Spring Maiden (New Book)

Passion Like No Other

Warning: contains scenes that are a little bit ssssshhnexy!

"Yet?" she echoed shrilly.

"Guinevere, I have loved you for so long. We have shared what are amongst the loveliest moments of my life. But when I first cast my eyes on you, my dearest, when we first began our affair it was different."

"How so?" She whispered.

He sighed, taking her little hands in his. They were larger but his hold gentle. "It was exciting to love you, I suppose. I did not ever think about the consequences, just that I wanted to be with you, had to see you, kiss you, hold you - albeit only as your lover. But that has changed. As we grew older, I wanted more. I wanted not to prowl about in dark corridors together but to be out in the sunlight. It has made me feel quite depressed, but over these few seasons past, I have had to accept that you cannot be with me how I want you to be- ".

"No!" Cried Guinevere, with a loudness she might usually suppress. But she was so overwrought with emotion, she could not hold it in. "You are wrong my love - my only love," she said, moving her hand to his face, tears tumbling fast. "I want to be with you; to leave here and flee to France, to your lands in Brittany. That is what I wanted to tell you."

He let out a breath of disbelief, and for the first time, Guinevere saw his blue eyes appear as glass. He reached up slowly connecting his hand with her own, where it had remained cupping his face. "You want to leave here with me? Did I mishear you?" He said.

"No," she said with force. "You did not."

"But your name, your honor..."

"I don't care..." she said. "People across the lands have judgment for me whether I am good and faithful or not." It was true. She knew of the names they called her in reference to her fruitlessness. 'The Unbearable Queen' was one cruel joke amongst many.

"But Guin, this is a great sin. It matters not to me, but you... you have such a deep faith. I don't want you to spend the rest of your days in Brittany on your knees."

She laughed drily. "I have already paid for this sin, Lancelot."

"And Arthur?"

She let out a deep sigh. "Arthur knows we share affections for one another. I am very certain of it. But even so, this will still be a grave shock to him. He will no doubt feel pained and humiliated by us..." she looked down, her face contorted. "Yet, he will quickly find a new queen. A queen who will delight him by bearing him an heir. But Lancelot, if we do this, I cannot promise the same for you..." she forced herself now to look up into his eyes.

"I want only you," he said quickly, taking her hand and pressing his lips to it several times. "Guin..." he murmured, staring at her in silence for a while.

She exhaled again; a long shaky sigh. There's no going back now.

"I have never been so happy in my life," Lancelot said, grinning down at her. She felt her own smile break and she laughed, gazing up into her most favorite face, as bliss and excitement surged through her. Oh, thank heavens I made this decision. I had been close to losing him forever.

Lancelot leaned forward and kissed her lips, and she felt his mouth move over hers with a great tenderness and passion. She kissed him back, butterflies dancing in her stomach. He broke away for a moment. "I will go to Brittany and prepare a home for us... Maybe even this week, just so it is there for whenever you are ready."

She felt a flush of love followed by a pinch of nerves. She couldn't believe they were really going to do this. 'I'm ready now," she said biting her lip. "It is better to go now, than face seasons of anxiety over it."

"Very well," he said. "I can go this very week. I will travel through the Summer Country and set sail to France..." he trailed off, and his smile suddenly dropped.

"Yes?" She smiled whilst also half frowning.

Out of nowhere, he appeared angry, clenching his fist and banging the wall below the window.

"What is it?" She said, alarmed.

"It's Arthur. He wants to invade France," he cursed, his jaw clenched, eyes searching her face despairingly.

Guinevere felt her head swim. "What?" She felt Lancelot's arms around her, and she put a limp hand on his waist staring up wide-eyed. "Is this what he has been plotting in those meetings all this time?"

"Yes, Guin. He is obsessed with it," Lancelot replied. "He is close too - he has talked many of the kings into marching with him...all but one."

Guinevere shook her head. She was so confused. Arthur is so peaceful and the kingdoms so settled. What on earth could have brought this on? "Explain," she said, faintly.

Lancelot was quiet for a moment and Guinevere sensed he was reluctant to divulge. "Lancelot, I need to know. This affects me...us. How might we flee to France if Arthur is to invade it?" Panic ensued as many dreadful possibilities rattled through her mind. "If we betray him, might he not even seize your land should he come to rule parts of the country?"

"I am not sure," Lancelot said shaking his head. "I do not even understand his motives for going to war, whether he wants to claim the land or nay, just follow his prophecy."

Guinevere felt herself whiten. "Prophecy?" She gasped. "Don't tell me he is back to following the religion of the tribes?"

Lancelot held up his hands. "Lady, I know not."

"I will talk to him," said Guinevere, sickened. "Not just for us, but for the sake of Britain."

Lancelot grabbed her elbows. "I don't want you to put yourself on the line like this. And anyway, the man is hell-bent on this."

"Do you forget how I forced the pendragon banner from him, how now we ride under the banner of Christ?" She demanded.

"Yes," Lancelot mumbled, looking away at the window pane, irritation flashing through his eyes.

Guinevere fell silent now. She knew Lancelot too felt loyalty towards the tribes; he and Arthur were both half-children of Avalon, products of 'great marriages' designed to bring together Pagan and Christian.

She began to fume silently thinking about it. Why was her faith so detested by half the country? After everything, the Christian's had done for it! They had brought them from near-cave dwellers to civilization!

Lancelot clearly sensed what was brewing because he took her back into in his arms and kissed the top of her head. "Do it, Guin. Perhaps this is the best way. And after, when he has fully ridden the idea from his mind, we will run away together."

His last words sent shivers through Guinevere's body and she bent her head back, so her lips could meet his.

Oh if only they didn't have to wait, she thought as he pulled up her nightgown and she felt his hands all over her bare thighs, caressing and squeezing her behind and then pushing himself against her. "Imagine how it will be to do this all the time," she moaned, reaching down into his breeches. He groaned and keeled forwards for a moment, before proceeding with urgency. She heard the sound of ripping fabric as he tore off her gown but she was now in another world and she wrapped her legs around him as he lifted her up and carried her naked to the bed.

He laid her down and kissed her deeply. "I love you," he breathed in her ear, his lips moving down to her neck, and chest.

"And I, you," she replied happily, as her breathing deepened.

Oh, nothing had changed afterall. They were still Lancelot and Guinevere; still bonded by a love and passion like no other.

Suddenly a cry rang out, and they jumped apart.