Author's Note: Can I just say a quick but big thank to everyone who took the time to read and review the first chapter. It always means a lot to receive feedback on work and I'm extremely grateful to those who did. I love you a LOT. =]

Disclaimer: I still do not own Merlin. Believe you me, if I did, there'd be a heck of a lot more topless Arthur scenes. That honour goes to the BBC, not I. I own only this plot and my own characters.

She was going to tell him. This much she had decided. As she sat in the quiet, empty rooms of the King's absent ward, she finally realised what she knew all along. She wanted him to know. A small part of her hoped that, if he knew the truth, maybe he'd declare their love and make their relationship public. Athough as she stabbed the needle through again - one of Morgana's old dresses that she'd meant to fix ages ago and completely forgot - she knew this was very unlikely.
It had been a week since she'd last contemplated telling Arthur and even now, Gwen came back to the same problem; He has a right to know. In all fairness, she didn't even look like she was having a baby. She could probably get away with not telling him for months. But would it be easier to tell him earlier? So he'd have more time to get his head round it?

This was the problem she kept coming back to. She'd have to tell him, but when? When is the best time to hear you're going to be a father to a child conceived with a woman you cannot marry? With a groan she dragged her hands down her face and shook her mind of all thoughts of it. Hopefully something would happen, something that would make up her mind for her. Arthur appearing and declaring his undying love would be the ideal thing, but as she'd accepted a long time - this was very unlikely.

"And the most STUPID part of it all is that he actually wants me to dance with her. A complete stranger! In front of all those people! In front of-..." He cut off, the expression falling from his face and Merlin raised an eyebrow.

"Sire?" Merlin waved a hand in front of Arthur's face and rolled his eyes. "Look, I know Gwen's gonna be there and yes, she's gonna see. But it's just a dance, yeah? You can tell her that. Means nothing, just a dance." Arthur glanced at Merlin, a look on his face which made him seem very young. Merlin mirrored the expression which seemed to shock Arthur back into his rant.

"And so he seems to think that this will make me fall in love with her! The arrogance of it all! With any luck, she'll have her eye on some other prince and will be as relucant as I! Then maybe Father'll stop trying to force me into various engagements with people I don't even know!"

"Yeah, maybe..." Merlin said, scrubbing the cloth over one of Arthur's boots. "Or maybe, you'll catch one glance of her and fall over head over heels for her anyway". Arthur stopped and glanced down at Merlin.

"Do not even jest about that. She means nothing, she's just some princess is all. That's all. Nothing more." He said as he started to pace. Merlin looked up from his boot scrubbing and frowned.

"So...why are you pacing like you're terrified of her?"

"I am NOT terrified of her. I'd just rather the whole thing wasn't even happening! And then when I tell Father I don't want to marry her, he starts off on some 'duty to Camelot' marlarky which makes me feel guilty." He sighed, stopping by the window. "It's all a mess, Merlin. All a grand, royal mess." And Merlin, no stranger to awkward, difficult situations, nodded.

By the evening, she was decided. She was telling him - tonight. Something was happening in Camelot, some distant king had arrived for dinner, but this wasn't going to put her off. She dusted down her purple dress and checked her hair in the mirror before she left. Even knowing Arthur as long as she had didn't make her want to look like a scruffy servant in his presence.

Everyone was on the move, gathering in their best dress into the Great Hall. Gwen found Merlin lurking in a corridor and almost ran into him in her rush to find Arthur.

"Merlin!"

"Gwen!"

"Merlin, where is Arthur? I need to speak to him, now."

"He's just finishing getting ready. Although what he's getting ready I do not know, seeing as I helped him dress. Probably admiring himself in the mirror or checking I've polished his boots properly..." Merlin muttered before grinning at Gwen. He frowned when he noticed her harrassed expression. "Gwen, is everything alright?"

"Yes, yes, fine. I just need to see Arthur before he goes down and greets whoever it is."

"King Stefan."

"King Steven, yes."

"Stefan, Gwen, Stefan."

"Yes, whatever Merlin".

Suddenly the door opened and Arthur stepped out - ceremony crown on and everything - and Gwen found herself taking in a breath. This was the closest she'd been to him since that night and she'd almost forgotten how attractive he was up close.

"Guinevere" He said, frowning slightly. "Is there a...?" He trailed off, thinking of no reason why she should be here. He started in the direction of the Great Hall, Merlin following a few paces behind. Gwen hurried along to keep in step with him.

"Arthur, I really need to speak to you, it's really impor-..."

"Guinevere, this isn't really the best time, I've got-..."

"Arthur, please, I need to talk to you, just 5 minutes..."

"I haven't got 5 minutes, Gwen, I just haven't, I-..." He stopped, wondering if he was being too harsh on her, if he was taking his nerves out on her. "Gwen...look, we can talk...just not now, this is very important, Father will kill me if I'm late, we've got a visiting king, guests..." He trailed off, stopping outside the doors to the Great Hall and looked down at her.

"Arthur, I..."

"Later, Gwen..." He smiled sadly at her and for a moment, the memory of that night crossed between the two of them. He shook it from his head and gently touched her shoulder. "Stay with Merlin, I really have to go". And with that, he was gone and Gwen was left outside the Great Hall, Merlin only a few feet behind.

"Come on." He said, touching her arm but she shook her head and headed in the other direction. As she walked away, the thoughts in her head swirled faster and faster. Arthur was right, this was a bad time to talk, but did he have to be so short with her? Didn't she mean anything to him? No, she did, she had to, he'd said they could talk, but...She rounded a corner and heard applause from the Great Hall, laughter. This was stupid. There was nothing wrong, nothing at all. He said they'd talk and the best she could do for now was to go into the Great Hall and have a good time like everyone else. Yes, that's what she'd do. And with a smile, Gwen turned on her heel and headed back the way she came.

If Arthur has ever felt any pressure before, it was nothing like what he was feeling now. All eyes were on him as he approached Princess Bella's chair and offered his hand to her. Slowly she raised her head and - sweet mercy, she wasn't meant to be that beautiful - gently took his hand. Over her head he could see his father's smile of approval and that of King Stefan next to him. The courtiers of Camelot all smiled too, eager for their prince to find an ideal queen, and he lead her to the centre of the floor. To his slight shock, the princess was beautiful. With her wavy blonde hair and massive brown eyes, she was as everyone had said - a complete stunner - and he was finding it hard to look away from her.

Holding her tiny hand carefully in his own, he put his hand on her waist and found hers on his shoulder. They slowly started to move and before long, Arthur found himself stepping into this dance as easily as if it were natural. Occasionally she glanced up at him, with a look as nervous as his own, as he felt something inside swoop. But then he remember Gwen, her own panicked look as he'd left her, and a wave of guilt would wash over him. Glancing over Bella's shoulder, he spotted his father and King Stefan in an animated whispered conversation, both grinning. He saw Merlin, smiling nervously beside Gaius. He saw face after face of various Camelot residents, all happy for him. And then he saw her. Standing in the shadows, her purple servant's dress standing out amongst the rich fabrics of everyone else. The look on her face made him feel even worse and he tried to send her a message with his eyes, but she wasn't looking at him. She was looking directly at Bella.

After what seemed like forever, the dance ended and Arthur found himself wanting to rush over to Gwen and convince her it was not what it seemed. But Bella was smiling at him and holding his hand, reaching up to kiss his cheek. Through not fault of his own, he felt himself blush and knew that everyone in the room had noticed it too. Including Gwen, who seemed rooted to the spot. Someone, probably his father, started applauding and before long, the entire room was echoing with the sound of Camelot's response. Still standing in the middle of the floor, he felt himself turn as Uther stood and silence fell.

"It gives me a great sense of pride to announce to you, the people of Camelot and our dear guests, the betrothal of our Crown Prince Arthur and Mesaline's Princess Bella. I hope you will join with me in congratulating them on this momentus occasion and raise your glasses in a toast. To Prince Arthur and Princess Bella!"

"Arthur and Bella!"

"Arthur and Bella!"

Over and over he heard, the phrase becoming engraved into his mind forever. He felt Bella's hand hold on tightly to his own, her beautiful face smile up at him, and it took great strength to smile back at her. The words were chanted again and again, reminding him of what he'd just been signed up for, but the only thing he heard - above the joyous shouts and congratulations - was the small whimper of pain and muffled shutting of a door as Gwen rushed out.