Chapter 2:
Jealousy is most Unattractive!
GWENS POV
"Stupid prince-boy sending me to get breakfast and not telling me there was a meeting so I have to drop everything and hurry upstairs and soon I'll have to go back down stairs to the damn kitchens and pick up that god-damn food and clean it because I think I dropped on the floor. My god." I heard Merlin mutter angrily to himself, as they walked in through the court-room doors. I couldn't help giggling as Merlin ranted on. Uther was chatting to Arthur about something, a concerned look on his face, and also a bit of master. Arthur looked irritated and reluctant, and I immediately got suspicious and confused. At that moment two girls, around the same ages as Arthur and I, came in with bright smiles, following a man in a bright blue robe and tunic. He had a golden crown propped upon his deep auburn hair. He has a short stubble-beard that twisted beneath his pointed chin. He had a wide smile spread across his face, and he lifted his hand up to Uther's, and they shook violently as their hands jumped up and down. "Welcome, Mercius! How pleased I am to see you today on this glorious day." Uther beamed. The two girls where ignoring them, chattering and giggling to each other. One pointed at Arthur - the younger, less beautiful one - and the starting fanning themselves with their hands. It was then I realised how big a threat those girls were to the romantic relationship Arthur and I shared. And I also realised that Arthur was going to go for one of them. As soon as he saw them he had forgotten about me, and suddenly craved those girls to be upon him. I winced as I imagined a picture of the most beautiful girl on-top of Arthur, their lips locked together in a wild, violent kiss, her arms slithering down his body. And he was looking at her. Looking at her like he wanted her bad. He probably did. There was no point pretending he still loved me now. Then they moved along up to the Kind, and they stopped giggling to turn and smile charmingly at the King. My gaze followed them. "Princess Helena," He gently laid a hand on her cheek, and she curtsied. And then he turned to the younger, less beautiful, less sophisticated one. "Princess Emilia," He laid his hand on her cheek too, and she also curtsied. "We are delighted to be in your presence, my lord. We are looking forward to our visit here." Helena said. I think I know why she's looking forward to it. I looked up to see the reason, but he surprised me. His gaze had not followed Lady Helena, as I had expected. No, his gaze had stayed exactly where it was. And then I knew it never had been on Lady Helena. The desperate look wasn't conjured up for her. It was for me. I cursed quietly at myself, not loud enough even for the Lady Morgana to have heard, who was sitting right under my nose. Why had I thought all that random stuff about him choosing them instead of me? Arthur's not like that! Although, he may have to in the end. I kept the thought out of my head. Then I winced again as Arthur's expression turned into one of pain. I wanted to fly over there, hold his hand and ask what was wrong. But I couldn't. So I just looked at my feet for the rest of the session and thought about all the good times I'd had with Arthur. Like, the days while he was in my home for that tournament. I mean after he had kissed me. And the time at that tournament with- I once again winced when I thought of the name- Lady Vivian, and I had visited him in the tent. I enjoyed my time with Arthur now. I remember when I met Merlin. Who'd want to marry Arthur? I felt disgusted and ashamed at the 5 words and myself. I know who. I'd want to marry Arthur.
Finally the court finished. And I have no idea where the courage came from. But what I did next shocked myself, and probably Arthur too. I looked at both girls. If I had a "Chat" with Helena, I wouldn't be surprised if she scared me a little because she was taller and older than me, so I chose the other lady, the one that was around my age. She looked a little less like she could scare me. I strode right up to her, and she immediately snapped her head to face me, away from her sister. I laid my hand on her arm and glowered at her. "Keep your hands off Arthur!" I growled quietly. The sound surprised me.
"What?"
"You heard what I said!"
"No, sorry, I heard what you said, I'm just confused. I thought she would tell me to do that!" She pointed at Morgana. I could see her point. And then she let out a soft laugh. "Oh, I get it, you just have a crush on him but you can't have him because you're just a poor little servant and he's the strong, handsome, noble prince. So you're going to wait until you are royal, and to do that you need to make sure no-one else gets him in the mean time. Well, guess what. Stop trying, because you're not. You'll never get him, so he's mine. And anyway, Jealousy is so unattractive!" My mouth hung open. She was so arrogant!
"It's not like that!" I said, in a half-growl, half-whisper.
"Oh, it isn't hmm?" And with that, she left.