bennie: (Arthur/Gwen!kiss)
[personal profile] bennie
 Yes this is unexpected, I really didn't plan to write this.

Title: Loss
Characters: Arthur/Gwen
Rating: G
Spoilers: Set after 2x13, so spoilers for that really.
Disclaimer: Arthur and Guinevere belong to... well... somebody. But not me anyway.
Summary: Arthur and Gwen remember those who have been lost.
Word Count: 526
A/N: Inspiration for this arose from several C_L discussions about how Arthur and Gwen both lost their mothers at an early age... and then my own research which revealed that we know almost nothing about the Guinevere of legend's mother. So I decided to give her a voice (of sorts).



Loss.

Not many people remembered that Gwen had once had a mother. Not many people thought to ask. Gwen herself rarely thought of her nowadays, except when the occasional visitor would appear out of the blue with a basket, or some flowers, and sit and talk with Gwen. Then it would all come rushing back. They would speak of kind deeds and helpful advice, of her sweet smile and graciousness. They would express regret at the loss of her father.

Her father.

Gwen had only ever known a father, she had never had the advantage of a woman’s guidance. It wasn’t until she became Morgana’s handmaid, aged thirteen, that she stopped resenting the long dresses girls wore, that she stopped longing for the freedom of trousers and of the blacksmith’s anvil. Morgana had become like an older sister to her over the years, and the loss of her now… It affected Gwen more than she ever let on.

In the beginning Gwen had begged for details of her disappearance, pestering everyone she knew for information about her possible whereabouts.

She even asked Arthur, once.

Now she recognised it was futile. It had become gradually clear that Morgana had left of her own volition, and nothing would persuade her to return.

To lose so many would have been too much for some, but Gwen bore it with her usual grace, scurrying about the corridors of Camelot as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Only a select few knew the true extent of her pain.

Arthur could tell.

He could tell by the way she jumped at the mention of Morgana’s name, twitched (even as she served dinner) to see Morgana’s empty place at the table, how she always avoided the part of the castle where her former mistresses’ chambers lay. How every rare kiss she gave him grew more desperate. Every look more sad.

Not many people remembered that Arthur once had a mother. Not many people dared to ask. Igraine had been a popular Queen, dearly beloved by her husband and by the people. Those who knew her well spoke highly of her beauty and grace, her kindness and charity. But all Arthur had ever known of her were his father’s rare drunken stories and the false apparition Morgause had conjured to deceive him. He still wondered to this day if the witch invented everything, or if… perhaps… his mother was as beautiful and lovely as her counterfeit.

On the anniversary of Tom’s death, Arthur came by the modest blacksmith’s house dressed in the same blue cloak he had worn the first time he visited.

He was greeted with tears and an embrace as forthright as the one he had received on the night they had escaped the dragon.

“Your mother,” he whispered as he held on. “I never asked…”

“Her name was Marian.” Gwen whispered back. She lifted her head every so slightly off of his shoulder. “Your mother…”

“Igraine.” Arthur smiled weakly. “I never knew her.”

And then somehow they were kissing, in the tiny dusty room, holding on to each other for dear life, in memory of those they had lost.

Date: 2010-06-01 07:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] angelgirl171.livejournal.com
i like it how you did in the beginning about JUST about Gwen. thank you for that. second i ADORE the fact that in the end let them tell each other about their mothers. something that they have in comment and like to rely on each other about how it feels that they did not had a mother. something that brings them together. beautiful done and great piece of work.

PS: you are right there is not a lot to tell about Gwen's mother in the LEGEND also. but last i did a research about Gwen's background ( i mean Gwenhfyfwar). so i came up with a book/essay thing called "Arthur's adventures" with the 3 first knights (Bedivre, Gawain and Kay). in that story Gwenhfyfwar and Gawain end up by a misty lake where the spirit of Gwen's mother comes (sounds a bit like the lady of the lake, but still)

Date: 2010-06-01 07:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cantseethesky.livejournal.com
Thanks for commenting! I'm really glad you like it:):)

PS: Yeah I read that as well, but I notice her mother never had a name... which was sad, and also partly inspired this.

Date: 2010-06-01 07:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] xarthurxgwenx.livejournal.com
Wow this was beatiful. Gwen's mother is hardly ever mentioned in fanfiction so this was lovely to see. I love how you brought Arthur and Gwen together through their losses.

Date: 2010-06-01 07:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cantseethesky.livejournal.com
Thanks!!!=D

Date: 2010-06-01 08:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] threemeows.livejournal.com
Oh bb! This was very good! ;D I liked the paralleled structure between their two perspectives. :)

Date: 2010-06-01 08:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cantseethesky.livejournal.com
EEEEEE!!! YOU COMMENTED!!!! *controls self* YAY really glad you like this hun!!:):)

PS: Really sorry for spamming you on twitter:L:L

Date: 2010-06-01 08:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prydwen-magic.livejournal.com
aww that was beautiful - so much emotion in 500 words?! - how do you do it? lol :) thank you for sharing :D

Date: 2010-06-01 08:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cantseethesky.livejournal.com
YEY! Thankyou!!! So glad you liked it!! And I have so much love for your icon right now:L

Date: 2010-06-01 08:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prydwen-magic.livejournal.com
hehe thank you :P

Date: 2010-06-01 08:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] reseda-3067.livejournal.com
This made me cry... But it was lovely.

Date: 2010-06-01 08:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cantseethesky.livejournal.com
I don't know whether to apologize or thank you...! :L

Date: 2010-06-01 11:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] catchtheskies.livejournal.com
This was lovely. I love the fact that Arthur noticed how Gwen reacts to things and how the common loss between them brings them closer together. <3

Both of their mothers is a subject that has been bugging me for weeks now. I'm determined to find something on Guinevere's. =]

Date: 2010-06-02 10:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cantseethesky.livejournal.com
All I could find about her mother was this one story about her ghost (mentioned above). In later versions of the legend her father was always called Leodegrance, but little or nothing is known about her mother apart from that she was (presumably) married to him.

In other news: I'm glad you like the story!:):) And I love your username btw... random I know:L

Date: 2010-06-02 05:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] catchtheskies.livejournal.com
That's all I've read about her as well. Hmmm, there has to be something somewhere...lol

Thanks! Random is good! =]

Date: 2010-06-03 02:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dame-margaret.livejournal.com
This was beautifully executed. Well done.

Date: 2010-06-03 08:17 pm (UTC)

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