Rating: pg
Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Gwen, Merlin, Gwaine, Elyan, Percival, Leon, Gaius OC (Jenney (a maid))
Summary: Separation, sickness and unresolved feelings confront the newly married Royals.
Author's notes: This was an entry in the LC3 challenge ag_fics. Chapter 1 is the original entry. Theme word/s: Elements (rain), Newly wed
I decided to continue the element theme through the chapters. There are four chapters for the four elements; water, fire, air, earth.
THE HEART'S BEAT
Chapter 1: THE BEATING OF THE RAIN (WATER)
Gwen stands at the window and watches as the rain pours down. He should be back by now but there is still no word. They should be on their wedding trip not separated. She turns from the window as one of the young maids enters the room.
"My Lady, is there anything I can get you?"
"My husband." Gwen turns back to the window and sighs.
"Um." The girl looks at the floor not knowing how to respond.
"It's alright Jenney. You can help me prepare for bed."
"Yes, My Lady." Jenney was glad there was something she could do for the new Queen.
Gwen leaves the window and moves to the dressing area. Jenney unlaces the elaborate gown and helps her step out of it. Gwen starts to pull the pins from her hair as the maid brings a fresh nightdress.
~X~
They are at least a day from Camelot and the rain is only slowing them down. Arthur is wet and annoyed. He regrets having to leave Gwen to take care of a problem on the border with Odin. Why is there always some kind of issue on the boarder of Odin? He should have just sent the Knights and stayed with Gwen. He will have to be away from her yet another night.
Arthur sighs and shifts in the saddle to look behind him. The Knights behind him look bedraggled and miserable. Merlin looks like a drowned rat. The rain has even made Merlin quiet. They need to get out of this and soon or they will catch their death of cold. As if a prayer was answered an old hay barn comes into view.
"Here, we will take shelter in there." Arthur called to the Knights. He quickens his mount's pace and the other Knights do the same.
Arthur, the five Knights, Merlin and the horses all try to find a dry spot in the dilapidated building. After a bit of sorting out, a fire is made in a cleared out spot and a pot of beans is put on to cook.
"I am soaked thru and I think my chainmail is rusting." Gwaine complains as he moves to sit by the small fire.
"I miss my bed." Merlin sighs as he stirs the food.
"I miss my wife." Arthur looks around at the Knights. "We should all be home."
"It's not your fault, Arthur; we would already be home if it wasn't for this rain." Elyan said as he peeled his cloak off his chainmail and armor. "I'm sure Gwen is fine, safe and warm in bed."
"Yes, I'm sure she is." Arthur looked out thru the open door way at the pouring rain. If the rain did stop, the road would still be difficult to travel quickly on. He may be out yet one more night still.
~X~
Gwen pulled a quilt off the bed and went to sit in the chair by the fire. Jenney had gone and she was alone. This was what being Queen was going to be like, waiting for Arthur to come home from this or that. Gwen smiled. Would she want a different life than the one she chose? Never.
He would be home soon and then they could take the wedding trip he promised. She couldn't wait to see Cornwall again. Her last trip was with Morgana but that seemed like a lifetime ago.
Gwen looked at the fire and hoped he was dry and warm but from the looks of the storm raging outside there was little chance of it. Gwen sighed and picked up the embroidery on the table next to her. She looked at it and just put it back. She should try to get some sleep but when she looked at their bed she couldn't bring herself to spend the night there without him. She snuggled down into the quilt and dozed off.
~X~
Arthur tried to get comfortable in the musty smelling hay but it made his nose itch and he was still damp under his chainmail. He looked around at the knights and Merlin. All were asleep in various positions. He grinned and thought that they could sleep anywhere. He sighed and tried another position maybe that would help. He started to doze.
~X~
The day dawned bright and sunny the rain had stopped but there were large puddles in the roads. They would have to be careful of the horses footing.
Arthur was the first to rise, waking Merlin then the others. He was eager to get started. After a quick breakfast and the horses had been saddled once again they headed off.
The roads were even worse than they thought as they neared Camelot. There were rock slips and trees that had fallen into the road in places. This made them have to walk the horses over the uneven ground even more slowly.
Arthur was getting even more annoyed at the slow pace. Merlin was chatting with Gwaine and Elyan about a particular serving girl at the 'Rising Sun' that he fancied. Leave it to Merlin to get dating advice from those two. Arthur shook his head and kept moving.
~X~
Gwen woke early and sat in the chair waiting on the maid. She looked at the unused bed and sighed. Nothing to do but get on with the day.
Jenney came in with the breakfast tray and looked from the queen to the unused bed. "My Lady, did you not get any sleep at all? This is the third night you have been in that chair."
"I got some. We will keep this between us. I do not want the King to worry every time he leaves to protect the kingdom that I will not get rest. He should be home by supper time so I will not be in the chair tonight."
"Yes, Your Majesty. What dress would you like for today?" Jenney knew how to keep quiet at least to the King. Now the Queen didn't say anything about telling Merlin. She put the breakfast on the table and headed for the clothes press.
"The blue will do fine, the one with the embroidery down the front." Gwen stretched and went to eat as Jenney retrieved the dress. "There is a council meeting today and then arrangements must be made for the Autumn feast."
"Do you want me to tell cook you will be down to see her?" Jenney asked.
"Yes, I will be there after the midday meal to discuss the menu. I also need to go over the guest list. Arthur wants to add to it I think but that will have to wait."
Gwen got into her dress and Jenney arranged her hair. She looked in the mirror and sighed. The duties of Queen must be seen to even if all she wanted to do was stand on the steps and wait for Arthur.
~X~
Arthur and the knights had not got very far when a tree blocked the road in front of them. They all dismounted. There was no way to get around the tree safely with the horses. It had to be moved.
"Percival, what do you think?" Arthur looked to his strongest knight.
"I can move it, Sire, with assistance. Elyan can you take your axe to it there?" Elyan nodded and chopped the tree separating it from the stump where it had cracked. Percival and Leon pushed the now free tree into the woods and over the embankment.
Arthur went to look at where the tree split. "There was lightning here. Let's get going. I want to get to Camelot before nightfall."
Merlin shook his head and said. "I don't think we are going to make it at this pace, Arthur."
"Did I ask you, Merlin?" Arthur looked at him as he mounted his horse. "By the way Merlin, you might think of some flowers for the girl and not a serenade. I have heard you sing and she will laugh you off."
"Thanks, I'll remember that." Merlin rolled his eyes behind Arthur's back. He then looked at Gwaine and Elyan as they both were trying to stifle a laugh.
~X~
The council meeting was just routine things. No decisions had to be made right away. Gwen took the midday meal in the now empty council chambers. She looked around at the room. She couldn't even guess how many times she had scrubbed the floor or scraped the wax off the candle stands and floor. Now she was Queen and someone else did it. It made her feel restless. She was always used to having more than enough hard work to occupy her day.
Jenney came to take the dishes away. Gwen looked at her maid and smiled. "Thank you, Jenney."
Gwen stood and headed to the kitchens to discuss the Autumn feast with the cook. She was planning feasts now not serving at them. She still wished to be waiting on the steps but maybe she will hear something soon. After the kitchens her next stop is to check on Gaius and see that he is not worrying too much. She was worrying enough for both of them.
~X~
The sun was starting to set and they were at least two hours away from Camelot. Arthur turned in the saddle and looked at them all. "I want to continue on and not set camp. We are only a few hours away."
Leon, who was next to Arthur, nodded. "There should be moonlight tonight with the clear skies but we will still need to be careful, Sire."
"Agreed", Arthur said. The other knights nodded in silent confirmation. Merlin just sighed. "Don't worry Merlin I'm sure Gaius will be waiting with warm milk for you."
Merlin thought that wouldn't be a bad thing but he would never say it to Arthur. "Yes, Arthur and love does make you do strange things like stumble through the dark to get home."
"Merlin, if and I say if that serving girl gives you the time of day you may just well understand love." Arthur chuckled.
"I'll just have Gwen explain it to me." Merlin shot back.
Arthur laughed.
~X~
Gwen was standing at the window in there chambers, waiting still. Jenney was moving around the room tidying up this and that. Off in the distance she saw a glimmer of metal. Was that Arthur or is it a trick of the moonlight? She grabbed her cloak and headed to the door.
Jenney looked up from what she was doing. "My Lady, where are you going?"
"I thought I saw something in the distance." Gwen explained.
"Shall I send the guard?" Jenney was reluctant to let her mistress go out in the night by herself.
"No, it may be nothing but I'm going to get some air anyway." She put on her cloak and walked out of the room.
Jenney just stared after her mistress.
Gwen stood at the top of the steps and took a deep breath of the cool night air. Was she imagining she saw him or did she really see him?
~X~
The outline of the citadel stood out against the night sky. Finally home, Arthur thought. He quickened his pace as much as he dared. The knights looked at each other knowingly and did the same.
As they reached the draw bridge Arthur thought that he saw her. He urged the horse faster into the courtyard. Arthur dismounted and handed the reins to a waiting stable boy. "Guinevere, have you been waiting there for me the whole time I was gone?"
"No, but I wanted too." Gwen smiled and held her arms open to him. Arthur took the steps two at a time to reach her open arms. They shared a deep kiss. They held each other as the other knights came into the courtyard and dismounted.
Merlin was the last to dismount. He started up the steps to attend to Arthur. Gwen looked over at her friend and frowned.
Arthur followed her gaze. "Merlin, go home and get to bed. That goes for all of you." Arthur put his arm around his wife and led her to their chambers.
Jenney had not heard the arrival and was surprised when the King came thru the door. "Your Majesty, welcome back." She curtseyed quickly.
Gwen took one look at her husband and sighed. "Do you want a hot bath?"
"No, I want to get out of these wet things and get in bed with you." Arthur grinned mischievously.
Gwen smiled and blushed a little. "You may go Jenney. I'll see you in the morning. Merlin will probably be late so you can bring the breakfast tray."
"Yes, my lady." Jenney blushed deeply, curtseyed again and left them alone.
"Arthur, really, in front of my maid?" She teased him. "Come here and let me help you with your armor." Her fingers made quick work of the armor and it was soon piled by the fire along with the chainmail and the sodden clothes underneath.
She brought him dry breeches and a tunic. Arthur donned the breeches and laid the tunic aside and took her into his arms and kissed her deeply. "Did you miss me?"
"Yes, I did." She leaned into his bare chest spreading her hands out. She loved the feel of his bare chest.
He leaned down to kiss her again as he unlaced her gown. He helped her out of it and they went to lie on the soft bed. They snuggled close to each other and kissed again.
Gwen reveled in the feel of his arms around her. She would never stop worrying every time he left but now it was different. She was his wife. It made separations even harder now but she had faith in him to return to her and to Camelot.
Arthur smiled as he fell asleep. I am where I belong, he thought.
Soon they were asleep, too exhausted to stay awake a minute longer.