Forbidden Dreams (Gwayne Hightower AU)

5

On the next day his father tried to keep him busy, but Gwayne found some time to sneak away and meet you.

"I thought you wouldn't come today" you welcomed him severely when he searched several streets before spotting you.

It was already late in the afternoon and your basket was almost empty.

"Were you already missing me?" Gwayne grinned. He had felt exhausted in the long hours away from you. Now he felt refreshed.

You scrunched your nose "I don't know. I thought the uncomfortable trip to the fields discouraged you from coming again".

He shook his head "It would take much more to make me run from you".

Your eyes narrowed "Like what? What can make you desist, other than the fact that you're a highborn and I'm a lowborn?".

He breathed deeply "I don't think there's anything capable to keep me away from you, unless you force me to stay away. It's God who was merciful and made me meet you when I needed you the most".

"Do you call it a blessing, when it could be a curse?".

"You're not a curse" he said strongly, then said more gently "Never allow anything make you feel unworthy. Not when you're more brilliant than most of the upper class fellows I know".

"What if I'm cheating on you? Or if I break your heart?" you kept testing him.

"I'm yours to do what you want to me. If you want to break me, I won't even fight".

You chuckled "Fool. You should fight for yourself first, not trusting anyone else, not even your family".

"If you want to get rid of me, try harder" he challenged you.

"What if I have some awful illness that could make you sick until the rest of your days?".

"Then I'll suffer with you" he frowned "Are you truly sick? Or are you just teasing me?".

You shrugged "Not that I'm aware of. You must have some weakness, something that will make you surrender".

"Do you want me to surrender? Honestly?".

You stared at him, then replied with a sigh "No. You're different from the other noblemen. Nobody wasted so much time with me without being disrespectful".

He grinned "Believe me, it's not wasted time. I enjoy spending my time with you".

He looked down at your basket and picked one of the left flowers, although it was a bit ruined.
He placed the blossom in your hair.
"Queen of Flowers" he murmured.

You snorted "Don't be blasphemous".
You tried to remove it, but he grabbed your hand to stop you.

"I'm not. It looks good on you".

You swallowed hard and dropped your hand.

He smiled, seeing your cheeks reddening, then picked something from his pockets and handed it to you.

"You keep being so generous" you grabbed the pouch of money with a sigh of relief. You quickly thrusted it in your pockets, then grabbed his hand, bowing and pressing his knuckles on your forehead, then pressed your lips on the back of his hand.

"Thank you" you murmured with deep gratitude.

Gwayne stood still, shocked and touched by that gesture.
He could still feel your touch even after you let his hand go and took a step away from him.

"I want to show you something" he announced when he recovered from that moment and guided you through some streets until he slowed down in front of his destination.