Love Woven Through Two Territories
***
***
Elaine whispered with teasing.
“In the daytime hours. Getting more adventurous my handsome Prince.”
Arthur shied away her advances, grasping onto her wrist as he told her pointedly, “We need to talk.” She nodded, letting him into the Camelot home she shared with her parents.
…
When he was done telling her the decision he had come to, Elaine was far from pleased.
“So that’s it? Over? Just like that?”
“Elaine, I told you-
She cut him off, thrusting her finger in front of his face. “You told me that nothing would change. That you had no feelings for her!”
“I was wrong, wrong to keep coming to you whilst married.”
“Oh, really?” Elaine asked with thick sarcasm. “I don’t recall you thinking it was so wrong to be with me the nights previous. Your grunts of satisfaction indicated everything was quite right.”
He should have known this wouldn’t be without disarray. She was terribly upset now and he couldn’t blame her. He also couldn’t go back. Maybe if he tried to reason with her, he could make her see this was for the best.
“Elaine…” He tried explaining. “I realized nothing good can come from this. It’s not right, not for you, not for me, not for Guinevere.”
She laughed shrilly. “And when did you come to this great epiphany Arthur? Can you tell me that? It certainly wasn’t when I had you in bed quite satiated. What did she do to make you change your mind?”
Finding the proper answer was a struggle for Arthur, because there was none. No matter what he said it would come off sounding appallingly uncouth. Nevertheless, it had to be this way. Isgard was causing trouble for Camelot, threatening the shaky alliance by insinuating that it had someone on the inside helping Bayard. Apart from that was the personal factor. His mother needed no more stress. He had others to think of too.
Elaine and Guinevere, both, did not deserve to be treated so inexcusably. His visit to his father’s grave helped him see much of what was going on in a new light. Guinevere’s spoken displeasure of his actions and interactions helped him look at things more objectively too. The truth was, for years now he had been hiding behind indulgence.
Now he wasn’t ready to stop visiting the tavern completely, his belief firm that he should be able to have fun from time to time, but with Camelot in a bit of shaky state, rumor-wise, no reason to increase the fodder for the masses. His father left behind a destiny that he needed to honor in greater ways. The bond of marriage meant he could not be free with liaison.
“Don’t blame this on Guinevere, Elaine. This is my decision, to do better, to be nobler.” Partly those words felt foreign, and on the other side they also felt righter than ever. Tavern visits, hunting trips, they wouldn’t all fade. A man had to be balanced. Nevertheless, his wife was expected to be faithful. She was a good honorable woman, if a bit mouthy at times. Now he would match her in that goodness.
Elaine, conversely, didn’t consider Arthur’s reasoning so righteous. Brought up with such privileged status, her family a richer one of Camelot, she saw no reason for those of nobility to have great amounts of duty. They should be allowed more time of pleasure and sloth.
“Oh yes, by leading over your fine Camelot knights, that’s how you will be nobler.” She stated mockingly. “You are their only valuable leader. It can’t be Leon or-
Arthur interrupted harshly now. This had always been a bone of contention between them, but he let it go because for so long he avoided the obligation and expectation of leading the knights. It went beyond laziness though in truth. After seeing his father covered in blood, and watching him die, pieces of Arthur no longer wanted that kind of role that would require the utmost of bravery, valor that could lead to further bloodshed. He didn’t want to look upon those red stains again, and recall the pain of losing his father.
Enough was enough though. He was no longer a child. Camelot depended upon him.
“Yes, knight training, Elaine. You’ve never supported me in that. Guinevere has a quite different view upon it. But you…you’ve always questioned it, haven’t you?”
They were the wrongs words, if veracity. Elaine was unnerved and so it took seconds for her palm to connect with his cheek, the smack loud and echoing.
Arthur lowered his head, the sharp pain stinging his skin before it faded and he faced her again. “I probably deserved that.”
“Oh you deserved that and more!” She yelled, before turning things counter clockwise. From anger to toying favor, she raised her hand to his chest, fingering at his tunic and revealed skin. “You had it so good. A woman of rich splendor like me to spend your days and…nights with. But you blew it Arthur Pendragon. Now you and your oh so noble wife can live a life of tedium. You lusting for what you can’t have anymore. Because I know you will grow tired of her soon enough. She does not understand your rebelliousness against rule, nor your indulgences in life. She does not understand how to fill you with satisfaction like I and my fine constitution do.”
She was fingering him further, intimately, her voice a hiss of seduction. Arthur resisted it all, pulling away from her wandering hands and shaking his head. “You’re wrong. You do not understand her…nor maybe even me.”
Elaine glared at him, pointing to the door firmly. “Get out.”
He didn’t want it to end this way, so furious. “Elaine…” He tried one last time to explain. Elaine wasn’t having it though. She pointed more jarringly, stating in a louder voice. “GET out.”
Arthur let out a long sigh. This was where it would have to end. Time to depart. He nodded a tad, before stepping out.
Elaine waited for a few moments after he was gone to slam the door shut. Screaming, she fisted her hands at the wood.
…
Then when her tantrum was done, she collected herself and walked to her room at the back of the house, facing Camelot’s eastern end. Going inside the room, she walked to her bed, sat down at its head and reached for something hidden within the middle drawer of her dressing table.
It was a box, and inside the box was a ring of perfectly duplicated keys.
Multitudes of keys.
She fingered them with a cool smile, whispering with laces of vengeance in her tone.
“Should I?”
They jingled against her delicate fingers.
“Or shouldn’t I?”
***
That night when Arthur departed their chambers again, like he had the previous nights, Gwen groaned from her position upon the floor. Then she pressed herself to her pillow. Merlin was wrong. It didn’t really matter if Arthur cared for her in any way or not. He still was an uncouth pig who would not give up his affair. It was so frustrating because she could see something in him greater, had viewed so many glimpses of nobility, and yet he continued on like this.
A coward. A despicable man. Well no more. If he was entitled to-
“Off the floor. Now.”
Gwen turned around, staring at the suddenly opened door, and the returned Arthur. His words were indulgently insulting. She hissed beyond her shock of him returning so fast. “Pig. Type that orders a woman.”
Arthur had enough though. His argument with Elaine had been ugly, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. This was the right decision, but it certainly wasn’t the easiest one. Especially not with his wife calling him names yet again.
“Guinevere, you do what I say and stop calling me that. I didn’t go, alright? I didn’t want to. Now come…”
His voice inexplicably grew softer at the end, the concern a nag he couldn’t control. Veracity of it was he hated watching Guinevere curling up on the floor, her small body settled against the cool stone. There was no reason for her to be like that, greater reason for her to be apart from it.
“The floor is cold. You will catch your death like that. Come on before you force me to-
“To what?” She turned back to him now, asking strongly, “What, Arthur?”
His lips pouted with tension. “Force me to pick you up and throw you down upon our bed myself.”
“Oh I’d like to see you try.” She challenged.
That was it.
Oh she and her bravado, her force of words, her provocation of his manhood. It made him covet a display of strength. He wanted no more of her quarrel, for her instead to understand that he was the one leading things here. She drove him too far.
Arthur rounded the room before she could get a word in, swept Gwen up into his arms. With his strength and her lusciously curved, but small stature she fit perfectly into his hold. Angered at her insolence, he did drop her down upon the bed with her pillow too. Gwen squealed, but then he climbed atop, and pushed his palms on either side of her head as he looked down pointedly into her dark eyes. “Don’t dare me.”
“Someone needs to.”
“Oh.” He lifted his head. She never gave up, persistent to the hilt, a fighter, a woman of stalwart purpose. “You’re the mouthiest princess I’ve ever known.”
His hands still on either side of her head, Gwen felt her vulnerability suddenly eke out, his eyes so close to hers, his mouth there to stare at. Oh, it annoyed her, but she couldn’t hold back on having some feeling for him, some attachment that she never felt with another honestly. She was always peaceful in her emotion, but Arthur had a way of sometimes threatening her calm. It came to her throat now sickeningly, how much it bothered her.
So maybe not tonight…but what about the next…what about…
“Will you go to her tomorrow night?”
Her voice was practically shaking, her eyes big and questioning. They tendered deep inside him, making him shake his head resolutely.
“No. It’s over. That’s why I came back so soon. I told her earlier. I was just checking on something else now. All of it is over. Now go to sleep.”
Letting out an extensive sigh, at her slow nod, he lifted his hands away from his wife and lay down upon the other side of the bed, apart from her. However, the chill of night caught him soon, making him give a shiver.
Gwen caught it and lifted up off the bed. She poked at the fire and got it to flame.
When she lay down again however, she realized that the covers she had been using were still down upon the floor. Before she could make up her mind to get them, she felt Arthur’s hands bringing his parts of the blankets over her and then his lips actually pressing against her cheek a soft kiss. “Thank you.”
Gwen smiled slightly, head resting on her pillow as she whispered, “I’m sorry for calling you a Pig.”
He smiled too. “Apology appreciated even if-
She stopped him there though, pressing her hand against his arm. “Arthur.”
“Yes?” He looked back at her questioningly.
It was noble he had ended the affair, but disheartening to her that it had to take so long to bring it to completion. She did not want to strip away her dignity by just accepting that he was done with it now. The time he continued it was bothersome and his secret keeping was even worse. She couldn’t let everything be at ease just because he finally came to good sense.
“I appreciate you ending your affair. But you still tried to keep it from me. You acted cowardly.”
Alright, that affected him like how her mouthiness could irk . Of course it was the truth, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. One moment she was soft and sweet, by stoking the fire for him, the next she was quietly passionate, yet firm. It teased, it tickled, and it brought on a low flame of anger.
“Did I?” He gritted out.
“Yes.” She went on strongly. “You should have at least been forthcoming.”
“What does that matter now?” He asked with a snap to his lips. “I ended it.”
Gwen faced him questioningly. “Why? Why did you end it? So suddenly. Don’t you see Arthur, I have to wonder why this marriage matters to you now when it didn’t at first. I have to-
He put up his hand, silencing her. “Okay, enough. Too much is going on in Camelot now. Bayard has taken five kingdoms already and Isgard is stirring up a pot of trouble because they are reckless, and fearful.”
“What do you mean?” She asked with a frown. “What has Isgard done?”
Hesitating with it for a moment, Arthur warned quietly, “This is between you and me, as the less people who know, the better. It goes no further, you understand?”
“Yes. What?”
“Isgard has started up a rumor that Camelot has someone within helping Bayard.”
“What?” Gwen asked with astonishment, lifting her blankets up further over her breast. “Who?”
Arthur shook his head. “I don’t know. No names were given. But-
She cut through urgently. “With the recent conquest of Chenary, do you think that means Bayard could be getting closer to attacking Tirmaiur?”
Reading the anxiety in her widened eyes, Arthur shushed her gently, his hand lifting to her shoulder for comfort. “No. I told you already Tirmaiur is guarded well, has Camelot’s protection. Do not worry for your father, alright?”
Gwen nodded faintly, feeling his fingers give tender squeeze.
“Guinevere, it will be alright.”
She hoped he was correct in that. His words and touch were reassuring, but still it was not so easy being days’ ride away from her father when danger lurked.
She changed the subject, needing to talk about something else. There was no wise counsel in extents of worry.
“So this…you ending your affair, it’s really about political reason?”
Arthur shrugged. “Well you said my father wouldn’t approve and truth is Guinevere you are right. Far as I know he was always faithful to my mother. Now their marriage was by arrangement too, as is the custom so often for nobility. But it didn’t take them long to enjoy their union. They balanced each other out well.”
She asked with a weird sense of desire. “So maybe it’s not just political? This marriage we have?”
Arthur wondered about her voice, the soft attraction in it that lured him. “Perhaps.”
His fingers came out, getting her to still, as they delicately coiled into her curls of hair. They lifted and rolled as he smiled slowly. “After all…you’re not at all painful to look upon.”
“Neither are you.” She whispered.
He chuckled quietly, and drew his hand away, but then she was grasping it.
“Guinevere?” He asked, seeing hard purpose in her eyes. “What is it?”
She hesitated for a moment, before getting it out. “You were right. The vial last night, it was Agravaine’s. He dropped it and I picked it up.”
Arthur groaned, squeezing Guinevere’s hand tightly before he realized the force of his grip, and let go. “So you did lie to me.”
“I had to.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because it seemed he was coming from your mother’s chambers.”
“My mother’s chambers?” Arthur questioned.
“Yes.” Gwen answered, noticing Arthur’s tight frown and fisting of his hands. He needed to know all of it. “When I first came to Camelot I noticed your mother with a vial very much like the one Agravaine had. Then I saw him leave what appeared to be your mother’s chambers last night. So when he dropped it, I took the vial. “
Arthur mused on all that for a few moments, coming to a troubling conclusion. “Because you thought Agravaine had tampered with it?”
Gwen nodded. “I thought it was possible.”
Arthur’s expression was tangled with disquiet. “Why didn’t you tell me that last night?”
“I didn’t want to cause you unnecessary torment…in case I was wrong.”
Leaning forward across the bed, now quite agitated, Arthur asked Guinevere plaintively, “Were you…wrong? It wasn’t my mother’s?”
Guinevere’s smile was slow, but filled with veracity and tender care as she reached out for his hand and held it for a moment. “It wasn’t Arthur. It was Agravaine’s.”
He let out a relieved sigh at that. “Good.”
“Is your mother ill?” Gwen asked cautiously.
Arthur shook his head. “Not seriously. I’ve known about the vial my mother takes for some time now as it was a few years ago the physician prescribed it. She has some health issues that affect her vigor and momentum at times. Higher levels of stress make it worse. And so all this now, with Bayard, Isgard, and everything, it’s not good for her.”
He hung his head in a rare display of candor’s shame. “It’s the other reason why, after your badgering…good for me I have to painfully admit…combined with the political situation, I realized I need to tend to my duty more. Earlier this morning, before leaving for my ride, I saw her. She didn’t know I did; she looked quite tired. It’s time for me to step up more, cause her no more stress.”
“Agreed.”
Arthur grunted at Gwen’s firm response. She didn’t have to say it so readily. And no matter what she was thinking about that vial she shouldn’t have gone near Agravaine. “Fine. I’ve been wrong. But so were you last night. No matter what reason, no matter if your intentions were good Guinevere, what were you thinking? Agravaine is not to be trusted even if he didn’t take my mother’s vial. If I hadn’t interfered what do you-
She frowned. “You think he’s violent?”
Arthur shook his head fast. “I don’t know. He hasn’t shown anything like that since arriving here almost five years ago. He’s been more cowardly and snidely than anything. But I still don’t trust him and I don’t like how he looked upon you in your nightdress.”
“Right…he did leer a bit. But Arthur, your mother trusts him. Merlin and I heard it today.”
“Care to explain?” Arthur asked tightly.
So Gwen did. Everything. Except the specifics of where Merlin took her and his magical secret of course.
…
When she was done, Arthur looked upon her with bewilderment. “You certainly had a busy day. Remind me to belt Merlin for joining you on your crazy venture. Hiding in Agravaine’s room, Guinevere? What if you were caught?”
He couldn’t help remember Aldous’s words. Guinevere was already quite popular in Camelot, but just one little thing and she could be seen as someone to be suspicious of. He didn’t want that, especially not now with all the political turmoil.
“Arthur?” Gwen asked. He looked so deep in thought.
Arthur shook his head. “It’s nothing. So…what happened?”
She didn’t tell him about Agravaine’s accusations. It would just anger him further and they didn’t matter since Ygraine didn’t believe Agravaine. “Well I wasn’t caught. I was with Merlin anyway. But don’t you see what I’m saying? Your mother sees something in Agravaine that made her bring him here. The vial was nothing more than…” She cleared her throat a bit awkwardly. “Male…enhancement of…”
He smirked, giving a tight laugh. “Yeah, I gathered that part the first time you told me. Which still is even more reason for you to stay away from him. Where’s the vial?”
Gwen gestured across the room. “In my pocket. I’ll return it in the morning.”
“No you will not.” Arthur told Gwen firmly now, reaching out and grasping her shoulders. “I’ll do it. Stay away from his chambers.”
“Arthur.” She responded heatedly, but there was no backing down in him.
“Guinevere, you’re not going to quarrel against me on this.”
Her eyes scrutinized with interest. She saw glimpses of it before, but this night especially his firmness was stalwart and it irked some, but she also kind of liked it. “I’m not?”
He knew she was toying with him, but his soberness was strong. “You’re not.”
Gwen nodded slightly, and asked. “The tavern?”
“What about it?” He asked stubbornly.
“Have you given up that too?”
Firmly Arthur shook his head. “Why should I? Look, I’m not going to frequent it as much. But I’m still going there.”
She nodded, turning away before she stated, “Okay then, I’ll just keep up to my doings also. After all, this marriage is mostly political of nature.”
That made him grumble as he moved forward to grasp her shoulder from behind, giving whisper, “No more going away with Merlin.”
“Why? He’s my friend.”
From his lips he let out a whoosh of air. She was exasperating him again. “Because that’s not what a princess should be doing.”
“And should a prince be going to the tavern…while other men take notice of said princess?”
“What?” He asked hotly. His hands grasped enough at her shoulder to get her on her back as she turned too, making the task easy enough for him. She didn’t mind so much looking up into his blue eyes, especially when they flamed with intent. It made her feel a little less guilty for toying with him. Oh it was true. The dashing Sir Geralt was definitely taking notice of her, but she found it more amusing than intriguing. He was a funny sort who was quite handsome. Still, she found someone else quite more handsome.
“What are you talking about?”
“Sir Geralt.”
“What did he do?”
His hands were tight on her shoulders, so Guinevere patted them with appeasement. “He didn’t do anything Arthur. He’s just a very charming man.
“Too charming. “Keep away from him.”
She grimaced. “Oh you want me to keep away from everyone and yet you still-
“I ended the affair Guinevere.”
“Yes, but-
“Guinevere.” He stated with steely counter.
It made her sigh and reach up, touching his cheek with her small fingers. “He does not interest me, other than his service to Camelot. His charming causes no harm for I am not a woman who plays such games. If you will be faithful to this marriage, then I will continue to be so also.”
“Well, with that done…” His smile was one of satisfaction. She had more to say though.
“However, if you will continue to frequent the tavern then I have every right to find my own amusements, as long as our marriage is kept intact. Whether that be spending time with my friend Merlin or finding a place within the wood, finding friends within the kingdom…I have as much right to enjoy myself as you do.”
She was adamant, allowing no leeway, and temptingly alluring again, as she stuck firm to her belief. His hand came down, touched her waist, and traveled upward slowly.
Her breath hitched as its shivery warm pressure climbed up her side, touching at the side of her breast. “Fine. But maybe soon enough…”
She arched some involuntarily under his touch as his slow smile came back.
“We’ll find amusement with each other.”
It was a slow seduction of feeling from one to another, but she was glad when the odd pressure of tiny bits of cold and expanding warmth left and he turned away. For his affair had just ended. She couldn’t help think if he changed his mind how much it would bother her, terribly. She couldn’t help think that his hand there upon her side, caused sparks of pleasure.
“Good night Prince.”
“Good night Princess.”
…
Arthur held tight to his pillow. Political, his mother’s purpose, that was all this marriage was supposed to be, right? But it was like a web of sapid reward. It kept enticing him. He wanted to touch her again. He wanted…
As she slept now, slumbered with soft breathing sounds. Slumbered less than a few feet away.
“Guinevere…” He whispered into the cool night, that felt just a little less chilled with her so close beside. He wished for a moment she was right beside because when he was touching her, when his hand was venturing up her curved constitution, he amazingly didn’t feel an inch of cold. He felt warmer than ever. A man more than ever.
“Why?”, she asked him earlier. Why did he end it? There were so many righteous answers. Infidelity was wrong. Kingdom was in strife. His father would have disapproved. His mother suffered from illness.
But they were only one half.
The other was something he never admitted, never coveted to admit, until now, privately.
He denied that the first few times she stoked the fire for him, she made his heart quiver a bit. He denied that continuing his affair with Elaine, although physically stimulating, inch by inch started to feel sordid and was more an excuse to be stubborn, to hold to how his life was before. Perhaps it was even the same with the tavern. Let’s see when she figured a way to make that fade away too. He denied that when he helped his wife remove her dress, he was filled with flares of desire for her sun blessed skin glowed in the night, alluring, distinctly beautiful. He denied it, because maybe one stupid little part of him wondered if she would give it up, feared she might stop caring. And when she didn’t…it kind of rejoiced with indulgent happiness.
How did she creep in so gently, so sweetly? How did she find his greatest irks and poke at them with no mean favor, but urge to find life’s beat again?
How did she lay right beside and take away all those horrid chills? Make his body drizzle with warmth again? How?
He wanted to move up against, feel her skin, touch her hair, get her to wake and smile back to his face. He wanted the queerest things. For it didn’t come with any warning. It didn’t just temperately become a part of him. Instead it softly, but rapidly rushed in. It made his every ill decision of before start to shake with disfavor.
He was a boy when his father died. Just a boy. Now he was a man. Now he was feeling himself truly a man for the first time.
Under her watch. Under her counsel. Under her…
Warmth.
“Guinevere you gentle temptress. I can’t go back anymore.
I can’t pretend.
Can’t pretend that I don’t care.
Can’t pretend that you don’t matter.
Can’t pretend that you don’t…
Flood me with heat.
Sapid tempts of heat…
That kiss away the cold.”
***
Perhaps love was not so far, and yet its timing was precarious, for danger was not so far either. Perhaps even tragedy.
It was true. Bayard was not acting alone. Bayard was acting with another who had their own purpose and considered Bayard no more than their puppet. Like the other puppets this one controlled.
Dupes…
Their lives existed for just one purpose…
To put all to destruction. To achieve lush rewards. To bring back a way of life. To end another.
Vale Tirmaiur.
Vale Camelot.
Salve ad plus fortunas.
***
To continue…
***
Yes, the last part is Latin. Something from Irish and British legend/and or mythology is coming.
Yes I accidentally named Freya Gwen’s friend too so that was my way of fixing that little blunder up. Coincidences do happen, right? Oh well, more important things now.
Yes Arthur is slowly growing. Yes Arthur and Gwen’s relationship has found a new plateau of closeness, but also yes, things are about to get very complicated and painful. The past is going to rise. A new future will float to the surface before it desires it.
Thanks for reading…should be continuing this soon as it’s so fun to write.