"Guinevere."
A pair of warm lips gently places a soft kiss against my left cheek. His lips linger there for a few seconds before moving towards my temple. He presses himself closer from behind me. The heat from his chest penetrates deeply through the thin silk material of my night gown against my back. I hope he would not notice the accelerated beating of my heart.
I could feel his fingers entwining in my curly brown hair. He went to move a lock behind my ear.
"Wake up, my love."
His hot breath so close against my left ear made my body shiver. I sucked in a sharp breath. No denying that he noticed. He let out a small chuckle. The hand that caressed my hair was now moving lower to rest on my hip. He gave the flesh there a gently squeeze before sliding his hand to the front of my stomach. His fingers begin to massage the soft skin on my belly. Every touch he was making made my heart beat faster and my breath shorter.
"My beautiful wife." His voice was but a whisper, still, so close to my ear.
Wife. My eyes shot open.
Arthur and I held our marriage ceremony last night. It was still much a blur, but that is what I am now.
A wife.
Arthur's wife.
Soon to be crowned Queen of Camelot.
I rolled my body to face him.
My husband.
He gently places his forehead to rest against mine. I had nowhere to look but into his beautiful green eyes.
"Good morning, my wife." My heart wanted to leap out of my chest. Hearing him call me that sounded so good coming from his lips. He stayed there with his intense eyes piercing back into mine, waiting. I knew what it was he was fishing for. He needed to hear it too.
"Good morning, my husband." My voice was small and almost inaudible. But it was enough.
I saw a flash of his handsome grin before feeling his lips upon mine. The kiss was long and feverish and I couldn't help but let a small groan escape from my lips. A blush creeps up on my chest and cheeks when I realize how silly the noises I make must be. But it only makes him crush his lips onto mine even more. When we finally break apart, our short breaths mingle into each other. We stare into each other's eyes for what seems like a small eternity. It was him who broke the silence.
"Tis almost midday." This really surprises me.
"What? Are you sure?" I turn to face the east window. Sure enough, the sun is shining very brightly and straight into the room. I almost shoot out of bed when I felt his strong arms slip around my waist.
"Hang on a minute, Guinevere. There's no need to be so eager to get out of bed."
I can't help but look back at him with questioning eyes. All my life I had been so used to working as a serving girl from the start of dawn long till the sun had set at night. Every day. By this time, I would have already finished with the washing and cleaning. Now, I would starting on setting the lunch table for the castle's household. He must have sensed where my mind was.
"You do not have to worry about those things anymore, Guinevere." Both his hands went to hold my face close to his. He's right. There's no need to go back to that working schedule. I am the wife of the King of Camelot. Not a serving girl anymore. That will take a lot of getting used to.
"Besides, I want to cherish this morning. It is the day after our wedding night after all." Although he wasn't flashing one of his crooked grins, I can hear the smirk in his voice. My face begins to feel hot all over again thinking about how we had started our paths together as husband and wife. Never had I felt anything so magical, so wonderful. He leaves lingering kisses both my cheeks. I was such a nervous wreck. I still am a nervous wreck and I knew he can see the embarrassment in my eyes. Still cupping my face, he looks deep into my eyes.
"My beautiful wife, words cannot express how incandescently content you have made me. Last night was the best night of my being." And with that, it was I who leans in to wrap my arms around his neck. I bury my face in his neck so deep to breathe in his intoxicating scent of man and rose petals. I can't help but laugh as I break free and see the crushed red petals that surround us in bed. A romantic gesture courtesy of Merlin.
"Yes well… I'll have Merlin clean this mess up." He nervously laughs. I gasp.
"No, he can't! I'll clean it up!" I jump out of bed and start smoothing out the pillows and stripping the cover off the bed.
"But my love, I already said you don't have to be a serving girl anymore. This isn't your job." His eyebrows knit together, expressing confusion.
"I don't mind!" I say too enthusiastically. He catches on quickly. He steps in front of me, peeling the covers from my hands to wrap his caressing hands in mine.
"Guinevere."
I can't help but feel my breathing slightly falter as I hear him say my name through his wonderful lips.
"Darling, do not feel embarrassed by what took place last night." I narrow my eyes.
"I-…I am not embarrassed. I just… don't want… Merlin to… see the mess we have made." The words struggle to leave my mouth. His loud laugh startles me. I can't help but smile as I watch his face light up.
"It was our first night together as husband and wife. Merlin may be an idiot but he's not that stupid. He'll see how much we loved his gift to us."
His scoops up a handful of broken petals and showers them around us. He then kneels down to one knee and takes my hands into his.
"Anyway, my queen, how would you like to start our day together?" I'm taken back by his movement.
"But I am not queen yet." I nervously say. The coronation isn't for another seven days. He sighs.
"Oh, Guinevere. How wrong you are. You have always been queen in my heart since I first loved you." His voice is sweet and serene.
"Is that so?" I laugh lightly.
"Yes, It's very much so, my queen." He beams his warm smile up at me and my heart melts. His fingers run over my knuckles and wedding band. The feel of the metal seems to make him smile even brighter.
"Shall we start off our day with a nice hot breakfast, my queen?" He's still waiting for an answer. Oh, there is another way which I would like to start off our day and the thought of it sends another red blush creeping to my cheeks.
"My queen?" He asks again. With just one look, he understands. His strong arms scoop me up and return us both to bed.
"My queen?"
My head jerks to the voice. I am now staring into the eyes of Sir Leon, my right hand. He looks at me with a questionable expression. Just like that, I am ripped away from my memory. I am sitting at the round table. All eyes from my loyal knights are resting on me. I read confusion in some and sadness in others. Gaius raises his brow in my direction. The quiet seconds that pass on feel like hours. I swallow the hard lump forming in my throat.
"Sir Leon?" I ask.
No point in trying to pretend that I was listening. I am already a mess as it is. I try to even my breathing but it's no use. It comes out broken and much too loudly.
"My apologies. My thoughts are elsewhere." On Arthur, Only on Arthur.
I smile at my knights and Gaius. But I fool no one.
"Pardon, your highness. You look unrested. Why not return to your chambers for a while? Our meeting is finished anyway." Percival says.
"I'm fine." I say with too much tone in my voice. I straighten myself in my chair.
"My lady, I can see how disoriented the lack of sleep has made you. Let me prepare you a sleeping draft." Gaius said. It's too hard to hide anything from this physician. I smile weakly at him.
"Thank you, Gaius. Once again, my apologies to you knights. It has been a long day." They stand to bow as I exit the room. I walk the long empty hallway back to my chambers.
I wasn't expecting to be followed so it startled me to hear a voice calling me from behind.
"My queen!" Leon runs to catch up. I am standing right by my chamber door when he stops himself in front of me. I fold my hands together in front of my body.
"Sir Leon."
A few seconds of silence pass between us till he finally utters what was on his mind.
"We will find him. I know we will." He says, his brown eyes staring back intently into mine.
My hands moved up to my chest, as if trying to comfort the tightening feel I have in my heart. But it doesn't help. I let out my breath, it comes out shaky.
"Thank you, Sir Leon." I whisper. I turn and quickly enter my chambers before the tears begin to flow freely from my eyes.
