E for Excalibur
Hi yes I'm still here and deeply apologise for not having updated Excalibur for so long, between old laptop dying, getting a new one, updating with windows ten and it crashing (My advice don't do it) and work time just flew. Please forgive!
Enough excuses here is the next chapter, hope you enjoy it! As always any constructive comments appreciated.
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Chapter Fifteen
That afternoon found the crew at Lincoln train station- some looking as bleak as the cloudy skies. They were on their way to Nottingham for a week at Leon's family home.
Uther had dropped Tom at the station that morning, they along with Gaius had spent a lot of last night catching up and swapping stories about Gwen and Arthur. He then drove back to near Aylesbury to make sure everything was ready for when Arthur and Gwen arrived later.
Arthur picked Gwen up mid -morning and they started their journey south to Pendragon Manor. It was a long trip between the weather conditions and various army convoys it was after dark before Arthur pulled into the drive and then stopped the MG near the front door.
"We're here my love, you can't see how impressive the house is but you'll be able to see it tomorrow." Arthur told her.
"I don't care Arthur just as long as you're with me, a tin shed would be great as long as we are together"
He smiled down at her "It's a bit better than a shed sweetheart but I agree fully with your sentiment." He got out of the car and went round and opened her door. He took her hand and lead her towards the front door, pressed the doorbell and they waited. Soon footsteps could be heard getting closer, the door was unlocked and opened by Uther himself.
"Arthur, Gwen so glad you could make it." He said.
"Father, I'll get our bags" Arthur said.
"We'll be in the Drawing Room" Uther informed him.
"Which room will I put Guinevere's bag in?"
"How about the room next to yours, would that be alright me dear?" Uther looked at Gwen.
"That would be nice Uther thank you." Gwen said.
"I'll be back in a couple of minutes darling." Arthur leant forward and kissed Gwen, then turned towards the door.
Uther led Gwen into the Drawing Room where a fire in the grate made the room cosy. Gwen looked round the room, it was impressive, there were comfortable chairs all around the place, a drinks cabinet, a piano. On the walls were nice landscapes and one whole wall seemed to be windows Gwen guessed as there were blackout screens all the way along it.
"Would you like a drink my dear?"
"A small sherry if you have any please Uther." Gwen replied as she found herself a comfortable seat on a two seater lounge.
"Certainly" Uther smiled and poured her drink and a whiskey for himself. Arthur entered the room just then, "Do you want a drink Arthur?" Uther was still holding the whiskey decanter in his hand.
"Yes please Father." Arthur said as he made his way over to Gwen's side.
Uther came across with their drink, when he got his own nervously he said again to them" So glad you could make it." and raised his glass to them.
"Thank you for having us." Gwen raised her own glass in return.
After a short while they went into the Dining Room for their tea, homemade vegetable soup bread rolls.
Shortly after tea back in the Drawing Room all three decided it had been a long day and that it was time for bed. Uther bid the pair of them good night and left first.
Arthur turned to Gwen as they were still sitting on the lounge. "Well darling do you want me to show you to your room or would you like to snuggle here with me for a while?" he said with smouldering eyes and a cheeky smile.
"I think snuggling sounds very nice my love." Gwen leant into him, her hand on his chest, Arthur's arms wrapped themselves around her automatically.
"I'm glad to hear it." He kissed the top of her head. "It won't be long Guinevere until we will be able to do this when we want to." Arthur told her as he held her close.
"I can't wait." Gwen said as she stifled a yawn.
"Come on darling time I take you to bed."
"Oh yes please!" Gwen said grinning up at him.
"You naughty girl! "Arthur started to laugh as he pulled Gwen to her feet. With an arm wrapped around each other's waist they headed towards the stairs.
Arthur showed Gwen her room, right next door to his, Uther's was at the other end of the hallway. As he showed Gwen around the room Gwen grinned at him. "Remember when we were in London for your investiture and what I said about never seeing a room so posh? Well now I'm seeing a whole house!" she laughed.
"Yes darling I do and later on it will be all ours, what do you think?" he smiled down at her.
"My God Arthur I've never thought of that really? "she looked stunned.
"Yes my love really." Arthur wrapped her in his arms, "It's ok Guinevere, remember I just want you to be happy and I want to be there with you." He bent forward and kissed her.
When they finally broke apart Arthur looked down into those beautiful brown eyes and said in a husky voice "I better go now sweetheart before I do something I would regret later."
"What would that be?" Gwen asked still with her arms wrapped around his shoulders.
"I want to make love to you so much it hurts, but I want to do it properly and wait until our wedding night."
"Well we better hurry up and set the date because you're not the only one who wants it so bad darling!" Gwen told him.
"Well that is part of the idea of seeing Father and Tom this week so we can get everything organised that we can before we go back and get the minister and the church sorted. I'd better go Guinevere, I'm really tired from the party last night and driving today, you must be tired to?" he asked.
"Yes I am my love." Gwen nodded.
"Alright darling Guinevere goodnight, I love you and I hope you sleep well." Arthur lent forward and kissed her again softly this time.
"Goodnight Arthur, I love you so much, I hope you sleep well too, sweet dreams darling."
"They are when they are of you." He kissed her on her nose and walked towards the door when he got there he turned "Do you want a cup of tea in bed in the morning?"
"Oh yes please-it's been ages since I've had a cuppa in bed."
"Well you shall have one in the morning, goodnight Guinevere." Arthur said and opened then closed the door behind him when he left.
Gwen looked around the room it was painted mint green with a white trim, there was a queen size bed, a fireplace with everything in the grate ready to be lit, a dressing table, a wardrobe (where Arthur had placed her bag so she could unpack) and an en-suite. She quickly unpacked the dresses and pants she had and hung them up she then got ready for bed. When she climbed into the lovely comfy bed all she could think of was the next time she came to this house she would be sharing Arthur's bed as his wife, she looked at her engagement ring as she did every night, she knew she was the luckiest girl in the world. She fell asleep thinking of how it would be with Arthur by her side.
Arthur closed the door of Guinevere's room quietly it took all his willpower to walk out of there but he would not do anything to take away from their wedding night. As he changed in his room all he could think of was the next time they came here they would be husband and wife. He knew he was the luckiest man alive to have found Guinevere. His dreams that night were of their future together.
As Gwen woke the next morning she could hear knocking on the door. She quickly looked around and remembered where she was, she made sure the sheets were up nice and high and then called out "Come in."
The door opened and Arthur wearing a dressing gown walked in carrying a tray with a cup of tea and a flower on it. "Good morning darling I hope you slept well." He said as he placed the tray on the bedside table.
"Good morning my love, yes I did, the best I have in ages, how about you?" she asked.
"Like a top." He bent down to her in the bed and claimed his first kiss of the day. "Breakfast is in an hour so when you have finished your tea and have got ready just knock on my door and we can go down together, ok darling?"
"Ok sweetheart, thank you for the tea and the flower." Gwen smiled at him and then sniffed the flower.
"Alright darling see you soon." Arthur said as he walked out the door.
As Gwen enjoyed her cup of tea she could hear the shower in Arthur's room. After she had finished her tea and heard the shower stop she got her things ready for her shower, she did not want to steal the hot water from Arthur. When she had finished the lovely hot shower she got ready for the day, she chose a grey pair of pants and a lavender jumper. She wore her hair back from her face but down the way she liked it when she was not on duty, plus she knew Arthur liked it this way as well. She looked at herself in the mirror-everything passed muster, she smiled and went out the door.
She knocked on Arthur's door and heard footsteps straight away. Arthur opened the door and Gwen felt her breath catch.
"Guinevere is there something wrong?" Arthur asked all concerned for her.
"No, no Arthur nothing is wrong," she smiled slyly "it's just that I have only ever seen you in uniform, never in 'civvies' and I must say darling as much as I like you in uniform, I love you in this so much more!"
Arthur wore a cream arran jumper with a white collared shirt open at the neck under it and a pair of tan trousers. The jumper showed off Arthur's arms and shoulders very well indeed!
"I could same the same about seeing you dressed like this!" Arthur's voice was low and husky, his eyes were smouldering and he wore a cheeky grin.
They both laughed. After Arthur had stepped out of his room he took Gwen in his arms "Yes this is much better" he smiled down at her. They kissed long and deeply. When they broke apart they went down for breakfast arm in arm.
As they entered the Dining Room smiling at each other, Uther greeted them "Good morning I trust you both slept well?"
"Good morning Father, yes we both slept very well." Arthur answered for the pair of them.
"It was hard to start with," Gwen said, "but once I got used to a quiet house- not the WAAF block, no Lancasters taking off and landing and of course knowing that Arthur was safe in the next room it was easy to fall asleep- next thing I knew Arthur was knocking on the door with a cup of tea for me." She smiled again at him.
"I'm so pleased." Uther said.
They sat down and enjoyed their breakfasts talking about this and that when they were nearly finished Uther asked "What have you planned for this morning? I have to do some work on a case that is going to trial in a fortnight but I thought after lunch we could spend the afternoon together and you could ask me those questions I know you have."
Arthur looked at Gwen and then nodded. "I plan to show Guinevere round the house and grounds this morning."
"Sounds a lovely idea." Gwen said.
"How does 1230 sound for lunch then?" enquired Uther.
"Very good thank you Father, we'll see you then."
"Have fun you two." Said Uther as he left the room.
Arthur turned to Gwen "Would you like another cup of tea or should we start the tour?" he had that cheeky smile on again.
"Where are we starting the tour darling?" asked Gwen.
"I thought a quick tour of the grounds and then do the house if that is ok with you?"
"Sounds like a good idea, will I be ok like this or do I need a coat." Quizzed Gwen.
"You can borrow one of mine darling," Arthur smiled looking forward to how Gwen would look in his coat.
"Alright I'm ready when you are then."
They went upstairs and Arthur got Gwen an overcoat of his, they had fun rolling the sleeves up so Gwen's hands could be seen- but as said Arthur this would keep her hands warm! Arthur wore a tweed jacket over his jumper.
"You look very much like the lord of the manor." Gwen told him trying not to laugh too much.
"Thank you my lady." Arthur grabbed her and kissed her again. He led her out the front door. It was cold but the skies were clear, they walked some way down the drive to a point where they could see the house
"Oh Arthur I see what you mean this is fantastic!" Gwen had a look of awe on her face.
The mansion was impressive- it was a square house, with the old servant's quarters around the back. There were stables and a garage were Arthur's MG was parked. It was located on the side of a hill with a small forest behind it.
As he showed her around the grounds Arthur told her little stories from when he was a child on school holidays, playing with the children of the staff or helping the gardener in summer, or of roaming the forest looking for rabbits. When he told her these stories Gwen could not help but feel sorry for Arthur-for not having the family fun that she and Elyan enjoyed when they were growing up.
When they went into the stables Gwen could see it was able to house four or five horses- there were none there now though. Arthur took her hand and led her into one of the stalls that still had fresh hay in it.
"I thought you said you did not have any horses here."
"I did."
"Then why do you have this hay here?" Gwen had a questioning look on her face.
"I think the gardener is using it for mulch for the vegetable garden." Arthur told her, "but I've got another use for it right now." He grinned and grabbed her, they both were laughing when they landed down on the loose hay.
They kissed deeply and both sets of hands roamed freely from shoulders down to mid-thigh. Arthur had eventually put one hand on one of Gwen's breasts and the other was squeezing her bottom, Gwen moaned at the sensation she could also feel Arthur's arousal against her stomach. She was on fire with desire! She had one hand on Arthur's shoulder and the other was exploring Arthur's bottom and she liked what she found!
"Oh my God Guinevere all I want to do is tear your clothes off right now and have you!" Arthur moaned, "I promise you one thing the next time we are here darling I will have a roll in hay with you!"
"I'll hold you to that Arthur." Gwen giggled Arthur joined in with a hearty chuckle.
Later after they had both settled down, they got up and dusted themselves and each other off making sure to look out for any stray bits of hay that would not be able to explained away.
Arthur then showed Gwen the house, they went into the kitchen where Ellen the cook was making their lunch, Arthur introduced Gwen to her.
"Congratulations Arthur and to you to Guinevere, your father told me about it when he came back from seeing you get the DFC- congratulations about that as well" she came forward and gave Arthur a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you Ellen- it's good to see you to." Arthur said.
She then gave Gwen a kiss on the cheek and a hug. "Thank you Ellen Gwen said, "one thing though please call me Gwen everyone does, I've tried to get Arthur to call me that but he just won't." she smiled.
"Gwen it is then," Ellen nodded "I can remember other times when Arthur was stubborn like that too."
"You must tell me sometime." Gwen smiled at her.
"Yes but not right now." Said an embarrassed Arthur leading Gwen out of the kitchen, they both heard Ellen's laugh behind them.
From there Arthur then showed her the library- a very comfortable room with bookcases lining three of the four walls and comfortable looking chairs scattered around, Gwen could just imagine spending a miserable day in there with the fire going and Arthur and her happily reading.
Arthur then showed her the door to Uther's study although he didn't open it, he did not wish to disturb him.
Arthur then took her upstairs and showed her where Uther's room was and the other five bedrooms, they looked in a couple of them, they all looked as comfortable as her own room Gwen thought.
Eventually Arthur stopped in front of his bedroom door "Do you want come in and see the room you'll be sharing with me when we come down next? Arthur asked "I thought we could put overcoat back as well- don't worry I won't try anything…much!" he grinned at her.
"Ok, I must admit this is the room I have wanted to see, Arthur in his natural habitat! Gwen grinned and rose up on tip toes and kissed him.
"Will you step into my parlour said the spider to the fly?" Arthur quoted as he opened the door and ushered her in.
"Abandon hope all ye who enters here"- would be more like it" Gwen laughed back at him.
The room was painted a sky blue with a dark blue trim. There was a queen sized four poster bed, a desk at the window, three bookcases a wardrobe and the en-suite adjacent to Gwen's.
"what a lovely room."
"It was my oasis when I was home on holidays." Arthur said as he came up behind her and started to help her out his overcoat, when he had taken it off her and hung it up he came back and stood behind her put his arms around her and started to nuzzle her the back of her neck through her hair.
"I love how soft your hair is and the smell of it." He told her.
She turned in his arms so she faced him, she ran one hand through his hair- the other was around his neck. "I love the colour of your hair and how soft it is too."
He bent down and kissed her deeply, one of his hands was in the middle of her back the other was resting on her backside. When they broke apart Gwen giggled "Your hand seems to have found its favourite place!"
"Yes and I must say I approve of its selection," Arthur laughed "I love you my darling Guinevere can't wait until we're married, to be able to say that you are mine and that I belong to you will be fantastic." He kissed her again and looked at the clock on his bedside table. "Come on darling," he said when they broke apart," it's almost 1230 we'd better go down for lunch or else Father will get ideas we're up to something- not that we almost were!" he laughed.
They met Uther outside the Dining Room. "Did you get all the work you wanted to done Father?" Arthur asked.
"Yes I did Arthur thank you. How was your morning, did you enjoy Arthur's guided tour Gwen?" Uther asked with a smile.
"Yes Uther, with some little stories it put it all into a different light."
"I bet it did." Uther opened the Dining Room door for them.
They had an enjoyable lunch and then afterwards moved into the Drawing Room, Arthur and Gwen sat on the same two seater lounge they had used the previous night, there was now a coffee table in front of it and an armchair next to it.
Uther asked if either of them wanted a drink, both declined, he came over with a small whiskey and sat in the armchair. "When I came home yesterday the first thing I did was dig around and find these, I thought they would help with telling my story." Uther indicated a manila folder laying on the table, he drew it near and opened it Arthur and Gwen could see it contained sepia photos.
Uther lifted up the top one and handed it across to them, Arthur and Gwen looked at it and were amazed, it was a group photo of men in R.F.C uniforms setting around casually, there was even a dog in the front of it. But what held Arthur's and Gwen's attention was they could see Uther, Tom and Gaius were all together in the group.
"That was taken December 1916 in France about three days before my accident." Uther told them.
"Your accident?" Arthur asked a frown on his brow.
Uther passed another photo across to them this one was of a wrecked aircraft- they looked at it and them at him." Yes, I had just returned from bombing the German trenches when unknown to me the ground fire had killed my observer and also damaged the undercarriage, as I came into land as soon as any weight went on the undercarriage it collapsed and part of the strut came up into the cockpit and speared into my thigh. The aircraft just rolled into a ball. Tom and Gaius were there and helped rescue me, we had been friends for about three months when this happened. Anyway after they got me out and Gaius patched me up I was sent to a medical unit five miles away. It was there that I met your Mother Arthur." Uther told him.
"My Mother how?" Arthur asked stunned.
"Ygraine had trained as a nurse and had volunteered, she had been posted to that medical unit six months before, after I had been operated on she was one of the nurses that took care of me."
Uther picked up another photo this one a rare colour one and handed it over Gwen took it and looked it was of a nurse in the old style uniform, when she looked at her face she could see Arthur, the same colour hair, blue eyes and the set of her mouth there was no denying it this was Arthur's mother.
"I fell in love with her almost from the first time I saw her, I knew she was the only girl for me." Uther looked at Arthur and smiled "it seems we Pendragon men have a thing for nurses don't we?"
"Yes we do." Arthur smiled at Uther and then at Gwen.
"I was in the hospital for a month and just before the end of that time I proposed to her and after much thinking I'm pleased to say she said yes- on the condition we get married when the war was over. But she did tell me her big secret- that she was a De Bois daughter of Lord and Lady De Bois no less! That took some getting used to I can tell you but I knew she was going to marry me so I was a happy man!
February 1917 we both got two weeks Blighty leave, so we came home and I introduced her to my parents-they loved her, then she introduced me to Lord and Lady De Bois I must say I was scared stiff! But they were really nice and seeing was already a Barrister before I signed up they gave their blessings, however her brother the Viscount was not so happy about it- he probably thought Ygraine was associating with people below her.
"When we went back from leave I would go see her every chance I got, just to let her know I was still here and for me to remember how lucky I was to find her."
"I know how that feels Father." Arthur said raising Gwen's hand and kissing the back of it.
"I know you do Arthur, anyway we kept going right until the Armistice in 1918. We were Demobilised within a week of each other and in February 1919 we were married- the wedding was a lovely affair with our families and friends including Tom and Gaius." Uther showed them more photos this time of wedding party and the happy couple.
"Ygraine gave me the most wonderful news in March of that year when she told me we were going to have a baby, I had joined my current chambers and they wanted me to become a Q.C so I was studying, Ygraine stayed at home in our flat in Knightsbridge. Everything was going well, you were growing just as you should." Uther took a deep breath "I came home one day in October to find Ygraine on our bed moaning- her waters had broken. I carried her down to the car and took her straight to hospital. You were a big baby Arthur but they delivered you naturally, Ygraine held you, told me what you were to be called, kissed your head, told you that she loved you and fainted from the blood loss," he took another deep breath, "she never regained consciousness and passed away two days later." Uther had tears rolling down his cheeks, he roughly brushed them away.
"Oh my Lord." Gwen said and looked at Arthur he also had tears running down his face.
"My world was turned upside down I had gained a beautiful baby but I had lost the love of my life, the only thing that made any sense to me was to work hard and become a Q.C, so I employed nannies to look after you Arthur and then when you were seven I sent you to Boarding School. Looking back now Arthur I am so very sorry that I was not there for you as a father should be and if you could forgive me it would be the greatest thing in the world." Uther looked at Arthur.
"It's alright Father, I can now see how hard it was for you." Arthur's voice trembled.
"Oh my son you have always made me so proud, getting into Oxford, getting your Blue for Football, your first in Law, what I am not proud of is how I spoke to you when you came and told me you had enlisted. I was angry but I was also scared and I could not tell you as did not know of my past." Uther looked away.
"I understand Father, it all makes sense to me now, I'm sorry for what I said, can you forgive me?" Arthur held out his hand Uther took it and stood up and pulled Arthur up and hugged him for the first time in over twenty years. Both men wept and shuddered as they tried to get themselves under control, Gwen went to the drinks cabinet and poured two double shots of whiskey and took it over to them.
"Here drink this the pair of you-nurse's orders." She handed them the drinks.
"Thank you darling Guinevere." Arthur said after he had disengaged from Uther and accepted his drink.
"Thank you my dear Guinevere," Uther said "I know I'm to call you Gwen but Guinevere seemed more appropriate." He smiled at her.
"That's alright." Gwen told them.
Once both men had settled down Uther asked "Now that you have heard my story do you have any questions you want to ask me?"
"I do have two questions Father." Arthur replied.
"Asked away my son."
"Firstly seeing we have changed our relationship; do you think instead of calling you Father which to me always felt so formal I could call you Dad?" Arthur looked worryingly at Uther, a great smile broke across Uther's face.
"That has been a dream of mine for years but I didn't know how to go about it, of course you can my son." Tears were welling in Uther's eyes again.
"Thank you Dad." Arthur said with a look of deep love.
"And the second question my boy?" Uther queried.
"And the second one is why have I never met any of my mother's family?"
"With the shock of losing Ygraine it was too much for her parents- the day after her funeral her father had a heart attack and died, her mother feel asleep one night and just didn't wake up about a year later, they had been married for fifty years and I think she just could not bear to be apart from him anymore- it was a natural death nothing sinister in the autopsy.
"Their son Tristan told me he believed that Ygraine wouldn't have died if she hadn't not with me and therefore his parents would still be alive too."
"That's utter nonsense." Gwen said.
"I know," Uther told them, "but he was beside himself with grief, anyway from that day on there has been no contact between us." Uther told them. "Any other questions Arthur?"
"No Dad."
Uther turned to Gwen "And you Gwen do you have any queries for me?"
"No Uther thank you for telling me, you could have just told Arthur you know."
"You are going to be my daughter- in-law soon so you have every right to know." He turned to Arthur. "Arthur there is one thing I promise I will be more approachable for you than I was, I feel like I have been given a second chance and I'm not going to waste it." He smiled at Arthur.
"That's all anyone could ask for Dad." Arthur smiled at him.
The rest of the afternoon past quietly and later it was decided as it was Ellen's night off they would go and have diner at the local pub 'Avalon'.
Uther drove them in his Bentley, Arthur and Gwen cuddling in the backseat. "Don't think I can't see you two!" Uther said looking in the rear vision mirror smiling- it seemed to Arthur that Uther was a different man once the ghost of his past had been laid to rest.
"Yes Dad." Arthur smiled and continued to cuddle Gwen. Uther just shook his head smiling.
When they got there, Arthur-who was in his uniform (men had been presented with white feathers when they had gone out in civvies while on leave, plus having the DFC would make sure no one would pick on them.) took Gwen's hand and put it in its usual place, she wore her apricot dress and a wrap.
They walked into the pub, it was quiet due to it being Sunday night and winter. The barman, Bill saw them and smiled. "Arthur long time no see!" he looked him over "very nice, what's this got a bit of colour on your chest, DFC-congratulations!" he shook Arthur's hand.
'Thanks Bill, can I introduce you to my fiancé Guinevere Madden." Arthur smiled.
"Very pleased to meet you Guinevere and congratulations," bill said shaking her hand, "may I say you look lovely together."
"Why thank you, very nice to meet you to Bill and please call me Gwen everyone except Arthur does- I've tried but I just can't get him to do it." She smiled.
They asked if there was any hot food available, Bill nodded "We've got Cornish pasties or fish cakes." They made their orders pasties all round.
The pasties and their drinks came and everyone tucked in, they had an enjoyable evening talking and being relaxed with each other. Uther drove them home and then bid them good night.
"Well darling that was an eventful day." Gwen said wrapping her arms around Arthur and resting her head on his chest- they were sitting in the two seater lounge in the Drawing Room.
"It certainly was and thank you for being there for me my love." Arthur kissed the top of her head.
"My pleasure darling." Gwen moved so she could kiss Arthur's lips.
He wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss when they surfaced Arthur said "I don't know about you Guinevere but after everything we have found out today I'm exhausted, I think it's time to go bed."
"Yes my love I'm so tired it's not funny" Gwen replied.
"Alright sweetheart it's time I take you up the wooden path to Bedfordshire." Arthur grinned at her.
"Sounds like a very good idea my love." Gwen told him.
Arthur got Gwen to stand then wrapped his arm back round her waist and she rested her head on his shoulder, they climbed the stairs together, he stopped outside her bedroom. He turned to her "Good night my gorgeous Guinevere, I love you and I will tell you that every day! Shall I bring you a cup of tea in the morning?" he asked.
"That would be lovely thank you Arthur. I love you too and I will enjoy hearing you telling me every day just as I will tell you I love you every day also, you are my world and I know I'm so lucky to have you."
"Just as I am to have you sweetheart, sleep well." Arthur held her close and gave her a chaste kiss.
"You too darling." Gwen squeezed him in her arms and then went into her room.
The next day passed easily- with Uther working a couple of hours in the morning on the case, but when the three of them were together there was no tension. Arthur was discovering a new side of his father that he liked.
Just before diner when Arthur was seeing that the MG was all ready for their trip the following day Uther said to Gwen in the Drawing Room "My dear Gwen I'm so happy that you and Arthur found each other, the way he looks at you and you at him is how Ygraine and I looked at one another. All I asked of you Gwen is that you continue to love him in the future as much as you do now."
"I will always love him as much as I do now Uther, I'm certain of that." Gwen smiled at him.
"That is all I need to know thank you Gwen." Uther came over and kissed her on the cheek.
"Excuse me Dad but why are you kissing my fiancé?" Arthur asked as he walked through the door.
"We were just talking about you darling," Gwen said.
"Nothing bad I hope." Arthur smiled at them.
"No Arthur nothing bad at all." Uther told him.
"Good well the car is all right for tomorrow." Arthur informed them.
"That's great darling, if you would excuse me I need to visit the ladies before tea." Gwen walked out of the room.
"Arthur," Uther said "I'm so proud of you, I know you and Gwen will have a long and happy life together. What I was saying to Gwen was when I see you two look at each other it reminds me of the way your mother and I looked at one another all I asked Gwen was to continue to love you as much as she does now, and now Arthur I ask you to do the same with Gwen she is very special and only meant for you, never lose her." He looked into Arthur's eyes.
"I won't Dad you have my word."
"That is all I need to hear son." Uther came forward and hugged Arthur and said to him "If you need anything let me know ok?"
"I will Dad." Arthur told him as they broke apart and smiled at Uther.
Ellen and Gwen came through the door. "Tea is ready." She informed them.
"Perfect timing." Uther commented and ushered them into the Dining Room.
After a quiet evening they all decided to go to bed early- as Arthur and Gwen had a long drive ahead of them the next day.
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A.N: - Hope you enjoyed it! And I promised not to so slow again I think this is possibly the biggest chapter so far I think I need a lay down LOL!