The Exile

Part II, Chapter XI

Her Own Woman

This chapter was fun for me to write I got to put in some fun things and do stuff I'd been wanting to do with The Exile for a while. I hope you all enjoy and please feel free to comment.

The story thus far, Guinevere has a new home and a new name but security and employment elude her as she is pressed to choose survival over happiness. Will Gwen do what she feels it is best to do in heart or will she do as she has often done and make the smart choice?

The rear of Madame Santiago's dress shop bustled with activity. Four women in various stages of undress were being fitted for gowns or other items. Madame's employees, also women, wearing simple kirtles with apron's and linen caps, worked on gowns or linings in various stages of completion. She'd seen a number of workshops in the past week. Many of them were strewn with notions, scraps of fabric everywhere. Not Madame Santiago's. Madame's shop had four neat and orderly workstations, each with its own dress form, rack for fabric, shelves for notions such as thread, cord, buttons, hooks etc…The bright scents of sage and rosemary were in the air. Guinevere sniffed deeply and felt herself smiling.

              "You approve?" the voice startled her and Guinevere turned to face an older Galician woman standing in the doorway of study, expression smug, hand on hip. Like the other women she wore a kirtle and apron but hers was of a finer quality and richer color and her dark hair was loose about her shoulders.

              "Madame Santiago?"

              "Yes." The woman inclined her head slightly "You approve of my shop?"

              "Oh yes." Gwen smiled. "It is clean and orderly surely a pleasant and productive work place."

              "Precisely Ms. Jen," Madame paused. "Please step into my office."        

              The older woman's office had its own work station much like that of the younger women. However, Madame also had a desk, bookcase and fireplace. Unlike her employees Madame had a door that she could shut for privacy, she did so now.

              "Please have a seat Ms."

              "Thank you." Guinevere took the simple wooden chair that faced the desk.

              "So Ms. Jenafere you are not from Wyeledon?"

              "No ma'am. I am from Camelot."

              Madame frowned.

              "It is a small kingdom west of Cenred's lands and bordered on the north by Caerleon."

              "I know something of Cenred's lands. He had some small war a few years back."

              "Yes ma'am."

              "Ahh. How long have you been in Wyeledon?"

              "Four weeks."

              Madame nodded. "Wyeledon is a city of travelers, immigrants and visitors. What languages do you speak?"

              "My native tongue is Welsh, Latin of course, I also speak the language of the Francs and Anglos and I am learning Galician."

              "Very good. Is it in vain to hope that you can read and write?"

              "No ma'am. I have learnt to read very well and I can write a legible hand."

              "So this outfit you are wearing, is it your own work?"

              "Yes ma'am."  The outfit was dress and surcoat of rich murrey red. Under the surcoat she wore a white bodice she had embroidered with flowers and birds in gold, green and pink. She'd trimmed the surcoat with the same pattern as the bodice only smaller. She hoped the outfit impressed the older woman. She had gotten both compliments and envious looks on the street.

              "May I?" The older woman held out her hands. Guinevere slipped off the surcoat and handed it to Madame. Madame Santiago studied the stitching, embroidery and structure of the piece.

              "This is well made and well fitted. Will you stand for a moment?"

              Guinevere did as the woman requested and waited patiently while the other woman compared the embroidery on the two garments.

              "Very consistent," Madame gave Guinevere back the surcoat and she slipped it on.

              "Finish this flower."

Madame produced a kerchief that she or some had been embroidering. Guinevere took and picked up where the older woman left off. She'd been taking similar tests all week. She hadn't worked very long when Madame interrupted her.

              "You are clearly quite talented Ms. Jenafere. As long as your references are in order, I may well have a place for you here."

              Gwen did not feel her shoulders rise, but she did feel a tingling pain in the back of her head.

              "Come, it is evident that you have worked in a great house before and you seem a sensible girl. Unless you were dismissed for some scandal or shame then you should have them."

              "I had them." She spoke softly now all the vigor she'd had suddenly gone. "They were ruined during my travels."

              Madame sat up and back then. The face that had been so friendly only a moment ago grew cool and shuddered.

              'Scandal, shame, to return to Camelot is on pain of death.'

              "Well you are a talented girl, but without references- I shall think on it. Return in three day's time." She rose as Madame did, face hot with shame. Not for the first time did Guinevere thank god for the coloring that hid the rush of blood to the cheeks.

              "I see. Thank you for taking the time to see me Madame. I hope that you will give me all due consideration as I should very much look forward to working in your beautiful shop." Then Guinevere turned and walked stiffly out of the shop.

              Gwen stepped into the late afternoon sun and found Tony waiting for her right on time. Father Flaeger had arranged for Tony to serve as her guide. He came from a peasant family. His mother, who was ill, could no longer work so the child took odd jobs.

              "How'd it go?"

              "Same as always, they like me, they want to see my references and when they can't I get "we'll think about it"." She sighed.

              "I'm sorry Ms. Jen but why not write home for more?" His dark face was quizzical

              She frowned; she'd been considering that herself.

              "Far more easily said than done Tony," Gwen sighed "Paper is not inexpensive, I have to find someone going not just to Camelot but the capital and they have to give the letters to the people who wrote the original references. Then I still have to wait for the new references to be brought here. It is an expensive proposition."

              "I spose'." The boy looked at her doubtfully.

              "What about you? How did you do today?"

              Tony smiled proudly "I earned four coppers while you were having your interviews."      

              "That’s great." Gwen felt a twinge of selfish envy and reluctantly paid the boy a copper for his work.         

              Gwen kept herself busy working on her wardrobe and helping Luisa, the housekeeper with chores when she needed a change of pace. Sometimes she helped weed the backyard vegetable garden, other times she helped Luisa prepare the evening meal; anything to keep her mind from her worries. The job with Adras could not start soon enough.

A gentle summer breeze stirred the parlor drapes making the room cool and comfortable. Gwen pressed her bare feet against the cool green and white floor tiles. The upstairs parlor was far too warm to enjoy right now and she wondered how comfortable the second floor rooms would be at the height of summer. Ms. Alfonsa did not have a flat roof that one might sleep on.

"You and Adras are going out tomorrow?"

"Mhmm," Gwen replied as she smoothed the thread before pushing it through the eye of the needle."You should come with us."

Synove's brow creased in the way it often did, but Guinevere had yet to figure out what it meant.

"I should accompany the two of you?"

"Adras needs fabric and you know the market very well."

"Jen I know you need references but Adras? What are going to make for her, pants? If you're going to be making gowns for women I don't understand how that could possibly help."

It was Gwen's turn to frown, "It will demonstrate my skills and work ethic."

"Perhaps, but you'd do better with some more conventional clients I think. Perhaps Mrs. Cerridwyn or Mrs. Ashdown or one of their friends needs new dresses. I'll ask around."

Gwen reinforced the last stitch in the hem of the powder blue russet dress she was working on and stood up. She pulled the dress over her head and smoothed it into place thinking over Synove's words. The dress was designed to fit comfortably over a chemise, stays and kirtle but she'd also wanted to wear it during the summer without the kirtle at least.

"Adras's behavior simply does not trouble me."

"Yes I can see that," the other woman replied dryly and Guinevere ignored her.

"Help me with these laces," She'd added lacing on either side of the dress just below the arms. The ribbons were both practical and decorative. They'd allow the dress to be tightened and loosed without being refitted, which would ideally make it work without a kirtle. Synove tied one side while she did the other.

"Well, look at that," Synove said as they faced the metal mirror Ms. Alfonsa had loaned her."I think it works."

 The bodice of the dress was fitting smoothly, the powder blue was bright against her honey brown skin and the embroidered ribbons were pretty darned cute. Gwen smiled. She needed to go flower picking; some dried flowers would look nice in her hair. She didn’t need fancy metal clasps.

She faced the other woman then. "What do you think about the neckline, lower?"

Synove grinned and her brown eyes twinkled mischievously "Much lower and you should widen the neckline too. Show just a bit of shoulder and display that lovely collarbone oh and do you have any of that ribbon left?"

Gwen nodded.

"You should make it into a trim for the neckline."

She smiled "I think you're right."

Gwen undid the ribbons and pulled the dress over her head.

"Now about the market, is there nothing I can say that will convince you to accompany? You know the market so well."

Synove started to speak but paused "I had better not come with you; I do have some work to do. However I can tell you who will give you best prices and more importantly what to say to them"

Gwen considered for a moment before nodding in agreement. It seemed that this was the best she was going to get.

Neither she nor Adras knew how to find the fabric market. Tony was recruited to escort them with the promise of a half-piece.

"The ribbons are a nice touch especially with the trim one the neckline. Its quite" she paused a moment before smiling "bold I like it."

"We could always make you one but I don't think it would suit you."

Tony interrupted whatever Adras was about to say just then.

"Here we are Ms. Adras, Ms. Jen."

"Thank you Tony." Adras paid him and Gwen said a quick good-bye to the child before he hurried off to continue plying his trade.

Once in the market Gwen had a fairly good idea of where to go. She remembered the locations of a couple merchants and Synove had told her where to find a few others.

"Had you considered colors at all?" Gwen asked.

"Maybe copper if we can find it."

Gwen nodded "I was also thinking of walnut, virgin blue and emerald green."

"I like those colors."

"What about a nice brocade?"

"For trousers?"

"Yes, why not or perhaps a formal length tunic?"

"A formal tunic?" Adras seemed far more incredulous than she'd expected.

"Or not."

"No, I would love a formal tunic. It's just that every seamstress I've dealt with has always had to have been coerced into making me a tunic for formal wear.

"Well you're employing me now Adras," Gwen smiled, "and you can have whatever you like."

The redhead's eyebrows arched into her hairline and she chuckled.

"Careful Jen, you may yet regret that offer."

"Not if you pay me well enough," Gwen countered cheekily.

The two women shopped for some hours finding the fabrics that best suited Adras' needs and complexion. In the end, they bought all of the colors that Guinevere suggested, two brocades and a few muslins to serve as linings for the new garments. Gwen was going to be busy with this work for some time and her anxiety about finding employment began to ease.

"So Jen, fancy some lunch?" Adras asked.

"It is about that time, sure."

"Do you have a taste for anything in particular, lunch is on me."

Gwen considered for a moment "Fish actually it's so very fresh here."

Adras smiled "Are you sure? We can get red meat and cheese if you like with white bread?"

"I know its simple peasant fare and I do enjoy the richer foods but sometimes cabbage and turnips and peas with a little butter and fish and fresh brown bread just seems heavenly, unless you'd like something else?"

"Oh no Gwaine and I grew up on that simple food and you're right it can be heavenly." The two women shared a smile. "We'll get some fresh fish and whatever vegetables are at the market and walk over to Snake's Wineskin. They'll cook it for us.  The cooks at Snake's really know what they are doing. They provide all the herbs and seasonings for you."

Gwen nodded.

Adras made arrangements to have her purchases carted over to Ms. Alfonsa's and then headed over the fish market.

Adras purchased a good sized salmon, a small cabbage, an onion, some garlic and turnips. _____ provided the herbs and seasonings.  The atmosphere was friendly not unlike the taverns back home plaster walls and ceilings supported by wooden beam and simple wooden chairs and tables. They waited in a short queue to hand the fish and vegetables over to the cook and then found a table.

"We have no...taverns -taverns is not the right word- like this in Camelot, seems rather convenient."

"Supposedly it is a Roman kitchen."

 "Do the merchants imitate the empire in all things?"Gwen faintly amused, "I'm surprised they don't wear togas and leather skirts."

"Oh some of them do! Come July you'll see them walking about full of pride at their civilized ways rubbing their swollen bellies, with gold wingtips on their sandals."  Adras shook her head in bemusement and Guinevere laughed, not at all certain if she wanted to see the picture Adras' words created.

They didn't have to wait very long for their food to be brought to them. The plates were beautiful. Turnips and peas cooked to perfection, dressed with little sprigs of parsley, salmon lying alongside it, in perfect fillets, the spicy fragrance of pepper, garlic and onion teased their nostrils.

"It smells wonderful," Gwen said wide-eyed.

"I told you Ma is the best."

The two women dug into their meal. Guinevere savoring first the warm buttery taste of the salmon and then the slightly sweet tender flavor of the turnips.

"You did well back there."

Gwen wiped her mouth and sipped at the mead. "What do you mean?"

"With the merchants I always pay ten times that amount."

"Ten times?"

"They come to my house and I bargain them down of course. But damn, I never get deals that good. Perhaps I should start going back to the market."

"Perhaps," Guinevere shrugged."Adras 'um were you planning to write Gwaine about meeting me?"

"Yes actually but I hadn't yet."

"Would you mind terribly not writing him yet?"

Adras was silent for a long moment brown eyes locked on hers.

"Why?" She said at last and took a bite of her food.

"I didn't leave under the best circumstances." She pleading tone creep into her voice "I'd like to write him myself once I'm more 'er established."

Gwen bit her bottom lip and watched Adras intently. She knew that the other woman wanted Gwaine to know that she was doing as he'd asked. She just hoped Adras didn't mind waiting a little while yet.

Finally the red-head nodded and Guinevere relaxed.

"Thank you."

"Just short while though," Adras admonished and Gwen nodded in agreement.

"Yes of course." Guinevere took a bite of her fish then and sighed as the warm buttery taste of salmon filled her mouth.

"You're really enjoying that," Adras said

Her eyes flew open and she smiled. "It's really good. I'm glad we came here."

"Good," Adras sipped her mead and leaned forward a bit "Tell me how it is that you know my brother."

"He didn't tell you?"

The other woman shook her head negative, wiped her mouth and took a sip of her mead.

"No. Letters from Gwaine are few and far between seeing as how he never learned to read and write. He only told me that you were a dear friend, "that you were a wonderful, kind and caring woman, there was some trouble afoot and to please look out for you." I know very little of your history or your friendship with Gwaine."

"Well it's very simple he is a knight to the king and I was a maid at the palace. After he became a knight he did not become unfriendly to servants and so we retained our friendship."

Adras nodded "That is very like him. Though," she paused "I still don't understand how it is that he became a knight at all. That is certainly not something he ever wanted before. I thought surely when he left for Camelot he'd back in a few months but…I just don't understand it. The Gwaine I know wanted no part of nobles or royalty."

"Ahhh- the king of Camelot is somewhat different. He promoted a number of commoners for knighthood and respects all people no matter their station."

"You speak highly of him."

"He is a good man, I suppose." Guinevere frowned. "But Gwaine is a good man too. He and a good friend of mine are very close." Gwen launched into the tale of Gwaine and Merlin's first meeting.

After lunch Guinevere and Adras went back to Ms. Alfonsa's. There Gwen fitted Adras for a muslin lining that would serve as the guide for all trousers she made for the taller woman going forward. From there she'd make a partial lining and have Adras over for another fitting. If they were satisfied she'd use the guide to make all the other pants. If not Gwen would make the necessary adjustments and refit the lining. If she was doing her job properly then she shouldn't have to refit the lining more than once.

Guinevere spent the next couple of days in the parlor working on Adras' order and listening to Synove sing, Ylsa tell stories or Kerenza talk about her work for Mr.Leufrid. It seemed now they were looking into the philosopher's stone. Ms. Alfonsa was out on business both days but stopped in to chat with her from time-to-time.

"You have been working so hard these past few days, Jen." Ms. Alfonsa walked into the parlor on that third afternoon.

"Well I'd like to get this work done for Adras as quickly as possible."

"Of course," Ms. Alfonsa moved one of the chairs to the other side of the end table Gwen was using for her sew basket and notions."I understand you've been having a difficult time with your job search."

Gwen sighed, "Yes, my references were ruined when I fell in the river."

"Unfortunate that," Ms Alfonsa took a deep breath "I understand Mr. Theobauld's household still needs a maid."

Gwen grimaced. The idea of being a maid again made her quite sick.

"Hear me out." Ms. Alfonsa said "I like you Jen a lot and it is unfair that you’re having such difficulty. Unfair as it is you must understand. If you turn down opportunities for honest work and are later unable to pay your rent I will find it difficult to be sympathetic.  I know you don't want to be a maid and I don't blame you, but a smart woman of character and good background must be eager to take the honest work comes to her. Especially when that work will allow her to build the references she so dearly lacks."

"I have this work from Adras and surely I shall find more.  Synove has said she will recommend me to her employers."

"That's all well and good but there are no guarantees on these things. Take the maid job Jen," Ms. Alfonsa squeezed her arm gently "else I shall find it difficult to be sympathetic to you in the future." With that Ms. Alfonsa rose and smiled down at her "I hope we understand on another dear."

Gwen watched the older woman as she strode from the room and a new sense of unsettledness washed over her.

Gwen squinted at the late morning sun. Normally she loved letting the heat wash over her and soak into her muscles. Today it made her sick. Or maybe it was something else. The meazlis case in portside of the city was now several meazlis cases and the city officials were starting to wonder if this was the beginning of an outbreak. If that were the case, the sight of reaper's cart loaded with the tiny bodies of children would soon be a regular sight. Having survived meazlis as a child Gwen had nothing to fear but no one liked that sight. Her steps brought her home and Gwen open the door to find Ms. Alfonsa and Ylsa in the foyer chatting.

"Ahhh Jen I was just on my way out. The interview went well?"

Somehow she stretched her face into an unenthusiastic smile.

"They want me to start Monday."

"I know you have doubts about this Jen but you will see it is a wise choice," Ms. Alfonsa congratulated her and headed out the door.

"You want to play a game of solitaire or are you gonna be working on Adras' clothes?" Ylsa asked.

"Actually I feel kind of sick. I'm going to lie down."

Gwen lay down on her bed with a sigh as her stomach twisted. The upset had started almost the moment she'd agreed to start work on Monday. The walk home had only made her nauseatingly hot and now her head was starting to hurt.

"You feel sick Jen?"

Gwen looked over her shoulder to see Ylsa standing beside her bed. She hadn't heard the other woman follow her.

"Yes."

"What's bothering you?" The midwife's tone was incredibly gentle.

"I feel nauseas and my head hurts." Gwen was surprised to hear a vaguely plaintive tone in her voice.

"Scoot over a bit." 

She did as the other woman asked and felt Ylsa's weight settle beside her.

"Being a midwife I know something about stomach upsets."

She felt Ylsa's fingertips marching in small soothing circles along her back and the woman began to hum. Very slowly the knot of tension in her stomach began to loosen. A familiar tune, one her mother had sung to her when she wasn't feeling well.

 "I think you just have a case of nerves." Ylsa said softly "Try to relax, try to sleep. I know you don't always sleep well."

She started humming again and Gwen felt a slow lassitude seem to settle over her. Ylsa was right she didn't always sleep well. She followed the soothing melody of the tune Ylsa hummed and let her breathing fall in time with it. Slowly, slowly the ache in her head began to dissipate as if the tension were somehow flowing out and away with the song.

"That's right you feel better now hmm?"

"Yes."

"No more tummy ache, no more head ache?"

Gwen chuckled at her friend's words.

"No. I feel much better actually."

"Good. You don't want that job do you?"

"No. I don't want to be a maid. Once was enough."

She felt her stomach twisting.

"Stay calm. If this job is gonna make you sick then don't take it."

"But I need money. What if I run out of savings and this job is gone and no one will hire me? Then what?"

"What's worse? Fearing you won't find work in the future or taking a job that will make you ill in the present?"

"I do not know. The job would be safe, secure but…"She thought back to the last time she'd made the safe choice, at the river.

"Security is important but sometimes you must take risks as well. Everyone in Wyeledon takes risk. We are all immigrants it was a risk to come here without family or support."

"I came by accident." Gwen murmured.

"By accident to a city of risk perhaps you were guided here to learn something of yourself to learn to gamble on yourself."

"I don't know Ylsa."

"It is your decision. Now as a midwife I know a lot about health and I am ordering more sleep for you. Tomorrow the two of us shall go and pick some herbs to make a sleeping potion for you and also a distress potion."

"That is a good idea." Guinevere shifted onto her side so that she could see her friend's face.  "Why didn't I think of that?"

"You know herbs?" Ylsa asked expression piqued.

"Yes, I studied a lot with the court physician back home."

"Oh. Hmm, why didn't you say so? I need help keeping all my potions and remedies mixed and fresh. If you know herbs and plants I'll gladly pay you to gather and prepare some for me."

Gwen felt her eyes widen. "Really?"

"Yeah, I pay some of the local children but they don't know the herbs as well and they can't prepare them. Someone with medical knowledge though would be a big help. You may even be able to help Kerenza. She sometimes has to make preparations too."

"Well I'd be glad to. I'm feeling a lot better now actually."

"Good. Now why didn't you mention this knowledge sooner?" Ylsa's tone was chiding and Gwen gapped at her.

"I hadn't finished and besides I'm not certain I want to be a physician anymore they are always employed by houses and lords and I don't want to be attached to a family."Gwen yawned as she was finishing. The lassitude that had settled over her while Ylsa tended her headache seemed to be surging again.

"Ooohhh I think I see.  We'll talk about this later. Get some sleep; Mr. Howard will be here soon."

"Mr. Howard? This will be his second time coming to see you this week."

Ylsa preened "I'm letting him take me to all the plays."

"Oh, well you are looking lovely. Enjoy!"

"Thank you." Ylsa patted her hair and smoothed her pink dress. "I'll check on you when I get home." The two women kissed each other's cheeks.

When Ylsa had gone Gwen let the lassitude wash over her as she drifted into sleep.

Gwen opened her eyes. The golden light of the sunset stained the walls of their bedroom a warm sepia. She could not recall what she dreamed, something about Arthur and being safe but unsafe.

"I want you to be as secure as I can make you." He'd said those words to her on more than one occasion. Her mind wondered to the last time.

              "Gwen," Arthur took her hands as he so often did, twining his warm, strong fingers with hers to pull her close to him. "I've missed you."

              Guinevere felt a sweet, pounding swell her heart at those words. They were in his room suite standing near his desk weak autumn sunlight of late afternoon shone through the windows.

"I missed you too."

              He smiled and leaned down to press a soft kiss against her lips. She smiled slightly even as she kissed him back. She'd missed this too, his arms, his lips, and the scent of cassia, sandalwood and cloves that always clung to him, the sea blue of his eyes. He pulled back a bit and she pressed forward not ready to be done with his kiss.

              "Wait," his words were soft but urgent and he brushed gentle fingertips against her lip. "I don't want to forget." Arthur turned away from her for a moment and she let her eyes travel over the length of him. Taking in his blue tunic and vest the way his muscles pushed and shaped the fabric, his proud profile.

"I have something for you." His had squeezed hers and Gwen felt a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

              "A present but you don't have-"

              "I wanted to." He faced her then, eyes warm and serious, a red silk wrapped bundle in his large hand.

              Lately if Arthur left for more than a few days he always returned with some little gift for her. Gwen felt a stirring of excitement as she eyed the bundle in his hand she was getting used to these little presents. The silk itself was beautiful a long length of luxurious bright red, gleaming in the late afternoon sunlight begging to be touched. She took it from him and felt the softness of the material and the hard metal it concealed. Gwen eyed him curiously before unwrapping the silk to reveal a bronze hair clasp.

              The sun dropping below or perhaps climbing above the horizon had been carved in exquisite detail, rays bending and curving, blossoming like a rare black flower.

              "It's beautiful Arthur."

              He was smiling a very pleased self-satisfied looking smile.

"Thank you."

              "Try it on."

"All right."

Gwen sat the ornament on Arthur's desk and began undoing her braid very conscious of his eyes following her hands through her hair.

"Tell me about your trip." She said suddenly nervous at his scrutiny.

"Nothing to tell, it was rather boring actually." He fingered one of her stray curls. "We met with King Bayard of Mercia and discussed whether or not there would be a problem with the Saxons. It seems the Wyeledon merchants have made some sort of arrangement with the Galician. So that port is at least secure. No Vikings or raiders should be expected from there but there are so many inlets for invaders to land in."

"That doesn't sound boring at all." Gwen shook out her curls and felt her face grow hot as Arthur's gaze darkened and narrowed.

"Turn about," he said softly.

"Hmmm?"

"Turn," he emphasized by pantomiming with his hand.

"Very well," Gwen turned still thinking to do up her hair when she felt Arthur's larger hands close firmly round her own and his firm chest briefly brushed her back.

"Let's put these here." He lowered her hands gently to her sides, pressing them briefly to her hips. A moment later she felt a soft kiss on the back of her head

"I may not be a handmaiden but I am certain I can do up a hair clasp."

She started to turn, retort on her lips but his hands warm and firm on her shoulders kept her gently but firmly in place.

"Now you were saying that the meeting didn't sound boring at all?"

"Not at all." The feel of his hands sliding gently over her elicited a little sigh and she felt him making a simple part in the center of her hair.

"It sounds exciting and perhaps a bit scary."

"Scary?"

"Just a bit."

Was he smelling her hair? A moment later she felt a soft lingering kiss on the side of her neck.

"I thought you were doing my hair?" She chided lightly.

"I am I assure you," his breath was warm against her ear "but truly Madame you shouldn't have such a lovely tempting neck. What am I to do when presented with this silk, honey skin but adore it with kisses?" His words set her a tingle as if he were indeed pressing soft kisses there.

His fingertips slid along the column of her throat and leaned into his touch savoring the feel of them.

"As you wish Madame," a moment later he was gathering her hair and fastening the clasp so it sat loosely at the base of her neck."You'd have been brilliant at the conference."

He pushed the ponytail forward over one shoulder.

"No, I'd have blurted out something ridiculous at the wrong time."

"Guinevere," he turned her about "You do have a penchant for speaking your mind but you speak with such wisdom. I've heard about how you handled my uncle when we were away. Your words were quite the weapon to defend Camelot from cowardice."

              She grew hot with embarrassment.       

"You heard about that?"

"Yes, I was quite proud of you." He toyed with the curls resting on her right breast.

"Of me?" Gwen pushed her ponytail back over her shoulder so that her hair now hung down her back. Arthur pouted at her but she stared him down.

"So you were proud of me?"

"Yes absolutely."He rested his hands on her waist and kissed her again briefly. "Now I have something else for you." He turned back to the desk and pulled a small felt pouch from the chest on the writing table.

"Arthur," she frowned "is that money?"

"Yes. Guinevere, this is a bonus. An acknowledgement of the work you've done on Camelot's behalf nursing my father," he swallowed all playfulness gone from his expression. "I could not have concentrated on running the kingdom if I'd have been worried about who was looking after him."

"Arthur," she took his face in her hands, and fixed her eyes on his. He must be made to understand this, "If taking care of you and taking care of this kingdom means taking care of him so be it."

He looked down and then looked back at her eyes pleading for something.

"You're giving me something that I did not give to you."

"That was in the past. We were different then."

"-I know but I want to- Let me acknowledge it-"

"It's an act of love; it can only be repaid in kind."

He had kissed her then deeply. Crushing her body to his as if she were the most important thing in the all the world. The strength and solidness of her muscles of melted away and she pressed close to him taking all that he had to offer.

Two days later she returned home from work and found the felt pouch sitting on her table with a note not unlike the one he'd left with the pouch of silver he'd given her a few years ago. Only this note ordered her to keep them. When she'd opened the pouch and seen the gold inside Gwen had nearly fainted from the shock.

Six, gold, coins.

The only one of Arthur's remaining gifts. Six, gold, coins enough to buy her room and board at Ms. Alfonsa's for two years. Six, gold, coins given to serve her when she needed it.

"I want you to be as secure as I can make you."

Gwen got out of bed; black curls messy from sleep. She had six gold coins and it was time to part with at least one of them.

Next week we are back in Camelot, for Chapter XII.  Already close to the edge Arthur and Merlin learn some painful truths.