Gwen watches her maid, Alice, fuss over the arrangement of flowers, Gwen has set on the table of her and Arthur's bedroom. She can remember a time, many years ago, when she was only a servant, and not a Queen of Camelot. She can remember clearly how she used to bring flowers to Lady Morgana, hoping that the smile on her face would erase the memory of the dream-induced horror stricken nights from her mind. On those nights, Gwen could only smooth down Morgana's hair and whisper sweet nothings to her. On those nights, Gwen felt useless, helpless that she couldn't help any more.
"Will you be needing anything else, my lady?"
"No that will be all, Alice." Alice made her way to the door. "wait!" Gwen said making Alice stop and turn to her. "Send the King to me."
"Yes, your Majesty." Alice curtsied and left the Queen's chambers to fetch the king. A few moments later Arthur burst into the room. His face was older but behind the aging, he still had the had some boyish face he did when he was only a prince. A prince with only the impending future of having a kingdom on his shoulders.
"Alice said you called for me." Gwen hadn't turned away from the window she was looking out of. She could see the people of her kingdom, she was once their equal. Still sometimes she feels she is. When Gwen didn't answer him, his face showed his obvious confusion.
"Gwen?" He walked forward placing his hand on her shoulder. "Guinevere?" Gwen jumped away from his touch, as if she was burned by it.
"Oh, Arthur, you startled me." She said with a small smile on her face. And Arthur noticed that her smiles never seemed anything but sad. Not since they lost---
Well, Arthur would rather not think about it.
"I can see that." He said. "Alice said you called for me."
"You're on a first name basis with my servant? Should I be worried?" She teased him. Arthur decided to play along, if only to lighten the mood.
"Well, Alice is a very nice girl." The teasing tones and secret smiles in their voices always seemed to make the tension between them disappear, if only for a while. Arthur placed his hands on Gwen's hips.
"Well you do seem to have an," She paused, linking her arms around his neck, her eyes twinkling mischief. "appetite for handmaids." It was silent for a moment before Arthur laughed out loud.
"Gwen, what is it you called me for?" The smile on Gwen's face slowly slipped away.
"Can't a wife ask for her husband?" Arthur pursed his lips and nodded his head.
"Yes, I suppose so, but she would normally do so when he is not training with the Knights." Gwen moved out of his arms and returned to looking out the window. Arthur watched her curiously, before moving forward to follow her. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. He placed kisses on her neck.
"Arthur."
"Yes Gwen?" He questioned in between kisses.
"Do you miss them?" He stopped kissing her neck.
"No." He was lying of course and Gwen knew this. But instead of continuing on the subject, she put a hand on his head and brought his lips down to her neck again. Her eyes closed and she leaned into his touch. She rested her hands on top of his and he interlocked their fingers together. She turned her head to face him. They stared at each other, their eyes relaying to each other what they could not speak of, not yet. Arthur leaned his face closer to her and Gwen crushed her lips to his. And they kissed and kissed and kissed. Maybe if they kept kissing they would kiss the haunting memories of Merlin and Morgana away.