So this here is a moment when Lancelot and Guinevere meet for the first time since they departed from eachother at Joyous Guarde. A lot has happened, quickly: Mordred (Arthur's son from Morgan Le Fay) attempted to marry Guenever but she escaped and warned Arthur (who had continued battling Lancelot despite Guenever's return). Arthur comes back to fight Mordred. Guenever ashamed and heartbroken becomes a nun in an attempt to pay penance for the lives that have been lost because of her sinful love. Lancelot tries to help Arthur but Arthur dies before he gets there.
ok. On with the show.
Love at Last Sight
Guenever raised her hand to her forehead and felt the fever that was running through her body. She had been sick for the past two days but well enough to work. Suddenly she regretted working in the nunnery's laundry room for the day. The heat and steam of the hot water, combined with her fever and heavy robes caused her to feel like she could faint at any moment.
She noticed there had been some sort of 'to do' at the abbey this morning. Passing knights had needed a place to stay. She hadn't met the knights yet, she wondered if she would recognise them. Probably not; the knights she knew were all swept away along with their king. It had been about seven months since Arthur had died and nine months since she had donned the nun's habit.
Here she was known as Sister Mary Sarah, only Mother Clarence knew that she had once been the Queen Guenever.
Had it only been nine months? It felt like years since she had last been a queen. She sighed in the steam as she thought of her past days. She knew that now she was working to become a better person, someone prepared to be accountable for their actions. She couldn't deny that she felt a certain freedom working and living with only women. None of the others had ever been married and certainly none had ever had an affair. She felt unholy next to the kind women who dedicated their lives to looking after others and preserving classic literature and history.
However, if she was being honest with herself she still felt as if her heart was somewhere far away. The soft heartbeat that she could feel course through her body comforted her somewhat, it reminded her that someone loved her. Despite the sinful nature of that love and the fact that she should be able to forget and let go of that part of her she felt a small amount of relief knowing that she could love someone forever, albeit in a quiet, lonely way.
She took a break from her laundry duties to drink water and sit by the door. As she sat down Marie Therese bounded into the room.
Marie Therese was an eight year old orphan girl who was sent to live in the Abbey by her aunt after her parents had died. She was a sweet girl but she was no nun. Guenever adored her.
"Marie Therese!" Guenever wrapped her arms around the small girl, "How was your visit with your aunt?"
"Tres bien. I told her all about the abbey and my schooling and how Mother Clarence is much smarter and faster than she looks, and I told her all about you!"
Guenever smiled, "Moi? What about me?"
Marie Therese giggled happily, "I told her all about how wonderful and kind you are, about how you are so much nicer than Sister Augustine, and how you are the most beautiful woman in the whole world!"
Guenever blushed at the child's compliment, "I am not the most beautiful woman in the world."
"That's what my aunt said actually." Marie Therese smiled cheekily, "However, my aunt told me that you may be very, very pretty but she has seen the most beautiful woman in the world."
Guenever raised her eyebrow playfully, "And who might this stunning woman be, Helen of Troy?"
"Non!" Marie Therese suddenly became solemn, "My aunt once went to the court of King Arthur."
Guenever's smile faded and she felt herself pale at the mention of Arthur's name.
"And there amongst all the finest lords and ladies she saw the beautiful Queen Guenever. She said her hair flowed down her shoulders, shining in the candlelight," as she spoke Marie Therese flounced around in a circle all the while playing with her dress, "She said that her dress looked as if it was made of the night sky, and she said her face was like an angel's, and… are you alright Sister Mary Sarah? You look ill!"
Guenever smiled half-heartedly, "I have actually been feeling slightly ill these past few days but I'm getting better. Now I must get back to work." She kissed the little girl's head softly, "We will talk later and you can tell me more about your visit with your aunt."
Marie Therese bounced happily in her seat by the door, "I'll stay down here with you."
Guenever smiled and made her way back to her work and began to help the other Sisters work with the clothes. She was slightly shaken and delighted by the compliments of Marie Therese's aunt.
Lancelot had arrived at the nunnery early that morning with two companions. He was still distraught over the news of Arthur's death. The nuns of the abbey were warm and kind and he appreciated their hospitality. He glanced around the room and grabbed his coat. His shirt had gone to the laundry room when he had first gotten to the nunnery, it should be nearly ready. Besides he couldn't sit idle any longer, he began the walk to the laundry room.
Marie Therese was sitting by the door when Lancelot walked in. She looked him up and down, "Who are you, Sir?"
"I am Sir Lancelot Du Lac, and you are?" Lancelot smiled at the adorable eight year old.
"Je me nomme est Marie Therese!"
"Ah, a fellow Frenchman."
"Oui!" she beamed up at him, taking an instant liking to the knight.
Sister Augustine noticed the knight in the doorway and she called to Guenever, "Mary Sarah? Can you give that knight his shirt, it was washed earlier, and it should be dry over by the fire."
Guenever walked to the fire and picked up the shirt. The moment her fingers touched she felt something within her; a flicker of remembrance; a small memory of a feeling, the feeling of an electric touch. She shook away the memory and turned to the door, feeling dizzy and sticky under the heat.
That was when she saw him. He was talking playfully with Marie Therese. It was Lancelot. There he was, there were his eyes, his smile, his arms, his legs, his hair, him; he was there. Right there, right in front of her was the love of her life; the love that she vowed to abstain from.
Guenever took a step forward on wobbly legs. Marie Therese turned to her just as the heat, the steam, the fever, and the fact Lancelot was right in front of her all hit Guenever at the same time. She felt her eyes begin to roll back in her head before everything went black.
Marie Therese screamed as Guenever fell, she called out her name in surprise.
Lancelot, startled by her outburst caught a glimpse of Guenever as she fell.
He caught a glimpse of Guenever.
For a moment he simply froze; caught in the realization and then he was across the room at her side, cradling her head.
Sister Augustine turned to the child, "Marie Therese! Go to the Mother Superior and tell her what has happened!"
Marie was out the door and running before Augustine finished her words. Hurriedly Augustine walked over to Mary Sarah telling the other Sisters to move away and give her air. When she got to Mary Sarah's side she was surprised to see the knight holding her and shaking her gently. He was whispering urgently at Mary Sarah but Augustine couldn't make out his words. He stood up abruptly, carrying Mary Sarah with him.
He turned to Augustine, "She needs a cool room with lots of air, and preferably some cold water."
Augustine nodded, "Follow me."
On their way they met with Mother Clarence and Marie Therese. Marie Therese followed them until they reached the sleeping quarters; she stayed in the doorway as the knight placed Mary Sarah on the bed by the window. Sister Augustine ran to the water basin and splashed water on Mary Sarah's face.
Guenever woke slowly, looking at the faces around her. One in particular caught her eye. She reached out and touched his face, "Am I dreaming?"
The answer came from Marie Therese who flew across the room, "No! You fainted, your eyes went white and you fell and Sir Lancelot picked you up and carried you here!"
Guenever was hardly listening. She was simply staring into Lancelot's eyes, lost within him and his presence.
Mother Clarence turned to Sister Augustine, "Sister, take Marie Therese and begin her daily lessons," Marie Therese whimpered quietly and the Mother Superior addressed her, "Mary Sarah needs rest, the best way you can help her is to leave her alone."
Augustine took Marie Therese's arm and they exited the room quietly. As they left they both looked back at Mary Sarah and both were unsure of what they were seeing, Mary Sarah's hand was clasped in Sir Lancelot's and there was a look between them that Marie Therese couldn't understood. In the years to come Marie Therese would never forget that image. Augustine felt curiosity fill her mind as she guided Marie Therese through the abbey.
Mother Clarence turned to the knight and the nun. She exhaled unhappily, "Mary Sarah, be mindful of the vows you have taken."
Guenever closed her eyes and Lancelot released her hand.
Mother Clarence continued, "I will give you five minutes but I will be here present for your actions."
Guenever nodded and looked at Lancelot. Silence filled the room.
Lancelot was the first to speak, "I heard… I didn't know… I'm glad that you are well."
"And I am glad that you are well." Guenever smiled faintly.
Lancelot reached out to push away the wet hair that was sticking to her face; he kept his hand there and looked at her, transfixed, "Mordred."
Guenever felt a chill through her spine at that name, "Yes, yes, Mordred. Arthur killed him and he killed Arthur."
Lancelot frowned, "They say," he clenched his jaw, "that he attempted to marry you, by force."
Guenever nodded, "He's dead now. Do not worry yourself."
Lancelot glanced at the Mother Superior, "Well I heard from Sir Bedivere himself, he said that Arthur was taken by boat before he died."
Guenever looked at him intently, "Where did the boat take him?"
Lancelot smiled, "To Avalon."
The Mother Superior exhaled sharply from her seat across the room.
Guenever's eyes widened, "Who took him?"
"Nimue, Morgan, and, two other Queens of the mists."
"Morgan!" Guenever suppressed her fury the best she could.
"She has turned over a new leaf. She wouldn't be able to ferry him to Avalon if there was still darkness within her."
Guenever laid back, lost in thought, "So Morgan le Fay got him in the end."
The Mother Superior could take it no longer, "Enough of this pagan talk! I shall hear no more of 'Avalon' in my abbey!"
Lancelot and Guenever nodded and returned their attention to each other.
Mother Clarence watched them from her seat in the corner. They simply stared into one another's eyes but the look they shared was so intimate and so personal that Mother Clarence felt as if she was invading their privacy. Lancelot absentmindedly stroked Guenever's head and her hand was clasping his coat. Minutes passed by that both seemed to last forever and end too quickly. Finally the Mother Superior rose, "I think that that is quite enough. Sir Lancelot I appreciate your company but I now deem your presence here with Sister Mary Sarah inappropriate."
Lancelot rose, "I thank-you Mother Clarence for your hospitality," he began to walk out of the room but stopped at the doorway. He glanced quickly at the Mother Superior before turning to Guenever and with all of the passion in his heart he whispered, "I love you."
Mother Clarence strode across the room blocking Lancelot from Guenever and nodded to the door, "If you please Sir."
Lancelot nodded and began to walk down the hallway.
Guenever felt her heart pounding within her and leapt out of bed. She ran out of the room, only to be caught by the Mother Superior who squealed in surprise, "Mary Sarah!"
Guenever, caught in Clarence's arms, called out to Lancelot, "I love you too!"
He stared after her, feeling the familiar pain as it rose in his chest, "You have my heart."
She nodded, tears beginning to spill, "I know, and you have mine."
Lancelot smiled at her as tears filled his own eyes, "Goodbye Guenever." He voice gave away as he said her name and started away from her.
Guenever began to tremble violently in the Mother Superior's grasp, "Goodbye Lancelot."
He fled down the hallway.
Guenever retracted back into the room and ran to the window. She watched as Lancelot hastily mounted his horse and rode away looking back only once before disappearing from sight.
Guenever collapsed onto the bed. Crying silently until an unbidden sob escaped from within her. Mother Clarence stood in the doorway unable to help her. Guenever's breath's came out in strangled gasps as she attempted to calm herself to no success.
An immense physical heartbreak echoed through her chest and the pain was so much that she could hardly bear it.
Something, deep within her, knew that she would never see him again.
Alrighty, put this up since the last piece recieved so much attention... *crickets chirping*
Anywhos one more goodbye to go but this was the biggie I think, for Guenever anyways.
Review!