CHAPTER TEN


Merlin's stern words lingered in Guinevere's head like an image from an old dream. She buried her forehead in her palm and sighed. Her life was falling apart...although she didn't have a life. Sometimes she wished that she really had died. Sometimes it was too much for her, coping with the fact that she was dead and had been executed by the one she loved.

As much as she wanted to stay here, she knew it was wrong. Arthur wanted her to stay but he had murdered her in the first place. She told him she had forgiven him but there is always a small amount of hate in her heart for him. Every time she looked at him she wanted to scream and cry out loud.

'Why did you have to do it, Arthur?' She asked herself, her voice barely a whisper. She swallowed hard to keep the tears in her eyes. She hated him but she also loved him; and those two things were the key to someone's heart. It didn't make sense to her. How can you love someone you hate? Although she spent a while trying to figure it out, she never thought of a reasonable answer.

There is no answer, she thought to herself, its nature.

Her gaze slowly turned to the scaffold where she was executed. She sat on a bench and stared at it from a distance. Even though she was far away it still seemed impregnable and loomed over her. It was her worst nightmare. The demon which scared her, the image which made her stir in her sleep. What could be more frightening that visiting the place where you died?

Merlin must be out of his mind, she thought as she shook her head in disbelief, surely he sees that it would ruin me if I visited the place where I died. Nothing could be more dreadful!

Merlin appeared in the distance and began to approach her. He glanced around cautiously to ensure that there was no one around as he walked. His eyes met the dark scaffold as he passed it. It brought back too many painful memories and also frightened him.

'Guinevere,' he greeted her when he reached her.

'I can't do this Merlin,' she gasped. He patted her back and tried to give her a heart warming smile.

'Take a deep breath,' he said.

'Don't you think I've tried that? Can't you see that I can't do this?'

'I know it'll be hard but we have no other choice.'

'I'm sure you know a spell which can sort this out.'

'I don't know everything...yet. Close your eyes when you approach it.'

'Are you certain this will work?'

Merlin smiled.

'Positive, my spell book said so,' he replied.

'But it didn't have a spell to send a ghost to the other world,' mumbled Guinevere.

'It'll be over soon.'

'Ok...I have to see Arthur first though.'

Merlin didn't stop her from vanishing and appearing in the King's chambers. She paced around in search of Arthur and half smiled when she saw him.

'Guinevere,' he said with a smile and he took her in his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder and inhaled his scent. She loved being with him, feeling him, loving him. Then she remembered why she had come to him and what she had to tell him. Slowly she wiggled herself out of his arms and stepped back. The smile on his face disappeared.

'What is wrong?' He asked, his voice sounded worried and concerned.

'This isn't right,' she simply told him.

'It is. It feels so right.'

'It may feel right but it's wrong.'

Arthur suddenly felt worry and sadness inside him. His stomach twisted and turned and his face began to turn as pale as the moon.

'What are you trying to say, my love?' He asked, dreading the words which would soon come out of Guinevere's mouth. Guinevere let out a big sigh.

'I think you already know,' she whispered as she looked down. Arthur's fingers touched her beautifully shaped chin and rose her head up so she was gazing up at him once again.

'No, I won't let you leave again! I was foolish to send you away,' the young King cried.

'Arthur, I never left you,' she sobbed. 'I'm always with you, in your heart.'

Arthur felt his eyes swell with tears. His head was throbbing and he couldn't believe what was happening. Guinevere, his only love, was going to part from him forever.

'I won't let you!' He shouted loudly, this time he was more tenacious. Guinevere simply smiled at his attempt to control her. She fell in love with an arrogant rude prince after all; when he stayed in her house and took advantage of her kindness.

'Oh, Arthur,' she said with tears slipping down her cheeks. 'You'll make a fine King.'

'Not without you!'

'You must let me go.'

'No!'

It was too late, Guinevere was already starting to vanish. Arthur's finger could no longer feel her soft skin.

'No!' He repeated, hoping that she would stay.

'Do you love me?' She asked sweetly while smiling.

'Yes! Yes, of course I do.' Her smile melted his heart and he had to smile.

'Then let me go, let me be free.'

She pressed his lips against his for the final time. His eyes closed and his lips lingered on hers. He hoped that they would stay there forever. But then they were no longer there and Arthur opened his eyes, only to find that he was standing alone in his chambers.

'GUINEVERE!' He screamed as he stared up at the ceiling.

She could hear his scream from outside next to Merlin. Eyes filled with tears, she turned to Merlin and nodded.

'I'm ready,' she said.

'You always were,' he commented before giving her the greatest hug he had ever given. Guinevere smiled and hugged him back. The two of them began to approach the scaffold.

'You can do this,' Merlin added as he stopped in front of the scaffold. Guinevere gave him a slight smile and stared at the scaffold. It brought back so many memories...

The blade of the axe perched on the scaffold glistened in the little sunlight there was. The crows screeched above among the dark clouds in the pale sky. A large crowd of whispering Camelot citizens surrounded the scaffold.

She began to walk up the steps. Each step she took made her heart pound rapidly.

She was heading for the scaffold where the executioner waited for her with his axe. A shiver ran down her spine as she looked up at him. He was a large man and had a mysterious scary feeling about him. His face was covered by a black mask and he wore clothes like a blacksmith. Despite the booing of the crowd, Guinevere walked up the steps of the scaffold gracefully like a queen.

Then she was there...on the scaffold. She turned to where the audience would have stood and glanced around. Guinevere slowly knelt down and imagined that there was a stump in front of her. She laid her head down on it and closed her eyes.

The executioner raised his axe and the crowd gasp. The tiny hairs on the back of Guinevere's neck stuck up and she accepted her fate. Her eyes closed and the last few tears streamed down her face.

From out of nowhere, Guinevere heard Arthur's cry. She heard the word come out of his mouth and echo in her ears like a pounding drum. 'Guinevere'. Immediately, she smiled and looked up to the King's balcony. A faint image of Arthur stood there. She could see his eyes which were full of love for her. This was how he looked before she died, he was regretting his decision.

'Arthur,' she whispered with a smile. 'I love you.'

And then she dissolved into gold powder before disappearing, like ashes in the wind.

A tear rolled down Merlin's pale face.

'Be at peace, Guinevere,' he said before closing his eyes and bowing his head.

END OF PART ONE

Yup that's right! End of Part One...which means there are others parts! Yuppeeee! More Arwen! Well not really, she's dead now. But you get the picture. Don't be too worried though, she'll be back. Arwen lasts forever (Arwen fans would know ;) )

Make sure you add this to your story alert so you can see when Part Two begins. Also please keep reviewing! I want to hear your thoughts and opinions. Is writing Part Two a good idea? Btw it involves Arwen but in a different way... ooooooooh. Now that's worth keeping in tune! I mean who doesn't love Arwen?

Thanks guys and keep reading & reviewing!

-Livi X

P.S Sorry for taking a while to update. Happy Valentines Day! XXX