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    After two weeks of preparation, the wedding siku arrives. It is the most lavish event ever seen in Camelot. Not even Uther, the king of Camelot, married in such splendor. Since Arthur is the heir and future King of the land and the only son of Uther Pendragon, the king spared no expense to ensure that this siku marks the greatest wedding in the history of the Pendragons, as well as in the history of Camelot.
    The town of Camelot was embellished magnificently, with flags and banners afloat in the warm and gentle breeze against the blue sky. All the houses along the way were hung with fine tapestries and decorated with brightly coloured flowers and decorations. On the stony mitaani, mtaa on which the guests and other dignitaries would walk to get to the castle, fresh cut primroses and marigolds were laid. Foxgloves and peonies adorn the houses along the way towards the ngome so the entire town is glowing in exceeding beauty and exuberance. Everyone dressed in their best and made their way towards the castle. Children soared with happiness while the adults beamed with pride and excitement, for today not only marks a great siku for the land of Camelot but it also marks an important siku in the history of the Pendragon’s rule. For the first time, a commoner will be made a princess through marriage. And if things are followed accordingly, she will also become the Queen of the land when the prince assumes his throne. And it will be another joyful occasion for Camelot. Right now, the villagers are happy that someone of their kind will be the new princess. This will certainly create a closer relationship between the people and the king than the one they already share. Their trust in Uther is deepening and they will lay their lives down for him. And now they will for the prince as well. Of course some still have reservations due to the prince’s inappropriate behaviours in the past, but after the wedding, if the prince shows he is changing, the trust will be cemented. And this is what the king also wishes in his heart.
    The Pendragon’s ngome stands proudly as throngs of people from all walks of life fill the main square. Guards at the entrance of the ngome ensure no one behaves inappropriately but they allow the children play happily on the steps that lead into the castle. Flags, banners and tapestries adorned with the Pendragon crest billow proudly in the breeze. The corridors are swathed with flowers and sumptuous material in bright colours. Every single soul in Camelot awaits the bride and groom to appear on the steps of the ngome and muhuri their marriage with a kiss. It will be a moment to cherish for everyone. And it will also be a moment for them to remember forever and will be retold to their children and their children after that.



    Arthur is nervous. He is dressed in the official Camelot uniform, complete with chainmail and vazi, pazia finished kwa his official crown. He is pacing the room nervously, matching his steps with his heaving breath. Someone knocks on the door.

    “Yes?”

    “It’s us …”

    “Us who?” he stops and ponders who could it be. He is nervous and he’s afraid the interruption will only increase his anxiety.

    “Merlin and Leon.”

    “Oh, please … come in,” he says and waits. This interruption is welcome, for he really could use his Marafiki right now. The door opens and Merlin along with Leon walks in. Merlin closes the door behind him.

    “Are wewe ready?” Leon asks, looking at Arthur. He himself is dressed in the official Orion uniform and looks very dashing indeed.

    “No, not yet … I’m nervous,” Arthur explains. He walks towards his kitanda and sits down with a sigh.

    “Arthur Pendragon, having cold feet? That’s new,” Merlin teases. Arthur glares at him but Merlin continues to smile mockingly.

    “That’s bound to happen, Arthur. I was when I got married. You’ll be fine the moment wewe get there,” Leon advises, using his own experience.

    “I don’t know, suddenly I just feel all this is wrong …”

    “What is wrong? Getting married au the manner in which you’d brought the subject up in the first place?” Merlin teases again crossing his arms. He is still not over having been used as a pawn to get Tom to succumb to Arthur’s plans. And Arthur did not apologise for his behaviour either, which just irks Merlin further.

    “Merlin, please … I’m already tense down here and wewe are not helping at all,” Arthur snaps. “I’m just thinking about … me. If I really want to go ahead with this … marriage.”

    “Look, Arthur, I understand wewe didn’t want to get married before, and now wewe do. Sometimes things can get really messy when wewe are at the edge of something important like this. Minds do tend to get a little crazy and we start thinking too much. That isn’t what wewe need to be doing right now,” Leon says, sitting down beside Arthur. “When wewe doubt, wewe lose your confidence … and that’s not what wewe need right now.”

    “Look, Arthur. I’m not good with words like Leon, but I will say this: you’ve come this far. Get it? You’ve come this far and to lose your confidence at this moment isn’t what we need besides, have wewe thought about Guinevere? That girl to whom wewe gave hopes is waiting for you.” Merlin points at Arthur. “And are wewe going to disappoint her like wewe are disappointing yourself? No, Arthur. wewe don’t because that is not you. wewe claimed to want her kwa any means, so prove it. Go out and make her yours. Marry her and stop sitting here and mourning as if your grandfather is dead!”

    “My grandfather is dead, Merlin,” Arthur says. Leon snickers.

    “You know what I mean, Arthur. What I am saying is, be a man and prove your words rather than chickening out at the last minute,” Merlin adds.

    “Merlin is right, Arthur. wewe need to be brave and endure the moment. It will be fine. wewe are just getting married, not executing someone,” Leon says. “Come on … Merlin, get him his ceremonial sword.” Leon stands and pulls Arthur up to his feet. Merlin goes to get the sword from the stand beside the meza, jedwali and comes back, handing it to Leon.

    “Here, come on …” Leon hands the sword to Arthur and waits until the latter has wrapped it around his waist. Arthur takes a huge gulp of air and exhales slowly, calming himself.

    “Ready?” Merlin asks. Arthur looks at him and nods. “Arthur, come on, smile, all right? It’s your big siku and one you’ve been waiting for all this time. Think of your beautiful bride and smile …”

    Arthur smiles. But just as he was reaching the door, he stops. “Wait!” he tells his Marafiki and rushes back to his table. He pulls out the drawer and takes out his mother’s journal. He pushes the drawer closed and joins his friends. “My mother’s coming with me …” he shows the other boys the journal and winks. The other two laugh and Merlin nods in agreement.

    “Now, that’s better. Come on, the bride will be here any minute. wewe do not want to be late on your own wedding, do you?” Leon says and leads the way as Merlin and Arthur follow him.



    Uther is watching the guests take their places in the great hall with a huge smile on his face. Standing on the dais beside him, Katrina is greeting and doing her part as the mother of the groom. Sir Balinor and Sir Tristan stand on the left hand side of the hall, as the king’s most trusted knights alongside Gaius, while the rest of the knights take the front row. The other dignitaries take the remaining seats behind while the seats on the right are occupied kwa guests from other the neighboring kingdoms, Uther’s allies and friends. The whole hall was filled and everyone is waiting anxiously for the big moment. Uther smiles and twirls with his fingers. Katrina, noticing how tense her husband is, moves closer to him and takes his hand, gripping it tightly.

    “Calm down, dear … everything is going to be all right,” she tells him.

    “The first wedding in the kingdom after so long, of course I am anxious,” he tells her and smiles at the guests.

    “Then make sure wewe enjoy every moment of it,” Katrina advises him. Uther looks at her and smiles, patting her hand.

    “I just hope Arthur doesn’t get cold feet.”

    “He won’t.”

    “He is my son, Katrina, and I know he will because I did when I married Ygraine.” Uther smiles again. “And I almost didn’t turn up if it wasn’t for Balinor. He gave me some strong words to think about and the inayofuata thing I know; I was sliding the ring over Ygraine’s finger. I will never forget that moment.” Uther smiles wistfully at the memory.

    “And I assure you, this will be another moment in your life which you’ll never be able to forget,” Katrina tells him.

    “I just wish Ygraine was here. She would have loved to see Arthur marry,” Uther says, his voice slightly sad, thinking about his late wife. It still grieves him to think of the unfortunate night he Lost his wife. But she had been brave and passed on with a smile on her face. And he wishes he can be as brave as she was.

    “I am sure she is blessing him from above, Uther, just as she is blessing him everyday,” Katrina comforts Uther.

    “Thank you, Katrina, you’ve been a wonderful wife and friend to me.”

    “And a mother to Arthur, don’t forget that.”

    “I will not … kwa the way, where are Agravaine and Elena? I don’t see them anywhere,” Uther asks scanning the area. Despite not taking much interest on Katrina’s side of the family, he still respects Agravaine as one of the knights of Camelot and took to task of educating Elena with the best his money can buy. And he would have loved to see both father and daughter at his son’s wedding.

    “Elena’s not feeling well and Agravaine is with her, taking care of her.”

    Uther is shocked. “Oh dear, I hope she is all right.”

    “She will be, Uther. But he insists to be kwa her side and expresses his deepest regret for not being able to attend the ceremony.”

    “Maybe after the wedding we should pay Elena a visit. It’s a shame he cannot jiunge us, I am sure he would be very happy for Arthur.”

    “He is, Uther. And yes, we need to pay a visit after this ceremony is over. Elena would upendo to see us,” Katrina says, cursing under her breath.



    The trumpets blare and the door of the great hall opens. Arthur Pendragon, looking knightly and dashing, walks in proudly. He smiles at the crowd and everyone in presence nods in respect while the women curtsy. Behind him, Merlin and Leon follow. Arthur walks right up to his parents, nods in respect and waits. Merlin and Leon walk right up towards Tristan, Balinor and Gaius and takes their place beside the knights. Arthur looks at his uncle Tristan and holds up his mother’s journal proudly. Tristan smiles. Uther notices the journal and smiles to himself. He knows Arthur misses his mother but he didn’t expect Arthur to bring the journal to the wedding. He is glad he did. Now, the mduara, duara is complete. Ygraine is with them. He sighs in happiness and waits for the bride.



    Gwen shivers. Not because she is feeling cold but because she is nervous and scared. Well, who wouldn’t be? This is, after all, her wedding day, and she is about to step into a different world where everything and everyone is completely new to her. She feels tiny amongst the giants of Camelot.
But despite the shiver and the anxiety and the nervousness, Guinevere is looking absolutely fabulous in her wedding gown. Looking every inch a princess, Guinevere is both beautiful and elegant. The main part of her kanzu, gown is made from lightweight ivory velvet teamed up with a truly beautiful embroidered bridal taffeta middle panel with the most wonderful detail of dhahabu guipure lace surrounding the neckline. The sleeves are very luxurious. They are semi fitted to the juu section with a band of dhahabu lace and then further defined with wide kengele bottom sleeves made of velvet fabric with matching braid surrounding the outer edge. The sleeves drape gracefully and magnify the elegance of the dress. The front and back has corset type lacing with dhahabu and ivory lace that adds colours to the gown. Looking divine, the dress is completed with the stunning dhahabu mkufu Arthur gave her. She didn’t wear any veil but instead her dark curls were let loose and a beautiful headpiece made from blue delphinium, limonium, muscari, and veronica attached with sweet blue ribbons were pinned on her head instead. The wreath held her hair from brushing across her face and made her look extremely young, vibrant, angelic and of course, gorgeous. And to finish, her face was painted with the simplest of makeup to accentuate her natural beauty. Gwen finds it hard to breathe in the kanzu, gown because of the corset and wonders if she will faint before she reaches Arthur. That would be embarrassing and to do so in the presence of the royal family would be mortifying.

‘Where are they?’ she thinks as she mashabiki herself. Sitting down in the guest chamber makes her feel uncomfortable. She had been uncomfortable ever seen she arrived at the ngome because she feels lonely and strange here. But this will be her nyumbani from now on, and like it au not, this is now her life. She felt extremely sad leaving her nyumbani behind and shed a couple of tears before she departed. But she promised her father she would come kwa and visit him, regardless of whether Arthur forbids her au not. She will not lose her father, for anything in the world.

“Thinking of something, Guinevere?” Mithian asks as she steps inside and closes the door behind her. She was holding a beautiful maua, ua bouquet in her hand and closes in.

“Your highness,” Gwen is about to stand up but Mithian stops her, asking her not to bother.

“Right now, wewe are the highness of the court and we are all your subjects, Gwen,” Mithian says and hands the bouquet to Gwen. “You are not thinking of leaving without the bouquet are you?”

Gwen takes the bouquet and admires it. It was white roses assembled together with peonies and white calla lilies. The most magnificent bouquet she has ever seen.

“Do wewe like it?”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Just like you,” Mithian says and smiles.

“Thank you, you’ve done so much for me … I don’t know how to repay all this kindness,” Gwen tells Mithian. She had only just met the princess two weeks before the wedding when Mithian arrived at her nyumbani and offered to be Gwen’s maid of honour because Gwen didn’t have one. And Mithian also took the liberty and pain of getting Gwen ready for the wedding, making her look beautiful with additional details like makeup, the bouquet and the hair piece. The hairpiece and bouquet are Mithian’s wedding gifts for Gwen. Guinevere likes Mithian because unlike other princess, she doesn’t have any arrogance in her. She treats Gwen as if the latter is her sister, advising how to behave in public now that Gwen is officially a royal princess. She also taught her a thing au two about being a wife to a prince, based on her own experience. And Gwen is glad to have someone like her on her side, especially on her wedding day. Both ladies have grown attached to one another.

“You don’t have to. I am just repaying my debt to Arthur,” Mithian says and when Gwen seems confused, she laughs. “He is the reason I married Leon. I liked Leon when I first saw him but Leon had no intention of getting married but Arthur changed his mind. And I owe him that.”

Gwen smiles. This is new. She has heard only the bad things about Arthur, so it is reassuring to hear someone step mbele with a positive opinion about Arthur. And this could further influence her own opinion about her future husband.

“I understand wewe are distraught kwa what happened …”

“Sorry?”

“The way he proposed and all that …” Mithian says and quickly adds when Gwen raises her eyebrow. “He told us, Leon and me, because he feels pretty ashamed kwa what he did.”

“He does?” Gwen is curious. Why would Arthur tell them? And is it true he feels bad about it? Wasn’t he gloating about his triumph?

“Yes, fascinating isn’t it? Not usually the man to feel remorse of his actions but he does, in your case. He really likes you, Gwen, and had no other intention but to actually marry you. He understands his way may not be of everyone’s liking but as long as he ends up your husband, he doesn’t care.”

Gwen plays with the petals of her bouquet and ponders Mithian’s words. Is it true au is Mithian making all this up so that Gwen will have better opinion about Arthur? After all, she is Arthur’s friend. Why should Gwen believe her words? She has been living in Camelot all her life and has heard about Arthur, what would Mithian know about it?

Mithian closes he gap and tilts Gwen’s chin. She smiles at her. “I know what wewe are thinking, and I don’t blame you. I am Arthur’s friend and I will speak for him but wewe must also remember, I am a woman and I will always stand kwa your side no matter how close I am to my husband’s friend. We women must protect each other, and that’s why I want wewe to know the truth before wewe head inside. Arthur told us what happened the moment we arrived in Camelot and asked us not to reveal it to anyone but I want wewe to know. Because it will be unfair for wewe to marry someone without learning the truth.”

“I wish I could trust him …”

“Give him a chance. That’s all I ask of you,” Mithian says and plants a kiss on Gwen’s temple. “He is a changed man because of wewe and he will be a better person through you, Gwen.”

Gwen doesn’t know how to respond to that but she is happy with the interruption when a knight knocks on the door and enters to announce it was time. Mithian looks at Gwen.

“It’s time, Gwen. They are waiting for you,” she says and helps Gwen with her dress. She adjusts the hem of the dress and smooths the wrinkles to make it look beautiful and perfect.

“I am afraid,” Gwen grabs Mithian’s hand, feeling really terrified. She just wants to run away from the castle.

“I know; I was too.”

“Will wewe come with me?”

“I will, but only up to the entrance. Your father will take wewe from there,” Mithian says, taking Gwen’s arm and leading her from the chamber.

Thinking of her father warms her moyo and she sighs, following Mithian slowly.

The trumpets blare, indicating the bride’s entrance and the hall becomes quiet. Each of the eyes in the hall are fixed upon the great doors which are yet to be opened, holding their breath and waiting. Arthur takes in a huge breath and casts a quick look at his friends. Merlin and Leon smile back. Arthur nods and turns his attention back to the doors. They open slowly and two guards step in. Mithian follows them, holding the bridesmaid’s bouquet. She smiles at the guests and walks slowly towards her husband. The guests hardly flinch because they know who would be walking in after Mithian. And as they expected, Tom and Gwen walk in. Tom is dressed in a rich tunic, walking alongside his daughter. Gwen’s arm is looped around her father’s as she keeps her eyes on the floor. She doesn’t want to look at anyone at all, not even Arthur. Her moyo is thumping like crazy and she feels faint. Taking each stride slowly as instructed kwa Mithian, they head towards the dais where the king and Queen are seated.

Arthur cannot tear his eyes away from Guinevere. She is beautiful and he is gaping, watching her make her entrance. He knew she would be wearing his mother’s altered wedding gown, but he didn’t realize she would look astonishingly stunning in it. In fact, he even had a slight argument with Katrina regarding the choice of the kanzu, gown because he felt the kanzu, gown had likely seen its better days. But he must say he’d been wrong all this while. Not only had the kanzu, gown been altered to fit the occasion but Gwen looks completely beautiful in it. Arthur quickly turns to Merlin and mouths ‘she is beautiful’ to his friend. Merlin smiles back and Arthur turns back to watch his bride make her entrance. The king and Queen stand up and walks towards Arthur.

“She is beautiful, Arthur. Just like your mother.” Uther leans mbele and whispers to Arthur.

Arthur turns to his father, smiles and agrees. “She is father. She is.”

A hush falls over the hall as the guests sit astonished, riveted kwa the stunning beauty of this unknown commoner who happens to have captured Arthur’s heart. Some look on with admiration, others with envy. Some seem happy, while others are strangely sad, but most everyone is filled with awe, speechless because they never expected this commoner to be as gorgeous as Guinevere.

Tom arrives at the dais and hands Gwen’s hand over to Arthur. Planting a kiss on his daughter’s forehead, he smiles and bows in respect to the king, Queen and Arthur, and walks to take his place on the left hand side of the hall, beside Leon. The young prince taps on Tom’s shoulder and smiles. Tom smiles back. Gwen swallows a choke as she notices her father standing on the side.

Arthur holds Gwen’s hand and both of them turns towards their king. Uther smiles at both Arthur and Gwen and turns to his right. Geoffrey of Monmouth steps forward, nods at the king and starts the service. He takes his place in the centre, in front of the bride and groom and addresses the attendees in the hall.

“We are gathered together here in the sight of God and His bounty of angels to jiunge together this man and this woman in a binding of life; it is an honorable estate, ordained in Paradise, and into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be bound.”

Gwen shivers as Geoffrey starts the service. She dares not to look at Arthur though she can feel him looking at her. She doesn’t even dare to look at the queen. She feels like a stranger in the hall; even her father seems to have shrunk into the crowd. She hears the words of the service yet nothing registers in her mind. She is thinking about Arthur and the wedding. In a short while, she will be married to the crowned prince of Camelot and she will be a princess. A PRINCESS! A simple peasant, a seamstress who sometimes finds it hard to make the ends meet is getting married to the prince of Camelot. Is this true? Is this really happening? Gwen cannot believe it yet here she is, marrying Arthur. She will now be the envy of many women in the kingdom as well as the neighboring kingdoms. She has done what others have just dreamed of; marrying Arthur. What is it that she has that they don’t? What did he see in her? Gwen is confused and continues to ignore the service and dwell in her own thoughts. She thinks back of Mithian’s words and wonders how a man can have multiple personalities. How can a man be so detestable and admirable at the same time? Something about him seems like a mystery to her. It’s as if he is wearing a mask, to conceal his real self from the others, only becoming his true self occasionally, and only to those who really matter au of times of great importance like his friend’s wedding. If indeed he is a different person underneath the mask he wears, why does he do it? What happened? A firm grip brings her back to senses and as she looks up for the first time, she notices Arthur’s eyes. They are soft blue and it are warm, full of … joy.

“Arthur, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou upendo her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?” Geoffrey asks, looking at Arthur.

“I will,” Arthur says it shortly.

“Guinevere, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”

Guinevere’s lip quivers. “I … do.”

Geoffrey then asks Arthur to take Gwen’s right hand and repeat after him, “I, Arthur Pendragon, take Guinevere, daughter of Thomas, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this siku forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, for fairer au fouler, in sickness and in health, to upendo and to cherish, till death us depart, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereunto I grant thee my troth.” Then he does the same with Gwen. When Gwen has recited her vows, Geoffrey asks for the ring.

Merlin steps mbele and hands Geoffrey the rings.

“Bless these rings, O merciful Lord, that those who wear them, that give and receive them, may be ever faithful to one another, remain in your peace, and live and grow old together in your love, under their own vine and mitini, mtini tree, and seeing their children's children. Amen.” And with that he hands Arthur a ring and Gwen the other. He asks Arthur to slide the ring over Gwen’s finger.

“With this ring I thee wed, and with my body I thee honor, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen,” Arthur says and slid the ring onto Gwen’s finger.

Gwen’s moyo thumps crazily. She takes the ring Geoffrey gives her in her shivering fingers and does the same.

“And with this, I pronounce wewe man and wife,” Geoffrey says and steps back.

‘That’s it … I am married. I am Arthur’s wife.’ Gwen thinks to herself. Arthur closes in and tilts her chin. ‘Anytime now … anytime,’ she thinks wildly again.

Arthur bends slightly and brushes his lips against hers, intending to place a small, chaste kiss there. Get it over with,[/i] he thinks, but something happens when his lips touch hers and what he intended to be quick and light takes a turn when he finds himself pressing his lips to hers zaidi firmly. His stomach churns, but in a good way, and he realizes he’s fighting the urge to coax her lips apart.

Gwen is zaidi surprised than he is. She thought it would be over quickly, but when he immediately returns before he even withdraws, kissing her like he actually means it, she finds her eyes fluttering closed and realizes that she is leaning towards him, not away. Her body grows warm, and her head swims deliciously.
What is this?

When he releases her, the guests in the hall rejoice. But Arthur and Gwen are unable to move. They stare at each other as if petrified. Someone grabs Arthur’s shoulder and whispers something in his ears but he doesn’t hear them au feel anything. His eyes are fixed upon Guinevere. The kiss, that enchanting kiss they have just shared, seems to be magically transforming him. Neither of them can seem to tear their eyes from the other. His moyo is warm and pounding, his mind is relaxed, and he feels something stirring in him. ‘What is it?’ he wonders.

“Guinevere, welcome to the family.” Katrina breaks the silence and hugs Gwen happily.

Startled, Gwen manages to recover in time and she smiles and accepts the embrace. Uther approaches them, so Katrina releases Gwen and the latter curtsies. Uther reaches out and cups her cheek.

“You are a beautiful angel, my dear … thank you. Your father must be very proud of you. We should indeed thank him, for we are privileged to have wewe in our humble home,” he tells her.

Something about Uther warms Gwen’s heart. She has respect for him because he is the king but now he is her father-in-law and her perception of him will be entirely new. But from what she sees now, she likes him already.

“Congratulations, Son,” Uther tells Arthur and he simply nods.

Tristan, Balinor, Gaius all approach the bride and the groom and each take turns to congratulate the groom and welcome the new blushing bride into the Pendragon household. Gwen smiles, nods and curtsies to as many people she meets but the thumping in her moyo does not slow down. Uther thanks the guests and promises to meet everyone at the feast. Gwen looks for her father. There is no sign of him anywhere. It makes her sad because she really wants to see him. Perhaps she should excuse herself. She moves away from the crowd.

“I am so happy for you, Gwen,” Tom says approaching Gwen from the side. He waits until the king and Queen are distracted kwa the guests to meet his daughter.

Gwen spins around quickly and is happy to see her father, finally. “Father, I have been searching everywhere for wewe … where have wewe been?”

“I was standing kwa the pillar, watching you. I didn’t want to approach wewe immediately because wewe had so many royal dignitaries to meet. Thought I could grab a small amount of your time to congratulate you.”

“Father, please stop talking like this … no matter what happens, wewe will always be my father. Nothing has changed,” Gwen embraces her father and sniffs.

Tom comforts his daughter and pushes her back a little and tweaks her nose. “You are very beautiful, Gwen. I feel as if I saw your mother in you.”

“I miss her.”

“I do, too … now; I can’t be taking zaidi of your time. wewe need to meet a lot of people. I will see wewe later.”

“You will be around at the feast tonight?” Gwen asks him, holding him tightly.

Tom sighs. “Gwen, wewe know that is not possible. That is for … and I am …” Tom shrugs his shoulder. “Besides, the village have arranged a special feast for me,” Tom says with a smile. “Can’t be disappointing them, can I?”

Gwen knows what her father means and doesn’t blame him. She reaches out and dusts his shoulder. “There’s a speck of dust … wewe look so handsome in this.” She tries to change the subject because her moyo is heavy with sorrow, with the thought of parting with her father. She needs a distraction.

“My son-in-law got me this.”

“Arthur?”

Tom nods. “Yesterday, he arrived with this richly made tunic and gave it to me, saying it was his gift to me. And he also alisema he was sorry for causing me all the trouble at the tavern. He alisema he didn’t have a choice, but he regrets how he went about it.”

“Really?” Gwen is astonished kwa all the news she is hearing about Arthur.

“Goodbye, child … be happy, wherever wewe are. I upendo you.” Tom smiles, kisses her forehead and leaves. Gwen watches her father leave and a huge hole fills her heart. She wants to cry but she is afraid of what others might think. But she is also sad. She stands alone kwa the side of the hall, looking at her bouquet.

Merlin taps on Gwen’s shoulder.

She turns around, her face blushing the moment her eye meets his. And she is also happy to have him around. She needs a friend and couldn’t ask for anyone better.

“Congratulations,” he tells her.

“Thank you, Merlin. I am so glad wewe are here with me. Where is Morgana?”

“She’s with my mother, over there.” He points to a group of women deep in conversation and Morgana is among them. “Can wewe see her?”

“Yes, I can … that’s your mother?”

“Yes. I’d like wewe to meet her.”

“I very much like that … maybe we can songesha over to them,” Gwen suggests.

“No, not now. wewe must not walk about; wewe might just trip on your own gown. Perhaps later at the feast, I will introduce her to you,” Merlin promises.

“Sure.”

Merlin inches closer and almost whispers. “I am sorry for what happened, Gwen. I broke my promise to you, but I still swear I will not let any harm come to you.”

“Morgana explained what happened, Merlin, and I don’t blame you. I would very much appreciate if wewe could stay around, though, because I am afraid,” Gwen tells him.

“I will, I promise,” Merlin assures. “And wewe can stop worrying about your father. He is very happy with the marriage and I should not be telling wewe this, because it’s supposed to be a surprise, but I am not good at keeping secrets, so … Tom is going to be made the court’s official blacksmith. He will be working for the king and only for the court, no one else.”

Gwen gapes listening to Merlin. “Really?”

“I swear kwa it. Arthur told me last night.”

“I am so happy for my father. Thank you.” Gwen is extremely thrilled with the news. This means she will be able to see her father at any time.

“No, don’t thank me … it was Arthur’s idea and the king liked it. So, thank him,” Merlin adds. Gwen opens her mouth to respond but Uther’s loud voice cuts her first.

“It’s time we meet the crowd, come Arthur and Gwen,” Uther announces as the guards immediately form a file and lead the way followed kwa the king and queen, the newly married couple, and then the rest.

As they walk, Arthur slides his hand around Gwen’s waist and holds her. If she had known him better, it would have been comforting, but since she does not, it was rather uneasy to kubeba due to the butterflies erupting in her stomach. His touch is like a thunderbolt and she shudders each time he pulls her close. She still avoids meeting his eye.

They reach the main entrance and Uther is announcing to the gathered crowd about the marriage and the newlyweds. Arthur smiles and turns to look at Gwen. He pulls her close to him and leans, “I hope wewe like the ring. It belonged to my mother. She would have loved for wewe to have it.”

Gwen looks up at him, for the first time that siku without the need of having to do so, but on her own account. She is in awe of this man. The way he spoke of his mother, the warm voice and the look he gives her, it’s incredible. Gone is the brash snob, replaced with a kind gentleman. Is this the real prince Arthur whom they’ve all been talking about all this while? He smiles at her and her moyo flutters.

“Something wrong?” he asks.

She shakes her head.

“Come,” Uther interferes and Arthur leads Gwen out to meet the crowd. The moment both Arthur and Gwen step out, the crowd goes wild. Gwen has never been in the presence of so many people in her life before and to watch the faces she knows, she’s been living with, her Marafiki and strangers, is overwhelming. inayofuata to her, Arthur is waving to the crowd.

‘What should I do?’ she thinks to herself. ‘Should I wave au do something?’ she thinks again. She turns to Merlin and he urges her to smile and wave to the crowd. She turns back and does as Merlin tells her. Another cheer and the crowd are celebrating the marriage of their prince to the commoner.

“Kiss, kiss” the crowd chants.

Gwen’s moyo sinks. ‘Not again, I am still recovering from the first and now …’ she looks at him and he is already looking at her. Without even waiting for her response, he bends down and captures her lips. The crowd goes wild but Gwen is Lost in a world of her own where only Arthur and she live. She trails her hand to the back of his neck, and unaware of what she is doing, she circles it, pressing him closer to her. Their kiss lasts a dakika and finally when Arthur pulls away from her, she is completely off-balance and feels like slumping in his embrace. The crowd cheers.

“Thank you, everyone. I have arranged a feast for everyone and please enjoy yourselves,” Uther says and the crowd cheers again.

“Long live the king, long live the queen.” The crowd goes wild.

“Long live Prince Arthur, long live Princess Guinevere,” they add.

For Gwen, it seems strange to hear her name linked with the term princess in front. She is not the princess, she will always be Guinevere. Because that is who she is.



The feast that night in the main hall is an event full of merriment and joy. Jesters perform tricks to amuse the guests. Servants ensure the tables are full of good chakula and wine while the guards keep watchful eyes on each of the guests, trying to keep the place in proper control. The musicians play lively muziki while servants run here and there, attending to the needs of the guest. The chakula is extravagant and scrumptious. The cooks really took to the task and prepared a feast to remember. The guests enjoy themselves and on the dais, the royal family sits and enjoys the chakula along with the guests. The newly married couple sits in the middle flanked on either side kwa the king and queen. The knights and Gaius are seated at another table, a step below the dais but separated from the guests. Geoffrey of Monmouth sits beside Uther and is in deep conversation with the king. Katrina is talking to her maid and that leaves only Gwen and Arthur together.

“You didn’t tell me if wewe liked the ring?” Arthur asks, sipping his wine.

“I do,” she tells him, her first words to him since marrying him.

“What do wewe think?”

“Sorry?”

“About the ceremony today?”

“It was good.” What else can she say?

“Good? Could have been better wewe mean?”

“No, it was perfect in every sense. I have never been to any weddings before so I don’t really have anything to compare, but I think it was perfect. Thank you,” Gwen majibu honestly. She fiddles with her wooden spoon. Arthur eyes her keenly.

“You’re not hungry I suppose, hardly saw wewe eating anything.”

“Hmm … I believe it has to be all this excitement,” she giggles and avoids looking at him.

“Or wewe miss your father?”

“What?” she turns to look at him. Did she hear him incorrectly?

“You miss your father, don’t you?” he asks, reaching out to clasp her hand.

Gwen follows his hand with her eyes. He clasps it tightly and watches her. Gwen shudders slightly as his skin comes in contact with hers but she keeps herself controlled. She faces him and smiles.

“Yes, I do. He is my father.”

“I guessed as much … I’m sorry he couldn’t make it here tonight.”

“He prefers to be with his own kind, Sire …”

“Guinevere … I’m no longer your prince, I’m your husband. I would very much like wewe to call me Arthur.”

Gwen clears her throat. This is going to be harder than she thinks. “Yes, A-Arthur.”

“Ahhh, there wewe go, wasn’t so hard was it?” he laughs and brings her hand to his lips and kisses it.

Another bolt of lighting runs through her and Gwen has to grip the edge of the meza, jedwali to steady herself. If keeping up with this is this hard she wonders how she will react when Arthur makes upendo to her. The thought of Arthur making upendo to her both scares and excites her. She has no idea what to do in that situation but she believes he will teach her. And that part makes her blush.

“I am sure your father wants wewe to be happy here, Guinevere, and I will make sure I keep that promise, the one I made to him when I asked to marry you. wewe will not be unhappy here.”

“Thank wewe … A..Ar..Arthur.”

He laughs again. “You need practice to train yourself with my name.” He releases her hand. “You’ve got a lifetime to do so.” He pats her hand and continues eating. “Oh, before I forget, wewe can go and visit your father anytime wewe want. Just take a guard with you,” he tells her and gets back to his meal.

Gwen watches him and suddenly she feels warm. She doesn’t loathe him anymore. She must have been married to the wrong Arthur. Surely this cannot be the same person everyone warned her about. He is not the brat, idiot, womanizer, the arrogant and insensitive person she feared. He is kind, warm, genuinely interested with her and above all, sensitive to her feelings. And she’s been wondering about him from the moment she got married to him. As she watches him eat and joke with his friends, she wonders if this is all an act to get her like him but she doesn’t feel it is so. Something in moyo tells her it’s real. Arthur is not faking himself in her presence, he is being honest and she likes that trait in him. She hates liars and had been cursing herself for marrying a liar like Arthur, but now, she thanks God for providing her with a husband who is being honest with her. Perhaps Arthur is changing himself for her, who knows? Either way, she likes this new Arthur and hopes he stays like this forever. Maybe she will not be unhappy here after all. Her stomach grumbles and she feels hungry. She hasn’t eaten since the morning, but didn’t feel hungry because she’d been anxious all day. But not anymore. After learning the truth, her moyo feels lighter and she feels all the hunger since morning accumulating in her stomach. She spoons herself some kitoweo, mchuzi and starts eating.




Katrina had been watching both Arthur and Gwen from her kiti, kiti cha silently. She is aware of their conversation and is alerted to their friendliness. In fact it’s zaidi than friendly. It seems they both are in upendo and it doesn’t look too good for her plans. She approved of the wedding for the safety of her niece, Elena, and looks mbele to the siku where Gwen will die so that Elena can be Arthur’s wife. And she would prefer if Gwen dies unhappy, because it will ease her trouble of explaining why Gwen died and make it easier to persuade Arthur to remarry because he didn’t get the upendo he deserves from Gwen. But if they are both in love, surely Gwen’s death will break him and remarrying will not be an option he seeks, for he wouldn’t want to bury Gwen’s image from him. And that will spoil everything she has worked for all this while. Her dreams of conquering Camelot with her power will be dashed, and that is not something she is ready for, not after laboring so much of her strength and desires in it. She must not let Arthur and Gwen upendo each other au become close. They must remain as they have met, as enemies. They must hate each other. It might be a problem trying to persuade Arthur but she can work wonders with Gwen. And she knows just the thing to do. Katrina calms herself, a crafty smile spreading across her face.