bennie

Anyone who had heard of Morgana’s famed beauty would have been shocked to see her now. Her face was the epitome of fury as she stomped through the (thankfully largely empty) halls of Camelot. Morgana had practically ran away from the irritating blonde whom Uther insisted would be her new companion.

‘Companion!’ Morgana snorted to herself as she approached another corner. ‘We’ll see about that! That woman is the most insufferable, presumptuous…’ she wheeled around the corner at an incredible speed, whacking straight into the poor servant who had been in just the wrong place at the wrong time.

She was rather embarrassed to find she had landed right on top of him.

She was even more embarrassed when she saw just who she was lying on top of.

“Merlin!” she gasped, getting up swiftly and re-arranging her dress. “I was just on my way to see Uther…”

Merlin turned bright red, and scrambled to his feet. Morgana would have laughed out loud at the sight if she wasn’t so flustered herself.

“Well, you’ll have to wait.” Merlin was suddenly very interested in the wooden panneling. “Arthur’s in there right now.”

As if on cue, Prince Arthur, heir to the leader of the realm (yadda, yadda) burst through the door.

‘Why does he always have to make such a dramatic entrance?’ Merlin thought.

“Merlin, you’d better have washed that …” he paused, seeing Morgana’s flustered expression and Merlin’s guilty glances.

“Morgana.” He never took his suspicious eyes of Merlin. “You’ll have to excuse me, Merlin and I have things we need to discuss.”

“Of course. I was just going to see Uther.” She hurried past Arthur, closing the large wooden doors behind her.

“Merlin.” Arthur began, but Merlin cut across.

“Look, I know what you’re going to say, but don’t bother. I haven’t got any affections for the Lady Morgana, so you can stop with the whole older-brother act!” Merlin crossed his arms.

“I saw both of your expressions just now. You can’t fool me, Merlin,” Arthur smirked knowingly, but then his face grew serious. “But who am I to judge you when I …” he trailed off.

“…have affections for a forbidden lady yourself?” Merlin grinned.

“Oh, shut up, Merlin.”

* * * *

“Morgana.” Uther raised his eyebrows, “I thought you would be entertaining the Lady Indeg?”

“That is what I came to talk to you about.” Morgana took a deep breath. “The fact is, I can’t stand her! I understand that her father is an important ally to Camelot, but she is so…” she trailed off, struggling to find words to describe her. “Infuriating!”

“I must admit, I am curious,” Uther began, looking rather amused at this child’s rant. “What has she done to insult you so grievously?”

“She cast aspersions that you … she dared to suggest that I …” Morgana clenched and unclenched the fists at her side.

“Whatever she has said, I am sure she meant no offence.” Uther said patiently. “And after… recent events.” Uther paused at the unpleasant memory. Morgana found it almost funny that he couldn’t refer to the fact that he had recently (albiet accidentally) married a troll. “I consider it an honour that they chose to visit us at all.”

“But, there’s something about her. I know I’ve seen her before somewhere, perhaps in a dream, I have this feeling…” Morgana’s conviction was fierce.

“That’s enough Morgana.” Uther insisted. “Lord Auburton and his daughter are our guests of honour, I cannot send them away because you ‘have this feeling’”

“Have it your way.” Morgana’s eyes flashed dangerously. “I know you’re making the wrong decision!”

“Morgana,” Uther sighed. “One day you will have some responsibility placed on your shoulders. Then, perhaps, you may understand.”

* * * *

“…and naturally it shall be a spring wedding! I wouldn’t have it otherwise! And the bridesmaids shall all wear gowns of emerald… I did hope Lady Morgana would be one of the party, although now I think about it, it wouldn’t do to have the Maid of Honour outshine the bride! And of course Arthur must be wearing his crown and my dress shall be made of the finest satin for a future Queen. Queen Indeg! Oh I do like that. Now, I wonder if my father would consent to pay for…”

Gwen was tempted to give Lady Indeg a piece of her mind … How she would love to throw Lady Indeg’s fine satin and emerald gowns right back at her face! How she would love to turn around and slap her new mistress on the face, shouting, “You haven’t even met your beloved Arthur yet!”

Twice in her life she had crossed the line between servant and master. Both times, it had been Arthur. She wouldn’t … couldn’t do it again.

“What do you think?” Lady Indeg crooned. “Scarlet? I do believe this suits me best…”

Oh, how Gwen wanted to run to her room, to cry her eyes out and lie awake all night weeping for both of her lost lovers.

“That looks lovely, My Lady.”

But of course, she never would.

* * * *

The night of the feast had finally arrived! Nobles from all over the country flocked to Camelot, eager to impress the King and the Lord Auburton.

Countless plates of everything one could possibly imagine filled the air with the smell of joy, the Ladies and Lords danced, the servants kept their master’s cups filled to the brim and all wore a smile upon their face.

Everybody was happy and smiling, dancing or watching the spectacle … everyone except for Gwen.

“Oh, he is sure to come soon!” Lady Indeg practically swooned. “I simply cannot wait! Do you think he will ask me to dance? I will positively faint if he asks me to dance!”

Gwen wondered if she had wronged her mistress in some way. There was no other possible reason Morgana would have chosen to put her through such torture as this.

Suddenly trumpets were blown and all eyes whisked to the wooden doors at the far end of the room. A portly man with a large feather on his hat stood up and announced; “All rise for King Uther Pendragon, ruler of our lands, his son the Crown Prince Arthur Pendragon and the King’s Ward the Lady Morgana!”

“Oh my goodness!” Lady Indeg practically fell over in excitement, “He’s coming! He’s coming!”

For the first time since Gwen had met Lady Indeg, she felt they were in perfect agreement.

And suddenly, Gwen thought time had slowed down … The wooden doors opened at what felt like an incredibly slow pace. The first footfall of King Uther’s boots echoed throughout the room as he stepped across the threashold, his cloak billowed over his shoulders, Morgana at his side, looking just as beautiful as ever … and then came Arthur.

And time stopped, Gwen’s breathing hitched. She was vaguely aware of the faint pressure that was Lady Indeg gripping her arm, but all she could focus on was Arthur’s golden hair, his bright blue eyes, his lovably arrogant stride. She could see his eyes wondering across the room, searching for something, someone.

And their gazes locked.

Her breathing stopped.

His eyes were full of the same pain that she had seen in them the last time they had spoken… The same anguish. She desperately wished she could stride across that room and take his face in her hands and kiss away all that pain…

Suddenly she dropped her gaze. Where had that thought come from? ‘He’s a prat.’ She reminded herself, ‘A prat who kissed you all but once. A prat who could never be yours.’

And as if to confirm that thought, Lady Indeg leaned over and whispered. “Oh Lord! He is as handsome as they say! He will make a very fine husband indeed…”

It took all of Gwen’s strength not to say anything.

Oh how she wished she was at home. In bed.

* * * *

The feast had passed, and though Lady Indeg moaned that all the fun had ended far too soon, Gwen couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief. She no longer had to stand in the corner, constantly filling some noble or other’s cup and occasionally (accidentally, of course) glancing at Arthur.

Who was always glancing back.

She didn’t have to go through the torture of watching him dance with a thousand other girls, much, much prettier and much more suitable than her. Or listen to Lady Indeg’s endless talk of wedding bells and fine dresses.

She had one last duty to perform, help Lady Indeg prepare for bed, and then, at last, she could go home.

“Well, the first he danced with the Lady Morgana, which vexed me greatly, her beauty is famed across the land… but then of course she is like a sister to him, is she not? The second he danced with Annalise, daughter of the Earl of Barrington, but I am sure that was mearly charity, she is a plain girl. Then of course, he danced with me, I was a little put out that he should…”

Gwen swore that if she had to put up with more of this her head might explode.

“If that is all, My Lady, I have other duties to attend to.” Gwen attempted a polite lie.

“Oh, how silly of me! Of course you must go.”

Gwen curtsied and turned to the door.

“Goodnight, Guinevere.” called Lady Indeg. Gwen froze.

‘Don’t call me Guinevere,’ she thought, ‘No one calls me Guinevere… No one except…’ she refused to think the name.

“Goodnight, My Lady.” said Gwen, and left.

* * * *

Arthur couldn’t believe Uther’s choice in women. For himself, he picks a troll. For his son, he picks the singularly most annoying woman in the entire world.

‘Then again,’ he thought as he wandered Camelot’s many corridors, ‘What woman would I have picked for myself?’

Then the words came back to him;

‘My father won’t let me rescue a servant. Do you honestly expect he’d let me marry one?”

He had said it without thought before… But was that really what he wanted? To marry Guinevere?

It was just as he thought this that she appeared.

“Oh!” Arthur watched in fascination as Gwen blushed and faltered at seeing him.

“My Lord.” she curtsied and bowed her head, a dark curl fell from behind her ear and onto her face.

“Guinevere.” He nodded.

There was an awkward silence.

“Well,” he coughed, “I’d better be going …” he trailed off.

“Yes.” She interjected, “Me too. I have a million things to do.” She smiled, raising her eyes to his.

The dark curl of her hair was blocking Arthur’s view of her eyes, instinctively, and without thought, he reached up and tucked it behind her ear.

She froze, her breathing quickening. Arthur’s hand lingered on her jaw, his blue eyes boring into her own.

And like lightening, his hands were cupping her face and he was leaning down and he was kissing her, more fiercely, more passionately than he had before. And she was most definitely kissing him back. Her hands were around his waist and her loose bun fell as his hands wove through her hair. Her head was spinning – how could she ever have compared Lancelot’s peck to this?

And then, someone coughed.

Arthur and Gwen sprung from each other like deer caught in the headlights.

A familiar eyebrow of disapproval greeted them.

“So, since when has this been going on?” asked Gaius.

* * * *

“Are you two out of your senses?!” Gaius shouted, as soon as he’d ushered them away from the very public halls into his own chambers.

Even Arthur winced.

“Look … Gaius.” Gwen began.

“No, Gwen, there is no excuse for this! It has to end, here. Now.”

“No.” Arthur said, he had that look on his face. Everyone knows when you see that look, the Crown Prince of England will have his way.

“Excuse me, sire?” The eyebrow was back.

“I said no.”

Arthur swallowed and turned to Gwen. “I’ve tried to ignore you, I’ve tried to forget about you, but the fact is … I can’t.”

Gwen felt her heartbeat increase considerably … Did he really say … was this some kind of crazy, perfect dream?

“The fact is … ” he paused, “I love you Guinevere.” He whispered.

This time, it was her who initiated the kiss.

Merlin poked his head through his bedroom door, “Hey, what’s going on in here? I thought I heard shouting…?” he trailed off, seeing the tangle of limbs that was Arthur and Gwen.

Gaius rolled his eyes. “What can you do? Young love!”

Morgana emerged from behind Merlin, “About time! Guess we’re not the only ones, eh?” she grinned, giving Merlin a peck on the lips.

Gaius simply stood between the embracing couples, stunned.

* * * *

THE END