Merlin

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or the legend

Set during the episode 'sins of the father'

Starts the morning of the challenge

Gwen made her way to the tent were Arthur was getting ready. She wasn't certain what she intended to do once there, just that she needed to see him before he completed the challenge.

Merlin noticed as Gwen entered the tent and immediately motioned to Arthur that she was there.

"Guinevere! Come to wish me luck?" Arthur asked trying to sound up beat and calm about the coming sword fight.

"Of course my lord, I wish you luck in this challenge. I also wish to give you this token from the lady Morgana" Gwen answered producing a simple hair ribbon from her apron pocket. As she did it was obvious to Arthur that the token from Gwen not Morgana. This knowledge lifted Arthur's spirits considerably.

"Merlin, give us a minute would you" Arthur said, not once looking away from Gwen.

Merlin nodded and made his way from the tent. It did not escape Arthur or Gwen's attention that as Merlin passed Gwen he paused briefly and bowed before leaving the tent.

"This token is not from Morgana, Guinevere is it?" Arthur questioned softly as Gwen tied the ribbon around his wrist.

"No my lord, it is not from the lady Morgana, it is from me. I hope you still wish to wear it" Gwen admitted pausing as she tied the bow.

"Of course I still wish to wear it. Any token from you brings me great comfort and strength. Your opinion matters greatly to me which is why I wish for your view on this challenge" As he spoke he reached up and cupped her face. Gwen smiled up at Arthur and leaned into his hand. Taking his other hand in both of her before speaking again.

"My lord I am pleased that my presence and opinion bring you comfort"

"Guinevere, please call me Arthur, at least in private" Arthur asked.

Gwen nodded and took a deep breath, "Arthur, I cannot explain it but I believe that there is more to this women that we know. I must admit I have a bad feeling about her, she is hiding something. Promise me that you will be careful"

Arthur nodded and was about to speak again when Gwen continued.

"I saw her practicing last night, and she appears to have considerable skill, it appears as though she was trained in the same manner that you and your knights have been. You shouldn't focus on the fact that she is a women, you should treat her as an equal on the battle field because of her skill, I doubt she would have trained against other women"

As she spoke Gwen fiddled with the straps of Arthur's armour.

Moments after she stopped speaking a bell rang to signal for Arthur and Morgause to make their way to the arena.

"I had already considered some of what you have said and the rest I will think on later, thank you for your words my lade but now I must go and I hope that you will come to my chambers this afternoon" Arthur told her, slowly and reluctantly stepping away from her.

Before he moved to far from her, Gwen reached out and grabbed his arm spinning him back to face her. Stepping forward Gwen joined her lips to his. Gwen tried to put as much love as she could into the kiss.

Too soon, in Arthur's opinion, came the sound of Merlin's cough through the tent door alerting them that Arthur needed to get out to the arena quickly.

"It is time to go my lady, I will win this challenge for you" Arthur told her, his breath uneven from their kiss.

Arthur bowed slightly to her before grabbing his sword and making his way from the tent.

Another chapter may be coming, depending on whether people want it to be continued.