Page 55 of Propriety
Guinevere had to remind herself to breathe, to close her jaw. “Congratulations, Morgana.” She tried to smile at her sister’s news. “I know you must be excited.”
“Oh, thrilled, sister.” She pulled Gwen into a hug. “I just hope he’s back before the birth.”
“The father?” She felt stiff, like she was watching this interaction from the air.
“Well, yes,” Morgana nudged her like they were old friends. “I begged Arthur to bring them home, but he said the Grail quest was moreimportant than the father being home.” She was holding her stomach now, beaming.
“Oh,” She felt her hold on her sanity slipping, felt the world drifting by her.
The Grail quest.
I love you.
“Lancelot doesn’t even know, which is the biggest shame of all.” Morgana sighed, rolling her eyes like she was discussing a rotten meal.
Lancelot
Lancelot
Lancelot
Her heart surged, hands beginning to tremble. “L-Lancelot?” She stuttered, desperately trying to process the words she had just heard. His name felt like ash on her tongue. “Has it been that long?”
“Yes, silly.” Morgana tapped the tip of her nose with a single finger. “We spent his last night in Camelot together. He’s quite the romp.” Her eyes sparkled, holding no malice, no ill intent.
Guinevere had to clear her mind.
She was a walking, bumbling, grieving mess.
“Three months.” She said, the words tasting sour in her mouth. Time was wrong. Days were too long, weeks were too short. She couldn’t keep them straight.
“Are you quite well, sister?” Morgana cupped the queen’s face in her hand, frowning. “Maybe you should lie down. You don’t look so good.”
“Y-yes.” She nodded, trying not to stumble as she willed her legs to move.
“My heavens,” the other woman took her arm, “Let me help you,dear.”
She moved like a ghost through the halls. Her head swam, her stomach begged to be upturned. Morgana continued to chatter at her side, about the baby, abouthim, about nothing at all.
Gwen couldn’t hear her over the sound of her heart beating in her ears.
It was the only thing that told her she was still alive.
I love you.
Inside her chambers, Morgana helped her lie down on the bed. She brushed her hair off of her damp forehead. “Don’t despair, your grace.” She pressed a kiss to Gwen’s cheek. “It will happen for you soon. You know how desperately Arthur wants an heir.”
23
She didn’t sleep.
Or maybe she did.
It didn’t matter.
She lay on her bed, fully clothed, for a lifetime, for an age.
She didn’t even process what Morgana had said until she rose the next morning.
