Epilogue: Ten Years Later
Thoroughly engrossed in my letters, I was standing in front of my window to enjoy the sunshine in the only comfortable position left to me when arms came around my ever increasing middle. "Mmm, how do you manage to smell so good all the time, love?" Gwaine asked me.
"Perfume, and I bathe. Where are the boys?" I asked him in return, slowly managing to turn in his arms to look at him.
"Impressing their uncles," he said, laughing at my predictable worry. "Gaheris is showing Merlin his prowess on his pony, and Gareth and Will are practicing with their new swords Elyan brought them. And if we can't trust the court sorcerer and the queen's own brother with our children, who can we trust? Especially with an entire courtyard full of adoring soldiers and servants to help keep an eye on them."
I ignored the latter end of his comments, focusing only on the fact that Elyan had once again brought swords for my children. "Elyan needs to marry and have children of his own," I grumbled. "That way he can make swords for them instead of ours. And worry about them waving swords around."
Gwaine laughed at my very familiar complaint. "They're blunted, love, and you know it. And besides, Arthur and I both grew up with swords in our hands, and look at how well we turned out."
"Complete incompetents without their wives?" I asked, a cheeky grin coming out as I allowed him to soothe my worries.
He laughed again, kissing me deeply. "Absolutely, my love. Now, how are the other ladies?" he asked, referring to the letters still in my hand.
I smiled, thinking of my friends, now scattered throughout the kingdom. "Boudicca has declared that any man who wants to court Godiva has to first defeat her in combat. She's been strongly encouraged by Lyonesse, though I doubt Leon or Lynette protested. Boudicca's gained three chargers that way, and a set of armor."
"She has been practicing her swordwork since Leon allowed her to have a sword," Gwaine said, terribly amused.
"She's practiced her swordwork since Lyonesse became her aunt and started smuggling her out for so-called walks," I corrected with a grin. "Leon just didn't know about the first year or so."
His eyebrows drew together in contemplation. "I'm suddenly glad that Cavendish is on the other side of the kingdom. That way she can't corrupt any of our children."
"Lynette did say that Lyonesse missed us," I grinned back at him. "So we may get a visit."
He groaned at that, dropping his head down to my shoulder. "Perhaps it might be time to send the children to see Grandmother Hunith in Ealdor, just for a few weeks, while Lyonesse is here. I'm sure Merlin wouldn't mind escorting them."
"You know she would stop in Ealdor on her way here, and if the children aren't here, she would just go wherever they are," I reminded, running my fingers through his hair. "And if the boys knew Aunt Lyonesse was coming, there would be massive tantrums, should we try to keep them apart."
Groaning again, Gwaine kissed my neck, still causing shivers to run though me after all this time. "Unfortunately. Any news from Camelot?"
"Tom shot his first buck hunting with Arthur, and little Morgan cried when they brought it home," I reported with a smile. "Though that didn't stop her from eating it at banquet that night. And the twins are terrorizing the court with their ability to lose their clothes so quickly. It appears that as soon as you catch one to clothe him, his twin appears, as naked as the day they were born. Gwen says they've shocked several of the older ladies in the court into swooning, because nothing is so scandalous as two-year-olds without clothing."
I had to stop in my retellings for Gwaine to finish laughing. "I never would have guessed that Princess would end up with children who like to streak," he finally managed to wheeze. "It's such a lovely thought."
"And apparently, Percival and Blanche's little Fleur likes to join them, whenever they're in Camelot," I added, grinning just as much as he was.
We laughed together, holding on to one another, then he sighed. "Ah, my love, when did we all grow up?" Gwaine asked me, looking so serious for once. "Here we all are, married, with children and responsibilities, except Elyan, of course. When did we all grow up?"
"I'm not exactly sure," I replied, taking his face in my hands. "But I do know that there are some benefits to it."
"Really?" His eyes suddenly smoldered, sending more shivers down my back. "And just what might these be?"
"One is the fact that our sons are indefinitely occupied with impressing their uncles, which means you and I are finally alone," I said, stretching to kiss him. But my large belly made it difficult, as per usual. "With the exception of their little sister," I added, griping as I tried to get closer to him.
Gwaine simply swooped me up and carried me to our bed. "Well, she'll just have to shut her eyes, because her daddy is going to ravish her mummy in every possible way," he told me, kissing me hard and long.
"Mum! Gareth hit me!" A wail from outside our door pulled us apart, making me laugh and Gwaine growl.
"I did not! And he hit me first!"
"They have to go to bed at some point, right?" Gwaine asked me lowly, just as the door burst open. I simply laughed.
AN: Here you go, my lovelies! I've finally finished this story, after working on it for years now, and you get two chapters in one day! Sorry it's taken me so long, but thanks to those of you who've stuck with me through it all. I've loved spending time in Camelot, especially with Gwaine, since he's always been my favorite knight, even before watching the show. It's been so fun! In case you missed it, I have been trying to use names for people from the actual legends, just like they did in the show. So, Gareth and Gaheris are Gwaine and Anna's sons, named after Gawaine's brothers in the legends, with Will being named after Anna's brother. Tom, Arthur and Gwen's son, is named after Gwen's dad, but it also works that Tom a Lincoln was Arthur's son in the legends. Morgan was an obvious one, being named after Morgana, who was loved by both Arthur and Gwen, even for all she did to hurt them. And Blanchefleur was Percival's wife in the legends, so of course they had to get together. Anyway, it's been fun writing this, and thanks for reading it. A huge thanks to those of you who reviewed, since it's always nice to hear what people like in your writing. I love you all!