Number 2! Thank you to those who left me the feedback from the first chapter, much appreciated.

This one is based on the song "As if we never said goodbye" from the musical, Sunset Boulevard. And no, I own nothing!

Gwen strode down the reasonably empty corridors. She looked at them so differently now. No longer was she a maid of Camelot, but one of the Lady's. One who was in love with the acting Regent, the Crown Prince of Camelot.

But as a hand closed gently around her arm and drew her to one side, hidden from the view of any passersby, she let a flicker of a smile cross her face before she sighed. It was not Arthur who was drawing her to the side, but another, one who had held her heart long before the prince.

"Lancelot, we can't do this."

"Please, Gwen. I just need a moment. I've missed you so during my time away. I thought of you every day. And now we are back together. Do you know how hard I have to try and resist you? Each morning I'm a trembling wreck when you walk past, stopping myself from reaching out to you."

Gwen sighed again, turning to face him. She knew how he felt, because she was the same. But things were different now. There was a time when she could have just been with him, had the fairytale romance that every girl dreamed of, the spinning around as if life was nothing more than a playground.

But they couldn't do it anymore. Her loyalties, even if not her heart, belonged to another. Gwen knew it was hard, but it was better to have a jilted Knight than a heartbroken prince. The consequences for those around wouldn't be nearly as severe.

Reaching forward, Gwen cupped Lancelot's face, leaning forward for a brief moment so their foreheads were touching. His hands immediately jumped to hers. Sword worn hands gripped her wrists gently. His touch was warm and grounding. Gwen couldn't help but make the comparison between him and Arthur. They both had similar touches, hardened by battle, but soft when in her hands.

"I'm no doing this to him, Lancelot." She whispered gently, drawing back slightly to look her lover in the eyes. Why couldn't she resist that chocolate brown gaze? It was the colour of the ocean that should be dominating her heart, the blue she saw gazing back at her from across the room. Yet it was not. "I need a moment or so, I'm not ready. So much has changed; I can't do this as well."

"Gwen, stop making excuses." Lancelot whispered back, pain filling his eyes as he looked into hers. "I gave you up to him once. I put aside everything I felt so that you could be happy. But I've come home now, I'm back in Camelot. And..." He paused for a moment. Gwen knew how much this was killing him to say this. It was one of the qualities she had always found so attractive in the Knight. He would always put other people first, but this time, it was obvious Lancelot was fighting back. And with a sinking heart, she knew he would be fighting for her.

"Gwen, I don't want to be alone any more. I've waited long enough for you, you know I have. But no more. I have to be with you. Arthur will survive, he's a fighter. I've had enough of being put to the side. The world isn't going to wait any longer. I love you."

Tears filled Gwen's eyes as she heard the words Arthur rarely uttered. Oh, she knew well enough how he felt, but they had spent years hiding how they were feeling about each other, she was not used to the open declaration. But even now, there was nothing truly honourably about the love she felt for the Knight. Whispered conversations in crowded hallways whenever they thought they could get away with it? She had to admit, there was a bit of a thrill in knowing that she was going behind the future King's back in order to make it happen. Knowing she couldn't say the same thing back to Lancelot without jeopardising everything Arthur had been working towards, she did the only thing she could think of. Leaning up on tiptoes, she kissed him. As she drew back, Lancelot caught her hand in his.

"Your hand is shaking." He told her gently. "You feel the same, I know you do. This is the moment we've been waiting for, Gwen. The moment where we have absolutely everything to live for."

"I'm frightened." Gwen admitted, glancing down. He didn't let her stay that way for long, using his other hand to tip her chin back until she was looking him in the eye once more. Using his thumb, he brushed away the stray tear that had slipped down her cheek. "I know this place, know everyone, everything. And yet, it's as if none of that matters, as if it all melts away whenever I'm with you. I don't know if I want that, Lancelot. I know we could have a whole world to discover out there, but I'm just not ready."

Lancelot suddenly smiled at her, drawing back so that he was leaning against the wall, but still held her hand in his. When she frowned quizzically at him, his smile widened.

"You didn't say no. You just said you weren't ready. Is there hope for me yet, Guinevere?"

In her heart of hearts, Gwen knew the answer. "There is always hope for you, Sir Lancelot, Knight of Camelot." She didn't think it would be possibly to do, but his smile widened even further. Finally, he let go and ducked out of the alcove, striding off down the corridor in order to attend a training session with his prince. Gwen had no idea how he managed it.

But watching him walk away, she knew one thing. It had been years since she had last seen Lancelot before he had turned up to their rescue. So much had changed, for all of them. But being back with him now, feeling his arms around her?

It was as if they had never said goodbye.