Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

ARTHUR

I woke up slowly this time, rising from the depths of a blessedly dreamless sleep. The first thing I became aware of was the warmth enveloping me, seeping into my chilled bones, and soothing my aching muscles. The second was the solid presence at my back, the rise and fall of a broad chest pressed against my shoulder blades.

My eyes fluttered open, blinking away the lingering haze of sleep. Shifting slightly, I craned my neck to glance behind me and found myself gazing into a pair of familiar steel-gray eyes, glinting with mischief.

"Well, good morning, my lady," Gawain murmured, his deep voice still rough with sleep. "I was beginning to think I'd have to resort to more drastic measures to wake you."

I felt a flush creep up my neck, immediately aware of every place our bodies touched. The strong arm draped over my waist, his muscular thigh pressed against the back of my own, the soft puff of his breath stirring the fine hairs at my nape.

"Gawain? What are you doing?"

"Keeping you warm. You were shivering in your sleep. I couldn't let you freeze to death, could I?"

I was suddenly very aware of the heat of his skin seeping through the layers of clothing between us. My breath hitched as his hand slid lower on my belly, his fingers grazing the sensitive skin just above the waistband of my trousers.

"Gawain," I breathed, my voice coming out far breathier than I intended. "We can't—the others."

"Shh," he murmured, his lips brushing the shell of my ear and sending a shiver racing down my spine. "They're all still asleep. It's just you and me right now."

His hand dipped lower, slipping beneath the fabric to skim over my hip bone. I bit back a moan, my body responding to his touch with a speed that left me dizzy.

"I can make you feel pleasure, Arthur," Gawain whispered, his voice a low rumble that I felt all the way to my core. "Just say the word and I'll chase all those dark thoughts right out of your pretty head."

I knew I should put a stop to this. We were on a dangerous quest, surrounded by deadly ancient magic. The fate of the kingdom rested on my shoulders. I couldn't afford any distractions.

But gods, the way Gawain was touching me, the heat of his breath on my neck, and the promise in his words...

I let out a shaky breath, my resolve crumbling under the onslaught of Gawain's skilled fingers. "Okay," I whispered, my voice barely audible even to my own ears. "Okay, just...be quiet."

I could feel Gawain's smile against my neck, his teeth grazing my pulse point and making me shudder. "As you wish, my queen," he purred.

His hand slid fully into my trousers, his calloused palm rough against the smooth skin of my lower belly. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from crying out as his fingers dipped lower, brushing against the slick heat at the apex of my thighs.

Gawain groaned softly, the sound muffled against my shoulder. "Gods, Arthur, you're so wet already. Is this all for me?"

My hips canted forward of their own accord, seeking more of his touch. "Yes," I gasped, beyond caring how desperate I sounded. "Please, Gawain."

He needed no further encouragement. His fingers delved into my heat, stroking and circling, mapping out the most sensitive parts of me like he'd been born to it. I rocked against his hand, biting my lip hard enough to taste blood as I fought to keep my moans contained.

Gawain's other hand slid up under my tunic, cupping my breast and thumbing roughly at my nipple through the thin fabric of my breast band. The dual sensations were maddening, the ache between my thighs building to a fever pitch as Gawain worked me with expert precision.

"That's it," he encouraged, his voice a dark honey rumble in my ear. "Think of my cock filling you up until you’re stretched deliciously.” I groaned, my hand coming up to cover my mouth. His lips pressed against my ear. “One day soon, I’m going to fuck you until your thighs shake around my hips.”

His fingers curled inside me, finding that secret spot that made stars burst behind my eyelids. I came apart with a choked cry, my body shaking as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over me. Gawain held me through it, his touch gentling as he coaxed me down from the peak.

I sagged back against him, my limbs feeling deliciously heavy and languid. Gawain pressed a kiss to my temple, his hand slipping out of my trousers to rest on my hip.

"Better?" he asked, a note of smug satisfaction in his tone.

"Mmm," I hummed, not quite able to form words yet.

As the aftershocks of pleasure slowly faded, reality began to seep back in, bringing with it a sinking feeling of guilt and unease. What had I just done?

I sat up abruptly, pulling away from Gawain's embrace and tugging my clothing back into place with shaking hands. I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes, afraid of what I might see there: smugness, pity, maybe even regret.

"Arthur," Gawain said softly, reaching for me. I flinched away from his touch, wrapping my arms around myself as if I could physically hold together the pieces of my composure.

"I just need a moment," I said, my voice sounding hollow to my own ears.

"Arthur, wait?—"

But I was already pushing myself to my feet, ignoring the twinge of protest from my stiff muscles. I needed space, needed to clear my head of the lingering haze of need. I couldn't afford to be weak, not now, not with so much at stake.

Stalking away from our little camp, my boots crunched on the dry leaves and twigs littering the forest floor. I didn't have a destination in mind. I just needed to put some distance between myself and what had just happened.

What the hell was I thinking, letting Gawain touch me like that? Letting him make me fall apart with his skilled fingers? I was supposed to be their leader, the one they looked to for strength and guidance.

I paused at the edge of a small stream, the burbling water providing a soothing balm to my chaotic thoughts. Sinking down onto a fallen log, I buried my face in my hands, trying to calm the roiling emotions churning in my gut.

Everything was such a mess. I couldn't deny the attraction between us, the spark that had been simmering under the surface since the moment we met. But acting on it? Letting it distract me? That was a luxury I couldn't afford. And what about Merlin? What about this thing that was finally out in the open between us?

As I sat there, lost in my swirling thoughts, I didn't notice the soft footfalls approaching until a familiar figure settled onto the log beside me. I glanced up to see Galahad, his fiery red hair glinting in the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves.

He didn't say anything at first, just sat there with me, his presence a quiet comfort. I found myself studying his profile, tracing the strong lines of his jaw, the regal slope of his nose that had a very slight bump on the bridge. He really was unfairly handsome, with those deep brown eyes that seemed to see straight into the heart of a person.

After a moment, he turned to me, a gentle smile curving his lips. "You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders."

I let out a humorless chuckle. "That's because I do. Or at least, it feels that way." I sighed, running a hand through my tangled hair. “You, um, didn’t happen to…” My cheeks flamed, and suddenly my entire body felt hot.

Galahad grinned at me, lighting up his entire face. “Did I happen to see Gawain make you come on his fingers?”

“Gods…” I groaned, throwing my face in my hands.

Galahad chuckled softly, the sound warm and rich. "Don't be embarrassed. It's a natural thing to seek comfort and pleasure in times of stress. Gods know we could all use a little of that right now."

I peeked at him through my fingers, my blush still burning hot. "It's not just that. I'm supposed to be leading this quest, keeping my head on straight. Not getting distracted by...by whatever that was with Gawain."

Galahad reached out, gently prying my hands away from my face. He clasped them in his own, his skin warm and slightly calloused against mine. "Arthur, listen to me. You are not just a leader, and not just a queen in waiting. You are a woman with needs and desires like any other."

His thumb brushed over my knuckles, the touch sending a flood of warmth through my body. "Denying yourself, punishing yourself for being human, well, half human, will only make this quest harder in the end. You need to allow yourself these moments of respite. It's what will keep you strong when the true trials come."

I stared at him, my lips parted in surprise. Of all the reactions I had expected, this calm acceptance and encouragement was not one of them. "You really believe that?"

Galahad smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I do. Besides, we’re your knights. We’re here to serve you.”

“Not in that way, I’m sure…”

His gaze dropped to my lips, a smoldering heat flickering in those deep brown eyes. "In any way you desire," he murmured, his voice low and full of promise.

My breath caught in my throat, pulse racing as I processed the weight of his words. Surely he couldn't mean? But the intensity of his stare left little room for doubt.

Galahad's hand released mine, only to trail slowly up my arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. "You carry such a heavy burden," he whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear with a tenderness that made my heart ache. "Let us help lighten it, in whatever manner we can."

His fingers lingered on my jaw, tilting my face up towards his. We were so close now, the warmth of his breath ghosted across my lips. It would be so easy to just let go, to fall into his arms and let him chase away the cold, creeping dread that had taken root in my bones.

As much as my body screamed for his touch, my mind still hesitated. "I don't want to take advantage," I breathed, searching his eyes for any hint of reluctance or uncertainty. "Of you, or any of the others. This isn't part of your duty to me."

Galahad's lips quirked into a half-smile. "Bold of you to assume I'm not the one taking advantage here," he teased gently, his thumb tracing the curve of my bottom lip. "A beautiful, brilliant queen with a smart mouth. What man could resist such temptation?"

Despite everything, a surprised laugh bubbled up my throat. "Careful, Sir Knight. Keep talking like that and I might start to think you actually want me."

His expression sobered, the playful glint in his eyes replaced by a smoldering intensity that stole my breath. "I do want you. More than I've ever wanted anyone or anything, and trust me, I’m as surprised as you look right now."

Galahad's other hand slid around my waist, pulling me flush against the hard planes of his body. I let out a soft gasp, desire sparking through my veins like a wildfire.

“But I’m willing to wait until you’re sure you want me back.”

I blinked into his eyes, nearly at a loss for words. “Even though Gawain?—”

“Even then,” he said, cutting me off. “Even with your sorcerer panting after you like a dog in heat. I’m a man who has no problem sharing.”

At the mention of Merlin, ice crept over my heart, and my entire body went stiff. I looked away, biting the inside of my cheek. Galahad noted the change and took my hands in his large palms, rubbing them to warm them up.

“Did he betray you?” he asked, his voice low. I met his eyes, and they were hard, no longer jovial. “With the witch. Did he betray you by being with her?”

Taking in a long breath, I let my shoulders drop slightly. “Not in the way you think. This thing between Merlin and me is new. The first time we ever kissed was the day we left Camelot. What hurts is that after all these years, he never bothered to tell me about her. It feels purposeful, and we never kept secrets. And there’s the matter of Uther. He suspected I was a Pendragon for years.”

Galahad's gaze softened, and he lifted one hand to cup my cheek. "I'm sorry he hurt you.” His thumb brushed over my skin. "Secrets can be a heavy burden, especially when they're kept by those we trust most."

I leaned into his touch, eyes fluttering closed for a moment. "I just don't know how to move past this. Merlin has been by my side for as long as I can remember. He's my best friend, my confidant. And now..."

My voice cracked, and Galahad pulled me into a tight embrace. I buried my face against his massive chest, breathing in the comforting scent of leather and campfire smoke. His strong arms wrapped around me, one hand stroking soothingly down my back.

"Give it time. Wounds like these don't heal overnight. But I have faith that you and Merlin will find your way back to each other."

I pulled back just enough to look up at him, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “So you’re taking Merlin’s side then?”

He scoffed, and his whole chest moved. “Your side is the only side, Arthur. But a part of me feels for the lad.”

“Lad?” I asked dubiously. “He’s not a boy.”

“I've been alive for over nine hundred years. Humans are like children to me.”

“And me? Do you see me as a child?”

His eyes scanned my face, filling with warmth and a flicker of that same desire I’d seen before. “You’re not human, though, are you? Long after every human in Camelot’s bones have turned to dust, you will still look the way you do now. Young, fierce, and perfect.”

A strange sensation washed over me; a prickling at the base of my skull, like the brush of phantom fingers. I stiffened, pulling back from his embrace as my hand instinctively went to the hilt of my sword.

"Arthur? What is it?" Galahad asked, his brow furrowing in concern.

"I—I'm not sure," I murmured, scanning the trees around us. The feeling intensified, a low hum vibrating through my bones. It was almost as if the very air was charged with energy, the kind of ancient, primal power that set my teeth on edge.

Slowly, I turned in a circle, my senses straining for any hint of danger. But the forest was quiet, the only sound the gentle babbling of the stream and the distant trilling of birdsong.

As I stood there, every nerve in my body tingling with that strange, ethereal energy, a flicker of movement caught my eye. Slowly, as if pulled by an unseen force, I turned towards the stream, my gaze drawn to the shimmering water.

The world around me seemed to fade away, the voices of the knights growing muffled and distant. All that existed was the gentle burbling of the stream, the way the sunlight danced across its surface like scattered diamonds. Without conscious thought, I found myself moving towards it, my feet carrying me forward as if of their own volition.

I followed the winding path of the stream, barely aware of the twigs snapping beneath my boots or the brush of leaves against my skin. The energy thrumming through me grew stronger with every step, a siren song I was powerless to resist.

Distantly, I heard the others calling my name, their voices laced with concern and confusion. But I couldn't respond, couldn't tear myself away from the magnetic pull that drew me onwards. It was as if I was in a trance, my mind disconnected from my body as I moved deeper into the forest.

Time lost all meaning as I walked, the stream gradually widening until it fed into a large, still body of water. The surface was like a mirror, reflecting the luminous blue of the sky and the emerald green of the trees with crystalline clarity.

And there, at the heart of the lake, I saw her.

As I stood transfixed at the edge of the lake, the ethereal figure seemed to beckon. Her translucent, outstretched hand waved me forward. Without hesitation, I stepped into the cool, crystalline water, barely registering the icy bite against my skin.

The world fell away as I waded deeper, the water lapping at my thighs, then my waist. The lady's form shimmered and danced, her luminous eyes holding mine with an ancient, unfathomable wisdom. She was terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time, a being of pure magic untethered by the constraints of the mortal plane. Her long hair flowed around her, and I could have sworn I heard singing.

Behind me, the muffled shouts of the knights grew more insistent, their voices threading with panic. But they sounded distant, as if from a dream, unable to pierce the veil of enchantment that had fallen over me.

"Arthur!" Gawain's desperate cry echoed across the water. "Arthur, stop!"

But I was beyond hearing, beyond caring. The only thing that existed was the lady and the siren call of her power thrumming through my veins. It sang to the wildness inside me, the part that had always yearned for something more.

The water was chest high now, its icy touch stealing the breath from my lungs. I stepped forward again, the lake bottom falling away beneath my feet. The shock of the frigid water closing over my head jolted me back to myself for one brief, terrifying moment. I thrashed, instinct taking over as I fought to propel myself back to the surface, to air, to life.

But something was wrong. The water was thicker than it should be, dragging at my limbs like grasping hands. Panic surged through me as I kicked harder, clawing towards the wavering light above. My lungs burned, starved for oxygen, and dark spots danced at the edges of my vision.

Just as I thought I couldn't hold on a second longer, my head broke the surface. I sucked in a desperate gasp, coughing and sputtering as I blinked the water from my eyes. The scene that greeted me was not the sunlit pond I had waded into moments before.

Towering trees with leaves of silver and gold arched overhead, their branches intertwined in a shimmering canopy. Everywhere I looked, strange flowers bloomed in riotous color, their petals glowing with an inner light. The air itself seemed to sparkle, filled with drifting motes that caught the light like tiny diamonds.

I floated, spinning in a slow circle as I tried to get my bearings. There was no sign of the knights, no sign of the forest I had left behind. Only this strange, ethereal landscape that seemed to pulse with a life and magic all its own. I’d never seen anything so beautiful, so utterly enchanting.

Slowly, I swam towards the shore, marveling at the feel of the water against my skin. It was no longer icy, but warm and silken. The closer I got to land, the shallower it became, until I could stand on a lake bottom that felt more like the softest moss than sand or stone.

I realized I was no longer clad in heavy leather clothing. Somehow it’d been replaced with a soft white dress that floated around me like gossamer. It looked like a nightdress, with no sleeves or overcoat, and it seemed like the bottom half was gone, or ripped away entirely.

I emerged from the water, rivulets streaming from my sodden clothing. Lush grass carpeted the ground and was dotted with delicate blossoms that seemed to turn their faces towards me as I passed. The dress stuck to my skin uncomfortably. My legs were exposed to the elements, and I felt utterly naked.

Ahead, a path materialized out of the foliage, winding its way through the shimmering trees. It was lined with smooth stones that glowed like moonstones, pulsing gently as if in time with my heartbeat. Without conscious thought, I found myself drawn towards it, my feet moving of their own accord.

As I walked, the strange, luminous plants seemed to sway and dance, their colors shifting in a mesmerizing kaleidoscope. The very air hummed with energy, with a power that resonated deep in my bones. Some part of my mind knew that this was all wrong. That I shouldn’t be here, but that part was shoved down deep.

As I followed the moonstone path deeper into the forest, the air grew thicker, heavier, like honey on my tongue. The colors around me became more vibrant, more alive. The path began to slope upwards, winding through the increasingly wild foliage. Vines with leaves of amethyst and jade twined around the tree trunks, their flowers unfurling like crystalline stars.

As I climbed higher, the trees thinned, giving way to a lush meadow carpeted with shimmering grasses and delicate, bell-shaped flowers. And there, at the center of the clearing, stood a towering tree unlike any I had ever seen. Its bark was a pearlescent white, shot through with veins of glittering gold.

But it was what rested in the cradle of the tree's branches that stole my attention. An orb of pure, radiant light hovered there, pulsing gently. A voice emanated from it, ancient and melodic, speaking in a language I had never heard before, yet somehow understood with perfect clarity.

"Daughter of stars and stone, born of magic's blood, To claim your fate, a bridge you must cross. But beware the path, for it is fraught with peril, And the price of failure is a fate far worse than death. Across the bridge, three guardians stand, Each a riddle, a test of wit and will. Answer true, and passage shall be granted, But fail, and your quest will be forever lost."

Three riddles, three chances to prove myself worthy.

As the orb's final words faded into silence, it drifted away from the shimmering tree, floating through the air like a miniature sun. Tendrils of golden light trailed behind it, leaving a glittering path in its wake. Almost without thought, I found myself drawn after it, my bare feet whispering through the lush grass.