Love the characters but they are not mine
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The whole household, including the servants, are lined up outside the castle. Arthur can almost cut through the tense atmosphere with a knife. Although it is rather windy outside, no one seems to be paying much attention to the weather. A messenger had arrived a few moments before to announce the arrival of the party from Camelot. Arthur knows that the anxiety on everyone else's part is because of the condition that Ewan is in and them anticipating how hard Gwen is likely to take it. Arthur has the same concerns but unfortunately he is in a worse condition because hell has broken loose in his stomach and the devil seems to be playing ping pong in his gut. He knows that despite the pep talk he has been giving himself several times now on how he should forget about her, he really has not. On the other hand he realises the need for clear thinking and making sensible decisions. Gwen cannot be his as long as she is attached to Ewan. Notwithstanding Merlin's lecture and his own to himself, he cannot help but literally shake with anticipation mixed with trepidation at the prospect of seeing her again, a somewhat bad combination for a man like him.
The sound of horses neighing and horse shoes connecting with the ground has an amazing effect on the gathered group. The servants stand straighter and the nobility start shifting around suddenly more nervous than they had been before. To Arthur, it seems like his heart is following the rhythm of the horses' hooves. Anyone looking at him would be fooled by his calm exterior. He looks every inch the king and warrior, regal and cool and with nothing to fear. Much as he can control how he appears on the outside, he cannot help the rate at which his heart is over-working at this point and that seems to increase in tempo as the expected party draws nearer. He is not wearing his amour, actually he is dressed in a light tunic and a long burgundy sur-coat but he feels the first trickles of sweat down his chest, a result of over-heated skin. He experiences a sudden urge to wipe his neck and smell his armpits. He cannot greet her sweating or smelling like a pig.
The carriage housing the princess and Lady Guinevere stops in the courtyard near the entrance of the castle where the party is gathered. Lady Guinevere is the first to alight, helped by the footman and there is a little murmur of excitement amongst the staff. Arthur's jaw could have easily dropped to the ground. Had she just grown even more beautiful in his absence? Her smile has the radiance of the sun, beautiful and blinding as the same time. He almost steps forward, feeling a pull towards her that he has little power resisting. Thankfully Merlin seems to have anticipated this and hampers his movement by placing a hand on his elbow. He almost jerks away from the touch in anger until he looks up and finds Merlin pinning him down with a warning look. Arthur quickly regains his wits and stays put, drinking in Guinevere's presence with all the greed of a man long gone without it.
Guinevere steps forward hugging her aunt affectionately, who returns the hug stiffly, and then shares a long tight embrace with Elyan. Arthur realises that there is a strong bond between the two siblings as Elyan tells Gwen how much he has missed her. Gwen draws forward the Lady Morgana, who is looking every bit the princess she is, towards her aunt and brother who are beaming, not believing their fortune to be in the company of not just the king but his sister as well. Gwen introduces Morgana to her two relations who in turn curtsey and bow respectfully. Elyan kisses the lady's knuckles uttering words of welcome.
The business of salutations and introductions takes far too much time in his opinion and Arthur can hardly stand it. He predicts that if it continues for longer, he is going to either turn into a puddle of liquid impatience or embarrass himself immensely. He just cannot wait any longer to have a chance to gaze at Gwen's lovely face and have her look at him directly. All thoughts of propriety thrown out of the window (and anyway he is king and who would dare point it out), he steps forward tugging at Morgana's sleeve. Morgana is forced to turn towards the king and finds herself gathered in an awkward bear hug. Arthur can tell Morgana is shell shocked by the way she momentarily tenses against him and he hopes she does not look it. As this is probably the first time since they had reached puberty that such displays of affection have been exchanged between them, who can blame her? Uther had never been one for public displays of affection, deeming them a sign of weakness and unfortunately had drilled the same philosophy into his children at an early age. Although when they were younger, there had been one or two occasions that had called for such sources of solace; they had found other less obvious ways of expressing their affection. Arthur feels his chest expand with something akin to pride when he notices Gwen smiling at them indulgently as she waits her turn to greet the king. Arthur coolly extracts herself from Morgana and faces the woman who has been haunting his thoughts and dreams for what seems like eons. His eyes lock with her brown ones and he feels his heart thud like a war drum. It is precisely at that moment that Arthur realises that has fallen in love with her. God help me. The force of his acknowledgement threatens to uproot him from where he stands. His insides threaten to bubble up into a fountain of wonder and joy. I am in love with her. The knowledge stuns him for a moment. He has never been in love before but somehow he knows. Heknows that what he feels for her cannot be reversed or suppressed. He knows that it is not just a fancy that is going to pass with time. He knows that as long as they both breathe, he will not be satisfied with anyone else or anything less than this real love.
A nudge from Merlin reminds him of what he is supposed to do and he takes her hand with a shaking one. If someone is to ask him what he is feeling, he would describe it like he is in a bubble where he is doing all the expected faultlessly and yet his world has been rocked from its foundation. The force of a newly discovered love can be overwhelming. It is magnifying every feeling, every sensation. It is a wonder that as he kisses her knuckles, he does not let his mouth linger or let the tip of his tongue brush against her soft skin, because heaven knows how much he is tempted to, and the effort it takes not to close his eyes to savour the feeling of her skin on his lips leaves him weak at the knees. When he releases her hand he feels bereft, and wishes he could have held on to her a little bit longer. However her smile is more than compensation, leaving him dazed and grinning stupidly like a simpleton. Merlin rolls his eyes in disgust, thinking he has never seen the clot pole so whipped. Keeping the two apart is going to prove more of a challenge than he has the strength for. However, for the sake of everyone's peace of mind he silently vows to make sure that Arthur would tow the line and not pose any harm to Gwen's reputation.
Arthur watches Gwen greeting Ewan's parents with the same affection, and Lady Brianna, who seems to have never stopped crying in the past few days, starts dabbing the corner of her eyes as she converses with Gwen. Eventually Gwen moves on and continues to greet the servants that are lined up and seem excited about her return. Arthur is struck by how much Gwen is caring towards even the servants. She greets each by name, asking about their spouses and children or siblings and parents if they were not married. It leaves him in awe, because he has never been one to be bothered about servants or their families , except Merlin maybe, who he probably knew so much about because he prattled on whether he was listening or not. He definitely does not know the name of the cook or the maidens who clean the castle floors. To his credit, he knows the names of the stable hands and some of the squires; but knows nothing about them that is personal. There is just something about Guinevere's relationship with her servants that brings warmth and a little bit of sunshine in the gloom that has engulfed the castle since the day they had arrived with the injured knights. Arthur cannot help but marvel at the effect that just one person can have on a tense atmosphere. It is like her presence alone had lifted a dark cloud, which is quite a wonder because everyone's previous anxiety had stemmed from the uncertainty of how Gwen was faring given that her fiancé's life was hanging by a thread. Of course she is not really in the picture of how things are as he had not indicated in his letters how badly hurt Ewan was, but the urgency of the note must have raised suspicion especially with her sister who knows him better.
The party splits up once the ladies are escorted inside, the nobles following into the castle through the main entrance while the servants use their own. Gwen is holding Lady Brianna's hand and speaking to her in quiet tones that Arthur cannot catch but as they enter the living room, Gwen and Lady Brianna excuse themselves so that they can go and visit Ewan. Morgana indicates to Arthur that she would like to talk to him before Lady Katherine and escorts Lady Morgana to the chambers in the east wing that are next to Gwen's so that she can freshen up. Morgana would have preferred to be with her new friend but also realises that the lady might need privacy. In the meantime Arthur would fill her in on what was really going on. She wants to make sure she will be ready to comfort her friend.
Gwen and Lady Brianna approach the chambers that the physician has been allocated in silence, each one seemingly lost in their thoughts. Gwen's heart is thudding. During their journey from Camelot, she had told Morgana of the decision that she had made a couple of nights before. She knows that she does not love Ewan the way she ought to. Marrying him would never bring happiness to either of them. Expecting either of them to be content with less would not be fair. Ewan is a good gentleman who deserves someone who will totally adore him every inch as much as he does her. She had resolved to tell him and cry off their betrothal. She longs to have as good a marriage as her parents had had, a marriage based on love not convenience. Painful as it is for her to go against her father's dying wish, she knows her father's ultimate concern had been her happiness.
As she walks with Lady Brianna, she is afraid of what she will find. From the grim and pitying faces that had met her on her arrival, she knows that situation has to be grave. Gwen knocks at the door as soon as they get to the chambers, and Lady Brianna momentarily takes her hand, trying to provide strength for the younger woman. A quiet but audible affirmative answer for them to enter comes from within the chambers and Gwen's hand squeezes Lady Brianna neither of them sure whether she is trying to draw some assurance from or giving it. The first thing that Gwen notices is the nauseating smell that one would associate with sickness. Then she notices that the chambers have been rearranged. A long table, a mirror, wardrobes and other pieces of furniture that grace similar chambers in the castle have been moved out. Three beds placed parallel to each other, take up most of the space. The only other piece of furniture in the room is a smaller table that is cluttered with herbs, vials and portions.
The physician on realizing who his visitors are, moves forward bowing his head in greeting. Gwen is well acquainted with him, having spent her fair amount of time with him attending to her sprained ankles and wrists, concussions, grazes and bruises associated with her chosen hobbies.
"My ladies."
"Sigmond." Gwen nods acknowledging the physician's greetings. "How is Ewan?"
Sigmond swallows hard, seeming to have run at a loss of words. "My lady, I…." His eyes dart from Gwen to the Lady Brianna's face, indicating his reluctance to say things that would upset the gently born ladies.
"Please Sigmond, I want to know. And can I see him please? Is he conscious?"
Without answering any of her questions verbally, the physician beckons Gwen to follow him. Ewan's bed is furthest from the door, and closest to the windows in the room. The curtain have been drawn slightly allowing a little of the natural light from outside to come in.
Gwen gasps in shock when she reaches Ewan. A bloody looking bandage runs along the expanse of his chest. His pallor of his skin frightens her beyond imagination. His forehead is wet with sweat showing that he is running a bad fever. His eyes are closed but his head is tossing sideways, fingers clutching the now wet sheets obviously delirious. His cheeks are so gaunt it tears at Gwen's heart. She almost cannot liken the vibrant and daring young man she had spent so much time with to this poorly looking man that does not seem to have any hold on reality. Turning to the physician, tears already running down her checks uninhibited, Gwen whispered shakily.
"What happened to him?"
"From what I was told, the king's party was ambushed while following a trail. Sir Ewan was shot with an arrow." Sigmond explains looking uncomfortable having to answer the question.
"Is the wound infected? Why does he have a fever?"
"When they arrived, he already had a fever. I thought at the time that he might have caught a cold since it rained heavily on their way. My theory was soon proved wrong as there were no other symptoms of a cold. I was then convinced that it might be that the wound had become infected. But an infected wound would have other signs that give it away. Just this morning I discarded this theory as well. I am sorry to say this, but I think the arrow was poisoned. But without any knowledge of which poison was used, it is difficult for me to find the antidote. I am going to have to try a few common ones that are normally used. I am praying that one of them will be the right one. At this time, my ladies, I would caution you to prepare for the worst. Nothing short of a miracle is needed for us to have a favourable result."
Lady Brianna staggers as if she has been hit, an anguished moan from escaping her. Gwen reaches out to her in time, stopping her from tumbling over. They embrace each other, seeking comfort that only someone who has experienced the same thing is able to provide. They spend some time in that position, crying quietly and rubbing each other backs in sympathy, trying to be strong for the other. After a while, they break apart, with Gwen facing the physician who is looking like he would rather have been anywhere else but here. Gwen knows that some men are not comfortable with weeping females but surely as a physician, he must have had been in a lot of similar situations.
Very quietly such that the physician has to lean forward to catch what she is saying Gwen addresses the elephant in the room, "How long?"
The physician knows what she is asking. "If none of the antidotes work, then it could be anything between a day and three days."
The two ladies bow their heads in indubitable grief. Gwen raises her head a moment later. 'Sigmond, we have to find the antidote. We cannot just give up," she says determination marring her whole face.
"My lady…"
"No, I'm not going to accept this without a fight. Sigmond, there is another remedy that a neighbour once told me about. Do you mind if we try it as well?"
"My lady, at this point I will welcome any ideas that you might have because I am almost at the end of my tether."
"You have to clean the wound with honey soaked in dowels made of elder pith and wrapped in linen. Then you dress the wound with a poultice of barley and honey mixed in turpentine."
"Thank you, my lady. I will certainly try it."
"And now that I am here, I would like to come and help you. So you just need to tell me what to do. It has to be rather busy with three bed- ridden men."
"Not to worry my lady, Lady Katherine has availed me three servants to help at the command of the king. So I have at least one at my beck and call at any given time, day and night."
"I have to remember to thank His Majesty for his generosity. Nonetheless, I would like to relieve you once in a while so you can rest. As you know, I nurse Papa before his passing, may his soul rest in peace."
"Your kindness is much appreciated, my lady." Sigmond says, bowing respectfully.
"For now I will go and freshen up and I will come back after the afternoon meal, if it is acceptable to you?"
At the physician's consenting bow, Gwen escorts a reluctant Lady Brianna out of the chambers. She knows the physician will need his space to try out the remedies they have agreed upon. The presence of a doting mother would do more harm than good.
As soon as they leave, Lady Brianna pulls Gwen into an alcove taking the younger lady by surprise.
"Gwen, I need to talk to you. Can I talk to you freely?"
"You know you can Lady Brianna," a puzzled Gwen replies.
"Well I was just thinking that since you and Ewan were already planning your nuptials, and would have been married in about two months, would you mind bringing them a bit closer?"
"Ahhh.." is Gwen's shocked response.
Lady Brianna quickly jumps in, "It's just that Ewan has been so excited about it and that is all he kept talking about when he last visited us. But now…," she sniffs clearly unable to continue.
Gwen feels like all the bile in her gut is gathering in her throat and is competing to sprint into her mouth.
"Lady Brianna…," she just manages to let out suddenly hot and faint.
"I know you might not have thought about it but Ewan's condition is so uncertain and I know if he has any regrets, one of them is that he did not marry you much earlier. He has always adored you."
Gwen tries to speak but is cut off by a desperate mother pleading her son's cause.
"You don't have to give me an answer right away. Please think about it, but maybe not for too long? It's just that I don't know how much time we have… Gwen I know you are fond of Ewan. I beg you, please consider my request. Besides, your love might be the only thing that could bring Ewan back to us."
A/N: I'm really sorry my updates have been sporadic. I'm really busy and it's taking me longer and longer to write each chapter. Tell me if you liked this one.