As Merlin and Arthur walk through Camelot, Merlin cannot help but smile. Arthur glances at him,

"Merlin, you're grinning like an idiot." He remarks, though it is done with a friendly tone. "Where is everybody?"

"Asleep." Merlin replies, "It was necessary. To them, it will be as if no time has passed. For you as well, I suppose..." He sighs and it's an old sigh, a sigh that truly exposes his age, his weariness. Arthur frowns slightly and makes a mental note to give Merlin a day off— then he realises the absurdity of that thought and discards it. No, some sort of celebration is necessary. Something to honour him for all that he has done, so much of which Arthur has only recently learned. Well, he thinks, recent to me. And maybe he will treat him a bit more nicely.

"Take me to Guinevere first." He requests. Merlin nods and picks up his pace. They soon reach the castle and visible are the knights who fell asleep at their posts so many years ago. They breathe, Arthur notes. It's reassuring: it means they are alive.

It does take Merlin a moment or two to remember how to navigate the castle ("It has been a few years." He tells Arthur when he is questioned), but they when they finally reach the king's chambers, Arthur rushes in. In a few long strides, he is at the bed and he takes Guinevere in his arms.

"There was a fairytale that grew around her." Merlin tells him, "They got a few facts wrong, but the story goes that a beautiful princess lies—Gwen—in an eternal sleep, a curse cast on her by an evil witch—that's me, apparently—and she will only wake with the help of true love's kiss, destined to come from a prince. That's you, Arthur."

"Yes, well. Wake them up." He then remembers his resolution and adds: "Please."

Merlin nods,

"Dúisigh go léir a bhfuil chodail." He murmurs and his eyes flash gold. Arthur looks at Gwen, hoping for a sign of wakefulness.

Nothing happens. Merlin tries again,

"Dúisigh suas gach duine a bhí ina chodladh gach bliana seo." His eyes flash once more, but still no change occurs.

"Well?" Arthur looks at him, anxious now.

"I... I don't know... It's not working."

"Make it work!" He snaps, "Please... Please, it has to work..." Tears prick at his eyes. He can't lose Guinevere. He has lived without her once and he refuses to do it again.

"I'm trying, Arthur." He, too, has tears in his eyes. He has been waiting for so long, yet not once did he expect anything to go wrong.

"Try harder. I can't lose her..."

"I... I'll consult the books."

"Books? What books?"

"Well, unlike you, I read sometimes." He attempts a joke, "Gaius. He has some... er... well, spell books. I'll look in those."

Arthur pushes aside the throbbing feeling of betrayal; Gaius had always sworn he was magic-free. He supposes he ought to have known, but decides not to dwell on it.

"Yes. Yes, do that."

Merlin nods and hurries off. Arthur focuses his gaze on Gwen's face. She truly is beautiful, he thinks, and she looks so peaceful when she's sleeping. He brushes away a loose strand of hair, tucking it behind her ear, and he kisses her gently on the forehead.

"Come on, Guinevere. You have to wake up. Please... Please wake up... I need you to wake up." He draws her closer so that her head rests against his shoulder. He closes his eyes and tries to think of their last night together.

We're lying in bed and she's in my arms. She's crying because she knows that the war will be dangerous and she worries for my life. She always worries about me, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't love it. It's that she cares for me. She cares so much. I care, too, only I care for her. She's telling me to be safe now and I promise her to be as safe as possible. She knows, though, that there may not be much possibility for safeness. After all, this is Morgana we fight against.

"Arthur," The way she says my name is always so soft, as if she caresses my name with her lips as she speaks, "I can't lose you."

"You won't." I say, but we both know it's not a promise; it can't be, there's no telling what will happen.

"I love you." She whispers and I can hear the tears in her voice, and it breaks my heart that I should be the cause of them.

"And I love you." I reply, framing her cheek with my hand. Instinctively, we both lean in for a kiss, our lips meeting in desperation, in necessity. We are both painfully aware that this could be our last night together. The kiss begins soft and gentle, but I can feel her becoming more desperate as the kiss becomes more passionate. Tears roll down her cheeks and I can feel them on my lips, salty and sorrowful. "No tears." I whisper, "I want to remember you smiling, happy. That's how I want to think of you before I go to battle. I want to think of us together, happy and in love."

"Oh, Arthur..." She buries her face in my neck in what I assume is an attempt to hide her tears. I hold her closer and gently rub her back.

"It's okay, Guinevere. I'm here. It's okay..." I try to be soothing, but in truth I can feel a lump rising in the back of my throat. I want to cry, but I know I can't. If I cry, she'll cry even more and I don't want her to shed more tears for me. "Don't cry, you haven't lost me." We can both hear the unspoken 'yet' at the end of the reassurance.

"I could go with you." She whispers. I shake my head.

"It's too dangerous. Besides, if... if anything should happen to me, you remain Camelot's sole ruler."

"Arthur, I can't. I can't. Not without you."

"Let's not think about that right now. Focus on this moment. Right here and right now. We're together and we're safe. Let's live in this moment and make it memorable. We'll have this moment as a keepsake to get through the hard times ahead."

Then her lips are on mine again and her fingers entangle in my hair, though not ungently. She has always had that gentleness... We'll both fight sleep tonight; we'll want to remember every moment. Only I succeed and she falls asleep in the early hours of the morning with that sweet, peaceful expression upon her face...

Much like the expression she wears now, Arthur thinks. As calming as it is to look upon that sleeping face, he wishes she would wake up. And where is Merlin? He wonders. He ought to be back by now. Surely, he's found a spell. Surely...

He resolves to go to the young warlock. Perhaps he can help look for a spell. Maybe. He's not sure how the whole magic thing works. He lays Guinevere back down on the bed and he lowers his head to give her a kiss goodbye. Just as his lips meet hers, her eyes flutter open.

"Arthur..." She breathes and then promptly faints.

Merlin soon returns to find Arthur holding on to Gwen once again. The king looks utterly dumbfounded and he doesn't notice Gaius trailing behind him.

"Merlin, I think the fairytale was right. I kissed her and she woke."

"No, sire. That was me. I found the right spell."

"Oh. Right. Of course. I knew that." He dismisses the thought.

"She, uh, doesn't look very awake."

"She probably fainted, Merlin." Gaius says, "Just from sheer shock."

"Of course." Arthur agrees, "She'll be all right though, right Gaius?"

"I am sure of it, sire."

"Good. Good..."

"But sire, there is something you should probably know."

Arthur looks at him warily.

"Yes?"

"Well, sire, she's—"

"Awake." Merlin interrupts, seeing Gwen's eyes open. Gwen instantly embraces Arthur, who readily holds her.

"I thought you were dead." She gasps, happy tears rolling down her cheeks, "Merlin—"

"Saved my life." Arthur tells her. "He... Well, it's a long story. There will be time later."

"We'll give you two some space." Merlin says before he and Gaius leave the chambers. Besides, Merlin has quite a bit to tell Gaius.