Backrub Prompt
Jul. 11th, 2010 04:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mystizan![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
hmsharmony was my beta for this, which is completely appropriate since she did a Bones/Merlin picspam that got me hooked on Merlin in the first place ;) Bones is still ma first love tho Colin Morgan is now in my heart;)
Gwen made her final delivery of the evening to the Crown Prince’s room, arms laden with freshly laundered clothes. She had been in the laundry anyway and Merlin asked her to carry Arthur’s to his room since he was still mucking out the stables. She neatly piled the clothes and linens where they belonged. Her arms finally free, she paused to arch her back, hoping that stretching would take some of the tension out of those muscles. Arthur chose that moment of vulnerability to enter his chambers. Of course. Gwen scrambled to simultaneously straighten up and curtsy before her future sovereign.
“I’m sorry, sire. I shouldn’t have lingered. I’ll be on my way now.” She sincerely hoped she was too dark skinned to blush as she avoided Arthur’s eyes.
“Is it your back?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Your back. Does it hurt?”
He would have to notice!
“No, Arthur, really, I’ll just— ”
“Nonsense,” he said, closing the gap between them, determination in his eyes.
Finding her in his room was a pleasant surprise, and he intended to do what he could to keep her there a while longer. He couldn’t explain why, but the thought that Gwen might be hiding her discomfort from him made him want to soothe her all the more. She should not have to be so self-reliant. She should get used to him — people! He meant people, surely — taking care of her. After all she was a lady and a selfless, brave one at that, unlike so many women born to nobility whose presence he had had to endure. And it had been too long since he had had a good excuse to touch her.
“Have a seat.” He indicated that she take one of the dining chairs in such a way as left her back exposed to his touch. Gwen figured he wouldn’t take no for an answer and complied.
“I’m fine.”
“You say that, but you’re obviously in pain.”
“No, Arthur. Really.”
She fixed those selfless brown eyes on his and he felt a dull ache in his chest. She insisted that she could not be his Queen, but God help him if every day only strengthened his resolve to prove her wrong. And no Queen of his would suffer a backache if he could help it. He removed his gloves and placed his hands on her back — tentatively at first but growing more insistent as he found the knots in her back and kneaded them out. Gwen tried not to react, but that proved impossible.
She moaned as his fingers worked their magic. “I had no idea you were gifted like this. Thank you.”
She turned to face him and met his smile.
“For you? Anything.” And in the fading light of day, alone in his chambers, he let what he felt for her shine in his tender expression. Gwen looked away, suddenly embarrassed.
“I- I should get going.” She reached for the now empty laundry basket and turned to go only to find herself colliding with a body honed by daily training. She had to catch her breath as the scent that haunted her dreams filled her lungs. She had expected to fall but he held her to him as though he would never let her go. He rested his cheek on her hair and spoke softly.
“You’re beautiful, Guinevere. And I have wanted to hold you like this since— ”
“Arthur! Dinner!” Merlin called as he opened the door, his expression changing from calm to surprise to a smirking “well, well, what have we here?”
Gwen scrambled out of the embrace, grabbed the basket as if her life depended on it, curtsied quickly and closed the door, schooling her features back to a calm expression. There was no denying the warmth that spread through her, however, as she remembered Arthur’s thoughtfulness. Or his scent. Or the memory of his fingers kneading her back. Or the way he spoke to her. Or held her so tenderly. She didn’t know it, but gone was the calm, carefully blank mask that she had put on as she stood outside Arthur’s room. The Gwen who descended the stairs was wearing the private smile of a woman very much in love.
On the other side of the door, Arthur was in a rage.
“Do you ever knock Merlin?”
“No. So! Holding Gwen. In your chambers no less.” His friend knew better than to be intimidated by that scowl. His eyes sparkled like the Crown Jewels.
“Shall I take her flowers tonight then?” asked Merlin, barely containing his glee.
“Merlin,” Arthur stepped threateningly close, “Speak of this again...”
Merlin had heard this threat enough that his voice had a bored tone. “Yes, yes, I know. You will boil me in oil. I think, though, it might be time to speak to Uther...”
He nimbly sidestepped the apple that was hurled forcefully at his head.
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no subject
Date: 2010-07-12 11:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-12 06:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-13 09:20 am (UTC)PS. The thought of Gwen x Gaius creeps me out. O_O"
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Date: 2010-07-13 05:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-14 09:18 am (UTC)But, I've downloaded it so I'm going to watch it ASAP. :D
...... But now I am super creeped out.
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Date: 2010-07-14 07:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-15 12:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-15 03:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-12 10:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-13 02:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-31 03:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-31 04:07 am (UTC)