And she is grown so dear, so dear,
That I would be the jewel
That trembles in her ear:
For hid in ringlets day and night,
I'd touch her neck so warm and white.
Kate almost tripped down the stairs. She was so nervous and she had banked on being able to slip into the hall unnoticed so when everyone stopped to look at her she was a little nonplussed. Merlin caught her hand and steadied her before she could lose her footing and led her down the stairs. Sir Percival and Sir Gwaine were waiting at the bottom.
"Why is everyone staring?" she whispered uncomfortably
"Because you look lovely" said Gwaine quietly, she blushed and ducked her head. The two knights led her through the room, introducing her to the other ladies and lords around the room. You could almost see her fighting the shyness that was brought on by the unexpected attention she was receiving. Thankfully, the dancing started quickly and she was able to slip back into the background.
She watched the whirl of beautiful dresses as couple after couple swept past her. It really was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. So entranced was she by all the vivid colours swaying round the room that she didn't notice Arthur making his way over, leaving behind a fairly disgruntled looking blonde woman. When she finally noticed him he was only a couple of feet away and she was so startled that, for the first time since they had met, she had no idea what to say to him. He seemed to be facing the same problem and there was an awkward silence while they both tried to find something to say.
For the first time in his life Arthur was unsure of what to say, she broke the silence. "The castle looks wonderful" she blushed, knowing it sounded silly
He nodded awkwardly "you're beautiful" he burst out and then blushed as she turned to him amazed "I-I mean you look beautiful"
"Thank you" her cheeks dimpled as she smiled gently "you look very handsome yourself, have you chosen a lady yet to dance with?"
He glanced around the room "Not yet, they all sort of look the same"
She gaped "are you joking? You're stood in a room full of some of the most beautiful I've ever seen and you don't want to dance with any of them?"
"Well that's not quite true" he said quietly, taking the opportunity, while she was distracted. Her eyes sparkled as she took in the sight before her and he decided to bite the bullet so to speak "Listen, I'm aware I've rather a lot of competition" he glanced across the room at the rather large crowd of knights and lords who were trying to pretend not to look at her "but can you save me a dance?"
"Of course, you're my best friend" she said nodding "you don't even need to ask"
Shortly after this he was sort of obliged to dance with a few of the ladies or risk being seen as rude. Lady Juliet did get her dance with him and giggled the whole way through it. He let his mind wander as he occasionally caught glimpses of her auburn curls or one of the sleeves of her dress. Every now and then he heard her tinkling laugh or the murmur of her voice as she danced with yet another man. At one point she whirled past him in the arms of Sir Percival, giggling at something he had said and Arthur's mind drifted back to the conversation he had overheard only a couple of days before.
He was strolling down one of the corridors on the way to the armoury for a little late-night practice after dinner. He had just finished triple checking the castle security and wasn't really paying attention to anything much as he strolled past a slightly ajar door and heard a familiar voice
"I'll be the best dancer there⦠provided no one else dances for the whole evening" It was Kate's voice, he wondered vaguely who she was talking to
A man chuckled from inside the room "you'll be fine, just make sure you practice a couple of times before the actual dance." It was Percival's voice, Arthur couldn't say why but the strange idea of the two of them talking alone made him stop in his tracks just beyond the door "men will be tearing your arms off for the chance to dance with you" Arthur suddenly had the feeling that he was listening in on something very private.
Kate snorted "I highly doubt that" through the crack in the door hinges he could see her dancing in the golden sunlight.
"Why?"
"You really think that in a room full of beautiful, rich and accomplished princesses and ladies, I'm going to be of any interest to anyone?"
"That's exactly why you're of interest" Percival said "you'll be completely different to all the other ladies. How many princesses, for all their accomplishments, can hold their own in conversation with a man, speak their minds and have a punch like a bag of nails?"
"And someone is going to notice me because I can't keep my mouth shut?"
He laughed and nodded "I can think of at least one person who would" outside Arthur decided to leave, feeling he had probably been nosey enough.
He had been surprised at first, he was sure Percival was too immature for Kate and she was neither tall enough nor demure enough to fit in with the women he normally liked. On the other hand Arthur couldn't see how else the conversation he had overheard could be interpreted and as he watched them whirling around the floor together he supposed they might suit each other. They had always practiced fighting together, they were always verbally sparring and he had been furious when she had been taken. Perhaps they were meant to be together and he should give them his blessing.
Yet it hurt, the thought was almost physically painful and he couldn't put his finger on the emotion it caused. It was something akin to betrayal although he couldn't fathom why. Kate was a dear friend but could not be anything more, ever. The love of his life would always be Guinevere; there was no doubt about that. Surely they deserved to be happy? He sighed. All this soul-searching was beginning to give him a headache.
A/N: So here it is! I've done another one. The only question is should Arthur and Kate share a dance? it's up to you...review or message me and let me know x
