A/N: I want to thank everyone who has reviewed my story. I'm sorry updating is so slow, I have so far written 12 and ½ chapters but right now I am doing some editing with the chapters I have already written to make this perfect. I also have plans to make a sequel to this story but I have no idea what to title it. I will work on it when I come around to it.
Oh and a belated Happy New Year! ~Khailin.
***
Chapter four.
Aislinn pats down the bed sheets then straightens up the pillow, those few movements causing her a tolerable pain.
"Aislinn!" she hears Guinevere exclaim and she swings around wincing "you should be resting" she says walking up to her "good morning m'lady" Aislinn says curtseying slightly. "Getting back to work will help me heal faster" Aislinn tells her turning around so she can't see the small look of pain on her face. Mordred had been sulking for the last few days about her not wanting to talk about recent events, and he was doing a great job at not talking to her too.
"If you don't feel up to it you're welcome to go home" she says as Aislinn smooths down the bed sheets again "I will be fine your highness" Aislinn says wishing she would just stop obsessing over her. Guinevere must sense her impatience's and she asks no more of her health. Aislinn turns around and watches the Queen pull back the chair to the dining table and neatly place herself in it when there is a knock on the door Aislinn makes a move for the door but Guinevere beats her to it.
"Mordred" she says as soon as she pulls open the door and Aislinn holds her breath "good morning m'lady" she hears him say "the King requests you in the council chambers" he informs her and she sighs a little. Guinevere turns a little to face Aislinn "you may go home and rest, your services won't be needed for the rest of the day" she tells her the look on the Queens face enough to tell Aislinn she doesn't want to go. "Yes m'lady" she says hesitating as she slips between Guinevere and Mordred out into the hallway Mordred glancing at her as she passes through.
Aislinn turns down the hall heading towards the front of the castle, towards the citadel when she hears her name being called "Aislinn!" she hears Mordred call but she doesn't stop if anything she speeds up. "Aislinn wait!" he calls after her as she reaches the top of the stairs "I'm sorry!" Mordred tells her and she stops halfway down the flight of the stairs. Aislinn slowly turns around to face him and he makes his way down to meet her "so you have decided to stop acting like a child and act your age?" she asks crossing her arms over her chest. Mordred sighs smirking a little "I guess I deserved that""I over reacted when I shouldn't have, I'm sorry" he says placing his hand on her upper arm.
"Now you see why I don't tell you stuff like that" she says continuing down the stairs leaving him standing there "what do you want from me?" he calls down the stairs watching her as she reaches the landing. Aislinn stops and turns around "for you to stop worrying about me, I can take care of myself" she informs him "I have for the last eight years". Mordred's face contorts into a look of hurt "I can't help it I've always worry about you" he mumbles hanging his head "Mordred..." she pauses taking a step towards him "I'm sorry I should have told you."
"So does that mean you forgive me?" he asks lifting his head and smiling at her Aislinn glares at him a little the corners of her mouth twitching trying to repress a smirk "could I ever stay mad at you for very long?" she asks laughing slightly looking up at him. "You did, for the last eight years in fact" Mordred points out and Aislinn's face drops "I have something for you anyway" he says reaching into his pocket pulling out a small wooden box and hands it to her. "What is it?" she asks holding the box up and examining it. "It's a gift for Yule...go on open it" he urges and Aislinn eyes him for a few moments "is it sad that I am expecting this box to be empty?" she asks and he laughs "just open it already."
Aislinn flicks open the latch on the box and finds that inside is a small purple piece of cloth "I'm guessing there is something in it?" Mordred nods motioning for her to open it and then she pulls back the cloth revealing a handmade necklace. Aislinn picks it up and exams it, the cord is made of leather and dangling from the cord is a wooden circle with the druidic symbol of awen in the middle surrounded a circle.
"Mordred it is beautiful" she says with a smile "but I never asked for anything" he shrugs "I thought it would suit you" he smiles completely avoiding the topic of her not asking for anything. "Thank you" she says as she goes to slip it over her head but realizes it won't fit "here" he says taking from her and undoing the knot where the cord has been done up "turn around" Mordred tells her motioning with his finger and she obeys. Seconds later the leather cord is around her neck and she can feel him making a knot at the back of it "by the way what are you doing tomorrow night?" he asks "um nothing why?" she asks turning towards him once he is done.
"The King is hosting a Yule feast and I was wondering if you would like to come"
"Oh that.." she goes quiet considering his request "isn't it only for important people?" she asks. "What makes you think you're not important?" he asks eying her "I didn't mean it like that..I meant important people like you" she says running her hand through her hair. Mordred chuckles "I'm not that important" he says a bit too modestly and Aislinn glares at him knowing her was joking "oh, alright I kind of am" he says smirking to himself. "I-I have nothing to wear" she says thinking about everything else but accepting his invitation.
"Stop worrying, I will sort it out" he tells her "will you come?" he asks and she bites her lip "are you sure you want me to come?" she asks a little concerned "who else am I going to bring dummy?" he asks smirking. Aislinn shakes her head "alright, if this means so much to you I will come" she says and he smiles thank you, I will pick you up tomorrow night just after dark."
***
Mordred is standing outside of Aislinn's front door with a leather satchel swung over his shoulder and she greets him shortly after he knocks against the wooden door.
"Hey" she says with a smile, her hair is braided and draped over her left shoulder and on the right side of her hair there is a silver swirly hairclip with leaves where the swirls end. "Hey yourself" he says holding up the satchel and she takes it from him before he followers her inside "alright wait here while I get changed" she says disappearing behind the screen.
When she reappears a few minutes later she is wearing the dress that was in the bag.
"It's – thank you" she says admiring the dress made of blue crushed velvet with long sleeves that finish at her wrist then drape down to her thigh. The square neckline is trimmed with silver ribbon and sitting comfortably around her waist is a silver hip belt which meets in the middle of her stomach and falls to the bottom of her skirt.
"Where did you get it?" she asks twirling around and the skirt follows her movements "no where special" he says and she stops abruptly "this looks like it would have cost a fortune." Aislinn says flattening the skirt "It used to be my mother's" he says "she was from a noble family and she fell in love with my father who was a Druid" Mordred trails off "she gave up all of that for him". Aislinn who while Mordred was explaining the origins of the dress has taken down her hair pauses. "I'm sorry" she says "no it's fine" he says watching her as she walks over the mirror and she does something to her hair then reclasps the clip at the back of her hair.
"Alright lets go" she says holding her arm out to Mordred "took your time" he teases as he leads her out the door "shut up" Aislinn snaps smiling to herself "do you know what is going on tonight?" she asks and Mordred shakes his head. "Only that before the feast we light the Yule log and then eat" Aislinn nods "do you remember the Yule celebrations we had as kids?" he nods smiling at the memory of their Yule celebrations. "Yeah, it would be nice to do something like that again" he says "we should one day" she suggests "that would be fantastic" Mordred says as they start on the stone path up towards the main entrance.
"Oh by the way why did you ask me to come?" Aislinn asks "I'm sure you have heaps of other girls biding for your attention" Mordred scoffs "no, actually you're the only one" he pauses "besides who else would I ask to come but you?"
"Who said I wanted your attention?" she asks jokingly and he frowns at her "oh I see how it is then" Aislinn grips his arm "I'm sorry" Mordred laughs "I knew you were joking" he tells her.
The hall is lit with candles the light from the candles casts a golden glow around the room. In the middle of the room is a golden cauldron filled with logs from a Yule tree burning brightly, on each table there are centre pieces of three candles with holly and small red flowers around them. Hanging off the table are wreathes of various flowers to Aislinn the room looks a little over done but nonetheless beautiful. "Wow, this is amazing" Aislinn remarks as she looks around the room at all the people laughing and having a good time "you seem a bit dazed" he whispers in her ear "oh well obviously you don't get this sort of thing smuggling" she whispers back as Arthur spots Mordred and strolls over to him.
"Mordred!" he says shaking his hand "I'm glad you came" Mordred smiles "so am I" he says glancing over at Aislinn who has this look of worry on her face. "Calm down" he tells her and she looks over at him "Aislinn isn't it?" Arthur asks turning his attention towards her "uh, yes sire" Arthur smiles at her "I'm glad you could make it." She smiles back at him "thank you m'lord" she says as Arthur nods at Mordred "have a great time" he says before he turns heading in the direction of his wife.
"Great job" Mordred says leading her over to a table "well I'm sorry your highness I'm not exactly a people person" she says dully "oh I've noticed."
***
The rest of the night if filled with dancing, laughter and ale.
It was different for Aislinn, it was kind of nice but she felt out of sorts not knowing what to do or how to act in front of such a people. Gwaine who had sat next to them at least made her feel a little bit at him after Mordred had explained his background to her while he cracked jokes the entire night.
"Told you there would be nothing to worry about" Mordred says as they walk down the steps to the castle into the square "are you kidding me? I was so out of place" she says with a little laugh "you looked gorgeous, even better than the Queen might I add." Aislinn smirks a little "what are you trying to do kill me with bad jokes?" she asks and Mordred stops under the arch way "I meant every word" he says sounding a little hurt. "I'm sorry, Mordred thank you... I am just not used to being called that" she says taking a step towards him "if it makes it any better I was extremely flattered you asking me to go".
Mordred however at the current moment isn't focusing on Aislinn and she notices he is looking up "what are you looking at?" she asks trying to see what he is looking at. "Can you see that?" he asks pointing up and Aislinn squints standing on the tip of her toes "I have no idea what you are pointing at" she says steadying herself on her feet. Mordred grabs her hand and points it upwards to where he can see a small bushel of something "can you see it now?" he asks and she squints again the outlines of a small bush becoming clearer "what is that?" she asks.
"I believe it is mistletoe" he says placing her hand back at Aislinn's side and she laughs "you're kidding?" she asks and he shakes his head "afraid I'm not" he says shrugging. "So what happens now?" she asks looking at him but silently knowing what the answer will be "what normal people do under mistletoe" Mordred says simply like it's nothing in the world. Aislinn looks him over "you can't be serious?" she asks her nerves beginning to play up "well we don't have to, I mean if you don't want to" he tells her. "Do you want to?" she asks looking up at him and he shrugs "would it be wrong if I said yes?" he drops his voice to a whisper.
"No...not really" she says not sure of what she should say exactly "besides it would be a shame to break a tradition" he adds placing his index finger under her chin and titling her head up. From what Aislinn can see he smiles before he leans in and kisses her lightly on the lips for a few moments before pulling away, secretly she doesn't really want him to pull away she wants to draw him closer but it wouldn't be appropriate. Mordred observes her momentarily his finger still tilting her chin up "you need to grow a few inches" he taunts and she pushes his chest lightly "shut up" she laughs "come on, I will walk you home" he tells her draping his arm over her shoulder.