He caught glimpses of Gwen during the day as she passed the corridors or in the courtyard. He left her the training field supposing she'll need it. What he didn't know was that she was now forced by Lancelot to wear dresses and stopped going to the pit to exercise so she could spend all her time bonding with him. He spent his precious time closed in his room reading all the books he could find on Camelot Law to try and find a way out. time was ticking and he couldn't find a single thing, he needed all the help he could find.
Arthur jumped on his feet, grabbed Merlin by the collar and dragged him into the library.
If there was someone who could find a loophole, it was the old man.
Gwynnever was trying gown after gown with Lancelot that gave his opinion on everything she put on. She didn't mind being his doll as long as it kept his hands to himself.
"Do you like this?" she inquired turning around in a yellow fabric she thought hideous.
"That's perfect." She looked to the sides and underneath, causing Lancelot to laugh.
"I will not make people stitch more pockets for your knife so you can kill me better, Gwynnever." She made a face that caused his laugh to stop.
"Don't ever do that face again." She wickedly smiled and curled her nose in annoyance again.
"What? This one?" Lancelot signaled to the two domestics to leave and he paced toward Gwen.
"It aroused me tremendously when you do that." Gwen stopped breathing, he was so close and that statement was not what she was expecting him to say.
"Exactly, what else is it that makes you want to jump on me? I can stop doing it if I know." She could feel his warm breath on her cheeks.
"I'll never stop being tempted by you. It's been how many years and nothing has changed. I mist just fell in love with you, that is the difference now." Gwen growled as if he had slapped her across the face. She did not want anybody's love and especially not his.
"Oh, I love seeing your expression when I cross you." He placed an hand on the wall and lean into her as she pressed against the stones. "You know, we don't have to wait for the wedding. You could give me a little help even now." The audacity of this man that took her hand and pressed against his crotch.
"Oh." Was all she said as he moved it up and down. "I am already very reluctant to give you something the day of the wedding. What makes you think I'll even touch you when no one is forcing me to?" she ripped her hand away and stared into his eyes.
"I told you. The more I wait, the worst I'll be on you." He threatened and she found the courage within herself to grin maniacally to him and just walk past him.
"You try that." She retorted closing the door behind her. Once she heard the click, her shoulders dropped and she silently move toward her room, defeated and scared for what will happened to her after they married. No one could save her once she was legally his. No one.
The day after the celebration continued and Gwen was still in the village helping out setting the charts and banquets for the evening when the king would join the mortals with his future wife.
She heard from Annie that Alis had told her Arthur was still reluctant and didn't propose to Elain. Weirder was the fact that the King seemed to only appeared right in time to go down and be with his people. No one knew where he went in the morning, when the servants brought him breakfast, he was not there.
Gwen wondered what he was up to.
She did her best not to think about what would happen in two days. She kept herself bisu with anything she could find.
"Gwen?" Gawain called for her and she faked a smile, even though she was happy to see him, she felt ashamed for no particular reason.
"My mother sends me to tell you that she hoped you are well and wishes you good fortune on your wedding. Even though she was pretty sad that she wasn't invited." Gwen felt her heart dropped. She didn't invite anyone because it wasn't something she was proud of or looking forward to. Plus, the thought of Miriam watching her getting married to such a man, made her feel terrible about herself. how could she explain to her that after everything she taught her, she managed to mess up pretty bad and now she paid the price.
"I'm sorry." She simply said placing a box on top of the triangle she was forming with fruit baskets. "I didn't think she would come." She lied and Gawain raised an eyebrow to her so she sighs and moved to a bench of white marble to sit.
"She'd be truly happy if you sent a late invitation. I'm sure she wouldn't mind and do her best to come. We'll send a raven so it'll be faster, what do you think?" Gwen was nervously playing with her hands as to avoid answering.
"I wouldn't want to impose, really."
"Enough games, what is it?" cut short Gawain and Gwen's amber eyes shoot to his face. They look tremendously sad.
"I don't want her to see me marrying Lancelot." She explained and a heavy burden was lifted from her chest. She could breathe again.
"I imagined it, that is why I sent for her on your behalf." Gwen was about to give him a nasty reply but he quickly added. "Whatever you think, you're wrong Gwen. This is your choice and the people that truly love you, will support you and love you anyway. One bad decision or several, in your case, do not change the fact that you have a good heart. People want to protect you and be there for you regardless. And I suspect you might need all the help to reach that aisle and accept that man as your husband."
Gwen giggled and tuck a strand behind her hair, she felt like broken in million pieces but she was glad someone would be there to help her.
"Luckily for you, you do not need someone to give you the talk before marriage young girls usually get from their mothers, since we all caught you doing perfectly fine on your own." The rush of redness on Gwen's cheeks made Gawain laugh hard as she hit him on the arm.
"Lancelot is a lucky man." She was about to elbow him in the stomach but Gawain was suddenly on his feet, teeth showing and enjoying her clumsiness.
"I'm so going to tell your mother how much disrespectful you have been today." Gawain bow to Gwen and she raised, fixed her dress and exchanged a mockery courtesy.
"Perfect lady. If only you weren't wearing knifes in your garter." And this said, Gwen reached for one of them and deliberately throw it to Gawain's feet making him run away.
"Who is going to take you to the altar?" yelled from afar Gawain and she shrugged and so he pointed both thumbs to his chest.
"Count me on." Gwen's expression softened and she lifted her skirt almost ready to hug Gawain but he raised his hands. "Don't get all sentimental with me Gwynnever! I like you because you are an emotionless huntress ready to kill." She stopped and stuck her tongue out before Gawain turned the corner and left.
What a weird family she had. She thought. There were different people who had no blood relations, well the most part, and yet she'll die for any of them and she was sure they'll do the same for her.
It was precious to her to know that she would eventually leave this world loved by someone. She might not end up happy, but she was cared for.
YOU ARE READING
Gwynnever - Queen of Camelot
Historical Fiction"I, Lancelot of the Royal Knight of Camelot and Advisor of the King, offer you Gwynnever, my hand in marriage to repair the mistake the King did toward you." Everybody stopped breathing. Gwen was a statue of salt and Arthur felt like he was suffoca...