Chapter 29: Just A Little Time Together
"Galahad!" Elaine called to her son. "Galahad!" She called again. She laughed as her young son ran towards her. He was nearly three years old and he was such a lively and happy boy. She knelt down and picked him up, as he ran into her arms. "You're such a good boy."
"Mama!" He laughed and held her tightly.
She was already dressing him in short breeches and tunics. She had learnt not to dress him in anything white, as he always found a way to make himself dirty. "Come on." She placed him back on the ground.
"Mama, play?" He asked curiously with his big smile.
"Ready, steady..." As she said steady, he ran off. The two of them were spending the morning the castle gardens. "You cheat!" She shouted playfully after him and lifted her skirts slightly to run after him. She watched as he hid behind a bush. "Oh." She sighed. "I wonder where Galahad has gone." She chuckled as she heard him giggle. "Come out, come out. Wherever you are." She laughed and jumped around the bush, causing her son to jump with shock. He squealed with laughter as his mother caught him, lifting him up and spun him around. "Got you!"
Galahad laughed and wrapped his arms around her neck, hugging her tightly. "Mama."
"Yes darling." She kissed his cheek. "Let's go inside."
"Gwaine!" Galahad squealed when he saw the familiar knight walking towards them. "Mama, down please." Wriggling in his mother's arms. She put him down and watched as he ran towards Gwaine. "Gwaine!" He shouted in glee.
"Look at you. Growing bigger every minute." Gwaine grinned as he lifted the boy over his shoulder. "Where did he go?"
"Here! Here!" He shouted and hit Gwaine's back with his small fists.
"My Lady, have you seen your son?"
"I have not. I guess he has learnt to become invisible." Elaine shrugged her shoulders. "I guess we will have to keep looking for him." She laughed as Gwaine spun around, holding Galahad tightly over her shoulder. "Oh dear me! Whatever shall we do?"
"Mama!" Galahad shouted and continued to hit Gwaine's back. He was laughing so much that he could barely speak.
"Oh! Sir Gwaine! You seem to have something on your shoulder. It looks like a pair of legs." She reached up and tickled behind Galahad's knees. "Yes, you have a pair of legs growing from your shoulder."
"Mama!" Galahad cried out in laughter. "Stop tickling!" He continued to wriggle on Gwaine's shoulder.
"Oh! Sir Gwaine! I seem to have found my son. He is growing out of your shoulder." Elaine laughed loudly.
Gwaine took the boy off his shoulder. "Oh! There you are!" Placing him on the ground. "What were you doing on my shoulder?" Kneeling in front of Galahad.
"You put me there!" The young boy laughed and jumped at Gwaine.
"Yes, I did." Gwaine laughed, wrapping his arms around the boy. Hugging him tightly. He wished he could count the boy as his own. He loved him as if he were his own. "Try not to grow out of my shoulder again."
"Yes, Gwaine." He giggled and returned to his mother's side. "Mama, up please." Holding his arms up to her.
Elaine sighed softly. "Come on." She reached down and lifted him into her arms. "You are getting lazy. Just like your Uncle Arthur." She kissed Galahad's cheek. "Shall we go inside?"
"Yes, Mama." He grinned and hugged her tightly.
As they all turned to walk back into the castle, Gwaine gently wrapped his arm around Elaine's waist, pulling her into his side. She chuckled softly and rested her head on his shoulder. It was a relatively known fact that the Queen had been courting Sir Gwaine for over a year. The couple were not afraid to show affection towards the other in public. Gwaine looked down at her and smiled slightly. She looked absolutely beautiful. She always did. Today she wore a light blue gown with long sleeves and white trimmings. "You look beautiful today. As always." He whispered softly in her ear as they walked into the castle.
"Thank you." She whispered gently. Galahad was babbling in her ear as they walked side by side. They moved straight to the Queen's study. "I am free for the rest of the afternoon." She placed Galahad onto his feet and the young boy ran off to his toys. She smiled as he sat on the floor and played with his blocks, babbling and talking to himself.
Gwaine smiled and wrapped his arms around her, from behind. "I know." Kissing her below the ear. She leant back into his embrace. "What would you like to do today?" He asked her.
Elaine smiled a little. "Well, in a moment, Mary will be here to take care of Galahad. So, we can go wherever you wish to."
"I like that idea." He kissed her neck.
"Not in front of Galahad." She giggled as his lips moved up her neck. "Gwaine." She scolded him, nudging his stomach with her elbow.
"Sorry." He chuckled.
Elaine turned around and faced him. "I do love you but I do not want to confuse Galahad." She smiled. "He knows Lancelot is his father but I do not want him to be confused as to why his mother kisses Gwaine."
Gwaine nodded slowly. "I understand."
"I will tell him when he is older and able to understand." She smiled and quickly kissed his cheek. She was about to speak again but she felt a small hand grip her skirts and give it a tug. She looked down to see her son pulling on her skirts. "What is the matter darling?"
"Come play." He begged. His big brown eyes looking up at her.
Elaine chuckled softly. "All right, my darling." She walked over to Galahad's toys. Galahad kept his hand on her skirts as he walked with her. She knelt on the floor and played with Galahad and his toys. Gwaine stayed back and watched them both. Percival was right. He had changed. In so many ways. He hadn't realised that he had slowly stopped drinking and therefore got into less fights. She had changed him. In a good way and not even realised it. A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts. "Come in." Elaine called, looking up at the door.
Mary walked in. She curtseyed deeply. "Good afternoon, your Majesty. Do you still wish for me to take care of Galahad?"
"Yes, thank you, Mary." Elaine smiled at the young maid. She turned back to her son, who was looking up at her with hopeful eyes. "Darling, Mama has a few things to do but I will back soon. Mary will play with you."
"Yes, Mama." He smiled at his mother and launched himself at her and hugged her tightly. "Bye-bye, Mama." He giggled softly as he pulled away from her. He stood up and ran to Mary. "Play, Mary." He smiled up at her, reaching for her hand. Once she held his outstretched hand, he pulled her towards his toys.
Elaine was now standing up and stepping away from the toys. "Have fun. I shall not be long." Smiling down at her son, who was immersed in his playing. "And he does not care." Walking away from him. "Just send a message with a guard, if you need me." She smiled at Mary, who nodded slowly. She and Galahad returned to playing with Galahad's many toys. Elaine walked to Gwaine, who wrapped his arm around her waist. "I don't want to leave him."
"Come on. You need some time away from him." He chuckled and led her out of the room. "You need time to yourself."
"With you, you mean?" She chuckled.
Gwaine chuckled. "Definitely with me." Kissing her cheek as they walked together; her arm around his waist and his arm draped over her shoulders. "You are so protective of Galahad. You need time for yourself. He is incredibly safe now."
She sighed heavily. "We said that last time." Her memory disappeared to a year ago when her son was briefly kidnapped. When Morgause and Morgana threatened to take him from her once again, she became an overprotective mother. It was only recently did she calm down. Before she would not let him out of her sight. She could only trust him with Gwaine or Lancelot. It was only recently, when she left him alone with Mary. She trusted Mary one hundred percent but Elaine preferred Galahad to be with a strong male presence. Lancelot had returned to Camelot and so Elaine was forced to allow Mary to care for him. She did not mind as Mary was good with Galahad.
"Let's go back into the gardens." He whispered in her ear. She nodded slightly as they walked through the castle and into the gardens. "You look so beautiful today. I like you in blue."
Elaine chuckled. "I know you do. Which is why I picked it out today." Chuckling still as they walked further into the castle gardens. "Come on." Pulled away from him and walked to one of the apple trees, which was growing in the gardens. She sat at the base of the tree, leaning against it.
Gwaine sat next to her and reached for her hand. "Have you heard from Arthur recently?"
"No. Have you?" She looked ahead of her.
He shook his head. "No. It's been nice and quiet." He chuckled. He let go of her hand and moved from her side, lay on the grass with his head resting in her lap. She didn't mind. He usually did this if they were sitting in the garden together. As soon as his head rested in her lap, she would begin to run her fingers through his black locks. "Hmmm... That's nice."
She chuckled. "I'm glad you like it." Still running her fingers through his hair. "I like not worrying. Not worrying about the country. Not worrying about Galahad. I lie. The last one is not true. I am worrying about him. I am always worrying about him." Sighing heavily as she looked up at the sky. "It's his birthday soon. He will be three." She chuckled. "To think of it, it has been three years since I met you."
"That is true." He spoke quietly, his eyes closed. He was enjoying the feel of her fingers running through his hair. "And I will say that it has been the best three years of my life." Opening his eyes to look up at her.
"Mine too." She smiled down at him. "Now, get up. My legs are falling asleep." She tapped his forehead.
Gwaine sat up and turned to face her. "Come here." Holding an arm out to her.
She moved towards him and he pulled her against him quickly. "Gwaine!" She squealed in surprise. He pulled her into his own lap. She laughed as he held her tightly. "That's cruel."
"Not from where I am sitting." One arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. His other hand cupped the back of her head and he pulled her into a fiery kiss. His fingers were soon threading into her golden locks.
Her eyes had snapped shut at the moment his lips were on her own. Her hands gripped his grey tunic, holding herself against him. "Gwaine..." She whispered, once they pulled apart. "The guards." Glancing behind her and there was one guard, who had spotted them. "We don't want to give them a show." Their noses brushed together. Neither of them cared about the guards. It was rarity for them to be alone together.
"Don't tempt me." He whispered to her. "Do I get another kiss?"
"Yes, my Lord." She grinned and they kissed. Not their usual fiery kiss but their rare soft and loving one. She cupped his cheek as she deepened the kiss.
"Your majesty." A voice caused them to pull apart. Elaine looked to the guard and nodded to him. "There is a messenger from Camelot."
"Thank you. I shall be there presently." She nodded to the guard, who bowed and left them. She turned to look back at Gwaine. "Duty calls. Are you joining me?"
Gwaine sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yes, I will join you." He grinned up at her. "You will have to get off me."
"I don't want to." She grumbled. "Arthur wouldn't send a message unless it were important." She kissed him first before standing up and moving away from him for a moment. "Come on. You are coming too."
"I must." He stood up. "But not just yet." Pulling her against him, crashing his lips onto her own. "That's why." Gwaine grinned cheekily as he once again kissed her. "Best not keep the messenger waiting." They walked back to the castle with their arm around the other. They parted as they reached the Great Hall.
"Elyan!" Elaine exclaimed as she saw one of her cousin's knights.
"Your majesty." He bowed to her. "Gwaine." Shaking Gwaine's hand. "I have a request from King Arthur." He smiled at them both. "He wishes to visit you for Galahad's third birthday."
Elaine looked at Gwaine, who was chuckling to himself. She looked back at Elyan. "Oh! I suppose I have no other choice." Smiling broadly. "Would you like to stay for the night, Elyan?"
"No thank you, your majesty." He bowed to her. "I will wait for my horse to be fully rested and then I will be on my way."
"Well, you must eat or take a small food package with you." She smiled at him.
Elyan shook his head. "No thank you, my Lady. I will be quite well."
"Oh for goodness' sake man! She won't stop until you agree." Gwaine shouted at him, but too loudly. Elaine gave Elyan a silent nod. "Believe me, I know." Gwaine lowered his voice.
"I heard that, Sir Gwaine." Elaine scolded him.
Elyan chuckled. "I will take a food package, if it pleases you both." Laughing as Elaine elbowed Gwaine in the stomach, but only softly. "Only if it is to save Gwaine's stomach."
Elaine laughed. "I think that is a good idea." She winked at Gwaine.
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A/N: What do you want to see what happens next? A marriage? Or two? If you have reached the end of this chapter, please let me know what you think.
Responses from chapter 28:
La-Lucy: * cough cough * Wedding one day. * cough cough *. :D Vortigern will arrive but just yet. Writing Gwaine/Elaine are my favourites moments. Hope you liked this chapter. :)
Kerry: You will have to wait and see if Gwaine and Elaine end up getting married. I think they are perfect for each other too. :D
