Page 29 of The White Knight

Tonight. My Guinevere arrivestonight. There will be no feast this night, as I am sure Arthur and Guin will need to rest after the long journey. I have asked Faina to prepare a small pizza supper for Guin’s arrival. I have also arranged the room closest to mine for Guin to stay in. It was originally meant for the lady of the castle, but when she was my wife, and only mine, she stayed with me in my chambers.

Though I hope to reunite with Guin as her husband, my intentions are pure. Joyous Gard has been her home for longer than it has been mine. I want to offer Guin a room that will make her feel at home in what has become hers. Though I will offer the room to both Guin and Arthur, I hope Arthur will choose the second option I have prepared for him—one of the guest suites on the opposite side of the keep.

Perhaps my intentions are not so pure.

“They’re here, dad!” Galahad yells from the entrance hall, Augwys standing beside him with a faux grimace.

“I was to announce the arrival of the king and queen, young master.” A smile struggles to keep hidden on Augwys’ face.

“Sorry. I’m just so excited!” Galahad runs up to the mezzanine where I have been standing for the past hour, monitoring all the preparations being made for our honored guests. “Come on, dad. Let’s go so we are the first people they see.”

“I am coming.” I can barely make the words out as Galahad pulls me along, sprinting down the stairs and out into the courtyard.

I feel jittery, nervous. My palms are sweating. My heart is racing. Guin is here. The thought of seeing her again, her copper hair shimmering even in the dimmest light, her pale skin speckled with freckles, those green eyes. How I love every inch of her.

“Mom!” Galahad sprints toward the carriage as it comes to a halt. I stay put, not wanting to show my desperation.

“Is that my son?” Guin jumps out of the carriage, not waiting for assistance as she always does. She pulls Galahad into a hug that would choke an Otso. “How the hell did you grow this much in a year?”

“I ate a lot of pizza?” Galahad shrugs as Guin takes inventory of her son.

“That’ll do it.”

I realize they are speaking English. A smile forms on my face as I approach, sharing in their secret language. “Hello, my love.” I hold out my hand and she fills it with hers, no hesitation. Giving her hand a small kiss, I say, “I have missed you.”

A small breath escapes her mouth and I know she wants nothing more than for me to kiss her again, and not just on her hand.

“Wait, did you just speak English?” She asks, her eyes bright with joy.

“Yes. Our son has been teaching me.”

“Well done, Galahad.”

“Thanks, mom.” Guin hugs Galahad again, but her eyes remain on mine.

I look around and only see Kei, Bedivere, and one of Guin’s maids. No sign of the king. “Where is Arthur?”

“Oh, he wanted to make a quick detour to visit Avalon. He told me to travel on without him, so it’s just us tonight. He will likely be here tomorrow.”

My stomach churns with excitement at having my family to myself tonight. “Why is he going to Avalon?”

“He wishes to apologize to Vivienne in person. And to ask her for advice. Though I don’t know what she can do to help us. We’ve gone over every scenario.”

“Arthur has nothing to apologize for. As I am sure my mother will tell him.” I step closer to Guin, offering her my arm. “Shall we make our way inside? Galahad has prepared a surprise for you.”

Galahad takes Guin’s other arm. “I think you can guess what it is, mom.”

“Hmmmmm…pizza?” The three of us laugh heartily together. We must look like a small family, and for the first time in years, I finally feel like I have one. These two are my family. They are my life. They are my home.

I step in front as we enter the great hall on the ground level of the keep, guiding my son and wife upstairs. We enter the wing where our private apartments are located. “Guin, I have prepared the Lady’s quarters for you. I hope it is to your liking.” I open the door for her. “When you have freshened up, we will be waiting for you in my solar.”

“Thank you, Lance.” Guin’s evergreen eyes dive deep into mine before she enters her room, closing the door behind her.

“I’m going to make sure the pizza is ready, and that Faina didn’t eat it all,” Galahad says, oblivious to the friction pulsing between Guin and me.

I follow him down the hall and into my private rooms. Since arriving back at Joyous Gard, I spend more time in here. Before Guin, I rarely tucked myself away in my apartments. Now? I come here to feel her around me. This is where we would dine most nights, only showing our faces a few times a week in the great hall for meal times.

In this room, I had envisioned our children learning to crawl, to walk, to talk, playing with little baubles. I imagined a whole life I would live with Guin and our family. That life is now a distant dream. Our son will soon turn nine. Though I have cherished our time together this past year, I wish I could have been there for his birth, to watch him grow.

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