Guinevere: Pendragon's Queen (Book 2)

Chapter 1

My eyes blink open into the morning light. Rubbing them sleepily I remember where I am - in Camelot. More specifically King Arthur's bedchambers in Camelot.

Details of our wedding celebration come back to me as become more awake, making me feel a little nauseous. Although that is probably the ridiculous amount of wine I'd consumed. So much that I remember very little of the celebrations or that of our wedding night. A few blurry images come to mind, swirling and pulsing in my memory, but to concentrate on them makes my head spin.

Turning over in the huge bed I find myself in, I see the King lying beside me on his back, naked torso half-covered with bedclothes. His golden hair is dishevelled and his eyes are closed, his breathing deep and steady. Yesterday I was a Princess, in a foreign place and was then married to the King of Camelot in front of thousands of people. Today, on this new day, I am a wife and a Queen, pledged to help protect Camelot and it's people alongside Arthur. Both of these realities don't seem real to me at this moment.

I pull the blanket up to my neck and hug it around me. I am not cold, just suddenly conscious that I too am naked. We have clearly seen one another unclothed, but I cannot recall that part of last night. If we consummated our marriage, which judging by where and how I find myself I believe we did, I hope I did everything right.

My movements stir Arthur from his slumber. He turns towards me and opens his eyes that sparkle like emeralds in the light.

He smiles and reaches his hand out and stroking my cheek says, "Good morning, my Queen."

Amused yet blushing I respond in kind; "Good morning, my King."

"It is a new day! Did you sleep well?"

"I did, thank you. Did you?"

"I did! I'm feeling a little delicate though...and my recollection of yesterday evening is somewhat fragmented."

I sigh in relief; "Me too - I'm so glad you said so. I awoke not quite sure of what happened yesterday. Some of it is there; I remember the feast and the speeches...then it gets a little blurred."

"Likewise; we must have had a lot to drink!"

"I don't remember ever having an empty cup, from what I can recall."

We both laugh and relax a bit more. As I do, I recollect both of us greeting an endless line of our guests after the feast. I don't know how long it took us to formally receive everyone, but it had felt like many hours.

I look at Arthur; "I'm remembering all of the guests we had to greet and welcome. It seemed to take hours!"

"I think it did. I remember trying to signal the usher to speed things up, repeatedly. He wasn't getting the hint and instead I think he thought I was encouraging him. He began annunciating all the names more slowly and with more pride from then onward."

"Ah, I remember that! He puffed out his chest so much I thought he would split his tunic!"

"Might have made him stop though..."

We both laugh at the thought.

More memories come flooding back to me, now that we are talking about last night; "The dancing! We danced a lot... I remember when we went to take our first dance, everyone gathered around us. Everyone except Morgan."

Arthur rolls his eyes; "I'm afraid that is my sister. She's not all that sentimental when it comes to romance and weddings if you haven't already picked up on that by now! But yes, the dancing was wonderful. I can't tell you how nervous I was during our first dance."

"Nervous? I never would have known it."

"I was, yes. Being out there together, dancing, surrounded by everyone...I felt like I was trying to once again win your affections as I had in Cameliard, but in front of an audience."

I smile, seeing his ears go a little pink in this admission; "Well, nothing betrayed your anxious feelings, Arthur. You were every bit the confident king."

"I think the wine may have had something to do with your perception, my love. But, thank you."

"It's true; the way you held yourself leading up to and during the dance was the only thing stopping me from being nervous too."

Smiling up at me, Arthur says; "I think we got each other through it, don't you?"

"I think you're right. We're already becoming a good partnership."

"Indeed we are, Guinevere."

In the not uncomfortable silence that falls between us, I can recall the dancing we did together last night. I remember thinking about how confident being in his arms made me feel. How exhilarating it felt to be whirling around the room together, breathless and flushed. And also the sense of honour of being chosen by Arthur to be his Queen and his wife.

As the evening went on, we were joined by more and more couples. We also drank more and more wine, causing us to relax further and be less focused on etiquette and more on enjoying the evening. There was much laughing and joking between us and learning to feel more comfortable in each others' presence.

With these memories making me smile, even more, I snuggle back down into the bed and lay my head on Arthur's chest.

He wraps his arm around me; "Are you okay, my love?"

"Yes, I'm more than okay. I'm happy, Arthur."

"I am glad you are happy; that makes me happy," says Arthur softly.

More images from the night before begin to resurface. During the evening were a series of entertainers; singers, magicians, acrobats, jugglers and a firebreather. Our guests, so far as I could tell, enjoyed the spectacles created by these entertainers, whose feats shocked and awed them. I was most enthralled by the acrobats and the firebreather. The former was able to practically fly through the air and then contort themselves into the strangest shapes. The latter just by throwing streams of fire from his mouth, which was both exciting and terrifying.

After the entertainment, normal dancing and music resumed. Hours went by and as they did, the more we drank and the more we laughed. We danced until our tired feet and intoxicated heads would no longer allow us to. At least, that is the blurry recollection I have of the remainder of the evening.

I look up at Arthur and he smiles at me with kind and loving eyes. I remember not how we got to his chambers last night but I remember what we did here. His lips on mine, our breaths mingling, gently at first then with more fevered desire. Our hands pulling at one another, trying to pull each other closer, although we were already as without space between us. Then they were pulling at clothes, then caressing skin. Hearts pounding through our ribcages, we fall onto the bed, Arthur over me and then within. Rising and falling with one another in passion, love, lust and pain, all at once.

I feel myself flushing with the recollection of our intimate night together, feeling suddenly a little coy.

I pull the sheets up over me a little more and Arthur chuckles; "I see you have remembered more detail of last night, my love. I am getting similar images of...us getting more acquainted."

"Yes, these seem more vivid though. I confess I feel a little awkward."

"The wine certainly made us more fearless, did it not? I don't recall either of us seem to struggle with our inhibitions. A blessing, perhaps?"

I giggle; "Perhaps. I admit, before yesterday I was apprehensive of our wedding night. I don't remember feeling awkward or embarrassed at all...in fact, I enjoyed it."

"As did I, Guinevere. Although it is expected to feel a little out of sorts, being our first intimate night together. I'm sure it will become easier as we grow closer."

"I am sure of it, Arthur. It is just a little unfamiliar at the moment. But I am glad that we can talk so honestly with each other, that is a comfort."

Arthur holds me a little closer, "Me too. I think we are going to do great things together, my Queen."

"I think you are right, my King".