Guinevere (Book 1)

Chapter 14

The following day I decide to seek out Lancelot and speak to him about my decision to marry Arthur. He would have of course heard the news by now; he is Arthur's closest friend and commander. And with the entire city rejoicing at the biggest news in years, it couldn't be more obvious.

This didn't make my task any easier, however. I am very anxious at the prospect of speaking with Lancelot about this. Mainly due to my own sense of guilt for the feelings I have for this knight and our shared bond. All the things I currently lack for Arthur. Part of me wants to apologise for the whole situation between us and that of Arthur and I. Part of me wants him to whisk me away to places unknown. And part of me wants him to hate me; that might make everything a little bit easier. I'd like for us to remain friends but I am prepared for an angry confrontation and for that hope to be dashed.

After our excursion to the woods, I don't know how he would have reacted to the news. There is a bond between us, but I do not know him well enough to gauge whether he would have been angry, depressed or even indifferent. This is also what I want to find out, so I can at least try to remedy it, or find a way to move us past it. At the end of it all, we are going to be thrown together under duty-bound circumstances. I need to be sure that we can manage some sort of workable relationship.

Straight after breakfast, seeing that Lancelot is not present in the Great Hall, I go in search of him. It was now or never. There are a few places he would most likely be; the stables, the make-shift training grounds in our rear courtyard or the armoury. All these places had become the second homes to many of the knights and soldiers of Camelot. My first stop is the armoury. On the way, there is a window that overlooks the training grounds, at which I linger a while to see if I can spy the raven-haired knight. There are many outside, but Lancelot isn't one of them. Onward to the armoury.

On my arrival, I am greeted by an unfamiliar knight who is conducting weapon drills with a small group. As I had done so with the ladies in the laundry yesterday, I surprise them all with my unexpected presence.

They all rush forward, kneel and bow, then after a moment the man leading the drill looks up at me; "Princess Guinevere! What a pleasant surprise! On behalf of the men here, may I give our congratulations on your engagement to our great King."

Trying not to smirk at their hasty bows, I say; "Thank you, Sir. I am so very happy! I hope I will be a worthy Queen to you all."

"If Arthur has chosen you, I have no doubt that you will be a truly great Queen. We knights are all as good as family, so if there is any counsel any of us can give you, please do not hesitate to ask."

My heart warms at the man referring to their troupe and King as a family, one which I will soon also be a part of; "Thank you, Sir...?"

"Oh, how rude of me; Sir Gawain, my Lady. At your service."

"Sir Gawain, thank you for your kindness. I am honoured to be joining such a family! Now, do please stand," I say kindly.

They all do as I ask and Gawain waves them off so that it's just the two of us.

He is not so tall as Lancelot or Arthur, but is fair of face and strong in body; "So, what brings you down here, My Lady? If you're looking for Arthur, I believe he went up to breakfast."

"Yes, I had just come from there. It's actually Sir Lancelot I seek..."

Gawain raises his eyebrows; "Lancelot, hmm? I haven't seen him yet this morning...have you tried the training yard? A bit of a strict taskmaster that one..."