A Legendary Love

Chapter Nine

Jen sought to instantly clear her reaction from her face. Her knowledge of the Legend couldn't become apparent, and she didn't want to add any fuel to the fire before gossip could start.

She removed her hand from Lancelot's grasp and took a step back, almost hiding behind Arthur. The introductions continued, with general chit chat being made between Ban's party and Arthur's. Uther began regaling the court of his long friendship with Ban, which gave Jen the opportunity to study Lancelot further.

There was no doubt that Lancelot was a beautiful man, and when he spoke, his voice sounded like honey, it was sweet and melodic and every sound that came out of his mouth was almost as if it were designed to draw Jen in.

Jen was very cautious of her every move; she knew she was being ridiculous – she had just met Lancelot, there was nothing to suggest that there was anything untoward going on, and by acting in such a flustered manner, she would only give credence to the rumours that were bound to start popping up eventually if she were to stay in this time and play out her role as Guinevere of the Legend. Yet, still, she was careful about the placement of her hands; how often she looked at Lancelot; how often she looked at Arthur; but don't look too shifty as that could also encourage suspicion...

Jen's frantic mind started running through all she could remember of Lancelot's role in the Arthurian Legend. He joins Arthur's court as a Knight of the Round Table, he and Guinevere become lovers, the pair are caught, Lancelot escapes, and Guinevere is either sentenced to death for adultery, or in some cases ends her days in a nunnery where she's miserable. So either way, not a happy ending.

But looking at Lancelot now, she couldn't see herself betraying a man like Arthur for the likes of Lancelot. Sure, he was pretty to look at, and he seemed enticing, however just by looking at him – even without the knowledge of the Legend – Jen could tell he was trouble. He reminded her of that man you'd meet in a sweaty nightclub at two in the morning who knew he only had to make a couple of successful remarks to end up bagging an invitation home. But you could bet your bottom dollar he'd be gone before you woke up the next morning, without so much as a phone number left.

He wasn't the same kind of calibre of man as Arthur – at least, not the Arthur that Jen had gotten to know so well.

Jen took the opportunity to sneak a glance at Arthur as the conversation rattled on. He had not moved from his position where he was almost shielding Jen from the arriving guests.

As Lancelot made a remark about the beauty of Camelot and flicked his eyes over to where Jen was standing, she noticed that the muscles in Arthur's jaw started clenching. He looked strained, like he was trying to hold back a wave of thoughts and emotions.

Then, as soon as she had noticed it, his face returned to the same blank canvas it usually wore. Perhaps a polite smile here or there. The change was so immediate, Jen wondered if she'd made the whole thing up.

That being said, she wasn't sure if that smile was reaching Arthur's eyes...

Finally, the reception of Ban's party was complete, and the newly arrived guests were being ushered to their chambers to settle in prior to the extravagant feast that was to be held to mark Ban's arrival.

Arthur offered his arm to Jen, and they swept out the Great Hall together in silence – a stark contrast from how they had arrived.

Jen felt there was an uncomfortable silence hanging between them as she was escorted back to her chambers. However, she was struggling to work out if the tension between the pair was of her own imagining, or if something had changed between the pair.

"My Lord," she started, not quite knowing what to follow up with.

"I find these types of grand receptions awfully draining," Arthur interrupted. "Do you not agree?"