Consciousness returned to William gradually; not having bothered to pull the shutters
closed last night, sunlight poured unencumbered through the window and onto the bed's
occupants. Will's eyes slowly drifted open, and he smiled softly at the warm weight
pressed against his side. He had feared that the previous evening's events had been naught
but a fantasy, or that Kate would have woken and crept away ere he rose and had the
chance to speak with her once again.
After all, William was not daft enough to believe that the words and actions exchanged
earlier had set things right between them. Their relationship, though irrevocably altered,
would still be tense at best. Kate was still uncertain that all of the feelings William had for
Jocelyn had been completely extinguished; rather, Will knew that Kate thought he had
merely covered them up to save face when the wench had abandoned him. And Kate was
hopelessly stubborn. William could see no way to appease her lingering doubts save his
continued faithfulness over time.
But William was determined to do whatever he needed to convince her of his devotion to
her, to them. When she had first joined up with their troupe, he had regarded her as an
outsider, someone who would never be as important to him as Wat or Roland. Mostly, he
had feared that Kate would reveal his secret and destroy his chance at glory and riches.
Kate had slowly but deftly gained his trust, and Will knew he would be lost without her -
he yearned to attach himself permanently to her gentle soul.
For now, Will was more than content just to cradle Kate as she slept, knowing that this
moment would end all too soon for his liking. Kate began to stir only heartbeats later, and
her dark eyes fluttered open and met with William's. She smiled tentatively up at him, and
a relieved Will gave her a grin of his own. He had half expected her to pull away and run
back to her own bed.
"Good morning, love." Will tightened his arm around her, and reached up with his other
hand to brush some stray hair out of her face.
Kate coloured nicely and looked away but still did not try and remove herself from his
embrace. "Good morning to you as well, milord."
Her use of the more formal appellation would have startled William, but his lady locked
her gaze with his once more and leaned up to claim a quick kiss. Will, however, was
unwilling to cooperate and instead deepened and prolonged the contact, turning the chaste
kiss Kate had gifted him with into a rather enthusiastic snog. He coaxed her mouth open
and was not a little surprised when her tongue met his in a hesitant duel. Finally a need for
oxygen overwhelmed them both.
Will ran his fingers through her silky locks of raven hair and reverently pressed his lips to
her forehead. "Come," he said, "it must be past time for us to rise. Our friends will grow
suspicious of our prolonged absence." He rose from the bed and offered her a hand. Kate
accepted, and Will helped pull her to her feet. Refusing to relinquish her hand, Will
escorted her back to her own chamber and pressed a kiss to her open palm. He left her to
tend to her own affairs as he himself returned to his room to change into a fresh tunic and
leggings.
End.
closed last night, sunlight poured unencumbered through the window and onto the bed's
occupants. Will's eyes slowly drifted open, and he smiled softly at the warm weight
pressed against his side. He had feared that the previous evening's events had been naught
but a fantasy, or that Kate would have woken and crept away ere he rose and had the
chance to speak with her once again.
After all, William was not daft enough to believe that the words and actions exchanged
earlier had set things right between them. Their relationship, though irrevocably altered,
would still be tense at best. Kate was still uncertain that all of the feelings William had for
Jocelyn had been completely extinguished; rather, Will knew that Kate thought he had
merely covered them up to save face when the wench had abandoned him. And Kate was
hopelessly stubborn. William could see no way to appease her lingering doubts save his
continued faithfulness over time.
But William was determined to do whatever he needed to convince her of his devotion to
her, to them. When she had first joined up with their troupe, he had regarded her as an
outsider, someone who would never be as important to him as Wat or Roland. Mostly, he
had feared that Kate would reveal his secret and destroy his chance at glory and riches.
Kate had slowly but deftly gained his trust, and Will knew he would be lost without her -
he yearned to attach himself permanently to her gentle soul.
For now, Will was more than content just to cradle Kate as she slept, knowing that this
moment would end all too soon for his liking. Kate began to stir only heartbeats later, and
her dark eyes fluttered open and met with William's. She smiled tentatively up at him, and
a relieved Will gave her a grin of his own. He had half expected her to pull away and run
back to her own bed.
"Good morning, love." Will tightened his arm around her, and reached up with his other
hand to brush some stray hair out of her face.
Kate coloured nicely and looked away but still did not try and remove herself from his
embrace. "Good morning to you as well, milord."
Her use of the more formal appellation would have startled William, but his lady locked
her gaze with his once more and leaned up to claim a quick kiss. Will, however, was
unwilling to cooperate and instead deepened and prolonged the contact, turning the chaste
kiss Kate had gifted him with into a rather enthusiastic snog. He coaxed her mouth open
and was not a little surprised when her tongue met his in a hesitant duel. Finally a need for
oxygen overwhelmed them both.
Will ran his fingers through her silky locks of raven hair and reverently pressed his lips to
her forehead. "Come," he said, "it must be past time for us to rise. Our friends will grow
suspicious of our prolonged absence." He rose from the bed and offered her a hand. Kate
accepted, and Will helped pull her to her feet. Refusing to relinquish her hand, Will
escorted her back to her own chamber and pressed a kiss to her open palm. He left her to
tend to her own affairs as he himself returned to his room to change into a fresh tunic and
leggings.
End.