It has been a long day. My feet kill me, and I have a huge headache from gossip maids. They really cannot shut their mouths about who is slighting whom or who is taking whom for a lover. I would not be able to bear it if those harpies ever found out who I am pining for in secret. It would be too embarrassing to have this person know how I feel.
Foot falls rustling the grass outside the window, Gwen closed the book she has opened and listened for the knock on the door. The knock was urgent. Curiously, Gwen went to let in her guest.
Upon opening the door, Arthur walked in, clearly without permission, but Gwen does not wish to protest the crown prince in her house. His face looked concerned and anxious. "I am here to inquire how you are feeling. I was informed that you ran off quickly after your chores were done."
Gwen raises an eyebrow at Arthur. "I am quite alright. Thank you. Did Morgana ask you to come here in her stead?"
Walking around the room, Arthur nonchalantly picks up random objects and looks at them curiously. He tried not to appear startled by the question. "Yes," he replied without looking at Gwen.
"You can tell her I'm fine, Arthur. She shouldn't worry so much," Gwen stated affirmatively, smiling warmly at Arthur. This soon becomes a look of horror, she sees him pick up her book and flip through it.
Reading a passage from the book, Arthur smirked to himself. Gwen's stomach tightened in knots. It was bad enough that Arthur is in her house. The horrifying part was that he was reading her private thoughts and feelings. Smiling, Arthur set the book down and looked at her. "Curious writings, Guinivere, would that be a novel?"
"It would be a novel, yes," Gwen replied, breathing a sigh of relief, "it hadn't a chance to be finished yet."
"That's good. The girl won't survive if she has kept her feelings bottled up inside. If she told the boy, she would feel so much better."
The faintest hint of a blush graced Gwen's cheeks. "It will be a long time before the girl has the nerve to tell the boy how she feels."
"This isn't the dark ages, Gwen, girls tell boys how they feel all the time, " Arthur laughs heartily.
"Yes, well, some of them also give a little more than a statement of affection," Gwen stammered out as she avoided Arthur's eyes, which caused Arthur to smile at Gwen.
"What's so wrong about getting a little something something extra? A romantic girl like you would love for a man to sweep you off your feet, take you back to his lair, and have his way with you."
"You are teasing me, Arthur. Why do you always have to do that?"
Arthur only shrugged, "It would be so much easier if you told me who you like."
"I will not tell one living soul who I like."
"What if I told you who I liked as well?" Arthur smiled knowingly at Gwen.
Gwen blushed. "I still don't want to tell you."
"That's fine, Guinevere," Arthur spoke calmly. He turned to the leave the house; his head cocked to side, he added, "I guess Merlin was right then. You aren't much fun. "
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"You need to lighten up once in a while, Guinevere. All work and no play make Gwen a dull girl." Arthur bid farewell, sauntered out of Gwen's house, back to the castle. Gwen was left feeling confused.
Arthur got the better of her this time.