Title: Cheeks and Roses
Summary: Arthur watches on as his cousin flirts with Gwen.
Notes: Originally written for the prompt "One of Arthur's cousins tries to hit on Gwen." over at C_L lj. I recently added something extra at the end.
:
Arthur sucked on a grape between his lips to hide his pout as he watched Guinevere's reaction to his cousin's charm. Her fingers lightly brush the material of her dress atop her heart in flattery as she tilts her head and smiles in kindness, on her other hand she holds a single moon daisy given to her by him. The same type of flower and others more decorate the room that holds this welcoming party for the arrival of his cousins, who have come with provisions for the recovery of Camelot.
Charming prince he is indeed, thinks Arthur sarcastically. For giving her a flower from the same pot she has arranged.
He regards the two them carefully from across the room. A feeling from within his chest pinches as he realizes no one but himself is minding the exchange between the beautiful handmaiden and the visiting prince. If it were he flirting with her so openly, people would make a mindful notice and his father would surely have a talk with him.
Hidden notes and inconspicuous flowers seem to be the only way of reassurances for them this past week. There was that slight brush of fingers between them before he entered the hall this evening, and in that moment he wanted no more than to be her escort to the feast. But it is not so...
Arthur nearly spilled his drink in surprise as he watched wide eyed as a hand gently pulled Gwen's wrists forward, and the puckered lips of his cousin sloppily land wetly on her cheek. Gwen looked stunned for a moment but recovers quickly and smiles at her new admirer.
Five year old Gareth's chubby cheeks burn a color bright and red but proudly grin despite it, missing tooth and all.
Arthur grumbled something resembling a sigh as he leaned heavily back on his chair in defeat. The little one could get away with a little public display of affection with Guinevere and he's stuck beside his father and Gawain eating chicken. Thus is the woe of Camelot's prince.
He only hopes that she would blush the same bright red as his cousin tonight when she discovers the roses he'd personally stemmed from the castle gardens, waiting for her at her home.
So Arthur bites into a cob of corn to hide his smile at the thought.
:
Earlier that day:
"Watter you doin'?"
Arthur jerked his head in surprise at being caught. He turned his head to find little Gareth on his tippy toes looking over his shoulder. "Nothing for you to be concerned about," he said in a nicer way than the way he told Merlin off that morning.
"Your hands are bleeding," Gareth said after several minutes of watching Arthur.
"None of your concern," repeated Arthur between his teeth as another thorn pricked his fingers.
"Why don'tya have a servant to do that, that's what they're for, right?"
Arthur sighed and looked at the stems of roses he'd already picked out and then at Gareth. "I am," he waved wounded hands, "making a gesture."
"A gesture, why?"
A pause. "To, ah, express, erm," How to make this discreet to a little boy? "To extend my kindness towards someone."
Gareth stared at him blankly. "Do ladies like flowers?"
"What?" That was sudden. Arthur raised his eyebrows, "Yes?"
"Okay," he abruptly turned around, finally leaving Arthur to his own concern (but now his concern is what his little cousin is up to), towards the kitchens where bundles of moon daisies were already picked and stemmed, waiting to be arranged.
.