Arthur ran down the northeast corridor to Morgana's room, people were rushing past- they had to get out, now. A fire creature had landed near the castle and was about to attack- if they didn't escape, well…. It wasn't thinkable. Suddenly Arthur saw Morgana, "Morgana! Where's Guinevere?" he asked, looking round where Morgana stood, tears falling down her face. "Oh Arthur…. I'm sorry!" she started to sob. Arthur's face fell "Where is she?" he asked, his face now confused. "She went by the lake to collect flowers for Gaius but that was an hour and a half ago, I haven't seen her since…" Arthur looked at Morgana and then to the floor, he looked up again, his eyes bloodshot. "Go…now….go with the others, if anyone asks, you haven't seen me, got it?" she looked at him, dried her eyes, nodded and ran past him.
Arthur ran down the spiral stairs, he had to find her, he knew the monster had struck there first but there was still a chance, a chance she was alive. He ran out of the castle and continued his fast run to the fields, now alight, to where the river was. "Guinevere!!" he shouted, although that was hardly audible over the roaring fire and the screaming of people dying. All around him, servants, townspeople, lying dead on the floor. Why? Why did it have to be like this? Why couldn't they be saved? He heard a young woman start to cough, "Arthur…" was all he could hear, barely a whisper. "Guinevere!" he shouted again, looking all around him for any sign of movement. He could hear the creature coming back, he had to find Guinevere soon or….well…he didn't want to think about it. "GUINEVERE!!!!" he shouted, the loudest he had ever spoken. He could feel the heat everywhere, on his body, on his head, on his legs. "Arthur…." He heard the woman again, almost like she was taking her last breaths. This time he saw movement, a slight movement but which meant everything to him. He saw the familiar locks of brown hair, coated with blood, the brown eyes, hardly able to keep open. He ran over to her, his Guinevere, dodging flames and bodies as he went, soon he was at her side. Her head was bleeding badly and her clothes were torn, blood escaping them as well. "Guinevere….don't leave me" he whispered, his eyes filling with tears. He heard the creature roar, to near for his liking. Carefully he lifted Gwen off the ground and ran, as carefully as he could, over the river. He couldn't go back to the castle; the creature was coming from there. He ran through the small fields until he entered the forest. This was their only escape.
He slowed now, the creature could not follow them, it didn't need to. Arthur noticed Guinevere's breathing slowing; he crouched by a tree and let her fall softly to the ground. "Guinevere…..Please…..stay……." he whispered, caressing her cheek with his fingers. Her eyes started to open, "Who said I was leaving?" she croaked, a smile curling on her lips. "Thank god! I thought I'd lost you!" he blew a sigh of relief. He lifted Gwen so her back was against the tree, she rested her head on his shoulder. "Arthur…." She looked up slightly, he looked down at her. "Yes?" he said, relief swimming through him. "I love you" she whispered, before her eyes gently closed. She was alive, he thought, and they would survive. Together. Forever.