He almost seemed… bored.
“Your test, a trial by fire, if you may, isher.” He jerked his chin in her direction. “Keep her in place, keep her in line.”
“Arthur-” She started, lips trembling as she fought back tears.
“No more, wife.” He remarked over his shoulder, not sparing her a glance. “I have made my decision. You need supervision. Who better than the man I trust most?”
“Now, your greatness, I haven’t agreed.” Lancelot interjected, but his eyes never left her shaking frame.
“But you will.” The king answered. “I could offer you your heart’s desires, du Lac. A wife? Fine. All the gold you could dream of? It’s yours. Life is simple as a knight, my friend.”
“And if those things aren’t my heart’s desires?” Arthur was looking at his throne, at his table where his compatriots would sit.
Lancelot was looking at her. His eyes never faltered, narrowing as he looked her up and down. He couldn’t know who she was. It had been dark. She had barely spoken to him. She was as much a stranger to him now as she was last night.
“Fine.” He answered the king, not waiting for a response. “But if she is to be my charge, it will be at my discretion. I will decide what is the best way to…handleher, your grace.”
She felt so small, just a pawn in the games these men played. She never should have left her room last night. She should have stayed in bed, safe and alone.
“By all means, my friend, whatever means necessary. Just-” he turned to face them, eyes dark, “No bruises, no marks. Sheisstill the queen.”
“I would never indulge your fantasies of harming her, Arthur.”
“My… My fantasies? Brother, you’ve got it wrong. She is asking to be reprimanded. Her actions beg for punishment.”
“We’ll see.” Lancelot bowed deep before her. “My lady, show me to your quarters, please. I will need a room near your queen in order to safely supervise, Arthur.”
“I will see it done, my friend. Good luck to you, du Lac. She is suddenly so strong willed. It will be good to see her broken.”
4
If she could have run out of the meeting room, she would have. Without a knight on her heels, without the looming threat of her husband’s oldest friend constantly supervising her, she wished she could retreat into her own shell.
“This way, sire.” She whispered, without turning to face him. She could feel him at her back, hear his heavy footfalls on the stone.
As they neared her doors, her breath caught in her throat, tears threatening once more. “This door is to your chamber?” Lancelot asked, nodding towards the large wooden frame before them.
“Yes, sire.” Her voice was meek. She felt like a child scorned.
“None of that, please, my lady.” And though she kept her gaze trained on her wringing hands, she could hear a smile in his tone. “I am not a knight, not a lord or a sire. Lancelot is just fine. Lance, if you prefer.”
She had lost her voice, just nodding at his request for familiarity.
“Is it-” He paused, ducking his head so he could meet her eyes. Eyes that she was certain glistened with unshed tears. The look on his face seemed so sincere, she almost fell apart right there. The deep blue in his eyes seemed to swallow her whole. “Is he always like that?” He asked, his voice barely audible.
Her breath hitched as she quickly broke eye contact. Blinking furiously, praying she could stop the tears, she shook her head.
A blatant lie, but it was better than blasphemy against the crown.
A gentle touch brushed her cheek, and she flinched from his hand.
“I’ll take that as a yes, my queen.” He quickly withdrew his fingers, rubbing his wrist as though her flinch might have injured him. After the morning she’d had… how could she trust the touch of another man?
She turned, swiping the remaining tear tracks off of her cheeks before facing him. “Do you need to see the inside?” She asked, palm hovering over the door to her chambers.
“No, no, there’s no need.” He curled his large hand around hers, pulling it from the knob. “You deserve some privacy, my lady.”
She knew she was trembling, but she couldn’t force herself back into control of her body. But with each of this man’s gentle touches, everything she thought she knew about him was being challenged.
