A/N: Happy Holidays, to all of my readers. A special thank you to the Guest that left the review, I really appreciate it and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
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Chapter Four
The next morning Gwen was almost regretting her decision to aid Merlin's friend. Dark, heavily lashed eyes tracked her slightest movements, and Gwen was ready to throw her measuring tape into a fire and banish the two men from her home.
"Thi- ahem, this is very kind of you, er..."
"Gwen. Short for Guinevere."
"Ah, then thank you, Guinevere."
"Don't thank me. Thank Merlin. He would do anything for anyone, wouldn't you, Merlin? Sorry, can you raise your arms? " she said, measuring the width of his chest, "Anyway, we need men like you."
"You do?"
"Well, not me personally, but you know... Camelot." Gwen felt her cheeks warm, and she cleared her throat, "Camelot needs knights. Not just Arthur and his kind, but ordinary people like you and me."
Going around to his front, Gwen measured the width of his waist and the length the tunic should be from his shoulders.
"Okay, we're done. Um… I should have these completed in a day or so. It's nice to meet you, Sir Lancelot."
Gwen reached out for a handshake with a teasing grin.
"But I am not yet a knight, my Lady."
Her grin faded into a self-conscious smile when Lancelot took her hand in both of his and kissed it gently. Lancelot's eyes bored into hers, his lips still attached to her hand, and Gwen looked away, taking a breath.
"And I am not a Lady." Her voice sounded soft and breathless.
This would not do at all!
She couldn't do this again, develop feelings for another man, not after what she'd just been through with Merlin.
Oh Gods, Merlin!
Gwen struggled to not look over at her friend and ex-crush standing somewhere behind Lancelot, but when he finally released her hand, she glanced casually at Merlin to find him grinning widely at them.
He looked adorable and so happy that she was even willing to assist Lancelot, that Gwen couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head. The men waved as they left and Gwen decided to start on the tunic until it was time for her to take Morgana her lunch.
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"No, absolutely not! I don't care how impressive he is, Lancelot can turn those beady eyes of his to some other maid."
Gwen was attending Morgana on one of her weekly strolls near the Eastwoods, and the Lady constantly inveigled her maidservant to accept the infatuated man's advances.
"He's handsome, dedicated..."
"... training to become a knight. He wants to be a knight, Morgana, and you know my feelings when it comes to men like that."
"All men want to be knights in shining armour."
"Not all men."
Morgana's eyes narrowed at Gwen's even tone. She purposely linked her arm with her friend's and continued their stroll as she tilted her pale face to the sun and smiled.
"Ah, yes, I forgot about the men that aspire to buff those armours until they shine."
Gwen fought a smile, "Or those that make those armours."
"Or take meals to those knights."
"Or grow the food those knights need."
Morgana sighed, "Okay fine, Gwen, I understand. However, this knight-in-training, Lancelot, wants to get to know you. He's obviously smitten, but he doesn't seem to be the kind of man to go where he's not wanted. I think you should give him a chance before it's too late and he gives up. What's so terrible about just getting to know him?"
"I... it's just," Gwen bit her lower lip but confessed when Morgana bumped her shoulder, "I could fall for him, Morgana, and it's frightening how much I already feel. I shouldn't be responding to another man this way just yet, not after what I've just been through with Merlin."
"Ooh, love at first sight, how romantic!"
Or... a handsome hero rescuing my broken heart.
Gwen said nothing to Morgana's assumption, though, and pondered her confliction. If she let Lancelot into her life, it would be for selfish reasons.
I still love Merlin, no matter what I do to ignore or deny it.
Lancelot's attention, however, made her feel beautiful and womanly.
I could get used to Lancelot's attention and forget Merlin.
Forget Merlin!
"Alright, I'll give him a chance."
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"Thank you for inviting me to your merrymaking, Tom. May Prosperity and Good Health visit your home this Yuletide Eve."
"Ah, Lancelot, and yours as well. Thank you for coming, at least this year it won't be just Merlin and the girls. Gaius usually keeps me company, but poor Merlin is always the only one to entertain my Gwen and her friends."
Lancelot spotted Merlin inside the house among three girls - one of them, Gwen - and grinned as his new friend fought a yawn.
"I can see how that could be a challenge," he chuckled as he followed Tom to a small table just inside the entryway that held a jug and a few mugs. He looked around at someone greeting him.
"Lancelot, it's good to see you. Merlin, you have company this year."
"Gaius, Merry Yuletide."
Gwen, who'd just urged Belle to play a tune on the flute she'd brought, turned at Gaius' announcement of their last guest. Lancelot was accepting a drink from her father as he spoke with the Physician, and she chuckled as Merlin brushed past her.
"Sorry, Gwen," he whispered, "I have to escape… I mean, greet my friend."
Silently waving her friend away with an indulgent smile, Gwen turned back to the girls when one of them bumped her shoulder lightly.
Ella spoke behind her palm, "Gods above, Gwen! He's gorgeous!"
"Oh, you're so lucky," Belle said sighing dramatically, "although, he's not as handsome as... well, um... nobody."
Gwen and Ella smirked at her with knowing gazes.
"What?"
"You know what, Belle. You haven't been fooling us, you know," Ella said.
Belle glanced uncomfortably at her friends, hoping they really hadn't guessed.
"You like Doron, Belle. So what? We've realised it for a while now."
"Gwen, I don't... I didn't... " Belle's softly tanned skin pinkened and she released a sigh of defeat. "He's been really different the past two months. I don't know what's gotten into him, he's been so sweet to everyone, but something seems to be bothering him."
"Hmmm, so I guess being 'sweet' really does make a man seem more interesting?" Gwen said, folding her arms.
Belle fluttered her hand negligently, "Oh, he's not Merlin sweet, I doubt there's anyone like him. Don't shush me, Gwen, I just mean... Doron's being kind... he's even been to papa's shop, helping him lift the heavier timbers sometimes."
"I guess for someone like Doron, helping anyone but himself would seem a bother," Ella said as she polished Belle's new wooden flute with a soft cloth.
Belle nodded, "You're not wrong, but... ugh, I don't know how to describe... he seems... desperate. Scared. I even asked him about it, but he actually brushed me off. Me! Something is troubling him and I'm going to find out what."
"Just don't make the same mistake I did, Belle," Gwen said softly, "it just might be Doron's way of getting you to come to him."
Ella nodded in agreement, then smiled widely, "Merlin, just the man to lift Belle's spirit. Dance with me while she tries out her new flute will you."
Merlin had walked over to the girls with Lancelot close behind him; he grinned and gallantly offered Ella his hand. Belle rolled her eyes but smiled, and began to play a soft yet haunting melody.
Gwen observed her friends, Belle as she disappeared into her music, Merlin and Ella as they twirled around the cleared space, but she couldn't pretend to ignore him for long.
"Merry Yuletide, My Lady."
Gwen smiled as she glanced at the floor for a moment. He stood next to her watching her guests as avidly as she did, and though she had yet to look at him next to her, she distinctly remembers how he looks in his white tunic, black trousers and polished black boots.
"Merry Yuletide, Sir Lancelot."
As Ella and Merlin continued to dance under their gazes, Gwen felt the tremors in the hand she hid among her full skirt. The energy that pulsed between her and Lancelot was both scary and exciting; and when the dark knight stepped in front of her with his hand outstretched - a lock of his hair nearly brushing his lashes, his lip slightly tilted up at one corner, his onyx eyes completely captivating hers and drawing her in - Gwen took a deep breath to restrain herself from fainting.
Lifting her shaking hand, Gwen placed her fingers on the tips of Lancelot's and curtsied neatly. The golden light of the three candles - perfectly placed around the room - caressed both the delicate and solid visage of the couple, reflecting a hypnotic bronze glow that seemed to emanate from them.
Lost in each other's eyes, the twirling pair were unaware of their charmed audience - except for Belle - one of them commenting on the perfect couple they made.
Gwen had sewn a new dress for the night, and it would later become scraps as she would never wear it again. The dress was sleeveless, draped slightly at the neck, cinched thinly below her breasts and fell softly to her ankles in a pool of ivory-cream fabric; a heavy maroon robe completed her holiday garment. Her soft springy curls were free but for a small jewelled comb - a gift from Morgana - that held a bit of her hair away from her face.
As Lancelot tucked her to his side, Gwen couldn't stop the insistent fluttering of her heart.
"Forgive my presumptuousness, Guinevere, but you are the most beautiful woman I've ever known, and you take my breath away. I would consider it an honour to court you, My Lady" He said this softly next to her ear before he gently spun her away, and Gwen's heart soared.
When they were facing each other again, Gwen took a hesitant breath, looked into his dark eyes, and answered with a smile. The triumph in his eyes at her acceptance of his offer made Gwen feel tingly all over and she swallowed heavily.
"Merlin, you're such an idiot!"
The enchantment broke, and Gwen frowned as she looked over at her two dancing friends. Ella was glaring at a red-eared Merlin who was speaking in low tones to the girl; Gwen rolled her eyes, he was probably apologising for stepping on Ella's toes. Still, Gwen hated when anyone called her friend an idiot.
"Time to switch partners," she said aloud, thanked Lancelot for the dance before rescuing Merlin from Ella's sharp tongue.
Lancelot approached Ella and Merlin shuffled over to Gwen with a self-depreciative grin. He still wore his normal pair of black trousers that had obviously been cleaned, and - probably - his only pair of brown leather boots. However, the tunic he wore - black with dark grey brocade that was barely noticeable in the soft light - was brand new, along with the heavy black cloak Belle had promised to make for him.
"I'm not really good at dancing, my mother tried to teach me but I didn't see the benefit. I won't be able to guide you like Lancelot can."
Gwen blinked at him and smiled, "Well, there's only one solution I can think of."
The maidservant took his right hand and placed it on her waist, placed her left hand on his shoulder and linked their other hands.
Merlin gazed down at her with panicked eyes and Gwen chuckled.
"When all else fails, Merlin, we sway."
Hence, they swayed.
They danced silently for a minute or two and then Merlin grinned down at her, his breath a refreshing fragrance of Sage & Mint Water. Merlin had confided that he didn't drink alcohol in the company of others and Gwen had prepared a drink he could enjoy.
"I think I'm good at this."
Gwen giggled and shook her head, "I'd be truly astonished if you weren't, Merlin. If you ask him nicely, I'm sure Arthur can give you lessons."
"Absolutely not!" Merlin looked at her, horrified, then grinned evilly, "Besides, did you hear about him and the pig sty? He was picking on Matilda's son, so I might have accidentally-on-purpose bumped him into it."
Gwen choked and gasped, "It served him right for trying to continue with his bullying habits. I would have loved to see him flail around in all that mud."
Her throaty chuckles rang out along with Merlin's and the two continued their light-hearted conversation for the rest of the dance.
Later that evening with her father and Gaius talking quietly at the dinner table, and Belle, Ella and Merlin swapping cleaning tips, Gwen and Lancelot escaped to the small backyard for a chat.
As they sat on the small sturdy bench, Gwen pointed out and named a few stars her mother had taught her years ago; however, Lancelot only had eyes for her and she shortly gave up and nipped her lower lip to keep silent.
"May I call on you for a stroll within the next two evenings?"
"I'd enjoy that."
There was silence for a moment and Gwen closed her eyes with a soft sigh, enjoying the cool breeze that wafted around the clearing. She could hear Belle playing another soft tune and she swayed imperceptibly.
"You and Merlin seem like good friends."
Gwen smiled but kept her eyes closed, she was actually getting drowsy, "He's quickly becoming one of my best friends," she peeked at him sleepily for a moment, "don't tell Ella or Belle though. Morgana's been my best friend for years and they've actively been trying to usurp her position."
Lancelot chuckled softly and turned to her as he tucked her hair behind her ear, "They are good friends to you. I have noticed."
Gwen closed her eyes again and unintentionally snuggled into the warmth of his hand, "To be honest, Morgana's like a sister to me. Belle and Ella are my best friends and I love them terribly. They would do… "
The maidservant was cut off by something warm against her lips and her eyes flew open to find Lancelot's face close to her own... he was kissing her. His eyes were closed, but he brought up his other hand to gently cup her other cheek. She had no idea what to do and her eyes darted around as he continued to kiss her.
Try closing your eyes, you ninny.
Gwen closed her eyes and her panic receded somewhat as her other senses took over.
The warmth of his calloused hands on her cheeks. The graze of his stubble against her soft skin.
The teasing softness of his lips as they sampled her own.
The tantalising aroma of her Strawberry-Peach Wine on his breath as his passion flared.
His deep low moan of frustration when she gave a whimpering sigh of pleasure.
"Gwen, your friends are about to leave."
The couple jumped apart, but her father had called from the front of their home.
Gwen felt her lips tingle, but she fought the urge to touch them in Lancelot's presence. Her heart was thudding wildly and it kicked up the pace when he caressed her cheek and tilted her head to gaze into her eyes.
"I look forward to our stroll in two days, My Lady."
A bit dazed, Gwen nodded and touched the hand holding her chin.
"As do I, Sir Lancelot."
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A/N: If anyone wants an idea of the tune Belle was playing (it obviously won't be exact), check out this video on YouTube. The name below is the actual name of the video, so type that as linking the video here is impossible. I love this melody, it's great for meditation.
2 HOURS of Relaxing Chinese Flute and Piano Music. Relaxing Slow Music for Zen Meditation, Sleep, and Healing.