ARNAUD

Today's meet the character Monday post is about another character who ended up with a lot more time in the spotlight than I intended. (Can I just be honest here and admit that nothing I write ever turns out the way I mean for it to?) My characters are a far too unruly pack of divas. Okay, that was unkind. They are wonderful, lovely people, and I miss them a LOT when their story comes to an end.Ahem.Arnaud. First of all, even though it happened more gradually, Arnaud has really become one of my favorites. I love who he is as a man, a husband, a father, and a reluctant king. (it probably doesn't hurt that I always picture him being played by one of my all-time favorite actors)

Arnaud. Like Brant, he was supposed to take a back-seat - and for the most part he did at least in the first book. However, as I was writing about Kamarie's adventures, Arnaud kept tapping on my shoulder and looking at what I had written and asking pesky questions such as, "What am I doing while my daughter is off roaming the countryside?" and "Shouldn't you pay a bit more attention to what I'm doing, back in the castle... preparing for WAR?" (he asked politely, of course, he's a gentleman to the core... doesn't mean he doesn't have a bit of a sarcastic streak (I created him after all)).Oh yeah, good idea.So I would transition back and forth... more scenes with Arnaud... what was going on in the preparations for battle.Once Brant decided to become the centerpoint around which the story revolved, both he AND Arnaud began bugging me. "Why does Arnaud send Kamarie to find Brant?" "Who is Brant and how is he related to Arnaud?" "What is Arnaud and Brant's history? Obviously they're friends... WHY?"So, Arnaud ended up getting more and more pages written about him as I found that his questions really did demand a few answers.In the end, he is far more than "just Kamarie's father." Though that was how he started, I'm ashamed to admit. As Arnaud turned into a more three-dimensional character, so did his relationship with his daughter grow and mature into something far more beautiful than I had planned. As Arnaud strived incessantly to ready his kingdom for war, he became a truly strong character and king. With the growth of his character he demanded a loving, supportive, strong queen at his side, which gave life to his wife Zara - which in turn gave life to Dylanna - which ended up bestowing a twist to Kamarie herself.And Brant and Arnaud, best friends that they are and always have been, crossed their arms and smiled smugly at me.But then, I'm just the author. Who am I to argue when my characters have all the best ideas?