Part 7: link


-Finale-

    The 시간 comes at last, after Arthur cursing the sun, swearing it is moving the wrong way, changing his trousers three times, and forgetting how to fasten his belt.
    He stands at the front of the great hall, Geoffrey at hand, still and calm as always. His presence should have a calming effect on Arthur, but instead it only serves to annoy him.
    “Any 분 now, Sire,” Merlin says, stepping up to straighten Arthur’s 재킷, 자 켓 and otherwise check that he looks perfect on the outside, even if he is trying to jump out of his skin. He considers casting a calming spell, but he isn’t quite sure if it will ease Arthur’s mind 또는 put him to sleep.
    The doors open and Guinevere appears on Elyan’s arm. Everyone turns, and a hush falls over the crowd. Arthur’s eyes lock onto her as she approaches.
    I have never seen her look 더 많이 beautiful. She truly looks like a queen. Her 겉옷, 가운 is the palest lavender silk, almost white, soft and shimmery. Fitted 몸통 부분, 보 디스 and flowing 치마 that accentuating her feminine curves. Long, flowing sleeves and silver cording around the 몸통 부분, 보 디스 and neckline. Her hair is mostly up, twisted into an intricate braided style that highlights her heart-shaped face, with several loose curls falling down, brushing her shoulders. Her shoulders that are exposed. She did that on purpose just to torment me, he thinks, noting the wide scooped neckline, her shoulders on full display, her cleavage rising tantalizingly above the 상단, 맨 위로 of the bodice. I am going to have to have Merlin tie my hands together.
    Finally she reaches him and receives a 키스 from Elyan on her cheek. Elyan clasps forearms with Arthur and hands Gwen over before retreating back beside his other knights.
    Neither Arthur 또는 Gwen remember much of the ceremony. They are too engrossed in each other. Arthur cannot tear his eyes from her honeyed skin. Her scent, fresh from her bath, wafts over to his nose and he almost closes his eyes just to smell her. He strokes the skin on the backs of her hands with his thumbs as he holds them between the two of them, just gazing down at her.
    Gwen was quite pleased to find Arthur dressed in cloth instead of metal, and she is equally distracted 의해 him. How the cut of his 재킷, 자 켓 accentuates his broad shoulders. How his 벨트 drapes casually, drawing attention to his narrow waist. His light chest hair peeking at her from the 상단, 맨 위로 of his shirt.
    Arthur has to be prompted twice to say his vows, bringing a smile from Gwen and a very quiet snicker from Merlin.
    When Geoffrey declares that they must 봉인, 인감 this sacred union with a kiss, Arthur grins. That part came through loud and clear. He gathers Gwen to him and gives her a 키스 that has many feel like they are intruding on their privacy.
    Their lips part and Arthur whispers, “I 사랑 you,” to her before tucking her hand into his arm and escorting her up the aisle. At first the knights and courtiers curtsey and bow as they pass. Then, slowly, it builds. One person starts to applaud. Then another. And another. Soon all are clapping and cheering for their king and his bride, their joy infecting the entire kingdom.
    They head immediately up the stairs to the balcony outside to greet the crowd gathered in the courtyard. As soon as Gwen appears, the cheering starts, the commoners less reserved than the nobility as they cheer for their queen.
    There are even a few shouts of “Long live the queen!” from the crowd. Gwen leans over and says, giggling, “I’ve not even been crowned 퀸 yet.” She is touched 의해 the display of affection, though, and smiles and waves to everyone.
    Gwen turns and looks at Arthur, who has an impish look on his face.
    “No,” she says, 읽기 his mind.
    “Yes,” he answers, reaching for her and 키싱 her thoroughly, even tipping her back just a little.
    The crowd erupts.

xXx

    The feast is sumptuous; Arthur’s and Gwen’s favorites all on the menu. Merlin has never seen Arthur happier. Nor Gwen. People circulate to their 표, 테이블 at regular intervals, wishing them well and trying to gain favor. Merlin bustles about, actually giving orders to the other servants, making sure everything continues perfect.
    Frida is sitting beside Percival. Leon and Mithian keep locking eyes across the room, and once 공식 만찬, 저녁 식사 is done, Leon just gives up and moves his seat.
    The minstrels strike up in short order and people call for their king and his new wife to begin the dancing, as is tradition.
    He stands, offers Gwen his hand, and leads her to the large 우주 in the middle of the floor that has been cleared.
    “Nothing too fast,” he orders the lead minstrel as they pass.
    They start a stately tune, and Arthur leads Gwen in the dance. Once again their eyes do not leave each other, and once again all that watch feel like they are intruding.
    “Are they always like this?” Makeda asks Merlin.
    “Like what?” Merlin asks, turning.
    “Like that. Making everyone feel like we’re somehow intruding on their privacy.”
    “Oh, that,” Merlin says, chuckling. “Um, yeah. Often.” His face grows serious, getting a wistful look about it now.
    “Who is she? The woman 당신 pine for?”
    “What?”
    “I can see it all over your face, Merlin. 당신 사랑 someone 당신 cannot have.”
    “She died,” he says simply, looking down.
    “I am sorry for you, friend. She will be waiting for 당신 in the 다음 life.”
    What an odd thing to say, Merlin thinks, looking at her, puzzling at her as she studies him with her wide eyes, so dark they are almost black.
    She leans in close. “That is the way with people of magic,” she says quietly in his ear.
    He opens his mouth to protest, and she stops him. “I will not tell. I know the law here.”
    “How…”
    “I do not have magic, no. I can see it on you, though. I have my own gift. It is not exactly magic, but it still brings me trouble,” she smiles sadly, and Merlin guesses at what it is she was likely running from that landed her with Helios.
    “You have a golden glow about you, Merlin,” she continues.
    “A what?”
    “When I look at you. 당신 have a golden glow. Only those that have magic within them are golden. Your king,” she nods towards Arthur, “his is red. Power. Courage. And Gwen is—”
    “Purple?”
    “No,” she smiles. “It is a soft green, like the new shoots in the springtime. Peace. Serenity. Kindness. My mistress is purple, actually. Wisdom and true nobility.”
    “Fascinating,” Merlin mutters.
    “But in my homeland I was persecuted. A young child does not know how to hold her tongue about what she sees.”
    Merlin squeezes her hand. “I will keep your secret, too. A secret for a secret. 당신 say 당신 do not have magic, but still we are kin.”
    Makeda squeezes his hand back with a smile and leaves him to go see to her queen.
    Merlin sighs, oddly comforted 의해 the strange woman’s words, and heads out to refill his pitcher.
    In the corridor, he turns a corner just in time to see Percival with his fingers curled gently under Frida’s chin as he lifts her face to his and kisses her once, sweetly and chastely. Merlin smiles and hurries out of sight, dashing into the kitchen, wondering what 색깔 they are.
    The dance finishes, and as the attendees applaud politely, Arthur bows to Guinevere. She curtseys in return, giving him an excellent view of her cleavage.
    He takes her arm and leans over, saying, “You had them make this dress that way on purpose.”
    “Whatever do 당신 mean?” she asks innocently.
    “Those…” he gestures, not touching her, “shoulders of yours. Not to mention…” his eyes drop to her bosom, and she laughs.
    “Well, I did remember how much 당신 enjoyed my shoulders,” she says, leaning up to 키스 him.
    “You are driving me positively mad, Wife,” he mutters against her lips.
    Her 심장 does a happy skip and her stomach flutters at the word, and she can only smile at him.
    “Um, excuse me, Sire, but may I borrow Gwen for a dance?” Elyan interrupts, holding his hand out.
    “Of course, Brother,” Arthur says, placing Gwen’s hand in Elyan’s, and they head back out. Arthur surveys the room, his eyes falling on 퀸 Annis a short distance away. He catches her eye, extends a hand and raises his eyebrows in invitation.
    Dance?
    She hesitates, unsure. Arthur tilts his head and gives her an impish look.
    Come on…
    She smiles, sets her goblet down and meets him halfway, her 에메랄드 green 겉옷, 가운 shimmering in the candlelight, offsetting her auburn hair.
    “I have not danced in many years, Arthur,” she warns him, but she steps confidently, never missing a beat 또는 a turn.
    “Well, I wouldn’t know it, my lady,” he answers, smiling charmingly at her.
    “She is a good woman,” Annis says after a time, glancing at Gwen as she dances with her brother.
    “Better than I deserve,” Arthur remarks.
    “Indeed,” she says, smirking at him. “Take care of her. She means much to your people.”
    “I intend to. And I know, 당신 should have heard the crowd when we stepped out on the balcony.”
    “I did. We all did. It was quite a roar,” she smiles.
    The dance finishes, and Arthur bows, 키싱 Annis’ hand. She curtseys and is about to thank him for the dance when she spies Merlin off to the side, discussing something with a servant, either explaining something to him 또는 correcting him on something. In any case, Merlin looks very much like a young man in charge, clear-headed and intelligent.
    Annis turns back to Arthur. “Excuse me, my young king, but didn’t 당신 say that your servant there,” she nods in Merlin’s direction, “was a simple fool?”
    “Ah. That… wasn’t exactly the truth. I only said it so 당신 would spare his life. Honest. I do apologize,” Arthur says, a little uncomfortable that she actually remembered and caught him.
    She smiles. “I understand. Sometimes white lies are a necessary evil to protect those closest to us. 당신 trust him, I can tell.”
    “I have so few people I can trust, my lady. Surely 당신 know that hardship.”
    “Very much so.” She smiles and pats his hand before she turns away, looking for her seat. Instead she finds herself face to face with Gwaine.
    “Your highness, would 당신 honor me?” he asks, grinning that devilish grin of his.
    She studies him a moment. “Yes, all right,” she concedes, taking his hand.
    Arthur laughs, shaking his head as he exits the dance floor, scanning the room for Gwen.
    She is dancing with Gaius now, the older man a bit stilted in his careful steps, but Gwen, to her credit, stays with him, altering her own motions to accommodate his. Arthur smiles and returns to his seat.
    “Forgive me for saying so, your highness, but Caerleon was a very lucky man to have a 퀸 such as you, possessing such beauty and intelligence,” Gwaine tells Annis.
    She looks down at him. “I am old enough to be your mother, sir knight.”
    Gwaine shrugs, still smiling, not bothered in the least. “A beauty is still a beauty, my lady.”
    “Perhaps I should say that I am old enough to have been acquainted with your parents, Sir Gwaine, Lord of Westphalia.”
    Gwaine stumbles, shocked out of his normally cool demeanor. “What?” he whispers.
    “Keep dancing,” Annis smiles at him. “I had a suspicion when I saw 당신 at lunch,” she explains. “Then just now when 당신 asked me to dance and grinned like the devil himself I knew that 당신 had to be that naughty son of Lord Radley and Lady Liliana.”
    “When did we meet?” he asks.
    “You were a boy. But 당신 still have the same eyes, that same smile. The beard is the only change,” she laughs.
    “I don’t ever recall traveling to Caerleon as a child.”
    “We were the ones traveling. Passing through, and your parents hosted Caer and I for the night. I remember 당신 have an older sister. Plain thing, poor dear; it seems 당신 were given all the looks in the family.”
    Gwaine laughs at this remark. He has no 사랑 for his sister, who was nothing but cruel to him in her jealousy over the fact that he was prettier than she was. And smarter. “Um, Arthur doesn’t know. About me being a real noble,” he confesses.
    “I gathered as much. I will keep your secret, as it is not my news to tell,” she says pointedly.
    “Perhaps one 일 I’ll spring it on him,” Gwaine answers.
    Merlin is Gwen’s 다음 victim. She has to physically pull him to the dance floor with her. “Merlin, 당신 are one of my dearest friends,” she tells him. “Do not insult me 의해 refusing to dance with me on my wedding day.”
    He sighs. “Can’t argue with that,” he says, then he looks over and sees Arthur escorting Frida onto the dance floor.
    “He must have gotten tired of watching 당신 dance with everyone,” Merlin nods in their direction.
    Gwen smiles. Frida is a very unsure dancer, as the dances from her homeland are very different, but Arthur is very patient with her, trying to guide her where she needs to go.
    About halfway through the piece, both Arthur and Frida have fallen to laughter and just give up, mutually declaring her “hopeless.”
    “Percival, good luck,” Arthur says, handing her off to the knight who had been standing nearby, watching in amusement.
    “Gwen, 당신 look beautiful,” Merlin says. “I don’t think you’ve ever looked lovelier.”
    “Thank you, Merlin, and thank 당신 for this lovely feast. I know 당신 were the one behind all the planning of the day, and 당신 did a splendid job.”
    “Thanks,” he blushes. “Just doing my duty.”
    “We are still friends, 당신 and I. Just so we’re clear on that fact, right?” Gwen asks suddenly.
    “Yes. Even though you’re not a servant anymore, I had hoped that 당신 would still call me friend,” Merlin smiles at her.
    “Merlin, 당신 are 더 많이 than a friend and 당신 know it. You’re like another brother.”
    “I feel the same way,” Merlin says. “Well, except 당신 wouldn’t be a brother, you’d be a sister, obviously…”
    “Merlin, you’re rambling,” she laughs. “I thought I was the one that did that!”
    The two 프렌즈 hug at the end of the song, and Gwen decides she needs a break and a drink. As she heads back to her seat, she spies Matthias peeking in from one of the doorways. She heads over to greet him.
    “Matthias, are 당신 spying on the feast?” she teases him and he smiles and ducks his head.
    “I am happy to see you. 당신 know if it were not for you, none of this would be happening.”
    He smiles and looks embarrassed 의해 her praise, waving his hand dismissively.
    “No, really,” she says, taking his hand in hers. “Thank you. 당신 have no idea how grateful I am for all your help.”
    He pulls his other hand out from behind his back and extends it to her, a purple 꽃 clutched in his fingers.
    “Thank you,” she says, taking the 꽃 and tucking it into her hair. “There.”
    He smiles and looks over his shoulder.
    “You have to go? Well, come here,” she says, reaching out and hugging him. He smells of the stables, but she doesn’t care.
    “I’ll make sure some 음식 gets sent out to the stables,” she tells him, then pats his shoulder once before he scurries away.
    Gwen returns to her seat, realizing for the first time that her feet are growing tired. She watches as Arthur dances with Mithian, chuckling to herself when she sees that Leon is hovering nearby, waiting for the 다음 dance, no doubt.
    She watches her husband with the Princess when Leon spies her alone and pulls her from her 좌석 again.
    “Leon!” she exclaims, laughing.
    “I have a plan,” he tells her quietly while they 가입하기 the last half of the dance.
    “I’m certain 당신 do,” Gwen smiles up at him. “Though I fear she will be wanting a box to stand on,” she laughs. “I know I certainly do.”
    Leon laughs with her, keeping have an eye on Arthur and Mithian. “Gwen,” he says to her, “I want 당신 to know that I will be very proud to call 당신 my queen.”
    “Thank 당신 Leon, that means worlds to me,” Gwen answers, genuinely touched.
    “Any of the knights of Camelot would lay down his life to protect you, my lady. I have made certain that we have no dissenters among our ranks.”
    Of course 당신 have, Gwen thinks. “Sir Leon, 당신 are a fine captain and Arthur is lucky to have 당신 at his right hand.”
    “And he is lucky to have 당신 at his left.”
    Gwen blushes slightly now.
    “My mother would be very proud of you, 당신 know. So would yours,” Leon says. His mother was always fond of Gwen. In fact, Lady Amelia is the reason she and Elyan can both read and write, purposefully including them in her own children’s lessons.
    “I know. My father, too. He would be positively bursting,” she says, smiling a little sadly.
    “Indeed he would.”
    They’ve successfully made their way close enough to Arthur and Mithian as the song ends.
    Gwen beats the knight to his plan, taking his hand and gracefully passing it along to Mithian as she turns into Arthur’s arms.
    “Smooth,” Arthur says, pulling her into his arms with absolutely no consideration for the correct dance steps.
    “Leon’s idea,” she chuckles. “I just helped.”
    “Doesn’t look like he needs much,” he says, looking over at them. They are dancing properly, but they cannot take their eyes off one another.
    “Hopefully her parents will approve,” Gwen says. “She’s a princess, and while he is a noble, he is of lower standing.”
    “I don’t think she much cares,” Arthur laughs. “While we were dancing she did little else but talk of him.”
    Gwen grins while Arthur continues, still holding her around her waist. “It was Sir Leon this and Sir Leon that, and then Sir Leon said…”
    Gwen laughs now. “You know, if things do work out for them…” she starts, thinking now, taking Arthur’s hand and leading him back to their seats.
    “Wouldn’t they be an ideal pair to be the Lord and Lady of Helios’ now-abandoned-but-property-of-Camelot castle? People that we can trust. People that would take care of the land and its people?”
    “Yes, that’s exactly what I was thinking,” Gwen smiles. Arthur sits and pulls her into his lap.
    “Arthur!” she exclaims, giggling. He silences her giggles with a kiss, wrapping his arms around her.
    “People are watching, 당신 know,” Gwen pulls away, laying her hand on the side of his face.
    “I don’t care. It’s our wedding day. I’m allowed to 키스 당신 as much as I want,” he counters, 키싱 her again just to prove his point.
    “Arthur,” Gwen says quietly, “we can take our leave soon. We need to be good hosts just a little longer.”
    “I know,” he sighs, releasing her to her own chair.
    Various Lords and Ladies pass 의해 their table, offering congratulations and giving their regards. Some are 더 많이 sincere than others, and Gwen finds that it is relatively easy to separate those that are genuine from those who are merely saying what they think their king wants to hear.
    At one point Gwen catches Annis’ eye across the room, finding the 퀸 watching her, half-smiling. Gwen smiles slightly and gives her a slight nod. Annis smiles back knowingly. She will do well here, indeed.
    The night wears on. Merlin sends servants out to the courtyard with trays and trays of the leftover food, making sure to send an ample supply to the stables on Gwen’s request. Guests begin to leave, 퀸 Annis among the first of them, citing that she cannot stay up as late as she once could.
    Arthur kisses her hand and thanks her for making the journey; Gwen stands and hugs her, thanking her for all her help and 조언 earlier.
    “Any time, dear,” Annis says. “And I do mean that. I look 앞으로 to corresponding with you.”
    “As do I,” Gwen says.
    “You’ll return 다음 week for the coronation, my lady?” Arthur asks.
    “I will make every effort,” Annis says, smiling at them both. “As I may not see 당신 in the morning, I thank 당신 for your hospitality and bid 당신 farewell,” she says, her eyes twinkling knowingly. “May the gods bless 당신 both.”
    “Good night, Annis, and sleep well,” Gwen says. “Makeda,” she turns to the maid, embracing her tightly. “It was so wonderful to see you. Send my 사랑 to the others.”
    “I will do that. They will all be so thrilled for you.” Then she kisses Gwen’s forehead and whispers a few words in her native tongue. “Traditional marriage blessing of my people,” is all that Makeda will say before following her mistress from the hall.
    Gwen allows Gwaine to pull her back to the dance floor, and the rascally knight behaves quite respectfully, much to Arthur’s surprise. He kisses her hand at the end, saying, “I always knew 당신 were a princess.”
    Percival, Elyan again, Arthur, Merlin again. All wish for a dance with their future queen. Finally Gwen holds up her hands and declares, “No more! My poor feet are done in!”

xXx

    “Do 당신 think anyone noticed?” Arthur asks as they quietly make their way up to Arthur’s chambers. Their chambers.
    “What, that we left? Frida did. And Gaius, who, honestly, I’m surprised was still there.”
    “Keeping an eye on Merlin,” Arthur laughs.
    “Merlin doesn’t need looking after anymore,” Gwen says. “Or did it escape your attention that he had everything perfectly done today?”
    “It did not,” Arthur says. “He is very good at his job. There, I’ve said it, now I never have to again.”
    Gwen laughs. “Yes, 당신 do. To him.”
    “Hmph,” Arthur pouts. They’re outside the doors to their room now. “I don’t want to talk about Merlin anymore,” he says, pushing the door open.
    Gwen is about to enter when Arthur stops her. “That is not how this is done,” he says, leaning down and lifting her easily in his arms.
    “Of course, how silly of me,” Gwen says, wrapping her arm around his neck and cuddling up against him.
    He carries her in and sets her gently on her feet. Then he locks the door. This time, the click of the lock brings excitement to Gwen’s heart, desire. Not panic.
    Gwen launches herself at him then, throwing her arms around his neck and 키싱 him soundly, suddenly glad that she doesn’t have to deal with any wedding-night jitters.
    If Arthur is surprised 의해 her actions he recovers very quickly, running his hands along her body, feeling how the silk slips and slides under his hands.
    “Your maid… isn’t going to… come knocking… is she?” he asks, kissing, walking her backwards to the bed.
    “Why do 당신 think we snuck away?” she grins at him, kicking her shoes off now with a sigh, wiggling her tired toes. She reaches up and peels his 재킷, 자 켓 from his shoulders, setting it neatly aside. 다음 she reaches for his belt, setting it atop the jacket. He pulls his boots off, placing them at the foot of his 침대 rather than just kicking them aside 또는 throwing them somewhere.
    “See? I’m learning,” he states proudly, and Gwen almost laughs at his attempts to impress her 의해 being tidy.
    Instead she kisses him again, sliding her hands up under his shirt, the red one, to coordinate with the jacket.
    I like the white one better, she notes. “Thank 당신 for not wearing your chainmail,” she says, pulling his 셔츠 up over his head.
    “I got word that someone didn’t like it very much,” he admits, placing his hands back at her waist, taking a moment to fully appreciate her in her beautiful gown.
    “Have I told 당신 how beautiful 당신 look today?”
    “About six times.”
    “When I saw 당신 in the great hall coming towards me on your brother’s arm, I… I knew that 당신 were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.”
    “Thank you, Arthur,” she says demurely, still growing accustomed to receiving so much praise.
    He leans down and kisses her shoulder now. “Been wanting to do that for hours,” he says against her skin, moving up her neck now.
    Her eyes drift closed as he feathers kisses on her exposed shoulders, neck and chest, and she finds herself being turned and feels the laces in the back of the dress start to loosen.
    “Bloody…” he curses when one catches, but then he frees the knot and succeeds in opening the dress.
    “I did try to have them not make it too complicated, but it was a little difficult to be delicate about those kinds of instructions,” Gwen giggles.
    “Really? 당신 couldn’t just say, ‘Make it easy for my husband to take off of me?’”
    Gwen’s giggles turn into laughter now. She feels the dress slide lower, the slippery silk dropping easily, skimming over her skin like a caress as it falls to the floor. She steps out of the dress, retrieving it from the floor to set carefully beside Arthur’s 코트 and belt. Her strapless shift still remains, and Arthur’s trousers. Eyeing each other briefly, they silently 토론 which is the 다음 to go.
    Gwen steps 앞으로 and pulls the ties on his trousers, and the decision is made. He shoves them down impatiently and Gwen finally looks at him. Really looks.
    But he is beautiful, too. Every bit of him.
    “Guinevere?” he asks, noticing her scrutiny.
    “You are beautiful, Arthur.”
    He blinks his surprise. “Thank you,” he slowly says. “I think that’s a first for me.”
    “Pity,” she says, reaching back for the small ties holding her shift closed. One tug and the 외피, 의류 slithers down her body, and she stands boldly before him, as naked as he, fearless now.
    “Come here,” he groans, reaching for her, his hands everywhere, luxuriating in her skin.
    He closes his lips over hers, tongue immediately searching hers out, sweeping, plundering. She clutches his shoulders and presses her body against his.
    He is so warm, so firm. Unyielding but welcoming all the same time.
    Somehow she finds herself on the bed, Arthur over her, surrounding her small body with his. He leaves her lips and kisses a trail down to her breasts, lingering there only briefly to 키스 and nibble before moving lower, lower.
    Lower. Gwen’s eyes fly open with a gasped, “Oh!” as she feels his tongue press softly against that part of her, the sensation shooting through her like a million stars. “Arthur…” she breathes his name, her head turning into the pillow.
    Arthur smiles against her, his tongue darting out, sliding within her folds a few times before thrusting it inside her. She clutches the sheets, arching her back. Then he withdraws his tongue to 원, 동그라미 it around her swollen button of nerves a few times and she cries out.
    He suckles the nub, his tongue soft and pliant, moving slowly one minute, firm and pointed, flicking quickly the next.
    “Oh… oh my… oh… yes… oh!” she gasps, crying out her release in the end, her hand in Arthur’s hair, gripping it in her fist.
    His lips mercifully leave her then, and he slides back up over her body. “Did that please you, my love?” he asks.
    “Do 당신 really need to ask that, 또는 are 당신 just looking for me to stroke your ego?” she replies, smiling, stretching luxuriantly beneath him.
    “It is not my ego that is looking to be stroked,” he purrs into her ear, and he is rewarded with a beautiful blush that spreads over her entire body.
    “Ar—”
    He cuts off her exclamation with his lips, and she tastes her moisture on his tongue. It is curious, but she is not troubled 의해 it, 키싱 him back with equal abandon, mewling softly in the back of her throat when his hand finds her breast, fingers teasing the soft flesh and its stiff tip.
    Remembering his words, her hand slips down, seeking him out, finding him and sliding her palm along his length.
    He tears his lips away and groans, throwing his head back as she strokes him, her slender hand seeming to know what to do, what pleases him.
    “Oh…” he groans, “stop, 또는 I’ll…”
    Oh. Right. Gwen releases him momentarily, but then takes him back into her hand to position his shaft right where she wants it.
    “Mmmm,” Arthur hums contentedly, not able to wait any longer anyway. He pushes his hips forward, sliding into her.
    She sighs, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, wanting him close. Needing him close. Her leg twines around his thigh. He lowers his face and kisses her neck, sucking lightly at her sweet skin, its lavender scent surrounding him like an embrace.
    He moves swifter, a little harder, pushing them both to the edge. Gwen is surprised to find herself approaching a 초 climax, the sensations building within her again. “Oh…” she says, “wow… I… I didn’t know… it’s…”
    “Guinevere,” he gasps against her skin, moving back to her lips now. “You’re babbling.”
    “Sorry…” she gasps. “Oh…”
    Arthur cannot help but chuckle for just a moment, but then he decides to increase again, a little harder, but cautiously, watching her reaction.
    “Oh… yes…” she moans, one hand still gripping his shoulder, the other in his hair.
    All right, then, he thinks, and loses himself in her, closing his eyes now, abandoned to the sensation of her beneath him, around him.
    “Oh… Arthur!” she cries out his name and holds him tighter, almost too tightly for him to continue moving, but he manages the last few thrusts he needs before he is spilling inside her, rushing forth in a great surge as they cling to each other.
    He drops over her, carefully, relaxing against her, his head on her shoulder. She runs her fingers through his sweaty hair, kisses his forehead.
    “I 사랑 you,” she whispers again and again between her sweet small kisses on his forehead, his fingers lifted to her lips.
    “I 사랑 you, my beautiful wife,” Arthur answers, gently rolling off of her, sliding out of her. Gwen turns to the side and cuddles against him, and they just hold each other, not talking, for several minutes.
    Eventually Arthur reaches for a goblet of water on the bedside table, drinking from it. He offers Gwen a drink, which she takes.
    “I don’t have a wedding gift for you,” Arthur says suddenly.
    “The jewelry wasn’t a wedding gift?”
    “No. That was…” he waves a hand, “that was I don’t know. But it wasn’t a wedding gift. It was a gift, yes, but from my mother. From 퀸 to queen. Yes.” He seems pleased with that assessment.
    “It doesn’t matter, Arthur. You are my gift.”
    “And you are impossible,” he says, leaning down to 키스 her.
    “There is something, actually, that 당신 could do for me, that I would like as my wedding gift. Well, not exactly me…”
    “What is it?”
    “The spoils from Helios’ fortress.”
    “You want them? They’re yours.”
    “No, Arthur,” she laughs. “I… would like for that wealth to be kept aside for the people. To be used on things for the public good. Not for the 성 또는 the nobility, but for the people. To make the entire kingdom a better place.”
    He stares down at her for a moment, and she is afraid that she’s gone too far.
    “Or not, it is just a thought,” she says, ducking her head now, embarrassed.
    “Guinevere,” Arthur says, lifting her chin, “that is a brilliant idea. That wealth will be for the people, from the Peoples’ Queen. The Queen’s Fund, we’ll call it.”
    “Truly? 당신 would do that for me? For them?”
    “For you, my love, I would snare the moon from the sky.”

xXx
2 Weeks Later

    “When is Leon due back from Nemeth?” Gwen asks Arthur over breakfast, which they have made a habit of taking alone in their chambers. They have so little time to discuss things alone together, that Arthur has declared breakfast Off Limits Except For Special Occasions 또는 Emergencies.
    “Um, tomorrow, I think,” he answers, stabbing a bite of sausage.
    “Do 당신 think her parents will give their blessing?”
    “I should think. I certainly hope so, anyway. I’ve done all I can to make him look every bit as good as he is. I’ve written a letter extolling his various merits. Elevated his status to Lord and given him his own bloody fortress and land. I can’t really do anything else,” he shrugs. “Unless he wishes to be king, and I’m sorry, but we don’t have any vacancies in that position,” he chuckles.
    “Mithian is smart. She will convince them,” Gwen says, smiling at the memory of Mithian’s and Leon’s reunion last week when she returned to Camelot for her coronation. It was very clear that they had missed one another 더 많이 than either of them realized they would.
    “She did remark when she was here that she would give up her own kingdom to have the kind of 사랑 we share,” Arthur comments.
    “She may get that opportunity,” Gwen smiles at him, reaching for his hand. He takes it and brings it to his lips.
    “Have 당신 made your decision about who the new captain is going to be once Leon leaves us?”
    “My, 당신 are optimistic,” Arthur chuckles. “Been giving it some thought, yes. Bors has seniority, but his temper gets the better of him too often. And Bedivere is no leader. So. Gwaine, Elyan, 또는 Percival.”
    “Not Gwaine,” they say in unison.
    “He is an excellent knight and I do trust him with my life, but he doesn’t possess the discipline required,” Arthur thinks aloud.
    “True,” Gwen agrees. “We all 사랑 Gwaine, but the Captain of the Guard shouldn’t be seeing as many undersides of tavern tables as he does.”
    “Elyan…” Arthur mulls him over, waiting for Gwen to speak first about her brother.
    “Elyan is not ready for that kind of responsibility,” Gwen says. “He is too young. He is younger than me, 당신 know.”
    “I do.”
    “Perhaps my opinion is still colored 의해 his years of wandering and avoiding responsibility,” she allows. “Maybe one 일 he will be ready. On the other hand, a dose of responsibility may be good for him. But not captain.”
    Arthur watches her, amused, as she argues with herself.
    “Percival,” he says. “He has a level head. Patient. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him raise his voice outside of a battlefield 또는 arena. And 당신 cannot deny that he is skilled. He has a calming presence, too. The men feel better just having him around.”
    “That’s because he’s built like a stone wall,” Gwen laughs. “But 당신 are right. He is smart, too. Frida is teaching him to speak her language, and she tells me he is picking it up quite well.”
    “Really? How very… odd.”
    “And he’s trying to teach her how to pronounce ‘w’ and ‘th’ correctly,” Gwen laughs, wondering at what their evenings together must sound like.
    Arthur laughs with her. “So, Percival, then.”
    Gwen smiles. “The hard part will be keeping it a secret until we know for certain about Leon and Mithian,” she says. “And I promise I won’t say anything to Frida.”
    “I wasn’t worried,” Arthur shrugs.
    Gwen picks at her breakfast, not terribly hungry this morning. “Arthur…” she says.
    “Yes, my love?”
    “Another thing to consider should Leon leave us…”
    “What’s that?”
    “Well, he does assist 당신 off the field quite a bit. Percival is smart, yes, but he doesn’t know the ins and outs of the everyday running of this castle.”
    “Whom did 당신 have in mind?” he asks, setting his fork down. Why do I know what name is about to come from her lips?
    “Merlin. Make him a noble. Make him your advisor. 당신 know he can do it. 당신 know he deserves it. No one has been 더 많이 loyal to you, Arthur.” Not even me, she thinks before she can help herself, and feels a little guilty for the thought.
    Arthur says nothing, simply stares into space, thinking over her words.
    “Arthur! Gwen!” Merlin comes rushing in then, not knocking, simply bursting through the doors like a whirlwind, eyes frantic, something clutched in his hand.
    “What is it, Merlin?” Arthur asks, annoyed at the interruption. Advisors don’t interrupt their king’s intimate breakfast with his wife.
    “This…” he holds up the bracelet, breathing heavily, “found… dungeons… corner…” He reaches for the goblet Gwen is offering, and drinks.
    “That’s the bracelet Lancelot gave me,” Gwen says quietly, staring at it.
    “Is it now?” Arthur asks, his voice carefully calm.
    “Enchanted,” Merlin declares. “This bracelet was enchanted, Gwen. A 사랑 spell.”
    Merlin does not get the reaction he was expecting. Shouts, tears, maybe even fainting. He is not expecting Arthur to look slightly puzzled and Gwen to be completely calm.
    “Oh,” she finally says. “That’s… good.”
    Merlin stares at them. “Good? Do 당신 realize that this means that 당신 didn’t do anything wrong, Gwen? That 당신 didn’t betray Arthur?”
    “Yes, Merlin,” she says, taking the bracelet delicately from his hand, studying it. “It’s good news. But,” she looks over at Arthur, who just watches her, fascinated. “But after all Arthur and I have been through, all the work, all the heartache and pain to find our way back to each other on our own…” she pauses, handing the bracelet back to Merlin. “It just doesn’t matter anymore.”
    “But…” Merlin asks, still perplexed. I was going to be the hero, and she sucked it right away.
    “Don’t be disappointed, Merlin,” Gwen says, seeing his dejected look. “We’re both very happy the mystery is solved, and we are grateful to you.”
    “Yes, Merlin,” Arthur finally says. “Thank you. Now get rid of that thing.”

xXx

    Guinevere goes to the window, staring out over the fields that reach to the forest’s edge. The sun is now high in the sky and the forest is tinged with ambers and browns as the leaves have turned and are poised to fall.
    Motion at the forest’s edge catches her eye, and she sees Merlin walking purposefully but furtively. She narrows her eyes now, curious. He pauses now, looking down at something in his hand. Something that glints silver in the autumn sunlight.
    Is that the bracelet? Where is he going with that?
    Merlin turns and looks back over his shoulder, and she reflexively ducks to the side lest he happen to see her in the window.
    A moment later she peeks again to see him disappear into the forest.
    What is he doing?
    She watches the spot where he disappeared, not knowing why she is still staring. He’s hidden 의해 the trees now, you’re not going to see anything…
    Suddenly there is a flash within the trees and a narrow plume of 불, 화재 rises from the treetops to the sky.
    “Merlin!” she gasps, fearing for his safety now. But as she watches, he emerges from the forest, smiling and relaxed.
    His hands are empty.
    Gwen stares. She watches as he saunters casually back to the castle. She looks back at the forest, where the barest wisp of smoke is yet rising from the spot where she saw the plume.
    I knew it.

-End-