Amore Periculosa

Dangerous Love

Summary – Forbidden, dangerous and unyielding love; Guinevere and Arthur must face many challenges on their rode to be together and many foes that would do anything to keep them apart. Set Post 3x10. Rated T, but that might change later on in the story.

Chapter Two

It was a strange feeling, having to sneak round a place that you had grow up in and would one day rule. It wasn't that he hadn't done it before, as a child it was one of his favourite pastimes. Running around all day hiding from his tutors or the maid assigned to look after him pretending that they where evil and he was the brave prince that would jump out and scare them to death to stop them taking over the castle. This time was different, this time he wasn't trying to defend the castle he was trying to leave it.

Merlin had been left to stop anyone from entering his chambers whilst he was out for the night. Arthur knew that he was bound to feel asleep or leave his post to go to the tavern but it was the best that Arthur had and he wouldn't miss this night for the world.

Passing through the corridors was the easy part, the alcoves all over the sides provided ample hiding space when the patrols came down; something he would need to remember when doing the next set of security plans. The harder part came when he had to cross the main gate between the castle and the town below with guards placed on each side twenty-four hours of the day and Merlin wasn't there to came up with some pathetic way to get pass the guards which usually only worked by the skin of their teeth.

Luckily for Arthur he was the crown prince of Camelot and was charged with the security of the castle which meant that he was aware for every inch and of every entrance and exit even if it was not possible to see by the naked eye. He crept over to a wall about five metres away from the gate and portcullis. This entrance was to either allow important people to escape if the castle had been taken or if it had been taken as a secret entrance for the knights to enter and take the castle back. On the wall was a small craved dragon on the bottom right hand corner marking the entrances location. Arthur knelt down on the floor next to the engraving and pushed the stone into the wall. The entrance had been built to make a silent exit or the user and revealed a ladder leading downwards into the tunnels below the city.

Arthur rarely used this path in fear that someone would see him and then it was all too easy for their enemies to use it against them but this night was special, this night was for Guinevere. The tunnels lead him to a purposely abandoned house on the outskirts of the lower town.

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Guinevere answer on the first knock and Arthur could hardly speak. She was dressed in a new purple dress that hugged her curves beautifully, the dress hung from her shoulders leaving her collarbone bare and enticing. The sleeves went to the elbow before being stopped by as gold ribbon whilst a sheer fabric carried on down the rest of the arm. It was a noblewoman's dress, it suited Guinevere to perfection.

"You look beautiful." Arthur stated staring at her before a smile graced his face.

"The fabric was a gift from Morgana, she brought it and then decided that the colour didn't suit her and give it to me to do something with."

"Well I have never been so glad of Morgana's need to purchase every passing fancy."

"Are you going to come in or just stand there all night because that won't be much fun."

"I don't know what you're talking about; I have you to gaze at that can never be boring." Arthur then smiled before passing Guinevere and entering her cosy cottage leaving her to blush at the door.

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Laughter filled the small house whilst the candles where on their last inches of life.

"He did not do that!" Guinevere struggled to say between laughs.

"He did and then proceeded to act as though it was the most normal thing to do in the world I couldn't walk properly on my floor for days; it was like a frozen lake!"

"Oh I would have loved to have seen that!"

"Oh so you could find amusement in my embarrassment, I don't think so"

"Haha remind me never to ask Merlin to clean anything, ever."

They laughed together as they had done for hours before that, forgetting the troubles of the real world that lay just outside the feeble wooden door.

Arthur looked at Guinevere, her caramel skin turning a light golden colour in the candle light and reached across the table to tuck the piece of stray hair behind her ear. Guinevere closed her eyes at the feel of his touch. Guinevere's hand went up to meet his and slide it down to her mouth where she tenderly kissed the palm.

As her chocolate eyes travelled up to meet the deep blue, Arthur let out a sigh and he couldn't take it anymore and pulled his hand back and slide it down her neck and leaned forward bringing her lips to meet his. Guinevere didn't hesitate to return his kiss with an equal sense of need and passion, letting out a soft noise of pleasure.

Arthur's other arm reached forward and he wrapped it firmly around her waist as he draw at to him so that she sat on his lap. Her hands rose until they were locked in his golden hair pulling his lips closer to hers. Both of their hands where now wandering around each other's bodies in the heat of passion and Guinevere's hair had come underdone; Arthur ravished the feeling of his hands threading through the thick curls.

However the romantic and hot-blooded embrace was brought to a hault as the sound of patrol guards gossiping away like old fish wives draw that out of their passionate haze both of them break apart gasping for the breath that they had both forget to take.

"Uhh, why did I sign patrol guards in the lower town?" Arthur whined his forehead pressed against hers.

"Because you where being kind and thoughtful and wanted to keep me safe." She answered as her thumb rubbed the side of his cheek. The statement reminded Arthur of the different lives they lead. There he was one of the best soldiers that Camelot had to offer and he was protected by stone walls and constant patrols of guards and the noblest army in the five kingdoms whilst Guinevere was living alone in the area with the highest crime rate.

Sure Guinevere had made him frat once or twice when she was really angry, he actually thought she looked gorgeous when she was angry it was what first made him take notice of her, but that didn't mean that she could take on criminals especially if they attack in groups which they normally did. Arthur had appealed to his father for months to place a guard patrol on the lower levels of the city but all he had managed was an extra patrol in the middle town that will do a couple of sweeps of the lower town if they have the time.

"It's not enough. I need you safe." Arthur said sincerely.

"I know and I love that you are protective of me but I am not the one off into battle or fighting dragons." Guinevere teased him trying to keep the topic of conversation on more of a lighter tone to end the evening. "You had better go we don't want you falling off your horse tomorrow." She stood up in order to let him go.

Arthur nodded his head reluctantly and stood and went to the door before turning and lifting his hand to her cheek once more.

"You look stunning and I love you, My Guinevere."

"I love you too, so much." She placed her hand on his gave his hand a light squeeze as he leaned down to give her one final kiss before leaving the small one-roomed cottage for the far more complicated real world.

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The perfect day did nothing to cheer the mood of the Crown Prince as he contemplated the conversion he had that morning.

The party was gathering in the courtyard of the castle before they left their home for Mercia. Uther had decided to ensure the treaty between Camelot and the Mercian King, Bayard. The long war between the two kingdom had gone on for years and peace terms where only reached several years ago and due to the less then admirable situations that surrounded the signing, the false accusations of attempted murder, Uther decided it was best if he, Arthur and Lady Morgana visited for Princess Caroline's birthday feast to secure the kingdoms and help distinguish the treat of Cenred.

Crown Prince Arthur stood by his horse as he held the reigns with a gloomy look upon his face as he remembered the conversation that had transpired between his father.

The sun rose over Camelot, the golden rays reflecting off of the white stone of the castle wall. In was in these first hours of sunlight that Arthur was summoned to see his father in the council chambers.

"Arthur, come I need to speak to you about the journey today as well as the feast."

"What is it father, I must prepare for the trip."

"I am afraid that there are some matters of state that are in urgent need of my attention so I will not be leaving with you but I will meet you on the border of Camelot before you enter Mercia to ensure that we don't offend Lord Bayard in any way."

"Father we can wait for you if you require more time before we leave."

"Nonsense, besides if we wait any longer than I am afraid that Morgana will have sufficient time to conceive an excuse as to why she can't attend."

Arthur did agree with that. It wasn't that Morgana didn't like travelling or even that she didn't like Lord Bayard, it was because on visits like this to other royal households and castles Uther insisted that she take the carriage in order to keep up appearances and to help show off Camelot's wealth.

"Of course Father" Arthur dutifully responded.

"The other matter on the other hand is far more personal." Uther continued keeping his eyes on his son.

"Oh?"

"Yes, it is about you and the Princess Caroline of Mercia." Arthur's eyes widened in horror foreseeing where this conversation was heading.

"Father please don't say what I think you are about to say."

"Well nothing has been set in stone and it will be hard to convince Bayard to give up his precise daughter. However he is a weak man when it comes to her and she gets what she wants and I want you to make her want you."

"How can I even think about getting married to someone that I have never even met?"

"It is done all the time Arthur and a marriage to Princess Caroline will ensure Bayard's alliance with us and make Cenred second guess trying to invade. You will do your duty Arthur and that is the end of it."

Uther then resumed reading the paperwork that was laid out on his table as if he had just told his son that he had to couldn't have the sword that he wanted instead of telling him he was going to be in a loveless marriage for the rest of his life. But it was clear that Arthur wasn't going to get anywhere with the subject, not today anyway and instead decide to revisit it when he had met the princess and he would have more reasons to object. Hopefully.

"Sire?" Merlin's voice broke him out of his trance. "Sire, I think it is time to go Lady Morgana has arrived."

Arthur still remained silent but turned his head towards the steps leading towards the entrance doors of the castle.

Lady Morgana was known across the lands for her beauty with her pale skin and raven hair she stood above most women in the looks department. She was wearing a green gown, no doubt in spite of Uther who had wanted her to wear red as it was the house colour of Pendragon, with her hair braided in intricate patterns with pearls placed throughout, an obvious sign of wealth. But no matter how glamorous Morgana looked Arthur had sights for one and one only, Guinevere, who for Arthur looked more regal, beautiful and noble than any other woman. Of course she wasn't wearing the alluring finery that she was last night due to her position but the pink and white handmade dress still made her the most beautiful woman in Arthur's eyes. But before he could lock eyes with her she and Morgana had entered the carriage that Morgana detested so much.

He mounted his stallion and led the party on their journey.

He had known that the possibly that he and Guinevere could be together, to get married was very slim but the time where they couldn't be together had seemed so far way he hadn't really thought about it. But know it was different, know he was facing never being with her again and the sight of her had really brought that home and it hurt, badly.

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