle from Mrs. Turner as well as a snort from his father. Myc smiled and said a simple, "Thank you as well, Mrs. Turner." before biting into the fresh muffin. He had barely finished his bite, before there was a commotion in the crowd just behind them. They all turned as one, to see a group of Palace soldiers and what appeared to be a lady of high birth, scanning the crowd.
Myc quickly swallowed and turned to look at Greg and his father. "I should be going now, but it was a pleasure to meet you, and I hope you have a safe journey back." He turned towards Mrs. Turner and smiled. "Thank you again, and I'll see you tomorrow. Goodbye." He waved and ran back into the crowd before anyone could protest. Greg's dad frowned slightly, glancing once again at Mrs. Turner, before shrugging and turning back to his cart. Mrs. Turner let out a small sigh of relief, and continued setting out her muffins in a basket.
Greg watched the spot where Myc had disappeared, and as a result, saw the boy step up to the soldiers and the high born lady. Greg's face scrunched in confusion when the lady threw her arms around his shoulders, but he shrugged as well. Maybe that was the nanny Myc had been telling him about. Although why she had been with soldiers from the Palace, Greg didn't know... Oh well.
"Oi, Greg. Ready to go?" His dad's voice permeated his thoughts, and he was about to turn away to answer, when he heard the lady who was with Myc say, "Now Master Mycroft, you know you can't just go running off like that! Her majesty would be torn apart if she lost you..."
That was strange, Greg thought. Why is she calling him Mycroft, when his name is Myc? And why would the queen be upset if he was lost?
"Greg?"
Greg shook himself and turned to face his father. "Yeah, let's go home." He smiled up at his father.
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Greg sat completely still, the letter clutched in his hand. His face was frozen in realization, and his eyes were wide in shock. Myc. Mycroft.
Mycroft Holmes.
The King.
Greg jolted out of his shock. The bloody King. The bloody King that Greg was now being summoned by, the same kid who helped him out all those years ago.
Oh my god, Greg thought in horror. I knocked the bloody Crown Prince into the dirt! And now he's the King! What if he remember's me? What if that's why he summoned me, so he can make sure it's me, before...
Greg gulped. Before what? Punishment. Was he going to be thrown into prison? The Royal dungeons? Was he to be hanged?
"Oh god," Greg moaned, holding his head in his hands. Should he go back? Should he continue? What would his mum say, if he just showed back up? What would she say if he never came back?
"No. No, it might not even be about all that. It was years ago, there's no way he could remember me. Not even the slightest chance. It's fine, it'll all be fine..." Greg shook himself and sat up straight. He would continue on, participate in whatever important meeting the King had planned, and then he would buy some trinkets for his mum and sister, and leave.
Yes, that's what he would do. That's all that would happen. Greg swallowed thickly and glanced back down at the letter in his hands. God, I hope that's all that happens...