With All My Heart
Summary: "I will not let you die." She breathed. "Not again.." – Time Travel, Arthur/Guinevere.
…WAMH…
Winding through the corridors in search for Gaius's chambers, Guinevere thought back to the events that had transpired earlier. In the past, she always felt comfortable around her mistress as Morgana had constantly treated her with kindness and respect, something that was considered rather odd in light of a master and servant relationship. As such, Morgana had become a close confidant and, dare she say, a sister that she never had, over the years.
She remembered the way she had averted from Morgana. Even before she had entered her mistress's chambers, she felt nervous for some unknown reason. It was like her mind was warning her to stay away, to flee and never look back. There was no reason for her to feel that way, really. At first, she dismissed that thought, considering herself silly for even thinking such a thing.
However, when she felt Morgana's hand lay atop of her shoulder, she felt every instinct in her body arise and all reasoning fled her mind. Her body told her to flee, and fled she did.
..
What is happening to me?
..
She was confused and very much bewildered by the way she acted around her closest friend.
Delving into her mind, Guinevere tried to think of a reason, even just one reason that Morgana had done to give her a means to justify her actions.
Morgana has shown me nothing but kindness
But.. why-
AH!
Biting her lip to keep herself from screaming out, Guinevere clutched her temple as a sudden piercing pain rushed through her head. The intensity of the pain was unlike anything she had experienced before.
"Ah!" with tears stinging at her eyes; she can't help but let out a muffled scream.
Leaning on the wall for support, her vision swam around as she struggled to keep herself from crumpling down in pain. Just as the intensity reached new heights, the pain coursing through her head suddenly stopped.
Breathing heavily, chest heaving, she tried to regain her breath as she slowly slid down the ground. Leaning her still throbbing head on the stone walls beside her, she relished at the coldness it emitted…
…WAMH…
..
tuk
tuk
tuk
..
Guinevere stirred slightly at the sound.
..
clink
clink
..
Hearing the sounds of someone grinding something, mostly likely with a mortar and a pestle, slowly brought her to the brink of consciousness.
..
tuk
tuk
..
She groaned at the irritating sound.
Suddenly, the sounds of grinding stopped, and she could hear a shuffling of feet coming towards her direction.
"Guinevere?"
Slowly opening her eyes, she blinked as she accommodated the light coming from a nearby lit candle.
"How are you feeling?" asked Gaius, looming over her.
"I.." mumbled Guinevere, disoriented. "What happened?"
"You were found by the guards." stated Gaius, assessing her condition. "It seemed that you passed out in a nearby corridor."
Blinking her eyes, her vision still swam, but she could make out Gaius's form beside her. Her eyes also caught sight of another form that was hovering at the foot of her bed.
"Get another bowl of water, will you?" said Gaius, placing a damp cloth on her forehead and passing the bowl to the hazy form.
"Right." said a man's voice. "On it."
The unidentified man moved away to do Gaius's bidding.
"Now, tell me," Gaius asked again, focusing his gaze on her. "How are you feeling?"
Guinevere closed her eyes for a moment to stop her vision from swimming around.
"I'm feeling quite dizzy," she said, trying her best to recollect her memories. "I was on my way here.. when I..I.."
Her brows furrowed, thinking hard on what happened to her.
"I'm sorry, but.. I don't remember." said Guinevere, confused.
"Don't mind that," reassured Gaius. "Just get some rest, it seemed that you overworked yourself yet again." He raised his eyebrow at her.
She giggled sheepishly.
"Here you go." the man from earlier said, placing the newly refilled bowl on the table at the side of her bed.
Her now cleared gaze settled at the man, or a young lad, she surmised. He was a tall gangly looking thing, a bit on the skinny side - wavy dark hair sat atop his head, high cheekbones that seemed almost gaunt, thin sharp features that seemed to contrast to his, well, slightly large ears.
But what really caught her were his eyes, ocean blue eyes not unlike the sky itself. Eyes that could probably, if not definitely, penetrate the deepest corners of her soul.
For some reason, she felt somewhat connected with this lad. Like, she could trust him with her deepest secrets, her whole being, her life.
Bewildered by her thoughts, she shook her head.
Good god, there really is something wrong with me
She reflected, dryly.
"It seems that this is your first meeting," noticed Gaius, standing up to his feet. "I'll leave you to introduce yourselves then."
Gaius went back to his work table, leaving the two of them alone for awhile.
The two stared awkwardly for a moment, before the man, or lad, grinned sheepishly.
"I'm Merlin." Introduced the lad, unconsciously bringing his hand up awkwardly, before he noticed it and quickly put it down his side, Ears burning. "I.. I just recently.. just recently got here." He let out, quite mortified at his stumbling.
Guinevere giggled lightly.
"Guinevere, but please, just call me Gwen," She said, lips twitching in mirth. To save him from further embarrassment, she continued. "I am the handmaiden of the Lady Morgana."
Speaking of which..
"Oh Gaius!" she called out to the old man. "I just remembered, Lady Morgana has sent me to request for a tonic. It seemed that she felt rather ill. Might be coming down with a bit of a cold."
Gaius looked up from his work, and then headed to the nearby shelves. Vials upon vials loomed, in different shaped and sizes, containing various colored liquids.
"Hm, I believe I have just the thing." mumbled Gaius, scanning the shelves. "Ah! Here it is." He added, clutching a blue colored tonic.
Guinevere made to get up from the bed, intending to get the vial from Gaius.
"Never you mind Gwen." Said Gaius, eyebrows furrowed. "You must rest for awhile, you haven't recovered."
"But-"
"Do not fret, lass." Said Gaius, before coming over to hand the tonic to Merlin. "Here, give the tonic to the Lady Morgana. Her chambers are located in the 5th floor at the south wing."
"Oh, I hate to impose-" she started.
"It's fine Gwen," grinned Merlin, shaking the vial.
Gaius slapped the back of his head.
"Ow!"
"Do not do that!" admonished Gaius, scowling at Merlin. "You might disrupt the properties of the liquid!"
"Alright, alright already." Merlin scampered out the room, rubbing the back of his head. "Sheesh."
Guinevere can't help but laugh at the scene.
…WAMH…
The sun was about to set when Gaius finally released her. Shielding the chilly breeze with her cloak, she set out to the direction of her home. Passing through the streets of Camelot, she could see the stalls closing down, the vendors packing up their merchandise to either head home for a hot meal and well-deserved rest or head to the local tavern for a tankard of mead and listen to the latest gossips.
It really had been a tiring day for her.
Lost in thought, she did not see that she was about to collide to a red-haired man turning around the bend, carrying what seemed to be wooden crates that held fragile bottles of ale.
Thud!
Crash!
"Hey!" the man shouted, his supplies scattered on the ground. "Watch it!"
"Oh my," gasped Guinevere, hand covering her mouth. Some of the ale exploded at their feet as it crashed down the ground, staining her humble dress with the vile smelling liquid.
"Bloody hell!" barked the red-haired man, gesturing at the broken bottles at their feet. "Look at what you did!"
A crowd was gathering around them, staring at the scene.
"Oh my," she hurriedly said, distressed. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"Too right, you didn't," grumbled the man, face flushed enough to rival his mane. "You better pay for these!"
Guinevere, panicking inside, didn't know what to do. She haven't any money, the last coins that she had had been spent days ago to bring food on the table. They were going through hard times as father's stall had not been doing well for awhile.
Mutters ran through the crowd. She could see a couple of women whispering to each other and staring at her quite mockingly.
Tears burned her eyes from the embarrassment.
"Why, pay up now," continued the man, flustered. "Or I'll be-"
"What is going on here?"
A new voice had entered, a voice she knew all too well. After all, she had known him over the years, watching him banter with her mistress every once in awhile. Though she fervently hoped he was anywhere but here. She cannot bear face him when her mind was still muddled with such outrageous thoughts concerning him.
She watched as the crowd parted to let a group of men pass through. They were all garbed in chainmail, the emblem of Camelot stood out from their velvet cape. The people that had gathered around the incident stared in awe at the group of Knights. Each Knight was regal and imposing on their own right, yet it was the man in front who caught her attention most.
From his golden hair that shone bright as the light of the setting sun gazed upon them, with eyes the shade of the deepest depths of the ocean, down to his strong yet delicate aristocratic features that he certainly inherited from his mother, the late Queen Ygraine, no trace of his father whatsoever. It was no wonder the prince had been sought after and fantasized by many women, young or old, married or not.
Prince Arthur was perfection, in and of itself.
Her heart clenched at the sight of him. Such longing, longing that she could not comprehend and knew that she should not feel, filled her very being.
The sight of him alone caused so much reaction from her, and yet, she did not know why.
"Uh," uttered the man, stupefied at the sight of the Prince of Camelot.
"I believe I have asked you a question." Said Prince Arthur, surveying the scene before ultimately settling his eyes on the man. "It will only be befitting if you graced me with an answer."
"Ah, My-my apologies Your Grace," rushed the man, quickly bowing lowly.
"I was just storin' my sales when this girl here," said the man, gesturing and sneering at her. "Not having a care in the world, just came crashin' into me. She hasn't even looked at where she's goin'!" he added, grumpily.
Prince Arthur's gazed at her, imploring.
She looked at the ground beneath her feet as she could not bear to see his gaze. Whatever embarrassment she felt earlier with those mocking women was nothing to the utter humiliation she felt now. She must look like a sight, with her dress stained and smelling foul.
She nodded and curtsied at the Prince, feeling the tears prickling at her eyes. It took her all that she had to not let her tears fall. It would not do to bring further humiliation upon her.
"I see." Said Prince Arthur, his gaze never once left Guinevere's form.
Guinevere cursed her body for trembling.
"Well then," Arthur continued, noticing that the woman had stiffened upon hearing his voice. He recognized the woman as Morgana's handmaiden, and yet he could not, for the life of him, remember her name. The woman always seemed to stand back whenever he's around to debate, not childish banter as his father used to call it, but debate with Morgana.
"I trust that this is enough to cover for all that is lost." He pulled out his coin purse and took out two gold coins. He handed them over to the man, whose eyes widened like saucers.
"But, Sire!" said the man, albeit reluctantly as he never once had so much money in his hands as he did then. "This is too much."
Arthur just waved his hand nonchalantly, eager to get this situation over and done with.
"What's done is done." stated Arthur, dismissing the man.
The man noticed the coated order and bowed deeply once more to the Prince.
"Thank you, Sire!" gushed the man, smiling quite widely. "May the heavens favour you!"
Arthur nodded at the man, and then watched as the man finally scampered away from the scene.
Meanwhile, Guinevere could not believe what had happened. It happened so fast that she had not even been given proper time to react.
"My lord!" said Guinevere, causing Arthur to turn to her. "Please.. You needn't have done that."
"It was a matter of no import." replied Arthur.
"But-" Guinevere didn't quite know what to do. "But- My lord, please let me repay you."
"Look- ah"
"Guinevere, My Lord." She curtsied to the Prince. Her head still inclined in a way that slightly shielded her face from the Prince's sight.
"Guinevere." Said Arthur, and for some reason, he liked the way her name rolled off his tongue. "Do not concern yourself any longer, it is my doing alone to handle the situation as I see fit." And with that, he placed his gloved hand atop the shoulder of the clearly distressed woman.
He did that to placate Guinevere, but what he didn't expect was to feel a slight shock to travel between them. It was unlike anything he had felt before. It wasn't unpleasant or anything of the like, far from it actually. Warmth had spread through his chest.
Guinevere, for her part, also felt the shock that had traveled between them. Befuddled, she looked up and directly met the Prince's gaze. She wished she hadn't, as she felt herself being held captive by those deep oceanic pools.
Likewise, Arthur couldn't bear to tear his eyes away from those warm amber eyes gazing up to him.
..
For a moment, it seemed that the rest of the world had stopped moving around them.
..
Nothing else mattered but the moment they shared.
..
"Sire?"
And just like that, the moment was broken.
…WAMH…
Sir Leon had called out to the young Prince, confused by what was transpiring. He had recognized the woman as Guinevere; having been friends with her and her brother, Elyan, since they were little. The three of them had all been introduced when the siblings' mother had been employed as a servant in his household. His father had disapproved of his association with the siblings, always saying things like 'Commoners and Nobles do not mix.' Or some such nonsense. Leon had never really listened to his father anyway.
Yet, as he continued to stare at Arthur and Guinevere, he could not help but feel disconcerted. Leon grew uneasy as he realized that this will be the start of something new. Something that he hoped the young Prince Arthur and his dear friend Guinevere will overcome. He sincerely hoped that he was wrong.
After all, this would only lead into certain heartbreak.
'Commoners and Nobles do not mix.'
Leon had never hated his father as much as he did now.
…WAMH…
"Sire?"
And just like that, the moment was broken.
Guinevere gasped, as she tore herself away from Arthur's grasp.
"Forgive me, Sire." She curtsied hurriedly, before swiftly walking away from the scene. Never once looking back for she was certain that if she did, then she would be held captive again by the Prince.
..
She didn't know if she had the power to break free the second time around.
..
A/N: Hm,.. first of all, I apologise to the supposedly 'romantic'(?) scene here. Please be honest with me, what do you think of the scene? Is it too strained? Or too unnecessary?
I have never been in love before, or even been romantic before with someone, so I really don't know what the hell I'm doing writing a romance fic, of all things.
I really hope you guys can advise me if I'm taking this romance thing way too overboard or even too underboard(Is there such a thing?). I only write stuff based from what I think is romantic, not based on experience. So please guide me here if I'm doing it all wrong.
Many thanks to the following wonderful individuals:
Razorstar90, Larasmith, Arthurlover7, blissfulbeauty84, whitecrossgirl, Guest#1, WhoNewbie, C, SweetieR, ABVM, LovelyLadyD, and Guest#2
