Arthur and Gwen woke up the next morning, still outside on the blanket. Smiles played on both of their faces. Arthur couldn't remember a time when he had ever felt happier. The love of his life, laying next to him. Gwen felt the same way. Arthur kissed her again, wishing that he could stay with Gwen every day for the rest of his life.

"I love being here," he told Gwen quietly.

"I do too," she said, placing a hand on Arthur's cheek. "But we must leave. We've been out all night, surely Uther-" She was cut off when Arthur's finger touched her lips.

"Who cares about Uther? I love you, and that's all that matters. If we want to be together, we can be together."

"But I will be banished from the kingdom, and we will never see each other again," Gwen said, tears forming in her eyes at the very thought.

"Not if we leave together," Arthur replied. Gwen shook her head sadly.

"No, Arthur, you belong in Camelot. Your people need you," she said.

"But I need you, Guinevere. Without you, I don't feel complete. But when I'm here with you... I just don't want us to ever be apart."

"So what are you proposing, that we run away together? Listen to yourself, Arthur. How could that ever work?"

"Merlin can tell my father," said Arthur, thinking furiously. "He can tell my father that I was on a hunting trip, and there was a beast that was too much for me to handle."

"You want Merlin to tell Uther you're dead?" Gwen asked, raising her eyebrows. "It'll destroy him, Arthur, you know that. You're the only person Uther truly cares about. He'll be devastated if he hears of your death. Who knows, he might even become angry. I don't think Merlin should have to give Uther that news. I want to be with you as much as you want to be with me," she said. "But you have to consider Camelot first." Arthur got up and started pacing as Guinevere watched him from the ground.

"Okay, so maybe Merlin won't tell my father that I died. Perhaps I was kidnapped. Yes, that's it! Merlin can tell Uther that a powerful sorcerer kidnapped me, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. But he'll send out a search party, of course. We'll have to be very careful about where we go. My father searched for Morgana for a year, he will look for me the same, if not more. I'm his son, his heir, he will never stop seeking me out." Arthur looked at Gwen. "So we must return to Camelot sometime."

"When will we return?" Gwen asked.

"I don't know," said Arthur, his hands covering his face. "I suppose Merlin can keep us informed of what's going on in Camelot. We can decide when the time is right to go back."

"Arthur, don't you think you're getting a little ahead of yourself?" Gwen asked. "Are you sure you really want to do this? After all, you're the Prince of Camelot, and I'm only a servant girl."

"Don't say that, Guinevere. You're much more than a servant girl to me, and you know it. Don't bother trying to persuade me to not do this, because you can't. I love you more than anything in the world. There is only one thing that is certain to me, and that is that I cannot live without you."

Gwen nodded as Arthur sat back down on the blanket next to her. He cupped his hand under her chin and gently moved it up. Arthur marveled at the sight of her eyes. They were dark, but they were so bright. Arthur saw his own love reflected in her eyes. He dipped his head down and kissed Gwen again. This kiss was different. There was no urgency, no tension, just pure passion. The kiss ended, much to Gwen's dismay, and Arthur said, "In about an hour's time, I will go back to Camelot and find Merlin. I will tell him of my plan, and once I return here, we will set off immediately." Gwen nodded again, not speaking. Arthur got up and started in the direction of Camelot.

"Arthur," Gwen called. He turned around. "I love you," her heart longed to say. But her mouth betrayed her. "Be careful."

Arthur nodded once and continued on his journey.