Arthur pov

As me, Mera, and Orm talk, Daphne falls asleep on my chest. I stroke her warm cheek softly as I tighten my hold on her.

"She is so precious my love." Mera says quietly so we would not wake her.

"I know. She just follow you around so sweetly my brother. The way she rode on your leg it was just adorable." Orm says looking at her.

"She is. I just hope that I, we could be the family she needs. The family she deserves." I explain while ghosting my fingers across her back.

"Do we know what happened to her?" Orm asks.

"Her family abused her. She looks so skinny and how she ran away from me. My heart goes out to her." Mera explains.

"I do not think it is so simple." I reply to her.

"What do you mean?" Mera asks confused.

"She was not abused by a woman in the beginning. If she was then she would not have gone off with you alone. At the same time she was hit by he guardian at the orphanage. I actually think her father did abuse her though. Look at this." I explain as I turn Daphne so her back is to them.

I slowly lift up the back of her shirt to show them the band aids. Mera holds her hand to her mouth in shock and Orm looks angry. Mera starts to cry as Orm goes to sooth her.

"Who would have done something like that to a child?" She says sobbing.

"A monster. That is who." Orm says in general.

"I want to know who her parents were. And what happened to them." I order while looking at the guards.

"Yes sir." They reply as they leave the room.

Daphne moves her tiny fist to the front of my shirt and grips my shirt tightly. She makes little sleepy groans and she falls back asleep. Mera gushes over her as she gets from her chair and moves quickly to look at Daphne.

"She is an angel." She whispers while stroking her hair softly.

She hums happily at the touch. She nuzzles her cheek into Mera hand and her smile brightens. Mera grins happily as she strokes her cheek with her thumb. Daphne moves to suck on her thumb lightly but Mera moves it away.

"No, no, no. A young lady should not suck her thumb." Mera whisper with a playful yet serious tone.

She snuggles closer to me as she rubs my shoulder. It's odd that she is rubbing my shoulder.

"Why is she rubbing your shoulders?" Orm asks while walking to us.

"I do not know." I answer quietly.

I stop rubbing her back making her freeze completely. She starts to shake again with fear and small whimpers escape from her mouth. I shush her quietly and rub her back again. She goes back to rubbing my shoulders and falls back asleep.

"Maybe it is a copping system she uses." Mera suggest while holding Daphne's hand.

"I'm going to put her down for a small nap. She must be exhausted. After her nap I will take her to the healer." I explain while taking her to her room.

I walk to her room swaying her gently. I open the door quietly and lay her down on the bed. I tuck her in bed. I turn to leave the room when I hear a small little sob escape from her. I shush her quietly and scoop her in my arms. I rock her slowly and hum a small lullaby. After her whimpers stop I try to lay her down. She clings to me tightly with her arms.

"Ok." I sooth as I lay down next to her.

I place my arm around her gently. She cuddles into my chest and drifts off to sleep. I let her sleep for about 5 minutes before getting up and leaving the room quietly. I walk back to the dinning hall and sigh in exhaustion.

"Is she alright my love?" Mera asks.

"I just want to know what happened to her." I answer as I take I sip of my drink.

We continue our conversation until we hear a scream. We rush to her room to see the door open and Daphne missing.

"What happened?" I demand of one of the guards.

"I do not know my king. I was doing my daily rounds and I knocked on the door when I heard crying. I opened the door when I hear a sob then she panicked and ran away." The guard says.

"Find her." Mera orders with fury in her voice.

The guards scramble to look for her. I think that there is no way that she could out swim the guards. I think that she just turned the corner, waited for the guard to pass her, then we back in her room. I walk in her room and look under the bed. I see her in a small little ball with tears making a puddle on the floor.

"Daphne?" I ask.

"Yes." She says to me with a sad look in her eyes.

"Why are you under the bed?" I ask out of worry.

"I saw a scary man in the room." She whispers.

"Was he wearing a helmet?" I ask while sitting on the floor next to her.

"A shiny gold one. He had a scary weapon as well." She explains with a small shudder.

"That was a guard. He does his daily rounds near your room. I am sorry I did not tell you." I explain while holding my hand for her.

She takes my hand shakily and crawls out from under the bed. I pick her up and carry her out of the room. Mera sighs in relief when she see her in my arms.

"Daphne are you alright?" Mera asks with worry.

"Yes." She mumbles in my neck.

"The guard just scared her a little." I answer for her while rubbing Daphne's back.

"I apologize if I scare you." The guard apologizes to her.

"It is fine. I am sorry for the way I reacted." She apologizes while smiling lightly to him.

"Please inform the rest of the guards that she is safe." Orm says while looking at the guards.

"Yes sir." He says while leaving.

"Do you want to lay back down to finish your nap?" Mera asks in a playful tone.

Daphne nods sleepily. I think that she is starting to trust Mera more since she reaches for Mera. Mera scoops her in her arms and walks her in the room.