Arthur pov

As I sit in the carriage I think of the 6 orphanages I went to. They had handsome boys and beautiful girls, and adorable infants, but none for me and Mera. This is the last orphanage of the day and I hope I find a child for me and my wife. After hearing the news of my queen, we both want someone to take over when we die. The carriage stops and we have arrive at the orphanage. I walk up the steps and knock on the door lightly. After about a 3 minute wait an old woman comes to the door in her best dress.

"King Arthur it is a pleasure to meet you, your highness." She says bowing respectfully.

"It is a pleasure to be here. May I come here?" I ask shaking her hand.

"Of course come in please." She says letting me in.

One of the three guards that came with me waits by the door while the other stay at the carriage. I walk in to the small home and see it clean and neat. I have a seat on the chair and wait for the nice woman to came downstairs.

"King Arthur, may I present to you the children?" She asks.

"I insist." I reply standing.

"Girls the king is here." She calls from the stairs.

As I hear small little giggles I see several beautiful girls walk down the stairs. They all are wearing their best outfits. I smile sweetly at the girls while I look at all of them. None of them would really fit for me or Mera. I sigh sadly and look at the woman again.

"Do you have any other girls?" I ask nicely.

"Well we do, but I know you wouldn't like her." She says waving off my question.

"May I see her?" I ask hopefully.

"Go upstairs and it is the last door down the hall your highness." She explains.

"Be careful your highness. She is dangerous." One of the girls warns.

"How so?" I ask while kneeling to her level.

"She doesn't talk. She always steals from the others. And she never leaves her room unless for food." The little girl explains.

"Now how do you know that?" I ask.

"Because she stole from the cabinets after dinner." Another little girl says.

"Will she steal from me?" I ask jokingly.

"We don't know." They all respond.

I know something is off with their story. I want to ask the girl myself.

"I think I can handle her." I reply while going up the stair case to find this girl.

I follow the nice lady's advice and follow the way to her room. I hear little footsteps moving on the floor quickly. I take a deep breath and knock on the door.

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Daphne pov

As I see the carriage pull up at the front of the orphanage I lock my door and clutch me necklace. I partly hope he knocks on my door and another part of me doesn't. I try to calm myself by practicing the dance moves momma taught me. As I move I hear Madam Helga call the girls downstairs. I, of course, ignore her and continue my dancing. I hear a knock at my door and part of me wants to scream. I freeze suddenly at the sound. I keep thinking that if I don't make a sound he will just go away.

"Hello. Is anyone in there?" A deep yet gentle voice calls out.

I walk to unlock the door then run to hide in the darkness corner of the room.

"If there is anyone in there, I need to come in. You are staring to worry me. Please open the door, or I will have no choice but to come in." The voice speak again.

I jump slightly as the door opens. I look on my bed to see the stuffed doll momma gave me 3 years ago. I move slight to reach it but I can not reach it with out him noticing. I clutch to the necklace tightly while hoping he leaves. I put my head down and stay quiet. I look up slightly and see his eyes from a far look dead at me. I gasp quietly then cover my mouth.

"I see you. In the corner. Why do you hide from me?" He asks while stepping to me.

I stay quiet and stay where I am. He walks further to me then gets on his knees to see me. He moves his hand to me but I back further into the wall in panic.

"It is alright child. Do not panic. I will not harm you." He voice soothes me.

I dart my wide eyes to the bed to the doll and try to get up. His eyes glare at me with wonder and I sit back down. I try to get up 5 times before I just give up. I clutch my necklace tightly and glare at him.

"My dear, what are you trying to get?" He asks me.

I say nothing but point to the doll. His eyes follow my finger and he too points to the doll.

"The doll. Are you trying to get the doll?" He asks gently.

I nod my head rapidly answering his question without words. He smiles at me and gets up to get the doll. He picks up the doll and brings it back to the spot on the floor. He sits in the floor in front of me and holds the doll in his lap.

"This doll is very pretty. I love the dress as well. Did someone make it for you?" He says while stroking its hair.

I nod my head slowly trying to figure out what he wants.

"Well who ever made her is very talented. Do you want the doll sweetheart?" He asks with the same smile on his face.

My face brightens slightly and I nod with a smile.

"Ok. But you have to tell me your name. A pretty young lady like you should have a pretty name to match that pretty face." He tells me in a playful voice.

I open my mouth but nothing comes out. I do not really want to tell him my name. But I really want my doll back.

"Diphina." I whisper to him in a mousy voice.

"Can you speak up honey?" He asks.

"My name is Diphina. But momma calls, called me Daphne." I tell him after clearing my throat.

"That is a pretty name. Do you know my name?" He says while handing me the doll as he promised.

"Yes I do." I reply while backing out of the corner slightly.

"So you must know why I am here." He says knowing the answer.

"I am sorry for your wife my king. I know it is hard for you. But why are you in a girl orphanage? You would want a son to take over if you were to perish and you are still needed to rule." I ask trying to figure out why he is here.

"My wife wants a daughter. I want a daughter as well so that is why I am here. I am thinking about taking you home with me. Is that what you want?" He asks while moving to sit next to me.

"You would not want me. I say pick another beautiful girl." I voice my opinion.

"Why not you? You are beautiful as well." He asks trying to figure me out as well.

"You have not heard what the other girls have said. They have lied to Madam Helga. They have said that I stole the food from the cabinet after supper. I only have a small portion of the supper that day, the others had a bigger portion. I only took the left over bread. I did not steal from the other girls either. I only took a blanket out of the closet next to Lacey's room. Madam Helga always hits me because I do bad things that the others blame upon me. You would probably want a nice, pretty, smart, and social girl. Not a lonely, ugly, stupid girl like me."

I explain with tears in my eyes. He holds his hand up and moves his thumb to wipe my tears. I hiccup slightly and squeeze the doll tightly.

"Do not cry my child. You are not any of those things. I see you as very beautiful, intelligent beyond your years, you may not be social because people have hurt you to a point you do not trust people. I would be alone as well if I knew anything on your back ground. I want to take away your pain. But you have to let me. When was the last time you have cried?" He says while wiping my tears.

"W-when they t-took momma away. T-they said that she needs to get b-better for me." I sniffle to him.

He touches my shoulder gently and pulls me in his lap. He rubs my back softly and strokes my long white hair. I hear his heart pound soothingly in my ear.

"Daphne you can cry you know. Nothing will happen if you do. I will do nothing but hold while you release these emotions." He says while rubbing me faster but still gently.

I start to cry quietly then burst into tears. I wrap my arm around his neck and cry louder in his chest. I let it all out. All of pain, the ache, every emotion I can cry out I did, fearing I may never get that chance again. He stands up while still holding me and stands on the floor instead of floating. He sways me back and forth gently as I sob louder. I have never cried this hard in all of the times I was beaten. I drop the doll and stuff my face in his neck. As he steps the moves of the waltzes, he moves his hand to my back and pats it lightly. He accidentally pats the sore spot on my back where my step father stabbed me. I scream loudly in pain and cry louder. He freezes for about a minute trying to figure out what to do. While I scream and sob he sits down on my bed with me in his lap. He pulls me to his chest and bounces me lightly on his knee to calm me down. I stop crying after he bounces me about 10 times. He still bounce me while I move my hand to suck on my thumb.

"It is alright now child. Calm down sweetheart. I need to look at something ok. If I hurt you, you have to tell me anyway you know how to ok. But you can not leave me lap ok." He explains while pulling me closer to him while bouncing me lightly.

I nod slightly while I squeeze his waist to let him know I am ok. He starts to untuck my white shirt and roll up the back of my shirt. He see the bandage on my back and gasps lightly. I cry more not in pain but because he is the first person beside the doctors and momma to see them. He rolls down my shirt and hugs me lightly.

"I am sorry that I patted your bandage. I had no idea you had one on. Did I pat you too hard or is it just sensitive." He ask while rubbing the spot with the pad of his fingers.

"Both." I reply softly.

"Ok. Do you want to talk about it or do you want to cry more." He ask.

"Can I cry more?" I whimper to him.

"Ok. Do you want to lie down?" He asks me.

I shake my head against his broad chest and start to cry again. He hums softly while rocking me in his lap. He kisses my hair and buries his face in it. I feel strangely safe in his embrace. Soon I stop crying and look up at him.

"Are you better now angel?" He ask me while wiping my tears.

"Yes. I am sorry for causing such a scene earlier." I apologize while playing with his fingers.

"It is quite alright my dear. Do you want to still come with me? You can stay for as long as you wish." He says while clench his hand lightly so my tiny fingers would be trapped in between his fingers.

"I can still go." I look at him in shock.

"Of course you can. Mera, my wife, would hang me if I did not. Do you have anything to pack?"

"I only have my doll and my necklace." I tell him sadly.

"We will buy you some clothes when you are settled at the palace." He says while sitting me on the bed.

"Then I guess I am ready to leave." I tell him while hugging his arms.

"Alright. Let's go home then." He says while picking me up and carrying me to the door. He picks up my doll and gives it to me to hold.

He walks to the door and closes it when we leave. He walks down the hall and down the stairs. On the way down there I fell asleep in his shoulder. I nuzzle in a spot in his neck and fall asleep out of exhaustion.

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Arthur pov

I walk down the stair with Daphne in my arms to sign the papers. I feel so bad for her when I saw the large bandage on her back. When I patted her back and she screamed I froze out of fear I hurt her. I want to know what happened to her before she was put into the orphanage. When we reach the bottom of the steps I see the guards and the others looking at me with wide eyes. I see the little girls look at Daphne with envy in their eyes.

"Can I sign for her now?" I tell Madam Helga in a whisper trying not to wake up Daphne.

"Are you sure you want her?"She asks in shock.

"Positive. The papers please. And a blanket." I ask with a little anger in my voice.

"Of course." She says bowing while going to get the things I asked for.

She stirs lightly but then goes back into a deep sleep. I want to squeeze her but I am scared that I will crush her. I rub her upper back slowly while massaging her shoulder to sooth her more. Madam Helga brings me the blanket and papers to sign. I sign the papers and wrap the blanket around Daphne to stop her small shivers. I walk her out to the carriage and seat her in my lap as we ride home. I look at her again and think to myself that she is my daughter now. She needs someone to love her. I sigh while stroking her long white hair.

"Is something the matter my king?" Montezuma asks me.

"It is nothing. I am just merely thinking." I answer him while not taking my eyes off her.

"Is it about the girl my liege?" He ask while now looking at her.

"Yes. I know I made the right decision by taking her in but, someone has hurt her so much that she doesn't know how to trust people. I only fear that she might not trust me." I admit while kissing her forehead sweetly.

"She will learn to trust again because she now has an excellent teacher to teach her to." He explains.

"I hope I do not fail her." I think to myself.

"I am sure that Queen Mera will adore her." Montezuma says snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I believe that too. I see something in her Montezuma." I tell him.

"What is that your highness?" He asks.

"I see her as a hero of the surface and Atlantis." I whisper in her ear so she could hear me.

"I see that too my king. She will make a fine hero indeed." Monty says while drifting off to sleep.

Instead of falling asleep like the others I stay awake and look at my new daughter. I see so much life and happiness in her future. I need to find out what happened to her. I need to know how to deal with her panic attacks. I may not be a doctor but from what I know of the surface she had post traumatic stress disorder. I need to learn how to stop these attacks before they happen. I smile appears on my face as she cuddles into me. I kiss her head once more and whisper to her:

"I love you my sweet daughter."