Chapter Eleven
It was a beautiful if yet overcast Saturday morning when Gwen woke up in her and Arthur's home. She put her arm behind her to find the bed empty and cold and groaned in disappointment. Arthur was at Merlin's house for the night and then she smiled remembering that it was her wedding day. No sooner had she thought that, Camille came in with a breakfast tray. "Arthur insisted on breakfast in bed for you today," she said. Gwen laughed as she sat up. "He even called to make sure everything you liked is on the tray," she said.
"I love him so much," Gwen said as Camille put the tray onto the bed in front of her.
"I should hope so," Camille said. "You're marrying the boy in four hours."
"Four hours?" she asked. "Is that really how long until …?"
"Four hours until you are married to that man for the rest of your life," Camille said. "Now, eat your breakfast than get cleaned up. That bachelorette party last night was a dozy." Gwen chuckled as her stepmother left the bedroom and she started to eat her breakfast.. After she finished, she went into the bathroom and took a shower. When she came back into her bedroom, Katie was there ready to do up her hair and make up. As she sat on the vanity, she thought of Arthur and sighed.
Meanwhile …..
Merlin entered one of the guest bedrooms of Director DuBois' townhouse to find Arthur still fast asleep. He went into the room and tapped the leg peeking out of covers. "Time to get up, Arthur," he said.
"Uh, huh," he mumbled before sitting up. He yawned as he stretched out with both arms. The arm cast was removed just two days ago and both bride and groom were more than happy. "Coffee?" he asked.
"It's brewing as we speak," his friend said and he walked out of the room. Arthur sat up from the bed and rolled his neck around to get any cracks out of it. He reached for his phone and he hit 2 on his speed dial. There were a couple of rings before someone answered.
"Hello, handsome," she said.
"Hey," he said. "How's my beautiful bride doing this lovely am?" he asked.
"Couldn't be better," she said. "Did you sleep okay?"
"Like a baby," he said. "What are you wearing?" he asked and Gwen heard the mischief in his voice.
"A robe," she said as Katie put stephanotis flowers into her hair.
"What else?" he asked.
"That's it," she said with a smirk as Katie moved to the other side of the room. She giggled hearing him moan slightly over the phone. "I just got out of the shower," she said before lowering her voice so Katie couldn't hear on the other side. "I'm practically naked over here," she teased.
"Don't tease me, woman," he said.
"Are you having phone sex with your groom?" Katie asked from across the room where she went to get Gwen's under garments.
"Maybe," she said.
"Well, get him off and get over here!"
"Katie!"
"I better go before something is started that can't be finished," he said.
"I gotta go," she said. "Katie's got my under garments for underneath my dress." Arthur groaned out as she giggled. "I love you."
"I love you, too." They hung up and Gwen stood up from her seat and headed behind the dressing screen.
"I gotta give him a little tease before it all starts," she said. She took the lingerie set from Katie and slipped it on before stepping into her dress. "All right," she said holding the front of the dress. "Do me up," she said and Katie got to work on the ties in the back of the dress.
After taking a shower and getting half dressed into his suit, Arthur headed down stairs. Merlin looked up from the paper to see Arthur coming down. He was rotating his left arm around to get the feel of it again. "Feels good to be out of the cast, huh?" he asked.
"Yeah," Arthur said stretching. "Morning, Uncle T," he said to his uncle who was reading another half of the paper.
"Morning," Tristan said to his nephew. "Your Aunt Anna called. She's just coming into the city. She'll get to the church before us." Arthur nodded as he poured himself some coffee and sat down on the table. The headline on the Stars and Strips paper caught his attention.
MEIDEVAL HISTORIAN SEEKING LAWSUIT AGAINST NCIS FOR WRONGFUL DEATH OF SON
Arthur sighed out taking a sip of his coffee. "I know," Merlin said. "I saw it too."
"I don't think she's ever going to be satisfied with any judge's ruling," Tristan said. "Pete's already cleared of the shooting."
"Don't let this ruin Gwen's special day, Arthur," Merlin said tapping the paper. "I know you'll be brooding about it all day."
"I won't," he said popping some toast into the toaster before putting some cereal into a bowl.
"You know, you called Camille and insist that Gwen got her favorite breakfast in bed and here you are eating toast and cereal," Merlin said.
"Your point?"
"Arthur, it's your wedding day," he said getting up. "You need something to tie you over until the reception, Arthur," he said stopping the toast and taking the cereal away.
"What else is there?" he asked. Merlin pointed to the stove and Arthur saw fresh flapjacks on a warming plate. "Oh, uh, okay," he said.
"I had Marie make something before she headed over to set up the flowers at the church." Tristan put the paper down and stood up. "I'm going to head over there to meet up with your aunt. Don't be late," he said.
Who's to day I'm going to be late?" he asked. Tristan chuckled before grabbing his hat and coat and headed out.
"There's some sausage in the skillet as well," Merlin said.
"Thanks," he said putting some flapjacks onto the plate and helped himself to some sausage. He sat down at the table and began eating as Merlin went back to the table.
"So, nervous?" the scientist asked.
"Why would I be nervous?" Arthur asked.
"Well, it is your wedding day," he said.
"That it is, Merlin," Arthur said. "To tell you the truth, a couple of months ago I thought I wouldn't be here," he said. Merlin nodded.
"You weren't scared when Lancelot had the gun to your head?" he asked.
"It's not the first time I stared down the barrel of a gun, Merlin," he said. "I was only scared of what he would've done to Gwen had he actually pulled the trigger."
"Why didn't he just kill you right away?" Merlin asked. "If you don't mind me asking."
"Guinevere came downstairs when I didn't come back up," he said. "Lancelot didn't want to kill me with her in the room. He was trying to get her go back upstairs."
"Gwen wouldn't leave you alone to die, Arthur," Merlin said. "Chances are, you'll die in her arms or vice versa," he said.
"Hey, enough with the death talk, all right?" he asked. "It's supposed to be a happy day."
"You're right," he said lifting his glass of orange juice. Arthur chuckled and lifted his own. "To your wedding," Merlin said. "May it go on without a hitch," he added and they clinked the glasses together.
The Georgetown Lutheran Church was packed with the 150 guests invited to the Rylee/Pendragon wedding. Arthur was pacing up a storm in a side room with only Merlin to keep him calm. "So, you nervous now?" he asked.
"Shut it, Merlin," Arthur snapped causing Merlin to laugh. "You're supposed to be keeping me calm and keep me from running away."
"You even think of running and I'll handcuff you to me." Just then the door opened and Jacobs stuck his head into the room.
"Reverend's ready to start," he said. Arthur nodded before heading over and stopped in front of his boss.
"I know you've told me numerous times to not get married, Boss, but .."
"Ah, Arthur, don't get all mushy on me. I would only tell you that when I didn't like the girl you were dating," Jacobs said causing Arthur to chuckle. "Now go, before I change my mind."
Standing at the alter, Arthur waited for Gwen to come down the aisle with her father. First down the aisle was Gwen's little cousin, Jasmine. She put pink and white rose petals onto the floor and waved to her father in the audience. Next was Mo, looking all regal in his suit. He stood straight and walked very dignified with the pillow in his hands. Arthur chuckled at his nephew as he came to the front and he ruffled his hair. Next up was Morgana, then Melissa, followed by Katie. The 'Wedding March' started and everyone stood up as the doors opened to reveal Gwen and her father. Arthur's jaw nearly dropped seeing Gwen in her taffeta off shoulder diamond white dress. Her veil covering her face was connected to a small tiara that he knew Morgana picked out for the gift from the groom's family. He looked over to where his father was sitting next to his mother. The first time he actually saw them being civil with each other. Catrina, his latest stepmother, sat next to his mother's boyfriend. She didn't look like she was having a good time. Gwen and her father finally made it up to the alter and Thomas pulled the veil up to kiss his daughter on the cheek. "Take care of my little girl, Arthur," he said.
"I will, sir," Arthur said taking Gwen's hand from her father. Gwen handed her bouquet to Katie and they faced each other as the pastor began.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and these witnesses to join this man and the woman in holy matrimony. If for any reason these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace." There was a short bid of silence and the pastor was set to begin again when a voice cried out in the nave.
"She doesn't belong with him!!" Arthur and Gwen along with all the guests looked to the back and the bride and groom were shocked.
"How the bloody hell did she get in here?" Arthur muttered.
