Dreams for Plans part 5
‘You did a very good job with Arthur today’
‘Thank you My Lady’
‘Would you mind giving him a few more lessons before the feast?’
‘I am afraid I am rushed off my feet at the moment, besides I think he has the basics sorted so he shouldn’t tread on your feet anymore’ she smiled.
‘You couldn’t spare half an hour?’
‘I’m very sorry but I really can’t, I’m actually supposed to be decorating the Hall as we speak’
‘But Gwen-’
‘Your toes will be safe, I promise’ she said swiftly as she promptly slipped out of the door.
‘Gwen, what’s going on with you and Arthur?’ Merlin asked as he caught her on the way down the corridor.
‘Merlin, please keep your voice down’ she hissed.
‘Okay,’ he whispered, ‘what’s going on with you and Arthur?’
‘Nothing’
‘You can’t fool me, I know about the snogging session in the tent remember’
She flushed scarlet.
‘That was to break an enchantment’
Merlin smirked.
‘Don’t!’
‘I’m not doing anything’ he said putting his hands behind his head and beginning to whistle.
‘I’m leaving Merlin’ she said, but before she could carry out her threat he had caught her arm.
‘I’m sorry’ he said with a straight face, though the light of amusement still danced in his eyes, ‘so are you going to tell me the truth?’
‘There is nothing to tell’
‘Why?’
‘Because I told him nothing could happen between us and I stick by that’
‘But it can’
‘I am a servant and he is the Crown Prince, the most I could ever hope to be to him is his mistress and I know that should be enough for me’ she said lowering her eyes to the floor, ‘but it would be too hard to share him and to sacrifice a future with someone else’
‘But what if you could have it all, what if you could marry Arthur?’
‘Then I would be living in a fairytale’
‘Uther won’t be around forever’
‘I can’t expect Arthur to wait for me’ she said with wide, vulnerable eyes.
Merlin laughed.
Gwen looked at him shocked, clearly this was not the sort of the reaction she had been anticipating.
In effort to explain his outburst he said, ‘it’s just that is exactly what he said’
‘What?’
‘Months ago, when you were kidnapped’
She looked at him blankly.
‘He loves you Gwen’
‘He only thinks he does’
‘I disagree’
‘One day a Princess will come along and he will forget all about me’
‘You don’t honestly believe that do you?’
‘I have to Merlin, because otherwise I might start to hope for much more than I am entitled to and that is not fair on Arthur’
‘Look, I’m not saying it would be the easiest path to take, but if you two love each other then surely the scorn of a few of the nobility for a week or two is worth risking. You will make a great Queen Gwen, and you will make him so proud to call you his wife’
‘You really believe that such a future is even possible?’ she said sceptically.
‘I know it is possible’ he beamed.
‘Only you could speak with such assurance of these things’
And maybe Morgana, he thought with a grin, as he linked arms with her, ‘well I am gifted with immense wisdom’
‘Maybe’ she said half to herself, something like hope creeping into her voice, ‘but Merlin, you have to swear you won’t tell anybody about this. And I mean anybody’
‘My lips are sealed’ he sighed in exasperation, another secret to keep.
‘So are all the servants going to be the feast?’
‘Gwen will be there’ Merlin answered as he passed his master a shirt.
‘I didn’t ask whether or not-’
‘But that’s what you meant’
Arthur’s silence signalled his defeat.
‘So I take it you and Gwen haven’t spoken since the dancing lessons?’
‘No’
‘Thought so’
‘Why?’
‘No reason’ he beamed.
‘Lady Marian is such a bore’ Morgana said as she stood next to Arthur during a break in the dancing.
‘Lady Anna thinks that the pinnacle of experience is needlework’
‘The Duchess has already been married and widowed twice’
‘Well don’t they say third times a charm’ he said grinning over his goblet.
‘She is ten years your senior!’
‘I like the more mature woman’
‘Arthur!’
‘I’m joking’ he said quickly.
‘Thank goodness’ she said, before adding quickly ‘and Lady Adelaide’s eyes are too close together, don’t you think?’
‘I can’t say I’ve noticed’ which was true enough, he had focused so much of his concentration on not looking at Gwen too often that he could barely remember the faces of any of the noblewomen he had been introduced to.
‘And Lady Helen is the most empty-headed individual you will ever meet’
‘And the Baron’s daughter, the Lady Elizabeth, is the biggest slu-’
‘Morgana, are you going to insult every woman I’ve danced with tonight?’
‘If I have time before the next set’ she grinned, ‘I’m sorry Arthur, but these women drive me stir crazy’
‘I know Morgana, but you’re not normally so verbal about it’
‘Sorry’
He shrugged.
‘Your dancing has really improved’ she said after an awkward pause, ‘Gwen must be a brilliant teacher’
‘She’s very patient’ he said with a half smile as his eyes slid irresistibly over to Gwen who was deep in conversation with ‘Sir’ William, talking animatedly, smiling all the while.
Morgana seemed to notice the focus of his gaze, ‘who is that Gwen is speaking with?’
‘William’ he said quickly, looking away from the pair, ‘Sir William of Daira’ he added with an attempt at nonchalance.
‘The winner of the last jousting tournament?’
‘Uhuh’
‘So how do you know him?’ Morgana asked suspiciously.
‘Well I-’ Arthur began, looking around the hall for inspiration and finding none. ‘-I met him on a training day’ he said lamely.
‘Really? Because I haven’t seen him since the tournament’
‘That would be because you don’t attend jousting training days do you?’ he smirked.
She refused to acknowledge the validity of his argument so she chose to observe; ‘Gwen and Sir William seem to be getting along very well’
Arthur swallowed dryly as he watched them, ‘I suppose’ he just managed to choke.
‘It has always been a wonder to me that Gwen does not attract more attention from the nobility’ Morgana thought out loud, watching Arthur for a reaction. But his expression was blank. ‘I suppose she might receive more attention than she lets on, Gwen’s a very private kind of girl, don’t you think?’
Nothing. She wanted to stamp her foot in frustration. She had been at this for weeks and nothing. She was not one inch closer to her goal.
‘Do you think Gwen pretty?’ Morgana asked in a manner which suggested she did not much care about the answer.
The spasm of a frown fleetingly crossed his features before he hitched on a grin in its place ‘I know it must be a terrible burden to always be outshone by your handmaiden’s looks but Morgana just take comfort in the knowledge that some men prefer plain women’
‘I am not plain!’ she exclaimed.
‘Indeed you are not My Lady’ a deep voice said behind her.
She turned to find Sir Leon towering above her. She flushed.
‘Would you kindly dance the next set with me?’ he asked, offering her a hand.
She smiled coyly and took his hand.
It was just as the pair of them made their way towards the edge of the dance floor together, that Arthur noticed the hem of a familiar lavender dress whip out of the door. He moved as quickly as possible through the crowd without arousing suspicion, mentioning something about needing some fresh air when questioned.
He made it into the cool dark corridor and looked left then right. He spotted her at the far end of the passageway and ran towards her, employing the same style of movement adopted for hunting game. He reached her and caught her arm. Having been oblivious to his silent approach Gwen swung blindly behind her, landing her small fist hard in her assailant’s stomach. He hissed in pain as the breath was knocked out of him.
She turned to face him ‘Arthur?’ she breathed, her eyes wide in shock.
‘Uhuh’ he just managed to gasp.
‘I’m so sorry’ she said, her voice thick with concern, ‘it was just a reflex reaction’
‘You get grabbed by a lot of strange men in the castle corridors then?’ he teased breathlessly.
She was silent.
‘I’m sorry’ he said, serious now, ‘I didn’t mean to scare you’
‘It’s alright My Lord’
‘No My Lord’ he said quickly.
‘Pardon me My Lord?’ she questioned, confused.
‘No My Lord’ he said shaking his head in frustration, ‘just Arthur, please’
‘Arthur’ she repeated, her eyes full of something like reproach in the gloom, ‘I ought to be going’ she said quickly, turning to leave.
‘We need to talk’ he said before she could move any further.
‘Arthur’ she almost pleaded, her back to him ‘please don’t’
‘All I am asking is if you want me to leave you alone, I’m sorry, but that is not a hard question to answer’
She shook her head as she turned to him, biting her lip.
‘Guinevere?’
‘You know the answer already’ she said, still shaking her head.
‘What?’
‘I don’t want you to leave me be, but that is exactly what we both need you to do’
He couldn’t help but smile at her words. ‘Guinevere-’ he began but the doors to hall opened and golden candlelight spilled out as a giggling couple stumbled into the corridor.
‘Come on’ he said taking her by the hand and leading her into a small and little used room to their left before she had a chance to open her mouth to protest.
The door shut behind them. It was dark in there but for the stream of molten moonlight which pooled on the flagged stone floor.
‘I am sorry Guinevere’
‘For what?’ she said in voice which was little more than a whisper.
‘For wanting you to wait for me, I know it’s not fair because I can’t tell you when it will be possible for us to marry, it could be years, but the fact of the matter is whenever I think about being King I can’t imagine anyone else being at my side. If it was not for my father I would ask for your hand now, but he would probably assume magic was involved and I’m sorry but I could never gamble your life on the possibility he might not’
She gulped ‘there is no need to apologise’
‘So...?’
‘It doesn’t change anything. It can’t. I will not be your disgrace’
The corners of his mouth twitched, something which, despite the gloom, did not go unnoticed by Gwen.
‘Do not laugh at me’ she exclaimed though she was now having to hold back her own smile.
‘I can be a total prat at times- though you can never tell Merlin I admitted that- and you are worrying that you might be an embarrassment’
She smiled sadly ‘but I would cause problems for you amongst the nobility’
‘For a few weeks, a couple of months at the most’
‘But that could be enough for someone to challenge your position’
‘I have done my research Guinevere’ he grinned, ‘the Pendragon line but for me and my father died out several generations ago, and the only other possible claimants are minor landowners in other kingdoms therefore it is highly unlikely that any of them could amass sufficient support for any serious challenge, I am the only legitimate heir’
‘But-’ Gwen began.
‘And with regard to the legitimacy of heirs’ he said, cutting across her, ‘there are no succession laws in Camelot which would class the children of an unequal marriage illegitimate or ineligible to inherit the thrown, I knew that was not the case in some other kingdoms so I thought I’d better check’ he said in a rush before stopping to see the curious expression of Gwen’s face. ‘I mean, none of this matters if you don’t want to, obviously, but I-’
She kissed him. He was so taken aback that he backed into the wall. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist as her hand found the nape of his neck. She could almost taste his surprise on his tongue and his confusion in his lips.
She pulled away and looked up into his face.
‘You’ve really thought about this’ she said, her eyes wide as they flitted between both of his.
‘Of course’ he replied in a hoarse whisper, he arms still encircling her waist.
Her face broke into a wide and unimpeded smile.
‘So you don’t want me to leave you alone then?’
She shook her head.
He grinned down at her.
‘But I have one condition’ she said seriously.
‘Anything’ he smiled.
‘This agreement between us is not binding’
‘What?’ he said his hands falling from her waist in surprise.
‘If you meet someone else I don’t want you to feel under any obligation to me and visa versa.’
‘Guinevere-’ he began.
‘We don’t know how long we will have to wait and how hard this is going to be. One day one of us could decide that we want to take an easier path and if that is me I do not want to break any promises to you’ she said, her voice grave though she was still smiling.
‘You think it likely?’
‘No, but if we have to wait a decade or more I can not swear to you that my answer won’t change’
‘I understand’ he said thickly.
‘But if it is any kind of comfort, I can’t see myself ever putting another man above you’
He grinned, ‘that is good to know’
‘I should be getting back’ Gwen said gesturing vaguely in the direction of the door.
He cupped her cheek in his hand and bent low, pressing his lips against hers. She moved closer to him, fastening both arms around his neck as they deepened the kiss.
The broke apart, breathing hard.
‘Enjoy the rest of the feast Arthur’ she smiled as she disappeared out of the door.
He leant back against the cold stone wall as a warm rush of contentment stole over him. He stood there for several minutes just smiling into the darkness.
He opened the door a crack and looked up and down the corridor, it was deserted. He crept down the passageway and was just about to open the Hall doors when a shrill voice stopped him, ‘Prince Arthur!’
He wheeled around ‘Lady Elizabeth’ he said, trying simultaneously to hide his soppy smile and sound enthusiastic.
‘What are you doing out here?’ she asked suspiciously.
‘I was looking for you’ he said quickly ‘I was hoping for another dance’
She smiled, ‘how very attentive of you’ she said in a low voice, leaning into him.
‘We should be getting back to the party’ he said swiftly, offering her his arm.
She looked a little disappointed but took it.
As he entered the hall he had to fight to keep the smile, which was hiding just under the surface, from breaking across his face.
Morgana smiled contentedly as she curtseyed low to Leon before starting the next dance, but as she straightened up the smile was wiped off her face by the sight of Arthur arm in arm with the Lady Elizabeth. His eyes were bright, his lips a little swollen and twitching with the beginnings of a smile. And Morgana did not like it one bit.
‘Are you okay?’ Leon asked concerned at her sudden change in demeanour.
‘I’m sorry but I need a break’
‘Of course’ he said taking her hand and leading her off the dance floor.
‘Would you mind dreadfully getting me something to drink?’ she asked squeezing Leon’s arm.
He smiled and left.
The moment his back was turned she moved as quickly as was humanly possible, without running, through the hall and over to Merlin who was standing in a corner an insanely wide smile on his face as he surveyed the dance floor.
‘Merlin!’ she hissed.
‘Huh?’ he said, started out of his reverie.
‘We have an emergency’
‘What?’
‘Our plan has been totally derailed’
‘What?’ he exclaimed so loudly that several noblemen turned to look at him, eyebrows raised, ‘how’d you work that one out?’ he said in a whisper.
‘Arthur and the Lady Elizabeth just walked in together’
‘So?’ Merlin said, just as the doors opened once again and Gwen slipped into the room. Merlin watched as Arthur eyes meet hers and a faint flush crept into the cheeks of both, a smile forming on both pairs of lips.
‘Sorry what did you say Morgana?’ Merlin asked distractedly, having not listened to a word of her heated response.
‘They were obviously out there getting to know each other’ she snapped.
‘They?’
‘Arthur and the Lady Elizabeth!’ she hissed, much like an irate swan.
‘What’s wrong with them getting to know each other?’
‘Merlin! Can you stop being so obtuse for half a minute?’
He frowned for a moment. ‘Oh’ he said with sudden comprehension, ‘eurgh!’ he said before adding calmly ‘but I don’t think they were.’
‘Oh well if Merlin thinks it didn’t happen it can’t possibly have done’ she bit back at him, her voice seeping with sarcasm.
‘Look I just don’t think there is anything to worry about’ he said, trying to placate her without breaking his promises to Gwen and Arthur.
‘I thought you were supposed to be helping me’ she snapped before stalking away.
‘Morgana’ he started to implore, but the word died in his throat as he lost sight of her amidst the crowd.
‘So why are you looking so happy?’ a voice whispered in her ear. She jumped and nearly dropped the jug of wine she was holding.
‘Merlin!’ she hissed, her heart hammering hard in her chest.
‘Sorry’ he said a little sheepishly before his face broke into a wide grin, ‘so...?’
A delicate pink defused over her cheeks and a shy smile played across her lips.
Merlin only just managed to reign in the impulse to bounce up and down in excitement. ‘So you two are actually a couple?’
She bit her lip and nodded.
‘Gwen this is brilliant’ he said, pulling her into a rib crushing hug.
‘You’re almost as happy about it as I am’ she laughed.
‘You two deserve this’ he grinned, letting go of her, ‘how does it feel to be the future Queen of Camelot?’
‘Merlin I don’t want you to get your hopes up, that might well not happen, Arthur and I are taking this one step at a time. It might well be years and years before Uther passes away and things might well have changed by then.’
Merlin frowned, ‘and you’re okay with this?’
‘It was my idea’
‘And you are happy?’
‘I have the possibility of marrying the man I love- I am over the moon’
‘The man you...?’ Merlin asked, his mouth wide in shock.
She bit her lip. ‘You can not tell anyone Merlin’
He pulled her into a tight hug once again, ‘I won’t say a word’
Morgana watched Merlin approach Gwen. Saw her surprise. Saw her coy smile. Watched them talk before the manservant threw his arms around her. There was excitement on Merlin’s face, joy on Gwen’s. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion as she watched them, she was missing something, she was sure of it.
A/N: Okay, so that's part 5 for you. I THINK this will be a 7 parter- I stress think, because I know what I'm like, but you definitely have two more chapters coming your way. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. x