~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ
Chapter 11 ~Desperate man
~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ
Arthur woke up the next morning all alone in the bed. He realized that he had been holding a pillow not his Guinevere. He sat up looking around the room for any sign of her presence, but she was nowhere in sight.
" Guinevere," he said worried now.
Arthur climbed off the bed grabbing his trousers and putting them back on clumsily. He exited the chambers concern growing within him.
Where is she?
He saw Merlin in the near an alcove approaching with his meal tray.
"Merlin! Merlin have you seen Guinevere?" he nearly yelled.
" Yes she is with Isolde in the nursery, why?"
The king uttered a sigh of relief. " Of course, thank you Merlin," he said heading to the nursery now.
There, Arthur watched as Guinevere was gazing down at Isolde. The little princess was sleeping peacefully in her crib.
My beautiful family
Arthur wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face deep into her neck inhaling her scent.
" Good morning Arthur," she smiled leaning back.
" I woke up alone this morning. I got scared, thought something had happened to you."
Gwen sighed. "I am fine Arthur besides I just… I needed to see our daughter."
"Fair enough," he replied kissing her neck making her gasp slightly.
"Arthur," she warned.
" Hum?" he moaned.
" Not here love. Isolde is sleeping"
Arthur pressed his lips on her neck one last time before bending down to watch his daughter sleeping quietly.
" I still can't believe she's ours. She is so perfect Arthur."
" Well of course she is. I made her."
Guinevere playfully punched her husband's arms laughing. She cupped his cheeks with her hands and kissed him briefly but softly before taking a deep breath and looking at him straight in the eyes.
" I am so grateful to be alive. I am thankful that life gave me a second chance and that I am able to be your wife and to watch my little daughter grow. I love you… both of you with all my heart."
" Guinevere, Isolde and I are extremely lucky to have you in our lives. I don't … I do not know what we would have done without you."
Arthur took both of her hands in his kissing them softly.
~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ
" Kilgharrah told me that Morgana took possession of Emma's body so that no one here would recognize her. And at night while she was in charge of supervising Gwen, she took advantage of the fact that they were alone to cast the spell that caused Guinevere's heart to stop. Now, to reverse the spell Morgana had to die and she had to be killed by her acolyte, by Mordred."
" That witch was really willing to do anything to conquer Camelot again, but it's over now she is dead. Morgana is not a threat to us anymore."
" I know, but what I don't understand is why didn't I sense any magic around her or even around Mordred."
Gaius sighed. " Merlin," he paused a moment, "Do you think you powers are weakening?"
Merlin looked at Gaius in disbelief. He had never thought about that. " I- I don't know. I mean Gaius they can't weaken… Can't they?"
Gaius opened his mouth to answer, but was suddenly cut short as both men heard knocks on the door. The old man walked to the door and opened it.
" My lady, is there something wrong?" he asked worried.
" No Gaius, Arthur and I wanted to know if Merlin would like to come visit the people in the lower town with us," Guinevere said.
" Actually Merlin and I are a bit busy at the moment, but as soon as we are done I will tell him to meet you there. It shouldn't take long. "
" Oh all right thank you Gaius," she said leaving.
Gaius nodded and smiled then closed the door. Turning around, he saw Merlin seated on the dinning table's bench eyes locked on his grimoire.
I hope I'm not right about his powers.
~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ
It was a beautiful day in Camelot, the sun was shining and a slight cooling breeze was blowing. The market place was crowded with people talking and laughing. It felt good. Arthur and Guinevere walked through the lower town smiling and waving at the people.
" Our Queen! Long live the Queen!" they were all chanting in unison as more and more people were starting to gather around the royalty.
Few people even greeted their Queen with hugs and kisses as some others respectfully wished her well from a distance not wanting to overstep their boundaries with the King and Queen.
" My lady!" little Esmee came running to the Queen. Guinevere bent down and picked her up hugging her tightly.
" Hello Esmee!"
" I am really," she snorted sobbing, " hap-happy to see y-you"
" So am I, but please don't cry sweetheart I'm here now," Guinevere said wiping away the tears on her face and the little girl was smiling again. The king now joined them.
" Arthur, I would like you to meet Esmee."
" Well Esmee, I think we've met before," he said winking at her.
" Yes we have my lord"
" Really, when?" Gwen asked setting Esmee down curious now.
" It was not that long ago when you-"
" My lord I am sorry to interrupt, but there is an extremely important matter that needs to be taken care of," Leon said almost out of breath from all the running.
" It can not wait? I mean Guinevere and I are busy," Arthur said a little annoyed.
" I'm afraid not sire"
He sighed. " Fine, shall we go Guinevere?"
" I would like to stay here a little"
" Guinevere please, I would feel better knowing you're in safety in the castle"
" I'll be fine Arthur. I promise I won't stay long besides the guars are here to protect me. Nothing is going to happen."
Arthur exhaled deeply. " I suppose I can't argue with that," he guessed giving up.
Guinevere leaned up and kissed him.
" Go, I'll be fine," she whispered confidently before watching him leave with Sir Leon.
Not far away, Gwen saw an elderly woman with a black veil covering her head. The old woman was trying to make her way to the Queen, but the whole crowd was blocking her. Gwen approached her.
" My Queen, it's a miracle," she said bowing and Gwen smiled warmly.
" I have gift for you, but I forgot it at home. If you could please follow me to my house, it would mean a lot to me my lady. "
Guinevere noticed that the woman never made any eye contact with her. She looked strange, but the Queen decided to give her a chance and she followed her to small cottage. Just before entering, the old woman told Guinevere to let the guard stay outside, that it wouldn't take much time and the Queen agreed.
The cottage was very small and damp. The large whole in the ceiling was in the source of light provided since there weren't any windows.
"Please sit down, my lady while I go get your gift," she said facing a chair towards the front door for the Queen to sit.
" Oh, thank you"
The woman went behind the curtains.
Silence.
She emerged a few minutes later with a white cloth clutched in her hands slowly she approached the Queen from behind and pressed it on her face almost stifling her. Guinevere struggled to remove the cloth from her face, but it seemed like the women didn't want to loosen grip.
The Queen fell unconscious. Without wasting any time, she tied Guinevere and dragged her outside through the back door of the cottage. There a young man in a horse was waiting for them.
" I did what you asked Mordred, now give what you promised me," the woman said.
" I don't have it yet, but I will come back later. I promise and thank you"
" You better Mordred… you better."
~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ
The guard was growing more and more impatient so he decided to go inside to make sure everything was all right.
The house was empty.
He searched thoroughly around, but no one was there anymore. The guard ran to the castle and rang the alarm. He found Arthur in his chambers and told him all the events that happened moments ago.
Anger. Shock. Rage.
Not again. Why? Why his Guinevere? Why was the world so cruel to him? Why Guinevere why not him? … Why?
" I want that old women here. Find her right now," Arthur ordered calmly clenching his fist.
The guard obeyed immediately.
~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ~ஜ۩۞۩ஜ
When she woke up, Guinevere was tied in a chair.
Where am I? It doesn't matter I have to get out of here.
I have to get out of here!
" Gwen, you're finally awake. I was beginning to worry," Mordred said softly.
" Morholt! What … what are you doing here? Please untie me"
" Morholt? Who is Morholt? I do not know him. Iam Mordred," he smirked.
" What? No, y-you can't be," she answered her voice shaking slightly.
" Gwen you don't even remember me," he said feigning to be hurt.
" What do you want from me?"
" I want you to be my wife. I want you to be mine"
" Never in a million years. I am old enough to be your mother," she said coldly.
" What if you have no choice?" he asked smirking again sending shivers down her spine. " You owe me that. I am the one who brought you back to life."
" How?" she asked despite herself.
" It's a very long story my dear, now enough with the little talk."
Slowly, Mordred walked towards Guinevere. He placed his hands on her shoulders massaging them before leaning down to kiss her neck.
" Forget Arthur. I can offer you so much more. Everything you want and more. All you need to do is ask, " he whispered into her neck.
" Do not ever touch me again you sick pervert. You disgust me," she spat pulling the chair away from him.
Arthur successfully managed to make the old woman talk. She admitted the truth that Mordred was holding the Queen captive. She even gave him the specific location and in exchange Arthur spared her life, but banished her from Camelot.
Accompanied by Merlin who insisted on coming, Arthur rode through the dense forest. The sun was slowly fading. When they arrived, both men saw Guinevere through a wide open door, but she was struggling to get out.
" Guinevere," Arthur whispered to himself hopping off his horse and running to the house.
"Arthur! I can't… I can't get out. Mordred put a spell and I can't get out of here."
" Guinevere, it's all right. Where is he?"
" I don't know he left and I tried to escape, but…" she paused her eyes growing wide.
Arthur turned around and what he witnessed flabbergasted him. Merlin's eyes were gold and he was whispering incoherent words.
He's using magic? Merlin has magic!
Gwen was finally able to get out of the house and she jumped in Arthur's arms finding the comfort, the love and the safety. He kissed her forehead stroking her hair.
" Let's go home now love. It's over," Arthur said softly.
Arthur wasn't even able to look at Merlin in the eyes. All this time, his servant, his trusted and loyal friend had been lying to him.
" Merlin! Come, we're leaving," Guinevere called from behind.
" No, there is one more thing that needs to be taken care of," he replied without turning.
A/N So much drama jeez, guys sorry! I promise now no more drama only happiness! Chapter 12 will be the LAST chapter of this story. I can't wait for you guys to read it! Much love BelieveFaith aka Jenner. Merci tout le monde, je vous adore!