A fooled King, a spurned Maid and a likely Knight

Disclaimer: Shine owns Merlin; I own nothing but my imagination

Beta: Many thanks to StevieG for all of his helpful suggestions and corrections to this story.

Chapter Eleven

After Galahad delivered his message, Arthur sat for hours watching the cottage, hope dwindling as the day marched on without any word from Guinevere. His men had long since breakfasted and were now honing their fighting skills on the open ground beside the camp. Finally unable to bear his heartache in silence a moment longer, Arthur ended his vigil and collecting his sword went over to join his men. He was just about to ask Sir Gwaine to spar with him when he felt a desperate need to check Blythe's cottage yet again. He resisted the urge, as the image of that small dwelling with the door steadfastly shut against him was painfully etched in his mind and he did not need another reminder that Guinevere could be lost to him.

Gwen was not quite sure how she came to be standing beside Galahad. She could not help but smile when she saw that the boy's attention was firmly on the knights, especially now that Arthur was with them. Gwen then had to stop him from attacking her as the startled boy suddenly realised someone was standing next to him and started to draw his sword. She quickly calmed him and was relieved that Arthur, who had his back to her, had not yet noticed her presence. Gwen definitely felt the need for some extra time to collect her thoughts.

However, there seemed to be a force at work greater than Arthur's resolve, as, in the end, he could not stop himself from turning around to see Guinevere standing nervously beside young Galahad. His fears were instantly forgotten as their eyes met and he stood there grinning, probably, he thought, in a most idiotic way if Merlin was asked for an opinion.

Gwen could feel heat rising to her cheeks under the gaze of Arthur. With her heart thumping, she started to walk towards him, drawn by an inexplicable force to lessen the distance between them. Her mouth was dry and she trembled in anticipation of being alone with him for the first time since that fateful night when he had declared her to be inappropriate.

Arthur thought she looked even more beautiful than the last time he had set eyes on her; her hair mussed up so that dark unruly curling locks framed her face and neck, her dark cinnamon eyes, beautifully generous lips and warm brown skin aroused in him the delicious ache of desire. He decided her obvious nervousness was a good sign, noting her trembling fingers as she played anxiously with the hem of her travelling coat.

"Will you come with me; take a walk with me along the shore," he asked nervously, reaching out a hand to beckon her to follow him through the camp.

Gwen nodded her acceptance of his offer and in return he offered her a tentative smile before turning to walk towards the beach.

As Gwen followed Arthur, she worried about the difficult task ahead. Arthur was as Gwen always saw him; a man born to wealth and power with his blond good looks and strong physic nurtured by years of remorseless military training. Yet, Gwen knew Arthur had a caring nature beneath the confidence he projected to the world; when they were alone, he had always been a gentle lover and wanted nothing more than to protect her. If he had wanted to, Arthur could have claimed her like so many nobles had used servants before; taken his pleasure and then abandoned her without consequence. Yet Arthur had shown her that he was not always sure of himself and had talked of love and meant it; had respected and treasured her. Although their relationship had ended badly Gwen knew it would be hard to turn her back on this man.

As the knights continued to practice their sword skills, Arthur strode on across the beach. He was presumably anxious to put some distance between them and any watchers from the town or his camp, but Gwen was suddenly unnerved by what she was about to do and stopped dead in her tracks. Blythe had told her that she preferred to walk barefoot on the beach so Gwen bought herself some time, by perching on a bolder marooned in a sea of sand, and removing her boots and socks, and then rolling up her trouser legs to protect the cloth from the salty seawater.

Arthur had reached the sea's edge; the impressions his boots left in the recently revealed and still wet sand behind him, filling with little pools of water. Only then did he turn expecting to see his Guinevere behind him, and for the instant it took for his eyes to refocus, it felt as though he had only dreamt her appearance at the cottage door. Then he spotted her sitting on a boulder at the top of the beach.

When Gwen saw that Arthur was waiting for her, she left the security of the rock and plunged her feet into the sand. It felt warm and comforting against the soles of her bare feet and as it trickled up between her toes, she enjoyed the strange sinking sensation while her weight redistributed the sand beneath her feet. Taking time to explore her strange new environment helped to calm her nerves and a more confident Gwen started to walk towards Arthur.

With trepidation, Arthur watched Guinevere making her progress down the beach. Gusts of wind caught her long tresses and tugged them this way and that. The wind was also skimming the foaming tops of the waves and remodelling the ripples in the red sand that had been formed as the water ebbed away and dried in the sun. From the way in which Guinevere cast glances all around her, Arthur knew that this was a new experience for her. He had never thought before about how sheltered her life in Camelot was; how little of the world she had seen. Arthur knew that Guinevere had had adventures during her travels; seen things that could well have changed her perception of her place in his world. The thought that perhaps she had been altered by her new experiences could not be dismissed from his mind and with it came the fear that unwittingly he might indeed have lost her for good.

The sand under Gwen's feet was now firmer because moisture in the newly revealed beach still bonded the grains together. Gwen had seen polished shell necklaces among items being sold by a trader in Camelot, so she recognised the objects of many shapes and hues studded into the ground, like jewels sown into a rich red cloth. The shiny long dark green and brown plant-like structures that smelt strongly of brine and the different sizes and colours of jelly like lumps on the beach were beyond her knowledge, so she took care to avoid them as she walked on.

Arthur gazed longingly at her as Guinevere came closer; there was a strange awkwardness between them that would take more than a sea wind to blow away. He could remember the much regretted speech he made to Guinevere weeks ago, so clearly it felt as though it only happened yesterday. Although Arthur was nervous beyond belief, he could not help but be distracted by the sight of Guinevere's elegant bare legs and dainty feet coated in a fine layer of red sand, exposed because her trousers were rolled up to just below her knees. He felt a guilty pleasure from a glimpse of Gwen's body he had not seen before. The sight of her toes on the wet sand as she stood facing him, also provided Arthur with the chance to break the silence between them:

"Aren't your feet cold?"

Gwen giggled nervously as she replied, "Yes, but I like feeling the sand beneath my feet. Then wistfully she added, "Although, it is not appropriate behaviour for a lady."

That remark made Arthur cringe inwardly. It felt as if they were already on dangerous ground, that Guinevere had accepted the gulf in their status could never be breached.

"Perhaps it should be, perhaps some rules deserve to be broken."

Gwen chose to ignore Arthur's statement; if it had not been as clear as day before, it was now obvious that he wanted her back, that he regretted ending their relationship.

"Can we walk along the beach a little way?" Arthur added, troubled by Guinevere's lack of response to his first small attempt to breach the difference between them.

Silently, they turned to walk side by side as the sea continued to retreat from the land. Gwen's hair kept blowing across her face until it so annoyed her, she was forced to hold it back with one hand. Finally she was forced to stop and as she stared out to the sea, Gwen enjoyed facing into the wind, which pulled her hair back and seemed almost strong enough to lift her from the ground.

"I understand why we cannot be together; you made the right decision, Arthur."

"Then why did you have to leave Camelot?"

Gwen cast a glance at Arthur who stood slightly behind and to the side of her, also facing the retreating sea. There was no point skirting around her anger any longer so Gwen gave voice to the hurt he had caused:

"Throwing money at me was cheap! Was it to ease your guilt, did throwing coins at me really make you feel better about your decision Arthur Pendragon?"

Arthur was taken aback by the sharpness of Guinevere's tone, and when he looked across at her, she was still staring out at the sea, as cut off from him as ever.

"I am sorry for the hurt I caused, but you are mistaken about the money, that was my uncle's doing." Arthur said, hoping that his contrite and sincere apology would be accepted. When Guinevere failed to respond, he tried to explain further, "Please believe me, I knew nothing about Lord Agravaine's gift until I returned to Camelot."

"Lord Agravaine told me that it came from you!"

Gwen turned and looked accusingly at Arthur, not ready to let go of the anger she felt.

"The money did not come from me, although I admit when my uncle told me what he had done, I wished I had thought about helping you out in that way."

"Why, Arthur, why did you think I needed your money; can I not look after myself?"

Arthur looked confused and hurt at Gwen's angry outburst. She felt almost sorry as she watched him struggle to find an answer that would not make matters worse. Poor Arthur, Gwen thought, he always wants to do the right thing, but never trusts in himself to know what that is.

In a much more gentle voice, Gwen said, "I know you are sorry about what happened, perhaps it is best forgotten. What is more important is that our relationship was never going to work; we held onto an unrealistic dream for far too long. I once told you that if you married another I would understand and accept your decision, well a lot changed after that. Last year, we stopped hiding our relationship and the way the other servants treated me changed for good. I knew that returning to my old duties would be very difficult. Then your uncle gave me the money and suggested that I leave Camelot for a while…"

"My uncle suggested that you leave, he told me you wanted to visit a relative?"

Arthur felt a growing sense of unease about his uncle's part in all of this, something did not add up.

"Lord Agravaine came to see me, not long after you left that night. He brought money and told me that he had arranged employment for me at The Silver Horseshoe…"

"But no self-respecting woman would go anywhere near that place!"

"Yet, His Lordship suggested he was on intimate terms with the owner of the Silver Horseshoe."

"You didn't go there?" Arthur asked horrified at the possibility that Guinevere could have followed his uncle's suggestion and applied for work to a woman in league with a band of thieves and cut throats."

"No Arthur, I have been well warned about the place. Lord Agravaine was not aware that most in Camelot knew to avoid it."

"Why would my uncle do this?"

Gwen had to walk away along the beach as she mulled over how best to answer Arthur's question. She was aware that he was following her, but slowly as though he knew he would soon be facing an uncomfortable truth that struck at the heart of his family.

"Do you know why?" Arthur asked, panting slightly as he ran the last few steps against the wind to catch up with Guinevere.

Gwen stopped again to look at the sea, aware of the constant rhythm of waves crashing against the sand and the cries of the sea birds circling overhead. She felt small and insignificant against the vastness of the open sea and sky that seemed to be pressing down on her; the weight of her sadness magnified by the power of nature.

"Perhaps because he expected his gift to be quickly returned to him? Why else give me all that money if not to bait a trap? Did you know that Morgana wants me dead? She sees me as a threat and I suspect they are working together, although I do not know for sure. I do know that both want to do me harm."

Arthur's face reflected his unspoken horror at what Guinevere had just said. Morgana seemed capable of anything, but why would she want to kill someone who had shown her nothing but kindness. That his uncle had plotted against him was more difficult to come to terms with. Yet, in a way the thought that Lord Agravaine might not have his best interests at heart, made a strange sort of sense.

"I know this must be difficult to hear, Arthur. Lord Agravaine is the only living relative of your mother, so you would expect him to be loyal, but do you really know the man?"

"No, but he's my uncle, I thought…" Arthur could say no more, the betrayal was too deep, it physically hurt; it felt as if he had been mortally wounded.

Arthur walked round to face Gwen, and with the sea behind him, she could see the raw pain on his face as he struggled with the realisation of his uncle's duplicity.

"Lord Agravaine acted for his own reasons, but he must have known that you intended to end your association with me. Did you discuss your decision with him?" Gwen asked, knowing she was providing further hurt, but also keen to ensure that Arthur fully understood the depth of his uncle's scheming.

Shamed, Arthur remembered that when he told her that he had decided to end their relationship, he said it was his decision alone. The involvement of his uncle made a mockery of that assertion, let alone admitting that the whole sorry episode was actually Lord Agravaine's idea. Now he could see how easily he had been manipulated and it made his blood boil.

"I'm sorry Guinevere; return with me to Camelot and together we will confront him with his treachery. I will make him pay for what he has done; I will have his head for this!" Arthur declared, as he noticeably trembled with fury.

"Arthur, he is your uncle, think on this," Gwen said, hesitantly reaching out to him, touching his chain mailed forearm to try to soothe the violence of his emotions.

Arthur quickly seized her hand in his, holding on to it as though his very life depended on it. Gwen did not wrest her hand away, there was comfort to be found in the warmth of his touch as she continued her tale:

"Morgana sent men to kill me when I avoided Lord Agravaine's trap. Galahad killed two of them, but more men continued the search for me, until unasked we were protected by the druids. They hid us from Morgana's magic…"

Bringing her captured hand to his lips, Arthur's answer was to smother it with fevered kisses. It was as though he could not cope with any more terrible news and just wanted to live in that moment with Guinevere.

He then turned her hand palm up and cradled it to his face, his eyes closed tight as he groaned in agony. He had the strongest feeling that if he let go of Guinevere he would be lost, because there would be no one in this world left for him and he might as well give up on life and allow the sea to carry him away with the ebbing tide.

Arthur's continued silence was worrying Gwen, she feared for his sanity as she watched him grapple with the strong emotions that were engulfing him.

"Arthur, listen to me, it is for the best that I stay away. It is the only way you can protect me from Morgana. You must form an alliance which will benefit Camelot, not follow your heart's desire…"

"No, I can protect you from Morgana. If you come back with me I will not let her win!"

"How can you protect me or your subjects against her magic, Arthur? Her power continues to grow and it is a power warped by her hatred for you and all you stand for."

Arthur opened his deep blue eyes and stared hard at Gwen, loosening his grip on her hand, letting it fall.

"Then there is no hope…no hope for us, for Camelot. Morgana will win, is that what you're saying? My father's fight against the evils of magic was for nothing?"

Gwen realised that the time had come, the time to test the man standing in front of her. He had to face the truth about the futility of his father's bloody purge against people of magic.

"There is another way and I hope you have the strength to face it, Arthur."

Gwen could see a cold anger forming on Arthur's face; it frightened her, as did his hand, which now rested on the top of his sword pummel. Perhaps, it was wrong of her to press this issue, his emotions were already bruised enough and what she wanted to say would make a lie of most of his life.

"Go on…tell me about this other way." He said, through gritted teeth as he tried to control his temper.

Quivering with fear at the huge step she was about to take, Gwen took a deep breath, and started to explain:

"During my travels I met an ordinary family on the road. The father is a carpenter and they have three young healthy sons. You would think they would be happy with their lot, but they have been cursed; their middle child was born with magic. He is such a sweet innocent boy, who takes a childish joy from his use of magic. He does not yet understand that his family have to live as fugitives; never putting down roots, moving from place to place as their anger festers against the injustice of Camelot's laws. They know the life of their beloved child could be forfeited at any time; a careless moment is all it would take for their secret to be revealed. Yet, why should we fear such a boy? I know I used to, but not now Arthur; I could not, as Queen of Camelot, hand down a death sentence on such a child. Not when there is another way…"

Arthur's anger was now tempered with shock and confusion as he listened to Guinevere's words. The law said children with magic must be drowned and Uther had decreed mercy was not an option when dealing with this evil. His father had drummed it into him that magic could beguile and cheat and just because it came in the form of a supposedly innocent child, did not make it any less dangerous. Uther's only concession to their youth was that children were to be drowned rather than burnt alive. Guinevere was saying that his father had been wrong, that his laws to protect the kingdom were unjust; that she believed Uther to be a tyrant who killed innocents. Well why did Guinevere stop there, why not finish destroying his father's legacy? Was her revenge for the wrong he had done her to tear apart every member of his family, well Arthur did not want her to stop. If he could not have Guinevere, he wanted his destruction and desolation to be complete.

"Go on then; tell me of this other way." He challenged her to finish.

The expression of thunder on his face was like a knife plunged into her heart. The world around them had not changed; the sea was still ebbing away from the shore, revealing more dark blood red sand and the wind still pushed Arthur's short blond hair onto his face and pulled at her dark tresses. Yet, as sea birds circled high above them, their cawing sounding like laughter, as they swooped along the air currents, it seemed to Gwen that everything was altered and there could be no retreat from the ending of their relationship in the worst and most damming way possible.

"The druids told Galahad that the way in which Morgana uses her magic is wrong. The druids believe that if they abuse their powers for personal gain, they hurt themselves and the balance of nature. As they can only use their gift for the good of all, they could only hide us, not strike out and hurt the men Morgana sent to kill me. Every time Morgana misuses her magic for her own gain, she is changing, warping into the evil sorcerer Uther feared. As she becomes stronger, she will be more difficult to stop and she carries with her those who feel hatred at the injustice of Uther's laws.

What if Camelot was to open its arms to those who want to see magic used only for good? What if you were to tear up the laws that condemn children for an accident of birth? I'm not saying there should not be laws; only that it is not the person, but the use they make of their gifts that should be judged. If magic is no longer outlawed, then you could ask the druids for help to protect Camelot against Morgana. You could show the carpenter's boy, and his like, that their gift can be used for the good of all and if they follow the druid way there is no reason to fear them. That is all I want, Arthur, for you to open your mind to that possibility."

"I did, once," he said quietly, exhaustion from the emotional mauling he was taking, evident in his voice. "To save my father, I opened my mind to magic and look how I was rewarded. The old man promised much, but that was only to get access to my father and kill him. He played on my grief, and I lost both my parents to the evils of magic."

"And what did the sorcerer request in return for saving Uther?"

"He asked nothing more than that people like him be able to live in peace, you know that Guinevere."

"And you believed him to be sincere when you accepted his terms?"

"Yes I did, but remember I'm a fool," Arthur said bitterly. "My uncle and Morgana both played me for one, so what is the difference, tell me that Guinevere?"

"The old man was prepared to risk his life to save your father on the basis of your pledge. Perhaps Uther was already beyond any help; remember the druids believe that the balance of nature must not be tampered with. The old man took a terrible risk, but it is possible he failed because magic cannot be all powerful in the face of death…"

Arthur raised his hand, "Enough…you have said enough."

He turned from Guinevere because he needed time to think, to let her words sink in. He had to come to terms with what she was suggesting after a lifetime of hating magic and all those who practiced the dark arts. It was hard to acknowledge that he could not fight Morgana and win, not when she had magic. However, he could see now that it was a losing strategy; eventually she would prevail and Camelot would be lost under a veil of evil and cruelty. He had been taught the art of war and knew that he and his army were no match for the witch, while Guinevere was suggesting fighting fire with fire. So, should he accept that magic could be used for good, just as the old sorcerer had said, and then use it to protect Camelot against those who sought to destroy it? What would his father have thought if he knew he was contemplating abandoning his legacy? But then, his hands were also stained with blood, he too had killed in the war against magic.

Guinevere was still there, Arthur could sense her presence and he knew she was only there because she hoped he would make the right decision. She was waiting for his answer:

"With my own hands I have hunted down and killed druids and people of magic without mercy. I too have killed my share of innocents, so why would the druids help me?"

"Yes, but you also have the power to end their persecution, to make peace with people of magic. You alone can stop the senseless killing!"

Arthur turned back to face Gwen and she was shocked to see he was crying, silent salty tears trailing down his face. There was no longer any anger there, instead his shoulders were slumped in exhaustion and he looked emotionally spent.

"If I do this, if I tear up my father's laws and allow magic to be practised in Camelot, what will you do?"

"I'm not sure; I have to find my own way. In time your feelings for me will fade. Then you will have the chance of finding happiness with another. I do want you to be happy, Arthur."

"Never will be, not without you, where is your heart, Guinevere?"

Gwen could not give an answer that would help her cause, as she knew her heart was with him, her love would never alter. It was a bright flame she would carry with her until her dying day.

Perhaps he was drunk on desperation; all Arthur knew was that he no longer cared about making a complete prat of himself. He decided to throw caution to the wind.

"No, if you will not have me, I'll never marry another, I'll be a bachelor for the rest of my life!"

As he shouted out his declaration, Arthur raised his arms to the sky in a dramatic gesture of defiance.

Gwen was shocked by Arthur's fervent pronouncement of his feelings, which along with making her heart beat a little faster was not helping her to remain firm about her decision. Gwen felt she would have to be the sensible one for both of them. She had repaid the druids by putting their case to Arthur, and in doing so, had fulfilled her destiny by sowing the seeds of a fairer land, perhaps even the creation of Albion.

"Guinevere, I need you, there is no point to my life without you, so I beg you, please forgive me. I can't be the king you believe in without your help!"

To Gwen's horror, Arthur then sank to his knees in front of her. She could not help looking back to the town where she could see a large group of people gathered at the upper edge of the beach to watch them.

"Get up, people can see!" Gwen hissed at him, knowing that Arthur usually liked to avoid any loss of dignity.

"Do you still love me?"

That question stopped Gwen dead in her tracks. Suddenly nothing else mattered; the inquisitive crowd, the rhythmic ebb and flow of the sea all disappeared from her consciousness. She returned his gaze and saw the truth of her feelings reflected in his eyes. Gwen knew that there would always only be one answer to his question, and she found that she could not lie, even though it weakened her argument.

"Yes, with all my heart."

"Then that's all that matters. We can work everything else out along the way."

"You want to defy tradition? I am a lowly Blacksmith's daughter and princes are supposed to marry princesses."

"Guinevere!" Arthur could not help sounding exasperated as he cried a halt to Gwen's continuing doubts.

"You're set on being with me, Arthur? You won't change your mind and decide that I'm not appropriate after all?"

Arthur visibly winced at yet another remembrance of his folly.

"I have a habit of saying the wrong thing; expressing myself badly, hiding my emotions. I cannot promise I will never hurt you in the future with an ill thought out word or two. But know this, I will never change my mind about you, Guinevere, you are the love of my life! I give you my solemn promise; come home with me and we will change Camelot together…will you marry me and be my queen, Guinevere, daughter of Tom the Blacksmith?"

Gwen could not speak; her emotions were so overwhelming she could only nod her head in response to the question he asked, as she unashamedly started to cry tears of joy.

Then Arthur got to his feet, ignoring the seawater that had seeped through the knees of his trousers and the crusting of wet sand on his fine leather boots. He hoped he understood correctly and that she had just accepted his proposal, but he could not be completely sure. The wish to hold Guinevere in his arms and chase away any lingering fears was strong. Tentatively he reached out to her, moving slowly so as to ensure Guinevere didn't take it into her head to run again.

It was Gwen who silenced any doubts by standing on her tiptoes to reach his lips and claim a kiss, before wrapping her arms around his shoulders in a welcome embrace. Then Arthur lifted her from the sand and in his joy and happiness whirled her round and round as seabirds circled overhead and the wind swirled around them.

Arthur heard a distant cheer coming from the crowd of onlookers, but it did not bother him. He had a huge grin on his face and the fact their public display of affection had been met with approval felt good.

He gently placed Guinevere back on the sand, smiling as he delighted in sorting stray tendrils of hair from her beautiful face. Arthur felt a contentment and joy that made him feel complete; he wanted to share his happiness with the world.

However, when he suggested it was time to return to the camp, Gwen put a warning hand on his arm.

"We need to talk a little more, discuss the future."

"Plans for our life together, yes?"

Gwen nodded to confirm that was indeed her meaning.

Arthur then went on, "And the changes we plan to make must be kept to ourselves for the moment. I don't want either my uncle or Morgana to get wind of what we intend, not before we can discuss the matter with Gaius. He knows more about the world of magic than anyone else in Camelot."

"I also have much to learn about being queen. I don't want to make any mistakes, do anything that might make the people question why you chose me."

"I've already made mistakes and I've had a lifetime to learn about being king, you'll learn as you go along, Guinevere. I know you will be a wonderful Queen of Camelot."

"And I promise to let you know as soon as I share your faith in me! Let's walk along the beach while we talk. I don't know how long it will be before we get another chance to be alone together and I have a small favour to ask…"

"And how much is this favour worth?" Arthur asked in a teasing tone.

In response Gwen landed a playful punch on his arm before, with both of them laughing, he gathered her up in his arms again.

The crowd had dispersed once the couple disappeared behind an outcrop of rock. They went about their daily business, which for the locals included a growing excitement that the fleet could well return that day. Many a woman scanned the horizon for the slightest hint of a mast that meant a father, husband, brother or son was coming home with a harvest from the sea that would feed their family throughout the long winter. The knights of Camelot honed their weapons and exercised horses, while Merlin waited at their beck and call, even if it meant being used as target practice, with only a shield and helmet for protection.

Only Galahad was at a loss for a task to do. He sat slumped forward on the wooden bench outside Blythe's home, twirling his sheathed sword in his hands and in doing so making a mess of the small patch of grass that graced the front of the humble abode. He was contemplating his own sorry future when Blythe landed a sharp slap across the back of his head, so surprising him, he lost a grip on his sword and it fell to the ground.

"Stop this aimless moping boy! What will my man think when he sees the upheaval you've inflicted on his property!"

Confused Galahad looked down at the turf ruined by his mindless actions and then back at Blythe, who stood watching him with her hands on her hips and an expression on her face that told him she was not in a forgiving mood.

"I meant no harm," he said, although it was a sorry excuse and Galahad knew at once it was not going to wash with this particular woman.

"Go and find something useful to do somewhere else; meant no harm indeed!"

Galahad retrieved his sword and stood up just as a commotion drew his attention to the camp across the road. Arthur and Guinevere had returned and the knights and Merlin were gathered around them both. Galahad could only move to a safe distance from the wrath of Blythe to watch as excited preparations were made to pack up the camp and move initially to King Wilfred's castle on the headland. The plan he overheard was for the group to spend the night there and start the journey to Camelot early the next morning. There was a lot of good humoured bantering going on, although Galahad noted that Gwen had drawn Sir Elyan to one side so they could talk.

After a while Merlin approached Gwen, leading Serenity behind him, signalling that it was time for them to go. She accepted the reins from the king's servant with a cheerful smile and Galahad felt glad that once more everything was right in her world.

Blythe was watching developments from her cottage doorway, her chin resting on her hands, on top of the broom handle she had been using to give the cottage floor a good sweep. There was a look of quiet satisfaction on her face; because the shout had just gone up that the fleet had been spotted on the horizon. She had really enjoyed seeing her friend again after all these years, but her husband came first in her heart.

Suddenly she straightened, leaning the broom against the doorway, because King Arthur was making straight for her. And he was wearing that smug look that she had often wanted to wipe from his face when she worked at the palace.

"Blythe."

"Sire."

To her own amazement Blythe could not help but curtsy, it was as if she had never left behind the drudgery of being a palace servant. Gwen also joined him, having returned Serenity's care to Merlin for a moment, and Blythe could tell Gwen was amused by the fact she had been caught bending the knee to Arthur.

"You're happy here?"

The way Arthur regarded the cottage as he waited for her reply made Blythe's hackles rise.

"It suits me just fine, sire. We also enjoy the protection of our good King Wilfred."

Gwen gave her friend a warning glance as she linked arms with Arthur.

Seemingly oblivious to Blythe's irritation, Arthur continued, "I seem to remember you didn't think a great deal of me and didn't mind who knew that either."

"No, and I still don't, you were always an arrogant bully, Arthur. In my humble opinion Gwen is much too good for the likes of you. Don't look at me like that Gwen; you know I can't help saying what I feel."

"So you don't approve of my attentions towards Guinevere?"

"Gwen says that you've changed for the better, so I'm willing to give you a chance for her sake."

After loudly guffawing, Arthur said, "Thank you Blythe, that's very magnanimous of you."

Now Blythe really felt the urge to punch him, using long words like that to show the extent of his learning and privilege. However she was not about to betray her lack of knowledge to him, so gritting her teeth she grinned back at the royal ass.

"Is there something in particular you want, sire?"

"Yes, with your permission of course, I would like Guinevere to join me and spend the night at your good king's castle before we head home to Camelot."

Blythe raised an eyebrow at her friend, scrutinizing her face to see if she could glean the exact meaning of Arthur's request from Gwen.

Gwen realised what Blythe was inferring and she blushed at her friend's suggestion of impropriety. They'd come close to succumbing to passion in the past, but always held back, wanting their first time not to be a snatched illicit moment, but one sanctified by marriage. Gwen finally managed to blurt out, "He doesn't mean that, Arthur has always shown me the upmost respect!"

Arthur's face turned bright red in embarrassment and it was obvious that he had no words with which to explain himself. Luckily Blythe could always be counted on to fill any uncomfortable silence.

"It would appear that you're also the most virtuous man in the five kingdoms Arthur, who'd have thought it? I'll miss your company Gwen, but as you are to be the guest of our righteous King Wilfred, I wouldn't dream of depriving you of the privilege."

"Thank you dear Blythe for everything. I hear the fleet are returning so you will soon be reunited with Periscus. This would have been a crowded house tonight had I not found alternative accommodation, so it seems everything has worked out perfectly for both of us."

"Only when I see my Periscus striding along the road towards me, will I know he has come back to me, safe and sound." Blythe said, giving voice to the worries she normally preferred to keep hidden.

Gwen reached out to put a comforting hand on Blythe's arm. Her voice gentle as she tried to ease her friend's fear, "He is coming back, Blythe, he loves you and the children too much to take any unnecessary risks with his life. May I take my leave of you and your family tomorrow?"

"Of course, I'd be most offended if you didn't come to see us. Come give me a hug to seal our continuing friendship."

Gwen gratefully obliged and kissed her friend on both cheeks for good measure for she knew Blythe was fiercely loyal and hid a soft heart behind her sharp tongue.

Blythe released her friend, and claiming that some smoke from the fire had made her eyes water used her apron to wipe tears from her face.

"Arthur Pendragon, if I ever hear that you've wronged my friend, you'll have me to answer to, see and remember that."

Arthur should have taken umbrage at the direct manner in which Blythe addressed him, instead he answered her in all seriousness, "I will take good care of Guinevere, I give you my solemn pledge."

From the way Blythe regarded the king, Gwen realised that her friend had finally seen through the blunt manner in which Arthur normally spoke to those beneath him. When he had made his vow to Blythe, that was when the real man was revealed, the man Gwen would love until her last breath. Certainly when she dismissed them, Blythe's voice was choked with emotion and she seemed on the verge of tears:

"Well, off with both of you, don't keep King Wilfred waiting."

They turned to go and join the rest of their group waiting patiently by the horses, when suddenly Blythe called out, "What about the young pup?"

Confused Arthur looked round letting his gaze follow the direction of Blythe's outstretched arm to the forlorn figure of Galahad.

"Ah, Galahad, Guinevere told me of your bravery and also that you wish to be a knight one day. As a reward for your service to Camelot I can offer you a position as my personal squire, until such time as you are judged ready to be a knight. If you wish to accept, join us, otherwise I will reward you with gold and you are free go on your way."

For a moment Galahad wanted to protest that he was more ready to be considered a knight, but he could see that argument would not wash with his idol. Even to be a simple squire for the great King Arthur would indeed by an honour above all others. Galahad was sure that it would not take long to prove himself and claim a red cloak emblazoned with the Pendragon golden dragon.

"I would be honoured to be your squire, sire."

"Well then, that's settled. Oh, and Galahad, my manservant, Merlin, will do all the menial tasks, while you'll get the glory of the training grounds."

Guinevere looked disapprovingly at Arthur, until he winked at her to indicate that he was only baiting Merlin. Merlin was only too aware that cleaning his lord's armour and mucking out the horses were his very own special duties.

They were a happy group as they rode towards the great castle of Dewnens. Arthur was content because his Guinevere was riding beside him and the knights were still welcoming Sir Elyan back into the brotherhood with plenty of well aimed jibes. Merlin meanwhile was looking forward to training Arthur's new squire in the ways of Camelot, because Galahad definitely needed taking down a peg or two.

Epilogue to follow