Guinevere took Lady Rosa out for an early morning ride. It always helped to clear her thoughts. The morning air and its creatures, they all seemed at such peaceful parallels. The Birds didn't try to change the trees, they just made their nest while it housed their family. The bugs didn't change the birds, even the grasses danced to the birds melodious tunes.
She cried last night, she had cried when Morgana's mother died; she was only ten years old then, Tauriel was the only mother she ever knew. She had cried when her pony died; her father had given him to her for her sixth birthday, he died a year after. But these tears were different, it pierced her heart to its very core.
I'm not a bad person, she thought, the world just wants me to change. Your destined to be Queen Guinevere; walk straight, talk with confidence but not too much you don't want to seem too proud, wear this, eat that......for a destined leader, all her life she has only been lead, always been told what to do. The appropriate things, to be perfect.
She now rode pass the cemetery, it is here her mother was buried, she is told. Every year, a few days before her birthday, her father would bring her here.
He would always cry...
"why do you cry father?" she would ask
"Because I miss her" he would answer.
He missed her, but she didn't. She didn't even know her. There were no pictures; her father said they only made him sad. She never cried for mother.
She tapped Lady Rosa's sides with her legs and she began to speed up. Again she tapped, the cool wind made her face feel frozen; it was a welcomed feeling.
"Watch out!" A distant and familiar voice warned.
She turned to see who it was, but there was only darkness, a heavy thud at the back of her head and...... was it the throbbing in her head or the sound of Lady Rosa's canter getting distant and distant still and then there was nothing.
**************************
Guinevere's olfactory senses were awakened by the smell of warm chocolate, fried eggs and ham. She opened her eyes to see a beautiful smile, familiar but some how more pleasant, almost angelic.
"You're o.k. love." Came a warm and reassuring voice.
This voice had hands that gentle caressed the back of head that she now noticed was slightly painful.
"What happened?" She managed
"You got hit off you horse by a branch."
Guinevere widened her eyes to see the third person in the room. She then realized why the smile was so familiar. She gazed around the small but neatly kept kitchen as she, with the aid of Igraine, began to sit up.
"Slowly now" Igraine said "slowly"
"A branch, where did that come from?"
"Probably from the tree, that grew it." Arthur quipped
"I tried to warn you, why were riding so fast?"
"Warn me, its because you called me why I looked back." Guinevere accused "and what were you doing in those parts that early?"
"You should be glad I was there, I had to lift your very heavy body to place you on your horse. What do you eat anyways?
It was at this point Guinevere noticed how muscular he was. Each vein and curve complimented his torso like a work of art. He was a little taller than her and a lot thicker, as he stood now he seemed to command an embodiment of confidence and vigor. His eyes reflect a glare that made he throat dry. She swallowed hard.
"Didn't your mother teach not to insult a lady about her weight?" She stammered
"Get some water" Igraine told Arthur
"She did...that's why I said it to you" Arthur brought the water to his mother.
"Where is my horse? Guinevere asked now equally infuriated as she is aroused.
"She is outside, she is fine. Sit back a while, would you like something to eat?" Igraine smiled and this calmed her. She drank the water and nodded. She was feeling famished, she had not eaten since dinner.
Arthur looked across the small table at Guinevere and thought how frail she looked. This morning while she rode she looked saddened and frightened. He almost felt sorry for her, no he actually did. He suddenly wanted to hold her and tell her whatever she's worried about would be alright.
Their eyes met in an uncomfortable gaze that made their skin tingle.
Igraine broke the trans when she placed their breakfast in front of them.
Arthur cleared his throat, what was this he was feeling he thought.
"Mother who was it you spoke with, early this morning? He asked
"Hmmm?" Igraine replied taken aback
"Oh it was your brother, he left quiet early this morning....Arthur sometimes goes to the gardens near the cemetery to gather roses for me." She hurried.
Guinevere noticed the fresh bunch in a vase on the table. She thought it endearing that he still brought them for his mother while rescuing her.
"They're beautiful." The words escaped before she could stop herself
The sound of several horsemen interrupted their breakfast. Arthur ran out to see what was wrong, his mother at his heels.
They were guards from the caslte
"We seek Lady Guinevere." Said one of the horsemen "We saw her horse tied to your barn."
"I'm here" Guinevere responded as she emerged from the kitchen
"My Lady Guinevere, you most come with us now...... I'm afraid your father is gravely ill."
A gasp escaped her mouth that hung on Arthur's heart and echoed in his ear. He hastened to retrieve her horse and carefully helped her mount it.
As he watched her ride off with the guards he whispered a prayer in his heart not for king Urther but for Guinevere that whatever is to come may she have strength to endure it.
