mystizan

There's a Gwen Fluff Fest happening that I decided to join.

hmsharmony graciously beta'd. Here's the drabble for "Gwen/Arthur Cuddling on the couch (or chaise or whatever, if you go Medieval instead of Modern)."

The Queen approached her chambers only to see Merlin and two knights stationed by the door. The question on her face provoked a response from Merlin. He bowed.

“My lady. The King requests that you follow me to the guest chamber down the hall where your bath awaits.”

Her friend’s eyes gleamed. She knew he was up to something as soon as he addressed her so formally. Her eyes narrowed.

“I suppose Arthur knew I’d ignore you so he sent reinforcements?” she said, nodding to the knights. Merlin only chuckled and held out his hand.

“Right this way.”

Her curiosity had peaked by the time her bath was over and she was fully dressed, waiting, it appeared, for her husband to escort her back to her room. As if he could hear her he appeared, holding a bouquet of her favourite wildflowers in front of him like a shield.

She could almost see the breath hitch in his throat as he took in the dress she had chosen to wear.

“Guinevere,” he breathed. “How can one woman look so...?” His words failed him. She laughed and kissed his cheek.

“May I go to my room now, my lord?”

“Certainly,” he said, extending his elbow for her to hold on to.

He opened the door to their room for her and waited with an expectant smile on his face. He watched as her eyes wandered to the fire and, finally, to the object placed beside it — the special chaise he had had made for her. She whirled, questions in her eyes.

“I know that recently the baby has been troubling you when you sleep lying down, especially after dinner. So I had the Court Carpenter make this so you can sleep a little better.”

She ran to him and tackled him in a fierce hug. He laughed into her hair.

“Do you like it?”

“Arthur Pendragon! You spoil me.” Her eyes misted over. This baby was making her cry all the time now it seemed.

“That’s the plan, Guinevere Pendragon.”

He led her to the chaise, reclined onto it and settled her next to him so that she was ensconced in his embrace. She snuggled into his chest before the fire.

“This is lovely, Arthur. Really. Ooh!”

They laughed as both she and Arthur felt the baby kick. A shadow passed over his face that had nothing to with the firelight.

“What’s wrong?”

He contemplated saying nothing but he and Gwen had sworn that complete honesty would be the hallmark of their relationship.

“I- ” He tried again. “My mother ... she died, Gwen, giving birth to me.” He re-positioned his hands so that they cradled his baby’s present resting place. His next words were a whisper that would have been lost to her if his lips weren’t so close to her ear.

“I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you, Guinevere. I couldn’t. I can’t rule Camelot without you. Not when I know what it’s like to rule it with you by my side. And I— ”

She placed her fingers on his lips.

“Arthur. Nothing is going to happen to me or the baby. I will have the Court Physician and midwife with me when the time comes. You will have me, Arthur, for years to come. And your mother died because they used magic to have you, and in order to create a life magic demanded a life in return. There is no magic here.” Her eyes twinkled. “Unless you count the spell you weave every time you’re near me.”

He looked down at her in his arms and stroked her belly tenderly.

“Every time?” His eyes gleamed. She nodded as seriously as she could but burst out laughing when he attacked her neck as she knew he would. She shifted to kiss his lips.

“You’re going to be a wonderful father to our baby girl,” she teased him.

“Girl? You promised me an heir, woman!” His jest carried no venom. Truthfully as long as both his wife and child were healthy it didn’t matter to him. And if it was a girl then he had a duty to Camelot to keep trying til he had a male heir. That was reason enough to pray for a daughter.

She started to rise from the chaise as if headed out of their chambers.

“Well, if you don’t want us I could always find a new hus-”He grabbed her by the wrist mid-rise, causing her to fall back into his embrace.

“I will always want you, Guinevere, for as long as you’ll have me.”

His eyes were intense on hers and she grew serious. She took his hand and brought it to rest on her heart.

“And this will always, always be yours.”

He smiled as he settled them both comfortably by the fire and began humming, stroking her back until all three were fast asleep.