Chapter 31: Time Together Is So Precious
Disclaimer: Random disclaimer, I own nothing in the story!
Elaine and Gwaine revelled in their engagement. "I think we should tell everyone after Arthur's wedding." Elaine spoke softly. The two were sitting in her study, on the carpet, in front of the roaring fire. Elaine sat with her back against Gwaine's chest. The fire kept them warm as the weather grew cold and bitter. It was late evening and Galahad was in bed, allowing the recently engaged couple to have their own precious time together.
"If that's what you want. Do you think we should let Arthur know first?" He pulled a strand of her hair behind her ear and kissed her neck.
She smiled when his lips touched her skin. It always awoke something within her. "I think we should. We'll tell him as soon as we arrive in Camelot." Smiling again as his lips pressed against her neck. "Stop distracting me."
"That is my job." Gwaine chuckled as he kissed below her ear, making Elaine shivering with delight. "Like that." He smiled against her neck.
"Gwaine." She sighed softly, closing her eyes as his lips seem to dance over the skin of her neck. "Stop it."
He laughed softly in her ear. "I can't. You tempt me too much." Kissing her neck again.
Elaine gave another sigh and shook her head. "Stop it." She tried to warn him but his lips seem to be make her body melt. "No..." She whispered as his right hand rested on her waist while the other ran up her arm. "Gwaine..." She sighed again. "Stop it." But all thoughts of protest were gone, just because of this man's lips against her neck.
"Sorry." He spoke gently in her ear. But his lips soon found their way back to her neck.
She gasped when his teeth gently grazed her neck. "Gwaine..." She gasped. Her body was tingling with desire for this man. She bit her lower lip as he continued to shower her neck and shoulder with feather light kisses. A knock came at the door. "Now, you have to stop." Giggling slightly as she stood up off the floor. She waited for Gwaine to get to his feet. He stood by her side as she spoke, "Come in."
Andrew, one of the guards, walked into her study. He bowed deeply before speaking. "Sorry to disturb you, your majesty. But there is a messenger from King Vortigern waiting for you."
Elaine gave a frustrated sigh. "I shall be there in a moment." Nodding the young guard. Once he had left her study, she gave a groan with a long sigh following it. "Duty calls." Turning to face Gwaine. "I'd rather stay here." Her hands running up his arms and wrapping around the back of his neck. "Now, kiss me before I have to hear anything from the horrid Vortigern."
Gwaine chuckled and pulled her closer by wrapping his arms around her waist. "Yes, your Majesty." He possessively captured her lips with his. "Go. Your audience awaits your presence."
She smiled, her dark eyes looking into his brown eyes. "If I must." She chuckled and kissed him firmly on the lips before parting and leaving her study, with Gwaine following close behind. Every person bowed and curtseyed as she walked into the Great Hall.
As she reached the head of the Hall, she could see the messenger. She recognised him as Vortigern's nephew; Mark. "Ah! Lord Mark." She welcomed him warmly.
The young man bowed to her and smiled. "Queen Elaine." Bowing again to her. "King Vortigern sends his best wishes to you." Elaine silently nodded to him. "He sends me to ask whether you have considered his idea of him courting you."
Elaine shifted nervously as she thought of an appropriate answer. "Please may you send King Vortigern my best regards but I am currently not looking to court anyone at the present time."
"Oh, I see." Lord Mark nodded. His blue eyes flickering from Elaine to Gwaine, who was standing nearby to Elaine. "You do realise that it is illegal for a mere knight to be courting a monarch."
"Excuse me?" Elaine folded her arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Every Kingdom knows of your relationship with Gwaine." His eyes focused on Gwaine, who was having to stop himself from launching at this upstart lord. "King Vortigern is not pleased with your choice of suitor. Which is why he puts himself forward for you."
"How dare you?" Elaine shouted at him angrily. "You think that your King can send you to my Kingdom and threaten me because my suitor is not of royal blood?" Her arms fell to her sides and she glared at the man, who seemed to only be a few years older than she. "No man can take my right to choose a husband away from me!" She was speaking to this cowering man but also to any of those who doubted her relationship with Gwaine. "It says in the Royal charter that a woman of royal blood may marry a man from a royal family, noble blood or a high standing knight." Her dark eyes glared at the messenger. "I do believe that Sir Gwaine," She emphasised on the 'Sir'. "Is a knight of Camelot and an honorary knight of Corbenic."
Gwaine was stopping himself from laughing. Seeing her angry with this man made him love her more and more. She was not afraid to stand up for herself.
"So, I believe it is not illegal nor is it treason for Sir Gwaine to be my suitor." She continued to glare at the trembling man. "You can return to Vortigern and tell him exactly what I have just said. Do you understand?"
"Yes, your Majesty." He bowed quickly to her.
"Now, go!" She shouted angrily at him. The man bowed and rushed out of the Great Hall. The courtiers looked at Elaine in shock. They had never seen her angry like this. She turned on her heel and stormed out of the Great Hall. Gwaine could feel every eye watching him as he followed after Elaine.
"Elaine!" He shouted after her. Following her up into the heart of the castle. She was going to her chambers. He had vowed not to step into her chambers until they were married. "Elaine! Wait!" He shouted to her as he chased after her. She disappeared into her chambers, closing the door behind her. He reached her chambers and knocked on it repeatedly. "Elaine! Open the door, love." He was now pounding on the wooden door. "Elaine!"
Elaine threw her door open. "Don't! You'll wake Galahad." She growled at him. "Come inside." She moved back into her chambers. Gwaine reluctantly followed her inside, closing the door behind him. "I am sorry. Lord Mark was right. We cannot marry." Tears fell down her cheeks.
"What? You just said that we could." He pointed towards the door, indicating for the Great Hall.
Elaine gave a frustrated sigh. "Yes, you are a knight but not a knight from a noble family." She let out a sob. "It states that I have to marry a knight from a noble family."
"But I am."
"What?" Looking up at him in shock.
"You best sit down." He held out his hand, which she took, and he led her to her bed. She slowly sat down, watching him as he stepped back from her. "There is something I have not told anyone. Well, except Merlin."
Elaine chuckled. "He seems to be good to talk to."
Gwaine nodded slowly and paced in front of her. "I am from a long line of knights."
"What?" She gasped. "Why have you not said?"
"I'm telling you the story. Be patient." He smirked at her. "My father and his father and so on were knights in Caerleon's army. My father died in service to Caerleon and when my mother pleaded to Caerleon for help, he turned her away. We became poor. Barely able to eat day-to-day." He gave Elaine a small smile. "From then on, I hated anything to do with royalty."
Elaine raised her eyebrows in shock at everything had just said to her. "I didn't know." She spoke softly.
"I don't any more." He sat next to her on her bed. "I met Arthur and I saw that not all of nobility are the same. Then I met you." He held her hand. "My whole idea of nobility changed completely."
She smiled softly, looking down at the joined hands. "I am glad you did." She lifted their joined hands and kissed his. "If Vortigern decides to continue to annoy me, could you possibly tell them of your history? Just for them to leave us in peace." Placing their hands back down in her lap. "I don't want another war."
"Yes. I will." He placed his free hand under her chin, tilting her head up. "I promise." He kissed her softly. The kiss grew for a moment but Gwaine pulled away. "Nope. No temptation."
Elaine rolled her eyes. "Shut up and kiss me."
He laughed and returned to kissing her fully on the lips. "I should go." He whispered, parting from her lips.
"Stay. Stay tonight." She whispered, her lips close to his. "Please."
"Elaine." He pleaded with her. "Not until our wedding night."
Elaine laughed softly. "Not like that. Just sleep next to me. I like having you close by." She stood up slowly. She walked away slowly. "Please, stay."
Gwaine sighed slightly. "Fine. But I will leave before the sun begins to rise."
"Yes, my lord." She curtseyed to him and disappeared behind her dressing screen. "Is there anything else I should know about you?"
"I have a sister." He spoke as he took off his coat. "No, she is not coming to the wedding."
"Why not?" Elaine asked as she untied her dress. "Is she a raving lunatic?"
"Yes. Well, not in the horrible sense. Just in the sense that she is annoying, spoilt and a pain in my backside." He chuckled as he pulled off his boots.
She pulled off her dress. "Gwaine!" She scolded him as she pulled her shift off and then pulling on her nightgown. "She's your sister."
"I try to forget." He chuckled. "I'll think about inviting her to the wedding. Is that all right?"
"Hmmm." She came out from behind her screen. "It will do."
Gwaine's eyes widened at the sight of her. "Oh. Wow!" He took in her image; her white nightgown was loose and hung off her left shoulder, exposing her collarbone to him. Her long blonde hair was tied in a half French plait. "You look beautiful."
Elaine blushed bright crimson. "Thank you." Slowly walking to the bed. "I feel like a bride on her wedding night. But it is neither." She sat on the right hand side of the bed. "Come. We have to be awake early." She climbed into the covers and waited for Gwaine to join her.
He watched her as she lay down and he climbed into bed next to her. "This is strange." Turning on his side to face Elaine.
"I know." She grinned widely and shifted closer to him. "We best get some sleep."
Gwaine nodded and leant forward and kissed her softly on the lips. "Goodnight." Kissing her again.
"Goodnight." She smiled and let her eyes close. She didn't realise that she was exhausted. Gwaine could see it. She was soon asleep and he followed straight after her. In the night, they had moved together. Gwaine lay on her back and Elaine lay across his chest. Her body clock woke her up as the sun was beginning to rise. She smiled when she realised that she was laying on Gwaine's chest. She kissed his chest, slowly moving up his chest and kissing his sleeping face. "Gwaine." She whispered.
"No. It's too early." He mumbled, holding her tight to him.
"You have to wake up." Kissing his lips, trying to wake him. "Come on. Wake up."
"No." He mumbled against her lips. "I'm too comfortable here." Wrapping his arms around her waist. He pulled her on top of him. "Just a few more moments." He kissed her hotly. "A few more moments with my beautiful fiancée."
Elaine giggled quietly and leaned down to kiss him. "Get up." She laughed again as he flipped them over so he was lying over her. "Gwaine..." She sighed as he kissed her neck. "No. Stop it."
He sighed heavily and climbed off the bed. "You're right. As always." Sitting on the edge of the bed as he pulled on his boots. He looked back at her, smiling down at her. She looked like an angel. He watched her sit up and climb out of bed. Her long plait fell down her back, a few strands had escaped the confines of the plait. Her nightgown hung loosely off her left shoulder and it only reached above her ankle. He smiled as she disappeared behind her dressing screen. He listened as he heard her wash. He smiled as she came back around the screen, drying her face and neck. "Hmmmm..." He smiled as he pulled on his coat.
"What?" Elaine smiled nervously.
"Nothing. Just thinking whether I should stay or go. I want to stay and see what you will be wearing but I have to go because of the servants." He grinned widely. "I could go and wait until later." He stood up straight.
Elaine moved towards him. "I think I could surprise you." She smiled, throwing the towel on top of her trunk and walking towards him. "Now, you better go before you start rumours." She kissed him softly.
Gwaine stepped away from her and bowed deeply. "Yes, your Majesty."
She laughed loudly. "Go away you." Laughing still. "You better not do that when we are married."
"I might tease you." He grinned as he walked away from her. "See you soon, love." He smiled at her and quickly left her chambers.
Elaine smiled to herself as she moved to her wardrobe and choose the only dress she had left that Gwaine had not seen. It was a dark purple dress with a white bodice and white lace on the cuffs and edges. She knew he would like this dress as she changed out of her nightgown into a clean shift and into the purple dress. She smiled as she looked into the mirror for a moment. She loved teasing Gwaine. Turning away from her reflection, she moved to sit in front of her dressing table. She pulled her hair out of the confines of the ribbon and pulled a brush through her long blonde locks.
The castle in Corbenic was in a flurry. The Queen was leaving Corbenic in a day to spend a month in Camelot for King Arthur's wedding. Many of her knights were going with her as there would be a jousting tournament. Gwaine was also competing, much to Elaine's disappointment. "I don't want you competing."
He sighed heavily as he packed his things. Elaine was sitting on the edge of his bed, watching him. "Elaine. I have to. Arthur asked me to compete for Camelot. His numbers are less than other competing knights and he wishes for me to joust for him." Turning to face her.
Elaine gave another sigh. "Is this how our relationship is? You do something and I have to agree because you look at me with your puppy dog eyes and I melt?" She shook her head and sighed. "I hate you." She laughed softly as he stalked towards her. "Oh no. Whatever you are thinking, don't you dare."
Gwaine's smirk grew as he moved towards her. "Do what?" He stood over her, looking down at her. He reached down, gripping her upper arms only slightly and pulled her to her feet. "This?" He crushed his lips against her own. His hands moved down her arms to her hands, raising them and putting them on the back of his neck.
Elaine wrapped her arms tight around his neck, pressing her body against his. His arms wrapped around her waist quickly. "Gwaine." She mumbled against his lips. "You have to pack." She pulled away from him. "I've got to go and pack Galahad's things. Again. He has probably pulled his things out to find something that he wants."
A/N: Slowly getting to the first wedding. Again, not following Series 4 or will it? * Evil Grin *.
Responses from chapter 30:
Kerry: I loved writing the proposal for Gwaine. You'll know about Lancelot's reaction to their engagement very soon.
Larasmith: I wish I could have both weddings at the same time but I do want them to be separate occasions. As for Galahad, you will have to wait and see. ;) Again, the Lancelot/Elaine/Gwaine triangle will slowly come out. I cannot deny that there will be a triangle. Sorry, no Saxons invaders. From watching Merlin, I see it set in the medieval times, so there are no longer any Saxons.
Chescake: Awww! Thank you for wishing Galahad a happy birthday! I believe Elaine won't tell Galahad about her and Gwaine is because she does not want Galahad to forget that Lancelot is his father and that Gwaine is a friend. So their relationship is only a secret from her son.
La-Lucy: Something wrong with Elaine? ;) :P You never know with my muse and writing. I decided to get Arthur/Gwen engaged because they need some happiness in their lives. I wanted to show that Lancelot still cares for Elaine, not just because she is the mother of his child but because he had slowly fallen in love with her from the first day he had met her. King Vortigern will be a pain in the ass in a few chapters.