TITLE: Proposal
AUTHOR: Angel Starbeam
RATING: PG
It was late. The night had settled in with a high moon and bright stars, and warm since it was midsummer.
Still in euphoria, Arthur turned to Guinevere and found her panting and smiling widely. To see that smile, to know he gave her that smile-
Do it now.
It had been on his mind for months, and his mind is made up. He has to act now.
So when Gwen turned her head, her eyes glisten and smile soften, she saw Arthur's face a resolute one.
"Marry me."
Gwen was bemused. That was one way to describe her popped out eyes and her dropped jaw.
"What?"
Arthur did expect that, her reaction. Though, in rather pleasant dreams, she would jump in his arms for a kiss. But then her shock was not as if she walked into a world of trouble or that something incredibility stupid had happened, rather it was the shock she had whenever he did something she did not expect and then it pleased her.
"Marry me," He repeated.
Her shock was then marred by worry. He knew what she was worried about.
"Arthur…"
"Guinevere," he took her smooth strong hands into his, "I love you. I want us to be husband and wife. No one has a say in this, only you."
She lowered her eyes, pensive. Arthur knew what she was thinking; their stations, his father, the court, what made it all worth it.
She looked back up, "Yes."
She smiled.
Arthur let out the breath he was not aware he was holding, and he smiled with her. Gwen laughed with pure joy and they embraced and they kissed, and kissed some more, and-
"Wait," Arthur rapidly (and repentantly) drew back. Gwen followed his head, hoping to regain his lips.
"Wait."
He jumped out of the bed and came to his chest of drawers. He opened the top one that held the keys to the kingdom. Next to the keys was small brown pouch that he took out. He jumped back in bed, next to Gwen, who curiously looked as he released its single content.
It was a necklace, a simple necklace. The chain was hardly special to look at and the pendent was just a white stone.
When Arthur saw it, he knew he had to get it. Because the chain and the braid that held the stone in its place, was of fine silver and woven so delicately, with such attention, that it was strong. The white stone had a translucent sheen and would change to yellow, pink, and blue- it was an opal. Not noticeable at first, but a closer look, a careful eye and one would see its unique beauty.
Guinevere fingered the braid and the smoothness of the opal with her thumb so gently, her lips parted. Arthur then proceeded to put it around her neck, and she brushed her curls aside, out of his way and he could clasp it on. He faced her again, the necklace looked undeniable beautiful now that it was around her neck.
They kissed again.
Arthur knew planning had to be done. Whether they would fight his father and the court- which Arthur was more than willing to do- or endure the wait for him to be king. Merlin had to be told, and he must be kept silent (but then Merlin was amazingly adept at keeping secrets). They had to prepare Guinevere for any idiot who would dare challenge their engagement and her integrity. And the future life they will have- the children that will come, the king he will be and her as his queen.
For now, they would just celebrate.