"Arthur?" Gwen's voice - laced with sleep - broke through his thoughts, and he looked up from his papers to see her standing beside the desk.

"What are you doing up before me?"

Arthur chuckled. "Believe me, I'm as puzzled by it as you are, Love." he said, setting down his quill and leaning back in his chair - the parchment he had been reading still in his other hand. "I don't know what's come over me."

"Maybe you are finally learning to appreciate mornings." Gwen joked as she climbed onto his lap. He wrapped his arm securely around her waist, and she rested her cheek lightly against his hair.

"What is it you're reading?"

Arthur sighed, handing her the document so she could see for herself.

"Just a report on the tax revenue from last autumn's harvest." he told her, his fingers idly stroking her arm through the sleeve of the shirt that she was wearing. "I shouldn't be looking at it so early in the morning, only I thought I might as well get something useful done whilst you were asleep."

Gwen smiled at this, leaning forward a little so she could place the parchment back on the desk.

"It's not that early, Arthur." she teased gently. "Anyone would think you weren't a morning person."

"I am when you're awake." Arthur chuckled, and Gwen raised her eyes amusedly at such a statement.

"Really?"

"Really." he assured her, giving her an affectionate squeeze before adding as a cheeky afterthought:

"Especially when you're naked and on top of me."

"Arthur!"

"Or beneath me – either is perfectly pleasurable." he continued, grinning impishly up at her and Gwen giggled in spite of herself.

"I think it's too early for you to know what you're saying." she laughed, kissing his forehead before settling back down. Arthur instinctively tightened his embrace around her, tucking his head against the curve of her neck as she shifted against him.

For a few moments they were both quiet.

Around them, the stillness of the room hummed drowsily in the lazy beams of sunlight – their chambers like an oasis at the centre of the already buzzing castle. Silence took up her sceptre and began her brief reign.

Through the dancing threads of dust time seemed to slow.

If only every morning could be like this, Arthur thought longingly, his fingers absently caressing Gwen's waist as he held her. Sometimes they were so rushed that they barely saw each other before they left for the numerous meetings, appointments and ceremonies that seemed to fill their days. Mornings like this were few and far between – at least, in his opinion. Four non – rushed mornings in a week was far too few a number to be spending together. He would have infinitely preferred it to be seven.

In his arms, Gwen gave a little sigh of contentment, and Arthur was transported back to the present. Pulling away slightly, he pressed a soft kiss to her temple, letting his lips linger there for slightly longer than was necessary. Or, for that matter, than was chaste.

"I love you so much." he murmured, his fingers idly tracing small circles on her bare thigh. Long and tapered, they moved higher, toying lightly with the hem of his shirt that she was wearing, and Gwen smiled.

"I love you too." she said quietly, nestling yet closer as Arthur moved his hand to rest on the curve of her waist. "More than anything."

There was short pause, and then:

"Even when I'm being a complete prat?"

Gwen giggled. "Even when you're being a complete clotpole." she told him, kissing him sweetly by way of answer. "Now, are you going to take me back to bed, or would you prefer to read about taxes until Merlin brings the breakfast?"