Page 50 of The White Knight

Chapter 31

Lancelot

I am startled awakeas Guin launches herself off the bed, her coppery red locks darting behind her as she sprints behind the folding screen in the corner of her bedchamber. As I swing my legs over the bed, I hear Guin retching.

Arthur rolls over from the other side of the bed, still groggy from the early hour and lack of sleep. “Is Guinevere okay?”

“I do not know. She jumped out of bed and ran straight over to the corner. I was just about to check on her.”

Arthur massages his eyelids, rubbing the sleep from beneath, then searches the blankets for his clothes. I stretch my legs into my pants and let out a yawn. Together, we walk over to the corner where Guin has gone silent.

“Perhaps we were too rough with her last night. I should not have let her—”

“No,” I interrupt Arthur, “Guin can take it, trust me. I think she might be—”

“Pregnant. I’m pregnant,” Guin groans. She is still naked from rushing out of bed too quickly to even think about dressing. Iam at her side in two strides, pulling her cold body to my warm chest.

“Arthur, can you grab her robe? The one hanging on the other side of the screen. Guin is freezing.”

As he drapes the fabric around Guin’s back, he says, “How are you feeling, my dear?”

“Like I’m not done puking.”

On cue, Guin pushes off of me and releases the remaining contents of her stomach into the chamber pot. I hold her hair back as Arthur helps Guin get her arms through the robe. A few moments later, Guin collapses against me. “I don’t think there is anything more inside me. But I still feel so nauseous.”

“I will fetch you something to drink.” Arthur stands up and is out the door before either of us can respond.

I wrap my arms around Guin as gently as possible and place a kiss just below her jaw. “Do you want me to carry you back to bed?”

“No, I might puke again.”

“You need to lie down, rest. What if I bring over a fresh pot?”

“Okay. That would be nice then. I just don’t want to puke all over our bed.”

I chuckle as I lift her up slowly. Arthur walks in, accompanied by Elaine. “I thought you might be feeling worse today,” Elaine appraises.

“What do you mean?” I place Guin on the bed and take a cup of water from Elaine’s hands, slowly pouring the cold liquid down Guin’s throat.

“I was feeling queasy at the games yesterday. Well, all week. I thought maybe it was just nerves.”

“When you could not stomach the sight of cheese,” Elaine says, “I knew then you were with child. You must be.”

All three of us look at Guin, but she just stares back at us, exhausted. Perhaps Arthur and Iwerea bit too rough with herlast night. “Why are you shirtless, Lancelot? And where are your shoes?” Elaine asks.

“Oh, I uh…”

“I called down to him when Guinevere first appeared unwell,” Arthur attempts a lie, but Elaine sees right through it.

“Hmmm…and why, your Highness, are you wearing Lancelot’s shirt and yours is thrown on the ground over there?”

I follow Elaine’s pointed finger to the tunic on the floor, all rumpled up, but so obviously Arthur’s with a golden dragon peeking out from the wrinkles. Arthur and I can only stare at each other, at a loss for words.How are we going to get out of this one?

“Who is the father?” Elaine asks bluntly. She has grown braver in her womanhood. Bravery is something I do not have at this moment. The three of us have been so careful in public. Guin and Arthur remain a happy couple. I am their loyal chancellor. No one has suspected our secret. Now it is out in the open for Elaine to peer into. I am terrified at how she will react. Elaine raises her eyebrows. “Both of you, perhaps?”

I look away from her, into the eyes of my beloved wife. “Any child Guinevere bears is Arthur’s of course. She is his wife and queen.”

“Mm hmmm.” Elaine makes a sound I so often hear come from Guin. It startles me. “And you two just happen to be in my queen’s bedchambers so early in the morning. It is okay. Your secret is safe with me.”

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