CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Summary: Finding herself one thousand years back in the past and in the legendary Kingdom of Camelot was something Hermione had never seen coming. But with no possible way back to the future and being stuck in the past, Hermione had no option but to form a new life for herself, and hopefully without changing the timeline. Unfortunately, matters of the heart cannot be controlled and she finds herself entwined in the lives of Prince Arthur and the great and powerful sorcerer, Merlin. Hermione x Arthur pairing.
Disclaimer: I do not own canon events and characters, they belong to J.K Rowling and the creators of Merlin, and the BBC. I am not making a profit from writing and posting this fanfic. I'm also making some big changes to the Merlin plotline so don't be surprised that nothing matches with canon. If I'm being honest, it's been years since I last saw the series, so I'm mostly going off what I remember and episode reviews and notes. And I've decided Arthur won't be dying.
AN
And here's another chapter of 'I hadn't meant for this to be so long. Should I split it into two? Nope.' I stayed up until 4:30 to get this finished and now I'm exhausted.
Reviews for the previous chapter? Amazing! I must say this every chapter but you guys are the best!
I know, I'm evil for leaving you with that cliff hanger but I think this chapter will make up for it. But be prepared, after this, we are moving more in Merlin canon and everything should start to pick up. I love a good love story but now it's time to move on and I can't and won't promise there won't be any future cliff hangers.
Welcome, all new readers! I hope I continue to do this one justice and I'm enjoying writing it so much right now that the muse is being great.
How does Arthur know about her magic? Some of you have already guessed it but read on to find out.
Q&A
Nat Ollivander – That review certainly made up for it. And thank you!
Brittani93 – I can't help myself.
VanillaDreamFran – After reading your review I thought to myself, she's definitely a Brit like me and after doing a quick sneak peek on your profile I was right! I've got to agree with you, just because you're a Brit doesn't make you posh. I'm as far from posh as one person can possibly be. I see you're from Yorkshire, not too far from me, I believe. I probably shouldn't give this out, but what the hell! I'm from the land that is said to be the creator of the legendary Parmo, do you know where that is?
ByronElizabeth – Then grab some tissues just in case. I'm not sure why and I'm certain there's something wrong with me for I teared up a little when writing this chapter and had to stop to calm myself, haha.
LenaMiaH – Unfortunately, I'm sticking with Morgana going to the dark side as in canon. Whilst she was manipulated by Morgause, she did attempt to kill King Uther before they ever met. I can't remember why and I might have to go back and do a little research into the matter but she had those feelings of hatred before and even with Hermione's presence, I doubt she will be able to change that.
Page count: 24
"I know you have magic."
"I know you have magic."
"I know you have magic."
On a loop, it played through her mind, a thousand times in the matter of a few short seconds. She felt herself sway before she fisted her hands tightly by her sides and stood her ground, refusing to give in to the darkness that threatened to claim her, refusing to lose that morning's breakfast by emptying it over her shoes.
She straightened her stance and squared her shoulders, taking a breath and slowly turning to face him, being grateful for the distance between them.
"Arthur, I don't know what you've been told but I do not possess magic. Knowing what I do about the laws of Camelot, I would never be foolish enough to come here, let alone stay for as long as I have."
"Don't lie to me, Hermione," he replied, his voice surprisingly soft.
She was expecting anger, hatred, disgust. Not this. Not the softening of his features, the openness of his expression, the calmness of his body language. He wasn't scared and he showed no signs of wishing to defend himself or attack, especially when he didn't have his sword on him. That was unusual in itself. Unless he was at dinner or inside the castle walking the corridors, he always had his sword. Why did he not have it now?
"I'm not lying," she denied.
"Hermione," he sighed, taking a step forward but pausing when she took a step back. "No one told me. I have witnessed it."
Godric!
Panic rose within her and she fisted her hands into the skirts of her dress, preparing to run for her life. They were fairly close to the woods and given how much time she'd spent in there, she knew she'd be able to navigate her way out of Camelot quite well compared to any who may be sent to apprehend and arrest her. Whilst she didn't fear death, she wasn't exactly in the mood to be executed for being a Sorceress. She didn't want Merlin to have to witness such a thing, she didn't want Akela to be left alone, to be hunted now that he no longer had her protection. She didn't want Godric to lose her after all the years he'd spent trying to bring her back to him. She didn't want her charges to lose her, she wasn't stupid. Whilst Charles and Harrow saw Hermione as more of a friend, an Aunt, Farley and Kenelm were much younger and they saw Hermione as being more of a mother figure to them. They'd already lost one mother; she didn't want them to lose her as well. She couldn't even imagine what it would do to them.
"Kenelm. I saw him fall out of the tree, I saw you protect him."
She felt her heart stop still. She'd worried that someone might have seen but when she'd looked, she hadn't seen or spotted any evidence of someone witnessing her use of magic. That explained Arthur's behaviour afterwards, why he'd been so distressed and unlike himself.
"In the marketplace, I saw you use magic to protect that child from being harmed by the wagon. In the city, I saw you protect that old woman from being trampled by a horse that had escaped its land. In the woods, I saw you produce apples from thin air to feed Llameri. When we were abducted, I saw you use magic to trip the bandit, saving my life, not once, but twice. I saw you, Hermione, and I know you have magic."
Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest she could hear it thumping in her ears, fear spiked through her and she fisted her skirts tighter.
She wished she could be mad at herself but she couldn't. At the time she'd thought she'd been subtle, barely looking in the direction of those she'd helped but if she were honest, she wouldn't change any of it even if she could. She'd helped those people, it wasn't in her nature to sit back and let people suffer if there was something she could do to help them. If she was going to be sentenced to death for protecting those that needed it, at least she'd stayed true to herself. But she wasn't going down without a fight.
Without warning, she turned and sprinted down the stone pathway and while she was quite fast, Arthur had longer legs and was able to reach her, his hand encircling her upper arm and tugging her to a stop before she'd even reached the archway. He was surprisingly gentle when he turned her to face him, both of his hands holding her in place and preventing her from trying to escape.
She stared up at him, her expression filled with terror and her wide eyes filled with tears. He could both see and feel her body shaking and despite all of this and knowing what he did about her magic, she made no attempt to use magic against him, to try and escape regardless of the fact she'd be executed if caught.
"Hermione... You will never be a prisoner of Camelot," he swore. "Just as I swore on my sword, crown and honour to always love and protect you, I swear you will never face harm, prison or execution. Magic or not."
Her shaking didn't subside and neither did she lose her expression of terror but he saw confusion flitter through her eyes.
"I know the truth. I understand why you told me the things you did, why you are so supportive of magic. I hadn't experienced the capabilities of magic cast by a non-evil practitioner, not until I met you. After I saw the things you did with your magic, I began to understand that what you were trying to tell me was true. The magic you used, whilst it could have been used for nefarious purposes, you used it for good, to protect people. I'm beginning to understand that magic is magic, it's the people that control it we have to manage. I've witnessed many evil uses of magic and until you arrived in Camelot, I never believed I would witness it being used for good. And the things you told me about the use of magic in your Kingdom, the school, I realised that only someone who had attended such a school would be able to tell me such detailed knowledge. Whilst trying to help me understand, you gave yourself away."
"I know there is much more I have to learn and I know that I must learn to trust others, but right now, I only trust you. I only trust your magic and your intentions as not only have I witnessed it, I know you and I know your heart. I know you would never use magic for despicable purposes. Your heart is good and kind. Despite what I have been taught to believe from a very young age, despite all that I have witnessed in the past, I know you are not evil. I know that I love you. I love you for your kindness and strength, for your intelligence and stubbornness, I love everything that makes you who you are and that includes your magic. You once told me that some people are born with their magic, that some cannot help it, and I understand that you are one of those people. It would be wrong of me to have you punished for something that is beyond your control, especially when you are using your magic to help protect others."
Hermione wasn't entirely sure how to respond or react to his confession, she wasn't entirely certain she'd fully processed it or if she'd just imagined the entire statement, replacing it with something, that deep down, she wanted to hear from him. It was all too much, it was too difficult to believe that he accepted her and her magic after all he'd been taught. He'd been taught to hate magic with the same ferocity that Pureblood supremacists hated Muggleborns and three months was not a long enough period of time to convince him to turn his back on his beliefs. And the only outward sign of reaction she could give was a slow blink.
Arthur released a sigh and his hands moved from grasping her upper arms until he cupped her face, tilting her head back a little before he tipped his head until their forehead's pressed together and his eyes closed.
"Hermione, if I wished you harm, I would've told my father. With your help, I hope to one day feel confident enough to banish the laws forbidding the use of magic in Camelot, but I intend for there to still be punishments for those that use magic to harm and destroy others. I haven't told my father and I don't ever tend to and though it may sound heartless, only when my father passes will I be able to do this, but until then, I need you. I need you to show me the goodness of magic so I can be confident in my decision without feeling doubt. I need to be surrounded by your magic, to continue to witness your kindness. I need you to prove to me that I am making the right decision. Hermione, if I had bad intentions, why would I ask to marry you? I knew you had magic and I still wished to marry you. Does that not tell you of the person I am?... Please, say something, you are worrying me."
Against her better judgement, she allowed her eyes to open when she felt him pull back and she was immediately caught in his gaze. Without thought, she dropped her skirts and raised her hands, folding them around his wrists. She wasn't sure if she'd done it to pull his hands away from her face or to keep them in place. Not being able to stand his piercing gaze, her eyelids fluttered closed and her jaw ticked, debating on her next words.
"I have never used magic against you or on you."
"I never said you have or did," he replied, sounding confused. "Why would you think that?"
"You told me you were once placed under a Love Spell."
"Oh," he muttered, "I remember the way I felt when I was under the Love Spell and it hardly compares to the way I feel for you. I remember feeling as though I was floating, my mind cloudy and unfocused but since meeting you, it is the exact opposite. For the first time, I feel I see the world clearly, I feel I understand more than I ever thought I could and I know my purpose, I know what I must do. Everything is now clear to me."
"I can't change who I am, I can't change that I have magic."
"I don't want to change you, I don't want you to change who you are."
"I can't suppress my magic. If I don't exercise it regularly, it results in a build-up, one that can be dangerous for me or anyone who might be close. I grew up practising magic and since the war, I am usually quite good at hiding it, at holding back from using magic for things that I might do for myself but magic is mostly instinctual. I did not mean to protect Kenelm the way I did, it just happened. My magic sensed my panic, my worry for his safety and it acted to protect him. And when my magic is not instinctual, it is still in my nature to help others when I can and though I really shouldn't have helped those that I did with my magic as I risked exposing myself, I couldn't help it."
"That is how I know you are good, Hermione. Even with the risk of exposure, of the threat of execution, you still helped to protect a stranger. You risked your own safety for that of a stranger's." She felt his thumbs swipe over her cheekbone and she tilted her head slightly, leaning into it. "Look at me, Hermione," he pleaded.
Taking a breath and gathering her courage, her eyes opened, once more getting caught in the bright blue of his gaze.
"I was born the way I am."
"I know, you don't practice the magic of the Old Religion."
"No, I don't. I think that blood and human sacrifice is barbaric and there is a reason it is frowned upon in Hogwarts. And whilst you might understand that I was born the way I am, what you don't understand is that it is hereditary."
"Excuse me?" His eyebrow arched in surprise.
"While there are some that are born to be the first magic user in their line, the majority of magic users are born to other magic users. My father... My brother," she corrected, seeing the amused twitch of Arthur's mouth. "He possessed magic but his wife did not. My father, Godric, he has magic, as did his father before him and his father before him and so on for as long as anyone can remember. My father is exceptionally powerful and our line is known to produce magic users. Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?" She asked.
His head tipped to the side as he considered her question, searching for the answer.
"It is hereditary?"
"Yes,"
"And that means..." He trailed off, his eyes widening slightly.
"Yes, it does. It means that any children born to me will possess magic, just as I do and the rest of my ancestry."
"All of them?"
"However many I may have, yes, all of them. My magical line is too strong for it to not pass onto my children."
"And if the father doesn't possess magic?"
"They will still possess magic, only one magical parent is required. From what I've learned from my father, my mother possessed magic, too, only her magic manifested itself in the rare gift of premonitions, she was a Seer. I've learned that my newly discovered step-mother doesn't possess magic, but the baby she will soon birth will due to my father's lineage."
"That is something that might take some time to process," he replied, blinking slowly before shaking his head.
"I have lied to you, Arthur."
"About?" He arched an eyebrow.
"Hogwarts, it's not just a Kingdom that accepts and welcomes magic, it is a Kingdom of magic. Almost every citizen is a magic practitioner."
His eyes widened comically. "And the other King and Queens that co-rule?"
"Yes, they are magic users, too. Hogwarts was founded as a safe haven, a place other magic users might live freely without fear, where they would be safe. It is protected by magic and it's one of the reasons I was quite surprised to see Godric at all. Not only should your men not have been able to find it, let alone approach it, but I gave you the wrong direction of travel."
"Excuse me?"
"Hogwarts is not a three month's travel from Camelot, it is approximately six weeks on horse, less if travelling by a hippogriff. And it is not south but in fact north."
"You deliberately lied about the location of Hogwarts?"
"Yes, I did. I didn't want to lie to you but I need you to understand, I had to protect my Kingdom and its people. They are hidden for a reason."
He blinked slowly and a snort sounded from him. "Well, I am glad the riders were able to intercept your father's riding party during his travels."
"It wasn't an accident. My father was coming to Camelot, he knew I was here."
"He did? How is that possible if he hasn't seen you for so long?" His brow furrowed.
"Do you remember that hippogriff we saw in the woods?" She asked and he nodded thoughtfully. "Well, when she returned to Hogwarts, my father told me he recognised the magical signature that surrounded her, she led him to Camelot, to me."
"Magical signature?"
"Every born magic user has a magical signature and it is unique to each individual. It can be used to identify which magic user cast a specific spell, or even to track an individual's location."
"Can you do this?"
"If I've been exposed to the individual's magical signature before, yes. It is how my father was able to find me, not only was he aware of my magical signature, but I possess the Gryffindor magics, making our signatures similar. But please don't ask me to do such a thing, not everyone wants their possession of magic to be known and it isn't my place to reveal their secret or expose them for what they are."
"I won't, not unless it is necessary and you may refuse to help if you wish. I will not force you to do anything you don't wish to do."
"Thank you," she sighed.
"Now that we no longer have secrets between us, might I have an answer to my proposal?" She nibbled at her lip and lowered her gaze. "Hermione, I love you. I don't know how many times I have to say it for you to understand that I am telling you the truth. I understand why you didn't tell me about your magic and I'm not upset or angry."
"Have you thought this through, Arthur? Really thought it through?"
"Yes,"
"Arthur," she sighed, her eyes closing briefly. "Are you willing to keep my magic a secret not just from your father, the King, but everyone else? Are you prepared to lie to protect me? Do you understand what will happen to me, to you, should it ever be revealed? I don't want to put you in danger or for you to potentially damage your relationship with your father. When a witch marries, it is for life, there is magic involved. When the vows are spoken, it is recorded as a magical oath, something that can result in death if the vows are broken. It isn't a spell or enchantment, it's the magic within the witch or wizard, the very soul. Should we marry, if you break any vow you make, it is highly possible you will die. And children, Arthur? Are you ready to accept that they will possess magic?"
"I would die to protect you," he promised, his expression serious and he tilted her head so she was forced to look at him. "I know my father, I know what he would do to you should he discover the truth, keeping your magic a secret? Lying to him? That is something I'll gladly do to protect you. Being magically bound for life? Will that affect our relationship?"
"No, it won't affect or influence any thoughts, feelings, decisions or actions. Its purpose is to bind the couple together, to ensure they are more aware and in tune with each other."
"Then I see no issue with it. And magical children? I admit, that might take a little time to process but all that matters is I love you. You are the woman I want and need by my side in everyday life and when I take the throne. You are everything I need in a Queen and everything the citizens of Camelot need."
"I don't want to be Queen," she voiced quietly.
"Unfortunately, me and the throne, we're a package deal. You cannot have one without the other. I know you were not raised to rule as I was but you are the heir to your own throne, it is in your blood and I know you will be the greatest and most loved Queen that Camelot has ever seen. I know that no matter what may come or the trials I may face, you will give me the courage and strength to fight them. You are the greatest thing to ever walk into my life and I don't want to let you go without a fight. I want you to be my wife."
Hermione's jaw ticked and her eyes closed before she finally used her grip on his wrists to pull his hands from her face, Hermione loosening her own grip and taking a step back from him. He didn't follow and she missed his agonised expression as she turned her back, putting some space between them. With him being so close she hadn't been able to think clearly and as her thoughts ran through her mind, she unknowingly began pacing.
Godric's words about Fate filled her mind, Gwen's words of Arthur needing a wife like her, Merlin's words of him being of the belief that magic would return to Camelot because of her.
Perhaps that was true. Arthur had already confessed he wished to change the laws after his father's passing and he'd confessed to loving her despite her possession of magic. If Merlin and Gwen were right then there was a good possibility of Godric being right, too. Fate always had a way of working things out and it seemed that she and Arthur had overcome many obstacles since meeting. Was it all to get to this point? She loved him, she truly did. Fate wouldn't be so cruel to allow that to happen only to take it from her, would it? Not after all she'd suffered and sacrificed.
As she spun on her heel to pace in the opposite direction, the sun reflecting off a golden ribbon caught her eye, Hermione seeing the red and yellow bouquet of flowers that lay forgotten on the ground. Halting to a stop, she slowly lifted her head to see Arthur's badly concealed worry and then she darted a quick glance around her, seeing absolutely no one, not even a worker in the vegetable patch which was so far off into the distance, it looked like a little speck. Turning her gaze to Arthur and wishing to see his reaction, she slowly raised her arm and held her hand out in the direction of the bouquet. Arthur didn't even flinch when the bouquet soared through the air and right into her hand, Hermione catching it effortlessly as she closed her fingers around it and then brought the petals up to her face, breathing in its floral scent.
"When we first met, I knew there was something about you, something that made you different from the others," she started, keeping her gaze locked on the flowers in her grasp lest she loses her courage. "You made quite the impression and that is difficult to do. When you were injured by the Questing Beast, I dropped everything I was doing so I could come to you. I admit that I had intended to come to Camelot to seek out an ingredient I needed to make a remedy for the ill children, but when I saw you, pale, unresponsive, dying, it frightened me. Really frightened me in a way I hadn't felt since the war."
"I know you were there," he interrupted. "A few days after you left, I remembered something, I remembered your voice, I remembered you speaking to me, telling me to fight, to be strong, to be a King. Your voice is what allowed me to fight for as long as I did, I used your voice, the memory of you as an anchor. I am alive because you gave me something to hold on to."
Her breath hitched at the revelation but she didn't lift her gaze from the bouquet, she had more to say and she needed to get it out before she lost her courage.
"When I returned to Ealdor, I focused my attention on preparing the village for my leaving so I could return to Camelot. I came here for you, I had the feeling I was needed here and since my arrival, I have never felt more at home. I knew things between us were slowly shifting and it terrified me, I couldn't allow myself to believe that you cared for me and I couldn't allow myself to feel the same, so I did everything I could to distance myself from you without being rude or disrespectful and without hurting you. But you just wouldn't stop. You wouldn't stop being so kind and considerate, you wouldn't stop being so protective. What you did to help with the medical practice, your time spent with the children, my birthday, the orphanage, our time spent together out of the public eye, our abduction... During all of this, you showed me that you are the man I always thought you could be. During all of this, I did something I didn't want to do, something that terrifies me."
"And that is?" He questioned, his voice surprisingly quiet, breathy.
"I fell in love with you," she admitted softly, finally lifting her gaze to his surprised expression. "I love you, I really do. I love you so much the thought of you being harmed hurts, the thought of losing you hurts more than a dagger to the heart. I am terrified of loving you and then losing you. I am terrified that you will be taken from me."
"Hermione, you won't ever lose me."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," she whispered, lowering her head when she felt tears sting at her eyes, threatening to spill.
"I swear, you won't lose me," he promised and then before she knew it, he'd closed the distance between them, his hand gently cupping her chin and tilting her head back, seeing her tear-filled eyes. "You love me?"
"I swear on my magic and with everything I have and everything I don't, I love you. I never intended for this to happen. My being with you, it could put you in danger."
"I would face thousands of opponents if it meant you were safe and we were together. A life without love is not a life worth living and I would rather have you no matter the danger it may bring me."
"You're making this incredibly difficult to protect you," she sighed tiredly.
His mouth twitched. "I am taking a page out of your book. Being stubborn seems to work for you so I thought I might give it a try."
"Arthur, you have to be entirely certain this is something you want."
"I've never been more certain of anything in my life. I want you to be my wife and Queen."
She nibbled her lip thoughtfully and though she tipped her head down, he simply lifted it again. "I truly don't deserve you," she whispered.
"Me? You are one of a kind. Where else would I find a magical Princess that uses her magic for good and cares more about others than she does herself? I have been exposed to nobility all of my life and I've dozens of Princess over the years, all hoping for a marriage, but you, you are special and I know I'll never meet another woman like you."
"Arthur, I've warned you before, I am not always kind and compassionate. I have a darker side and though I don't show it often and when I do, it is not pretty. I am just as must vengeful and vindictive as I am kind. When in my Kingdom, those who knew of my temper were quick to flee when they saw me in one of my moods."
"A Queen needs to be kind, she needs to love and care for her people, but she must also be prepared to protect them. A Queen that is loved by her people but feared by her enemies is something Camelot needs. And as the years pass, I am certain I will learn to avoid your ire."
"Please," she snorted. "You're just as bad as Sir Leon, you can't help but tease until I snap."
He grinned unabashedly before it fell from his face, his expression turning serious and his hand slipped from her chin to cradle the back of her neck, it soon being accompanied by the other hand, his fingers getting tangled in her wild curls, softer than he'd thought they'd be.
"I need an answer, Hermione. I believe I've waited long enough and I've explained myself the best I possibly can."
This was it, the moment of truth. She just hoped everyone was right, that she was Fated to be with Arthur and save him.
Her gaze locked with his, his bright blue eyes hopeful but anxious.
"Yes,"
"Yes?" He blinked slowly.
"Yes, I will marry you."
It seemed to take him a moment to actually process her answer and the second he did, his eyes widened and his features lit up as his mouth pulled into the biggest smile she'd ever seen from him. As a beam of sunlight rained over them, Arthur's eyes sparkling, his tanned skin glowing and his breeze swept hair looking a little blonder, he'd never looked more handsome.
A loud laugh left him and he drew his hands back, taking several steps away from her.
"Really?"
"Yes, really," she laughed lightly, sniffling as she felt a tear spill down her cheek. Tears of joy.
"Really?" He repeated.
"Yes, I will be your wife," she smiled.
"And Queen," he added.
"I'm not completely happy about that part," she grumbled and he laughed at her.
"Gods! I can't believe it!" He exclaimed happily, all but bouncing on the balls of his feet.
Hermione released a shriek of surprise when she suddenly found herself being pulled into a tight hug but the moment Arthur buried his face against her neck, she found herself relaxing and she lifted her arms, encircling them around his neck, the bouquet of flowers still in her grasp. They were to be married; this was something they'd be able to do without it seeming improper, something she was grateful for because if she were honest, she'd grown to be a hugger, something that Molly Weasley had instilled upon her.
She felt his arms slide away from her until only his hands rested against the small of her back and he pulled back from her slightly, only enough to be able to look down at her while still being close enough that her arms were comfortably settled being hooked around the back of his neck.
His smile was blinding and when another tear fell down her cheek, Hermione let out a little laugh only for it trail off when he brought a hand up to cup her cheek, brushing the tear away with his thumb. And before she knew it, he'd lowered his head and she'd closed her eyes and stretched up on her tiptoes, their lips meeting for the first time.
It was a simple press of the lips and over within moments and when they separated, they glanced at one another, shared a smile and then her eyes fluttered closed when he moulded his mouth against hers with a little more pressure and no sign of him pulling away from her as quickly as he had before, something she wasn't going to complain about.
If he was worried he was pushing her too far too quickly or that she'd be a nervous wreck, shy and hesitant, those worries soon faded when she confidently moved her mouth against him, the realisation that this wasn't her first kiss, that she'd done this before hitting him in the stomach like a punch. Jealousy flared up within him but when he felt the hand that wasn't currently holding the bouquet twist into the hair at the nape of his neck, it soon vanished. It didn't matter, he reminded himself. She was to be his, his wife and Queen.
She was the first to draw back, a little gasp falling from her as she breathed in a large amount of air, her eyes remaining closed. He stared down at her, her pale skin lit by the sunlight and her wild hair showing hues of red and purple, her cheeks lightly tinted pink and her mouth a little plumper and redder. She truly was beautiful.
He pushed her hair back from her face and over her shoulder before his hand returned to her cheek, his thumb swiping over her cheekbone which is when her eyes opened, a little glassier than usual.
"What?" She asked quietly, no doubt seeing the smile he couldn't keep from his face.
"Do you know how beautiful you are?"
The tint to her cheeks darkened and she cleared her throat. This one of the many things he loved about her, she hated compliments. Most primped and preened and even expected them, but not her.
"I've been called many things in my life, but never beautiful."
"They don't see in you what I do."
She tipped her head, leaning further into his touch and his smile widened at the sight as her eyes fluttered softly and then opened again.
"You know, there is one piece of business that is imperative we ensure is taken care of before we marry."
"And that is?" He arched an eyebrow, having the feeling that her response wouldn't be something he was expecting and that it would amuse him.
"Well, who is to be the one to write to Ealdor and inform little Tobyn than I can no longer marry him? You or me?"
He blinked at her slowly before his laughter burst from him and Hermione squealed and clung to him tightly when he lifted her off the ground, held her against him and spun in circles until she laughed and complained of dizziness. When he set her on the ground, she almost tripped and he was sure to hold her close until her balance returned, stepping back from her the moment she did.
She opened her mouth to ask what he was doing when he stepped back and brought his hand to his mouth, only she never got to voice her question and felt herself wincing when he placed his thumb and index finger in-between his lips and released an impressively loud whistle that went right through her.
"And what was that for?" She asked, seeing no one or thing around them.
He grinned and held his index finger up in a gesture for her to wait a moment and when she was about to repeat her question, she felt her eyebrows raising high on her forehead when she heard a bark she knew all too well. Twisting to look behind her, in the distance she saw the distinctive silver fur of her wolf glinting in the sunlight as he bounded towards them. She looked to Arthur in both surprise and question, since when did Akela take commands from him and since when did he come running after being summoned like a common domestic pet?
Seeing his grin, she turned back to Akela, being reminded of just how fast he was capable of running when she'd seen the distance he'd crossed in such little time. As he grew close to the garden, he didn't enter by passing under the archway rather he jumped over the fence, Hermione rolling her eyes at him. He halted to a stop beside Arthur, not her and he beamed, petting Akela on the head and muttering 'good boy,' in praise.
Much to her confusion, Arthur crouched down beside him and held his hand out expectantly only for the large wolf to open its mouth and gently deposit a velvet pouch into the palm of his hand, Arthur praising him once more and scratching him behind the ear before he rose to full height.
Not giving her the chance to comment on the new budding friendship they seemed to have, one she wasn't aware of, he opened the pouch and pulled out its contents, Hermione's eyes widening at the sparkle of the red and gold caught in the rays of the sun. Whilst the golden chain and gold encased teardrop ruby was quite a simple design, it was by no means cheap or small. It was the largest gemstone she'd ever seen and she'd been in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault!
Her eyes darted between the necklace and Arthur's expression, the Prince seeming to find her speechless response amusing.
"What..." Was all she managed and Arthur laughed.
"This is the official Pendragon token of betrothal," he explained, briefly turning the ruby over to show the Pendragon crest stamped onto the back of the gold casing. "And you will wear it just as my mother did before she married my father. While I know you do not care for such materialistic things and you don't like to do things that are expected of you, this is the one thing I must insist upon. Whilst you are protected because you are a visiting Royal, this signifies that you are my intended and should harm come to you, punishment will be far worse than death."
"Arthur, I hardly doubt the people will harm me, I have been here quite a while now and no one, except for Thorley Hearte, has threatened let alone attempted harm."
"Yes, while that may be true, we can't always trust everyone and we must be on guard. There is always the risk of a visitor or outsider wishing to harm you or seek revenge for something that may have happened in the past with my father. It has happened before where they have attempted to harm me to harm my father and they may do so again, they may attempt to harm you. There may be someone out there that wishes vengeance against me and they may harm you to hurt me."
"Well, now that you know of my magic, I feel I don't have to tell you I am quite capable of looking after myself."
"I understand but if you are in the public eye, you can't risk using your magic."
"Arthur, I am rarely without my guards and whilst I have magic at my aid, I am capable of wielding a dagger."
"I am not disputing that, I just wish for you to be more cautious. And you must wear this."
He didn't give her the opportunity to argue the fact and it was probably a good thing, Hermione thought, when he closed the distance between them and moved to stand behind her, hooking the necklace around her neck and Hermione moving her hair out of the way so he might fasten the clasp. Once done, he stepped back and Hermione lifted the large gemstone that was so big and heavy, the chain dug into the back of her neck.
"Would you mind if I made some adjustments?" She asked.
"In what way?" He arched an eyebrow.
Her brow furrowed in thought before she raised her other hand and waved it over the ruby twice, a blue-hued glow forming before it disappeared, Hermione seeing Arthur's arched eyebrow when the ruby no longer sat in the valley of her breasts along with her locket but rather below the hollow of her throat, appearing as a choker. Not only that, but she'd cast a Feather-Light Charm to remove the heavy weight and she'd added a little spell that would prevent her hair from getting tangled around the chain.
"What?" She asked, seeing his amused but impressed expression. "Not only is it no longer heavy, there is less chance of it getting caught on something and the chain snapping."
"It suits you," he commented.
She snorted. "No, it doesn't. Whilst I'm partial to the colours, this is far too big for my tastes. It seems you Pendragons have the same qualities as Gryffindors, neither of us are subtle." He laughed at her. "And since when are you and Akela such great friends?"
Arthur shrugged and reached out, running his hand through the wolf's fur, the wolf that was sat obediently and had yet to move.
"You have been spending a lot of time with your father recently, Akela often wandered onto the training grounds after returning from hunting in the woods, and has since been following me around more than usual." He wasn't sure how to respond or react when she looked to the wolf suspiciously.
"And how did he know to be here? You and I both know he remained in my rooms."
He smiled. "I may have spoken to him last night and had Merlin give him the necklace after we left your rooms, as I was hopeful you'd accept my proposal. I have always understood he is a smart animal but after today, I think he might be the most intelligent I've ever met, he's certainly smarter than some of my Knights," he said, snorting when Akela seemed to sit straighter at the compliment. "But now, I believe we should return to the castle."
"Yes, I imagine Michel and Emerick are beside themselves with worry," she rolled her eyes and he chuckled, knowing it was true.
As much as he hadn't wanted to make them her personal guards in the beginning, now he realised it was one the best decisions he'd ever made. They weren't just her guards concerned for her safety as it was their jobs, they were more like overprotective brothers and he knew he could trust them to keep her safe not only from those who wished her harm but herself.
Arthur took Hermione's hand in his before settling it in the crook of his elbow and with Akela by his side and Hermione holding the bouquet he'd gifted her, they left the garden and made their return to the castle, only when they reached the group of trees near the vegetable patches, they both halted to a stop and blinked slowly and then looked to one another in surprise. This hadn't been a part of Arthur's plan, she knew from the equally surprised and confused look on his face.
Before them stood a queue of people with approximately one hundred meters distance between them. Together they continued their walk, reaching the first person in the queue, Merlin.
"Your Highness, Sire," he grinned widely, bowing to them both before rising to full height and producing a red rose from behind his back, holding out to Hermione. "Congratulations," he said, Hermione taking the rose from him in surprise.
They both thanked him and he stepped back, allowing them to continue until they reached Gwen.
"Your Highness, Sire," she beamed a smile and curtseyed before offering Hermione a white rose. "Congratulations,"
After saying their thanks, they continued being stopped and receiving the same treatment from all of the Knights, Sir Leon wriggling his eyebrows suggestively and Hermione kicking him in the shin with Arthur bursting into laughter. When finished with the Knights, they came across Emerick and then Michel, both grinning at her knowingly. She'd almost kicked them, too. As they neared the castle, they came across Charles, Harrow and Farley, Charles smirking when Hermione bristled at his addressing of her by her royal title and Harrow and Farley grinning at her. By the time they reached Kenelm, Hermione's arms were laden with so many red and white roses and her bouquet Arthur had to carry some as well and even Akela had a rose in his mouth. The last person on their journey almost broke her heart.
When he saw them approaching, he didn't wait for them to reach him rather he ran to meet them, dropping into the cutest little bow she'd ever seen as he held the final white rose out to her and grinned up at her toothily.
"I'm happy you're getting married. You're the best person I've ever met and you deserve to be happy," the almost six-year-old spoke.
Hermione felt tears spring to her eyes, especially when he hugged her around the waist tightly, not seemingly bothered about nearly losing his eye to the rose stems, before he stepped back, bowed again and then ran off in the direction of his brothers.
"Are you alright?" Arthur asked.
"Yes," she sniffled. "It's just, that little boy means the absolute world to me and..." She trailed off, sniffing.
"I understand," he nodded, not pushing further on the matter.
They continued the short distance to the castle and when they reached the entrance courtyard, they both halted to a stop when they saw King Godric and King Uther stood before each other, talking amongst themselves as they shared a laugh.
"Ah, here they are now," King Godric said joyfully, turning towards them and beaming a wide smile, looking to his daughter and her arms being laden with so many roses he could barely see her face. "I believe congratulations are in order."
Arthur blinked in surprise, especially when he saw his father smile, too. When was the last time that had happened?
"Thank you," he and Hermione replied simultaneous, having said it so many times over the last half an hour it was engraved in their brains.
King Godric approached Hermione and he boomed a laugh so loud it took him by surprise, before scooped the many roses from her arms and then passed them off to a guard who had followed behind him, smiling down at his daughter.
"You are happy, little cub?"
"Yes, happier than I've been in a long time. I need to thank you for talking some sense into me."
"That is what fathers are for. If I cannot help you decipher the feelings in your heart and broke you free from the entrapment of your mind, then I am a failure."
"Thank you, I truly appreciate it," she replied before she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his chest.
Whilst Godric wasn't much taller than Hermione, his broad shoulders and chest and massive hands made her look tiny against him as he folded his arms around her back, his features softening in a way that didn't seem possible.
"You are my daughter, I only want you to be happy. You have suffered some truly terrible things and more than most..." Godric's voice hardened a little before he sighed tiredly and Arthur's brow furrowed, wondering the meaning of his words and being sure to file a note to speak to Hermione about it when they next had the chance. "You deserve a life of happiness and to be married to a man who will love and protect you with everything he has. The saddest day in a father's life is the day he is expected to watch his daughter marry, and I am just glad I know you will be in good hands," he finished, sending him a look of warning over the top of Hermione's head that Arthur admitted was quite frightening, especially when he was reminded that he had magic just as Hermione did.
Clearing his throat, Arthur nodded and then approached his father, the King lifting his hand and clapping him on the shoulder, sending King Godric an amused glance before turning back to him.
"Well, you have gotten the only woman you have ever wanted for a wife. How do you feel?"
"Relieved," he replied. "I was hoping she would say yes but there was always the possibility she would decline my proposal."
"Yes, they certainly have some strange traditions in Hogwarts, don't they?" His father mused, looking to King Godric thoughtfully.
If only he knew, thought Arthur.
"How did you know? King Godric said he would only speak to you after I had spoken with Hermione."
"It seems he was quite certain his daughter would accept your proposal and when he learned of your plans for this day, he came to me. There a few details that need to be considered and discussed but all should be taken care of before he takes his leave. I am not sure if I should be impressed or annoyed that you disobeyed my orders, Arthur," his father said.
He was saved from responding when Godric approached, Hermione tucked into his side and looking tiny.
"Please, Uther," King Godric chuckled. "Give the boy some credit, I would have much rather it have been him that broached the subject than you, after all, he is to be the one I am entrusting my daughter's happiness and safety to. We Gryffindors hold courage above all else and he showed me he has it."
Uther tipped his head, not wishing to say more on the matter and then his eyes turned to Hermione.
"Congratulations, Princess," he said, Hermione placing her hand in his and stepping closer when he held his hand out expectantly. He bowed over her hand and she curtseyed before they both rose to full height. "It seems I can formally welcome you to the family and I am happy my son was able to find a woman such as yourself."
"Thank you, Your Grace," she replied, her cheeks tinting pink. "But, I feel it is I who is the lucky one. There are few men in this world that I believe would be able to stand against Arthur."
"Perhaps you are correct. Now," he released her hand and she folded hers before her. "There is to be an announcement in an hour and a celebratory feast this evening."
"Must we?" Hermione all but pouted and Arthur's mouth twitched in amusement though he was quite surprised to see the gesture mimicked by his father.
"Yes, Princess, we must. If there is ever an occasion that calls for a feast this is it."
"You know I do not like them, they make me highly uncomfortable. I would not put it past you to hold a feast simply to annoy me."
"I am a King, do you truly believe I would be so petty."
She folded her arms over chest, squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. "Yes, yes I do."
King Uther's mouth tugged into a smile and Arthur shared a humourous glance with King Godric. It seemed that not only had Hermione changed him, but his father, too.
As Hermione soon launched into a tirade about her hatred for feasts and his father stood and politely nodded, doing his best to keep his composure, Arthur and King Godric found themselves standing off to the side.
"Congratulations,"
"Thank you, Your Grace," he replied. "I admit, I was a little worried she would reject my proposal."
"But you had no reason to fear, just as I knew you wouldn't. I knew from the moment I saw you together that you loved my daughter and she loved you."
"Well, she did reject me, twice." He looked around, seeing there was no one close enough to overhear but he lowered his voice anyway, moving a little closer to the King so he'd be able to hear. "I feel it best I be honest with you, I know she has magic." If he was surprised, he didn't show it. "I am not going to tell my father. I will protect her from him. I have witnessed her use it to protect children and old women, to save my life. I know she is good and she would never use it to harm someone."
"You know of her magic and you still wish to marry her?" He questioned, his voice just as quiet as his had been.
"Yes. I am not my father. I admit that I once agreed with his ruling but since meeting Hermione, she's been telling me of the magic she's witnessed and been surrounded by. She's told me that some magic users are born as they are, she admitted that Hogwarts was a Kingdom of magic were magic users were protected from those that wished them harm. I know she was born with her magic, just as I know it's hereditary and that you possess it, too. She explained that any children she births will have magic and though I know it will take a little time to process the information, I still love her and I still wish to have children with her. When I am King and my father passes, I wish to change the laws, I wish to accept magic users but those who use their magic for evil will be punished. As of now, I only trust Hermione's magic as it's the only good magic I've been exposed to but I hope to witness more."
King Godric tipped his head slightly. "Well, Arthur, you are always welcome to visit Hogwarts where I might show you what it is we protect."
"Thank you, Your Grace, I should like to one day do so. Hermione often talks about the beauty of your banquet hall."
"Yes, it is truly a sight to behold," he nodded. "But, now that you know of my magic, I feel it only proper I give you the warning I wished to give you before. Should you break your vows, I will rain down upon you the full force of the Gryffindor magics."
Admittedly, he was afraid, not entirely by the threat as his expression was quite menacing. He was certain it would send men in battle running in the opposite direction.
"And my daughter, she is highly intelligent and her magic and knowledge grows by the day. I am ensuring that she is well equipped in all forms of magic before I take my leave."
"I would never hurt her."
"I sincerely hope you don't, whilst she might be the kindest woman you may ever meet, she is terrifyingly vindictive."
~000~000~000~
"Thank you all for coming this afternoon," King Uther's voice carried, commanding the attention of those that stood before them.
Whilst they stood on the balcony overlooking the entrance courtyard, guards lined the walls and gate and there were so many people present they spilt out into the city. The nobles were stood front and centre with the rest of the citizens behind them, Hermione having made sure her four charges were escorted to the front so they might better see her despite them already knowing the news.
King Uther stood forward with Arthur on his right, one hand resting atop his sword and the other the small of her back whilst Hermione was tucked in his side, her arms folded and resting against her stomach. Godric stood on her opposite side, a smile on his face and his hands clasped behind his back, barely being able to stand still. One thing she'd learned about him, he was unable to remain still for more than two minutes. He was like an over-hyper child.
"Today I make an announcement, one I believe will be the most important of my life, for this day I wish to announce that my son, crowned Prince Arthur Pendragon, is to wed the daughter of King Godric Gryffindor from Hogwarts, Princess Hermione Gryffindor."
It was silent for a small moment before cheer, applause and shouts sounded, it being so loud Hermione winced and turned away from it a little. She felt Arthur's hand slip from the small of her back and around her waist, tugging her a little closer to him.
"I'm fine," she said, after seeing his worried gaze. "It seems they are quite excited by the news."
"And this is surprising to you?" He arched an eyebrow. "I have told you before. The people of Camelot adore you. A Queen must be loved by her people and feared by her enemies."
"One out of two isn't bad," she replied, slowly feeling herself relax despite the cheers and applause not slowing.
"I know you are fierce, I have witnessed it and you will have plenty of opportunities to prove it to others, too."
"Yes, I can't wait to wipe the smile off Sir Leon's face, if I save his life twice, perhaps he'll stop teasing me on my height."
"I highly doubt it, that is something I believe he will be doing even on his death bed."
"Fabulous," she grumbled and he chuckled at her.
~000~000~000~
She met him in the corridor that was around the corner from the banquet hall. She approached being escorted by her father and with her wolf by her side, but he paid this no mind. He couldn't focus on anything but her.
She looked breathtaking. Her hair was left to hang down her back in wild curls as was usual, but amongst some of the locks were red roses artfully entwined and the same red and gold tiara he'd seen her wear before sat atop her head. Her gown, he'd never seen anything like it. It was golden silk which looked to have been poured over her, it conforming to her body and then floating to the ground. As usual, her arms were covered down to her wrists and her shoulders, collar bone and neck were on display, the golden colour of her gown drawing even more attention to the Pendragon betrothal ruby that sat below her throat. Where did she get such dresses? Who made them?
He barely paid any attention to King Godric but the royal didn't seem to be offended as he amusedly bid them farewell and continued onto the banquet hall. Only when he heard him being announced and he saw Hermione shift on her feet did he realise he'd been staring for an uncomfortable amount of time.
"You look beautiful," he commented.
Her cheeks tinted pink as she smiled at him. "Thank you, I see we match. Was that intentional?" She asked, seeing the red, gold and black ensemble he was sporting.
"We share house colours, we are always likely to match," he replied.
"Oh, how the royal seamstress will love that, it makes for coordinating so much easier," she said and he chuckled at her.
He didn't say anything else as he held his hand out and she silently placed it in his, setting it in the crook of his elbow as they journeyed the remaining distance to the banquet hall, the largest in the castle as the guest list was a little larger than usual.
Not only did they have the nobility and the Knights in attendance, but King Godric's party and Hermione had insisted on her four charges being present, something she hadn't allowed his father to refuse. She said it was a compromise, either her charges were invited or she boycotted the feast. His father had been visibly exasperated whilst King Godric had laughed until his eyes watered.
They stepped into the banquet hall, applause ringing out the moment they did so and Arthur stood taller, not to correct his posture but because he was proud to be marrying Hermione. As they made their way down to the royal table, he caught sight of a few less than pleased glances from the noblewomen he'd rejected for marriage and though he knew they didn't like Hermione because she had gotten something they'd wanted, he knew they weren't dim-witted enough to attempt something. Whilst they were noble and had some power and wealth, not only was he the crowned Prince of Camelot, but Hermione was a Princess, she out-ranked them in society.
Arthur helped Hermione into her seat and then took his own beside her and his father, Godric being on the opposite side with Morgana being sat next to him. The moment the feast started, Hermione seemed to relax as she selected items for Akela first and then filled her own plate, Arthur being glad to see she seemed to have returned to her regular food portions. This was the first time he was eating with her in weeks and he'd been worried she was under-eating.
Conversation flowed as easily as it usually did and before he knew it, they were halfway through the feast only the room slowly fell into silence and the reason behind it became obvious when they lifted their heads.
No one ever approached the royal table unless they were given permission to do so first or the feast was over and they came to pay their respects before taking their leave, but approaching the table was Kenelm, the youngest of Hermione's charges.
A frown of worry settled on Hermione's face and she pushed her chair out a little before motioning for the young boy to walk around the table and come up beside her. He was dressed smarter than he ever remembered seeing him and knew it was Hermione's doing. He wondered if she'd bought them, had them made or if she'd used magic.
"What is wrong?" She asked the young boy softly.
"My tummy hurts," he frowned.
Hermione's brow furrowed and she raised her hand, pressing the back of it against his forehead to gauge his temperature.
"Well, your temperature appears to be normal. Have you eaten?"
"Yes but only a little bit. I don't like it, it tastes wrong."
"That is because you are not used to eating such foods," Hermione explained.
Whilst she'd ensured Charles and his brothers would never again go hungry or without food, the food she prepared or that was bought from the marketplace would hardly compare to the rich foods the royals ate. Rich food tended to be heavy and full of flavour, something that would upset his stomach.
"Come here," she said, pushing her chair a little further backwards and holding her arms out, the young boy obviously recognising the gesture as he soon clambered onto her lap and buried his face against her as if he might just go to sleep right then and there.
Hearing the startled gasps she turned to face forward, seeing the surprised and horrified expressions of those before her whilst his Knights looked amused. She then turned her eyes to his father and Arthur did the same, seeing his expression being a mix of disapproval, horror, amusement and surprise. Her father, King Godric, simply gave her a proud smile.
"Is there a problem?" She arched her eyebrow challengingly.
His father cleared his throat. "Is that really appropriate?"
"He is a young child that is at a feast in which has already surpassed his bedtime and the foods that are served are too rich for his stomach to handle. Are you really going to deny him the need for comfort from the only woman he has in his life? Perhaps I might take him to one of the guest chambers until his brothers are ready to take their leave," she smiled innocently.
Arthur hid his snort by reaching for his goblet and taking a sip of ale. Hermione was always looking for an excuse to leave the feasts early and he wouldn't be surprised if she'd put the young child up to lying for her, and his father, seeming to come to this realisation himself, smiled.
"No, no, he is quite welcome to stay with you should he need your comfort, this is a feast in honour of your betrothal, we wouldn't want you to miss it, would we?"
Hermione didn't respond with words but rather a glare before she turned her eyes back to the little boy in her lap, shifting in her chair slightly and then lifting her hand, brushing it through his hair and muttering something into his ear. Arthur tuned out his father's chuckle and soon the noise picked up again though he was aware glances were still thrown in Hermione's direction.
"Merlin," Hermione called softly, not wanting to disturb the little boy in her lap who was slowly falling asleep.
"Your Highness?" He questioned, stepping out of the shadows and darting a glance to Kenelm, looking both worried and amused. "Might I please have some ginger and water?"
"Of course, Your Highness," he bowed before disappearing into the shadows and whilst she waited for him to return, Hermione nibbled on cheese from her plate and the other hand held the little boy against her.
When Merlin returned, she thanked him and took her requested items, placing the ginger on a clean plate and taking her knife and cutting off a smaller section. It took a little effort to wake the slumbering child and then some convincing to get him to eat the ginger but once he did, he drank the water she offered and then he settled back against her.
Hermione pulled him into conversation as though nothing had changed and Arthur marvelled at her ability to speak with him, to continue eating her food and to comfort the child on her lap all at once, neither favouring one or the other but somehow equally dividing her attention between the three. Before either of them knew it, the little boy was feeling better and was eating again but only foods Hermione would offer him, mainly the meats and bread. Arthur couldn't help the smile that pulled at his mouth when she and Kenelm would whisper between one another before they burst into giggles, or when the young boy would feed food to Akela, the large wolf gently nibbling his fingers and then licking his hand until he giggled and then he'd sprawl himself on the ground in positions that had peals of laughter filling the room.
"Can I try it?"
"No,"
"Why?" The young boy pouted.
"You are five-years-old, it will upset your stomach and you won't like it."
"I will, I promise."
Hermione rolled her eyes before she reached for her barely touched goblet of ale and then handed it to him, the young child grinning victoriously until he brought it to his mouth and took a sip.
"Yuck! That's disgusting!" He exclaimed.
"I did tell you," she replied amused, accepting the goblet and setting it back on the table.
"Why do you drink that? It's worse than Charles' cooking?"
She snorted. "I don't like it either but sadly there isn't much else to choose from and sometimes, an adult needs something a little stronger than water."
"But water makes you big and strong," he frowned in confusion.
"Yes, ale makes people drunk and stupid," she said, sniggers sounding in the room.
Though it was clear they were scandalised by the thought and sight of the child perching in her lap at the royal table, the occupants of the hall had soon been charmed by their admittedly amusing interactions.
~000~000~000~
"I don't know if that's a good idea, Hermione," said Charles, his eyes darting about the corridor mistrustfully.
"No, it's a great idea. I don't want you walking all the way into the centre of the city by yourself with three young boys, one of them who is already asleep," she tipped her head towards the young boy that was perched on her hip, his arms wrapped around her neck and his head pressed against her shoulder as he slept. "And the other two who are barely still standing. You will be safe here, I'll be sure to arrange for breakfast to be brought to you and we will leave the castle together in the morning, there is something I wish to show you regarding the making of the sickness remedy."
"Hermione..."
"Arthur?" She interrupted and turned her head to him, seeing he was stood a little further down the corridor, waiting to escort her to her chambers.
"Yes?"
"Would you mind if Charles and his brothers spend the night in the castle?"
"No, if I am honest, I would prefer it," he answered, knowing how protective Hermione was of her charges and it wouldn't be safe for him to be taking three young boys home given how late it was.
"See?" She said smugly. "How many rooms are on my floor?"
"On your floor or on your corridor?"
"Really?" Her attention snapped to him and he nodded amusedly. "I'd forgotten just how many guest chambers the castle had. On my corridor," she clarified.
"Eight, your chambers are in the centre. The rooms and beds are large enough that you might all fit in one, or would you prefer separate rooms?" Arthur asked, turning his question to the eldest brother.
"One room," he replied, "One room, please and thank you for your hospitality, Sire," he corrected after Hermione's narrowed-eyed gaze.
"You're welcome," Arthur nodded, sending a knowing glance Hermione's way before he led them towards Hermione's chambers but stopping one door before. "Hermione's chambers are to the left if you should need her," he told them before opening the door and stepping back, allowing them to enter.
Whilst the three brothers took in their surroundings in clear surprise, the room being bigger than their new home alone, Hermione crossed to the made bed and pulled back the thick blanket before laying the young child in the centre and removing his shoes, covering him with the blanket and then stepping back.
"As Arthur said, should you need anything I am one door away. I will come by in the morning, good night, boys." She didn't wait for a response as she left the room and closed the door behind her. "Thank you,"
"I know those boys are important to you and allowing them to walk home given the late hour, cold and the number of drunks that wander the streets wouldn't have been safe. I'd rather they be here than risk their safety."
The quickly reached her rooms and Hermione opened the door to allow Akela inside but before she entered, she turned to face Arthur, seeing him watching her intensely.
"What is it?" She frowned in concern only for that to be replaced by surprise when he closed the distance and lowered his head, his mouth pressing against hers.
When his arms settled around her, hers came up to fold around his neck, the fabric of his cape being clenched between her fists. His arms retreated from holding her close to him and his hands found their way to the back of her neck, her curls tangling around his fingers. When she felt her lungs burning, she pulled her mouth from his, both of them staring at one another, their breathing coming out breathier than usual and their lips looking a little redder.
"I've been wanting to do that all night," he admitted.
"And was it worth the wait?"
"Definitely worth the wait," he muttered, his mouth brushing hers with every word he spoke.
The sound of voices had them both releasing the other of their holds and they took a step back.
"Good night, Arthur,"
"Good night, Hermione," he replied, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it as was their tradition before he turned and left down the corridor.
Hermione stepped into her room and closed the door behind her, lighting a few of the torches with a wave of her hand until there was enough light that she would be able to see where she was walking. She slumped back against the door and released a sigh, her eyes darting to the wolf that lay on his pile of blankets, his expression mimicking that of an arched eyebrow.
"Oh, don't be so judgmental, I'm happy, I'm in love and I'm getting married, something you helped him with," she told her wolf.
Her eyes darted about her room, being reminded of the many roses and flower bouquets that covered every surface of her room and some of her floor space, too. She was convinced that Arthur had purchased the vendor's stock for the entire week, there were just too many for her to believe otherwise. Not only had he had a garden constructed solely for her and then gifted it to her, but he'd turned her room into a greenhouse.
He was definitely a keeper.
She crossed to her bed and then childishly jumped onto the mattress until she sank into the pillows, unable to keep the smile off her face.
She was getting married.
She was going to be married to King Arthur.
How the world would forever be changed, she was sure of it.
~000~000~000~
When Arthur went to bed that night, he fell asleep to the image of a blue-eyed, brown-haired boy sitting on his mother's lap at the dinner table whilst they handfed food to a large wolf and giggles and laughter filled the room.
