Slightly Changes.
What if Gwen, feeling herself irresistibly drawn by Lancelot had decided to leave Camelot, leave Arthur before cheating on him ? How does the King would have react ? Would have he let the love of his life go away from him ? Would the Morgana's evil plan operates in this case ? The true love that share Arthur and Guinevere, could it survive to a true break up ? Would have it been the good answer ? In this version, set during 4x09, after Arthur's proposing, Lancelot come back and the enchanted gift this late gave to Gwen. This one decided to leave all that matter for her, including the man she loves more than anything, because of feelings she thought dead forever ...
Hey :) Here I am with Chapter 10 ! I wanted to thank all of you, I never thought I can really write a story and that people will really read it and like it and ... thank you :) On this chapter, thanks to larasmith and Cowboy's Lover Dimitri No 1 for their wonderful review and thanks to all the readers and the followers :)
WARNNING : Slightly very very very very slightly M rating but just in case, I'm not quite sure how it works ... Anyway, as the story advance, the rating may change !
X.
One week later
Gwen was walking in the corridors, upset. She couldn't find Arthur. In fact, since that night, she was sure he was avoiding her ...
"Paul..."
Gwen turned her eyes toward Paul and Mithian, seeing the way the two were watching at each others before realization hits her, it was Mithian the woman he had talked about ! But she soon turned her attention on Arthur again, feeling him tighten his grip on her hand, she plunged in his sea blue eyes and saw the fear in here...
"Guinevere ?" he whispered and his eyes were pleading her not to break his heart again.
Only at this moment, Gwen noticed she hadn't answered... But her answer was so obvious ! She pulled at Arthur's hand for him to got up and saw his breath ragged, his eyes shinning with tears, "Guinevere I ..."
But she didn't let him finish, she tied her arms around his neck and laid her lips on his in a passionate kiss, before pull away a little and whisper against his lips,
"Of course you idiot, Make me your wife Arthur..."
He then opened his eyes and she saw there the same hapiness that in tied his arms around her waist and made her spin around, and spin around, and spin around and their laughters was echoing in the whole room, people cheering, Merlin louder than the others... And, at the bottom of the room, a shade could be seen, leaving without a word, Lancelot. But Arthur and Gwen didn't noticed, only the other ..
Since, Paul and Mithian had had a discussion. She had forgiven him for running away, he had admitted loving her more than anything, she had admitted having accepted a political marriage in order to forget him and he had forgiven her. He had admitted had left because he was scared their love were impossible and Mithian had forgiven him. Arthur and Gwen had played their part, explaining that when love were true, he defeated all the obstacles... It didn't take much more for the two lovers found each other again and Gwen was ready to bet an other royal marriage will be celebrate soon... Wedding. She couldn't believe she was really about to marry Arthur, the next day ... All would have been perfect if his future husband wasn't playing at 'avoid the bride' ! Gwen didn't want to admit it but his behaviour was hurting her more than she was willing to say... He had proposed to her for God's sake ! He hadn't the right of regretting... With a decided step, she came in Arthur's room, but he wasn't there. Gwen felt her heart stopped and laid a hand on his forehead, sitting on the King's bed.
"Is everything allright Gwen ?"
She looked up and saw Paul and Merlin, in front of her. Since his reunion with the Princess, Paul were litteraly shinning, he had never been so happy, for what he had said. She was happy for him, truly, she was. The young woman closed her eyes and Merlin settled by her side, spending an arm around her shoulder and she crumbled then, letting the tears she was holding in...
"I ... I don't understand why ... why he ... he's avoiding me ...did I ... did I do some... something wrong ? "
Merlin felt tears pricked at his eyes. He didn't know what was happening to his best friend, just that after having seem the happiest man in the world, Arthur locked on himself again, as to when Gwen was away...
"No Gwen,"
"Then why ? Did he ..." she hardly swallowed, "Did he regret ? He doesn't want marry me anymore ?"
"Don't ever think something like that again Guinevere."
All jumped seeing Arthur, in front of the door. Gwen looked up at him and seeing her as sad, Arthur wanted put himself on the dungeon, he hadn't the right making her unhappy, least of all not because he were scared...
"Merlin, Paul, leave us please."
In her stone castle, an hysteric laugh was escaping Morgaine's mouth. Arthur and Gwen was getting married ? It was so easy ...And now, she knew how to reach Arthur, he cared about Gwen more than anything, didn't he ? He would give his life for her, wouldn't he ? Well, he'll get the occasion of prove that. Morgaine then got out of the room and went down to the place where were Morgana. The young woman had lost weight and she was more pale than usually, but Morgaine had to acknowledge her strenght, her determination. She walked closer and threw the parchment on her,
"What's that ?" asked Morgana in a weak but clear voice,
"Read."
Hardly by her handcuff, Morgana took the paper and and her eyes widened before she whispers in a wondering voice,
"He's going to marry her... He forgave her !"
"Isn't it perfect ?"
"So now," she smirked, throwing the parchment away, "You're fan of the Royal couple ? I swear I'll never tell your secret."
She felt the slap on her cheek and taste the blood on her cheek while Morgaine said again,
"Don't ever talk to me like that again..."
"I'm not at your order. You'll kill me anyway."
"Yes." answered coldly Morgaine, "Once the King came to join you." she walked closer and plunged her eyes in Morgana's, who support her gaze, "And trust me, it's nothing but a matter of days now..."
She saw her prisonner frowned but without saying much, she left.
"Oh Guinevere..." he breathed, once they were alone.
He walked toward to take her in his arms but she got up quickly and walked away from him toward the window. She wiped angrily her tears and turned her back on him a few seconds for regain her mind, before finally face him.
"If you don't want to marry me Arthur," and her voice broke more than she would have want to, "Have, at least, the courage to say it."
He sighed and closed his eyes for a few seconds before ran a hand on his hair and walked toward her,
"All this speech about how you forgave me and all that, it was only wind, wasn't it ? How did you dare ? I hate you, do you hear me ? I hate you."
"Shut up." said gently Arthur before take her in his arms and pull her tight against him. Gwen fought for a few seconds before finally melt in his embrace and bury her face in his muscled chest, while he was whispering sweet words to calm her, stroking her back, her hair, her face, her neck, all the parts he could reach ...
"Why are you ignoring me ?" she whispered, once she was calm.
"Guinevere ..." he couldn't tell her the true reason of it, but he couldn't let her think he didn't want her neither. "I love you. And I want to marry you more than anything in this world, don't ever doubt that." he felt her squeeze herself a little more against him before she whispered,
"Swear it to me."
"I give you my word."
She sniffed then, and pulled away a little, trying to restore order in her hair, the tender look he gave her comforted her a little and she went on tiptoe lay him a slight kiss on the cheek before receded from his grasp for leave, but Arthur caught her by the arms and bring her to him again,
"You don't think I will let you go, do you ?"
He leant in and laid his lips and hers, letting his tongue stroke her lips until she part them for him, their tongues fighting, stroking, loving... They finally pulled away and Arthur caught himself thinking that if all their arguments were to ending this way, he would really love to argue with Guinevere...
Paul and Merlin walked in the corridors and Merlin noticed the thoughtful look of his new friend,
"Is everything allright Paul ?"
"I was just thinking..."
"About ?"
"What happen to Arthur ? I know he love Gwen above anything else."
Merlin sighed and stopped, dragging along Paul with him.
"I think he is afraid."
"Afraid of ?"
"Listen," he ran a hand in his hair, "During their first betrothal, Arthur invested himself a lot. He showed everyone how he was happy, he had prepared their room, prepared dresses for her... And then Gwen left him, and he found himself alone with his broken heart and his lost hopes. I think he might be afraid that, if he invest too much of himself, she would leave him again..."
Gwen was at her home when she heard knock at her door, she got up and found herself in front of Paul,
"Paul," she smiled, "Please, come in."
He came in and turned to her,
"I wanted to thank you, at Mithian's name and mine."
"For ?"
"For what Arthur and you did to us."
Gwen smiled gently and laid a sweet hand on his forearm,
"We didn't do anything Paul, true love always win, above time, men and elements ! "
"You gave us hope. Hope that love wasn't a matter of status but well a matter of love ..."
"How I'm glad everything is well for you. When the both of you will came back to Nemeth ?"
"After the wedding," he took her hands and raised them to kiss her knuckles, "I wouldn't miss that for the World." before frowned,
"Paul ?"
"You still have that ugly mark on your wrist..."
"What does that mean ?"
"Unfortunately, I don't know..." he raised her wrist and looked at it, "Looks like the work of a powerful spell but I'm not , unfortunately, an expert in the matter. Tom was...And he did learnt me a little before his death but ..." he stopped a few seconds and let go of her hand, "Gwen, do you remember when this burn came ?"
She seemed to think, then said, sorry,
"No... No I didn't even noticed it... I'm sorry."
"Worry not. And ... Do you remember being giving something that could be enchanted ?"
"No..." she said again, after thinking. "Well," she showed him the ring, "There is something but I don't think it's its fault !"
Paul gently smiled at that,
"I don't think Arthur need to enchant you indeed, we just have to look the way you eat him with your eyes..."
Gwen blushed, was she so obvious ? And the young man laughed before heading to the door, before he left, he turned around a last time and said,
"I could never thank you enough you and Arthur, for bringing back to me the woman I love."
Arthur was training his knights, when he noticed their attention was drawing behind him. He sighed, ready to ask the woman, servant, Lady, or others, to come back after their training but when he turned around, he found himself facing...
"Mithian," he said gently and she smiled at him,
"Can I talk to you Arthur ?"
He thought a few seconds then nodded,
"Two seconds," he then turned toward his knights, "Gwaine, take over the training while I speak to the Princess please."
The Knight nodded with a smile and all the others sighed...
"What can I help you with Mithian ?" he asked, when they were walking for several minutes,
The young woman stopped and took his hand, squeezing it.
"I wanted to thank you Arthur, you and Guinevere."
A smile lighted up the young King's face and he squeezed her hand back.
"We didn't do anything Mithian, two person who really love each other always found their way back together."
"You gave us hope. Hope in the fact that marriage isn't only a convenience thing but also and mainly, a love thing. And I couldn't thank you enough for that ..."
"You would have understood that by yourself I'm sure of it. You're a smart woman Mithian, you have a good heart, you would have done the good choice."
She sighed and they resumed their walking, her arm on his forearm,
"Perhaps, perhaps not ..." she seemed to think and then said, in a hesitant voice, "When Paul left I ... I... "
He cut her off her words, seeing the tears in her eyes,
"I know, you don't have to explain. I lived the same thing. I wasn't even the shadow of myself when Guinevere was away..."
She smiled, grateful, and said,
"The pain was so unbearable, that I seriously treated my father's request of marrying for the Kingdom's sake. I ... I thought that maybe, it would make the pain go away..."
"Mithian..."
"No." she cut his words."I have to tell you. Paul have forgave me but I need to forgive myself too."
Arthur smiled at that. She looked much more like Guinevere than she thought.
"I thought about it too..." he breathed,
"I know." she then said, "And this night, when I saw you... you ... in a weird way you made me think of him and I couldn't explain but..."
He chuckled and she looked at him, puzzled,
"Arthur ?"
"No, I'm sorry." he came serious again and stared at her, "Mithian, on my Birthday party,when we met, you made me thought so much at Guinevere that I found myself thinking that if I couldn't have the woman I deeply loved, I could still have a copy of her ..." he looked down, shameful, "I'm sorry."
She sweetly smiled and met his stare,
"I'm not mad at you for having think this way Arthur. We were both wrong in our approach and you were the first who understood it. Our hearts were spoken for and it wouldn't have been right for you nor me, to fight against this love. You didn't give up, you went searching for Guinevere, you brought Paul back to me whereas, during all those months, I didn't dare look after him for I was afraid he didn't love me back..." She squeezed his arm a few second before said in a sweet voice, "You can always count Nemeth as one of your most devoted friends."
"And Camelot always will be here for you, Princess."
She smiled at her turn and they resumed their walk, before Arthur walked toward his training and Mithian toward the Castle.
Morgaine was thinking, holding the parchment in her hands. Arthur and Gwen were getting married the next day, how can she do to force the King to come with her ? She had to beware this Emrys who scared Morgana so much ... Morgaine closed her eyes, thinking. In Arthur's direct surroundings, can be count two persons. Guinevere and Merlin. There is no way she was a witch, Morgaine would have noticed. Which left Merlin... But he was only Arthur's stupid manservant. From angry, she got up and in a shout, threw all away before freeze.
"Merlin." she whispered, remembering something...
She remembered well now. She remembered what she had felt shaking his hand, all that ...
"magic." she ended her thought out loud.
Merlin opened his eyes, breathless. He got up and laid a hand on his forehead, sweaty. A few seconds after, he noticed he was in Arthur's chambers, and he saw his friend at his knees at his side and caught glimpse of the worry there before it was quickly remplaced by exasperation,
"Well Merlin, I'm glad to see you're alive after all."
"What... What happened to me ?"
"You came in, you fell. I was wo..." he stopped right away and cleared his throat, "Guinevere was worried."
A smirk spread on Merlin's face
"I can see her nowhere,"
"She left searching some water for you,"
"Are you sure you wasn't the one worried about me ?" The King got up and Merlin backed down a little, "You can tell it huh, I wont tell a soul..."
Arthur stopped a few meters from him and for anyone else who did not know the King as well as Merlin did, they could have sworn he was serious.
"Out Merlin, now !"
"Yes Sire," he walked away, muttering, "Dollop Head."
"Heard that !" screamed the King and Merlin smiled,
Morgaine opened her eyes and found herself in the middle of the room. She rubbed her head and wasn't surprised of finding blood there. What happened ? She went downstairs, in an unsteady walk, toward the dungeons. Morgana was lie down and didn't deigned got up when she did her entrance."
"I passed out."
The witch sighed.
"Seriously ? Do you want a big good hug for comforting you ?"
Morgaine fought against the want of killing her right now, right here. The woman was intolerable.
"Don't make the malignant Morgana, because I succeeded where you always failed . I know who Emrys is.
Morgana then got up, the face clearly distraught,
"It can't be..."
Morgaine started make circles around her,
"Do you know what your problem is Morgana ? You under estimate people around you. You had under estimated Arthur and yet, here he is, always defeating you. You had under estimated Guinevere and yet, here she is, almost Queen of Camelot. And you had under estimated somebody else..." she saw she had Morgana's full attention, "Somebody close to Arthur, somebody by his side no matter what..." Morgana frowned, "Somebody who seems insignifiant..." she laughed, seeing Morgana's eyes widened and the two women whispered at the same time,
"Merlin..."
Merlin was quickly walking toward Gwen's house, he had just been talking with Paul about the burn,how he had not seen it ? Him ? He walked a little faster and knocked at the door,
"Gwen ?"
The young woman came open to him and Merlin noticed she was wearing her cape,
"Are you going somewhere ?"
She blushed and looked down,
"I ... I wanted to go and see Arthur."
"Gwen..." he cleared his throat, remembering the state in which his friend was. He had not eaten, nor speak, but Merlin knew he was scared to death the same scheme happen again, and see Gwen could only make good.
"Had you something to talk to me about ?"
Right away, he was reminding of the reason of his visit and took her wrist,
"What are you doing Merlin ?"
"Gwen, this is not a normal burn..."
"Paul told me yes,"
"No, you don't get it. This is not a normal burn, Gwen, if you had been enchanted I think ... I think it could explain some events..."
She felt her heart stopped in her chest and he saw her paled,
"Gwen ?"
"You ... Do you mean ... that I ..."
"I can't be sure for now Gwen," he breathed gently, "but I swear to you I will do anything in my power to understand what happened to you."
She laid a hand on her mouth before pull Merlin in her arms and squeeze him.
"Don't tell a word to Arthur, I beg you."
"But..."
"No Merlin, not until we know for sure."
Arthur was at his window, his heart beating way too quickly, when he heard a knock at his door. He suddenly paled and walked closer to the door, checking if it was still locked. If she couldn't come in, she couldn't break up with him, could she ?
"Arthur," he heard her voice and felt all of his world crumbling down, "Arthur, let me come in."
He saw her tried to come and said again,
"Arthur ? Arthur I know you're in here ..."
He stayed there, in front of the door, and he felt suddenly sick. She came to leave him, again. But he wasn't going to let her do. He couldn't live without her and she had accepted to marry him, hadn't she ? Maybe she just didn't want to make a fool of him in front of everyone ... No. She would have broke up with him if she had wanted to, she wouldn't have waited for the night before their wedding, would she ? She already did. The though had crept force in his head and he felt a tear roll down his face.
"Arthur," she breathed gently, "Open to me, please."
He sniffed then and walked toward the door, laying the palm of his hand against the wood before whispering,
"First, you'll have to promise me something."
Gwen felt her breath stopped in front of the intonation of the voice of her fiancé.
"Anything."
"Promise me you're not here to break up with me again..."
The surprise cut her words. And suddenly, all took sense. The way Arthur was avoiding her since a week, the fact he didn't seemed to invest himself in the wedding, his locked door, his voice, this promise... Oh my God. He was afraid she leave him again. She was juste realizing the whole thing when she heard him sniffed and whispered a little, "I knew it." before the door opened, and she saw Arthur, with red eyes and messy hair, in front of her. He looked at her and whispered in a white voice, "Go. Do it." he blinked and more tears fell, "But do it quick, I beg you."
They were there, face to face, and suddenly, Gwen prayed with all her being that Merlin can prove she had been enchanted, because she couldn't live, knowing she was responsible for that look on Arthur's eyes. She walked closer and took his hand, laying it on her heart,
"I'm not here to breaking up with you, you idiot insecure man."
He seemed like he was breathing again and Gwen felt a tear roll down her face,
"I came to ask why you were avoiding me Arthur ... I got it."
He wiped her tear tenderly and whispered,
"I'm so sorry. It seems you are my greatest weakness Guinevere."
He then plunged his sea blue eyes in hers and she laid the hand she was still holding, on her cheek.
"I love you."
"I know, it's the worse I think. But ... I know you loved me before and it didn't prevent you of leaving me and ... I was so ... afraid. And I told myself that if ... if I avoid you then, then, maybe, it would prevent you of leaving me and I..."
She threw herself in his arms, didn't letting him the time of speak.
"You are not weak Arthur. It's a beautiful proof of love than seem vulnerable, and it's the part of you I love the most. I fell in love with this vulnerable man. The man Arthur, not the King."
She felt him smile against her neck and squeezed her a little more,
"Nothing will never tear us apart ..." she whispered at his ear and she heard him answer, as a promise,
"Nothing will never tear us apart."
Morgana felt her world spin around her. Merlin. Merlin. It couldn't be him... No. He was her friend. He had give up on her the moment she needed him the most whereas he knew what she was living ? What kind of men was doing that ? She felt a tear roll down her cheek and she was way too exhausted to fight them, so she cried, and she sobbed, as a scared and lost little girl, which she was ...
Gwen moaned feeling Arthur's slipped along her waist and she buried hers in his hair, their tongues still stroking. He lowered his kisses on her neck and she tilted her head in order to allow him better acces to this part of her body... He walked toward and they found themselves on the wall, her pressed against the wall and his hard body. Both they breathes ragged. He then went to kissed her chest, just above the spot her dress covered her chest... Gwen closed her eyes, and, unconsciously, her hands slipped underneath his shirt for stroke his beautiful, muscled chest and she felt Arthur grunt against her, before come back at her lips and kiss her impetuously. He pressed himself against her and she moaned, feeling just how much he wanted her right now...
"Arthur..." she whimpered, "I should go ..."
"Yes you should." he answered, nibbling at her lower lip, sucking it, making her melt.
"I ... Oh !" she moaned louder when one of his hand stroked her breast gently, "I don't want to but ..." she kissed him with all the passion she had and he moaned at the back of his throat, " it's more reasonable..."
Arthur closed his eyes and laid his forehead on hers, trying to regain his breath.
"I believe too my love."
"Good night my love."
"Goodnight Guinevere."
The next day, Arthur woke up, happiest than he had ever been. Merlin came into the room, a goofy smile on his lips,
"It's the big day your majesty ,"
"Indeed Merlin, it is the big day."
Gwen felt her heart beat a hundred miles by hour while Mithian was helping her prepare.
"How do you feel Gwen ?"
"Fine. Bad. Very well in fact ! I think ..." she finished and the Princess burst out of laughter, "It's very sweet of you, helping me."
"I told you dear, we have, Paul and I, an eternal debt to both of you. Moreover," she said, hanging on the tiara on Gwen's head, " You're a wonderful bride. I'm afraid Arthur will have trouble keeping his calm seeing you..."
Gwen blushed and Mithian stroked her shoulder two seconds before arrange her hair again.
"I beg you, don't be embarassed. It's normal, you two love each other,It's natural having desire for one another, and you two had clearly desire for one another ...But, it would be weird if you weren't..."
"Paul and you ?" asked Gwen, feeling herself blushed a little more, I can't believe I'm talking about that, with the Princess of Mithian, the day of my wedding with the King of Camelot !
"Paul and I ..." said dreamily Mithian, "yes, I'm afraid we weren't as patient as you are..."
"Do you mean ?"
Mithian laughed again before shrugged,
"He is the man I want to marry, I'm sure of it."
Gwen allowed herself a smile then.
"Well, Merlin, it seems for once, you have done your job quite well..."
"Thank you, Sire."
The two young men looked at each other before burst out of laughters, the solemnity of the situation didn't look like them at all...
"Thank you, my friend." said the King and Merlin smiled, shaking the hand he strained him.
"My pleasure." then he took his ceremony sword before asked, "Ready ?"
"Ready." answered Arthur without any hesitation.
From her side, Gwen was ready, in her long white bright dress , a huge sail and a tiara, Arthur's mother's. Her curls were tied a small bun with a few strands escaped almost casually, Mithian had done a good job. She looked at herself in the mirror when someone whistle behind her, she turned around and saw Elyan, who was smiling at her. She smiled back and walked closer, taking his hands,
"Papa would be so proud of you ..."
"And of you," she smiled, "Knight of Camelot."
"I'm your humble servant, my Queen,"
She laughed and he offered a arm she took when someone applauded behind them, making them jumped. Guinevere turned around and let out a small cry of shock...
"Morgause ?"
"No, her sister, Morgaine. But I'm tired of explain it, my friends call me ... Sophia."
Gwen opened wide eyes and Elyan walked toward, getting his sword,
"Oh, that is so sweet. Do you really think you could stop me ?"
With a hand gesture, she sent Elyan against a wall, where he fell unconscious.
"ELYAN !" screamed Guinevere but before she reached him, Morgaine caught her arms,
"No no no, I have others plans for you, your Majesty."
"Let me go ! Arthur will come. He will come for me." she hissed,
"Here the point." smirked Morgaine, "It's the idea..."
Arthur was settled, the heart beating with the idea of being finally bound to the love of his life, forever, when the music started. All turned toward the doors but only appeared Elyan , and, in front of the blood which roll down his face and the freaked out look in his eyes, Arthur understood something was wrong.
"Guinevere..." he only whispered before running toward the man.
I know... PLEASE don't throw things at my face I know you hate me right now and believe me, I hate myself too, I ruined Arthur and Gwen wedding ( well, in fact, Morgaine did ;) ) but don't worry, I can tell you... There will be a wedding eventually, a true, real wedding ... But for now, What did you think ? Arthur and Gwen ? Paul and Mithian ? Morgaine and Morgana ? 'Emrys' found out ? What do you think will happen now ?
I hope, as usually, that you had a great time !
Keep Safe :)