Chapter 46: A Marriage Treaty
The royal family settled into a comfortable life. Baby Anne was still sleeping in her cot, in with Elaine and Gwaine. Elaine woke up to a wonderful sight early one morning. She heard the small cries of her daughter but they soon stopped. She opened one eye and smiled at the sight of Gwaine holding their daughter. He was whispering softly in her ear. "Now, my little princess." He walked to the window. "There is a whole world out there for you. When you are old enough, you are going to explore it as much as you can." He kissed her forehead softly before he continued talking to her. "But there will be no men in your life. The only man you can rely on is Papa."
Elaine giggled softly. "What about her big brother and Uncle Arthur?"
"Galahad will be the overprotective brother. Arthur will be the playful Uncle." He chuckled as he looked behind him at her.
She slowly sat up and leant against the headboard of her bed. "That is true. But I think you will be the very overprotective Papa."
He turned and slowly walked to the bed, sitting on the edge carefully. "I think I will too." He leaned over and kissed his wife. "You've made me a very happy man."
"You have made me a very happy woman." She reached up and cupped his cheek. "No more arguments?"
"No more arguments." He leant forward and kissed her again. The promised sealed with a kiss. The kiss interrupted by a small cry from Gwaine's arms. "Sorry, my little Princess." He sat up straight and looked down at her.
"She's hungry." Elaine smiled. "Now, this is my job." Taking the wailing baby from him and pulled her nightgown down, to breastfeed her daughter.
Vortigern paced his study as he thought out his attack strategy. News had reached him that the naïve Queen had given birth to a girl. Her throne was insecure. An illegitimate son and a daughter from a commoner. Her throne was very insecure. His only problem were her allies. She had a lot; Arthur, Annis, and Godwyn. Each of them had a powerful army, and could easily crush his own. He had to think about this carefully. He would have Corbenic, no matter the cost. "Is the army ready?" He asked, Callum, his head Knight.
"Yes sire. We leave on your command." He bowed to him and left Vortigern alone. He had lost his wife 10 years ago, and he wanted a new wife to help secure his throne more. Elaine of Corbenic had been a brilliant candidate, but now she was married to a commoner. He could probably kill the husband and force her to marry him. Probably.
He ran his hand down his stubble chin as he thought for a moment. An army will do for now. He wanted her Kingdom more than her. She would be a consolation prize. He smirked to himself as he left his study. It was time.
Elaine chewed her lower lip as she listened to the reports. Vortigern was coming on too strong. She had sent word to Arthur, and he was personally coming to Corbenic. "He is camped in the Fields of Hartlock." Sir Pellinore spoke to her. She sat at her throne and her knights stood before her. Gwaine stood protectively at her side. "May I make a suggest?"
"Of course." She nodded slowly.
"I suggest meet him head on. You come with the army to the Fields of Hatlock. Not to fight, obviously." He quickly added, when Gwaine glared at him. "Show Vortgiern that you are not afraid of him. Show your army that you are not afraid of a little confrontation." He stood his ground as Gwaine glared at him.
"Elaine." Gwaine started. Speaking softly to her. "It's stupid. You need to be here with the children. I'll meet Vortigern head on."
Elaine continued chewing her lower lip as she thought for a moment. Pellinore had a point. It would shock Vortigern if she headed her army. "I'll do it. I could even try negotiation." She looked up at Gwaine. "I know what I'm doing, darling." She looked to Pellinore. "Ready everyone to leave."
"Yes, your Majesty." He bowed to her and left the throne room.
"Elaine." Gwaine knelt next to her. "Are you sure?"
She looked down at him, smiled and nodded. "Yes. I have no intention of fighting." She stood up. "Come. We have to ready ourselves." Gwaine stood up straight and held his arm out for her. She looped her arm into his. "We'll get through this." She reassured him. "I know we will. I have confidence." She rested her head against his shoulder as they walked to their chambers.
Elaine dressed in breeches, shirt, chain mail and tunic with her royal insignia upon it. She wanted to show Vortigern that she may be willing to fight for her Kingdom. She was alone in her chambers, Gwaine had taken the children to a remote part of the castle, with Mary and 4 guards. Only Elaine, Gwaine, Mary and the four guards knew where the children were being hidden. She explained to Galahad that she had to go and stop a badman from hurting her people. She laughed when the young boy offered to come and fight with her army.
She stood in front of her mirror as she tied a belt around her waist. She was very nervous. She did not know what she could expect. She moved to her vanity table and sat down, staring at her reflection. She looked exhausted. Ever since Vortigern had begun threatening her borders, she barely slept. Plus a newborn baby on top of it. It was hard work. She picked up her hairbrush and began pulling it through her long blonde locks.
"Elaine?" Gwaine walked into the room. "The army is ready."
"Yes." She nodded and reached for her coronet, and placed it on her head. "I'm ready." She stood up and turned to him. "How do I look?"
He walked up to her, placed his hands on her waist, and pulled her close. "Beautiful." He kissed her softly. "Your clothing looks odd. I prefer you in a dress or nothing at all." He chuckled and kissed her hard. "If you think you need to leave today, you leave immediately. You are not to fight at all." She was about to argue but he stopped her. "I know you can fight." He kissed her softly. "I'm just thinking about your safety, and the children. I don't want them to be motherless or fatherless." He held her closely.
"Me neither. So, I wish for you to be in my personal guard." She looked up at him and smiled a little. "I don't want to lose you."
He nodded slowly. "I will. But if it comes to it, I will defend you to the death." He stroked her cheek with his gloved fingers of his right hand. "Don't argue, because you know I will."
She chuckled softly and nodded. "I know." She kissed him again. "Are Galahad and Anne all right and settled?"
"Yes." Gwaine nodded. "Galahad is worried."
Elaine sighed heavily. "I knew we shouldn't have said anything to him."
He kissed her once more. "Come. We have to go." Kissing her forehead tenderly. The two of them left hand-in-hand. She looked back at the castle as they rode away. Her children were in there. She was fighting to save her Kingdom, so they would have a life. She kicked her horse more and turned to face the road. She wondered if it was the road to her Kingdom's defeat.
"She came?" Vortigern scoffed as he stood in his tent. A scout had announced that Queen Elaine had been spotted leading her army. "Stupid girl." He scoffed again and moved out of the tent. He could see the army on the opposite end of the large field. He couldn't see the Queen but the security was doubled. It was obvious that the Queen was there. "Why the hell has she come?" He growled and moved into his tent, where all his maps and plans were laid on a large table.
"She has sent a messenger, sire." His head knight spoke as he entered the tent.
"Let him in." He nodded. He sat on his large chair and stared at the opening, waiting for the said messenger. "Sir Gwaine." He smirked as the Queen's commoner husband entered his tent with a hooded figure. "She sent you? Brave. Sending her husband to do her dirty work."
"Oh! I'm not the messenger." He stepped back and the hooded figure stepped forward, taking off their hood, revealing Elaine. "She is."
"Vortigern." Elaine curtsied deeply. "I thought it would be best to send myself."
"Really?" He scoffed and stood up, slowly walking towards her. Gwaine stood protectively at her side. "I won't harm her. She comes here in peace."
"Just being careful." He stood at her side. "She is my wife first. I will protect her with my life."
"I know." Vortigern grinned. "What is your message, my Lady?" Gesturing for her to sit down at the table.
Elaine sat down and nodded to him. "Thank you. I don't have a message. I come here to negotiate."
He nodded. "We shall see. What do you propose?"
She bit her lip slightly. "I have thought about this for some time. Ever since you began threatening my borders." She glanced at Gwaine for a minute. "I have not discussed this with anyone. None of my council, not even my husband." Gwaine looked at her in confusion. "I'm sorry Gwaine."
"What have you done?" Her husband whispered, watching her as she spoke.
She ignored her husband. "An arranged marriage which will lead to the reuniting of our countries."
"What?" Gwaine stared at her in shock and confusion.
"Not me. Anne." She looked up at Gwaine for a moment, before returning her attention back to Gwaine. "My daughter. I know your youngest son is the only one who is not betrothed. Do you see where this is leading?"
"I do. But what would it bring my country?"
"Our countries will unite. Upon my death, and if my daughter is of age, she will inherit Joyous Guard. My son will only inherit Corbenic. Do you understand now?"
Vortigern nods. "Yes." He moved and sat down. "So, our children will marry when your daughter turns 18?"
"Yes." She nodded. "So, we will have peace?"
He nods again. "Once we have the contract is drawn up." He nods to his scribe, who begins writing furiously.
"Elaine." Gwaine hissed. "What are you doing? This is our daughter we are talking about." Glaring down at her.
"This is my country and people I am thinking about. Which includes our daughter." She kept her eyes on Vortigern, who was talking to his scribe quietly. "Please Gwaine. Later."
Gwaine bit his tongue. He did not want this for his daughter. He wanted her to fall in love with the right man. Not been placed into an arranged marriage before her first birthday. How could Elaine have kept this from her? This was their daughter. He kept his anger bubbling inside him. She had no right to decide their daughter's future without his permission. Now, he knew why he hated royalty. They only thought about themselves. He watched as his wife as she read the document very carefully. He was chewing her lower lip as she read it. She was worried. He could tell.
"How could you do that?" Gwaine shouted as they walked back to her army's camp. "She is our daughter!"
"Don't you think I know that?" She stopped walking and stared at him. "I did this to save my people. If it means sacrficing my daughter's happiness, then so be it. Vortigern has a very powerful ruler. With our lands united, he will no longer be a threat." Tears ran down her cheeks.
"Through a marriage treaty?" He shouted louder. He was sincerely angry with her.
"I know!" She wept openly. "Welcome to the life of royalty. From any age, you have your life controlled for you." She turned away from him.
He grabbed her shoulders and made her face him. "You can change that. You could have changed that." He pointed towards Vortigern's army, who was slowly disbanding and returning to Vortigern's country. "You did not need to give our daughter's marriage to his son!"
She pushed his hand off her shoulder. "You wouldn't understand. You are only thinking about our daughter. I am thinking about everybody. Every decision I make effects us all, including our children. Please, Gwaine. Try to understand. I want our daughter to live in a peaceful country. With this marriage treaty, we can live in peace." Her lower lip trembled and she burst into tears. "I don't want us to fear for our children's lives at every turn. I want them safe. Which is why I have done this."
His amrs instinctively wrapped around her and held her tightly. "Why didn't you tell me? We could have found another way out."
She sobbed against his chest as he gently rubbed her back in comfort. "I didn't know how."
"Come on. Let's go home. We have 18 years with our daughter. Let's enjoy it while we can." He kissed the top of her head before they returned to the army, and left to return to the castle.
A/N: Come on guys! What do you think? (whispers) There will be a sequel. ;)
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ForeverTeamEdward13: Thank you. Sorry for the late update. :)