Author's Note:
Thanks for sticking with me! As promised I have the next chapter ready. After this there will be at least 3 more chapters, and I promise to not take a year in between posting!
We are now switching to Garrett's POV. Enjoy!
Garrett
I had wished for Kayley to sleep well, but found that sleep evaded me for most of the night following my conversation with Merlin and Arthur.
Their words replayed in my head, along with Kayley's gentle attempt to broach the subject of our future and my bumbling reaction.
I spent a good deal of the night pacing my guest chamber, which I had requested be empty of all furniture save for the bed, chest of drawers, a solitary chair. I was still figuring out how to navigate an indoor world, as sound traveled differently inside the castle walls than in the forest. The fewer items in my room for me to trip over or bump into, the better.
As I paced, I tried to determine exactly what I would say to Kayley the next morning. I had been a coward for so long, living in the shadows that I doubted my ability to take the bold step of asking her to be my wife.
Would she even say yes? My mind was still catching up to the fact that I was no longer alone, and that I had found someone who actually wanted me in her life. The doubts had no reflection on Kayley's actions and words towards me; I knew how she felt. It would take time for me to shake the voice in my head that told me I wasn't worthy.
Eventually I wore myself out enough to fall back onto the bed and drift in and out of a fitful sleep, until I startled awake at dawn.
Even after almost two months, I was still unused to waking up indoors, never mind in a castle. I kept the curtains pulled back so that I could still be woken up by the sun on my face, at least when the weather cooperated. Luckily, it appeared that the morning would be dry and hopefully warm, as the past few days had been.
I realized that I hadn't given Kayley a specific time to meet me in the gardens. Knowing she would not be awake for several hours but still wanting to arrive before she did, I quickly dressed in one of the nicer sets of clothes that had been provided. I had no idea what any of the clothing looked like, but Kayley had sorted them into neat piles for me inside the drawers, so I knew where to pull from for today.
Grabbing my staff, I checked the pouch at my waist several times before convincing myself that I had it. I opened the door, unsurprised to hear little movement in the hallway. It was still very early, and the guest quarters were the quietest section of the castle.
I made it about four steps before I realized that I had forgotten my boots. "Idiot," I muttered my myself. "Pull yourself together. You need your head on straight for this."
I continued mumbling to myself as I exited the castle, now with the proper footwear. Using my staff to guide me, I made my way towards a particular tree that Aiden had taken a liking to and usually slept in.
I heard his call as I approached, and expected him to land on my shoulder. Instead, I heard the beat of his wings as he flew over and away from me.
"Well, I guess I'm doing this alone."
I tipped my face towards the sky, trying to determine how high the sun had risen. It was still early, and I didn't know this area of the grounds well enough to find a place to sit.
"Great plan, Garrett." Before I could decide what to do, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around, recognizing Kayley's steps as she came closer.
"Good morning, Sir Garrett," she greeted, sounding cheerful and a bit breathless. Was she nervous too, I wondered? "I wasn't sure exactly when to meet you and I was awake so I decided to just come out and wait for you, but I see that you're here too-" She broke off her rambling at my laughter.
"I had the same thought. No matter, we're both here now." I smiled at her, hoping I was aiming my sightless gaze in the right direction.
"Walk with me?" I held out my arm for her and let her guide me through the gardens. We were just outside the castle. These gardens were a public space for the people of Camelot to enjoy, but not very many were out this early in the day.
We walked in silence for a few moments, her fingers drumming a nervous beat on my arm. I stilled her hand, realizing that she was just as tense I was.
"Is there anywhere that we could sit down?" I asked, and she led to what felt like a stone bench. I listened as she described the flowers and plants surrounding us, still babbling. While I had found her incessant talking irritating in the forest at first, I now knew that it was her way of handling uncertainty.
I cleared my throat and reached for her, grasping both of her hands. "Kayley," I began, and her much smaller fingers squeezed my hand.
"Is something the matter?" she asked, sounding genuinely worried. I squeezed back, releasing a quiet laugh.
"No, not at all. Quite the opposite, actually. For the first time in, well, years I am content with where I am and looking forward to what comes next." I took a steadying breath. "I used to fear all of my tomorrows, the endless stretch of solitude that I had thought would be my life. I now look forward to each tomorrow, with you. My beautiful Kayley."
She scoffed at that, and I assumed she was blushing. I raised one of my hands to her cheek, feeling heated skin. She leaned into it, and I traced her jawline with my thumb.
"I don't need to see to recognize beauty," I said, barely above a whisper. I feathered my trembling fingers over the rest of her face, stopping at her lips.
I heard her breath hitch and leaned my forehead against hers, gathering my courage before I pushed myself off of the bench. I lowered myself carefully to one knee, reaching for the pouch at my hip and withdrawing the small object within.
Kayley remained silent, a rarity for her, and I reached out for her hand, grasping it like the lifeline she had become.
"You have shown me light in a world that had become dark to me. I would be honored, and humbled, to be your husband. Will you marry me?"
A little sound escaped her then, and I realized that she was crying.
With hands still shaking, I slipped the simple ring into her palm. "Read the inside," I urged.
"Now and forever," she whispered. Taking my hand, she helped me guide the ring onto her finger. Still kneeling, I drew her face towards mine, stopping just before our lips met.
"You haven't answered," I teased. Instead of responding, she closed the distance and kissed me, hard, her hands tangling in my hair.
"Yes," she breathed, pulling back for air. I wiped the tears off of her cheeks and stood, joining her again on the bench.
Joining hands again, I pressed hers to my heart, which was just beginning to return to its normal rhythm.
We spent the rest of the morning wandering the gardens and discussing our future together, freely, for the first time. Aiden found us and alternated between perching on my shoulder and Kayley's. The city was now fully awake and bustling as we walked back to the castle to share our good news.
