fkadpfokad uhhhhhhhhhh,

okay so ts, but i have no idea what is next.

they've become friends - so maybe we say its been like a month of time together, and they get along well, and mb one of them ask the other to have a private dinner? and its kinda romantic or something?

idk i just pulled that outta my ass

I dunno, that sounds good to me. Who should ask who?

no clue. whatever works best for you, i guess

I guess Aldwin could ask, since he's the one with the wacky ass, ever changing schedule for royal duties. Is that okay?

sure, ill start -------

-

A month and a bit had past since Gwendolyn first went out riding with Aldwin.

Despite the king's hectic schedule - although Gwendolyn was slowing proving that she could take on more challenging tasks to assist him - the two had stolen moments together, learning who the other was.

They went out riding more, played chess, read books side-by-side... Gwendolyn was slowly becoming more and more apart of palace life, and had also begun to befriend Aldwin's advisers and close knights, as they were often around the palace.

Life was good.

...

It was currently mid-day, and with the lack of any duties to attend to, Gwendolyn had decided to organize and put together her journals.

The journals were one of the few items Gwendolyn had brought with her that had any meaningful value. They contained pressed flowers, notes about the wildlife, and flora and fauna, and were absolutely stuffed full.

Now, in a new land, there was even more to catalog, and Gwendolyn had been collecting and drying flowers and plants for a weeks now. She had also - at last - found a book about plants in the library, to better classify them.

So, there she sat: books carefully stacked off to the side, nose buried in the pages of long-held and well-loved notes.

It was only with Gwendolyn's help that Aldwin had so many days where he only spent half of it working. He even had a few days free, which was practically unheard of for the young king. By himself, all of the work he'd had to do had seemed overwhelming and terrifying, with Gwendolyn's help it had become manageable. Something that he truthfully had never thought possible. Especially since when he'd though of whatever woman he'd be forced to marry, he thought of a political, scheming woman who hated him. Gwendolyn was quite the opposite, and he was happy to say that she was his wife. Even if the two were just friends.

A few of his advisors were... concerned about Queen Gwendolyn's apparent lack of a child, but he reassured them that she was not barren, they just did not want a child. Although he had meant the words to be comforting, the advisors had taken them as anything but, and had immediately questioned him on every aspect of his and Gwendolyn's relationship. They highly encouraged him to consummate the marriage, but he'd simply turned them down. He wasn't ready for the responsibility of children, and much preferred the slightly flirty friendship the two shared rather than being parents.

That didn't mean that Aldwin had absolutely no interest in romancing Gwendolyn, it was quite the opposite really. Anyone could see she was stunning, though that was the least important thing for Aldwin. He had also begun to fall for her personality. Gwendolyn's kindness simply never stopped, but she could be stubborn when she wanted. Aldwin loved the way he could so easily speak to her about simple things, like the way the birds chirped so brightly in the morning whilst they rode beneath the tall trees of the woods.

Aldwin was falling for her, though he couldn't quite say that aloud just yet.

It was these uncontrollable feelings that led Aldwin to plan the private dinner. It was ever so rare to find a night where the palace was as empty as it would be that night, and Aldwin could not just pass up the opportunity. There had to be a reason for the three different dining halls, and he couldn't think of a better one than this.

After asking around as to where he could find Gwendolyn, Aldwin headed to her room. As he approached her door, he smoothed his hair, suddenly rather annoyed by how wild it was. His wild, auburn hair was the only thing he'd inherited from his mum, so he supposed he should appreciate it, but at the moment, he wanted to look just slightly put together, just this once.

Taking in a deep breath, Aldwin knocked on the door, wincing at the loud noise that shattered the relative quiet of the hall. "Gwendolyn, it's Aldwin, may I come in?"

Gwendolyn's head darted up from where it was hunched over her notebook. Before responding, Gwendolyn quickly ran through her agenda and tasks for the day, and with no small amount of relief, realized she hadn't been late on anything. This would just be a personal call, then.

"Oh, yes, of course - come in!" She called out, remaining in her chair. Early on, Gwendolyn had always stood up when Aldwin entered a room, but he had been quick to insist that she not do so. It simply wasn't necessary.

However, she did turn in her chair to look at the door, and kept her notebook open. It was just a sketch and basic information about a new type of bird she had seen in Britain, with a feather from said bird laying out on the table. Although Aldwin had not seen the contents of her journals, he had seen her collecting feathers on their rides, before, and had breifly explained her interest in them.

When Aldwin came in, she gave him a warm smile, tilting her head slighly to the side, light blonde hair brushing across her face, "What is it, Aldwin? I do hope this is a pleasure call, rather than business. I had thought your schedule was clear for the day."

Aldwin took a deep, calming breath before entering, his eyes immediately finding Gwendolyn, followed by the opened books and journals around her. His eyes immediately widened, and when he spoke he sounded a little panicked. "I do hope I was not interrupting you," he nodded towards her notebook, "if I have come at an inadequate time then I can come at a different time." Aldwin was slightly panicked. It would do him no good if he had interrupted her at an inopportune time and ruined his chances at getting her to agree to a private dinner.

Once she replied, he straightened his back and tried his best not to wring his hands nervously. According to his father, when he was still alive that is, women disliked it when men seemed nervous around them, and preferred a 'confident' man. Although Aldwin was pretty confident when it came to his kingly duties, things like romancing someone quite literally terrified him, and made him nervous. Normally he felt very relaxed with Gwendolyn, but when he was doing stuff like this, he was a completely different person. He really hoped she didn't notice.

"Well, I was wondering if you would like to have a private dinner tonight, just you and me. The castle is hardly full and," Aldwin paused, ducking his head as his cheeks burned pink. "Well I just thought you might find it enjoyable. It would be nice to have a relaxed, peaceful dinner." Aldwin finally stopped staring at his feet and looked up at Gwendolyn, flashing her his lopsided smile.

Gwendolyn's eyebrow was raised, and she looked somewhat amused at Aldwin's antics, "Why, sure!" she agreed easily. Where Aldwin was nervous, Gwendolyn was considerably more relaxed. Still, she wanted to help soothe his apparent nerves - which Gwendolyn didn't quite understand, as he had almost always been at ease around her - and stood up from her chair.

She poured two glasses of water from the pitcher in her room, and offered Aldwin one silently, "I quite enjoy your company, Aldwin, and I should see no need for your anxieties. Tell me - truly, is there nothing wrong? Or-" Gwendolyn cut herself off, taking in the king's flushed face, and hummed, "Or is this a more meaningful dinner, then?"

Despite her cool exterior, butterflies began to flutter in Gwendolyn's stomach, and a faint blush rose to her face, "If it is, then I have an reason for that new dress."

...

The new dress in question had been a gift from one of the nearby lords. The lord had been grateful for Gwendolyn taking on the eldest of their daughters as a lady in waiting.

Gwendolyn had liked the fiery young girl from the start, so it had not been a difficult decision.

When the dress had come in, both she and Aldwin had shared a good laugh at the quality of the dress. It was far too fine for the everyday gown, and she had yet to find a reason to wear it.

Perhaps, if her hunch was correct, she would have a reason tonight.

Aldwin was quite relieved when Gwendolyn so easily replied, and relaxed a bit as she stood and poured them some water. He took the glass gratefully, inwardly begging her not to question his apparent nervousness. As she began to question him, he started drinking his water, giving him an excuse to not reply. Aldwin silently cursed his fair skin for how flushed he got as she finally realized his hidden intentions for the dinner. It wasn't like the dinner would be much different than normal, other than the fact that it would be only the two of them and that he was trying to properly court her.

Okay so maybe it was a little different.

Regardless, he didn't want Gwendolyn to feel uncomfortable at the dinner and the rather extravagent dress was sure to be at the very least a little confining. At her words, he hurriedly shook his head, pulling the glass from his lips quickly. "Oh! Well you don't have to wear anything different than normal, I would not want you to be uncomfortable or hindered by the dress in any way. Plus, you look stunning in anything, you do not have to wear the dress for a simple little dinner between the two of us," Aldwin quickly reassured Gwendolyn, his eyes finally meeting hers as he gathered up his composure.

"As for if the dinner is to be more meaningful well..." Aldwin trailed off, running a hand through his hair and quickly looking away before forcing himself to look at Gwendolyn again. "I would like it to be very much so, but it can also just be between two friends if you would like. I do not want to make you uncomfortable." Aldwin gave Gwendolyn a tentative smile, hoping that she would agree to the dinner being a bit more meaningful than a normal one.