Author's Note: So sorry for the long wait, but classes started last week and I am getting into the swings of things. Anyway, season 3 starts on Sept. 11! Hooray!

"Don't go, Arthur. Please!" Her eyes pleaded with him and he wanted nothing more than to give into them, but he knew he couldn't. He had to go. It was the right thing to do. He would never be able to forgive himself if he stayed.

"I'm sorry, Guinevere, but I have to. We're at war and my men look to me for leadership. If I stayed behind I would be failing not only them, but the people as well. How can I be a good king if I can't even go to war to protect my kingdom?"

She sighed and a tear fell down her cheek. He reached out and gently wiped it away. "Alright." she said reluctantly. "I wouldn't ask you again and to be perfectly honest I am proud of you, Arthur." He felt his heart beat faster at her words. "It's...I'm just afraid...afraid that something might happen to you and I couldn't bear that."

He gently wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug. "I know, I know." he said softly. "But I need you to be strong. Please. It is bad enough knowing I may never come back, but seeing you cry is making it infinitely harder."

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. They stood in silence for several seconds. Finally, they pulled away reluctantly. "I love you." she said simply. He nodded.

"I love you too. More than words can express." He turned and headed towards the door. He put his hand out to open it and then back to look at her one last time. She put on a brave smile. He couldn't stop himself;he went over to took her in his arms once more and kissed her passionately. Then he torn himself away and ran from the room, afraid he would never leave if he look back again.

Arthur woke to find that he had been crying. Tears stained his cheeks. He quickly wiped them away with his sleeve. He glanced around the room and was glad to see that he hadn't waken the others with his crying. It was the middle of the night and Martha, Percy, and Hilda were all still fast asleep.

He sighed and closed his eyes and instantly an image of Guinevere appeared in his mind. He shook his head, trying to get the image out of his head, but it refused to leave. "Oh, Guinevere!" His body shook and eventually cried himself back to sleep.

"So, you're really leaving?" asked Merlin. He spoke lightly, but Arthur knew him well enough by now to know that he was struggling to control his emotions. He refused to look Arthur in the eye as he spoke.

"Yes." Arthur replied, his voice also devoid of emotion. If Merlin wanted to play this game, then fine. Arthur would just play along. It should have been easy. They had been pretending for years now. They both knew they were friends, brothers in all but name. Yet, they both acted like they weren't. It made things easier that way. Easier for those around them, but harder on them both.

But now it was more difficult than ever. "Well, take care of yourself." said Merlin, still refusing to look Arthur in the face. Arthur nodded. He turned to leave and suddenly realized that he didn't care what others thought. Merlin was his friend and if anyone didn't like it, then that was there problem. He was sick and tired of pretending.

He turned back around. "Merlin?" His friend finally looked at him and Arthur could swear that he saw a tear. "Thanks. For everything." Merlin blinked in surprise. "You take care of yourself too. That's an order." Merlin smiled, but it was weak.

"Yes, sire." Arthur simply and nodded and left the room without another word.

"Wake up, sleepy head!" Arthur opened his eyes and saw Percy standing over him. The young boy grinned. "Mother's made breakfast." Arthur got up and followed Percy to the table.

It was certainly the smallest breakfast that Arthur had ever eaten, but he knew better than to comment on the fact. Instead he ate his food in silence and was suddenly remained of the time Merlin had "stolen" some of his food away, claiming it was to keep Arthur in shape. Arthur nearly choked thinking of it, but thankfully the others didn't seem to notice.

After breakfast, Arthur helped Martha clean up the house. It wasn't a chore that he was used to, but it kept his mind occupied and off those he had left behind. As he worked, he couldn't help but notice how poor they were and it went to his heart. When I return to Camelot, he thought, I will do everything I can to make sure they are no longer in need.

"Hey, Tom!" Arthur turned to see Percy standing in the door way. "Want to see the pony?" Arthur looked at Martha who nodded and shooed him out of the house. He turned to follow the young boy outside.

Arthur soon learned that the village was so poor that there was only one pony in the whole place. An old animal that everyone shared and took turns using. Today it was Percy and Martha's turn. The poor beast looked half-starved and near death.

"His name's Samson." declared Percy proudly, as if Samson were a the finest war horse instead of a worn out old pack horse.

Arthur watched in silence as Percy petted and feed the poor animal. There must be something I can do to make life better for these people. Percy smiled and waved at him and Arthur found himself waving back.

"How soon will you return?" Uther sat on his throne, gazing intently at his son who stood before him. Arthur's eyes were on the floor and not on his father.

"Three or four days." he answered. Neither spoke for some time, the unspoken "or not at all" hung between them. Both of them knew it, but neither wanted to address that fact that Arthur may never return.

"Well, have a safe journey and I'll see you then." Arthur nodded, his gaze still on the floor. He turned to leave, but stopped when Uther suddenly called his name. He turned back to see Uther rise from this throne.

The king walked over to him and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Be safe." Uther's voice was cracking and Arthur could tell he was fight back tears. Arthur blinked and found that tears were threatening to fall back from his own eyes. "My son." Uther pulled away and held Arthur's shoulder at arm's length. "I am so proud of you."

Arthur nodded. "Thank you, Father." Uther turned and waved Arthur off, and as Arthur walked towards the door of the Great Hall, he could hear his father's sobs echoing all the walks.

"Tom?" Arthur looked up to see Martha staring at him, concern in her eyes. He hadn't seen her come outside. "You alright? I forgot you're still recovering. You want to lie down and get some sleep?"

He shook his head. "No, thanks. I'm fine. I was just...remembering." He tried to smile, but it felt fake. "Thanks for checking anyway."

"You weren't remembering...anything too painful, were you?" Arthur could sense her motherly concern and suddenly felt a longing for his own mother who had died shortly after his birth.

"No," he lied softly, "nothing too painful."

Arthur mounted his horse and looked around at his knights. He sighed. There weren't nearly enough of them, but they would have to make due. "I wish Sir Leon was coming." The knight had been seriously wounded during the encounter with the dragon and hadn't fully recovered yet. Gaius had strongly advised him against going and Uther had listened to him and commanded Sir Leon to remain behind.

"Good luck, sire." Arthur turned to see Gaius standing at his side. Arthur suddenly realized how much he respected and cared for the old man. Without Gaius, his father would doubtless destroyed the kingdom in his never ending quest for sorcerers.

"Thank you, Gaius." He caught something out of the corner of his eye and peered over his shoulder. His father, Merlin, and Guinevere stood on the steps of the castle. Uther didn't seem to notice the two servants were there, he had only eyes for his son. All of them had tears in their eyes, but they all put on brave smiles and waved.

Arthur smiled and waved back. I'll come back, he thought, I have to. For them. Unable to stand it any longer, he turned around and urged his horse forward. "Move out!" he shouted, and galloped out of the city with his knights right behind him.

Arthur felt the tears pouring down his face. He quickly wiped them away before anyone had a chance to notice. Martha and Percy were laughing about something and Arthur smiled in spite of himself.

"How long you plan on staying?" Arthur turned, startled and saw Hilda making her way around house, feeling her way with an old cane in one hand while she used the other to feel the wall of the house. He jumped up from where he had been sitting, planning on helping her, but then realized she probably didn't need help. "How did you know I was here?"

"I heard you breathing and since I can tell Martha and Percy are over there," she waved her hand in their direction, "I figured it was you. Now, answer the question."

Arthur shrugged, but then remembered she couldn't see him. "I don't know. It doesn't seem like a nice, friendly place and I wouldn't mind staying, but I do need to get back home, and soon."

The old woman nodded. "I understand. But don't leave too quickly, or we might think you're in a hurry to get rid of us."

"I won't." Arthur promised. "I'm still not completely well enough to travel, not for a few days more yet at any rate."

"What do you look like?" she asked suddenly.

"Well, I have blond hair and blue eyes." answered Arthur, surprised by her question.

"Are you good looking?"

He laughed. "Well, I have been told I am."

She smiled. "Good answer. If you had said yes, I would have said you are an arrogant youngster, and if you had said no, I would have said you have false modesty, but as it is, I'll just go with yes without the arrogance."

"Thanks." He said, feeling slightly amused. The old woman reached out her hand and felt for him. When she reached him, she patted him on the shoulder.

"I believe you have a good heart, Tom. Don't ever change."

It was perhaps a good thing she was blind, or else she would not have failed to notice the change that came over him. Words from the past echoed through his mind. "You have a good heart, Arthur." said Guinevere. "Don't ever change. Not for anyone."

He swallowed. "Thank you." The old woman patted him once more and then walked on towards where Martha and Percy still stood laughing merrily.

Arthur sighed and went inside. He sat down on his "bed" and let the tears fall. "I'll come back to you, Guinevere, Merlin, Father. I'll come back to you all."