Activity

(Ok, so here he is. I’m going through all of the questions to really stretch myself, and since some of them cover the same territory, I hope I don’t sound like a broken record. I’ll probably go back to modify and stuff, but this is it. Arthur’s my first villain, really, so he’s probably the classic stereotype. If y’all have any suggestions at all, I’d be eternally grateful 😉  Also, when I say “I” in italics, I’m refering to myself as I’m the one interviewing him.)

 

 

1. Where did you grow up?

 

RedRock, our spring/summer palace and the Palace Hybern in Auboron. Oh, you want continent? *rolls eyes* Well don’t be stupid! Rondona! I’m not a wild savage.

 

 

2. Who took care of you, if anyone?

 

*sigh, runs hand through hair* Mother, at first. Then she died. Father, a little bit. Not so much. He was king, you know; and kings have little time for fun and frivolity. He spent more time with Philip anyhow. *flinches* Ona took care of me a lot though. She was my nursemaid from the time I was born and until I turned fourteen. She always cared and loved me, helping me through small and irrelevant trials. *small smile and shrug*

 

 

3. Were you ever loved as a child? If so, by whom?

 

Mother. But like I said, she died. *withering look in my direction* Father, I don’t think so. He didn’t hate me, and he liked me, but I don’t think he loved me. There’s a difference. Philip, I don’t know. Maybe at some time. Ona loved me.

 

4. As a child did you ever love someone? If so, who?

 

Ona. *has look on his face that shows I’m dumb and this is obvious* I loved her like my life was hung on hers.

 

5. Who acted as mentor for you? Did you ever have one?

 

Ona, and father too. *Tired look on his face* I suppose he tried to be a father; I don’t know. But I looked up to him as a great man, even if I didn’t like him. He was an example worthy of attention, a man to try to model yourself after.

 

6. How many people have you ever trusted? What was the result of that trust?(Explain for each person.)

 

Mother. Then she died, and to my young heart it was as if she betrayed me. *shakes head as if trying to clear it, then glances at me, as if angry I keep bringing it up.*

Father, I trusted him, but not with my heart. I trusted him not to hurt me, and not to share a secret, like that. But I couldn’t pour my soul out to him. I trusted him as a person not to stab you in the back when you turned around.

Philip, maybe. Not really. And he never seemed to notice me, especially when we got older.

Ona, I loved her and trusted her with my life. *sighs, tired of this* She never did anything to make me regret loving her, but I’ve learned that if you love someone, most likely they’ll let you down or die. Love is something that holds you back, keeps you from being who you could be.

 

Love is an unnecessary tie to pain.

 

7. Who has hurt you? In what way were you hurt? How did you/are you dealing with it?

 

Philip. He’s the one who hurt me most. Philip. We were as close as brothers could be. We argued, sure, but we loved each other. And then we grew older. He started not paying much attention to me; he looked down on me, he didn’t think I was capable of ruling with him. Philip despised me. He shunned me. He belittled me, he made me look like a fool.

 

How am I dealing with it? I’m trying to prove to myself who I am, what I can do, and to prove to him that I am something. I am not a pesky little kid. I am someone capable of greatness.

 

8. Is there anyone who you currently love?

 

Ah, the question of the year. *scoffs*  Who do I love?

 

At the moment, no. I have no one to love, and no one to love me. *Pauses before going on*

 

But, uh, I loved once. *smiles nervously and clasps his hands* Hannah-lee. Yeah, that girl was a beam straight from the sun. I thought she was a godsend. She came that morning with the vegetables, and I greeted her at the door. She smiled at me. *gets excited and starts talking faster*

 

I thought she loved me, and I think she really did. But Philip intervened. He wanted her, and he wouldn’t let me have her. I don’t think she loved him. But it isn’t like Philip to give people their own say in things.

 

And so I lost my love, and that was one of the greatest insults Philip ever hurled in my face. *glowers and looks at me as if I was the one who did it*

 

But I still loved her, and then she was killed when the Mongrels attacked. I gave them explicit commands not to — why am I telling you this? GET OUT OF MY SIGHT! *Gets up out of his seat and jabs a finger in my chest*

 

 

(30 minutes later)

 

 

9. Is there anyone who you currently need? How do you feel about needing to rely on someone?

 

Aren’t you the one to stick needles in people. No. There is no one I need. I’m capable of taking care of myself, of making my own decisions, of being great. Relying on people weakens you. They will fail you, and only set you back. You need to be able to stand on your own, to walk on your own, and to run on your own.

 

10. Do you have any friends?

 

Besides advisors and men I hypnotized? Nah. And those advisors, I use them as walking dictionaries. Battle strategists, men to use as information. That is all they are really useful for.

 

11. Do you desire to protect anyone?

 

I obviously want to preserve myself for as long as possible. But if I had to, if Hannah-lee was still alive *voice cracks slightly, but quickly remedies it* she would be my all. That sweet girl.