The next day, Guinevere stood in her room, looking out a window that had now been cleared of its bars and boards at the view outside the castle. The sun had dawned over a new reign and she could see people already gathering around the castle, anxious to have a look at the new king. She gathered that he had men working throughout the night as most of the mess from the battle had been cleared out.
She had slept rather fitfully - anxious to get home but still relieved that she no longer had to marry Vortigern. Sure he had seem charming at first, when he paid a visit to her father's estate about three days ride from Camelot. He was still rather handsome despite being much older than her. He had been witty and spoke of literature and such with her. Even entertained her political banter, which her father had feared would spurn his attentions.
Guinevere had never been that good at keeping her opinions to herself. Though it seemed Vortigern either didn't care or found it attractive. Just a few days after he left, he sent a letter, inviting her to stay at the castle for a couple weeks. She went, excited at first. Once she had discovered the real intent behind his invitation, she had politely, but firmly turned down his proposal, saying as the only child and heir, she was needed to help run her father's estate.
And that she only intended to marry for love - something her father had miraculously agreed to allow for he had loved her mother dearly before she died. He taught her everything he knew and made her his heir, something that was unheard of for the time. In short, she didn't love Vortigern and was fairly sure she never would.
It was then that Vortigern showed his true colors - saying that she would marry him and taking to doing whatever possible to thwart her attempts to either escape or send word to her father. On her behalf, he had informed her father that she had agreed to marry him and would be staying in Camelot until the wedding.
So, she had taken to making things as miserable as possible whenever he summoned her. All this did was earn her a few slaps and an even stronger guard detail. But she didn't let it stop her attempts. Prisoner or not, forced marriage or not, she was determined that Vortigern wouldn't break her.
There was a knock at the door. Guinevere turned from the window and walked towards the table where she had a letter prepared to be sent to her father, letting him know about all that had gone on and that she would soon be returning home. When she couldn't sleep, she sat up and wrote it out, then sent for a servant to take it to be delivered first thing that morning. She had then spent time putting her room to rights. It had long been a ragged mess after she started taking her frustration at being held captive out on the furniture.
"Come in," she called out, picking up the envelope.
"I hope you're doing well this morning," Arthur said as he walked in, smiling. Guinevere's eyes widened. She wasn't expecting the king to come himself.
"Quite," she said.
She seemed a bit more at ease than she had the previous night. At least she didn't seem as defensive, though she was obviously still wary and on her guard. Arthur couldn't help but appreciate her beauty. She had put on a new dress and seemed to have bathed sometime since she left, her hair now shiny and pinned back in intricate curls and braids. The smudges of dirt that were on her face and hands the night before were gone and it seemed she must have cleaned up around the room as well. The guards who found her said it had been a mess of ripped clothing and broken furniture.
"You clean up well," he said, walking towards her.
"Could say the same for you," she said, appraising him with a cold eye. And he did. With the grime of battle gone and clean clothes, he almost looked like a king. He was much more attractive than Guinevere cared to admit outloud. Arthur chuckled.
"You don't have to be so wary of me, Lady Guinevere," he said. "I don't intend to force you into another arranged marriage." She nodded. "I've been told you wish to send a letter to your father."
"I do, but… there was no need for you to come here yourself. I could have taken care of it," she said.
"It's no problem at all," he said. "I thought I would retrieve it and send one of my fastest men out to deliver it." Guinevere looked down at the letter in her hand and then up at Arthur.
"Very well," she said, holding it out to him.
"Don't worry, Lady Guinevere. I'll make sure that it gets to him," he said. She nodded again. "Would you care to join me in the hall for breakfast? Or would you rather dine up here?" Guinevere's eyes widened, unaccustomed to being asked what she wanted. Usually Vortigern just sent food unless he required her presence. In which case he would usually send a party of servants to force her to bathe and into whatever gown he had sent as well. Usually after such occasions, she would rip the garment to shreds in protest.
"I, ah… well, I should think I'd like to go downstairs," she said. "I've been locked up in this room too long. Might be nice to interact with others." Arthur smiled.
"Allow me to escort you," he said, motioning towards the door. Guinevere straightened her back and walked towards it and out into the corridor, Arthur following with his hands behind his back. "How long had my uncle kept you here?" Guinevere jumped slightly, not expecting him to speak.
"I'm not completely sure, to be honest. Maybe a year," she said. Arthur's eyebrows raised.
"A year? That long? How come no one knew?" he asked.
"Oh, they knew. They just thought I was here of my own accord and happily going along with everything. I think only the Blacklegs and a few servants and members of Vortigern's inner circle actually knew that I was being held prisoner. He wanted to finish his damn tower before the wedding took place," she said, keeping her eyes ahead of her.
"Well… you'll be happy to hear that the tower's been destroyed," Arthur said, glancing down at her. Guinevere snorted slightly, something Arthur wasn't expecting from someone of high birth.
"Good. It was an eyesore," she said. "I told him so everytime he sent for me."
"You spoke to Vortigern so bluntly?" Arthur asked, impressed. Guinevere glanced up at him, smirking slightly.
"Of course I did. How do you think I've managed to go this long without trying to kill myself? Doing whatever I could to piss him off was great fun," she said.
"I'm surprised he didn't attempt to kill you," Arthur said, eyebrows raised.
"I'm sure he wanted to," Guinevere replied. "But he needed the alliance with my family. Didn't stop him from smacking me around a bit, though." Arthur stopped and looked down at the woman.
"He hit you?" he asked, his face immediately filled with a mixture of concern and anger. Guinevere sighed and looked up at him.
"As you can see, I'm fine," she said. "It takes a lot more than a few slaps and tossing me around the room a bit to break me." She continued walking.
"So it would seem," Arthur said, starting to catch up to her.
The two continued chatting lightly until they entered the main dining hall. Guinevere was surprised to see a mix of people sitting about and eating together. She glanced at Arthur, noting that he was already proving himself every bit different than Vortigern. He motioned to a chair next to his at the head table and Guinevere sat as a kitchen servant rushed up and started placing plates of food down on the table in front of them. She was seated next to a tall black man that she remembered seeing last night.
"Good morning," she said politely as she began to fill her plate.
"Good morning, Lady Guinevere. I apologize for not introducing myself last night. I am Sir Bedivere," he said regally.
"It is very nice to meet you," Guinevere said, smiling genuinely at him.
"You must be excited to be heading home," he said, looking at her. She nodded.
"I am," she said. "I'm sure my father is eager to have me there as well. I helped him run the estate and there is still much left for me to learn before I take over completely."
Arthur stared down at her, shocked.
"You… help run the estate?" Bill asked, leaning over to look passed Bedivere at her. Guinevere sat up and frowned at him.
"Of course. Why do you sound so shocked?" she asked, daring him to say something against her again.
"Forgive me, milady. It's just… I'm not used to hearing that a lady of such standing would be entrusted with running an estate," he said, fumbling slightly with his words. Guinevere narrowed her eyes at him.
"As the only child and therefore heir of my father, it was imperative that I learn. My father has been teaching me since I was a child how to run the estate as well as how to be a fair and kind steward to those who work the land for us," she said, holding her head high. Arthur couldn't help but chuckle at the look on Bill's face.
"I think she told you," he said, turning back to his food. Guinevere smiled to herself and turned back to her food.
"Your father must be eager to have you back, then," Bedivere said, glancing at her. "How was he so willing to let you go in the first place?"
"Vortigern tricked us," she replied dryly.
"As someone learned in the ways of running an estate… there is much that Arthur here could learn from you," Bedivere said, glancing at the two. "He… had a bit of a different upbringing."
"I'm sure running a country is much more difficult than running an estate, but if there is anyway I can help until I leave, I am willing to do so. As thanks for setting me free," she said formally, glancing at Arthur out of the corner of her eye. He had sat up and was scowling at Bedivere, immediately becoming suspicious as to why he would want him to spend time with Guinevere. From the other side of him, Tristan could be clearly heard laughing.
"I'm sure I can figure things out on my own," he said. Bedivere chuckled as Guinevere looked at Arthur, raising an eyebrow.
"What? Think there is nothing a woman can teach you?" she asked. Arthur looked at her, his mouth moving open and shut, though no words came out.
"That's… that's not what I meant," he said.
"Or rather do you also think that a woman is incapable of being in charge of an estate or even a country without the help of a man?" she asked. "Because I assure you, I am very much capable. Probably more capable than you." He frowned.
"Is that so?" he asked, leaning closer to her.
"It is," she said.
"I'd like to see you try," he said.
"Give me the chance and I will," she said, leaning closer to him.
"Are you capable of protecting a country? Maybe we should go out in the courtyard and see how good you are with a blade," he said.
"Let's. I should like to show you a thing or two," she said. The sound of loud laughter sprung up around them, causing both to look around confused.
"There's no need for a duel," Bedivere said, trying to contain his laughter. "Though I think I would place my bet on Lady Guinevere." She smiled and glanced at him, smug with his approval. Arthur glared at her and then turned back to his food.
"Now I see why my uncle would have wanted to kill you," he muttered. Guinevere snorted.
"I would have liked to see him try," she replied, glaring down at her plate as she tightened her grip on the knife in her hand.
"May I suggest a ride after breakfast," Bedivere said, feeling the need to try and lighten the atmosphere. "I'm sure you're tired of being cooped up in the palace." He glanced down at the woman. Guinevere looked at him, blinking slightly at the abrupt change in subject.
"I suppose that would be… nice," she said. "I would like some fresh air."
"Perhaps Tristan could accompany you," Bedivere said, worrying that if Arthur went out, there was a good chance one or the other wouldn't come back.
"But I'm needed here," Tristan said, whining slightly.
"The lady certainly can't go alone," Bill said, smirking down the table.
"I certainly can," Guinevere replied. "There's no need to send a bodyguard with me. I'm not going to run away and I'm sure the danger has passed."
"As much as I'm sure you could protect yourself, I would feel better if you didn't go alone," Bedivere said, looking down at her. Arthur sighed.
"I'll go with her," he said, causing everyone to stare at him. "What? You can spare me for a few hours, can't you?" Guinevere rolled her eyes, thinking she'd much rather be locked up again than out with Arthur if he was going to be such a prat. And here earlier she had been thinking he wasn't so bad for a king.
"That's fine, I don't need to go out," Guinevere said quickly.
"No, if you want to go for a ride, then you're going for a ride and I'll go with you," Arthur said, glaring at her.
"Fine," Guinevere said. She then turned back to her plate and began eating. Bedivere glanced at Bill, who was barely containing his laughter at the couple. The knight just shook his head and looked up, praying to the gods that they didn't end up killing each other.
So... decided to post anyway. Again, I've only gotten it written up to a certain point, so we'll see how often I post and such. My first priority is my Harry Potter stuff. And then went and started another King Arthur fic based off the 2004 movie, so might as well continue until inspiration leaves me...