Hi everyone. I forgot to thank faedemon & charis77 for helping me on the previous Mordred & Dodd-Killian chapter, but I won't for this one so thank you! I appreciate and adore you both.

The Very End of Sorrows

Servants fluttered all around them in the royal chambers preparing the room, but Gwen didn't care. They were married now—just moments ago, no matter how brief and unconventional the ceremony had been. Arthur's decision to marry her immediately upon their return sent her thoughts spiraling. She felt Arthur's gaze on her as she unbuckled his sword belt and unceremoniously dropped Excalibur on the floor. Looking up at him with eyes that dared the protest on his lips, she said, "I want your attention on me. Not that sword." She unbuckled the second belt with his dagger and let it fall as well.

Arthur's half smile and hooded eyes sent waves of warmth through Gwen's body that settled in her groin. Her knees grew weak. The beat of her heart reached her ears. Blood rushed to her head. A week ago, she wanted to flee from Arthur and Camelot and feeling severely betrayed by everyone, and now she stood undressing him, giving him orders, nursing wounds they both were trying to mend.

This was where she and Arthur had been heading for five years and now only their clothes stood in the way. It didn't take her long to get him out of his chain mail, helping him to shimmy out of the cold metal shirt and his boots. She made quick work of the Jameson, untying it and slipping it off his shoulders, but when the fine linen shirt came off and he stood bare chest in front of her, her mouth watered and went dry at the same time. She bit her lower lip, the want of his mouth devouring hers urgent and needy.

Arthur gently grasped her shoulders, turned her away from him, and began unlacing her dress. His movements were slow, deliberate, each string releasing the pressure around her body. Blood raced in her veins and her cheeks flushed as hot as the rest of her body. He loosened the last tie and her gown slipped to the floor, revealing her satin shift.

He scooped her up into his arms, quelling the shiver that began to erupt. His eyes, so confident and as warm as summer's day, brought the shivers back even as heat rose in her body. The moisture in her mouth slid easily down her throat as her hand pressed against his hard chest, the hairs soft and fine under her fingertips, the rhythm of his heart as rapid as hers. Gwen hitched a silent breath, knowing that in only a few moments they would cross the once-forbidden threshold and consummate their marriage. She swallowed again, though she kept her gaze on him, hoping he couldn't sense her growing awkwardness. Her first time; her first ever with a man. With Arthur.

They were alone, she realized, nestled in his arm with no more than a thin shift between them. Merlin and the rest of the servants had seemingly vanished into thin air, and the stillness of the room now overpowered her. King and queen. Husband and wife. He would see her, all of her; touch her in delicate places only lovers had the right to advance. Husband and wife. Her stomach fluttered, her body tensed, and Gwen swallowed again.

"Wait," she whispered. Arthur stopped just before the bed, his hold tightening about her, the corners of his mouth dipping into a familiar pout. She swallowed the lump in her throat and smiled with as much authority as she could muster. "Bath."

He opened his mouth to protest, disappointment shrouding his features and arms coiling tighter about her. She did everything she could to keep her bemusement of his boyish charm in check.

"I'm not stalling, Arthur, if that's what you're thinking," she gently reproved. "We've waited long, hard, and tumultuous years for this moment." She leaned in and kissed him gently before pulling back. She wanted to fill his senses with sensual aromas and arousing fragrances of a fresh clean body, not the musk of a dusty trail ride. "You could use one as well." His grip loosened, eyes softening with understanding, and he acquiesced with a gracious nod and a change of direction with her still in his arms.

Arthur gently set her upright beside the closest privacy screen and tub in the room, affording his eyes to flicker over her in the satin shift, a mischievous grin fighting its own battle on perfect lips. Unfastening his trouser ties with deft and speed, finer hairs and more skin would soon be exposed. A desirous warmth flooded her body once more and Gwen forced her eyes away only to slide them back to him and up his bare torso to his handsome face full of determination to rid himself of his garment. He'd be naked in front of her in a moment. Gwen eased behind the tub, her eyes still fastened to him.

"Separate...ly?" She bit into her lower lip, heard herself breathing.

Arthur's face twisted with absolute objection, as if her request was most unreasonable, maybe even selfish. All she could do was plead with her eyes to give her this, just a few last moments to catch her breath. Once again, the man she loved tilted his head forward with respect and then retreated behind the privacy screen right next to hers.

Gwen exhaled a sigh, her body shivering in the release as she turned her gaze to the silver and pewter containers set out for bathing: a few vials of fragrant oils for skin, a rosemary/sage scrub for teeth, mint leaves for breath, and a few sponges for washing. A fresh linen shirt and sleeping trousers hung from the screen. This was Arthur's bath and no doubt the water was scented with spearmint for him. The one he used would be scented with soothing lavender oils for her. She thinned her lips just as Arthur grunted with the same realization.

The splash of water from behind the other screen reminded Gwen of what she should be doing, too, Arthur obviously content to stay where he was. She pinched a mint leaf and slowly chewed it as she removed her shift and climbed into the tub, the scent of spearmint becoming stronger the deeper she immersed herself. Tossing her long curly hair over the side of the tub and leaning against a thick white coverlet, she released a soft sigh as the warmth wrapped around her. Spearmint. Arthur. She closed her eyes for just a moment, knowing that now was not the time for a leisurely bath, but the comforting need of the soothing water after a day such as this was too hard a temptation to resist.

So this was it. She'd gotten what she'd wanted. Was happiness guaranteed now? Tears from nowhere leaked from her eyes. She'd started preparing for this moment months ago, and would have married Arthur when all the world had been right. She had been ready back then. Now the betrayal, the swiftness of his judgment, and the turmoil that had followed, had propelled them in opposite directions, had stripped her of her love and home and had cast her aside like an old, damaged rag. All had seemed lost in that new existence she'd been forced to live, so far from Camelot and danger never far away. She'd suffered, and wept, yet she'd endured until Fate finally loosened its cruel grip and brought her back to Arthur, to the world she'd thought gone forever. Some things had righted themselves but then other horrible truths once again threatened their chance of happiness. A portion of blame had been dealt to them all, shattering confidences once again. How heartless had Fate been to them.

Gwen moaned softly and swiped away the tears, the soothing water doing its job to unwind the knots in her muscles and the thoughts in her mind. She closed her eyes and sank deeper in the tub, water lapping at her chin. "Arthur," she whispered. He'd opened his heart to her; told her treasonous secrets of Merlin's magic and that he'd been born from it. Arthur's plea for her to remain at his side to bring in a new era had spoken volumes, and Gwen couldn't cling to her exhausting pain and anguish for too long. Yet she'd still required some time for contemplation. Two weeks was all she'd asked, a fortnight after the executions of their enemies, and then she would marry him.

The sound of sloshing water and Arthur stirring elicited a soft cleansing breath from Gwen. She wanted a moment longer but started the motions of cleaning herself when she heard Arthur's bare feet padded past the privacy screen and then the rustling of the bed covers. She wondered if he'd used one of her garments to cover himself or had worn nothing at all. Blushing at the thought, she sank deeper into the water. The time was almost upon her and Gwen shivered in the still warm and comfortable bath as the foremost thought intruded once again.

This would be the first time she'd be with a man like this and the fluttering in her stomach spiraled throughout her body. This would be the first time she'd make love. They'd come close on more than a few occasions over these past five years, the sheer delight of being in his arms, the feel of his roaming hands, soft kisses ebbing their desire toward territory they knew was forbidden, daring them to venture further. They never had.

Now they can.

She emerged from the tub and patted the water from her body and hair before applying lemon-scented oil to her skin. Slipping into Arthur's night shirt, some of it clinging to moist curves, Gwen peered around the side of the screen. Sunbeams from a window cast soft shows on Arthur, lying on his back below the coverlet, his torso bare and rising with every breath he took. His eyes were closed, his face serene and free of any worry. When his perfect pink lips parted to exhale, her breath hitched, a hand pressed into her sternum.

He must have heard her and looked her way, his lips spreading into a smile. Propping himself on an elbow, he drew back the covers on the empty side of the bed and invited her in. Her eyes slipped to Excalibur, now latched securely to the bedpost. Her lips pressed together and eyes hooded with jealousy. Arthur's truest companion.

She felt his eyes on her and as she found his gaze, Gwen realized she held something more powerful over Arthur than that magical thing. She had true love. The air grew warmer, her skin prickled, and she went to him despite the warring emotions between desire and anxiousness, and filled the precious spot that she'd been wanting to occupy for years.

Arthur, leaning over her, kissed her gently, stroked her hair. Soft lips and the taste of mint sent tingles through her body, warmth grew in her groin as he pressed against her, his touch and lavender-scented flesh consuming her senses. She was hungry, yes, and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him unrestrained. After a moment, he pulled back and gazed at her, smiling.

"I had no idea how soothing the effects of lavender could be in a bath," he teased. "I see why it's a favorite of yours."

Gwen laughed softly. "I don't think you were in it long enough to experience all its benefits, but I do think you smell quite lovely." Arthur chuckled and kissed her again, longer this time, and finding her cheek, then neck, his breath grew hotter. He was lovely, lips so full and fleshy, body hard and wanting. He was here. So close, ready to show his love like no other time before. The flood of emotions rising in her could not be contained and tears eked out of her eyes. He separated from her once more when the wetness of them touched his cheek.

"It's all right, Gwen." Arthur wiped away the moisture with his hand, his tender touch igniting the warmth already growing within her. "I understand. Truly. Are you ready for this? For us?"

Tears flowed unrelenting at his gentleness, kindness, and set her body aflame. He didn't have to ask for permission, for he was husband and king and could do what he pleased. Extending her one last opportunity to wait undid any lingering caution she had within her. "With all my heart," she said, her voice trembling.

He leaned in and swallowed her words with a kiss, caressing her face as he pressed even closer to her, desire building in her belly and creeping downward. He eased on top of her, their lips still locked and breathing easy. Gwen's arms wrapped around his head, his back, feeling silky hair with one hand and scars under the other, the sum of the man she'd loved for so long taking all of her at long last. She broke their kiss for a breath and his head sank into her shoulder, warm and wet lips nibbling at her neck, a strong hand on her breast and moving lower. She moaned. He moaned.

The shirt was a frustrating barrier, his hand hungry for more contact and tugging at it before sliding down her hips until he found the flesh of her thigh. Gwen moaned at his touch, his hot kisses, erupting her desire. Her legs were one part of her body that Arthur was quite familiar and had had frequent access to. It was delightful to feel his touch again and the anticipation of his advancement to other parts of her body made Gwen writhe with pleasure.

Arthur ceased his roaming, his body tensing as Gwen brought his face back into focus. His hand squeezed her thigh, fingers tracing something new, a remnant from a terrible hunting accident, and he pulled back to stare at her with eyes filled with pain. He ducked his head into her shoulder, but not before shame crossed his face. "Guine—" he croaked, his body stiffening, almost trembling, the guilt of nearly shooting her with a crossbow bolt and the one from Mithian that left the mark crushing his desire.

"No," she said, guiding his face back to hers and looking warmly, deeply into his eyes, hoping to calm any guilt that threatened to surface. "You mustn't blame yourself. Push those thoughts away, Arthur."

Breaking away, her heart pounding, Gwen eased him back and removed the nightshirt, no longer held hostage by propriety. She nestled back into place as Arthur leaned closed over her once more. She kissed him tenderly, her body tingling as his hands caressed her cheeks.

"Just love me," she whispered when their lips finally parted. "Make me fully yours, Arthur."

The rest of the day and into the night, he gladly did as she commanded.