GSB/AGF challenge - Entry 3: Kept His Word
Title: Kept His Word
Prompt(s) (if used): Embers
Rating: PG
Word count: 788
Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Gwen, Lancelot
Spoilers/Warnings: Episode Fic, Spoilers for 4x02
Disclaimer: I do not own anything, all belongs to BBC.
Summary: Guinevere and Arthur talk about Lancelot's death and Arthur thanks Guinevere for asking Lancelot to protect him.
Author's Note: I really have always felt we needed a scene like this for the Funeral Scene in 4x02, a chance for Arthur and Guinevere to talk about what happened and also to get inside Guinevere's head at what she was really feeling.
Guinevere stood watching the fire burn Lancelot’s cape into embers through her tear filled eyes. Her eyes burned from the tears and the smoke. The smell of cloth and wood burning and metal melting also brought back the harsh memories of when she first met Lancelot in her father’s cottage those years ago. The pain was too hard to bear, the loss of a dear friend and an old love, an old love that still held feelings for her. He loved her so much that he kept true to his words, after she had asked him to protect Arthur with his life. It hurt, but it also was a closure she needed, as much as she didn’t want to admit it. Seeing Lancelot’s face every day was just as painful, seeing the longing in his eyes and the hope he had in his smile. It made her feel bad for not being able to return his feelings but her heart belonged to her future King.
This made her cry even more, that she had broken both hearts of the two men most dear to her at one time and that she could of lost Arthur instead or both of them. She will miss Lancelot but she needed Arthur in her life, he was the missing piece in her heart and completed her. Earlier in the ceremony, before everyone left, Arthur took her hand in his for comfort and it made her feel a sense of calmness and strength. It made her feel better knowing he was there with her. It gave her the strength to admit to Arthur what her request to Lancelot had been. Arthur took the words to heart and he left with the others and gave her the moment’s peace she needed in the courtyard.
She felt his presence before he even spoke.
“Guinevere?”
She turned and saw Arthur’s face looking concerned for her but also the sadness in his eyes for losing a dear friend and was that hurt at her seeing so broken over him? He moved carefully towards her and took her hand in his again and turned towards the shrinking fire.
“I’m sorry,” Was all Guinevere could say.
Arthur turned his head to look at her and reached his free hand to her face. She turned her head to look up at him.
“You don’t need to apologize, I understand. You have nothing to apologize for.”
“If I hadn’t asked him…”
“He was doing what was laid down by the Knight’s Code. And doing what he thought was best for a friend and someone he truly cared about.”
Guinevere felt more tears fall down her face and looked down at their interlocked hands.
“I love you too.”
Guinevere looked up at him and he gave a small smile through his own tears, “I know it took a lot of courage to ask Lancelot to look after me. I know it was painful for both parties. And you saved me, you knew you couldn’t come, so you asked someone to help look after me.”
“I did what I had to do because I couldn’t lose you. I couldn’t lose him either, but the idea of losing you makes this pain seem like nothing, it would be a never ending emptiness and pain at you not being in my life. I just didn’t want to lose you, I couldn’t lose you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Guinevere then knew the look of love and gratefulness in his eyes and just hearing him say those three comforting words of his love; that he was going to be the one she would be with for the rest of her life. No matter what, he was going to be there. She fell into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck holding him close and cried harder than she had been before.
“I love you Arthur,” She whispered through her tears in his ear.
“I will always come back to you, no matter what. I’m here for you. I am also grateful and thankful to Lancelot for doing what he did. What he did for me to come home and be with you and become the King I meant to be.”
At that, she pulled his face down to hers and kissed him lightly on the lips. She held him close, not wanting to let go.
They stood in each other’s’ arms as the fire died into embers and the stars started to appear in Camelot’s evening sky. And Guinevere could swear, that night a new star joined the bright night sky. She liked to imagine it was the brave and noble Lancelot, looking down on the bright and beautiful future for Camelot and Prince Arthur.