The Swordswoman of Arden

Haze

"One more can't hurt Morgana!" Francis proposed joyfully, and the table roared with laughter as I struggled to stand upright. 

I was a dizzy kind of inebriated, maybe I had gone too far, but I didn't care, I had missed this feeling all too much.

"Go on then Francis, get me another," I slurred, and the knights cheered, raising their tankards in good spirits. 

Mattheus didn't seem to mind how drunk I had become, and it made me happy that he trusted I could handle my own. He was also slurring, almost more than myself. The Pâllais knights instantly took a shining to him as soon as we sat down and all started drinking together. There were only 12 knights in my father's main team currently, and he couldn't afford to take a single one out of action to be my personal protector which was a shame because I loved and cared for them all very deeply. Then again, I never would have met the mysterious Lex if that was the case, maybe I shouldn't complain.

Speaking of which, I hadn't been able to talk to her tonight yet, she was sat with the Arden knights and a couple of townsfolk at a smaller table. I had definitely caught her eye and nervously looked away more than a few times already though. I suppose my table was the largest and most obnoxiously rowdy in the tavern at the moment, but the other tables didn't seem to mind in the slightest. It created atmosphere, and all the laughter and happiness spread throughout the inn. 

Betty came to the table with more ale for us, and we all thanked her generously with coin. She was a lovely tavern worker, always gave us extra ale for free. I snaked my hand onto the tray and grabbed a tankard, accidentally spilling a few drops onto William as I brought it to my lips.

"Morgana, I have already spilled my own ale, I don't need yours on me too!" He protested, shaking the liquid off his hands and onto Francis, who kicked up a fuss straight away. 

I giggled, saying I was sorry but really I found the whole thing quite amusing. George placed his arm around me affectionately, pulling me into a friendly embrace as he pointed to Francis and Gawain.

"5 shillings says they won't get up on this table and dance with each other right now." George proposed, and I grinned, leaning towards them. 

"I bet they won't," I tested, seeing if they were up for a challenge. Francis and Gawain looked at each other, and then also grinned.

"You're on," Gawain declared, stamping his massive boot onto the table and standing up, offering his hand to Francis in a jovial manner. Francis followed suit and they started to dance together, in surprisingly good coordination, even if they were incredibly heavy footed. The ale shook and frothed in the tankards with each step they took to the clapping and chanting of the knights. Even some of the townsfolk at the other tables joined in the chorus, and I looked over at Lex who was clapping along also, a gladdened look upon her pretty face.

"My lady," Gawain bowed in a ridiculously over the top manner, and extended his hand to me. I couldn't stop laughing at his antics, and politely declined joining them atop the table, but George ushered me from my seat and so I shrugged as the tavern erupted into whistles and encouragement at my acceptance. George assisted me up, and Gawain twirled me under his arm, beginning to prance about the tabletop with me. I followed his lead, as I found dancing quite easy, and he spun me round one final time before handing me to Francis, who took over. He lowered me backwards, and I stretched over his arm which was underneath my back. The tavern hooted and hollered and he pulled me upright once more, and I realised Mattheus had taken Gawain's place on the table and was smiling at me hopefully. I never refused a dance, and so I took his hand as Francis also jumped off the table. There was only one verse left in the song the tavern were chanting, so luckily I wasn't too tired to perform.

Mattheus was a good dancer, but I wasn't surprised, he seemed like he would be, and I complimented him on his skills as we whirled about together. The applause was tremendous when the song finished, and I curtseyed shyly, hoping I danced well in front of everyone. Mattheus looked a little pale when he stepped down from the table, and I hoped he was ok, maybe all the dancing and ale was a little too much for him to handle. I asked George to accompany him outside for some fresh air, and he agreed after seeing Mattheus turn even paler. I turned to the end of the table to carefully get down myself, when I was met with a pair of warm brown eyes staring right up at me. Lex had that usual complacent smile upon her face, and even though my drunken haze was staring to lift, I still found it difficult to focus properly on her flushed features.

"That was some footwork my lady, I'm impressed," she uttered, outstretching her arms to me to help me down. I placed my hands on her shoulders and she curled her hands round my ribcage, effortlessly lowering me to the floor. 

Tingles.

This was exactly like the time Mattheus had helped me down from my horse after our ride, but with him I felt nothing. With her I felt... alive.

I hadn't removed my hands from her shoulders, and I felt her fingertips move to my waist as she lifted a questioning eyebrow. It was like she was daring me to take notice of the need for closeness between us, but I removed my hands sharply, I couldn't let these feelings get the best of me. I was betrothed to Mattheus, and that was just how it had to be. 

I was muddled when she only removed one hand from my side, and wrapped the other all the way round my waist pulling me into her. I completely froze, I didn't know what to do. It felt so good being so near to her, being able to smell the rich scent of sandalwood on her skin, but I should really learn to control myself around her. I didn't take a single breath as she leant down to my ear, looking towards the doorway.

"I don't think your 'beloved' is in a state to escort you home tonight, the knights have asked me to look after you."

She said beloved in a sarcastic way, but I didn't draw attention to it. 

"Why you?" I breathed back, trying to stand without swaying.

"Because of King Creon's preference for a female to escort his daughter to her chambers rather than a male of course. Besides, I haven't had much to drink tonight, and they are all far from sober," she explained matter of factly, finally letting me go and pointing to the knights. 

I picked up my cloak, pulling it over my shoulders and tying it in the front as she retrieved her scabbard, and gestured with her arm for me to lead the way out of the tavern. She kept a protective hand on the small of my back as I weaved through the inebriated townsfolk and it felt undeniably attractive, being this looked after by her. 

The sharp, fresh air was delicious to breathe after all that stuffy hot air from inside the tavern. We set off into the night together, and I tried not to overthink conversation, she was only here to escort me, nothing more.