The Wife 9/?
Title: The Wife 9/?
Author:tudor_rose445
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings:Arthur, Guinevere, Morgana, Uther, Merlin, Gaius, Arthur/Guinevere,
Spoilers: Seasons 1-3
Disclaimer: I own nothing. BBC owns "Merlin".
Summary: AU. As the wife of the prince Gwen knows that she is destined to one day rule beside him. Yet the road to the throne will not be simple. Talks of an heir looming above her, the growing worry over Morgana, Uther's ill health, and her confusion over her spouse will not help in the slightest. Yet her trials are nesecary to grow into her title as 'wife' to one of legend's most famous kings. The second entry in "The Once and Future" series.
Chapter 8:
Happy news is followed by a visit from a new ally. Or is this man truly a friend?
Author's Note:
AN: I'm sorry that this took so long. I've been having computer problems and it was holding my chapter hostage. :P Anyway, I've introduced a character that has been so far unseen by this fic and the show. Take a look and see who it is.
Thanks!
PS. I'm totally going to plug my other fic, "Only Forever". It's a dark, modern reincarnation fic with an Arthur/Gwen pairing. It's different from other reincarantion fics I've read, and I think it will give another spin on the theme. Check it out!
PPS. My birthday is Monday. How about reviews in honor of my birthday? :P
To Morgana, Queen of Gore, beloved sister,
I hope that all is well since last I wrote to you. We, here in Camelot, have received a blessing from our Lord: I am with child again. I pray everyday that all will go well and that I may be able to give the kingdom the son it needs. You, dear sister, have already accomplished your task. How fares my dear nephew, Mordred? Myself and Arthur were most honored to be chosen as godparents to our beloved nephew. By now his gift ought to have arrived, and I hope that both you and Ursien are pleased by it. I wish you the best of tidings in this New Year, and hope to send you more information about your growing nephew.
With love,
Guinevere, Princess of Camelot
A second letter rested beneath the first. A quick glance at the title alone would tell the reader that it was terribly informal compared to the other. Highly insulting, actually, if Morgana's husband was to read the bits concerning him and his treatment of his wife.
Morgana,
Have things gotten better? I truly wish that I was there to help you and, If I was able, I would ride there this very night. Your son must have distracted him somewhat? He has the son he needs; there should be no reason to bother you further. I pray every night that your situation improves.
-Gwen
The letter would be personally delivered to the queen by one of her father's former men, ensuring that none other than Morgana would read it.
Gwen re-read the letter in her hands, one hand resting on the slight bulge that was form at her middle. There, beneath her layers of clothing, her child was growing. She had reached the four-month mark about a week ago, as estimated by the midwife that was going to be tending to her. It was at this time that Uther felt confident enough to announce that Guinevere was with child once more, and well into her pregnancy.
She had been cautious with the response that she received this time around with the announcement of her child. She didn't wish to be lulled into a sense of security, basking in her people's love, when she could fail at any moment.
She wouldn't fail.
Or at least, that was what Arthur kept telling her.
A warm feeling spread across her chest as her husband came to mind.
It was much easier being around him now that she had admitted what she felt for him. She didn't feel as limited in her actions, caught between being friends and spouses. She knew of his affections toward her from the time of her miscarriage. Yet he had insisted to declaring what she already knew quite a few times to her that night months ago. Her face burned as she remembered their coupling. She was surprised that she still didn't have any bruises left, or his declaration of love burned into her skin.
She was ashamed to admit it, but she found herself recently hoping that he would initiate their bedtime activity each night. She hadn't been sure why she was suddenly feeling extra...excitable. It seemed that all he had to do was look at her to make her feel ready to practically jump him. It frightened her at first, causing her to single out Beatrice. The woman had proved useful when last she had questions about the marital bed, and didn't disappoint on this question either. The answer: sometimes, during one's pregnancy, a woman felt more willing toward the marriage act than other times. Beatrice herself seemed torn on the subject.
Was it wrong to have relations with her husband while she was pregnant?
Or was it wrong to deny him his marital right?
She had tried to discreetly ask the midwife but the woman, hard of hearing, had only made her repeat the question much to her embarrassment.
As she was told before, it was alright as long as Arthur did not put pressure on her stomach.
But how to bring up this topic to him?
Despite being more comfortable around him in a sexual sense, she wasn't just about to tell him that she was craving their time together.
It was just...embarrassing.
"My lady, the silk merchant has arrived."
Gwen shook herself from her thoughts, having realized that Eleanor was speaking to her. Her ladies were stationed around a tapestry frame, starting to work on the creation she had first thought of during her first pregnancy.
She smiled, reaching up to brush stray curls behind her ears in an attempt to calm herself. She didn't want everyone knowing what she was thinking of by her flighty expression.
"Thank you. If you can show him in, please?"
The young woman nodded before seeing to the merchant.
March was the first time that the merchant had been able to stop in since his last trip to Camelot in November. Arthur had purchased bolts of cloth for her then for her Yuletide present, but that cloth had gone to her winter gowns. Silk would now be needed, more than usual, to clothe her soon to be large pregnant frame.
The merchant entered the room, followed by Eleanor, and bowed before her.
"Your Grace," he greeted her, only standing once she brushed off his formality.
"You have had a pleasant Yuletide, Mr. James?"
"I have, my lady. And I have heard that you have received a Christmas gift that surpasses any silk that I can provide," he added, the flair of a courtier apparent in his words.
She smiled despite his flowery words and nodded.
"That I have, Mr. James. Now, what bolts have you brought with you today?"
0o0o0
"It's a bit unnerving, having to order extra fabric."
Arthur snorted from where he was lounging in their bed, his eyes tracking his wife as she folded her dressing gown over a chair by the fire.
"God forbid you have to order another yard," he teased, reaching out for her as she neared him.
She eagerly went into his waiting arms, content to be wrapped in the warmth of them. Although spring was not far off, the chill of winter still remained.
Not that that was a problem when she was working up a sweat with him at night.
Feeling her stomach tighten with the now familiar feeling of desire, she glanced up at him.
"Have you had a very trying day?" she asked, trying to figure out how to change the track of their conversation.
Arthur, having not picked up on her train of thought, sighed.
"We're receiving more knight hopefuls now that spring is nearing. One of my cousins is arriving later in the week... You remember Gwaine, don't you? He visited once or twice right after Mother died. He turned seventeen last month and my aunt decided it was best to ship him off to us. It's going to be ridiculous teaching him."
He dragged a hand over his eyes.
"Don't get me wrong...he's a fine lad. It's just...he isn't the most mature. You remember that, don't you?"
Gwen bit her lip, nodding. She remembered quite well the boy who had slipped a toad down Morgana's dress on his last visit, nearly ten years ago.
"I just hope that he's gotten over his fondness of toads," she added, leaning on her elbows to observe him.
"He'd have best. If not I'll rap him one during training."
She giggled, leaning down to kiss him.
This, as she had hoped, changed his path of thinking.
He reached up a hand to cup her head, bringing her closer as his finger sifted through her curls. She moved one hand closer up to her pillow to shift her weight while balancing herself with her other arm on the opposite side of his chest. He shifted his hips slightly closer to her, allowing her to feel the hardness that was growing there. The simple brushing against her leg caused a warm feeling to pool between her legs.
"Arthur," she whispered, her mouth breaking away from his to allow air into her now starved lungs.
His hands found their way under her nightdress, pulling down her pantalets with ease. He kissed her once more, keeping her attention their as one of his fingers traced her opening. She moaned into his mouth, still somewhat unused to this maneuver on his part. She rarely allowed him to touch her there...but tonight it was looking more favorable.
Testing his luck, he dipped one finger in slowly.
She unconsciously tightened her lower muscles around his finger, which caused him to introduce a second.
She opened her mouth against his in response.
Her fingers drifted to his sleeping trousers, pulling at the laces.
"Please," she whispered, breaking away from his lips to suck at his neck.
It hurt how much she wanted him, wanted him filling her.
He slowly began to withdraw his fingers before gently pushing them back in.
Why was he teasing her this way? Didn't he realize how much she wanted him?
She peeped open an eye, seeing the rather amused expression on his face.
Gwen squeezed against his fingers once more, opening her other eye to look at him fully.
"You're none too vocal on what you want, Gwen," he teased, trying to shrug out of his pants without breaking the rhythm between her thighs.
"What do you want?"
Faster.
Harder.
But could she tell him that?
He waited expectantly while she struggled.
"Faster, please," she murmured, trying to ignore the embarrassing factor of the situation.
He acquiesced to her and increased his pace, turning her onto her back.
His free hand slid higher beneath her night dress, kneading her breasts beneath the fabric.
She hissed, out of pain and not pleasure, causing him to pause.
He withdrew both hands and looked her over with concern.
"Are you alright?" he questioned, see the torn expression on her face, balancing between annoyance and pain.
"Shush," he urged, laughing lightly. "I'll finish with you after."
She rolled her eyes, her own hands going to her breasts to press tentatively.
"They're still a bit sore... The midwife said they would be."
He kicked off his pants, shucking off his tunic a moment later.
"I don't want to press down on you..."
He hesitated, before taking her under the arms.
"What are you?-"
Before she knew it, she was straddling him, a inch away from where he was waiting.
Instantly a blush broke out onto her face.
"I don't...we've never..."
He laughed, rubbing her lower back comfortingly.
"It's simple, really. And this way I won't have to worry about hurting you. Or him."
His hand slid down and around to her front, where their child was growing.
She nodded slowly, avoiding eye contact with him. Instead she scooted forward, before gently lowering herself onto him.
With an exhale of relief she remained stationary for a moment to become used to this new angle.
It felt...good. Nice to have him in her while she had been craving him all day.
"Here...just..."
Arthur took her hips into his hands, guiding them into a rocking motion.
Her mouth formed a little 'o' of surprise.
Right...there!
She shuddered, feeling him hit that tender spot that drove her so wild.
She rocked her hips forward, following the movement of his hands despite now knowing the dance they were to do.
Gwen tilted her head back slightly, closing her eyes and listening to their shallow breathing mixing together.
A soft cry flew from her lips as he thrust upward, meeting her own.
Not long now...
The second roll sent her on that now familiar spiral into bliss, leaving her feeling rather sluggish.
He withdrew from her, causing her to frown even in her hazy state.
"But-"
He hadn't reached that point, had he?
Gently, or as gently as he could with hands nearly shaking from need, he tugged her to the side of their bed.
Rolling her onto her back, with her legs dangling over the side, he entered her once more.
She hissed, this time from pleasure, as he set into the familiar rhythm. Later she would be grateful that by him standing he refrained from laying on her stomach. But this wasn't the time to think of the mechanics of their situation.
His lips crashed upon hers as he climaxed, triggering her own. It seemed that his very touch could send her reaching that peak.
Pregnancy, so far, was turning out to be far better than she had expected.
0o0o0
"Are you quite comfortable, my lady?"
Gwen smiled, biting back a giggle as Gwaine attempted to adjust the heavily embroidered pillow that had been placed against her chair for her comfort for yet the third time.
She caught his eye as he finished fixing the position of it, seeing the jovial twinkling in them.
The mischievous Gwaine of yesteryear had turned into Gwaine the flirt, apparently.
"All is well," she replied, patting his hand and permitting a small smile to slip past.
The soon-to-be knight bowed his head before taking up his former position standing behind his uncle. Gwen chanced a look over at her husband, sitting to the left of his father, and just caught the man's eye roll. She bit her lip to withhold her mirth before leaning back against the cushions once more.
Gwaine, the perfect courtier, had been trailing her around much like Welfed every since his arrival two weeks earlier. Who better to serve, he had said, than his future queen? She found it highly amusing and permitted him this liberty, even if Arthur found him rather annoying. Still, the young man was already proving himself on the training grounds. If he kept his superb work up Arthur's dislike would fade soon.
The double doors at the end of the throne room opened.
Instantly the three members of the royal family stood as they, along with the rest of the court in attendance, focused their attention to the small party making its way down the aisle.
"Introducing His Highness, King Melwas of the Summer Country."
Nearly a week earlier Uther had received a rather long apology from King Melwas over the incident of his rogue soldiers. So sincere was he in his letter that he wished to visit personally to smooth out any issues the situation had caused. Which was why Gwen was now standing, garbed in one of her best gowns, and sincerely wishing that she could just go back to bed. She felt so tired all of the time. It was the same tired that she had felt when she had lost her first baby, when she hadn't wanted to do anything. This was just utter exhaustion.
But there wasn't anything she could do about it at the moment. As the Lady of the Citadel, along with being the heir's wife, it was required of her to be at such state functions. She would just have to grit her teeth and endure the visit until she was permitted to retire to her rooms.
Having never met King Melwas before she took this chance to study him. He was of medium height, a little shorter than Arthur was. His dark hair was slightly graying at the temples, suggesting his age to be somewhere near his late thirties. He approached the throne, clasping Uther's outstretched hand.
"Uther," he greeted him, smiling. "It is an honor to finally meet you." His voice, along with his grip on Uther's arm seemed to be the definition of jovial.
The king smiled, although not as fully as Melwas. Uther had been on the throne long enough to not trust the smiles or words of men.
"It has been a shame that we have yet to meet till now, and under such circumstances," the king answered as his arm was finally dropped. "But that shall be remedied."
He gestured to his left first, and then his right.
"May I present to you my son and heir, Prince Arthur, and his wife, Princess Guinevere."
Melwas stepped forward, grasping Arthur's hand.
"I've heard much about you and your military abilities, my boy," Melwas commented, his smile still on his face despite meeting the defeater of his soldiers. "I'm sure you have made your father very proud."
Arthur, not exactly sure how to respond to this compliment by his former opponent, responded with a 'Thank you, Your Grace."
It was as Melwas was leaving her husband to approach her that she saw the change in his eyes.
No longer did they hold a respectful and friendly gaze, but one filled with lust. She blinked, thinking that she might have mistaken the look he had given her, but found that he was smiling friendly once more.
"My lady," he said, bending over her offered hand to press a kiss to her knuckles. He lingered a second more than he should, but not long enough to be called out on his actions.
Feeling rather uneasy, she was glad when Uther called their guest to be led to his chambers. It wasn't until Arthur neared her, extending his arm, that the crease in her brows relaxed.
As he led her from the hall she realized that she must have imagined the look. At least she hoped.
0o0o0
Gwen felt her teeth break through the skin of the apple, assailing her senses with something like relief. Had she been alone she might have moaned aloud for how wonderful the fruit tasted. Instead she chewed the bite carefully while staring down at her prize.
Batilda had told her that nearly every woman had one food that they craved constantly throughout their pregnancy. Hers? Apples.
Arthur watched her with amusement, sitting to the right of the king to allow Melwas to take the left. He grabbed her free hand with his under the table after setting his goblet down.
"You aren't going to eat anything else?" he teased, watching as she shook her head.
"Who am I to deny what your son wishes to eat?" she countered, giving him a cheeky smile before taking another bite.
After she had set down the core she reached for the goblet of asses milk to the side of her plate, grimacing before taking a swig. Batilda urged her to drink at least two gobletfuls a day, as it was 'proven' to result in a healthy child. Who was she to argue, having never given birth before? It just didn't help that the taste was truly awful.
"Milady."
She glanced up at the dark haired king after setting her goblet down, smiling politely.
"Your Highness," she answered, her eyes meeting Melwas'.
"I have noticed that you have yet to dance this evening, my lady. Would you care to be my partner?"
She hesitated, not knowing how to politely decline. She knew that it would be diplomatically keen of her to dance at least one number with their new foreign ally, yet she wasn't too pleased with having his gaze upon her. It wasn't at all like the staring that she had endured from Arthur before their marriage. Yes there had been lust in his eyes, but not sinister intent as she was seeing thinly veiled in Melwas'.
"I'd rather not have my wife undergo any physical exertion," Arthur cut in, much to her relief.
"It's not good for a woman with child to be overtiring herself."
Something changed in the man's gaze at these words.
"With child?" he questioned, his eyes immediately going to the small bulge at Gwen's stomach, visible now that she was sitting. Standing, as when he had first arrived, the cut of her skirt had successfully hidden the small bump growing at her waist.
"Congratulations, to the both of you then," he continued, his polite smile back in place. "Camelot is well on its way to continuing its fine legacy."
She forced herself to smile in thanks and almost turned back in her seat, thinking that he had finished.
"But one dance couldn't cause any harm, could it? Something slow? A pavane?"
Gwen withheld a wince before resting a hand on her husband's arm, having seen him move to speak.
"One dance couldn't do much harm," she echoed, knowing that the simple dance would be enough to appease him. Enough, maybe, to get him to leave her alone.
Forcing herself to seem pleased she allowed the king to lead her to the group of dancers where he called for the correct dance. The instant his hands were on her she felt like she had never felt before.
To sum it up...slimy.
She felt as if she herself was soiled by the very touch of his fingertips.
Her smile faltered somewhat yet, calling on her years of being a courtier, she followed through with a pleasant smile.
While she followed the steps ingrained in her since childhood she practically counted the seconds until the dance was over. All she wanted to do, after feeling the grip of his hands on her skin, was to scrub the very feeling off of herself.
A few moments later, although it seemed much longer, the music finally stopped. She rather quickly stepped from his grasp, clapping for the musicians.
"Thank you, my lord," she said, finally meeting his eyes.
"I hope that you will enjoy yourself this evening."
His smile didn't exactly reach his eyes. Instead, she noticed something calculating there.
"I have, milady," making a point to use the past tense of the word. "I have."
She gave him a half-smile, making her way to the dais as quickly as was polite.
"I'm tired," was all she said once she reached Arthur. She took in his disgruntled look, guessing that he too must have noticed the odd way that Melwas was acting around her.
Arthur leaned over to whisper something to his father before standing, taking her arm without a word.
The two passed the king, on his way back to his seat, on their journey from the hall.
Arthur gave the man the slightest of head tilts in greeting, which was met by Melwas' over-the-top bow.
Ignoring the barely hidden smirk on the king's face, the prince led Gwen from the hall.
King or no king, she hoped to never see Melwas again.