The elf stood resolutely. He appeared composed, but he hid a hint of worry under his tough exterior.
When Gwyn just stared blankly at him and didn't say anything, he spoke again.
"Is everything alright?"
"Oh, uh."
Gwyn suddenly felt nervous, remembering where she was and who was speaking to her.
Why was Artero here?
"I don't think I did?"
The young woman had, although she did not realize it.
All she wondered was if he heard what she was thinking. Gwyn tried to slam the door.
Artero, surprised, barely stopped it from closing.
"Just one moment. I can leave you be. I clearly must've only been thinking of your well-being, and you didn't summon me." He released the door and gave her a bow. "I apologize, Gwynevere."
"Wait!"
She shouted, reaching for him, a firm grip around his dark red doublet.
"Yes?"
"I would… like someone to run a bath for me... if possible."
"Ah, yes. I will fetch someone."
"Maybe…"
"Yes?"
Artero remained stern, but interested in the woman's motives.
"Do you think you could run one for me?"
This caught Artero by surprise. He thought he had heard that she wanted him to hold her, but he wanted to double-check. He had no way of knowing how to bring it up in casual conversation. This may have confirmed his suspicions.
"As you say." He stared at her arm. "Can you let go of my…?"
"Oh, yes!"
She let go and backed away to let him through the threshold.
Idiot. Why did you grab him like that?
Gwyn peered outside and noticed there was no guard posted.
"Where's Rodrick?"
"He's on some important task. I dismissed the other guard. I can call them back if you want."
"No, no! It's fine! I was just… curious, was all."
"No trouble then." Artero looked around once the door was closed. "Upstairs, is it?"
Gwyn nodded.
Artero turned briefly as he went upstairs.
"Ah, by the way, Gwynevere."
"Yes?"
He looked as though he had something important to say. Gwyn was eager to—
He pointed to his mouth.
"You have a little."
Gwyn checked her teeth in a nearby mirror. Like a tree in an open field, a piece of her salad was glaringly making itself known. She quickly cleared the leaf remnants from her teeth. She felt she could die and be satisfied with the outcome.
"Oh, I was just… saving it for later!"
Gwyn laughed nervously, flicking the piece of leaf off her finger.
Artero then considered the human's behavior. If she wanted to save it, why flick it to the red carpet? It would stand out, he supposed, but...
Artero shrugged.
"As you say."
Gwyn realized she was probably the least attractive person to exist. Maybe ever, she concluded.
Was that lettuce on my teeth during that whole conversation?
Her mortification was overwhelming, but she tried to remain composed in front of the royal elf. She let out a deep breath.
She stared at anything but the prince as she followed behind him. Something caught her eye—a piece of art that looked… perplexing.
"Artero. What is this?"
She pointed to a photo of an infant.
"Oh!" He laughed and shook his head. "That's yours truly. I don't know why my mother insisted on having those made and hung up in the guest house, no less, but here they are. I think I was… eleven in that photo."
"Eleven?!"
Gwyn still couldn't believe elves aged so slowly. He looked like a two-year-old human child with slightly pointed ears.
"Yes, I believe so, at least."
He had the same black hair back then.
"You were a cute baby."
"Oh? Am I a cute man, now?"
He casually drifted his fingers through his hair.
Gwyn laughed.
"I don't know if I'd use the word 'cute.'"
He scoffed, stepping closer to her.
"What word would you use then?"
"Oh." She pushed away his advance. "I smell terrible, don't—"
"Terrible?" He laughed. "You smell divine, Gwynevere. Don't worry about trivial things such as that."
This helped a little with Gwyn's self-consciousness.
He grabbed her hand; it dwarfed hers.
"Everything is fine. I don't know why you can't—"
They entered the bathroom, and it was clear Artero realized something.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, um." He looked embarrassed, laughing nervously. "You have the old way of doing things."
"Pardon?"
"Like a nob that you turn, and water flows magically? Forgive me. The place we've lent you is… outdated." He then appeared to be deep in thought. "Now, how do they do it? Forgive me. Normally, nobles don't run their baths. I haven't done it the old-fashioned way in a very long time. This is a task we would typically delegate to our servants. I'm just trying to remember an incantation."
"So you have showers?"
"Yes, in the main manor. Give me a moment, I'll have it remembered shortly."
If Artero waited a hundred years, he wouldn't have remembered an incantation. Truthfully, nobles don't run their baths, as he described. What he was really doing was quickly sending a message to one of his servants, who promptly recited an incantation that should satisfy his request.
While Artero was busying himself, Gwyn looked at all the different soaps and thought of the basic incantation Elise had done.
How many different ways can someone run a bath?
The servant finished articulating exactly how the spell should be performed, and Artero nodded to himself.
"How silly of me! Of course. How could I forget such a basic incantation?" He cleared his throat. "I believe it goes like…"
He raised his gloved hand and pointed it towards the tub.
"Heal the skin through soothing waves,
rejuvenating skin to save
The body from a weakened form,
extinguish the ache of past commitments born."
A stream of water shot from his palm. The liquid was soft, lavender-colored. As the tub quickly filled, bubbles formed towards the surface. The room was soon filled with heavenly smells as the temperature rose, reminding Gwyn of a sauna or a hot spring.
When the vessel was filled, Artero lowered his gloved hand and nearly stumbled forward.
"By the Gods, I haven't realized how difficult that spell is." He chuckled to himself, righting his posture. "I got to give those servants credit. They never show weakness when they run a bath like that."
Gwyn stepped closer.
"Are you going to be okay?"
"Yes, I'll be fine." He turned to face her. "This was all you needed, correct?"
"Yes…"
Gwyn's hesitation made the Prince suspicious.
"Yes? Is there something you wanted to say?"
There were a lot of things Gwyn wanted to say. She longingly gazed at him and thought to herself.
~Please stay. I've been so terribly lonely.~
Artero seemed to be struck by something the moment she had this thought. His face flushed, and he couldn't seem to face Gwyn.
"I can hear your thoughts when you think of me, Gwyn. That's how a one-sided link works. If I'm close enough, that is."
Gwyn's eyes went wide, the mortification never ending.
"I am so sorry! I had no idea, I thought—"
"Don't worry about it." He felt just as embarrassed as she was. "I should have told you how it worked. I assumed you knew, and that's my fault." He cleared his throat. "But you want me to stay? I can… wait outside the door if you like?"
Now he was feeling hesitant and nervous.
Outside the door? Wait. Can he hear my thoughts?
She eyed him for a second. He seemed to be waiting for a response.
"If you don't mind…"
He kissed her hand.
"Anything that brings you pleasure won't cause me to hesitate."
He then stepped outside the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
He breathed a long sigh of relief, wondering if what he said was the right thing. He leaned against the door. The Kosmairian Prince hadn't felt that stressed in a long time.
Gwyn stared at the hand he had kissed and held it close to her chest. His touch was gentle, yet his hands were so muscular. The action brought her some comfort and eased some of the insecurities that were building.
She doffed her clothing. Upon entering the tub, Gwyn was overwhelmed with a feeling of calm. The water was the perfect temperature. If the bath Elise made was like a spa, this was something otherworldly.
Her muscles relaxed as did her mind. It felt as though something within her was rejuvenating.
"This is incredible."
"How is it going in there?"
"Good!"
Gwyn, however, had a realization: she could communicate with Artero through her mind. She had wanted to be alone with Artero for quite some time now. It seems like the perfect opportunity has presented itself.
She closed her eyes.
~Man, If only I had a towel.~
During this thought, she envisioned Artero performing her wish.
There were towels already inside the room, of course, but she wanted to test a theory on how this one-sided link worked. She waited a moment, even opening an eye to see if he was already within the room. As she suspected, she heard a soft knock on the door.
"You said you wanted a towel?"
~Yes.~ Gwyn was only responding telepathically now. ~Can you bring it inside?~
"Are you sure?"
~Very sure.~
She tried her best to sound velvety and tempting in her mind.
Artero audibly gulped before slowly opening the door. He raised his forearm in front of his eyes, so as not to see anything he was not allowed to see. His feet shifted on the damp floor.
"Where would you like it?"
~On the sink over there.~
"Of course, um. Where is that?"
Gwyn held in her laughter, then had another devilish thought.
~Oh, just a little to your left.~
Artero held out one hand with the towel to avoid running into anything.
"Am I going the right way?"
~Yes, just a little further.~
He shuffled forward.
~Okay, you can drop it.~
He did as she told. A splash followed.
"Ah! My bad," Gwyn said aloud. "Can you help me get that?"
"Where did I drop it?" He asked.
It suddenly became very hot in the room. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
"You can open your eyes, you won't see anything I wouldn't want you to."
Artero did as she said, and he was right in front of her bath. She leaned up against the porcelain, her hair in a bun, with her body exposed to him.
"Oh!" He turned. "My apologies. I… didn't mean for that to happen."
"Oh no! How could you?"
Gwyn feigned surprise. She held in a smile, grabbing his hand. She stared at that hand, wondering where she wanted him to place it.
The touch sent a chill up his spine.
"I should probably go. I wouldn't want to—"
~Going so soon?~