Here's another chapter, dorry it took so long, lost the story for a bit. please read and review if you can. Thanks
Disclaimer: Merlin is the property of the BBC
The great hall was full of people, all dressed in their finest clothes for the occasion, from the corner of the room, Merlin stood quietly, watching and chatting with Gwen as the people milled around them.
"Well Arthur seems rather happy with himself, for a man who nearly died a few days ago", Gwen lent towards Merlin as she watched the Prince who was standing at the other end of the room, talking with Morgana.
"It would seem the great alliance is well and truly secure", Merlin replied in a conspiratorial tone, "Arthur has, let's say, made his feelings known to the princess and she, quite obviously I guess, has no objections, the only thing Arthur has to do is ask Uther's permission, well that and Guinevere's Father's, and we could have a royal wedding on our hands before winter draws in".
"Oh finally", Gwen said, "Morgana and I have had bets going for ages as to how long this was going to go on for, It's obvious that he's mad about her, and well, what woman wouldn't be taken with Arthur?",
"So you're one of the masses of women falling at his feet too then?", Merlin said, amused,
"No!", Gwen replied quickly, "Not that he isn't …Well… Not that I'd ever… oh shut it Merlin you know what I mean".
Merlin's laughter at the clearly flustered Gwen was interrupted by the blare of trumpets announcing the arrival of the honoured guest. Through the parting crowds, Guinevere entered followed by her maids, her hair loose to fall down her back, as had become her habit for all formal occasions. Her finely cut deep blue dress was belted at the waist with a vibrant red sash, the cape around her shoulders that her maids carried of the same red colour, a clear declaration of her loyalty to her homeland and her new home. As her maids stepped back to join the crowds, she stopped and knelt at the bottom step of the small platform that held the throne on which Uther sat, flanked by his ward and his son, standing either side of him.
The room became silent as Uther stood to address the room,
"My Lords, Ladies, loyal subjects, friends and allies", he began, we come together today to celebrate our great kingdom and it's people, and also to celebrate our alliances, to strengthen them and bind them to our hearts as our own family".
He stepped forward and began to address the woman kneeling at his feet,
"Lady Guinevere, Princess of Cameliard, you are the daughter of one of our greatest allies, King Leodegrance of Cameliard. In the time since you have arrived in Camelot, you have demonstrated your graces to us, and shown us all that you are a woman of virtue as any known to us in this kingdom. In these last few days, you have also shown yourself to be a woman of great personal strength", he continued, as Guinevere kept her eyes demurely downcast, "The loyalty you have shown to us, we can see is equal to that of any natural born citizen of Camelot, and as such we seek today to bind you to us as our own subject and princess of this kingdom".
With a short pause, to men stepped towards the king, each was carrying a small cushion, on one was a scroll, on the other a circlet of gold. Guinevere looked up at the king, smiling as her gaze briefly passed the king and fixed on Arthur, who was smiling back at her. She fixed her eyes again on the king as he began to speak again,
"Guinevere, princess of Cameliard, with the circlet of gold I am about to place on your head, and the seals I am to place in your hand, I will make you a princess of Camelot, as true as that of any child born to my own self, do you swear to serve this kingdom, and it's monarchy as though it were your own by blood, to live and to die in the service of it's people?", Uther asked in a voice which filled the room.
"I Guinevere, true born princess of Cameliard, do solemnly swear to serve This kingdom of Camelot as I would my own homeland. I swear to serve the land and the people with my body and my mind, to live and die in it's service as a true born princess of these lands, and to live and to die in it's protection", She answered, voice raised to fill the room.
Uther smiled and taking the scroll from the cushion, placed it into her hand, he then took the circlet, lifted it above her head, and set it down on her head as the trumpets blared in celebration. Uther took her hand, and helped her to her feet, turning to the crowds his voice filled the hall,
"I give you the Lady Guinevere, Princess of Camelot!", as those assembled bowed to her, the trumpets blaring as he led her down from the platform and into the hall, as people began to move around again, several stopping to congratulate the princess as the king left her side. Arthur was across the hall talking with his father, smiling as he spoke, as Uther stepped away again, Guinevere excused herself from the conversation she had been having and crossed the room towards the Prince, seeing Guinevere walk towards him Arthur smiled, a brief formal bow was followed by Arthur taking Guinevere by the arm as they began to talk,
"Congratulations my Lady", he said in a low tone,
"Thank you my Lord", she replied, "also you may be interested to know, a thought has occurred to me", she said, a mischievous smile crossing her lips,
"Oh yes? What's that?",
"This ceremony, it has made me a citizen of Camelot, I am bound to the kingdom as I am to the land of my birth. The alliance between or two kingdoms is secure", she paused, "You don't need to marry me anymore, there must be a hundred women quite happy to take that role, now you could have any one you choose".
Arthur said nothing for a moment, and led her quickly to a quiet corner of the room, pulling her close he kissed her, something which did not go entirely unnoticed in the room,
"They could offer me a thousand women, I'd still choose the same one".
Arthur moved away then, walking towards his father, before he reached him he began,
"Father, if I may have a word, there is something I might ask you", he said with a ghost of a mischievous smile,
"Of course Arthur, what is it?",
"I have of late, father, began to consider that I might wish to marry, and I believe I may have found a suitable woman, one who I am sure would meet your majesty's approval", he looked over his shoulder and put his hand out, gesturing for Guinevere to join him, which she did. Placing his arm firmly around her waist, Arthur continued,
"I ask your permission to marry this lady, who I am happy to say I am very much in love with, of course I will also require to seek her father's approval, if your majesty is agreeable that is…",
"Nothing would give me greater pleasure my son", Uther said smiling, "I assume you are happy with this My Lady?",
"I am Your Majesty", she replied, smiling at Arthur, "Very much so. I believe I am in a much envied position".
"Alas I think both you and my son are the subject of great envy, but also great rejoicing. I will have a messenger sent immediately to Cameliard, to tell my friend Leodegrance the good news, and no doubt to gain his approval. I think perhaps we are about to enter a golden age in Camelot".
The court celebrated long into the night, Arthur and Guinevere being repeatedly congratulated, the general view being that it was "about time too", as Morgana had so eloquently put it. With that, the preparations for the royal wedding began in earnest.