Guinevere grinned as she kicked her horse into a gallop, enjoying the feel of the wind on her face. She had missed being outside and feeling the sun on her skin. At home, she and her father would spend hours going around to all the farms and the village on their land, checking with the tenants and collecting rent. She felt alive being outside.
"My lady! I can't keep up with you!" she heard Arthur shout behind her. Guinevere glanced back at him and grinned before leaning down over her horse.
"Then maybe you should go back!" she shouted, as she urged the horse faster. She knew he would be no match for her. She had been riding since she could walk.
"My lady!" he shouted again. "GUINEVERE!"
Guinevere laughed as her horse leapt over a fallen tree and they left the forest and came to a large open plain. She finally took pity on the new king and slowed down, allowing him to catch up. Arthur stared at her incredulously. Whether it was for the way she rode or her unusual riding attire, she wasn't sure. She smoothed down the split skirt around her and flicked away a small piece of a tree branch that had gotten stuck in her riding breeches underneath.
"Where did you learn to ride like that?" he asked as they slowed into a walk.
"I told you I grew up on a large estate," she said, glancing over at him.
"I thought ladies spent their days inside making pillows and gossiping," he said. "Not out riding like that." Guinevere laughed.
"My father always thought it was more practical for me to learn how to ride, hunt and farm than how to embroider and gossip," she said. "More than just running the estate, he felt the people who live on our land and in the village would come to respect me more if I showed them I as just as good as any man at certain tasks. If I could ride and hunt better than them, then maybe they would listen to me when I talked about planting and livestock."
"You certainly are different from what I thought a lady would be," he said in slight awe. "Not that I know many."
Guinevere studied him a moment, thinking to what little she had heard about him. Vortigern had been hellbent on finding Uther's heir and killing him. Once he found that he was raised in a brothel, he had thought getting rid of him would be easy - with or without the sword. She found herself starting to pity him. Parents killed by Vortigern as a child. Raised not knowing who he was and learning from a young age how to fend for himself. Guinevere couldn't imagine growing up without the presence and love of her father. Or his guidance.
"To be honest, I don't know many myself," Guinevere said. Arthur looked at her curiously. "I mean… of course I know a fair amount. But… I don't really spend much time with them. Not many understood why am I the way I am or think the way I do."
"So you are a rare breed," he replied with a smile.
"Still not sure why Vortigern was so keen on having me, though," she said, frowning slightly. "Not with how much he seemed to be annoyed by me." Arthur glanced at her as she seemed to be lost in thought for a bit. Bedivere had told him a bit more of her story before they went out. On top of her seemingly unusual upbringing, her father held the largest pact of lands of the nobles and though his army was not as big as others, it was still substantial and he was considered highly influential among the people of the country. That alone would have no doubt had Vortigern after her.
"So… what will you do when you return home? Take up running the estate again with your father?" Arthur asked. Guinevere glanced at him.
"Yes, there is still much for me to learn," she said. "Though, Father will want to have a feast I'm sure, to celebrate my return."
"You don't sound so eager," he said, smirking slightly.
"I was never one for them. But Father enjoys a good party," she said. "He says I should learn to embrace them."
"Trying to marry you off then?" Arthur asked.
"No… but they are an unfortunate part of our world. Alliances are made, deals brought forth. The occasional betrothal and at times a scandal or two," she said boredly.
"I've never been to one. They seem interesting," he mused. Guinevere snorted.
"Insufferable is more like it," she said. "I'd much rather be out riding. It's all, sit here, look pretty, be proper, dance there, talk to this person and that. Half the people ignore you and the other half blow so much hot air up your skirt, you'd probably float to the ceiling if it weren't for the food. Dreadfully boring and always full of politics and maneuvering."
Arthur just stared at her as they kept riding, somewhat impressed by her bluntness. While he felt strongly that he would be different than other royals and nobility, he had to admit there was a lot more to that life than he had even considered.
More than that, it seemed like Bedivere had been correct - there were some things he could learn from Guinevere.
"What? Have I got something on my face or in my hair?" Guinevere asked, pulling him from his thoughts. Arthur smiled and shook his head.
"No. I was just thinking… I may have to admit to Bedivere that he was right," he admitted.
"That you know nothing about running a country?" she asked, smirking slightly.
"I wouldn't say nothing. I think I know enough. But… I think there are some things I could learn from you," he said. Guinevere looked at him, as though she were trying to read his mind.
"I can't tell what you're getting at," she said finally. "If you're trying to ingratiate yourself to me or if you're being honest." It was Arthur's turn to snort.
"I assure you… I don't ingratiate myself to anyone. I may not always tell the truth, but I am honest," he said. Guinevere looked at him oddly.
"That makes no sense," she said. Arthur chuckled.
"It would if you grew up where I did," he said. Guinevere turned to look in front of them, her brow furrowed as she thought a bit. "Don't strain yourself, Gwen." Guinevere huffed as she turned in her saddle back to face him.
"What makes you think you have the right to call me that? My name is Guinevere," she said. Arthur shrugged as an easy smiled appeared.
"I thought we were having a moment… and it suits you," he said.
"It most certainly does not," she scoffed.
"Well then… what about Gwennie?" he suggested.
"That's even worse. I'd take Gwen over that," she said, scrunching her nose in disgust.
"Well then, Gwen, will you teach me?" Arthur asked.
"That wasn't permission!" she shouted at him. "And I still can't tell if you're being a cad or honest." Arthur sighed and cleared his throat.
"Lady Guinevere, daughter of Lord Leopold, would you find it in your heart to teach me, a king of lowly birth, the correct way to run a country," he said formally, though his blue eyes were twinkling.
"Well now you are just being a cad. And for that, no. You're on your own, King of Lowly Birth," she said rolling her eyes.
"I'd rather be a cad than a snob," he said offhandedly, causing Guinevere to sputter as her cheeks turned pink. Arthur couldn't help but smile and chuckle.
"Do you want my help or not, Arthur? Just spit it out," she finally demanded.
"I would," he said. Guinevere studied him a moment, then smiled and turned her horse around.
"Where are you going?" Arthur asked.
"Back to the palace. If I'm going to teach you how to be a king in a week, we best get started," she said with a grin just before kicking her horse and taking off again. Arthur laughed, turning his around as well, then took off chasing after her.
Guinevere smiled brightly as she walked into the grand library in the palace. It had instantly become her favorite place the first time she had stepped foot in it when she arrived. Now that she was free to wander about the castle again, she hoped to quickly refamiliarize herself with the grand room.
"This should be a good spot for our lessons," she said as she strode in. Arthur followed her, a bit dubious of her plans. She had taken the time to change into a more appropriate dress, with her hair still up in an intricate braid. He wondered how long it took her to do and was again, intrigued. He always figured proper ladies had someone to do that for them but yet there had been no servants up to her room.
"The library?" he asked, looking around at the many books contained in the room.
"Yes. You can read, can't you?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at him before stepping up to the shelves and lightly running her fingers over the books' spines.
"I can," he said, amused.
"Good. I'm sure there are some tomes in here that would be of use," she said. "History and philosophy texts and the like."
"You read often, Lady Guinevere?" he asked, stepping up to her.
"I do. Or at least I did. I intend to start up again," she said, a brief look of pain crossing her face. Arthur caught the look and began perusing the shelves, allowing her some privacy with her thoughts.
"So what do you intend to teach me?" he asked.
"History is a good place to start. The past holds many lessons for us," she said, not looking from the books. "Unless you have specific questions you'd like to ask?"
"Some, but we'll get to it… Lesson number one should be don't be like Vortigern," he said. Guinevere snorted.
"Figured you already learned that one," she said.
"Planning to put that to use. I have to meet with some Vikings later today," he said. Guinevere glanced at him.
"What do they want?" she asked.
"Vortigern had a deal with them. I intend to renege on it," he said. Guinevere frowned.
"What deal?" she asked, turning from the books.
"Slave deal. I don't intend for there to be anymore slaves. Not in my kingdom. Not from my kingdom," he said. Guinevere stared at him a moment before nodding and smiling.
"You might not need my help so much," she said, before turning back to the books.
"I have a feeling there are still many things you could teach me Lady Guinevere," he said with a smirk. She chuckled softly as she glanced at him.
"Maybe," she said.
A door opened and both turned to look as Tristan walked in.
"There you are, Arthur. The Vikings are here," he said. Arthur nodded. He looked back at Guinevere.
"I'll see you at dinner?" he asked. She nodded. He then turned and walked out of the room. "Come on, Tristan." The young man shot a smile at Guinevere and turned to follow him.
"Thought about the marriage bit any?" Tristan asked, grinning, once they had stepped outside into the corridor.
"Told you I had no intention of forcing her to marry me," Arthur said as they walked.
"I wasn't saying you should force her. Just sayin'... you seem to be spending a lot of time with the lady today," he said.
"She's interesting," Arthur said.
"So you're not wooing her?" Tristan asked.
"No," Arthur replied.
"Maybe she's wooing you?" Tristan suggested.
"I highly doubt she is wooing me," Arthur said with a roll of his eyes.
"Whether she is intentionally or not, I see what's happening, mate. You're falling for her," Tristan said. Arthur shook his head.
"Shut up, Tristan. We have Vikings to deal with," Arthur said.
"I take it the talk with the Vikings went well," Guinevere said as Arthur fell into the chair next to her later that night in the hall. He glanced at her and then started filling his plate.
"We were able to reach an understanding," he said, smiling slightly.
"That's good to hear," she said. "So your first bit of kingly business has gone to plan. Good work, King Arthur."
"I'd take that more seriously if you hadn't called me a cad earlier," he said. From the other side of him Tristan laughed softly.
"I apologize. Father always warned me that I had a bit of a mouth on me," Guinevere said.
"I think what we could use around here is a bit more mouth," Arthur commented, causing Tristan, Bedivere and Bill to glance at the two and stifle chuckles. Guinevere glanced around her, an eyebrow raised. Bedivere and Bill had the decency to try and cover their laughter with coughs.
"I've decided what your next lesson should be tomorrow," Guinevere said abruptly, causing Arthur to put his fork down and look at her.
"History?" he asked.
"No, something a bit more modern, I should think," she said, still taking dainty bites of her food. "But that's you'll get out of me for now."
"Surely he needs to know what to prepare for, my lady," Bill said, looking down at her. Guinevere sat up and looked down the table at the knight.
"I highly doubt he could prepare for this lesson," she said with a smirk before looking over at Arthur.
"Are you challenging me, Lady Guinevere?" he asked.
"Perhaps I am," she replied before turning her attention back to her food. "But you'll just have to wait and see, won't you?"
Another chapter... so many fun things in store for these two...