Chapter Text
The palace was decorated with red ribbons lining the banisters between windows and flowers adorning every flat surface available. Servants were busy setting up decorations and preparing for the Amor Festival, a celebration of love and romance in Camelot. One entire day and one entire night dedicated to showing your love and affection. The day for confessing and gift giving; the night for a feast and dancing.
You smiled as you walked down the corridor towards the throne room. You overheard a pair of maids whispering to each other frantically, wondering who had sent a single rose to their bed chambers. You pressed your lips together to suppress a grin as they took turns suggesting the name of nearly every person in the kingdom.
“Ah Y/n!” You turn when you hear your name being called to see Merlin bounding down the hallway after you.
“Merlin,” You smile and wait for him to catch up to you, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Are you excited for the first day of the Amor Festival tomorrow?” He asked, a smile wide across his face. “Do you have any gifts that you’re going to be giving out?” His eyebrows raised as he asked the second question, obviously extremely interested in what your answer would be.
“I am very excited,” You smile, turning to continue walking towards the throne room where Gwen was waiting for you so you could go shopping in the market together for gifts. “And I do have one or two people I am thinking about buying gifts for.”
“Two people?” He asks, brows furrowing. “Who is the second person?”
You laugh when he stumbles over your answer, “Well, who do you think the first person is?”
“I just assumed-“
“Assumed?” You prodded when he paused.
“Are you and Gwaine not…?” He was really trying to be subtle but failing terribly. You found yourself wondering how he was able to keep anything a secret for more than a few seconds when he wore his emotions clearly on his face.
You opened your mouth to answer, but snapped your jaw shut when you noticed a figure poking their head out of an adjoining hallway a little ahead of you. You thought you recognized the brown hair that disappeared behind the stone wall and decided to test your theory.
“Gwaine? Gods no!” You exclaimed, faking a laugh. “I can hardly stand him.”
“What?” Someone muttered loudly from that adjoining hallway.
You looked over to Merlin, who was rolling his eyes, and stifled a real laugh.
“Yea I hate that guy. So full of himself, he’s not even that great of a knight.” You continue on, slowly making your way closer to the hallway Gwaine was hiding in. “Don’t you agree, Merlin?”
“Oh, I can’t stand him.” Merlin grins as he watches you press yourself against the wall, approaching the entrance to the separate hallway. “Always going on and on about how great his hair is or how brave he thinks he is.”
“My hair is great.” You can hear him grumble and whisper to himself. You press a hand to your mouth to keep you from giggling as you draw nearer to the corner, wanting to jump out and surprise him.
Your plan was -somewhat- foiled when Gwaine takes the momentary silence between you and Merlin to poke his head out from around the corner. His nose nearly brushes your own and he throws himself back with a quick shriek.
“Y/n!” He exclaims, pressed against the wall opposite from you. “Funny… uh… Funny seeing you here. How have you been?” He tries to play it off.
“Sir Gwaine, such a pleasure to run into you. Ready for the Amor Festival?” You smirk and stand up straighter while he brushes imaginary dust off his tunic and runs a hand through his hair.
“Yes, actually.” He clears his throat, “I couldn’t help but… uh - overhear you and Merlin talking.” He approaches you. “You said you have two people that you are going to be giving a gift to?” It was more of a question than a statement, and you can hear the hint of insecurity in his voice. As much as you liked to tease him, you never wanted him to feel insecure.
“Yes, you know one of them quite well, too.” You smile, hoping that he catches your hint.
“One of the knights then?” His smile falls. “Who is it? Leon? I know you spend a lot of time with him. He’s a good man.”
“No not Leon!” You exclaim with a loud laugh. “Really Gwaine, think.”
“Mordred then?” Gwaine’s smile slowly returns to his face. “I know he’s cute, Y/n, but he’s a little on the young side.”
“Mordred? You really think he’s my type?” You tease. Stepping closer to Gwaine.
“I cannot pretend to know your mind, my lady, you are quite the enigma.” He follows your example and steps closer to you. You’re so close now that the toes of your boots are mere millimeters away from each other and you can smell the soap that was used to wash his tunic.
“Well, then I guess you will have to wait and see who is lucky enough to have gained my attentions.” You are close enough now that you have to slightly look up to see his face. Despite his suave attitude, you notice the faint blush on his cheeks as her peers down at you.
“I will say, whoever they may be,” His eyes light up with humor as he speaks, “They are the luckiest people alive if they have been able to do that.”
“Oh?” You hum and lean in a little closer. Gwaine follows suit and, for a brief moment, you think that you’re about to kiss. Expectedly, you close your eyes as his face comes closer to your own, but an awkward cough startles you and has you pulling away.
“Sorry to ruin the moment,” Merlin grumbles, looking down at his boots, “But Gwaine we have to go do that thing before the merchant closes for the day.”
“Right you are, Merlin,” Gwaine bites out, giving Merlin a frustrated look. “Excuse me, Y/n, but I have some things to take care of before the festivities tomorrow.”
“Have a good time,” You giggle, “I think I’ve kept the queen waiting long enough anyways. I’ll be lucky if she hasn’t abandoned me and headed to the markets on her own.”
You turn away from the two men and continue your trek towards where Gwen was waiting for you in the throne room. Hopefully she was still there.
<><><>
“Your Majesty,” You curtsy once you spot Gwen waiting patiently by the entrance of the throne room. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“It’s alright, Y/n, I daresay I’m used to your habit of getting caught upon your journey from one room to another.” Gwen laughs and holds an arm out for you. Grinning, you loop your arm through hers and the two of you head out through the main entrance.
“It’s a habit I cannot seem to break.” You say as the two of you descend the steps. “Gwaine and Merlin were asking questions about the festival tomorrow.”
“Ah,” Gwen nods. “Excited to know who you will be buying your gifts for?”
“Yes and not very subtle about trying to find out. Isn’t it supposed to be a surprise until tomorrow?” You ask.
“It’s supposed to be. Though, I doubt that I will be very surprised this year considering I am married.” You made it to the first few merchant stalls and take in the vibrant pinks, oranges, and reds of the decorations and gifts.
One stall is selling large bouquets of flowers, each looks to be freshly plucked that morning. Another is selling necklaces and jewelry, another sells ornamental daggers, and another sells dresses. The rows of stands start to become overwhelming. You hadn’t exactly planned what to get Gwaine, you figured you would know it when you see it, but you started to worry that there was so much to look at that you would never see it.
“Maybe you will be surprised.” You nudge Gwen with your elbow. “Maybe one of your adoring subjects will show their appreciation and give you a flower or something small.”
Gwen just narrows her eyes at you. You were trying to subtly tell her that you would be giving her a gift to show her how much you valued her friendship during your stay, but it didn’t seem to be very subtle at all. Maybe you were as good at subtlety as Merlin.
“That would mean a lot to me, but they don’t have to do that.” She replies carefully.
“I think they would want to because you are such a dear friend to them.” You shrug and pick up a little clay horse that was displayed at a stall. It was cute, but not really something you were looking for.
You continued through the rows of merchants, struggling to find anything that caught your eye for Gwaine. Luckily, you stopped by earlier that morning while people were still setting up there stands and bought a little brooch for Gwen, so you weren’t worried about having to sneakily pick something out with her at your side. Gwaine was just a hard person to shop for. What would he like? He wasn’t a materialistic person, from what you had noticed. He cared more for actions and people than objects.
It was something you admired about him, but damn did it make him impossible to shop for.
“Have you found anything for Arthur yet?” You turn to Gwen who is peaking at the stall beside you.
“I was thinking something like this,” She holds up a quill made from a peacock’s tail feather. “Simple, but he can use it often.”
“And pretty,” You remarked. “So, everything he writes will immediately be fancier because of it.”
“Precisely.” Gwen smiles, placing a few gold coins in the merchant’s hand. She then steps closer to where you are looking at some plain daggers. “Found anything for Gwaine yet?”
Your head whips around to look at her. “Who says I’m shopping for Gwaine?”
“Anyone with eyes.” She says smugly. “Come on, Y/n, who else would you be shopping for?”
“Maybe Percival.” You suggest, barely able to contain the laugh that slips from your lips as you say it.
“Oh yes how could I not have noticed.” Gwen rolls her eyes.
“Okay, yes I am shopping for Gwaine, but it’s impossible!” You groan after a moment. “What does he even like? Does he want something pretty or something practical?”
“Perhaps there is something that is both.” Gwen suggests as you move to another booth. This one has highly decorated belts of gold and leather. You grimace at the ornate buckles and move on.
“Does he want something small or something big?” You continue.
“I don’t think size matters to him.” Gwen replies.
You approach another booth. This one has large vases displayed carefully on the shelves. Each one is bigger than the last and you can’t imagine anyone having any use for them. You move on.
“What should I do?” You ask in a whine. “What if he hates what I give him?”
“If it comes from you I doubt he will hate it.” Gwen reassures, but you aren’t convinced.
“You say that now, but I could give him the worst possibly gift and he won’t say anything because he is a gentleman and that makes it even more infuriating.” You turn to look at the newest stall you have approached.
The booth has lockets and silver chains displayed along the shelf. Each locket is small and ordained with little flowers engraved into it, and the chains are all long enough that you could hide the locket beneath your clothes if so desired.
“Can I see one of these?” You ask the shopkeeper and when they nod you quickly grab one of the simpler lockets.
“That’s very pretty,” Gwen remarks as she looks over your shoulder.
“You think he would like something like this?” You turn around to look at her and ask. “I could put something inside, something that would mean something to him.”
Gwen smiles, “I think that’s actually a great idea.”
“Perfect.” You sigh, “I am so tired of shopping.”
You turn back towards the merchant. “This and one of the longer chains please.”
“Five gold pieces.” The man replied in a gravelly voice. When you press the money into his hand he just grunts and gestures that you can leave.
You place the locket on the chain and grasp it tightly in your palm.
“Ready to go?” Gwen asks excitedly.
“I think so!” You laugh, feeling as though the weight of the worlds had been lifted off your shoulders. “Now to find something to go inside here.”
<><><>
The morning of the Amor Festival had you practically bounding out of bed to get ready. Suddenly, the birds sang more clearly, the sun shined more brightly, and the smell of the food wafting from the kitchen somehow smelled more heavenly.
You quickly put on the red dress that has become your staple look for a special occasion and wove a red ribbon into a plait of your hair to add some vibrancy to the color. You, then, used a beet to add some rouge to your cheeks and a light pink color to your lips. You grabbed your honeysuckle cologne that resided on the little vanity in the corner of your room and dabbed on a little of the oil around your neck and on your wrists.
You regarded yourself in the mirror and smiled: Today you look radiant and happy.
You moved towards the door and grabbed the locket, which you had wrapped in a handkerchief the night before and made your way out of the chambers to find Gwaine. The brooch you had picked for Gwen was place safely in your dress pocket as well. You were prepared to appreciate whoever you ran into first.
You wandered through the plaza of Camelot as the festivities began nearly immediately. There were people already in the street dancing together with the music from many lutes and flutes filling the air. The merchant shops had all been replaced by stands selling different foods, yet the florists continued to sell their goods as well. The rest seemed to take the day off to participate in the celebrations.
You noticed Merlin at one of the flower stands, quickly grabbing the largest bouquet that was being sold and running back into the palace. Obviously on an errand for Arthur. You giggled at the sight and continued to meander around and appreciate the view. Couples were exchanging gifts on the sidelines while others paraded around to the music. Even the children were clumsily dancing in the crowd and trying their luck at sneaking a few pastries from the nearest stands.
You walked past a stand and snuck a powdered pastry for yourself, giddy that you got away with it in the commotion. You were about to sink your teeth into the warm bread when a hand came out of nowhere and plucked it out of your hand.
“Hey!” You exclaimed turning to the person who took your food.
“I don’t think I saw you pay for this,” Gwaine smiled and held the pastry away from you.
“Gwaine,” You laughed when you realized who it was, but it was quickly replaced with a frown when you remembered he stole your stolen food. “I didn’t steal it.”
“What would you say taking something without paying for it is then?” He tilted his head to the side, a smug grin adorning his stupidly handsome face.
“I would call it ‘none of your business’. Now, give it back!” You lurched for the pastry, but he was quicker and moved his arm farther from you.
“How about we share it and I’ll forget this whole thing ever happened.” He said.
You thought about it. “How about you get one bite of it and I get the rest since I am the one who earned it.”
“Earned it?” He repeats with an airy laugh.
“Yes! I had to walk by and pick it very carefully. I earned it!”
“Fine, fine.” He grins, “I’ll just take a bite.”
You could see the mischief written all over his face, but before you could stop him he was taking his bite and ate nearly half the pastry in that one bite. When he handed the treat back to you, you grimaced.
“Has anyone ever told you that your mouth might be too big?” You pouted but ate the half that was left over without a whole mess of complaining.
“Yes.” He replied. Despite yourself, you couldn’t help but smile at him when he said it. He just had that kind of affect on you, and it was as annoying as it was thrilling.
When you finished the pastry you suddenly remembered the gift you had prepared. “Oh!” You exclaimed, “I have something for you!”
“You do?” Gwaine stood up straighter and somehow smiled bigger than he already was. “I am getting a gift from the gorgeous and lovely Y/n during the Amor Festival?”
“Maybe.” You sang out, reaching into your pocket for the handkerchief. “Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”
“This isn’t going to be something gross is it?” He asked. “Elyan and Percival told me to do the same thing once and put horse droppings in my hands.”
“Ew.” You grimaced, “No and I hope you like it more than horse droppings.”
“Okay okay, just lay it on me then!” He threw his hands out in front of himself and shut his eyes tightly, making a show of it. His face was scrunched up from closing his eyes so tightly and you couldn’t help but take your time placing the wrapped locket in his hands to make him squirm. “You going to give it to me or are you going to make me wait until the feast tonight?” He asked impatiently, but not annoyed.
“Here!” You let go of the gift and brought your hands down to play with the fabric of your skirt. “Now it’s nothing special, I really couldn’t think of what to get you.”
“Nonsense.” Gwaine opened his eyes and smiled at the lavender handkerchief in his hands. “I love purple it’s a great color.”
“Oh! No not the fabric, it’s wrapped with the fabric. I mean you can keep that too if you want. I just wanted it to be protected until I could give it to you.” You rambled on quickly. The nerves were eating away at you and you couldn’t help but wringing your hands together as you waited for him to see the real gift.
It was agonizing watching Gwaine open the present. You couldn’t tell if time was moving slow or if it really was taking him forever to unwrap the locket, but either way you were beginning to fidget with anticipation. You weren’t sure what you would do if he ended up hating your gift. Maybe move towns.
You didn’t have much more time to consider it when the silver of the locket shown from beneath the sun, and you held your breath awaiting Gwaine’s reaction.
“A locket?” He asked, looking up at you.
“Yea! Uhm, open it. There’s something inside.” You bit the inside of your cheek as he pried the little thing open to reveal a lock of your hair.
“Is this-“
“Yea so uhm, so it’s my hair.” You cringed when you said it out loud. “My mom told me that she did that for my dad when they were younger so that he went on trips to sell produce that he would always have a piece of her with him. So, I thought I could do the same for you, but my hair. You know for when you go out on those patrols or weird secret missions for days at a time.” Your laughter is strained and an embarrassed heat floods through your face.
“Wow, Y/n this is-“
“If you don’t like it that’s no problem!” You exclaim, reaching for the locket. “I should have known it was going to be a weird gift. You don’t even wear necklaces or things like that.”
Before you can grab it, though, Gwaine has already snapped it shut and is placing the chain over his head. The locket falls to about the middle of his chest and hangs there. Surprisingly, it doesn’t look awkward on him.
“No! Don’t take it back, I love it!” He pulls away from you. “It’s mine you can’t have it back.”
“You really like it?” You ask, the embarrassment still evident on your face.
“No, I love it.” He clarifies, picking it up off his chest and admiring it for another moment. He then drops it to let it hang and looks back at you. “I will treasure this always, Y/n.”
“I was worried it might have been a little… weird.” You admit.
“Well, you worried for nothing. This is the best, most thoughtful gift I have ever received.” Gwaine grabs your hand. “I mean it.”
“Well, good.” You breath out, relieved. “I was planning to skip town if you hated it.”
“I could never-“ He uses your hand to pull you against him in an embrace, “-hate anything you give me.”
You wrap your arms around him and hug him back, reveling in the contact. You press your forehead into his shoulder and squeeze a little tighter after a moment before letting go.
“I have something for you as well.” He declares as you pull away.
“Oh? I am getting a gift from the handsome and majestic Gwaine during the Amor Festival?” You repeat his phrase back at him from earlier and smirk. “Should I be worried?”
“Never!” He declares with a laugh. “Just close your eyes and hold out your hands.”
You squint your eyes at him suspiciously but oblige his wishes. You put your hands out in front of you and slowly shut your eyes. Though, you couldn’t help but try to peek.
When Gwaine noticed you with one eye open he placed one of his hands over your eyes and finished placing the gift in your hand. “First a thief and then a cheater,” He mutters loud enough for you to hear. “What am I to do with you?”
You giggle at his words and bite your lip as you wait. “Can I open them now?”
“Not yet, one more thing.” He says, and shortly after another object is placed into your palms. “Now!”
Gwaine removes his hand from your eyes, and you look down at the presents in your hands. The first object is a silver handled paint brush with flowers engraved into the metal. The hair of the brush is dark and soft, obviously a high-quality brush. The second of the gifts is a small envelope with your name scrawled across the back of it.
“What’s this?” You hold up the envelope.
“It’s a letter! I wrote it for you when I was away on a patrol a few days ago.” His cheeks began to grow pink. “It’s nothing special, I’m no poet. I wasn’t even going to give it to you, but I thought maybe I should.”
“Can I read it?” You asked excitedly. “Right now, can I?”
“Uhm.” Gwaine laughs embarrassedly, “Why don’t you read it and I will get us some food from that cook way over there.”
He quickly walks over to the food stall, leaving you to open the letter and unfold the paper. The writing is messy and there is some water damage in the corners of the paper, but you admire it anyway.
The letter read:
---
Dear Y/n,
I haven’t even been gone a full day, but you are the only thing on my mind. I miss you, it’s weird to say. Well, weird to write.
I don’t think I have ever missed someone so intensely before. Not when I saw you six hours ago. It’s ridiculous, you probably haven’t even realized I left yet. I mean, you probably did since you said bye to me, but it probably hasn’t hit you enough to miss me yet.
I say yet because you will miss me, obviously. I am me.
I wanted to tell you before I left, but I couldn’t find the words. I think I may be growing to love you, Y/n. Is it too soon to say that? No, it can’t be. Not when it’s truly how I feel. You are the first person I want to see when I get up and the last thing I think of before I fall asleep. I can’t eat, sleep, or drink unless I know you are okay and safe. I can’t function if I haven’t seen you for more than three hours. Which is definitely going to be a problem since I am supposed to be away from the palace for two days this trip.
I can’t help but wonder what you’re doing at every second and want to know that you are happy. Please don’t be too sad when you miss me. Because you obviously miss me by now.
I hope you’re getting into trouble while I’m gone. You have a knack for it, and I love when you tell me your stories and your eyes crinkle when you laugh. Your laugh itself is music to me, I could listen to it for the rest of my life and will still have not heard it enough.
I have decided now that when I get back I’m going to tell you how I feel. For certain. No more of this wondering and asking Merlin to tell me what you said when he asks about me. I don’t know if you’ve noticed that he does that, but you’re incredibly smart so I am sure you have.
You deserve to know that I am most ardently in love with you. I am going to tell you that you are the only person in the world that makes my heart inflate so much that I feel like I might fly away whenever you are near. I’m going to tell you how the smell of honeysuckles makes me think of you now, and that they are my new favorite flower. Not sure that I had one before, to be honest. I am going to tell you that I think you are the most beautiful, most magnificent person I have ever beheld. Your kindness and your wit make you incredible to talk to. You’re the first person I look for when I have anything to say.
I want to know your opinion on everything. I want to know your mind and body better than my own. I want you to love me like I love you. If I were to get so lucky as to receive your affections, I would simply die of happiness. And then be revived so that we can live out our days together.
I want you to know. I love you and I miss you.
I will see you soon.
Yours forever,
Gwaine.
---
By the time you finished reading the letter there were tears welling up in your eyes, threatening to spill at any given moment. You looked towards the sky in an attempt to get them to stay in the ducts, but all for naught.
“Y/n?” Gwaine had returned with a tray of cheeses and bread to snack on.
Hearing him say your name had, somehow, caused the floodgates to open. Your eyes could no longer contain the tears and the came streaming down your face quickly and heavily. You looked over at Gwaine, your bottom lip jut out in a pout and tears rolling down your cheeks.
Had you not been in the middle of holding back a sob, the startled look on his face would have made you laugh.
“Y/n?” He placed the tray down on a random stall near you and placed a hand on both of your shoulders. “Love, are you okay?”
Love. That only made it worse. The tears kept coming and though you tried to speak, it only came out in a strangled hiccup sound.
You couldn’t say anything through the crying, so you waved the letter in the air and continued to cry harder. Gwaine still looked panicked, not sure how to comfort you. He couldn’t tell if you hated him or were touched by the letter. Your reaction wasn’t something he planned ahead for. He though maybe a kiss or a slap was in his future, not sobbing.
“Do you not feel the same? If not that is fine, Y/n, you can’t control your feelings. Don’t be sad, okay. I understand, so please stop crying. I’m sorry.” His voice was so soothing and caring, but it didn’t help you one bit. And by this point you were starting to attract the attention of the couples around you.
“Gwaaaiiiineee!” You cried and threw yourself at him in a hug. You grasped onto his tunic and let the tears fall freely as you held on for dear life. Gwaine, still unsure of what this meant, held you back lightly and rubbed a hand up and down your back.
It took a few minutes before you were able to calm down and pull away from him so you could speak. When you did pull away, you saw that the entire right shoulder of his top was darkened with tears (and possibly snot but you didn’t want to think about that). Gwaine didn’t seem to notice or care though, as he was searching your face for the answers to what your thoughts were. Sadly for him, he wasn’t a mind reader.
“Y/n?” He cooed carefully.
“I think,” You took a deep breath. “I think I might be starting to love you too.”
His face went slack for a few moments after you spoke. As if he was trying to process each word individually. “You what?’
“Are you really going to make me say it again?” You laugh, wiping at your teary eyes.
He nodded; jaw still slack.
“I think I might love you too, Gwaine.” You repeated.
In a swift motion, Gwaine had picked you up and spun you around. You laughed and grasped onto his arms tightly as you were lifted up slightly from the ground. When he stopped to put you down, your feet had barely touched the grass before he had enveloped you in his arms and brought his mouth to yours in a kiss.
You kissed him back without hesitation. One hand resting on his cheek and the other at the back of his neck, playing with tufts of hair. When you pulled away, you only did so because you were out of breath and physically couldn’t stay like that anymore. His lips were red and slightly swollen, and you knew yours had to look the same. You didn’t mind though, in fact, you thought it was a good look for him. One that you hoped you could help him replicate in the future.
“You like me?” He asked, hopefully and breathless.
“I think I just might.” You smiled and leaned in for another kiss.