For the first time in three days the skies over Camelot were clear. The sun gave off little warmth, but it was bright almost harshly so. This harsh light flooded into Arthur's chambers. Hitting him on the back of his head as he sat at his desk. A desk that he could no longer see, as it was covered with parchments. No matter how long he sat at his desk and worked at all this paperwork it never seemed to get any smaller. Once he was done with something, Merlin would just bring something else to replace it. This was also with all of the work that he delegated to Merlin. Boring, pointless matters that just needed his signature. It was a blessing that Merlin was just smart enough for him to be taught to copy his signature. Shoving the parchment in-front of him along the table, he then lifted his hands to scratch his head. As he did this he let out a faint groan. A groan that masked the sound of a faint knock and the door being opened. When he tilted his head back down Arthur was met with the sight of his future wife walking towards him, a comforting smile on her face.

"Working hard."

"Like I have a choice."

Crossing his arms he leaned back into his chair. Gwen moved round the table to him. Kneeling down she placed one hand on his shoulder, the other she rested on his lower arm. "I know it's a lot of work, but you really are doing a wonderful job." He lowered his head and turned away from her. "You are. Everyone says-"

"Don't you ever get tired." The king interrupted.

Holding onto him a little tighter for support, Gwen pulled herself to her feet. She then removed her hold on him and took a step back. "What."

"I'm sorry." He reached out and took her hand in his. "I just meant that you must be tired of always having to support me. Cheer me up."

She squeezed his hand. "You are a very tiring man Arthur pendragon. But you are a good man. One day a great one."

"Since when have you gained the seers sight." He laughed.

A sad look crossed Gwen's face for a second. He opened him mouth a little to explain, but said nothing. Things had been calm since he was crowned king. He didn't want to think about what was going on outside of the city walls unless he had to. If he did he would only over think and worry. Focus too much on thinks that were beyond his power and control. If a threat came then he would be ready to face it. He however was not going to go looking for it. Why go looking for danger when there was already enough to cope with. Why create more enemies when they was already so many already baying for blood and revenge It was clear she would get no more from him on the subject.

"You should eat something." Her eyes fell on the far corner of the table where an uneaten breakfast remained on a silver tray that Merlin had brought him a few hours earlier. "I'll get you some lunch."

Letting his hand go she took a step forward, reaching out to pick up the tray. Arthur let out a sigh at how familiar and comforting this action was. For a second he forgot all about the pile of parchments on his desk. He was a prince again, not a king with a heavy weight on his head. The corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile.

"Once a servant always a servant." He affectionately stated.

Despite the warm tone he spoke in, Gwen quickly straighten herself up forgetting about the tray. "And proud to be so." She said in a even, defensive tone.

"Gwen-"

"Once a prince always a prince, it would seem as well."

She moved to walk away, but he caught her hand. Still not leaving his chair. "I'm sorry. I just mean that looking after people, taking care of them is in your nature."

"Because I was a servant."

Again she tried to more away, but he continued to hold her firmly. "Because it is part of who you are. Your large and generous heart. Part of why I love you."

For a long minute she was quite. She didn't want to put any more pressure on him than he already had, but she didn't know when she would get the chance to really talk to him again. He was always so busy. When he wasn't working in his chambers like this, he was outside training with the knights. Time with just the two of them was few and far between now. It could be weeks till they could talk so openly again.

"What is truly troubling you Arthur." She sounded concerned, but still a little annoyed.

Her hand slipped from his hold as he sank back into his chair. "Nothing that concerns you." He smiled back.

"We are to be married. Everything you do concerns me." Her voice rising as she spoke.

She heard him let out a faint sigh as he moved to stand up. Clearly thinking that he should comfort her after her small outburst. An over dramatic women, needing a reasonable man to calm her down. He could be so infuriating sometimes. Growing up with only his father to parent him had clearly left a mark on him. As much as her own upbringing had had on her. She could see it in her friends too. Merlin was who he was because of his mother. It was also clear to see, understand Morgana by looking at her upbringing.

"That is if you still wish to marry me." Gwen further went on in a lower voice.

She was silent as she waited for him to quickly reply, that of course he wanted to marry her he would then go on to say that he was sorry. He was just worried about or thinking about something. She would then know what was troubling him and how best to help him. He however said nothing. He took his eyes off of her, lowering them to look at his desk. Hoping it seemed that the right words would be written on one of the parchments for him. She knew Merlin wrote many of Arthur's speeches. She doubted however that he would have thought ahead to have him write down what to say to her now.

"Arthur." She pressed, fear creeping into her voice. She hated how her voice same out. So weak and pathetic. Like she was begging him for something. Despite her begging, it being the first time she had begged, asked him for anything. He still didn't look at her. Finally he seemed to force himself to speak.

"Gwen….you know how I Feel-"

"Just say it Arthur."

His eyes darted up to look at her. Her voice breaking now, was to much. He couldn't avoid looking at her anymore. "I love you. I always will. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." While he spoke he pulled himself to his feet and placed his hands on her shoulders. "That has not changed. It will never change." His eyes finally dared to meet hers. "I have changed. My position has changed. Everything I do, I have to make sure that it is in the best interests of the kingdom."

"And I am not in Camelot's best interests."

Quickly she stepped out of his hold. "Gwen-"

"How could I be." She kept walking away from him till she reached the door. "I'm just a servant."

The sounding of the door being slammed behind her echoed throughout the kings chambers. Blocking out all other noises. He didn't hear her making her way down the corridor. He also didn't hear any of his own thoughts for a few seconds. When they did come rushing back to him, all that he had said played out in his mind again. Every stupid word. With a deep sigh he slumped back into his chair. He had been thinking for a long time about how to tell her how he felt. All the things he had planned to say, to explain himself better had gone right out of his head when she stood before him. He had long been aware of this effect she had on him. It had never caused him to hurt her so badly before. In the long run he knew it was for the best. Camelot had to be his first priority. In time he would find a palace for her in that, right now there just wasn't one.

The sound of the twigs breaking as she walked over them were all she could hear. A cold chill blew through the forest, Casing her to walk with her head lowered and her hood pulled over her head. Lifting her head a little she saw her destination a little ahead of her. Taking in a deep breath, she pulled herself up straight and removed her hood. Walking the last few feet at a quicker pace.

The entrance to the cave was narrow. For a second she wasn't sure that it was the right place, but something drew her towards it. If it did turn out to be the wrong place, at last she felt sure that she would still find something inside the cave. There had to be a reason that she was drawn to this isolated place. A place that would be so easy to pass by without even noticing it was there. One hand ran along the wall of the cave as she slowly walked forward. The ground was hard and uneven, causing her to lift her other hand in preparation for enchanting a fire spell into her hand. Before she used her magic she saw a faint light ahead of her. Lowering her hand she moved forward a little quicker this time.

The tunnel she had been walking through seemed to open up in-front of her into a large alcove just as she was about to step into it, the faint light that had led her there disappeared. Removing her hand from the cave wall she turned around to try and see anything. The words of a fire spell were on her lips, but another voice fill the alcove instead.

"Morgan le Fay."

With these words the light burst into life again. Looking round she saw that the light came from a number of torches that hung from the cave walls. She didn't look to closely as her attention was caught on the far corner of the alcove. It was shrouded in darkness, never the less she was able to make out a dark hunched figure. Without realising it, she made her way towards the figure.

"Yes."

"I always knew you would seek me out."

Morgana squinted her eyes to try and get a better look at the figure. "I assumed you would." She now stopped a few in-front of the figure. Now able to faintly make out their face. "Being the only other seer alive." The figure lowered their head a little. "Dochraid."

The creature now fully lifted her head. If she had not already known of the repulsive creature in-front of her, Morgana would have taken a large step back. As it was she stood her ground. It was pity more than repulsion that she felt for the creature in-front of her. Her skin was harsh and coarse looking from years in the darkness. Her hair grey and sparse. It was her face, her eyes that shocked her the most. More accurately it was the lack of eyes that shocked her. That was something even knowing about in advance would not have prepared herself for the sight of it. Even if it was only a luckily faint sight of her face, she knew that it was a sight she would never forget.

"You wish to see all that I have seen." She creature sneered.

Morgana shock her head. "No." There was a gentleness to her voice that surprised her. "I have seen more than enough of my own."

"Why have you sought me out. There is nothing I can do to help you. I am a creature of the earth now, linked to the magic in this world, like it I am fading-"

"That's a lie. You are no more dying than I am."

"We are all dying. Form the second we come into this world. We are all dying." The creature argued back.

"I'm well aquatinted with death, and the pain that comes with it." She moved her face in a little closer to the creature as if she could see her.

A laugh more like a cackle echoed throughout the cave. Even without her eyes, the Dochraid had seen much of the witch standing in-front of her. Much that she herself did not know yet. It pained and excited her in equal measure. Highs that would come and their equal lows. From what she had seen she had expected the last high priestess to have a greater presence. Morgana had seemed unsure and in search of answers. Despite for them. Now that steel came through. That power. She hide it well, didn't flaunt it. Let it slowly appear to people, lull them into a false sense of security. Clearly she was a smart girl.

"I know you are. All alone no blood left in the world. Not a drop."

For a second her green eyes widened. "Are you saying that Uther is not my father."

"No one knows that for sure. I meant you have no family left that you care for. No one left at all to melt that icy heart of yours."

It was now Morgana's turn to let out a laugh. Hers however was low and under her breath. "Some say the world will end in fire, others say ice."

"Very close. You get the point."

"From what I've tasted of desire, I hold with those who favour fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate, to say that for destruction ice is also great and would suffice."

The young women voice was as cold as ice, but she underneath it to burn with a desire that constantly moved her forward. "You think you know hate and desire."

"I have never wanted anything other than to live my life. I have learned never to care for anything. So I know not of desire. Hate on the other hand. I know very well. It is what keeps me moving."

"We both know that is a lie. You have a heart. As much as she deny it, try to hide-"

"I did not come here to chat and make friends. I don't think either of us would even know how to make friends."

"Are you saying we are the same."

"Aren't we." Morgana questioned.

The Dochraid wanted to laugh. Morgana sounded like she was being so clever. She had no idea. It was almost pitiful they were alike in many ways. Shunned by a world that feared them and seemed intent for them to fail at all they tried. They were also very different. She had given up, long ago. Morgana she refused to give up. She never would. It would be her down fall. While she would live on like the earth till it shrivelled up into dust, she would live on. This witch, last of her kind. She would die. And many more with her. That is what she saw, what she made of the small flashes that she saw. Though she could not decide if she was the fire or the ice. Maybe if she met the other, then she would know.

"No we are not. You still fight."

"Your right. I haven't given up, turned my back on what I am." Her voice rose as she spoke till she caught herself. "Look at what the world has made of you. You sewed your own eyes shut so you would not have to see all that you saw come true. It still did though." It was hard to decide what she was trying to do. There was sympathy in her tone, but mocking as well.

"You will bring back the old ways Morgana, but I will not help you."

Her breathing raced as she tried to take in, make sense of what was said. This was the second person in just a week that had shown a belief in what she was trying to do, but would not do a thing to help her. She was not angry with them for that, not really. It was Uther, the fear that he had created that had done that.

"Tell me who the imposter is."

The Dochraid was silent for a second. "I cannot see her." Morgana turned to walk away, but the creature shot out a cold hand with long fingers to grab her arm. "But I see you. Look at what the world has made of you. Once so kind, so beautiful. Now you walk the lands in rages and live in hovels."

Morgana's struggled to free her arm, but the ancient creature held her with a vice like grip. The more she struggled the more she felt her skin tare as it fought the course skin that held it.

"I am sorry that I will not get to see the old ways returned." Her voice now grew softer. "I am also sorry for all that you have suffered…and that you will suffer." Once again Morgana struggled to get her arm free. "Remember, it is always darkest before the dawn."

Her hold on her arm loosened and Morgana pulled it free. Her heart was racing against her chest as she moved quickly away from the creature, out of the alcove, along the tunnel and out into the harsh light of the day. She stumbled on the uneven ground a few times but she managed to maintain her balance. For a second she leaned against the cave wall, still cloaked in darkness but able to look out onto the light of the day. Her hand shock a little so she clenched it open and shut to try and shack of her tension. Slowly she lifted her right arm, the one Dochraid had held. Pulling back her sleeve she saw two thin cuts. With one last deep breath she pushed herself of the stone wall and moved forward as she tried to process what she had just heard.

The streets of the city were quit busy, a fact she was grateful for as she was able to blend in. Be invisible, have time with her own thoughts. What made her angry most of all was that she could in a way understand what he was trying to do. He had a responsibility that she could never begin to imagine placed on his shoulders. It made sense, was very important that he didn't rush into any major decisions that would effect that, until he was sure that it was in the best interests of everyone. In a way she was proud of him. Thinking before acting was something that she liked to think she had helped him learn. She just never knew that it would come back to hurt her so badly.

He loved her she knew that. She loved him to, she was just getting so tired of waiting. It felt like her life had been on hold. She couldn't even remember when she had started to feel like that. She slightly remember feeling the beginning of it when she had believed that one day Arthur would Morgana and she would help him be the king that the kingdom needed. It never accrued to her back then that she would be the one to be his queen. If he decided that she would not damage Camelot by being queen. Once that became a possibility, she felt like she had been waiting for it to happen. no one outside of their friends even know about their engagement..

She was so lost in her own thought that she didn't hear someone calling her name. It wasn't till a gentle hand was placed on her shoulder that she noticed them. "My lady."

"Lancelot." She smiled.

It was surprising but she was a little better seeing the knight stand in-front of her. He offered her a smile in return. He also looked a little surprised to see her walking around the streets of the city on her own like this. He knew that it was nothing new to her, but he still viewed her as a lady of the court even if he had first known her as a servant.

"You look troubled Gwen."

She smiled a little at his reluctance to use her name. He tried too hard to play the part of the noble knight that he didn't realise that he didn't have to try. He was the most noble person that she had ever known. Realising that her eyes had looked onto his she turned away. Looking round she realised how strange she must have looked wondering around lost in her own thoughts.

"It's nothing."

"Now I don't believe that." He grinned a little. "You never could lie very well."

"Not to you."

He uncomfortable turned away from her for a second. "Please."

"It truly is nothing. I am just over reacting. I understand why he-"

"Arthur."

"He is the king. That comes with a heavy weigh to bear."

Lancelot nodded. "You are too understanding."

"As flaws go, that is one I can live with."

A real laugh escaped his mouth. "I would too."

Before he had a chance to say any more she moved forward and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. For a second he didn't know what to do with his own arms. The raised a little, but he didn't dare return the embrace. He felt her hold him a little tighter, her body then relax into the hug. Only then did he for a second return the embrace.

"Thank you." She said lowly as they pulled apart. "You are a good friend."

As quickly as she had moved towards him, she moved away. Heading back to the castle most likely. As she left him her words rung through his head. You're a good friend. There was a time when it could have been more than that. That was a long time ago or at least it felt like it had been. Arthur could offer her so much more than he ever could. All that she deceived. With a sigh he turned to walk on. Through the crowd he caught sight of Merlin and Gwaine. The other knight must have been bored and decided to accompany Merlin on his chores in the market. With a grin working its way across his face, he walked over to join his friends. If anyone could make him smile a real smile now it would he hearing about trouble either of them had gotten themselves caught up in.

Thank you for reading. I hope that you like it. I part about fire and ice is of force the frost poem. I just though I kind of it with the story. I imagine it a poem or something from the old ways in this world. I couldn't remember if the it is darkest before the dawn has been used before in this story. I just thought it worked well here. So if it has sorry.

I am sorry that it has been so long since the last up-date. As I'm sure you already know, so I won't go into it all again. The basics are that it takes a lot of time for me to write a chapter, as I am dyslexic. So I like to know that people are reading and enjoying the story so it feels worth it. However not many people are reading and there have been no reviews for the last two chapters. So I don't feel much like up-dating. I will try a little better, but I can't promise much of a change it nothing changes.