Once we had finally admitted our feelings out loud to each other, it was much easier to be around each other and not feel like we had to hold back. I noticed that Garrett now held my hand whenever he could, and he had stopped caring about the other knights' teasing.
Under normal circumstances we probably would have been married right away, but the kingdom was still sorting out the aftermath of Ruber's invasion. As knights, we had responsibilities that took precedence over our personal lives.
I had been meaning to talk to my mother about the possibility of a future with Garrett, but found that we were rarely alone. Ever since her abduction, the King had been keeping a close eye on her and the two of them often joined the knights for supper.
One evening after we had eaten, about a week after Garrett had taken me to the stables, I saw Merlin pull Garrett aside while my mother took my arm and led me to the gardens.
"It's nice to get a moment alone with my daughter," she said, smiling at me. While we had our differences in the past, we were the only family that the other had left and after almost losing each other, we both felt that even more acutely.
"I haven't been the only busy one," I replied. "You and the King have been spending quite a bit of time together..."
She shook her head at me but was still smiling. "I didn't come out here to talk about myself. I believe you and your knight have been getting closer," she nudged me with her hip at that.
Blushing, I stammered, "Yes, I - that is, we, well." She patted my hand and I took a deep breath. "I love him, Mother. I know that I was never one for courting and marriage but you said to just wait until the right person came along and...well, that's Garrett."
We kept walking as we talked. I found it easier to be honest with her when we weren't directly facing each other.
"That much I knew," she said, her voice light. "Have you two discussed anything about the future? Marriage, where you might reside?"
I shook my head and sighed. "We haven't gotten that far. I want to bring it up, but I don't want to push him. There have already been so many changes and-" I took a deep breath and she patted my arm.
"Kayley, I'm not trying to pry at all here." I raised my eyebrow at that, but she continued. "I see the two of you together and that he cares for you very deeply, and you for him. But, I do have to ask if you have considered the...challenges you might face?"
"Because of his blindness? You can say it, you know," I shrugged. "Yes, of course I have. I can't say we've discussed it but I am well aware of the fact that Garrett is the one who got me through the Forest, protected me. You've seen for yourself the work he has done on the castle. He is more than capable-"
"Yes, I know that," my mother said curtly, cutting me off. "What I meant was that, if you do get married, wherever you live should be relatively easy for him to get around."
I nodded, remembering the conversation about where he would stay in the castle when we had first arrived. Garrett's room was on the first floor of the guest quarters, while my mother and I were two floors up. Despite his ability to navigate the forest floor, stairs gave Garrett a good deal of trouble.
Reading my mind, my mother continued. "That being said, I have been thinking of our family's house. It may be modest but it has plenty of space, is all on one level, and not too far from Camelot. Your father was able to make the trip in less than three days' ride."
I was stunned. I had thought about the possibility of living on our land, but not in my mother's house. "But what about you?" I asked.
"The King has invited me to stay on in the castle," she said, smiling. "As his advisor," she added, seeing my shocked expression.
"I, well, thank you. I will mention it when I finally get to talk to Garrett," I said, but she shook her head, still smiling.
"I think he already is aware of the option. Ah, here we are."
Back at the castle entrance, we rejoined the others. The King was now speaking with both Garrett and Merlin, who broke apart at our entrance. Arthur gestured for my mother to sit with him, and Merlin slipped away quietly as usual, Aiden on his shoulder.
Reaching Garrett, I noticed that his face was flushed and he looked almost nervous. "What was that about?" I asked, taking the hand he held out to me as we walked out of the King's dining room and towards the guest quarters.
"Arrangements," he said cryptically.
"What kind of arrangements?"
"What did you discuss with your mother?" he countered, laughing now at my obvious annoyance. He knew that I hated not knowing things.
"Arrangements as well, actually. About the future. Our future," I said quietly. He stopped walking and pulled me into a random corridor. It was late, the usually busy castle had quieted.
"I've been wanting to speak to you, it's been hectic with the repairs. But you should know, Kayley, that a future with you is something that I think about quite often." Garrett's voice was serious now, and he was still holding my hand.
I felt my face redden but knew that we needed to have this conversation and let him continue.
"Merlin wanted to know how my side was healing," he explained. While the crude treatment I had given to his wound in the forest was enough to get him through, Merlin had been giving him proper care since we had arrived. "He was asking if I felt well enough to travel again, which I assured him that I do."
My heart sped up at this. "Travel? Where would you be going?" I asked nervously. He chuckled slightly, raising his hand and running it through my hair, which had mostly come loose from the day's arrangement.
"Not just me. Both of us. I'm not going anywhere without you," he reassured me. "This wouldn't be until after..." he trailed off. I stiffened, pulling back a little. This wasn't him asking me, was it?
"Wait, no, don't pull away," he said, sounding frustrated now. He ran one hand through his hair while the other pulled me back to him, closer this time. "I'm making a mess of this, aren't I?" He took a deep breath to steady himself and cupped my cheek in his hand. "It's been a long day. Would you meet me in the outer gardens tomorrow morning? I want to be able to speak with you when I have a clearer head."
I nodded into his hand. "Tomorrow, then." He did look exhausted. I pressed a quick kiss to his lips and tugged on his hand for us to continue walking.
He kissed me again when we reached his door, deeper this time. I pulled away, albeit reluctantly.
"Sleep well, love," he called softly as I made my way up the stairs.
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading! I am so sorry for the delay in posting but there will be more chapters posted soon!
