Gwen was just about to get into bed when there was a knock at the door. She didn't think anything of it, she was always getting disturbed in the middle of the night, and she assumed it was Uther.

"Come in," she said, pulling her wrap onto her shoulders. She gasped, and got the shock of her life as Arthur came through the door. His eyes widened as he looked at her in the light material of her nightdress and unfastened wrap. She pulled it around her and then reached for the throw on the bed, to cover herself a little more decently, since Arthur clapped a hand over his eyes in shock. Quite endearingly, Gwen thought.

"Sorry, I didn't realise."

"It's fine Arthur, I thought you were Uther."

Arthur's hand whipped away from his face, he closed the door to her room and stared at her in shock.

"What is my father doing seeing you in your nightclothes?"

Gwen smiled at him, seeing the outrage in his expression, he frowned at her and she rolled her eyes.

"He has nightmares Arthur, they happen in the middle of the night, when I'm in bed. The guards come and fetch me to deal with him. Everyone that has ever been in this corridor at night has seen me in my nightgown."

"Oh," Arthur said. Gwen sat down on the end of the bed, shuffling backwards to get comfortable. There wasn't really anywhere else for Arthur to sit in the tiny little bedroom except the stool by the dressing table. He ignored that and perched on the end of the bed, putting his back to one of the posts.

"It's just that, the way he was today."

"I don't think your father has any romantic designs on me, whatever his behaviour."

"How do you know?"

Gwen did. She had spent more time with Uther than anyone, the last thing he saw in her was a potential romance, and there was another reason.

"Mainly because he's still very much in love with your mother."

Arthur blinked, looking surprised. "But she's been dead for over twenty years."

"I don't think that has anything to do with it. He's never wanted anyone else. The only thing he has of her now is you."

Arthur winced a little. "I don't think he really likes me. I think he blames me for what happened to her."

"It wasn't your fault, and you know he loves you. And he knows you're devoted to him."

"I haven't shown it much recently."

Gwen sighed, pulling the blanket tighter around her. She regarded Arthur gently.

"I've spent most of my time with him, it's given me enough insight into how he thinks, and what he feels," Gwen reflected. "I don't think his breakdown started with you running away and then was finished by what Morgana did. I think it started years ago."

"But what we did was what finished him; me and Morgana."

"He's not gone yet Arthur, and he's not stupid. He is aware of what is going on around him."

Arthur nodded. "I'm sorry."

"About what?" Gwen asked in confusion. Arthur looked up, giving her yet another lost little boy look. It appeared to be a Pendragon talent.

"I wasn't very useful today. I didn't know what to do, I'm supposed to be managing this treaty renewal and all I wanted to do was challenge those two and I couldn't and…" Arthur paused and sighed. "It never occurred to me until then, I'm still relying on my father."

"There's nothing wrong with that. He's letting you."

"I know, although he spoke to me at the banquet, about you."

"Really?" Gwen asked with a smile and then her face sobered. "I think a lot of people were talking about me."

"He wants me to talk to your brother about eligible men for you."

"What?" Gwen shrieked, and then she started to snigger. Arthur glared at her.

"It is not funny, he's serious. You are a lady of this court and it is a matter I should take up. Olwen is a good prospect, even if he won't take much inheritance from his father, and he thinks Robert is also a good prospect. Gwaine is a no go and what he was doing tonight I do not know, one minute he looks drunk, and the next sober, and Merlin…" Arthur tailed off and started to giggle, rather hysterically.

For a few minutes all the two of them did was giggle. Gwen got up and went to pour out some water. She only had one goblet which she passed to Arthur. He took a sip and then offered it to her as she sat down again. She took it and drank some of the cool liquid.

"Did he mention you?"

"No, he was pressing about Elena again, since she's beautiful and strategic. Olaf is hinting about Vivian, but thank god Merlin got the enchantment off her."

"No, he didn't"

"She was better by the end of the night."

"True love's kiss ends it. At the end of the dance, where partners kiss, she was with a knight of her own court. Apparently, only the person kissing has to be in love."

"Oh."

"You might want to tell Olaf that."

"Not really, he'll behead him before asking questions. Maybe my father could do it."

"No, actually I think you should do it. Olaf respects you. I know he thinks Uther was right to protect me, but when you fought him at the last conference you were winning, despite being an idiot while you did it."

"Thanks," Arthur said. Gwen laughed again. Arthur looked up at her.

"You looked beautiful tonight."

"Thank you," Gwen said. Arthur was quiet for a moment, staring into space, before he looked back up at her.

"So when you broke the spell, that had me in love with Vivian, you were…?"

Arthur tailed off, looking very shy. Gwen smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Arthur."

"What about now?"

"Yes, Arthur."

"So, if you were considering marriage, would you find a Prince Regent a good prospect?"

Gwen smiled at him. "You'd have to speak to my brother of course."

"I think he already knows," Arthur said.

"Am I strategic enough for you?" Gwen said with a smirk. Arthur glowered at her.

"Don't start."

Gwen giggled again, stopping as Arthur moved closer. She felt her breath hitch, and she leant forward, her eyes fluttering closed as their lips brushed. Then they jumped apart as there was a knock on the door. Arthur sat back so hurriedly that he rapped the back of his head on the bed post. Gwen clapped her hand over her mouth and a snort of muffled laughter came from her. Arthur turned to the door, while rubbing the back of his head. Lucian put his head round, blinking as he saw Gwen and Arthur both perched on the bed, with Gwen sniggering and Arthur rubbing his head. Lucian frowned in confusion and then pulled himself together.

"Sorry Gwen, he's having a nightmare."

Gwen nodded, throwing the blanket off her shoulders but she kept the wrap on over her nightdress and headed out of the room. Concerned, Arthur followed her, he knew his father suffered from nightmares. Gwen had warned him, Gaius had also told him of the sleeping draughts that Gwen had asked for. In all the commotion tonight, it might have been forgotten. Plus his father had seemed very together, and himself, today.

As he followed Gwen, Lucian stepped back but out of the corner of his eye he saw the guards smile. There was a very self-satisfied look to it. Arthur knew his affection for Gwen was well known. He had hardly hidden it, but when things had settled, he felt quite nervous of it. There were so many things to do and deal with and Arthur could hardly keep up. Everyone around him had helped so much, and by the look of Lucian's face, none of them minded and didn't mind him following Gwen as she hurried to Uther's room.

Arran was by the door waiting. He opened it wider for Gwen and waited until Arthur was through, nodding at him politely, and finding it completely fine that he was with Gwen, in her bedroom. As the door pulled behind him he heard a whisper of voices as Lucian and Arran talked.

Arthur followed Gwen to the bed, staying back a few steps as he watched his father toss and turn on the bed. Gwen sat down, her voice soft as she spoke, making sure she identified herself and ran her hand into Uther's hair before moving closer. Arthur tensed a little as Uther, noting her presence, shifted towards her, clinging on and burying his face into her shoulder. Gwen calmly rocked him, as if he was a child and spoke in a tone, calm tone, soothing Uther down until he settled.

He didn't seem to wake up. Not completely. Arthur watched with conflicting emotions as Gwen dealt with his father. He hadn't really paid that much attention to what Gwen had been doing for Uther. She seemed to make sure that he was fed, dressed, delivered him to where he needed to be during the day. It had never really occurred to him what might happen between them because of it.

There was a closeness that neither Arthur nor Morgana had ever had with him. Uther often seemed to be distant from them, and there were times when he hardly seemed to care at all. Arthur had often felt dispossessed by Morgana, who seemed to get more affection. But then Uther would suddenly turn around and surprise him, revealing his feelings even if it was just only a brief glimpse. It made Arthur wonder, after the events of today, when he was supposed to be dealing with everything in a calm fashion, managing the other kings, and dealing with that awful situation with Gwen, if Uther hadn't sometimes felt the same. That in his heart he knew what he wanted to do, but couldn't because it wouldn't be right as king.

As Gwen tucked Uther back into bed Arthur contemplated the thought that Uther still loved his mother. He wondered if he would always feel like that about Gwen. Not that he wanted to envisage anything happening to her. There was just someone awesome about his father loving someone for longer than Arthur himself had been alive.

When she turned and looked at him she smiled and Arthur felt his heart ripple and he smiled back. He did love her, he was going to marry her, and whether Uther meant to or not, the situation had become easier. The king himself recognised Gwen as a lady of the court.

"He'll sleep now. I guess it couldn't be helped considering everything that has happened today. I didn't think to get a tonic from Gaius. It's probably a good idea for tomorrow night."

Arthur glanced over at Uther, who was deeply asleep now, looking peaceful and undisturbed. It made Arthur wonder exactly what went on in his father's mind.

"Are you all right?" Gwen asked him. Arthur smiled, and held out his arm so he could escort her back to her room.

"My Lady."

"Oh goodness," Gwen said as they walked as quietly to the door as they could.

"You may have to get used to that Lady Guinevere."

Gwen gave another laugh as they passed Lucien and Arran, who were still smirking knowingly, and eyeing each other. Arthur ignored them. Gwen didn't.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight Gwen," they chorused at her. Arthur then felt too shy to say anything, but he felt very aware of the guards stood by Uther's door as he walked Gwen back to her room. Gwen turned to him.

"Do you need me to come and tuck you in, or is Merlin doing that?"

"Funny," Arthur said. Gwen grinned, and leant forward, Arthur's eyes widened and then closed as Gwen pressed her lips onto Arthur's and a moment later Arthur responded. They stayed like that for well over a minute.

Arran and Lucien glanced in that direction and then looked at each other, grinning, while pretending that they hadn't seen a thing.