Once & Future

[Guinevère]

Guinevère Stayed close to him at all times. Out int he battle she held his hand, and even when she needed to let him go in order to allow them both to tend to the kingdom, she stayed close. Kept her eyes on him. Kept half her attention on him. She believed it to be Arthur--even if that might be foolish, she believed. With her whole heart. She'd know him anywhere and she did.

On the field of battle, she'd seen him at command. With the council she'd watch hims diplomaticy, and with the injured she'd seen his face that held more then his words would ever express. She knew it too be him.

As everything slowly settled, and everyone sought their beds to rest so that tomorrow they could begin rebuilding the city, and strengthening their walls; Arthur and Guinevère went to . . . their chamber. "If it is too much, Guinevère . . . I understand." It was the first they'd had a chance to speak. They'd spoke of Camelot with the council, but this was not about the kingdom. She knew he meant him coming back from the dead. "It is. I fear if I fall sleep I will awaken to find this a dream. That if I turn from you to even change my dress that when I look back the room will be empty. I cannot count how many mornings I awoke and reached for you, only to remember you weren't there." She told him, reaching up to touch his face to help her remember how REAL and WARM and ALIVE he felt. "I've missed you."

Arthur Pendragon

[Arthur Pendragon]

Tag: Guinevère
Note: Better layout coming soon!

for the love

OF CAMELOT

Arthur's heart ached when hearing Guinevère's words. He had dragged her into this world. While he knew that she wished to be his wife, it had not been about being queen and when he . . . died, that was what he had burdened her with. The responsibility of ruling a kingdom, absent his company. The guilt felt over leaving her in such a way was . . . overwhelming. All he could do was assure her he was here now, but even still, he had no idea for how long. He wanted to trust that he would be here, yet he did not know the constraints of magic. He did not know if this was just temporary or not. He had assured her that he had no intention of leaving her and while that was true, he had made the same promise over a year ago and had still left her in this world. He looked intently at her, feeling the softness of her touch as her hand rested upon his cheek. He leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers.

"I'm here now," he practically whispered. "We have overcome so much," he told her. "Perhaps, love is even stronger than death itself." He liked to believe such a thing and considering recent events . . . it could very well be true. Moving his head back he moved to open the door, waiting for her to step inside before following. He wasn't sure what he expected to see inside; a changed room perhaps. But as he entered, all too casually closing the door behind him, he paused, looking around, taking in the sights of the familiar space. A space they shared for years. "It looks the same," he commented, thinking aloud. He wasn't certain what he thought she would have changed but . . . couldn't help but notice that it looked almost exactly as it had, last time he was here.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère felt his face on her's and the way she still remembered him doing that filled her with an emotion that was both painful and comforting. She didn't want him to move away, but she wanted to be in their chambers as well. Arthur shut the door once they were in and then he seemed to pause and look around. It was much the same. A few small things moved, but more out of need then any real effort. This was her comforting place. The Kingdom had moved on, and there was so few signs that he was still around in the kingdom--she couldn't take him from their room at the same time.

As a queen, she had to be strong for the kingdom; but as a wife she'd not even tried to move on. How did one move on when their husband had taken their whole heart with him? When Lancelot had died--both times--she'd been sad. Heartbroken. Yet it wasn't the same as when Arthur died. She'd died a little then too.

"I know that a kingdom cannot morn a king forever, that in order to survive it has to move on." No matter how beloved he was. Turning to face him fully, she finished. "But as a wife I wasn't ready." And honestly, she never would. Stepping closer, she reached her hand out to take his. "I wanted so much from a life with you. I wanted to grow old together, and have children together, and raise a kingdom together. I wanted see the day when a younger knight finally out trained you, and watch Merlin get you railed up about it. I wanted to see you hold our baby. I wanted to . . . . I wanted a life time."

"I still want all that, Arthur. With you. Even if you . . . " Again, "I only want it with you!"

Arthur Pendragon

[Arthur Pendragon]

Tag: Guinevère
Note: Better layout coming soon!

for the love

OF CAMELOT

That much was true. A kingdom could not forever mourn its sovereign. Just as when Uther died the kingdom had moved on, Arthur expected the same when it came to his passing. Yet, hearing how she mourned for him as a wife . . . made his heart ache. The knowledge of having left her; years of promises to only give her a few years in return. The ache only growing stronger when she spoke of a life she had wanted with him. A future that would hold the promise of so many years. Their time had been cut so short, and he had to believe that he hadn't returned, only to remain for a short time. That this was fate rectified its cruelty to separating them in what seemed like a permanent nature. With her hands reaching for his to hold, he held hers in return, looking deeply into her eyes as he envisioned all she spoke of.

"I want that too," he told her in a quiet voice, though thick with sincerity. They had tried for years to have children, yet it was not meant to be. Then at least. Perhaps now, was truly a second chance. "I want all that you said. A life together. A future together." He stepped closer to her so that he could wrap his arms around her. He had never taken a second for a granted after all it took them to be together, yet he often thought back on all those moments where he could have done more. Such thoughts rested on his mind when he knew he was dying. "Perhaps this is truly our second chance, Guinevère. A chance to grow old together. And . . . " He paused for a moment, a small, soft smile forming on his lips.

If he was not here for as long as he liked, then he hoped he could at least leave her with more joy in this world. "A chance to bring a child into this world." A baby. Their baby. A symbol of their love for one another. Had Merlin not told him before, Arthur would have held onto the hope that she could at least be a mother where he had left her as a widow. "Perhaps, we can have a lifetime after all." The hope of it easing the pain of what they had lost. Hope was certainly a dangerous thing to hold on to but he had to keep a strong hold of it. Whatever affairs of the kingdom that needed to be addressed, would be dealt with later. Right now, he was her husband, not a king. As it once was. As it so often had been.

[Guinevère]

Arthur took her hands when she reached for his, and Guinevère was captivated by his words. He spoke of this being a second chance for them, and she felt an emotion that had been dormant for so long begin to warm her. Hope. She felt hope, and like a fire she begin to feel it spread in her. It was just how it had happened with the people outside tonight. One moment they had their backs to a wall, fighting only to live long enough to give others a chance to escape--and suddenly . . . they fought for something more. Arthur had long since fought for the people, even as a prince he had. The people had looked to Arthur for so long, and for his candor, grace under fire, and a fair justice that didn't hold Uther's fear and hate; or Morgana's blindness and bitterness. Seeing him there that given the people hope--just as he as a husband now gave her hope as a wife.

He spoke of growing old, and . . . and? And a baby. Guinevère closed her eyes, too over come to keep them open as he spoke of a baby. Something she still feared she'd never be able to give him. Opening them, she blinked back the slight sting of tears, as she smiled up at him. "I want nothing more, then a life time as your wife!" She told him, stepping in to hug him (and hating that she still could not feel his body under the chainmail).

She could not say that she always saw him as something more then a prince, but she had always seen him as more then a king. Since Eldor, since that day she held his hand when she feared the prince she should not care for was dying, since he first kissed her. She had seen him as a man before a royal. When she spoke now, it was to a man--a husband--more then a king. "It's what I have always wanted, to be by your side. I was grateful for the time we had . . . but loosing you . . . I am still afraid that isn't . . . " He would understand. Her voice broke over the words, but Arthur had always known her. Reaching up to her toes, she rested her face against his. "But I will cherish every moment you are here, and I plan to waste not one of them. Be it tonight, or a life time. I want to be with you." As a wife. In a wife way.

Arthur Pendragon

[Arthur Pendragon]

Tag: Guinevère
Note: Better layout coming soon!

for the love

OF CAMELOT

He wanted to promise her a lifetime. More than anything, he wanted to promise her forever. But he had once made such a promise and his death broke it. He could not bare the same thing twice. What he could promise, was to cherish every second together. To do all that he could for her safety, and the safety of the kingdom. In such a thought, there was much that needed to be done. His mind trying to process all he had found out since his passing, and all the threats that loomed before them. But it would wait. It would all have to wait until tomorrow. Tonight, it was just about the two of them. Her fear was a mutual one, for he still feared that his return was not permanent.

As he had previously thought of however, surely, fate was not to cruel as to bring him back . . . only to take him again. He closed his eyes, taking in a slow breath as she rested his face against him, his arms holding her close. "And I with you," he told her softly. He drew his head back, only to slowly open his eyes so that he could gaze upon her. "I have been in this chainmail for far too long." An assumption that he had worn it since the battle at Camlann. In attempt to lighten the mood, to remind them of playfulness of the past, he continued. "And I seem to remember, rules against wearing it in the bedroom." A tease; a reference to something she had once told him shortly after they were married. He wanted these to be the memories she carried with her, should he not be returned to her for good. He wanted to make her smile. He wanted to make her happy.

[Guinevère]

"And I with you," He pulled back and Guinevère looked up at him, HIM, her husband. She had been in so much shock this day she wasn't sure that she'd even fully realized all the remifcations of Arthur being back. And he was back. The rest could be dealt with on the morrow. Tonight he wasn't a king. He was her husband--and her husband was back. After so many night alone. After looking at his empty pillow and feeling so overwhelmed, and as if apart of her was missing--he was before her. . . . . in chainmail.

"I have been in this chainmail for far too long." He he worn it all this time? Did he remember what death was like? They'd said so little, and she wanted to say so much. Wanted to ask so many things, but wanted to forget them too. "And I seem to remember, rules against wearing it in the bedroom." The words left her, and a smile touched her lips in the same moment a tear rolled down her cheek from all the emotion his light jest had brought on. Her rule. The one she'd playfully given him but enforced none the less. Chainmail didn't belong int he bed room. She liked his skin. "I thought it bad form to scold you so soon." She teased him, though her voice was breathless, a she was still adjusting.

Yet, a smile still lingered on her lips. Reaching up to his shoulder she unfastened the breast plate, and then her hands lowered to his belt, getting him remove the plate as she did the belt. "If you are tired," she began, knowing he came from .. . . . knowing he had just returned from the after life only to see a war ranging in his childhood home. The end up fighting for his kingdom, as if the last war that he fought in hadn't been enough. The words went unfinished, but she knew that if he was then she'd hold him. If he wasn't . . . she needed to feel more. Wanted to feel his kiss. Wanted to feel his touch. Wanted to feel that he was alive.

Arthur Pendragon

[Arthur Pendragon]

Tag: Guinevère
Note: Better layout coming soon!

for the love

OF CAMELOT

Seeing her smile warmed his heart, and prompted his own, his lips curling into the expression that was so easy to wear in front of her. He had felt so genuinely happy in the time they had together, and the emotion remained now. "Your scolding words are never in bad form," he teased in return. He wanted to encourage this. Her smiles. The light hearted conversation despite the difficult ones that would eventually come. "They are after all, what drew me to you." Another tease, yet one that held truth. It had been her scolding that made him look at her; really, look at her for the first time in Ealdor.

He remained still, feeling the weight lifted with each piece she removed, as he just watched her. How many times she had done this before, and yet, he never took it for granted, watching her with a soft expression as if it was the first time she removed his armour. "Have I ever been too tired?" He said with a playful tease in his voice. He felt his heart beat with anticipation, for even though he had not experienced the same passage of time . . . he could feel the time that had stood between them. To further ensure there was no doubt in her mind, he leaned forward, slowly, still mindful of how this must be towards her. Not wanting to push her, yet wanting her to feel him as clearly as she saw him. His lips brushed against hers, before slowly and gently pressing them against her mouth in a soft but proper kiss.

[Guinevère]

His answer, spoken in the tone she loved so well, made her heart flutter. "Have I ever been too tired?" And her muscles in her belly, and lower, tighten from an anticipation she'd not felt in so very long. His voice alone had that much power over her, even after him being gone for so long. It was comforting, and edgy in the way that her body knew his voice. Responded to his timber without a touch--but he did touch her.

Slowly, almost too slowly for she wanted to feel him, he lowered his head. Guinevère would not rush this moment, even as her blood moved quicker. She wanted to savor it. The light kiss, the taste of him on her lips. Her hands left their work, letting it fall to the ground as her hands lifted to cup his jawline--which was still as dramatic as ever--and frame his face as the kiss deepened.

She wanted to feel him, to smell him, and taste him. Yet she didn't want to break this moment for anything. She tasted him, and he tasted as she knew, and yet better then before. His lips were still firm and soft all in the same moment, tasting her and kissing her. Arthur always did know how to kiss her, and knowing that memory was true made her smile slightly int he kiss. She was happy. So very happy in this moment! The kind of happy that she was afraid to loss.

Arthur Pendragon