A/N: Another (slightly longer) chapter for you! :) Thank you for all you lovely reviews! :) Enjoy this chapter... :)
Arwen4eva xxx
Gwen wakes up feeling slightly confused.
Dreaming of Arthur coming back to her again felt so real to her. It isn't possible for that to happen.
But as she moves her head, surprisingly hearing a heartbeat, she looks up to see him asleep.
Arthur. Her Arthur.
He feels her moving around and is woken by her movement.
"Good morning my love." he says planting a kiss on her forehead.
"Good morning Arthur."
"How are you? I could tell I chased away those nightmares last night, you look better."
"I had a fantastic night's sleep thanks to you."
"I'm pleased."
Gwen scoots further up so her head is now resting on Arthur's shoulder and her hand finds his ear and begins to fiddle slightly, an old habit of hers coming to light.
"Arthur?"
"Mm?"
"You know that I will have to announce your return to the counsel today."
"Well, if they see me walking around the palace without being told, someone will claim it is sorcery."
"You know about Merlin don't you?"
"Yes, and I forgive him for keeping it a secret. Wait a moment, how do you know?"
"I just guessed really. It was first at Camlann we saw the old sorcerer as we know now to be Merlin, and I asked Gaius if he knew him because he had a small smile on his face, and he admitted that he did which left me curious."
Arthur nods his head slightly showing he understands and is following.
"Then it was a few days after you had gone, I requested to see Gaius. I asked him if I knew the sorcerer as I thought I should have some right to know, not as a Queen but as a friend, also I had the inkling that it was Merlin so if it was him I had the right to know as your wife, and after some reluctance he said that he would take good care of you. I knew then for sure that it was Merlin. You know, I had been thinking about the ban on magic, perhaps lifting it?"
"I was saying the same thing to Merlin actually. I want to make him my advisor for magic and with his help, one day the ban will be repealed and hopefully peace restored to the realm."
"That my lord." Gwen turns over out of Arthur's grasp so they are face to face.
"Is an excellent idea. I'm glad that you are thinking over it especially with Morgana gone."
Arthur smiles at Gwen. He knew that even as a servant, she always showed that she was capable of handling things like a Queen and thinking as Arthur would meant a great deal to him.
"Arthur, I'm curious, what exactly happened with Morgana? Only you and Merlin know."
"Merlin did it. He killed her with my sword. I always knew that sword was special and I was right. Merlin told Morgana it was forged in a dragons breath which was the only thing that would kill her. I watched the whole thing unable to do anything because of my injury. If it wasn't for Merlin, I would have had Morgana kneeling next to me with a smug look on her face as I painfully died, she believed that she had gotten rid of him, throwing him back with her magic but Merlin defeated her once and for all."
Gwen lays back down on Arthur's shoulder and is stroking his cheek with her thumb. She sighs.
"I'm sorry." Gwen says.
"Don't be. For some reason, I was glad that she died. Peace can be brought about once more but shouldn't I have felt something? She was my sister after all."
"She did unforgivable things Arthur. She betrayed us all and for what? A throne she wasn't even entitled to. She lost all her friends by doing so. I used to consider her as the sister I never had, with the betrayal, I hated to be around such a monster. To be honest, I believe she deserved to die."
"When you come to think of it." Arthur says slightly desperate to change the subject.
"I haven't got my sword. I didn't have it when I woke up on the boat, Merlin didn't have it."
Arthur sits up bringing Gwen with him. Gwen withdraws from Arthur's grip and climbs out of bed, wrapping a shawl around her arms.
"MERLIN!" Arthur shouts.
"Hey, why are you shouting for him? Do you want the whole castle to know you are here?"
"Isn't that what we're revealing today though?"
"Yes, but not right now."
Arthur gets out of bed and walks over to Gwen. His arms wrap around her waist from behind and he rests his chin on her shoulder.
"You're so beautiful Guinevere."
Gwen laughs and drops her head back onto his shoulder.
"You don't know how much I've missed those words Arthur. These past weeks have been hell without you."
Arthur lifts his head up so he is looking at Gwen.
"I'm here now."
"I could wish for nothing more. I love you."
"I love you too."
Just as their lips touch, there is a knock at the door.
Arthur moans as he pulls apart from Gwen and she laughs.
"Who is it?" Gwen says remaining in Arthur's arms.
"Merlin."
"Come in."
They look at the door to see Merlin and Gaius walk in.
"Good morning Merlin, morning Gaius." Gwen says to the visitors.
"Good morning my lady." Gaius says. He then looks upon Arthur.
"It is wonderful to see you again my lord. How have you been? Any pain from the wound you had?"
"Thank you Gaius. And no, I haven't had any problems. When I woke up on the boat, I had no pain and my strength had returned. It was like the events that had occurred never happened."
"I would like to check you over later anyway just to be sure."
"Of course." Arthur looks over to Merlin.
"Now Merlin, I have something to ask you."
"Yes?"
"What became of my sword? I haven't seen it since... Well you know."
"Ah. I umm..."
"Merlin?"
"I may have thrown it into the lake."
"What? Why?!" Arthur says, slight anger clear in his voice.
"I thought you were dead! That sword has great power and it is only meant to be wielded by you. It is being safe guarded by Freya, the Lady of the Lake."
"Ok. Is there any chance I may be able to get it back?" he asks calmer this time.
"I could try."
"Thank you."
"Gaius." Gwen asks. "How is Gwaine? He was a bit beaten up when he arrived."
"He is fine my lady. He just needs rest."
"Thank you. Could you convene the counsel for me? Tell them to meet me in the counsel chambers in an hour."
"Of course my lady."
Gaius nods his head showing he understands, bows to both Gwen and Arthur, then leaves the room.
"Shall I get some food for you both?"
"I'm not hungry thank you Merlin but bring up a plate for Arthur." Gwen says her stomach turning at the thought of food.
"Ok."
Merlin turns to leave.
"Merlin." Arthur says.
"Yes Sire?"
"Could you find me some clothes that are not mine, ones people will not recognise me in?"
"I will have a look around for you Sire."
"Thank you Merlin."
"Merlin could you also bring a bowl of water and a clean cloth?" Gwen says quickly before Merlin can disappear.
Merlin nods then leaves.
"Why do you need water and a cloth?" Arthur asks.
Gwen turns to face him.
"Have you seen your face? There is dirt all over. That's why."
Arthur just simply smiles.
"I should dress Arthur." Gwen announces after a few moments.
She steps away from him and opens the wardrobe.
Looking in, she notices Arthur's old blue cloak.
She fishes it out and throws it over to him.
"This may help later." she says smiling.
Gwen then turns back to the wardrobe, removes her red dress, and goes behind the screen.
After a few minutes, Arthur can hear Gwen struggling.
"Guinevere? Are you ok?" Arthur asks, slowly edging towards the screen.
"Fine, just struggling to tie up my dress."
"Let me help."
Arthur goes behind the screen and begins to tie up the laces.
"Thank you."
"Shouldn't you have maids to help with this?"
"They stopped coming about a week ago. There wasn't much point them doing so. I was a misery in the mornings, did things myself, rarely ate so I told them not to bother with me in the mornings."
"They understood under the circumstances though I take it?"
"Yes. Everyone has been trying to help me recently and frankly I just preferred to deal with it myself. You are my husband and I don't want help when it comes to settling my emotions after you've died. I would rather remember you as much as I could. I wanted to remember the way you smell because within probably another week, your scent would have been lost to me forever and I don't want that to go away."
Arthur finishes tying up the dress and turns Gwen to face him. But she locks her vision to the floor.
"Guinevere, look at me."
Reluctantly, Gwen looks up.
"I never knew you cared that much." Arthur says jokingly.
"But thinking about it, if I were in your shoes and you had died Guinevere, I would have done exactly the same. I would have done anything to preserve you any way I could."
"Really? Because at points, I believed I was becoming mad."
"Never could my Guinevere Pendragon go mad."
He steals a quick kiss on Gwen's soft lips.
There is then a knock at the door.
"It's Merlin my lady."
"Come in."
Arthur and Gwen emerge from behind the screen to see a plate of food on the table accompanied with a bowl, currently empty but a jug has been placed beside it with the cloth.
In his hands, Merlin has a blue shirt and simple trousers.
"Thank you Merlin." Arthur says collecting the clothes.
"No problem. Is there anything else you need?"
"I think we're fine here Merlin thank you." Gwen says. "Go and make sure that you are ready for the meeting later."
"Do you need me there?"
"It would be nice."
"Ok, see you in about 20 minutes then."
With a nod of his head, Merlin leaves again.
Gwen turns to Arthur.
"Right mister, get those clothes on then eat up, I bet your hungry and then I will see if I can do something about your face."
Arthur bows to Gwen.
"Yes my lady, whatever you say."
"Just get behind the screen."
Arthur then goes behind the screen to change.
Gwen walks to her jewellery box and rummages for her earrings.
This will be the first time that Gwen has cared fully about her appearance. Before the maids had to make her presentable enough to even walk around the castle. She wanted to show that she was coping to everyone but she certainly wasn't looking like it at the time. After she had dismissed the maids help in the mornings, if she were required outside her chambers so would care slightly about her appearance but on many occasions, Gwen simply wrapped her shawl around her and sat by the window.
Now she thought about it, she was dangerously close to becoming Uther.
After putting on the earrings, she picked up the golden headband.
She turned towards the changing screen to get to the mirror but was blocked by Arthur's muscular chest.
"Go and eat, you look like you could use some food Arthur."
Arthur's bottom lip pokes out and forms his signature pout.
"Stop pouting Arthur." Gwen says laughing.
"Now go and eat."
"Fine." Arthur then sits at the table, in his borrowed shirt and trousers - probably Merlin's - and begins to eat.
Gwen quickly goes behind the screen and slots the headband into her hair.
When she stands by the table, half the food on the plate has disappeared.
Gwen pours the water from the jug into the bowl and soaks the cloth in the cool liquid.
Shuffling the bowl over towards Arthur, Gwen grabs a chair and sits right beside her husband.
Gwen rings out the cloth.
"Arthur look at me."
Obediently, Arthur looks up and faces his wife.
Gently, she begins to wipe away the dirt on Arthur's face.
After 5 minutes, the task has almost been completed.
"Guinevere?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think you could make an announcement for me in the meeting?"
"And what may that be my love?"
"The making of Merlin advisor for magic."
"You've decided then."
"Yes, he deserves it."
"I agree with that."
Gwen places the cloth back into the bowl.
"There, all done."
"Thank you my lady."
A knock sounds at the door.
Arthur's eyes widen as do Gwen's and they stare at the door.
"Who is it?" Gwen says trying to keep her voice steady. She wasn't expecting Merlin or Gaius to come.
"Sir Leon my lady."
"Just a minute please."
The pair turn back to each other.
"Quietly get behind the screen." Gwen whispers to Arthur.
Quickly, Arthur goes behind the screen, surprisingly, without a sound.
"Come in."
Leon opened the door and bowed to Gwen.
"My lady, the counsel is almost ready for you."
"Thank you Leon, I will be down in a moment."
"Of course. If you don't mind me asking, but how are you today?"
"Better thank you Leon."
"I'm glad to hear that. I will wait for you by the counsel chambers my lady."
Gwen smiles and nods her head and Leon leaves.
Arthur peeks out from the screen.
"We need to go through what will happen in the meeting Arthur."
"Of course."
He walks up to the table and begins to put his cloak on but fails.
"Come here. My, you're hopeless."
Gwen begins to rearrange the cloak on his shoulders.
"First, I will welcome back Gwaine to everyone. Secondly, I will name Merlin advisor for magic." Gwen then ties up the cord and Arthur wraps his arms around her waist.
"Finally, I will say that the kingdom should celebrate and a feast will be held tomorrow night."
Arthur looks questioningly at Gwen who places her hands on his shoulders.
"Then you will walk in from the side doors, stand beside me and then the counsel will see that their wonderful King has returned."
Arthur claims Gwen's lips with his own quickly.
"A very good idea." Arthur says. "Perhaps you should go, don't want to keep the counsel waiting. I won't be long."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Gwen withdraws from Arthur's comforting arms and walks to the door but stops with her hand on the handle.
"Do I look ok?" she says facing Arthur.
"To me, you have never looked more beautiful."
"Thank you."
With that, Gwen walked out of the room feeling the most confident she had for weeks.
End note: Please review! :D
