Camelot

XIV

After camp had been set up along the way to the honeymoon palace I had sat alone in the royal tent awaiting Arthur to return. Every noise outside of the tent was making me go on edge as I sat there shaking. I just couldn't stop thinking about Lancelot. With the whole kingdoms not being able to come together like Uther had planned would he still keep his end of the deal where Lancelot is cleared? And will he even be cleared or will he be living a life of being tracked down or watched by the knights who await him to slip up. The more I thought about him I worried about his safety and where he was. If he's in hiding as well as I've heard then how will he even know if he's safe enough to come out of hiding? He could hide his whole life and not even know if he is safe or not to go outside.

"Guinevere, are you alright?" Arthur's voice made me jump as I placed my hand to my heart hearing it's pulsing beat against my skin. "Sorry for scaring you, what's going on? Are you okay?" He seemed concerned.

"Just a little antsy." I turned away so I wasn't lying to his face.

"Is this about Lancelot?" I turned to face him. "It's obvious, I know you only married me to save him. That's what I overheard my father saying when it came time before he told me about the betrothal.

"Is it that obvious? I mean that I'm thinking about him." I blushed.

"I've seen the look of someone in love, believe it or not you are not the only one who wishes this could have turned out differently. Just before my father made the match I asked his permission for me to marry the one I love. He refused." Arthur looked down quite distraught.

"What happened?" I was curious.

"My father refused the marriage and set up something so that it would be impossible. Her family would be set for life, my father paid the dowry and she got married to the youngest son of one of the Lords. I'm not even allowed to know which one in fear that I may try to run after her. If my father finds out about your love for Lancelot then you will never see him again either. I don't want that for you too." Arthur placed his hand on my arm trying to comfort me.

"Excuse me your highnesses, I apologize for the intrusion." A knight entered the tent.

"What can we help you with Sir Percival." Arthur stood in front of me as to hide me from view.

"Pardon the intrusion but the other knights and I were wondering if you'd like us to broaden our border in order to allow you two some privacy?" Sir Percival spoke broken up as if he didn't want to say what he was saying.

"Please do, now if you don't mind we would like no more intrusions, we leave at dawn for the castle." Arthur ordered.

"Of course. Goodnight your highnesses." He bowed and backed out of the tent to start shouting orders out to everyone else.

"What was that all about?" I asked.

"It's more of a formality. Since it being our wedding night with the whole kingdom thinking the marriage was love and not a mere business matter they may think that we are going to, well you know, tonight." Arthur blushed as he turned his eyes to the ground.

"Oh that. I hadn't thought about that." We refused to have our eyes meet.

~~~~~

Morning came and it was another long day of riding in a carriage just to reach a special honeymoon castle that rested on a lake. Apparently it was a gift of peace from Merlin to Uther and his bride when they got married. And now we were going to be here for a month before Arthur goes of to deal with some diplomacy matter in another kingdom for a year. Sounds long and drawn out but I guess it's the price of being in charge of something. I would have had to do all of this on my own if had stayed as the heir to Avalon, though I would probably be alone instead of with someone to help out.

"Here we are my princess." Arthur took my hand as I descended out of the carriage.

"Why do you keep calling my that?" I jumped down.

He quickly whispered in my ear, "This is all a game and we have to pretend to be in love for everyone."

He smiled as he walked away to talk to some of the knights who were unloading trunks from the carriage. The gentle fragrance of flowers blew through the calm spring breeze, I could hear all of the grasshoppers and chirping birds going on through their daily lives making their joyous melodies for all to hear. With the sun at the perfect brightness I enjoyed the clear sky, it showed that it would be possible to start off with a brand new life, maybe I could learn to live with Arthur in a way that I could be happy with. But the magic to be kept a secret is an entirely a different story, not as easy as playing off that what I do know is no different from what I don't know. "Guinevere, why don't you go inside and start exploring, I'm going to join the knights for a quick patrol to make sure the area is secure. Bolt the front doors and I shall enter through another passage. Stay safe until I get back, I shouldn't be too long, my princess." Arthur put on his fake smile as he continued on with his knights.

Watching them leave I was able to finally take a deep breathe. I hope liking each other comes sooner than later because only the second day of being married and I'm already getting sick of it. The doors opened without a squeak as it revealed the blood red palace that was before me. The walls, floors, furniture, carpets, even the wood doors were red, even the chandelier above me was pure rubies and gold tinted red. "Wow I think my eyes are going to burn out of their sockets." I rolled my eyes.

"Oh don't be like that, you have to give it a chance before you degrade it." I pun around as a voice caught me off guard, a voice I had longed to hear for the longest time rang sweetly in my ear.

Spinning on my heels I practically jumped into Lancelot's arms as we fell to the ground. "Wow careful, if I need to run I have to keep my bones in one piece." He laughed.

"I'm sorry, I just missed you so much. Have you been here the whole time?" I wanted to know. He helped me get to my feet as I hugged him once again, ready for possibly never seeing him was a future that I would never wish for. I didn't want to let go of him in fear that I would lose him.

"Guinevere, I'm sorry but we don't have a lot of time. Arthur has been hiding me here for days in order to buy time to find a way to free me, and here comes my little savior. Why would you give up your freedom to save me? Do you think I would have wanted you to become a slave to Uther just so I walk free?"

"It wasn't only you. Uther wanted to attack Avalon, I had to do what I could to protect Avalon from discovery."

"And you did, you gave up your throne to save everyone in the kingdom. Now that's the kind of ruler that I would love on the throne, not someone like Uther who threatens to get what he wants. But you saved Avalon, so then it's back to you giving yourself to save me."

"I did what i thought was right."

"To say the truth, I would've done the same to save you." His eyes bore into mine and I felt as if we were alone in the universe, just us two alone, no one else to make us what we're not. "But we must put these feeling aside. You are married to my best friend and even though my heart tells me otherwise, he's saved my life a thousand times over and I can't betray that. I hope you can learn to love him as you do me, I'm sorry life has turned out like this for you."

"I understand, I knew what I was giving up when I said yes. I wasn't just giving up being an heir and having a kingdom, I was giving up on hoping for a future with you. You were the first face I saw when I was lost and I know you will never leave my heart."

"Guinevere," He took my hands. "I'm going back to Avalon. I'm not sure if Uther will honor his deal of clearing my name but because of you I still have a home in Avalon. The only thing I must warn you before you return to Camelot, either manage complete control over your powers or get rid of them. You can't risk being caught with magic especially in Camelot. I know what bonds we both have to Arthur, but you must also keep it away from him, no matter how tempting it is to share your secret. Do what's the best for yourself. Good luck." He quickly gave me a gentle kiss on the forehead and bolted back through the corridors, and with his perfect timing from the opposite end of the room Arthur emerged.

"I know the color will take some getting used to, the red is a bit much. Oh well, enough gawking at it, let's explore this place." He knew very well what had just happened, he had set it up for me. Something he never had with the woman he loved. One last goodbye.