RULES- Gwaine, BBC Merlin

THREE

Embarrassed, furious, annoyed. 

All emotions under the sun regarding her brother (and Merlin- she will be having words) leaked out of her heavy footsteps as she charged round the corridor of the castle. She stormed past the deep read tapestry, ornate with the design of a dragon, as it moved in reaction to her presence. The dust stilled, almost frightened, perhaps reminiscent of previous angry forms that graced her face. Despite such emotions, as she turned the corner with the destination with an arms distance, all anger dissipated.

Butterflies.

They flew around a stomach in a mass hurry and the pinks of her cheeks began to deepen as she slowly reached her goal. Just that door seemed to convey a threshold, a barrier to the one man who made her heart explode. The prospect of love at first sight always seemed like such a preposterous idea- true love and destiny intertwining and painting out a happy future for someone. This wasn't love (not yet, at least) but she knew it was something more than just an infatuation, more than physical attraction. 

Something was there but she yet could place it.

He felt it too.

The brush of fingertips against skin, subtle glances, a smile. Small moments frozen forever in his memory. She was ethereal. Beautiful didn't even cover it. Hair fallen in ringlets down her back, the sun shining the blonde into ringlets of gold. The oceans turning within those deep, blue eyes- yearning, longing, knowledge. She was ethereal.

The light footfalls alerted him of her presence, the door concealing her from his sight. The barrier to the one woman who made his heart explode.

A pause.

The door creaked open and there she was.

''You're awake... and dressed!''

Chuckling, Gwaine stepped forward, ''Indeed, I am. Is that disappointing for you?''

Eliana chuckled, stepping forward. Left eyebrow raised. ''That you're awake or that you are dressed?''

Stepping forward again, cerulean met hazel. Noses seemed to almost be touching as he stared... gazed at her. ''Either.''

Reality seemed to pause around them. The old physicians room was nothing but a distant memory. The potions cluttered in the corner, almost watching in anticipation as they held eye contact. Eyes flickering downward then up. Up then down. Hot breath against skin and noses brushing together they almost leant in. 

Until someone from behind cleared their throat.

Stumbling Eliana fell forward, her eyes widening in horror. No, not horror. Surprise. Surprised they were about to.. kiss? Surprised Gaius caught them. Surprised that she was about to kiss a man she had barely met or spoken to! All these thoughts consumed her sense in an overwhelming force that the skirts of her dress became a barrier for her quick get away. Stumbling she fell forward, yelping as she descended to the floor, or at least she would have done if it weren't for the strong arms that caught her. Glancing up at Gwaine she smiled, before regaining her composure. 

All the while, the shrewd physician noticed the gazes and smiles. Without uttering even a sentence, he bowed his head as a sign of respect toward the princess and left the chambers.

Smoothing the creases of her skirts, Eliana turned back to Gwaine, embarrassment fading and butterflies emerging once more.

''How would you like to accompany me to the lower town? My tours of Camelot are quite spectacular!''

Offering his arm, Gwaine fell in step next to her. ''Consider it an hour, My Lady.''

Linking their arms together, she smiled up at him once more.

''That's Eliana to you.''

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Roaming the market seemed like the perfect way to get to know the wandering traveller and the wonder that graced his features gave her such warmth inside.

"What's it like, to be able to travel?''

Taking his gaze from his surroundings Gwaine thought back to all the places he had gone.

"I have seen oceans rise and fall, mountains rise from nothing. Spices, fabrics, people. The world is such a large place that I couldn't imagine staying just in one place''

Her eyebrows raised and she clutched his arm.

"Truly?! That all sounds amazing and here I am, stuck behind the four walls of a dreary castle destined to be stuck here forever!" Making the gesture of a fallen maiden, laughing in the process as they continued to walk.

"Now, now, Princess, are the matters of the court not interesting enough?"

A look of incredulity: "No! Expectations I must uphold is such a bore. I long for adventure!"

"Ale has a great taste from taverns from afar."

Shoving him, Eliana glared at him.

"Ale?! That is the highlight?"

Walking backwards with his hands splayed to the sky. A sign of freedom.

"It's a contributing factor!"

As he turned back around, the woman carrying flowers caught his sight. Grabbing a singular daisy and made a dramatic flourish, bearing the flower at Eliana.

"Now, Princess Eliana of Camelot!" His booming voice alerting that of passers by.

Eyes, widening Eliana hissed "You are making a scene!"

Ignoring her, he continued. "Would you do me the honour of accepting a gift from a humble traveller?"

Lifting her chin up and glaring with a mock sneer, Eliana played along. 

"That depends. Is it expensive? Is it valuable?" She curled her fingers and examined her nails.

Gwaine straightened up, feigning sincerity.

"It is the rarest flower, taken from the deepest most dangerous parts of the world."

Eliana couldn't hold her act anymore. Breaking her serious act, she jumped forward laughing. As she did so, Gwaine stepped forward and placed the daisy behind her ear. His fingers paused, dancing across her jaw before he fell in step beside her.

Clearing her throat, Eliana glanced at him again and linked their arms once more.

"Do you have any family."

"My father, er, was killed serving his King- I never met him- and my mother passed on a few years ago. My sister is an evil old toad, married off to someone equally as wretched." 

Bobbing her head, Eliana stared off into the distance. "I never met my mother either. She died giving birth to myself and my brother."

"It's a sad thing for us both to have in common"

They paused at the ornate archway of the citadel, the white brick glistening in the sun and towering over them like a powerful force.

Shrugging, Eliana tilted her head to the side. Blue meeting brown once more.

"I like to think that everything happens for a reason... that maybe my mother's death will contribute to the greater good. One day.'' Laughing, she dismissed herself. "Maybe I'm being silly."

Grabbing her hand, Gwaine pulled her close.

"I don't think that's silly at all."

They continued to walk after that, conversing as if they had known each other for years. Neither of them noticing the union of their hand. Holding each other close for the rest of the walk. 

A/N- I'm cringe and use all the cliches but oh well. Enjoy.