This chapter is dedicated to Arianna Le Fay for inspiring me! Song used is the acoustic of Miley Cyruses "When I look at you."
This chapter has a kissing scene.
Athena heard him yell at his men, and she hoped she hadn't caused too much trouble. She slowly started rubbing down Alistair with a soft cloth, making sure to wipe the foam from his mouth neatly. She easily saddled him, and brought him out front.
"Stay. And don't you dare hurt anyone, or anything, Alistair. Or I won't bring you an apple next time." Alistair seemed to nod, so she walked back, and tried to find the most arrogant looking horse. It would obviously be Arthurs.
She found it easily enough, and had it saddled when Merlin showed up, his eyes wide.
"A-Arthur just sent me to do that." He looked afraid at what Arthur would do when he found out that the Princess had saddled his horse, instead of his servant, and speak of the devil, there he was.
"Yeah merlin, you did a fine job. No need to worry about the buckle, it's fine." She said, smiling, and acting like she had just seen Arthur."
"Took you long enough, Arthur. I was just double-checking to make sure Merlin buckled this tight enough."
Arthur nodded, then took the reins that Merlin had handed him, and led his horse out to the court, where Alistair was already waiting.
Merlin tapped Athena's shoulder, and she looked at him, an eyebrow raised.
"How did you know which horse was his?" His question was serious, and he was obviously thinking she had used magic.
"It wasn't hard. I just looked for the one who looked like it had to carry around an arrogant prat all the time. The demeanor rubs off, you know."
She winked at Merlin, then walked over to Alistair, and Arthur was about to reach out and offer to help her up, when the horse went down on its front legs, and practically bowed for her to get on.
Sadly, it was still a bit too high, so she looked at Arthur, who was looking a bit incredulously at the horse.
"Arthur, may you please help me onto my horse. It is still too high for me to get up." She was lying, actually. She could have gotten onto him without any help from either of them.
Arthur nodded, and gripped her waist. His thumbs accidentally brushed against the sides of her breasts, but the both of them pretended not to notice. But on the inside…
'Did his hand just touch my breast? Did I like it?'
'My hand just touched her breast. And I liked it too much.'
After she was properly seated, Arthur got himself onto his horse, and they started on their ride. It was scarcely six in the morn' when they started. They rode in almost total silence, nothing but the snapping of twigs underneath their steeds' feet, until the pressure was too much.
"I'm not any happier about it than you are, Arthur."
Athena whispered these words, and she slowly ran her fingers through Alistair's mane, trying to calm her racing nerves.
"Well I can't find a way out of it, can you?" His words were harsh, and she fried her hardest not to flinch. He immediately regretted the way he spoke, and he sighed.
"I'm sorry, Athena. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that, you are the Prin-"
"Stop your sentence right there, Arthur Pendragon. Just because I'm a princess, doesn't mean I don't deserve any more or less respect than any other person."
He looked at her, and for once he thinks he finally saw her. She wasn't rude, or mean, or irritating. She just cared so much. He didn't know how to respond, so he nodded, and looked around for the area he had set up earlier. And by earlier, he means the second that Athena had left his presence.
He spotted it, and looked at her, raising his brows.
"I think we should take a break, let the horses rest. Set back up in an hour?" His question was random, but she nodded, dismounting Alistair, and silently telling him to stay, and to warn her if anyone was coming. She did not want to be attacked in the middle of the woods.
Following Arthur through the trees, she gasped softly as she saw a small clearing, and in the middle, piles of purple and green blankets and pillows.
"Arthur, did you set this up, or am I about to ask if you take all the girls here?" Her question seemed lighthearted, but in all seriousness, she was terrified that he was going to treat her like one of the many girls he had seduced. He was known to be quite the ladies' man.
"I swear that this has happened for you, and only you, Athena." He looked at her, and she caught what seemed to be a flash of… embarrassment? In his eyes?
He held out his hand, and she took it within hers, and he led her to the mass of blankets, in which hid a picnic basket. She smiled and sat down upon a particularly plush pillow, and Arthur sat across from her. They quietly snacked, and when they were both full, Arthur lay back, stretching his arms above his head and giving Athena the perfect view of the light coloured trail of hair leading down his abdomen and under his trousers.
Licking her lips nervously, she quickly looked away, hoping he didn't see her lusting after wherever that trail led.
"Will you sing for me, Athena?"
The question was so sudden, she snapped her head around to face him, almost making herself dizzy.
"What? Why?" She sounded apprehensive, and he tried to calm her down.
"You can't say you don't have a wonderful voice, and I'd just like to hear it again, please?"
It was the "please" that got her.
"B-But I'd need a guit-" Her words were cut off by him pulling a small guitar out from a bunch of pillows, and she snatched it out of his hands, glaring at him and strumming it a few times. It was in perfect tune. Damn.
"Do you promise not to laugh?"
"Why would I do that?" Arthur seemed genuinely confused, and she sighed, shaking her head.
"This is a song my mother sang to my father when times were rough. Okay?"
"I'm all ears." He had the stupidest, most adorable grin on his face, and she sighed, hitting the first few cords of the song, and taking a deep breath.
Everybody needs inspiration
Everybody needs a song
A beautiful melody
When the nights are long
'cause there is no guarantee
That this life is easy
Yeah when my world is falling apart
When there's no light
To break up the dark
That's when I, I
I look at you
When the waves are flooding the shore
And I can't find my way home any more
That's when I, I
I look at you
And with those words, she did look at Arthur, directly into his eyes. His gorgeous, ocean-blue irises that hid nothing, yet kept everything locked away.
When I look at you
I see forgiveness
I see the truth
You love me for who I am
Like the stars hold the moon
Right there where they belong
And I know I'm not alone
She could have sworn she saw a tear fall from the man's eye.
Yeah when my world is falling apart
When there's no light
To break up the dark
That's when I, I
I look at you
It was that moment that she lost her courage, and had to look away, her cheeks burning.
When the waves are flooding the shore
And I can't find my way home any more
That's when I, I
I look at you
You appear just like a dream to me
Just like rainbow colors that cover me
All I need
Every breath that I breathe
Don't you know you're beautiful
Yeah, yeah, yeah
When the waves are flooding the shore
And I can't find my way home any more
That's when I, I
I look at you
I look at you
Yeah,
Whoa-oh,
You appear just like a dream to me…
As Athena finished the song, she sat the guitar down, and finally looked back up at Arthur. And what he did surprised her.
He was looking at her, and there was so much compassion, and care, and she surprised herself even more, by responding when he placed his lips upon hers.
It was nothing like the courtyard kiss. This one was sweet, gentle, like he was afraid to break her, whereas the last, and first one had been demanding and rough.
She could feel her cheeks burn with every move his mouth made, and she finally mustered up the courage to respond correctly, instead of sitting there in shock. She put both of her hands in Arthurs' hair, gripping it gently, and sliding her tongue against his lips, asking for permission to enter. He willingly complied, and she slid her tongue against his. He tasted like wine and fruit, which as what their lunch had consisted of.
He tasted delicious, and she hated it. She fucking hated it.
Gripping his hair even tighter, she placed a knee on either side of his hips, and straddled him, forcing his head back, she deepened the kiss, until she heard the softest of a moan escape his lips. She suddenly stilled, for she hadn't realized she was grinding herself against him, and his most obvious, prominent erection.
It was then that she decided to have some dignity, sadly.
"I-I'm sorry!" She whispered, practically jumping off of his lap in embarrassment. She stood up and started to pack up all of their things, while for once the Prince sat by, his breathing coming a tad labored, and he looked like he was almost in pain.
"What is wrong with you, Athena? What is wrong with me?" His question was so soft, it was a wonder she could hear it.
"Nothing is wrong with you, Arthur."
It's what's wrong with me that matters. I can't allow myself to fall in love with you, Arthur. I'm so wrong for you in so many ways. It just can't happen. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.
She wasn't careful, she didn't think, and she somehow blasted these thoughts towards Arthur, and he was staring right at her, so he knew she hadn't spoken them.
"How did you do that?" Was his immediate question, and he was up within milliseconds, stalking towards her again.
"D-Do what, Arthur?" Was her weak response. She was terrified. She wasn't careful. She'd fucked everything up. She was going to die.
"You know bloody well what I mean!" He yelled, he was still walking towards her, and her back was now pressed up against the bark of a thick tree.
"You… You Sorceress!"
He unsheathed his sword, and she prepared herself for his killing blow.
"I just didn't want to hurt you."
Was the last thing she thought towards him, before she closed her eyes, letting the tears slip down her face.
This was it.
This was the end.
Caused by her own stupidity.
Caused by some stupid, stupid handsome prince.