AN: Hello! I just want to let all of you know that there are only two more chapters of Telling Tales left to be published after this one and I want to draw out the end for as long as I possibly can ;) But before that, here's chapter 15, let me know what you think — BNQ
-15-
Arthur was sure that he has never had a moment as perfect as this. Not when he graduated from university, not when he finally convinced his father that he would be a worthy successor to his business empire, and not even when he first beat Morgana at a game of chess.
None of those events meant as much as this—with him in this almost-empty bookstore, holding the most beautiful woman he has ever seen in his life, dancing like they were characters in an old Hollywood movie.
He looked down at Guinevere. She was such a petite thing, really. Even in heels, the top of her head came to just under his chin. Just the perfect height for cuddling. And by that, Arthur meant only with him.
Arthur could see questions forming in Guinevere's soft brown eyes. He knew they were coming, and all he hoped was that the night would stretch on long enough for him to answer them all.
"Are you surprised?" he asked her.
"A little," Guinevere answered. A smile bowed her lips and Arthur's heart started to beat a little faster. He'd met her just a few hours ago and already he knew that he would do anything to have her smile at him like that for as long as he lived.
"Did Merlin or Morgana put you up to this?" Was Guinevere's first query.
"No," he said and pulled her a little closer. "They told me who you were, but it was my idea to run after you."
"Why?" a slight frown creased her forehead as she asked the question.
"Because I knew I had to," Arthur gave a slight shrug. "Something just...told me that if I let you walk out tonight, I would end up regretting it for the rest of my life."
She was quiet after his admission which worried Arthur slightly.
"She might think that I'm some kind of crazy stalker," he mused. "Well, the crazy part might be true."
"I'm glad you did," Guinevere said this so softly that Arthur wasn't sure that he heard her correctly. "I'm glad you're here."
She moved to wrap her arms around his waist and lay her head against his chest. Arthur pulled her closer and buried his face in her hair.
"I can stay here forever," he thought.
"I hear bells," Guinevere suddenly said. She raised her head and looked at him.
"Hmmm?" Arthur muttered, his voice muffled because he refused to lift his head from its very comfortable spot. "They say that happens when you meet the man of your dr..."
"No," Guinevere's laugh was throaty as she put her hand over the lapel of his jacket. "I think it's your phone."
She started to move from the circle of his arms, but Arthur wouldn't have it. He used one hand to fish out his mobile phone from the inside pocket of his jacket, while his other arm kept its place around Guinevere's waist.
"Damn," he said when he saw that Morgana was calling him. "What is it Morgana?
"Is Gwen with you?" Was the first question she hurled at her little brother.
"Yes," he looked at Guinevere whose eyes were now sparkling with mirth. "She's right here."
"Give her the phone," Morgana's tone was bossy.
"You called me to talk to Guinevere?" Arthur couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Why didn't you just call her phone?"
"Because she rarely takes it out of silent mode, prat," Morgana retorted. "Now, keep quiet and let me talk to my future sister-in-law."
"It's for you," Arthur said as he handed over his phone to Guinevere. He decided he rather liked Morgana's train of thought.
Guinevere's eyes widened as she took the phone from Arthur.
"Hi, Morgana," she said. "Yes, I'm all right. Our shop assistant had trouble with some kids earlier and she got scared. No, nothing like that. I'm here with my brother and Arthur, we should be fine."
Arthur kept Guinevere close to him as she spoke with his sister. He was slightly concerned when he heard about the store assistant (Ella?), but knew that with Elyan here, no harm would come to her.
Almost unconsciously, Arthur's thumb began to draw small circles somewhere near Guinevere's hip. She blushed prettily and put one hand on his. Arthur's hand stilled and he was afraid that he had taken it too far. They were practically strangers after all, no matter how perfect she felt and moved in his arms. But when Guinevere laced her fingers with his, his doubts flew out the window and he gathered her as close to him as he possibly could.
"All right," Arthur heard Guinevere say, and from her tone, it sounded like her conversation with Morgana was coming to a close. "Arthur, she wants to talk to you."
She gave him the phone and Arthur sighed. All he wanted was for Morgana to hang up so he could be alone with Guinevere again.
"Yes?" He said into the phone.
"Don't take that tone with me," Morgana said. "I just want you to know that I'm taking Gwen's side in this relationship. If you hurt her—in any way—I will cut off your..."
"Bye Morgana!" Arthur practically yelled into the phone and cut his sister off in mid-sentence. He really didn't need to hear what appendage she was going to target. He put the phone back in his pocket and moved so that he and Guinevere were face-to-face once again.
"What was that about?" Guinevere said with a laugh.
"Just a reminder," Arthur shrugged.
"Of what?"
"That you had better make an honest man out of me or she'll have my, er, head," Arthur smiled at Guinevere as he said this.
Guinevere threw back her head and laughed as Arthur drew her back in his arms to continue their dance.
Unbeknownst to the couple, Ella and Elyan were observing them through the closed-circuit TV monitors in Guinevere's office.
Elyan was still holding Ella's hand and while neither of them wanted to say anything about it, they both rather liked the feeling.
"Look," Ella said and she pointed at the screen to Arthur "He's down for the count."
Elyan saw how gently Arthur held his sister in his arms and how Gwen was idly toying with the lapels of his jacket as they talked and moved across the floor.
"Gwen is, too," Elyan said with a smile.
Elyan was still puzzled by this, I mean, how did Gwen know Arthur Pendragon? And why did he say "I want permission to marry Guinevere" when Elyan opened the door earlier? Elyan had said no, of course, but he agreed to let Arthur into the store.
"Invite me to the wedding?" Ella said absentmindedly as she saw Arthur twirl Guinevere around on their makeshift dance floor.
"Of course," Elyan said. He had always liked Ella, and it wasn't until tonight that he even dared admit how much.
He moved to tuck Ella into his arms and smiled as a sigh of contentment escaped her lips.
"Just as we'll invite them to ours," Elyan told himself, his attention now diverted from the dancing couple in the monitors to the blonde-haired angel he held in his arms.