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teamxdark · 3 years ago

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Clandestine

I saw this art like a week ago, I am very stressed, my brain said ‘we’re writing something short’ and somehow this happened here take some more soft Arthurlot.

Their horses were saddled, their swords were sharpened, and their instructions were emblazoned in their hearts and minds. The Knights of the Round Table were making their final preparations before they rode out for their next quest; the roads ahead had many splitting paths, promising an adventure for every turn taken, and so it was with diligence that every knight made sure they were prepared before setting off.

Sir Lancelot stood with Sirs Gawain and Percival, each finalizing their plans and preparations, searching for any holes in each other’s lists as well as their own, when a familiar-sounding gust of wind tickled his ear and sent his heart into disarray. He excused himself from the others, murmuring a need for water before he left, and the two knights nodded at him before resuming their conversation, only paying half a mind to the hedgehog as he dashed to the side of the stable.

Sure enough, a figure was standing there, wrapped haphazardly in a cloak, but as soon as Lancelot stepped into view, he marched forward, the hood slipping down to reveal brilliant blue spines and eager green eyes.

Lancelot had barely taken three steps out of view of the grounds by the time King Arthur reached him, and had scarcely taken breath when Arthur’s lips captured his own.

The effect was immediate; Lancelot’s legs felt weak as his arms wrapped around his king’s waist, drawing him in close. Their heads tilted into an uncomfortable angle from the sudden closeness, but neither seemed to mind. Their clandestine kiss lingered, hidden from the world, filled with all the care and tenderness they could muster in a single gesture.

As Lancelot drew away, his eyes took in Arthur’s drab cloak; the cloth barely covered his royal attire, but Arthur insisted that it worked wonders whenever he needed to sneak out. The crown was missing from his head, and Lancelot certainly could have berated Arthur over leaving such a priceless piece out of sight.

Instead, he said, “I thought you had a meeting this morning.”

Arthur grinned at him, his verdant eyes crinkling at the corners as they did whenever he was particularly pleased with himself. “I did,” he affirmed. “However, I told them that I needed to take a break to relieve myself.”

“It does not take so long to use the chamber pot,” Lancelot pointed out.

“Perhaps,” Arthur agreed with a soft hum before pressing his lips to Lancelot’s cheek. “But you mustn’t forget… I am very, very fast. To run down here took mere seconds.”

Lancelot’s sigh was stolen from him as Arthur’s lips pressed once more to his cheek, and then again to his lips. The knight’s eyes slid shut and his hold on his sovereign tightened, and the knight nearly swooned as the king murmured to him, “I will happily face the wrath of my advisors if it meant a moment with you.”

A moment was all they had, and Lancelot made the decision to cherish it. He cherished the warmth of Arthur in his arms, the lingering feeling of Arthur on his lips, the scent of Arthur that was left behind on his person as they reluctantly broke their embrace.

“You’ll be back soon?” Arthur asked in a whisper as he pulled his hood back up, hiding that glorious visage that Lancelot so adored from view, and Lancelot, unable to help himself, knelt down before Arthur.

“Lance--” Arthur began, sounding exasperated, but his words died on his tongue as Lancelot took his hand in both of his own and kissed it tenderly, in a promise that was recognizable as a knight’s and yet intimate enough to be understood as a lover’s.

“I swear,” Lancelot murmured, caressing the golden gauntlet in his grasp as reverently as he would something holy, “that not a day will pass without me trying my hardest to come back to you.” He lifted his head, tilting his neck back uncomfortably, all to make sure that his face was not obscured by his visor and that Arthur could see his eyes. “I will not be able to truly rest until I am back by your side.”

From underneath the king’s hood, Lancelot saw a flush of scarlet. “Gods, Lance…” Arthur whispered, and Lancelot couldn’t help but crack a small smile before lowering his head to kiss his hand once more.

The sounds of horses whinnying had both hedgehogs scrambling apart, but Arthur managed to sneak one final kiss before pushing Lancelot’s visor back down. “Go on,” he whispered before dashing back to the castle. “Make me proud, Ultimate Knight.”

“I shall,” Lancelot whispered back, his reply lost to the wind, but he still walked back out from the side of the stables in high spirits. After all…

Even a clandestine goodbye from Arthur was worth more than all the glory in the world.

#Smash speaks.#Arthurlot.#I don't appreciate my brain deciding to do things right after spending a long time saying 'not now' but.#That might just be the bad mood that's been plaguing me all day.#I hope this is nice I hope you like it.#Smash writes.

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natsukitakama · 4 years ago

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What kind of boyfriends are they ? Cursed edition

Author note : Hello ! I hope you’re doing well ♡ I’m super happy to be able to post again, I still need to practice a little bit tell me what you think about this one. I plan to create another série “what kind of significant other are they” but for a lot of fandoms ♡.

Warning : Some spoilers / Just me fangirling over my crush

i do not own those gifs credit to the owners

The weeping monk aka Lancelot

Attentive : he tends to be quiet but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t notice. He used to analyze everything in order to catch fey or to fight properly and he uses this quality in your relationship. Meaning he will always know when you are down when you are angry or when you’re lying to him.

Because he knows that he tries his best to act the proper way in order to help you going through what ever bother you. However despite his sensitive nature, he took him a long time and a lot of works to be able to express his feelings. He was raised to be a weapon to be a man, not some Childs who cried over. Be patient with him it’ll worth it.

Collected : most of people believe that it’s a cursed but with him it’s actually a good thing, because he is not very loud, fight are non-existent.

Not because he doesn’t feel angry (he does) but he wasn’t raised to express his emotion or worst let them take the best of him. He is monk so he knows better than falling for wrath. It took a lot to actually make him angry. In the meantime, being quiet means he is pretty good listener and because of that he alway knows what to do when you’re about to start a fight : because he could remember what you say earlier etc. Since he is attentive when it came to you, it’s all benefit for you.

Kind : there litteraly nothing he won’t do for you. Not kidding this little baby is touch-starved and he can’t help but thank every divinity fey or not for giving such a wonderful S/O as you are.

He knows he can be harsh and sometimes he can hurt you with his words, he knows he isn’t very comfortable with physical affection. But he is trying. Because of that he will always take care of you as much as possible, and will always reminds you how much he loves you by small gesture.

The first time you saw him running into you ready to kill every man and then taking you into a safe place. You knew he was in love and that he cared about you. Most of the time he manifests his love to you by small gesture, a little flower on your desk the next morning, your favorite hot drink, a book that you might be into. Anything who appears to be small gesture but means a lot for you.

Protective : as I mentionned before, he won’t hesitate to kill anyone who might bother you. For him you far too precious for this world, you’re bringing him peace, your his heaven and there no way someone would take you away from him.

Besides no matter how hard you tried, he still believes that you need protection because the whole world is insane and you’re not ready for that. He also knows that he get a lot of ennemies because of what he did, so he has to be near just in case. No matter how hard you tried, he would always ask you to be careful (and would always have his eyes on you just to be sure). He is aware that betraying the church would give him a lot of ennemies who might try to take you away as an hostage.

Jealous : he is a possessive man fight me on this. I can see him sending death glare at everyone who might look at you for too long.

This jealousy came from différents things : First since he is a touch starved baby he wants all your attention on him, he doesn’t want someone to enjoy what he should be the one to experiment. Second he knows that you are out of his league, he doesn’t deserve you you’re a whole light while he is nothing but a shadow. He was blessed by your love for him and there no way he would share this. Third, I can picture him as a primal man, no matter how hard he works to be a monk a good believer, I’m pretty sure deep down there is an alpha.

The green knight Aka Gawain

Emotional : he might be a strong soldier, one of the best fey’s protector this man is a huge teddy bear. I’m pretty sure he is always touching his S/O : taking their hands, hugs them, kiss them. It’s written on his face he is clingy fight me on this.

In addition I believe he is pretty sensitive and might feel when something is wrong with you. Each time something happen he will always be here reminding you that he is here, nothing is going to happen, you’re going to be fine. He is pretty easy to read actually although he claims that he can keep secret and anything (which is true) he can’t lie to you. You just have a power on him, he get overwhelmed everytime you’re here. So if he is hiding something all you have to do is to look at him right into his eyes and he would give up.

Protective : not a surprise. He probably lost his whole family and some of his friends as well so he won’t let something happen to you.

He might be even difficult than Lancelot, because he can be pretty bossy (especially because he works a lot as a leader) , he will order you to stay at your place and to not leave until it’s very necessary (meaning someone is in your house and you need to run away otherwise it’s never necessary for him). He just can’t loose you, it will break him. Also he tends to be distracted because fo you, you just had this power on him.

Loving : As I said before the man is clingy, but it’s more than : his eyes are screaming « I love Y/N ». He sweats love. I can’t explain he is vibing his love.

That’s why he is always close to you, always holding your hand, always kissing you (his kiss my god deep and slow to appreciate every second of it the type to take your breath away). When this man loves he L O V E S. When you’re in private he tends to be pretty clumsy which tends to get well... deeper when you two get intimate. Even when you’re not around people can tell when is thinking about you (99% of the time honestly) I won’t be surprised he is the worship type.

Romantic : I don’t know he just seems to be the kind of man of taking you into a wood walking together until finding a cute little spot with a river or something. Since he is a fey he feels pretty close to earth in general. He is always spoiling you with meaning gift, like a flower who is supposed to represent love, buying you the book you were always talking about.

Maybe this is just me, but I can totally see him doing those kind of things like dancing with you while looking tenderly at you, always showing you off, writing you letter or anything. He spoils you a lot, anytime he gets the chance to buy something he knows you put interest on he would buy without a second thought. Since he is a fey, he is closed to the nature so he might even craft you something like a flower crown or anything.

Passionate : I told you when he loves he loves, meaning everything he will do to you, he will do it while being 100% focused on you. He wants to cherish you, praises you, makes you feel like you’re a goddes in every way.

I said his kiss would take your breath away but so does his smile or his caress, he does with such an intensity. No man had treated you like this before. During intimate moment, he would always whisper sweet things into your ear, worship your body as if you were a divinity. At the end of your session you can’t feel unloved that’s absolutely impossible.

Merlin

Tease : that’s how he flirts that’s how he seduces that’s how he shows you he loves you. Although he never does this to be mean, he can’t help but giggle at seeing you being all red from embarrassment or because you’re angry at him.

Most of the time it’s a cute teasing, but when he wants to fluster you he won’t hesitate to use his skilled tongue to tease the hell out of you until you’re practically begging at him for his attention. Of course he will oblige. It’s just so natural for him that he would do it without even realize that he was teasing you. Most of the time it’s all planned, so he can get your attention without asking you to (he is so proud I swear).

Jealous : okay so Lancelot is jealous in the primal way but Merlin is on another level. He wants you to be his, he wants everyone to know that you’re taken and he won’t tolerate someone flirting with you or even staring at you.

Unlike Lancelot, Merlin won’t bother sending death glare instead he will fight them : using his power to trick them or using his silver tongue to make them feel like there nothing. Remember that scene with Lenore ? Where her future husband was talking shit about her ? All he wanted was to throw him a spell. Best believe he would the same to anyone who might be to close to you. You belong to Merlin and only him, also don’t expect him to be kind when you two would be at home after the incident.

Loving : we saw the way he was looking at Lenore, this man like Gawain vibes love. It’s just written on his face, sometimes it’s cursed cause he is alway afraid someone might use you against him.

But 99% of the time it’s a blessing, Merlin during his long life has experimented every aspect of love sexual or not. So he knows how to please you, he knows how to caress you, how to kiss you, and he is sucker of your reaction each of them are a piece of heaven for him. He is not as passionate as the green knight but you best believe that every inch of your skin would feel loved (and he doesn’t need to have you under him to do that). He has his way to look at you, anyone even people who never meet him before would noticed how he is into you.

Secretive : because he loves you and would die for you. He tends to keep a lot of things for himself not that he doesn’t trust you, but in his mind the less you know the better. It’s always a matter of what to do to protect Y/N.

So yeah he would have a secret but will never lie to you, that’s something he can’t do to you. Besides he doesn’t need that he get a pretty skilled tongue and knows what to do to bring another subject instead of answering your question. Since he tends to tease you a lot, all he has to do is to tease you so he would be able to change the subject. At some points you would notice his behavior but since he does that all the time you understood that he might keeps so secret between you two which make you sad. Maybe one day you’ll confront him about it ?

Shy : believe it or not, but the man still feels some butterflies on his stomach every times he sees you. That’s what make him shy. Because he knows he is falling in love but love can be tricky or dangerous so he is a bit afraid besides he knows he gets some reputation.

So yeah sometimes he is flustered when he hear you laughing or just sees you smile at him. He takes him time to admit that he is into you but once he admits it, this shyness will leave for a more playful Merlin. He was with a lot of people during his life, but he tends to got shy everytime you’re acting “innocent”. When you’re taking him on a walk enjoying any treasure that you got from nature, or just enjoying the simple. One day you were in a city, and some bards where playing around you couldn't help but take his hand to dance with him. That spontaneity never failed to make him feel like a teenager living is first love.

#Cursed Netflix #the weeping monk #the weeping monk x reader #the weeping monk x you #Merlin #Merlin x reader #Merlin x you #the green knight #the green knight Gawain #Gawain x reader #Gawain x you #Green knight x reader #green knight x you #cursed Netflix headcanon #daniel sharman #matt stokoe #gustaf skarsgård

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fuwafuwamedb · 4 years ago

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Kinktober - October 20 (Gawain, Gudako)

Bondage -

She was trembling there.

Her back against velvet lining, her body bare except for the lines of thick rope that ran rampant over her skin. The slightly frayed rope was wild and fuzzy, teasing at her skin where the golden haired knight would not touch. Each movement was intricate, carefully planned out so that the rope would stroke her tenderly.

Her breasts were wrapped around, the knots carefully knotted so that her breasts begged for attention on them when she arched her back. Her hands and feet, the wrists and ankles lined with more of that red rope, pulled at rope around her inner thighs and neck.

And then there was the rope leading away.

The two paths wound themselves to the nearby trees, leaving her legs open to the man before her.

“Do you remember our code word?” he asked.

Code word…

The word of code…

Code…

There was a large smile pressing to her abdomen as she tried to think of what that phrase even meant. Her thoughts scattered as she felt his slight facial hair. Those blue eyes gleamed her way.

He was all muscle and strength. He didn’t need these ropes and these binds holding her in place and teasing her when he did not touch. He only needed to touch her. One touch and she may as well have succumbed to the very needs of the moon and the sun.

“Don’t worry,” Gawain murmured. “I have my blade close. There’s no need to tremble.”

Was she trembling?

Gudako couldn’t remember even starting to tremble. She couldn’t remember much of anything though. His hands were moving again, those calloused fingers moving up her body. She shifted, but her breasts moved and those ropes around her thighs stroked higher, teasing towards where she felt her body beginning to ache the most.

The blond’s lips found her own, kissing her even as his hands stroked up her front.

His large hands filled with her chest, thumbs going for her nipples.

She could feel one of those hairy legs slipping up towards-

“Please,” Gudako cooed.

She needed him to touch her.

The ropes and all the wild fanfare was probably really exciting. It was probably something that he had thought about a few times. She had no doubt that he was getting his thrills at having her at his mercy, but she needed him inside her and she needed him inside her as of ten minutes ago.

“Gudako,” Gawain paused, looking around. “Someone is coming.”

“Wha-AH!”

He shoved in, but the man pulled her to him, holding her waist and glancing around. The ropes were cut that led to the trees, his cloak draped over her shoulders before he was hurrying to the tree.

“Ga-“

He leaped.

How the fuck he landed in the tree, she didn’t know. The trees weren’t well covered. They didn’t provide great support, but the man began to move and Gudako felt herself fighting back a moan.

“Gudako!”

Gudako cursed internally, knowing that voice.

“GUDAKO!”

Merlin called alongside her king, the two entering the clearing.

“Merlin! There are ropes!”

Gudako covered her mouth.

They couldn’t be caught like this: naked, up in a tree, hands and legs tied like she was some hog to the slaughter. Not to mention, Gawain was still inside her.

“They could catch us,” Gawain whispered.

Oh no…

She felt him shift, his body beginning to pull away from her own. Her hips were being lifted.

“I don’t think these have to do with Gudako.” Merlin laughed. “These are for mating, Arthur.”

“Oh.” The king dropped the rope, wiping his hands off on his trousers. “Well… someone was wasteful.”

“Ah, they probably enjoyed the show.”

Gawain was getting bigger.

His large manhood was currently slamming further in, so deep that she could feel him against other things. He pulled out alongside those nerves inside her, the ones that were turning her gaze to a blurry and watery mess. He shoved into her in a manner that had her mind tearing into pieces as her vision grew sparks.

“That’s my king down there,” Gawain purred. “And our magician. Don’t worry, so long as these ropes hold, the only one who may have you is me, my lady.”

He leaned in, his hands moving to her breasts.

“Where I come from, a little tupping in the trees is fair game. No one looks up, just do your best not to leak down on them or let your ropes come undone any further. I don’t think they’ll except that your honorable knight was merely showing you the joys of the wilds and the untamed side of man.”

She barely stopped some of the rope around one of her ankles, her gasp filling the air around them.

The threat of being caught should never have turned her on as much as these ropes did.

“You’re doing well, Lady Gudako,” Gawain whispered. “Climax quietly for me. That’s a fair maiden.”

#drabble #drabbles

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lilacmoon83 · 5 years ago

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Dreaming Out Loud

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 128: Seizing Power

"Mommy! Daddy!" little Alexander called, as they arrived home at their castle. Snow sprinted to her little boy and swept him into her arms.

"Oh I've missed you so much, baby…" she gushed, as she kissed his little head.

"Missed you too, Mommy," Xander said, as David kissed his head too.

"Daddy!" he called, as he took his son, while his mother brought the baby to them.

"Oh...there's my little angel," he cooed, as Snow took her and they both cuddled her.

"Oh...Mommy is never leaving either of you ever again," she gushed, as she and David soaked them up. They smiled, as they saw Emma doing the same with Neal, Henry, and Tallie.

"We're so relieved you're all home safe," Serafina said, as she and Ruth hugged them tightly.

"Us too...but we might be safe yet," he said.

"What's going on?" Robert asked.

"In short...Zelena's back and she stole all the magic in the realms with the Olympian crystal," Snow answered.

"Then...she's all powerful?" Ruth asked fearfully.

"I'm afraid so...and Emma is the only other person with any magic right now," David replied.

"But...if Zelena stole the magic, how is that possible?" Serafina asked.

"I'm not really sure I understand it either," David said, as he looked at Rumple.

"He has a point. I mean, I get that Emma is a product of their true love, but so was the potion you used to originally bring magic to Storybrooke," Regina added.

"That was Storybrooke, a place without magic. This is the United Realms. Misthaven's inherent magic cannot be stolen," Rumple explained.

"So...because Emma was born with her magic, it can't be taken?" Snow asked.

"Short of cursing her or finding a spell to nullify it...no. But that will be exactly what Zelena seeks to do now," he replied.

"Then there's Promethean fire. She can't take it, but it won't do us much good if these two can't utilize it to its full potential," Van Helsing chimed in.

"Then Merlin must be freed. It's time to visit Camelot," Persephone said.

"Arthur is never going to agree to free him...this will get messy," Hades replied.

"Maybe...but we try to do this diplomatically first. With Zelena having so much power, Arthur will have to choose an allegiance. We will make our case that siding with us will work out far better than siding with Zelena," Persephone said.

"He'll be too threatened by us if we take the lead though," Hades reminded.

"Then we will," David said. Snow nodded.

"We'll send a messenger and request a meeting. We'll even concede to do so in Camelot," she agreed. They nodded and joined hands, as they took the children to the nursery. They would send a messenger and then be forced to wait for a response. They only hoped Arthur made a wise decision.

~*~

"Everything seems in order today. A few minor disputes, but they were easily settled," Dorothy reported, as she finished her daily rounds in Emerald City. Glinda was very proud of her. She had gone from a scared, reluctant girl that just wanted to go back to her home in the Land Without Magic, to a valiant peacekeeper that had realized her true home was in Oz. She only hoped that Dorothy was ready for the coming conflict that she was sensing on the horizon.

"I'm afraid all is not well," Glinda feared, as she turned away from the window.

"What is it?" Dorothy asked.

"The magic...it's gone," she replied, as she held up her wand and it refused her command.

"No magic? I got word from MIsthaven that Circe has been permanently dealt with. If she's gone, she couldn't have stolen the magic," Dorothy reasoned.

"She couldn't have...but I could," an unwelcome voice said, as they turned to the doorway.

"Zelena…" Dorothy hissed, as she swept into the room with another, homely looking woman that they did not recognize, behind her.

"You're dead…" Glinda refuted.

"It didn't stick…" she said, as they heard the guards rushing in about that time.

"Stop witch!" one of them called, but she waved her hand and several of them shrieked, as they became flying monkeys.

"If the rest of you don't want to join your Simian friends...then you'll pledge your allegiance to me," Zelena said, as they hesitated, but also did not advance on her out of fear.

"Glinda rules the Emerald City now!" Dorothy refuted. Zelena smirked and with a wave of her hand, encased Glinda in a bubble, much like one of her own. She shooed the bubble away and out into the sky, as it carried her away from Oz.

"Not anymore," Zelena said, as the guards surrounded Dorothy, having chosen not to cross the new Queen.

"Take her to the dungeon," Zelena ordered. But thinking quickly, Dorothy clicked the heels of her ruby slippers together three times and disappeared. Zelena growled.

"Find her!" she ordered, as they hurried out and she sent her flying monkeys off in search as well.

"What now?" Liz asked.

"The Charmings are the real problem...the whole family is. We need allies," Zelena replied.

"Who will side with us against Snow White and Persephone?" Liz inquired. Zelena smirked and went to the window.

"Perhaps more Kingdoms than you think," she said vaguely.

~*~

Camelot

Arthur slammed yet another useless book shut and tossed it aside.

"There's nothing here!" he shouted, as he brushed more books and ancient scrolls away.

"We have no other choice...we must force King David and his daughter to reforge Excalibur for us," he said gravely.

"But how do we force them? Persephone will never allow it," Guinevere reminded, just as Gawain came rushing in.

"Sire...something has happened," the Knight said, as Arthur and Guinevere followed him down to the Throne room.

"Sire...this just arrived from Misthaven," Tristan added, as he handed the envelope to him.

"What is it?" Guinevere asked.

"A summons from King David and Queen Snow. They are requesting to come here for an audience first thing in the morning," Arthur responded.

"It's Merlin they want...why else would they want to come here," Gawain spat in annoyance.

"There's more, My King…" Tristan said, as he ushered a munchkin into the Throne room. He looked quite frightened and could barely look at them.

"A munchkin? In Camelot?" Arthur asked in confusion. It was not like the munchkins to venture away from Oz.

"Tell him," Tristan snapped at the frightened small person.

"Magic...it's gone. The Wicked Witch is back and she stole it! She banished Glinda and has taken over Emerald City," he reported.

"Magic is gone? Are you certain?" Arthur asked with great interest.

"Y...yes...except the Savior still has it," he answered.

"And Queen Persephone?" Guinevere asked.

"N...no, she is powerless now," the munchkin said.

"And the Promethean fire?" Gawain questioned.

"King David and the Savior still possess the fire too. It's the only thing that is holding the Wicked Witch back," the munchkin retorted.

"Why are you here?" Arthur asked.

"I...I was scared. I fled Oz when the witch took over," he said shamefully.

"We will offer you refuge in Camelot for this information," Guinevere decided and he bowed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," he said, as he scurried away.

"Then I was right...Merlin is what they want," Gawain said.

"Perhaps...we will hear their case anyhow," Arthur decided.

"Sire?" Tristan questioned in horror.

"The Savior may have her magic and the fire, but without Persephone and Hades' magic interfering, not to mention the Dark One being powerless...this may be exactly the leverage we need," Arthur said.

"They want something from us...and it will not come without a price," Guinevere said in agreement.

"Exactly, my love...we may yet get what we need," he agreed, as he looked to Gawain.

"Please deliver my invitation to King David and his lovely Queen personally and tell them that I look forward to hosting them tomorrow morning," Arthur stated. Gawain looked uncertain, but left to do his King's bidding. He hoped that he knew what he was doing.

~*~

The munchkin stumbled through the woods and cried out in fright, as Zelena appeared before him.

"Did you deliver the information, you little twit?" she snapped.

"Y...yes," he stammered. She smirked.

"Good...you get to live then," she said, as he breathed a sigh of relief. She waved her hand and turned him into a flying monkey.

"I said you get to live...just not as what," she said evilly, as she looked at the Camelot palace in the distance. Arthur had taken the bait nicely, just as she knew he would. She'd play him like a fiddle and destroy her enemies in one fell swoop. Still, she would need more allies on her side and it was time to move onto the next Kingdom.

Oz was hers already and Camelot was already compromised. It would be the perfect battleground. Now, she would move onto the rest. They would join her or she would do away with their rulers and assimilate them accordingly. She may have failed to change her past, but she would ensure she ruled the future.

~*~

Snow was practically swooning, as she listened to her husband sing to the baby that night. They had successfully gotten Alexander to settle down and go to sleep, with no less than three stories, that is and then they had proceeded to the nursery with the baby to do the same. They had both missed tucking in their little ones the last couple nights and were content to have no repeat adventures that would take them away overnight from their babies for a while now.

While his singing had successfully lulled their sweet baby girl to sleep, it was definitely doing the opposite for her.

"I think she's finally asleep," he whispered.

"You always work magic with her," she agreed, as she slid her arms around his waist and nuzzled close to him. He smiled down at her and wrapped her in his arms.

"Someone is frisky," he purred, as she bit her bottom lip.

"Well, I can't help it. Your singing makes me the opposite of sleepy...if you get my drift," she purred back, as she nuzzled his nose with hers and he responded by kissing her tenderly.

"I think I do," he said, as he opened the adjoining door that connected their bed chambers to the nursery and led her through it. He closed the door and their lips met again, as he divested her of her robe, which fell to a puddle at her feet.

"Ugh...what they say is true. You two are positively nauseating," a voice said and Snow yelped in surprise, as Gawain stood on their balcony. David pulled his sword from its holder by the bed and leveled at the intruder. She hid herself behind her husband, for she was wearing only a tiny little satin nightie beneath her robe.

"How the hell did you get up here?" he demanded to know, as he stood in front of his wife.

"I am a Knight of the Roundtable...I have my ways," he goaded smugly.

"And there's no magical protections or you would have never made it through the gates," Snow said knowingly, as she poked her head out from behind her husband.

"Get out…" David growled through clenched teeth.

"I won't be here long. The Gods know I can't stomach the sight of you two sucking each other's faces off, though I have to admit...you do have impeccable taste in females," he leered, as he looked at Snow.

"You have three seconds to state your business before I rip your eyes out and make sure you leave in pieces," David growled.

"Relax...Your Majesty. I come in peace and simply to deliver a message from my King. He has accepted your request and will grant you an audience first thing in the morning," Gawain stated.

"Fine...then leave now," David demanded, as he held his sword at him and the Knight smirked.

"Always a pleasure, Your Majesties," he said sarcastically, as he climbed his way down their palace wall and David sighed, as he sheathed his sword.

"You know, I can see him getting passed some of our other Knights, but not Lancelot," Snow said.

"Lancelot is off tonight and believe me, they'll be getting an earful in the morning," David replied, as he took her in his arms.

"Well...don't be too hard on them. Gawain is a Knight of the Roundtable, after all," she said, as she kissed his cheek.

"I don't take kindly to even Knights of the Roundtable invading our privacy, especially when they spoil my intent to make love to my beautiful, amazing wife," he replied.

"Oh, I think it's going to take more than one smug Knight to spoil the mood between us," she whispered in his ear. He smirked.

"You're right," he agreed, as he swept her into his arms and carried her toward the bed.

"So...you like my singing?" he asked playfully, as he lay her down on the bed and hovered over her.

"Mmm...very much so, my love," she replied, as he caressed her beautiful face and her breathing hitched, as he kissed his way down her throat. Her nightgown was gone, as he undressed her with skillful ease and his own clothes were pulled away. Passion lit her every nerve, as his hands roamed and he sank between her parted legs. His passionate gaze locked with hers, as their breathing came in ragged, impassioned gasps now.

"You...are so beautiful…" he uttered in awe of her and he could still make her blush after all these years.

"Let's see if I can...make you sing…" he whispered to her, with a roguish smirk that made her almost lose control.

"You...you always do…" she managed to say, before he was making love to her. There were no words after that, but plenty of singing…

~*~

Deimos enjoyed a good stiff drink at the bar of the successful brothel that he owned in Cronus' Kingdom, which was adjacent to the Southern Isles. His eyes never strayed far from the young, dark haired girl dancing on stage and he smirked, as he intended to enjoy her later with a private showing.

"Lord Cronus has requested your presence, Lord Deimos," one of his bouncer's informed him and he finished his drink.

"At this hour?" he questioned.

"He said it is quite urgent. Apparently, something of grave concern has occurred," the man responded. He sighed and felt a bit of disappointment. The dark haired girl on stage was a real beauty and fit all his specific tastes.

"Fine...make sure that one finds her way to my chambers. I'll return soon and expect her to be ready for me," he said, as he made his way out of the establishment and made the short drive to the castle.

"You summoned me, Your Majesty?" he said, as he bowed to him. Under Cronus, he enjoyed a good life with enough power to satisfy most, but he had always known he was on a short leash with the tyrannical God. Cronus himself had his wings clipped a bit too, being that Persephone was the supreme Goddess. But Deimos had become a patient man and knew a day would come where he could seize power once again. And this time, he would not stop. Cronus had used his magic to clip his urge to feast on the blood of mortals, but someday, he knew would be able to satiate that craving again and rule as he was meant to. Then...he would have Persephone's daughter as well.

"The magic...it's gone," Cronus stated.

"Gone?" Deimos questioned, as he watched his King fail to summon magic in his palm.

"Then Circe...she has stolen it again?" Deimos asked.

"That is what I thought, but Phobos just returned with Intel. It appears that Zelena has returned and she has the Olympian crystal," Cronus answered.

"Then the witch has all the magic," Deimos deduced.

"Not quite," Cronus corrected.

"What do you mean?" he questioned with scrutiny.

"The Savior...her magic could not be taken and neither could the Promethean fire. She and her father still possess the flame," he responded. Deimos clenched his teeth. Charming and his spawn...still in his path to Snow White, as usual.

"So Persephone and Hades...are powerless now?" Deimos questioned.

"Yes...and Phobos said they are already gathering allies against the witch. I'm sure one of their messengers will be here soon to barter with us," Cronus stated.

"That would be wasted errand. They will never trust us and allying with them will bring us no benefit," Deimos refuted.

"Perhaps...but Zelena is no better. I will bow to no witch," Cronus stated.

"You cannot seriously be considering siding with the Kingdom of Misthaven," Deimos said in outrage.

"What choice do we have? With Persephone, we can at least maintain our status. But Zelena...she will just assimilate us under her stifling rule," Cronus reasoned.

"Be that as it may...I refuse to work with those bloody heroes," Deimos refused.

"You will do as I command. I am your King," he reminded. Deimos fumed and then bowed to him with barely contained, seething rage.

"Of course...forgive me, my King," he said, as Cronus turned his back and gazed out the window into the twilight.

"No, as much as I do not fancy it...we must join the effort to dethrone Zelena and regain our power," Cronus said and then his breath seized, as he choked in pain. He looked down to find a blade protruding from his chest.

"I'm afraid that with magic gone...that makes you weak and useless, my King," Deimos hissed, as he extracted his blade. Cronus fell to the floor, as he struggled for air. He coughed and blood violently sputtered from his mouth. A pool of red slowly leaked from his body, soon covered the floor around him. He continued to sputter painfully and blood spattered all over his face, as he struggled to breathe. Deimos smirked evilly down upon him.

"Back to the Underworld for you...for good this time," Deimos said, as the King gurgled and exhaled his final breath.

"Such a mess…" Zelena chided, as she appeared and he turned to the redheaded witch.

"The messier the better…" Deimos replied, as he watched her move into the room.

"You...you killed the great Saturn…" Liz said in horror.

"Who is this?" Deimos asked.

"Apparently, there are some mortals out there in the Land Without Magic that admire Cronus...or Saturn as they like to call him. She's leader of this cult and responsible for helping in my revival," Zelena explained.

"Cronus had gone weak and soft over the years. Without magic, he was useless and was willing to side with the heroes against you, Queen Zelena," Deimos stated. She smirked.

"Then you did me a favor and I do need a fearsome General," she mused.

"Then you can count on me to carry out your horrors...however, Cronus clipped some of my more fearsome abilities," Deimos stated. Zelena smirked and created a ball of energy.

"Stare into the moonlight...and let the monster be reborn," she said, as the energy filled him up and his eyes glowed red once again. His muscles bulked slightly more and his incisors grew longer.

"Thank you...my Queen," he said, as he bowed deeply to her.

"The Southern Isles is a weakened state, due to the new leadership and they're intent on sucking up to Persephone and Misthaven. Prove your worth," Zelena ordered. He smirked.

"They will be swearing allegiance to you by morning," Deimos promised, as he left to wage war on the first Kingdom that would fall to them. It was good to be in power again…

~*~

Persephone stood on the balcony of her palace on Mount Olympus. She looked out over the realms, her eyes often resting on Misthaven where her precious family slept. But sleep was impossible for her tonight, for she knew Zelena intended to bring nothing but pain and death to all the realms. Oz had already fallen. Glinda and Dorothy were missing and she knew dawn would likely bring the fall of more. They were meeting with Arthur in Camelot in the morning and with or without his blessing, they had to awaken Merlin. It was the only chance they had, but she hated every bit of it.

"There's no keeping them out of this, as much as I hate it too," Hades said, as he approached her from behind.

"I know...Snow, David, and Emma...they may be the ones that will have to save us all. But it wasn't supposed to be this way when I took Zeus' power!" she lamented.

"It's supposed to be me fighting these battles...not Snow, Charming, and Emma," she fretted.

"Not even we can thwart destiny, my love…" he reminded and she knew he was right.

"Love will win...you've taught me that," Hades said.

"What if it's not enough?" Persephone asked. He smiled and caressed her cheek.

"It will be...and we will be there to make sure they win," he assured, as he hugged her close.

~*~

When Guinevere happened to wake up, an hour or so before dawn, she wasn't surprised to see that her husband was not in bed with her. This wasn't an uncommon occurrence and she couldn't help the stab of sadness in her heart. She knew Arthur loved her, but not more so than his quest for power; his quest to reforge Excalibur so no one could challenge him for his Throne.

She was not surprised to find him in the lab that he had given to Claude Frollo to use in his experiments and research.

"You've been sequestered for days...you must have something," Arthur insisted.

"Reforging Excalibur requires Promethean fire and there is no way around that. Now that magic is gone though...we may be able to utilize these much easier," Frollo said, as he presented him with a pair of glowing chains.

"And what exactly are these?" Arthur questioned.

"Promethean chains. The originals were destroyed and busted to smithereens when the trigger was set off in the mines. But I managed to find remnants of the chains and reforged them. They can capture and control the Savior...and her father," Frollo said.

"Well...that certainly is something. It seems you are worth your salt, after all, Judge Frollo," Arthur complimented.

"Then I trust you will hold up your end of our bargain?" Frollo questioned.

"When I have reforged Excalibur...you'll get what you want," Arthur responded.

"That is easier now that magic is gone, but the witch has the power to sweep us all away," Frollo warned.

"Then our next objective will be to seize the crystal from her. A Sorcerer of your knowledge must know of ways to circumvent her power," he surmised. Frollo smirked.

"As a matter of fact...I just might," he replied. Guinevere had no idea what he had planned, but perhaps once her husband's quest was complete...they could finally be happy. But something in the back of her mind told her that Arthur's quest could never be satiated.

~*~

Snow tossed and turned in her sleep. Just hours ago, she had been in pure bliss, as her husband made passionate love to her. But now, the events of the last few days and the uncertainty of what was to come now haunted her dreams, until they had her waking screaming in her husband's arms.

"Snow...please my darling...wake up…" he pleaded, as she suffered a night terror. He held her face still in his hands and pressed his lips to hers, knowing only that might break through. Snow's eyes went wide and she melted into him, before dissolving into sobs against his bare chest.

"Shh...it was just a dream, my love…" he whispered to her in a soothing manner. But she shook her head and looked up at him through tear filled eyes.

"What if it wasn't? It felt so real…" she cried, as he caressed her face.

"Arthur...we can't trust him. He had you and Emma...in chains! Like the chains my mother used to bind Deimos!" she said, as she gasped.

"Charming...what if he has the Promethean chains?" she feared.

"They were destroyed in the mines...remember?" he reminded.

"And we thought my step-father destroyed the Olympian crystal. What if someone has the chains too? I can't lose you and Emma…" she fretted.

"Shh...you are not going to lose me. I refused to give you up when Ravenna tried to take you away and I won't let Arthur separate us either," he promised, as she started to calm.

"My heart is yours, my darling...that's why I gave you half to bring you back, because it's already yours," he said and she kissed him passionately at that.

"If he or anyone tries to take you...I'll kill them," she said fiercely, as she kissed him hard and deeply again.

"Snow…" he breathed, as she straddled him.

"I need you…" she said desperately.

"I'm yours…" he promised and she smirked sultrily, as he lay beneath her.

"And I'm going to make you sing this time, my love…" she promised, as passion consumed them again...

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #Swanfire #HadesxPersephone #AU #Greek Mythology meets fairy tales #The United Realms #romance #Adventure #family #dreaming out loud

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relevy · 5 years ago

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The Hawthorn Throne: Chapter Eighteen

The next morning Riona awoke to the now familiar soreness of her body that always followed a vision. It was so early in the morning the Orkney men had yet to rise. Their sleeping bodies stirred with breath in their beds as Riona delicately slipped from under her blankets and met Morgause at the hearth where she was making the morning porridge. The older woman turned to face her, tenderly brushing an errant strand from Riona’s face.

“We’re running low on a few things, would you like to forage with me today?” Riona nodded and Morgause gave a soft smile, handing her a small bowl of porridge with which to break her fast. The women ate their simple meal in a comfortable silence then Morgause eased the fire down to warm embers and they softly left the house, woven baskets in hand.

It was a grey day. Morning mists still blanketed the small valley in foggy damp. Riona took in a deep breath, the chill air stirring her blood. Together the women moved silently over the ground, not wanting to break the sacred stillness with speech. They arrived at a clump of bushes near the edge of the farm. The branches were heavy with luscious looking berries, dark and tempting. Riona popped one into her mouth for good measure and giggled when Morgause shot her a reproving look. Then the older woman did the same and they laughed together. The sudden sound sent a flock of birds into the air with noisy protest. As they passed the treeline, Morgause stopped to pry an aging mushroom from the grasp of a tree root. Riona kneeled, glanced about, looking for herbs. Her fingers had just clasped around a clump of featherfew when Morgause spoke.

“About that fit you had yesterday…”

Riona’s stomach gave a flip. She quickly righted herself and drew one arm across her chest like a shield. Morgause stood, dusting her hands against her apron. She caught Riona’s expression and waved her hand dismissively.

“Fret not.”

Riona relaxed only slightly. Morgause studied her for a moment and then began walking again.

“What do you see when you are in such a state?” Morgause added another handful of herbs to her basket. Riona’s brow drew together in worry as she answered.

“The future.”

Morgause stopped on the game trail they had been following and turned to fix Riona in a wide stare.

“In truth?” she asked quietly.

Riona nodded solemnly.

“I have yet to see something that did not come to pass.”

Morgause hesitated.

“You…” she took a breath, “You were shouting Gawain’s name. What did you see?”

Riona could tell from her expression that Morgause was not sure she wanted an answer.

“Gawain was in King Artorious’ court in Camalann,” Riona fixed her eyes to the ground, “with his brothers and another I did not recognize. They seemed happy and content but—”

“But?”

Riona met Morgause’s gaze.

“At their feet sprang a river of blood.”

Morgause’s face paled and a candle of terror kindled in the depths of her green eyes.

Riona fumbled for the next words.

“I ammn’t a witch! I cannot control these visions; I do not know from where they come, I swear it. Please—”

Morgause set her basket down and held her hands up to Riona’s face. Her calloused fingers twined in Riona’s hair, pulling it away from her face in a low bun. Morgause sighed, her eyes flickering over Riona’s features.

“Riona…do you take after your mother?”

Riona stopped her frantic speech to shake her head. The woman was gazing at her with a desperate expression. Chills wormed over Riona’s skin. There was something Morgause was trying to suss out and Riona had no answers.

“Your mother, what color was her hair?”

“Dark. Dark as a raven’s wing.”

Morgause began to tremble slightly; tears glistening at the edges of her lashes, she let Riona’s hair fall back to her shoulders.

“What was her name?” Morgause’s voice was a whisper.

“Nimue.”

The voice that answered was not her own. Riona spun and met the hard stare of a strange Druid. They were tall and lean like Aidan, with the same ferocious gleam in their eyes. Their dark skin glowed in the early morning light as they lowered the hood of their cloak. Riona took a step backward, bumping into Morgause who instantly gripped Riona’s hand tightly in her own.

“And that makes you her daughter. I’ve been looking for you.”

Riona’s eyes drifted to the long glimmering spear in the Druid’s hand. Morgause pushed Riona behind her, still maintaining a grip on her hand.

“Don’t think I won’t run you through to get to her,” the Druid warned.

“You can try,” hissed Morgause.

“Where is Aidan?” Riona demanded.

“Damned if I know,” their words slipped out with an accent unfamiliar to Riona,

“I’m ever so curious. Tell me, why does Aidan give a rats shit about you?” Riona paled but she stood her ground.

“Who are you? What could you possibly want with her?” demanded Morgause.

The Druid laughed, it was a surprisingly light, melodic sound.

“Oblivious. Unsurprising.”

They lifted the spear up and took purposeful steps toward them. Riona’s breath trembled in her chest.

“You look so much like Emrys,” The Druid’s dark eyes seemed to swallow her whole.

“W-who?” Riona was ashamed by the fear that clipped her voice. The Druid gave a dazzling snarl of a smile.

“So little understanding,” They advanced, “You will die ignorant and afraid. Just like your mother.”

Riona felt her blood cool, fear gripping her heart like a vice. There was a fast hiss through the air and the Druid leapt backward as a small throwing axe buried itself into the tree beside them.

“What—”

A short figure burst past Riona and Morgause, nearly colliding with them. The Druid dug in and raised their spear to meet the on-comer. The sharp tinny sound of weapons broke the still silence. The smaller figure was blunt in their attacks, swinging two hand axes with sudden hefty movements. The dark Druid was clearly the better combatant, glancing blows as if they were merely dancing.

“Ava!” they said, “so kind of you to join us.”

“Fuck off, Makda,” said the small figure. Their voice lilted oddly in a wide accent. They too were a Druid, Riona realized, with pale blonde hair done up in a complex weave of plaits that hung down past their stout shoulders. “Persuasive as ever,” Makda grinned and swung their spear in a wide arc, a move Ava had not been anticipating, knocking the smaller Druid off their feet. As they stumbled aside they caught themself oddly on their wrist, which gave a small ‘snap’. Riona gasped, hardly noticing as Morgause let go of her hand. Ava scrambled backward, searching for purchase and holding their hand with a grimace. Makda raised their spear, then a loud ‘thunk’ sent them sprawling across the roots of a nearby tree. A large rock fell to the ground beside them. Riona turned and saw Morgause searching for another to throw. The next few seconds went by too quickly. Ava stood. Morgause raised up, another stone held tightly in her fist. Makda lifted their spear back into their hand and made to throw it. Ava did the same with their axe. The three of them stood poised, the forest went still again for a moment.

“Who do you think will hit their mark?” Makda asked lightly, their warm voice unnervingly calm.

“You touch one hair on my niece’s head and I will rip your throat out with my teeth,” Morgause growled.

“Oh I like you,” said Makda.

“You willln’t like me.” Riona glanced aside as another figure entered the strange truce. Gawain’s copper hair was still mussed with sleep, but in his hand, he gripped a sword Riona had never seen before. He stepped in front of his mother and Riona, weapon raised and steady.

“Four to One, Makda,” Ava cackled.

Makda assessed quickly, as with very little pause they turned and sprinted back into the shadow of the forest. There was an awkward silence as Ava watched Makda run away with a look of satisfaction and then turned to see the three humans staring at them inquisitively.

“Right then,” Ava ripped their throwing axe from the bark of the tree it had rested in, “Aidan should be here soon I expect.” And with no other explanation, they too ran off into the trees after Makda.

Morgause instantly had Riona in a tight embrace. The two of them sank down into the comfort of the mossy forest floor. Gawain knelt beside them, hand still gripping what could only be his father’s sword.

“Niece?” Riona asked. Morgause laughed through the tears now gently streaming down her cheeks.

“It is a long tale.”

Tag List: @teacupwriter @catscoffeecommas @baruch-barnes @thewritingwarrior @plaguecraft @lady-redshield-writes @faebinding @lilymaidofgallifrey @aschenink @sancta-silje @thelowlybookworm @hpfitterly

#the hawthorn throne #writeblr #writing #writing excerpt #amwriting #writers on tumblr #relevy writes #i never post full excerpts so mozel tov!

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bytheanchorarchived · 7 years ago

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ok but, j.alec!au where j.ace is arthur pendragon and a.lec is l.ancelot as told in mists of avalon:

“There is no such thing as a true tale. Truth has many faces and the truth is like to the old road to Avalon; it depends on your own will, and your own thoughts, whither the road will take you.”

"Arthur, their young king, like a hero out of legend."

"I have neither talent or taste for kingship, cousin. I am a warrior, and to dwell always in one place and live at court would weary me to death!"

"What sorrow is like to the sorrow of one who is alone? Once I dwelt in the company of the king I loved well, And my arm was heavy with the weight of the rings he gave, And my heart weighed down with the gold of his love. The face the king is like the sun to those who surrounded,. But now my heart is empty And I wander along throughout the world.”

"I miss him as much as you, Uncle," said Arthur. "I know not where to turn without Gawaine at my back, but I had to send him on a message to Tintagel, for none can ride so swiftly."

"Oh, you have plenty to guard you," said Lot sourly. "I see Lancelet never more than a step or three from your side, ready to fill the empty place."

Lancelet flushed, but he said smoothly, "It is always so, kinsman, all of Arthur's Companions strive with one another for the honor of being the closest to the King, and when Gawaine is here, even Cai who is Arthur's foster-brother and I who am Queen's champion must take a place further off."

She went back to her place beside Arthur. Lancelet and the King were drawing with the tips of their daggers on the wooden boards before them, while they ate absentmindedly out of the same dish. Biting her lip-indeed she might as well have stayed in Tintagel for all the difference it made to Arthur that she was there or not-she would have withdrawn to a bench with her ladies, but Arthur looked up at her and smiled, holding out his arm to her.

"Seven years we have been training them, and training mounted soldiers in their use," said Lancelet.

"Thanks to you, dear cousin," Arthur said.

Lancelet turned and smiled. "Thanks to you, my king, who had vision to see what we could do with them."

"Aye," said Arthur softly, "that we would. For what else have we worked since we were tall enough to hold a sword, Galahad?"

He smiled, his rare, sweet smile, and Gwenhwyfar thought, with a stab of pain, Never does he smile at me like that. Yet, when he hears what news I bear him, why then ...

For a moment Lancelet answered the smile, then he sighed.

She was troubled too about Lancelet. He was long past the age when a man should marry. Yet there were men enough who had no mind to women, seeking only for the companionship of their brothers and comrades under arms, and she had wondered often enough if Ban's son were one of them. Well, Lancelet should take his own road; she had consented to that when he left Avalon. If he professed great devotion to the Queen, no doubt, it was only that his comrades should not mock at him as a lover of boys.

Cai went to see to the servants, and Lancelet stayed to give Arthur a hand as he limped, with the help of his stick, to his chamber. Lancelet helped to settle Arthur in bed as tenderly as any nurse.

"If he needs anything in the night, see that you have them call for me, you know where I sleep," he said low, to Gwenhwyfar. "I can lift him more easily than any other-"

"Oh, no, no, I think there will be no need now," she said, "but I thank " you.

He was so tall as he stood next her; he laid his hand gently on her cheek. "If you want to go and sleep among your women, I will stay and watch with him-you look as if you were wanting a long night of unbroken sleep. You are like a nursing mother who has no rest till her babe can sleep through the night without stirring. I can care for Arthur-there is no need for you to watch with him now! I can stay in the room within earshot."

"It will be full spring before I can sit a horse again," he observed gloomily to Gwenhwyfar, who stood close to the courtyard wall, her blue cloak wrapped tight around her.

"It may well be," Lancelet said, "and longer, my dear lord, if you take cold in your wound before it is full healed. Come within doors, I beg you -look, there is snow on Gwenhwyfar's cloak."

"And in your beard, Lance-or is that only the first grey?" Arthur asked, teasing, and Lancelet laughed.

"Both, I suppose-there you have the advantage of me, my king, your beard is so fair the grey will not show when it conies. Here, lean on my arm."

Arthur would have waved him away, but Gwenhwyfar said, "No, take his arm, Arthur, you will undo all our fine leechcraft if you fall-and the stones are slippery underfoot, with this snow melting as it comes down."

Arthur sighed and leaned on his friend's arm. "Now have I had a taste of what it must be like to be old." Gwenhwyfar came and took his other arm, and he laughed. "Will you love me and uphold me like this when indeed there is grey in my beard and hair and when I go on a stick like the Merlin?"

"Even when you are ninety, my lord," said Lancelet, laughing with him. "I can see it well, Gwenhwyfar holding you by one arm and I by the other as our ancient steps totter toward your throne-we will all be ninety or thereabout!"

Arthur laid his hand gently on Lancelot's wrist. "You need never fear that, my friend," he said, "all men know you are the best of my knights, and closest to my throne.

Lancelet raised the cup in his hand and drained it. "I too have had enough of music and feasting, I think-I have ridden since before daylight, since I would come to your games this day, and soon, I think, I will beg leave to be away to my bed, Arthur." Gwenhwyfar gauged his drunkenness by that offhanded Arthur; in public he was always very careful to speak formally to Arthur as "my lord," or "my king," and only when they were alone did he say "cousin" or "Arthur."

"Come, cousin-Gwydion! There's none to carry you to bed-I'll give you my arm. Here, come up, there's my brave fellow," he said, as if he spoke to a child, and Arthur opened his eyes and staggered to his feet. Lancelet's steps were none too steady, either, thought Gwenhwyfar as she followed the men, nor for that matter were her own ... a fine sight they must look, if any servants were sober enough to notice, High King and High Queen and the King's captain of horse all staggering to bed on Beltane-eve too drunk for their feet to carry them ... .

Gawaine watched as the boy loped away, with his long awkward stride, and then said, "You should be one of those old Greeks, as it was told in that saga we read when we were boys. How was he called-Achilles- whose true love was the young knight Patroclus, and neither cared anything for all the fine dames of the court of Troy-God knows every lad in this court worships you as their hero. Pity you have no mind to the Greek fashion in love!"

Lancelet's face turned dusky red. "You are my cousin, Gawaine, and can say such things to me-I would not hear such things from any other, even in jest."

Lancelet turned his eyes away and at last said in a whisper, "I know not if what he said is true. I should take Gwenhwyfar and be gone from here, before it becomes a scandal to all the courts of the world, that I love the wife of my king, and yet ... yet it is Arthur I cannot leave ... I know not but what I love her only because I come close, thus, to him."

"But you do not know all," he whispered. "As we lay together- never, never had anything so-so-" He swallowed and fumbled to put into words what Morgaine could not bear to hear. "I-I touched Arthur -I touched him. I love her, oh, God, I love her, mistake me not, but had she not been Arthur's wife, had it not been for-I doubt even she-" He choked and could not finish his sentence, while Morgaine stood utterly still, appalled beyond speech.

"What can a priest know of this?" he demanded in despair. "No man, I think, has ever felt such-God knows I hear enough of what men desire, they talk of nothing else, and now and then some man reveals something strange he may desire, but never, never, nothing so strange and evil as this! I am damned," he cried out. "This is my punishment for desiring the wife of my king, that I should be held in this terrible bondage -even Arthur, if he knew, would hate and despise me. He knows I love Gwenhwyfar, but this not even he could forgive, and Gwenhwyfar-who knows if she, even she, would not hate and despise me-" His voice choked into silence.

"At times," she said, her face set like stone, "it has seemed to me that you loved Lancelet more than me. Can you say in truth that it was to give me pleasure, or was it for the pleasure of him you loved best of all-?"

He dropped his arm from her neck as if he were stung. "Is it a sin, then, to love my kinsman and think, too, of his pleasure? It is true, I love you both-"

"In Holy Writ it speaks of that city that was destroyed for such sins," said Gwenhwyfar.

Arthur was as white as his shirt. "I love my kinsman Lancelet with all honor, Gwen; King David himself wrote of his cousin and kinsman Jonathan, Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of woman, and God smote him not. It is so with comrades in battle. Dare you to say that such a love is a sin, Gwenhwyfar? I will avow it before the throne of God-" He stopped, unable to force further sound through his dry throat.

Gwenhwyfar heard her own voice cracking with hysteria.

"Can you swear that when you brought him to our bed ... I saw it then, you touched him with more love than ever you have given the woman my father forced on you-when you led me into this sin, can you swear it was not your own sin, and all your fine talk no more than a cover for that very sin that brought down fire from Heaven on the city of Sodom?"

He stared at her, still deathly white. "You are certainly mad, my lady. On that night you speak of-I was drunk, I know not what you may have thought you saw. It was Beltane, and the force of the Goddess was with us all. I think all your prayers and thoughts of sin have turned your mind, my Gwen."

"No Christian man would say so!"

"And that is one reason why I like not to call myself a Christian!" he shouted back at her, losing patience at last. "I am tired of all this talk of sin! If I had put you away from me-aye, and I was counselled to do so, and would not because I loved you too well-and taken another woman-"

"No! Rather would you share me with Lancelet, and have him too-"

"Say that again," he said very low, "and wife or no, love or no, I will kill you, my Gwenhwyfar!"

#𝕤𝕖𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕟 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕤𝕙 ↬ b talks

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