He was bedridden for a week. By the third day, he was bored and tetchy. Only Gwen's presence made staying in bed bearable and knowing that she would worry if he insisted on leaving kept him in bed for longer than he wanted. She fussed over him, tending to his wounds and keeping him company.

"How do you feel?" Gaius asked after he checked the wounds. "I think we can assume the poison has indeed been flushed out. You'll probably have a scar."

Arthur slowly moved his arm. "It's still sore but at least I have some movement back."

"Good. You can probably go back to most of your duties but don't over-exert yourself physically. The wound still needs dressing but I'm sure Gwen will take care of that." Gaius gathered up all his medicine and bottles. "I'm glad you are still around my lord."

"So am I."

"I hope this teaches you to listen to me." Merlin pushed himself from where he was leaning against the wall. "I'm going to get Gwen. She's very anxious about your condition."

"Thank you, Merlin."

He heard Merlin scoff and he smiled.

While waiting for Guinevere to show up, Arthur closed his eyes. They hadn't spoken of their past at all over the last few days, and honestly, Arthur was more relieved than anything. Maybe they could just forget all about it and just move on with their lives. He was pretty sure Guinevere cared for him and that was enough for him. He hoped it was enough for her.

"Arthur?"

He opened his eyes, shifted so he was sitting up and smiled at Guinevere as she moved to the bed, her fingers sliding against his as she took his hand. "Guinevere."

"Gaius tells me that all is good. I'm glad." Her other hand cupped his face and he turned slightly to press a kiss against her palm.

"I'll be glad to get out of this bed."

Arthur saw her frown. "You should rest."

"I'm not going to train or do anything too strenuous. But I need to deal with Hector."

Her thumb rubbed the back of his hand. "I know," she said on a sigh. "I'm on a break right now. Spend it with me before you become King again?"

"Only if you kiss me," he said.

Guinevere laughed, then she pulled her hand from his and gave him a light punch. "Only because I feel sorry for you."

Later that day, he met with his knights and council, ascertaining that Hector was indeed sent by Morgana. Her whereabouts were still unknown, despite hours of questioning Hector and various patrol sent out led by the senior knights. As such, there was little they could do aside from sending regular patrols to check the outlying areas of Camelot. Aware that the more allies he had, the fewer places Morgana would have to hide, Arthur made a note to speed up meeting the leaders of the neighbouring kingdoms. By the time, Arthur called an end to the meeting, his wound was throbbing and his back ached.

Merlin helped him back to his chambers, tutting the whole way about needed to rest more. Arthur ignored him.

"You don't look good." Guinevere stood at the door watching as Merlin eased Arthur into his bed.

"He worked too hard," grumbled Merlin. "You'll never fully recover this way."

Arthur closed his eyes. "Go away, Merlin."

"I'll change his bandage." Arthur heard Gwen tell Merlin. But even as she approached the bed and pushed his shirt up, Arthur kept his eyes closed. Her hands were sure and efficient as she unwrapped the bandage, then pressed a cool, wet cloth against his wound. "It's going to scar."

"It's hardly my first scar."

"That is true." Her fingers drifted over the other scars scattered over his chest and Arthur sucked in a breath as desire shot through him. Arthur opened his eyes and stared at Guinevere intently studying him. "Tell me about them."

His voice rough and low, he told her about the scars - the ones he remembered at least. With every story, Guinevere ran her fingers across the scar. Darkness shrouded the kingdom by the time Guinevere finished dressing his wound. Part of him wanted to ask her to stay with him but he didn't. She kissed him, whispered a goodnight and then was gone.

One whole week's worth of paperwork awaited him the next morning. He was thankful that after she finished with her duties, Gwen sat with him, doing some mending, as he struggled through, occasionally giving her opinion. Better her than Merlin.

It was evening by the time he cleared the most important paperwork.

"I need to get out of here," he grumbled as he shoved the various documents aside.

"How about a walk?" Guinevere stood and moved towards him. She chewed her bottom lip as she looked at him, before saying, "We could talk too."

Talk. The way she said the words, as if she was trying to be casual, made him anxious. What did Gwen want to talk about? The past few days, she'd fussed over him, taken care of him. Had she realised she didn't care as much? Did spending all that time with Merlin make her reassess their relationship? Did she finally want to talk about what happened? As much as Arthur didn't want to talk about the past, he knew that he couldn't keep running.

They ended up in the castle garden, surrounded by blooming flowers. Impulsively, he plucked a rose and handed it to her. She blushed, sniffed it and held it in one hand. Her other hand, she tucked into his arm as they walked slowly.

"What did you want to talk about?" Curiosity was eating at him and if she had bad news for him, he rather know sooner than later.

"We should sit down. You shouldn't exert yourself." Gwen waited till they were comfortably seated before she continued. "When Merlin came running to tell me that you were severely injured, I - I realised something." Her warm hand curled round his. He held on to it like it was his lifeline.

Hope crept through his heart and his voice was barely a whisper. "What did you realise?"

"I thought that I was going to lose you. And all I could think of was I never told you that I love you too." She looked away, tilting her head up and staring at the sky. "When I thought that you might not survive the attack, I panicked and it hit me that I couldn't bear to lose you." Her eyes met his. "I love you Arthur."

"You know I love you too, Guinevere." She blinked and Arthur saw tears in her eyes. Gently he pulled her closer to him and lifted his hand to cradle her face. "I love you more than you will ever know."

When he leaned forward to kiss her, Guinevere pulled back slightly. "Arthur, we need to talk about what happened."

"Why?" Arthur dropped his hand from her face. "It's in the past. You don't even remember it. I love you and you love me. We can start anew."

"I may not remember, but you do. You'll always remember that I betrayed you before our wedding."

Waving a hand, Arthur shook his head. "It's the past. It doesn't matter."

"Arthur."

He stood, frustration coursing through him. "What good will talking do? You loved Lancelot. I knew it years ago and I know it now. But he's gone and unless he comes back from the dead another time, he's never coming back. I can live with it. I can live with knowing you love him more."

"Arthur." Guinevere stood as well. "I cannot love a person I don't remember. I don't want you to think there's someone out there who I love more, who I rather be with. The Gwen who betrayed you before your wedding made a mistake - a horrible, awful mistake. I don't know why I did it but I want you to know I am sorry."

He took a step towards her, reaching out for her. With little hesitation, she went into his arms and he held her as tightly as he could, ignoring the pain in his chest. He buried his face in her curls, breathing in her scent. "I love you, Guinevere."

"I don't want you to ever think I would love anyone more than you, Arthur."

He lifted his head, drawing back a little to look at her. "I owe you an apology as well."

"Merlin told me what happened after you - you banished me." She kept her eyes down until he placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head up. "I know you felt you had no choice."

"I was selfish and I put you in danger. All I can do now is say I am sorry for all the pain and hurt I caused you. I am so sorry. I will never abandon you like this, ever again."

"Arthur," she tightened her arms around him. "That period of time was bad for both of us. We both made bad choices but we don't have to let them ruin our future."

With Gwen gazing up at him, being wise and sensible, all Arthur could think of was how much he adored her.

"I love you. I am so sorry about everything. I promise you that I will be a better person."

"I love you too." She smiled before saying teasingly, "I promise I'll never kiss Merlin again."

He grinned before her words sank in. "Again? You know what, I don't want to know."

In response, she pulled his head down and kissed him with such fervour that he couldn't doubt the way she felt about him.

"Do you think she will say yes?" Arthur fidgeted with his collar, wondering why it felt so tight.

"Do you have the ring?" Merlin pushed Arthur's hands away and adjusted his collar instead. "Look at how nervous you are. You'd think that you haven't already proposed to the same person twice."

Slapping Merlin's hands away, Arthur huffed. "Shut up."

"Look, she said yes both times - goodness knows why - she's going to say yes this time." Merlin thumped him on the back. "Now go. She's waiting for you in the dining hall."

Arthur slipped the ring into his pocket. "Did you tell the kitchen to make her favourite food? What about the candles?"

"You could propose to her with nothing and she'll say yes. She's head over heels in love with you and my only consolation is that you are as much in love with her." Merlin gave Arthur a shove towards the door. "Now go!"

"Fine, fine."

As Merlin said, Guinevere sat at the long table, waiting for him. Her hands were in her lap and she looked slightly uncomfortable.

"Arthur! I thought you were held up. Do we really have to eat at this table? It's so -"

"Impersonal?" Arthur walked to her and kissed her cheek.

"Yes. Quite."

Slowly, he knelt in front of her. "You need to get used to eating here."

"What are you doing?" Her eyes shone and her hands flew to her mouth. "Arthur -"

"Marry me, please." And even though Arthur knew Merlin was right, the brief moment when Guinevere said nothing and just stared at him was the longest, more worrying moment of his life. "Guinevere?"

"Um, of course I will." Suddenly, she was in his arms, her face pressed into his neck. Then she looked at him, smiling through tears. "For a while, I thought you'd never ask again."

Arthur broke into a huge grin, dug the ring out of his pocket and slipped it onto her finger. "I didn't want to rush you. And I wondered if you would get your memories back."

"I don't need my memories back. I just need to make new ones with you."

"Come here," he said, his voice thick with emotions. She leaned into him and he kissed her.

Epilogue

Everyone said it was third time lucky for the King. In line with all the budget cuts in the castle, the wedding was small. There were no lavish decoration, the bride sewed her own dress and while the feast was generous, the number of guests were limited to the closest friends of the bride and groom.

Aware of the benefits of a good celebration, Arthur gave all the castle staff (except Merlin) the day after off and reduced taxes for the month. And so for a good few weeks, everyone celebrated the wedding and coronation of a new queen.

"Hello my queen. How was your day?" Arthur pulled off his clothes before sliding naked into bed beside his wife. "Why are you dressed?" He murmured as he slipped his hand up the thin shift she was wearing.

"And deprive you of the chance to undress me?" She batted her eyelashes at him before stretching over to kiss him.

"Good point."

She laughed as Arthur growled and dragged her closer to him.

Later, as they lay sated together on the bed, limbs tangled, Arthur felt the most content and happiest he had ever been in a long time. When he told Gwen that, she snuggled deeper into his embrace before whispering, "Me too. I'm only sorry it took us so long to get to this point. Did you ever worry we would never make it?"

His arms tightened around her. "No.I had my courtship book. If you had not fallen for me after the poetry recitation, there was still the cooking, more flowers and apparently stalking."

"Oh," she laughed. "Well if I had known all these were awaiting me, I would have held out longer. Although I must say, the close to deathbed maneuver was very effective."

"That was something I came up with on my own."

"Don't ever do that to me again."

"I'll try not to." Arthur brought his hand up from her waist to caress her breast,feeling himself harden when she wriggled against his length. "As long as you never forget me again."

"Perhaps," she moved against him suggestively, "you should give me something to remember."

AN: I hope you enjoyed this! :)