Fairytale
Fairytale
“Fahder.”
Something burrowed through the clouds hanging over his thoughts, and even in sleep he could sense that it was the small voice by his bed. He was about to slip back towards sleep when the voice spoke again, riddled with impatience at his lack of reaction. “Faahder.”
Arthur peeled back his eyelids and stared balefully at the slight figure by his bed.
“Fahder, wake up.” The young boy tugged at the blanket impatiently and Arthur sighed.
“What are you doing out of bed, Gwydre?”
“Rain.” His small hand pointed helpfully towards the window as Arthur smothered back a yawn. “I is scared.”
“Am,” Arthur muttered even as he was pushing his blanket aside. A rustle of bedspread made him turned around and Gwen’s dark eyes blinked sleepily at him.
“What... Gwydre?”
“Go back to sleep.” He stretched towards her and kissed her shoulder. “I’ll take him back to his room.”
“Okay,” she gave a soft sigh and then the sound of her soft even breathing convinced him that she had fallen back to sleep as he reached out towards his son.
The boy scrambled up and snuggled his head against the crook of his father’s neck before Arthur realized that it was indeed raining outside. The sound of raindrops pattering against the windows was loud in the silence of the night and a small boy as young as Gwydre could find the noise terrifying.
“You are scared, Gwydre?” He shifted the boy slightly to peer into his face.
“Yes, I are scared.” The boy nodded, his eyes big in the dark.
“I am,” Arthur corrected automatically but swallowed back his laugh at the confused look in his son’s dark eyes. Now was not the time for grammar lesson then. “Come on, let’s get you to bed first.”
Suddenly, the raindrops beating against the window picked up its rhythm as the wind blew harder. Arthur shivered and immediately turned around, holding his son in one arm while he pulled the blanket higher, over the swell of her stomach to tuck it around her shoulders. He shook his head when Gwydre squirmed, his small hand outstretched towards her sleeping form. “No, Gwydre. Let mother sleep. I’ll take you to your room, okay?”
The small boy pouted, his father’s pout in his mother’s features. “I want to say goodnight to mum. And baby too.”
Arthur’s smile broke over his face and he burrowed his face into Gwydre’s soft neck as the boy yelped at the feel of his father’s early morning stubble against his skin. After they told the boy that there was going to be a new baby, he had made it a habit of pressing his lips against his mother’s belly every night. Arthur quickly pulled back his head and pressed one finger over his lips when his son continued to giggle, “Shhh... we don’t want to wake mother up.”
“Okay... shhh.” Gwydre placed his own finger over his lips as he tried heroically to swallow his laughs back. His arms were tangled around his father’s neck as they tiptoed out of the chamber. The torch in the hallway was flickering in the strong wind and Arthur tightened his hold on his son. Gwydre was only wearing his thin nightshirt and he didn’t want his son to catch anything from the cold.
Arthur placed the boy down on his bed and carefully pulled the blankets up, much like what he did with Gwen earlier, but instead of settling down for sleep Gwydre looked up beseechingly up at him. “Fahder, a story?”
“A story?” Arthur’s gaze skidded to the window where the rain was still going strong and decided to stay with his son for a little while longer. Just until the boy had fallen back asleep. He took two steps to the bookcase but the refusal was instantaneous.
“No, no! Like mum, she don’t read from book.”
“Ah...” Arthur sat down on the chair by the bed and scratched the back of his neck. He knew that Gwen was the more creative parent, she could spin a story out of thin air that amazed and excited their son. But him? “What kind of stories does mother tell you?”
“All kinds.’ Gwydre snuggled deeper into his covers, knowing deep down that he was getting the story he wanted. “But I like animals better.”
“Animals.” A frown settled between his brows as he thought. All he knew about animals was how to hunt and slay them, not turn them into cute frolicking creatures fit for bedtime stories. That was Guinevere’s talent, not his.
“Yes,” the boy nodded solemnly. “Mum says she’ll tell me a story about a bear.”
“A bear?” Well, there was the time when they almost run across Haddon, who was certainly a bear of a man, in temperament as well as in build. But he didn’t think that particular tale appropriate for his young son. “Well, there was once a...” Arthur paused as he tried to think. A bear? And what was that bear going to do? One of these days he really needed to sit down and watch how Gwen did this.
“A boy? A boy like me?” Gwydre piped up.
“Yes, Gwydre, a boy like you. With your eyes and your loud giggle,” his father nodded while the son demonstrated his loud giggle to full effect.
“Can the boy have your hair, fahder?”
“Very well,” Arthur smiled before continuing, “Once there was a young boy and he was umm... out walking... in the forest,” he added the last word in a rush of good parenting. “Which you do know you’re not supposed to, am I right?” Arthur narrowed his eyes sternly but the boy just giggled. At that moment, a wave of crippling fear washed over him as he realized that the possibility of Gwydre inheriting some of his curiosity was there and only the Lord knew what scrapes that sort of curiosity had landed him in as a child.
However, Gwydre’s guileless eyes stared up at him and suddenly he was pushed back in the past.
~*~
She was laughing, her cheeks were flushed, eyes glittering as they ran. Her smaller hand tightened around his as she stopped before she pulled him to her. “Don’t make a sound,” she murmured, her fingers twisted around the front of his tunic as she pulled him closer to her. They shuffled backwards, her red cloak swirling around their legs until the shadows swallowed the fiery cloth, hiding them from curious eyes.
Arthur on the other hand didn’t care that someone might spot them any minute now and then the game would be up. He ran his fingers over her arms, smiling when she sucked in her gasp.
“Stop it,” she chided, trying to ignore how his lips had started to graze over her exposed shoulder. “They’re going to find us.”
“Maybe they will,” he nipped her earlobes and she tried very hard not to moan, “Maybe they won’t.”
“You’re a bad influence,” she murmured, her own hand sliding under his shirt; stroking, feeling. “I would never run off like this.”
“So you say. Maybe deep down you always wanted to do this, my lady.”
She only laughed, which she immediately tried to swallow back, her hand covering her lips as if trying to stop the gurgling sound from emerging. Her dark eyes were wide as she peered over his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, I don’t think anyone saw us.”
“I thought I saw...” she frowned, gripping his shoulder as she stood on her toes to get better view of her quarry. Sometimes she bemoaned the fact that standing next to her husband, she felt so small and tiny. “Is that Lord Haddon?”
“I doubt that, when I last saw him in Court he mentioned something about visiting his wife’s estate.” He had his arms around her again but she squirmed against the onslaught.
“It is him,” she whispered back.
“No, it’s not.”
“It is. I would never mistake him for anyone. And be quiet Arthur, he might hear us.”
He straightened and sighed heavily but didn’t say a word after that. Both of them stood very still as Lord Haddon rode on, exclaiming loudly to anyone who would bother to listen about his troubles. The big burly nobleman was well known in Court for his thick hair, thicker beard, and even thicker head. He presumed he was leading a very interesting life and everyone should be allowed to partake in it, even if it was just listening to how his thoughts would enrich the listener’s life. Both of them knew if Lord Haddon found them, there would be no escape.
After a few tense moments, the loud clatter of his immense horse and even louder sound of his voice died down and Gwen crumpled against him. “That was close.”
“It was.” He didn’t wait for her response as his hand moved across her back to slide into her hair.
Gwen’s giggle escaped from her clamped lips before she could disentangle herself from his arms. Again, she peered over his shoulder for any passerby when he, in complete disregard to their current situation, started nuzzling at her exposed neck and shoulders.
“Stop it,” she slapped his hand away but there was laughter in her voice. But of course, Arthur being Arthur, he ignored her.
“I can’t help it, you’re just too pretty, all paranoid and panicky like that.”
She squirmed and finally he let her go. He was about to pout at her blatant refusal when she grabbed his hand and with a hurried whisper of, “Come on,” started leading him on.
“Where...?”
“My house,” she smiled, her eyes glinting with expectation and mischief and Arthur realized he couldn’t have loved anyone else as much as he did her. “Nobody will find us there.”
“Lead the way, my queen.”
They ran, not caring that her long flimsy train was dusty and dirty by the time they burst through her old house’s doorway.
~*~
“Then... then?”
“The boy comes across a... a house. I mean, a small little cottage and him of a curious nature decides to peek in and see what was inside.”
“Oh ohh, what did he see?”
~*~
“Why is there food in your old house, Guinevere?”
Instead of replying, she just smiled and pulled him in before closing the door behind him. “I think that’s Merlin’s doing. He must’ve sent it when you told him about this.”
“Hmph. He can be useful sometimes,” Arthur remarked, walking closer to peer at the food spread on her table.
“You’re horrible,” she rolled her eyes at him as he sat down in one of the chairs around, “You know we can’t do without his help.”
Arthur grabbed her arm as she walked passed him and yanked her down, straight into his lap. Gwen was laughing, her cheeks were flushed with colour as she twisted her arms around his neck. She missed these quiet moments, just the two of them together. Both of them had very busy days and sometimes didn’t even have the time to sit down and have a decent conversation. She was really glad that Arthur had proposed this.
“And after I did all this for you,” Arthur pretended to pout but Gwen just laughed harder at his expression.
“You’re right, I don’t think I’ve thanked you for this, my lord,” she bit her lower lips, her eyes lowered as she moved closer to him.
Arthur leaned back in his chair, his former frown disappearing under a big grin. “You can thank me later, Guinevere,” he winked, one hand resting against her hip while the other was playing with the laces of her bodice. Outside, suddenly a horse neighed loudly before being led away.
“You are terrible, sire,” she frowned, knowing exactly what he had in mind as a form of payment but a second later her brown eyes were glinting with mirth. She could never stay angry at him for too long, especially when he was looking at her like that. “But I love you anyway.”
~*~
“Well,” Arthur smiled at the way Gwydre’s eyes glowed with curiosity. “There was a table full of food.”
“Is the bear eating?”
“No, the house was empty, except for the table full of good food.”
“Oh,” his son blinked. “Why did the bear go out before they eat?”
“That’s because... well, the food is a bit too hot. The bear thought he’d go out and take a walk so when he comes back, the food will be cooler.”
“Why didn’t the mother bear blow on the food? Like mum does for me?”
“Because...” Arthur pursed his lips, deep in thought. “Bears can’t blow.”
“Oh...”
“It’s true,” he nodded solemnly, “bears are very clever at cooking their meals and cleaning their houses and putting their toys away but they don’t know how to blow on their food.”
Gwydre chuckled at that and Arthur continued, “The boy got into the house, looking around in amazement because he never saw a bear’s house before.”
“What’s it look like?” The boy’s eyes were big with wonder.
“Just like other houses but,” he improvised quickly, “there was a lot of honey stacked everywhere.”
“Bears like honey?”
“Why yes, they love it. As much as you love pumpkin pie," Arthur winked, knowing how much his son adored said dish.
Gwydre laughed and snuggled deeper into his blankets. His eyelids fluttered as sleep started to take hold but still he managed to say, “I wish I can have pumpkin pie everyday.”
“I’m sure you do. So, the boy tried a piece of bread but had to put it down because it was too hot.”
“That’s why the bear go out, so it’s not so hot later,” Gwydre nodded and Arthur’s smile grew. The wind had stopped howling but the rain was still falling in thick sheets.
“Yes, he did.”
~*~
“You know, this is nice,” Gwen said, reaching forward to pick up a piece of cheese.
On the opposite side of the table, her husband replied, “Wherever there is no demanding noblemen, with their equally demanding wives, it always is.”
She broke off a piece of her food and flung it his way. “Now I know you are having something on the side with those nobles. I suddenly recall how often they’ve been around at Court, like clockwork.”
“Me?” His eyebrows disappeared under his fringe. “You know I can’t stand the hairpieces they favour. And Guinevere, you know I only have my eye on one lady at the Court.” He put down his wine glass slowly and Gwen swallowed her food hastily, the strange look in his blue eyes had started to stir the embers of desire deep down inside her.
“I wonder who that would be,” she replied drily, feigning disinterest as she picked up her glass. “Do I know her?” She took a dainty sip and almost put down her goblet when he stood.
“Oh, I don’t think so. She thinks all nobles irritating and a waste of her time.”
Her eyes snapped up to him immediately. “I never say tha...” Then she saw the flicker of a smirk before he schooled his features into a casual smile. “Oh really?” Gwen forced her own expression to resemble remote interest, watching him as he walked closer to her.
“Yes,” he nodded gravely. “She has this ability to smile and nodded agreeably to difficult and brutal noblemen and then by the end of the day sway them to her way of thinking. I love how devious her mind is.”
“Devious?” Gwen jumped out of her seat in shock. “That’s just pure diplomacy and I learnt it from you! How can you...” The rest of her heated words were shaken out of her mind when suddenly he was right in front of her. She staggered, pushed back by the force of his body. Her eyes darkened in shock when he tackled her, before she found herself pressed tightly against his hard chest as they tipped backwards, his body cushioning their fall.
They both landed haphazardly in the chair and he didn’t waste any time at all, his hands were busy roaming her back while his lips were already on hers. She laughed, her fingers curved around the line of his jaw when with a loud groan, the chair under them creaks and fall apart, dumping them both unceremoniously on the cold floor.
They were silent for maybe a few heartbeats before Gwen started giggling, hiding her face in his shoulder.
“Well, maybe that was the noblemen’s revenge?” Arthur asked, picking out shards of wood from her hair.
She laughed even harder after that.
~*~
“And then, after walking for so long, the boy was tired so he decided to sit for a while.”
“Did the bear have a fancy chair like you, fahder?”
Arthur laughed at the mention of his throne. “Well, not as fancy as mine but it’s quite nice. The boy sat on one of them and decides that it was too big for him so he went to sit on another. It feels just nice and he was so happy with this chair, he rocked it forward and backwards and before you know it, the chair breaks into a hundred small pieces.”
“It breaks?”
“It did,” he nodded in agreement.
~*~
“Come on, let’s get you to your feet.” He helped her up, blinking a little at the dust swirling around them.
Gwen shook her skirt a couple of times, sighing when the dirt stuck stubbornly to the flimsy fabric. “Oh, they’re going to have a day when they see this,” she frowned. “I wish I still had some of my old dresses around. You know, for occasions such as this.”
Arthur surveyed her spoiled dress before remarking, “Well then, since it’s beyond repair and everything, ripping it off you wouldn’t be a bad thing, right?”
“Arthur! I cannot believe you,” she scolded, scandalized. “I mean, how can you go around thinking that...that...I mean...doing..” she bit her lips, her face still flushed as she frantically tried to organize her scattered thoughts. “You’re impossible,” she huffed at last, still lost for coherent words.
Arthur grabbed the crook of her elbow and pulled her to him, chuckling at the blush riding high on her heated cheeks. “I apologize, my lady,” he whispered into her hair before he turned her around to face him, “but in my defense, I just have to say that you have the ability to distract me, in whatever it is you’re wearing.”
“Well...” she pursed her lips, considering.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ll promise they will be no ripping of any garments.” He scooped her up in his arms and started walking, and Gwen was too swayed by his soft murmurs to notice the glint in his eyes. She gasped when suddenly they both tumbled into her bed. “Unless you want me to, of course.”
As he leaned closer to kiss her, watching the soft smile gracing her lips, Arthur never thought he would be this happy.
~*~
“After a while, the boy stood and brushed the dust from his clothes. That’s when he spied a bed and because he was still very tired, he went in and lay there. He decides that the bear had a nice bed, with soft pillows and nice blankets and not long after that, he was asleep.”
“He did?” Gwydre’s eyes were half closed by now.
“Yes. And after a while, the bear returned home, thinking that his bread would be cool enough to eat. When he entered his house, he saw that someone had been playing with his food. And then he saw that one of his chairs was lying in heaps on the floor. When he went in to peek in his bedroom, he saw a small boy sleeping in his bed, all snuggled up in his best blanket.”
Arthur paused to see his son’s reaction, but there was none. He smiled when he saw that Gwydre had fallen asleep, his small hand curled tightly beside his face. Slowly, he stroked the dark strands before he gave his son a light kiss on the forehead. After making sure that the heavy drapes were closed, he shut the door softly before making his way back to his Guinevere.
~*~*~*~