Chapter 21: Playing With My Heart

Elaine was thrust into plans for her own coronation and for the running of her country. She understood what her father and uncle went through but she was going to have the determination to do it. She would spend her mornings in her father's study, which was now her own, where she would be working with the advisers. For the afternoon of her days, she would spend it with Galahad, closely watched by Gwaine and Percival. They were under strict instructions to not leave Elaine alone, which would occasionally frustrate the young woman, but she did enjoy their company.

"Gwaine?" She spoke softly. She was sitting in the gardens of the castle on a blanket and Galahad lay next to her.

"Yes, my Lady." He sat at the base of the nearest tree, cutting up an apple with his dagger.

"My advisers have told me to invite King Lot to my coronation." She kept her eyes on the knight. "Do you think I should?"

Gwaine gave a long sigh and stopped cutting into his apple. "I think you should. If you didn't, it would make the situation twice as bad. Might give him a reason to attack the country." He returned to cutting his apple. "Who else have you been told to invite?"

"Obviously, Arthur. King Lot, King Vortigern and Lord Godwyn. Along with my father's friends and the Knights." She sighed heavily and stood up, making sure Galahad was fine alone. She walked over to Gwaine, the green train of her dress brushed over the fallen leaves. She sat next to him, her eyes immediately fell on Galahad. "I have to invite them but some of them I don't want to."

"But you have to." Cutting a slice of apple and handing it to her. "I say invite them but inform them that they can only stay for so long." Gwaine chuckled softly as she groaned. "It will be all right."

She watched Galahad, who seemed content on lying on the blanket and kicking his legs constantly. "I just want my son to be safe. I'd die before I let anyone get near him or take him from me."

"And I will be there to stop them from taking him from you." He put the dagger down, with the apple, and rested his hand over Elaine's. "I promise." Squeezing her hand gently, which she gave a smile in return. Galahad gave a cry. Elaine was about to go to him but Gwaine stopped her. "Let me." Gwaine stood up and walked the short distance to Galahad. He knelt to the ground and slowly lifted the baby from the ground. "Are you being fussy?" He spoke softly to Galahad, carrying him towards Elaine. "I think he needed attention." Gwaine chuckled and sat back next to Elaine with Galahad. "He's getting big."

Elaine laughed lightly. "That he is." Watching Gwaine, who lay Galahad on his legs and held the baby's small hands. "He likes you."

The baby gurgled happily as Gwaine held his hands. "I can see that." Gwaine grinned widely. Gwaine and Elaine spent the rest of the afternoon with Galahad. "It seems like it was only yesterday that he was born."

"I know." Elaine laughed and took Galahad from him. "I best take him inside." She smiled and stood up. "Are you coming?"

Gwaine laughed, putting away his dagger and throwing his apple core into the bushes. "I'd be delighted." The two of them walked back into the keep together. The servants raised eyebrows, but said nothing, as the two walked by and towards Elaine's study. Once inside, Gwaine laughed.

"What is it?" Elaine chuckled and raised her eyebrows.

"The gossips of the servants have begun."

"What do you mean?" She chuckled, placed Galahad in a small cot, which had been placed in her study for her to be close to Galahad, whilst she worked. She stood up straight and moved to her desk, sitting down in the chair.

"As we walked here, every servant was surprised to see us together." He laughed and sat in one of the chairs, across from her. "There will be scandal."

Elaine laughed loudly. "Let them talk." She sat back in her chair, watching him. "Gossip keeps them busy. That's what my father used to say." They laughed together. "Thank you for coming."

"You're welcome." He grinned cheekily. "It was good to get out of Camelot. I enjoy the training and being a knight, I find myself feeling suffocating."

"Do you feel like you are suffocating here?" She asked curiously, peering into the cot and seeing if Galahad was content. She looked back at Gwaine, when she was convinced that Galahad was happy.

"No. Not at all." He smiled broadly. "I like it here." He leaned forward and rested his forearms on the desk. "I think it is the company more than anything." This caused Elaine to blush. Gwaine noticed but he said nothing about it. "Plus, Corbenic is smaller and has more of a home aspect. Camelot is big but too big."

"I know what you mean." She smiled gently. They sat in silence for a moment, just staring at each other. Elaine felt her blush brightly. "I... I should get ready for dinner." She stood up and turned her back on Gwaine, to hide her blush. She walked over to the window, pushing open the thin window.

A hand rested on her arm. She turned her head and saw Gwaine standing close to her. "Elaine."

"Gwaine." She whispered, her eyes flickering from his eyes to his lips and back to his eyes again. "What are you doing?" She turned her body to face him. Gwaine said nothing. He bent down and kissed her gently on the lips. She froze for a moment and reacted in a split second. Her arms moved and wrapped around his neck. They stood by the window, kissing. Elaine pulled away. "Gwaine. We should not have done that." She gasped, her arms still around him.

Gwaine' grip on her waist loosened. "I know. But I had to." He brushed his lips against her forehead. "I have wanted to do that for a long time."

Elaine bit her lower lip and fixed her eyes on his own. "I cannot say that I have but now you did, I am glad you did." She rested a hand on the back of his head, her fingers playing with the strands of his hair. He bent his head down and kissed her once again. They pulled apart and remained silent. They stood by the window. Elaine had her arms around Gwaine with her head on his chest and he had his arms wrapped around her, holding her to him.

- - - - - - - - - - - –

Elaine and Gwaine avoided talking about their kiss for some time. She tried to speak to him about it but nerves got the better of her. A few days after they had kissed, she finally had the courage to talk to him. "Gwaine, we should talk." Elaine had another afternoon off and was spending it in her library, due to it raining outside. Today it was Gwaine's turn to watch over her. He and Percival took turns to stay with Elaine, during her afternoons off.

He sat by the window with a book in his hand. He closed the book and stood up with the book in his hand. "Of course." He walked towards her, placing his book on a table as he walked passed one. "I should not have kissed you like that." Elaine was about to speak but Gwaine spoke first. "But I had to."

"Why?" She asked in shock. "I'm sorry. That was rude to ask." She blushed brightly and tore her gaze away from his. "Forgive me."

"No. It was the right question to ask." He sat in the chair opposite her. They were both sitting in front of a roaring fire. Galahad was asleep in his cot. "To tell you the truth, I have no idea why I kissed you. My mind was telling me to."

Elaine chuckled and looked up at him. "I am glad you did." Laughing nervously again, her hands twisting in her lap nervously. "If you had not done it and then I would have." She nibbled on her lower lip.

He watched her for a moment, then reached out and held her hand. "Really? I thought you loved Lancelot."

Elaine pulled her hand away. "I do not know." She pulled her gaze away from him. "I thought I did but lately we seem to be arguing a lot." She gave a heavy sigh and leant back into her chair. "I do not know."

"What about me?" He asked with a slightly lopsided grin, still watching her. "Do we get along?"

Elaine laughed and settled her eyes on him. "We do. Surprisingly. The only person, my own age, whom I get along with is Arthur." They laughed together. "So, it is nice to be able to talk to someone, who is not a relative." She smiled gently. "I do have to admit, you are more handsome than any of my male friends. Not that I have many." She laughed lightly, as did Gwaine. "I am glad you kissed me, as I wanted to kiss you too."

Gwaine could not help but grin. He watched her as she nervously twisted her hands in her lap. "What should we do? I mean about your cousin and Lancelot? Should we tell everybody or keep it between us for now?"

Elaine stood up slowly and bit her lower lip. "I do not know. I think for safe reasons, I think we should not tell anyone. Due to the fact of King Lot being a threat at the moment." She sighed heavily, slowly walking to her sleeping son. "Does not mean that we cannot continue."

Gwaine grinned as he stood up, slowly walking over to her and standing beside her. "I wasn't intending on stopping." He carefully wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his side. They looked down at Galahad for a moment before Gwaine started to speak. "Have you finally decided on a date for your coronation?"

"A week Thursday." She sighed heavily and leant her head against his shoulder. "I am dreading it." She turned her body slightly and wrapped her arm around his front. "You will be there for me?"

"Every step of the way." He kissed the top of her head.

A/N: What about this twist?

Responses from Chapter 20:

acklesaddict: Aww thank you! :D I love and feel sorry for the character of Elaine of Corbenic. She had the short straw.

Chescake: Thank you! :D I don't like writing arwen moments but I am a fan of them. :D I will add more Elaine and Galahad moments soon. I promise. =D

Lara Smith: I'm glad you loved the ARWEN chapter. :D Written for you! :D As for Morgana and Lot, they will be coming up soon. :D As well as Lancelot. He'll be back with the coronation. There will be no princesses with Arthur, it will be Gwen from now on.

Lucy: Thank you. Glad you adore this story. :D It's always good to have a older brother relationship, which is why I like writing the Arthur and Elaine relationship. I'm like you, I was more of Lancelot/Elaine relationship but when I started writing Elaine/Gwaine, I began to love them more. Got to have some bad guys in the story and Lot is one of the big bad ass! :D You'll find out about Lancelot's feelings about Elaine being away soon. A lot of secrets and plots against characters will be revealed in a few chapters. Hope you liked the Gwaine/Elaine interaction in this chapter.