Arthur; The Legend and Myth Chapter 60

60.

Guinevere took her first step into the Hall. She was then dressed in a long gown that trailed behind her in a long hem that swept the flooring. It was a beautiful crimson gown with the fine trimmings on the front chest that resembled a series of strings that were strung across her bosom giving a thin veil of modesty on her low neckline. She wore a wide golden gilded waist belt what was slung low in the front as if it was a chastity belt as if she was still pure in her form. Her feet were hidden beneath the gown but it was a fine set of sandals with the gem stones on the top. Her body was given a rub of milk before she was given a coat of perfume from her hair to the toes. Her hair reached the lower back were braided with the silky ribbons and then laid part of it over and down her left shoulder to cover her nervous pulsating heart there. Her steps were short and spaced out with each breath.

Guinevere stopped then and looked at the hall she had arrived at then. She had not been to the hall before but was told that its design was grand. It may have been grander that day. The hall was decorated with shaded muslin materials on the walls and at every short distance, an array of decorations of flowers from the red roses to the pink carnations were seen trailing from the ceiling to the flooring.

There were also the figures of the knights with their armors while they stood guard at respectable width in distance. It was on the center of the hall was the red velvet carpet that was rolled to the gleaming altar set there that day for the King and his new Queen. On each side of the carpet were the guests of Camelot all adorned in fine clothing and finer jewelry of gem stones.  

“She is beautiful.” Guinevere heard the words spoken of her by the elderly lady with the blue sapphire and matching sky blue shaded gown.

“You must addressed her as Queen, mother.” The younger lady standing next to the other lady commented back.

“It should have been you there.” The elderly lady replied with a tinge of sadness. “If only your father was alive now. He was Pendragon friend and ally.”

Guinevere had then passed the two ladies and weaved her steps forward with grace as taught to her by Lady Igraine. She had then felt every eye was on her as if they were stripping her of the gown to see inside her. She wanted to tell them that she was no different inside and perhaps more since she was still intact. She was examined by the lady in wait on the instruction of Lady Igraine.

“You must be pure for the King.” Lady Igraine had told her after she had confirmation that Guinevere was pure. “The King need not another to claim you as his and more to it, we must ensure that your children will be only be of his.”

Guinevere was brought back to her place in the hall when she saw the man who was to wed her stood a short distance away. Arthur was his name and he was dressed in a green tunic with the green head gear that looked like a slap of dough on the head. His leggings was yellow complete with green footwear but he was clean shaven. He had on also a yellow cloak and in her eyes, he looked like a Leprechaun except he was to be a King.

Arthur had not ascent to the throne for he needed a Queen to be the pair then on the throne. That was her role.

Guinevere stepped up next to Arthur before the priest anointed to do the task. The priest was a tall figure in the white gown lined with the golden linings sewn into the hems and decorated across it with the flower motifs. The priest also had on a tall head gear with more decorative motifs and in his right hand was the scepter of his power. He then held the taut expression on his face as he was performing a lifetime one off task. He told himself that he will do it right for he missed the last one when he was then a young pastor.

The hall silenced when the priest then recites the needed verses to initiate the ceremony. There was the deliverance on the duties of the couple and then the final verses to commit them to their new roles.

“Arthur, do you accept Guinevere as your rightful wife?” The reply was the consent and then the lady was asked the same.

“Guinevere, do you duly accept Arthur as your husband?” The priest looked at the young lady who stood there as if she was in a trance. The lady was looking at her feet and then the priest leaned over to whisper at her. 

“You are to say yes.” The priest soft tone shook her from her silence. She was not in a trance but was unsure of what she was to say. She knew in her training there were mock rituals of the ceremony. It all end with her saying yes to the question.

“I wondered what we are to do after we agreed.” Guinevere had the flash back then of her time with Morgause. They have grown closer since their last talk and from there to the sharing of intimate details. During that flashback Morgause was on the bedding with Guinevere with the heavy book laid open before them.

“Are those we are to …do?” Morgause tried to hide her snigger. She was still a young lady then although she had her voyeur experiences. Guinevere rolled onto the other with her hands roving over the body. It made Morgause shrieked out in pleasure before she pulled away to sit up.

“Do not what you will have others do to you.” Morgause spoke with a grin on her face before she launched herself onto Guinevere. It was something they had developed on with the girlish cuddles and kisses. It was not a relationship but the playful antics of two young ladies then.

“You are to say yes.” The priest soft tone repeated to her. “We have to continue on.”

Guinevere shaken from her thoughts once more nodded but the priest displayed his moving lips that she was to speak.

“Yes, I do.” Guinevere finally uttered those words and the whole hall hummed in relief before the smiles came on.

“With those consent, I hereby announced you Man and Wife.” The priest looked to Arthur. “You may kiss your wife now.”

Arthur reached out with his hands and leaned over. He looked into Guinevere’s eyes and smiled. It was his first look into her and he was still in a daze then. He was almost twice her age and hardly known her. It was unlike the ladies he had bedded before; there were introductions or scant passages of words. He was never one to force onto any ladies and even captives which some other Centurions had taken advantage of. He was never the one to make the first move and even with Lisanor, it was her who intimidated him.  It was his opposite in character from his fighting self to approach the enemy firsthand.

Arthur tilted his face to lay his lips on Guinevere then; strange as it was his first kiss a lady he felt the warmness for her lips although it did not kissed back. Once he had kissed her, Arthur then pulled back and turned to the cheering crowd. He felt his own cheeks redden to the scene but by instinct he held her hand to lead her facing the cheering crowd. His fingers clenched tight on hers but his eyes were averted then.

Guinevere stood there unsure of what to do next and was still in a daze that she had gone so far without tripping over her gown or fainted from the anxiety of the ceremony. She felt the fingers holding her hand and despite the warm feeling, she felt herself perspiring then. She was to sit own when she felt the tugged of the hand that told her she was to move. She took her first step as the wife of the man she knew as Arthur and from then it was just as before she was not sure whom she met and talked to but her heart beats told her there more to come.

“Do you feel good?’ Guinevere recalled back her antics with Morgause. “I am not sure myself. I do confessed that I had kissed a man once. It was just a kiss.”

“A kiss? I am sure there was more.” Guinevere had ticked at Morgause to get more out of the other.

“Oh please, I am no vixen or harlot in the hay.” Morgause replied. “Who will like me? I am smaller unlike Elaine or even Morgan. Or yours.”

Morgause was smaller in built and with her affinity to dress like men most times which she attributed to her desire to ride on horses. Her mother had reprimanded her but she had ignored it and continued with her preference. When she first met Arthur, she went back to her gowns and dresses but with the hopes dashed, she had reverted to her previous preference.

“Mine? They are …wonderful.” Guinevere mocked the other while she nestled Morgause on her chest. “It feels nice to hold you here.”

“I can hear your heart beats.” Morgause snuggled closer. “It talks to me our love.”

“My love, we are to leave now.” Once again Guinevere was shaken from her flashback. She found herself then seated on the high back chair facing a round table laden with food and drinks. She turned to look at Arthur who had motioned her with the hand on her right elbow. She had not remembered much of what did happened then except the roars of laughter and bad joke being said then. She had not eaten anything but took small sips of the wine offered. It was all part of her training from Lady Igraine.

“My love.” Guinevere felt the hand pulling her up and she followed suit. With her departure, the crowd turned to each other for audience.

“I am truly amazed that Arthur have found someone so young to marry.” Lamorak then drunk of wine had voiced out towards Percival. “We are not that fortunate. I for one have lost two in my time to sickness and one to boredom.”

“You from boredom? What did you not do?” Sir Kay overheard and rushed in with his words.

“I was always away and she left me.” Lamorak sighed and then laughed. “It was for good as I was bored of her. Nagging most times and saying I demand too much of her.”

“Be like me. I was not attached and never had one long enough to nag me.” Sir Kay snapped back in delight. “If they don’t want, I offered them my coins. Most them they take that.”

Percival disgusted with the talks had then walked over to Gawain and his brothers. They were seated by themselves at the far table and silence prevailed there. Percival enquired and was told the concern.

“Our village is under threat once more. It’s almost a year now. Ceredig is once more under threat by the Wolves pack.” Gawain told Percival. “We may leave soon.”

“I can tell Arthur. You may go immediately. Take some knights and foot soldiers.” Percival told Gawain. The later thanked Percival and then the tri took leave for their village. Once more alone, Percival looked around and saw Lancelot seated by himself.

“One who drinks by himself is a lonely man.” Lancelot heard the other spoke to him and moved for Percival to seat down.

“I am not entirely alone but my companion seated afar.” Lancelot lamented on the lady seated next to her mother a few tables away. “She is of dutiful to her mother while I do mine with my wine.”

“The fair lady named Elaine. I heard tales that she spends more time with you at your mansion. Are you sure your nearby neighbors could not hear you?” Percival mocked at the other. He then turned to Lancelot. “Are you sure, my friend? She is young and yet …”

“Me too old? I am not. If Arthur can marry one so much younger, than what is it to me?” Lancelot defended himself. “Elaine will be mine.”

“Well spoken and then may I be the man to tell her and her mother.” Percival replied. “We can hold the ceremony soon.”

“You mocked me, Centurion.” Lancelot called out the previous rank of Percival. “Take no haste on my vows and watched yours.”

“Mine? I have none to fulfill.” Percival replied. “I have no family nor lover except the Legion and now Camelot. I may die without the family of love but never the family of friends.”

With that Percival left Lancelot to seek his own corner. He sat down and caressed the wine jug before he thought 0f his life. It was not he does not have a companion. He had lived all his life with the Legion. He never found another home outside of it. He was use to the sweat and musky feels of muscles and blood. He was the man among men. He was happy that way. Just the new couple having taken their steps to a new life and wished them well.

“All will be fine here.” Percival told himself then.