A/N: Yes, another one already, don't get used to it ^^

Chapter 4: The Once and Future Queen – part 2

Gwen POV

The next morning, as Gwen watched Arthur pull on his long, blue cloak, she couldn't help but worry. She did that a lot – worrying, that is. 'What if' scenarios ran through her mind, most of them ending with Merlynn in tears, as the prince fastened the cord.

"One more match, and the tournament will be over." He said that strangely reluctantly. Perhaps he simply didn't want it to end. After all, he had never before been treated just like everyone else.

"You can go back to being prince, Arthur," Gwen said, trying to cheer him up. She feared that he still heard the worry in her voice, though.

An awkward silence followed. This, also, happened a lot to Gwen. She tended to babble, and say strange things, and then hurry to correct herself. By doing so, she often just made it worse, she knew– And then, before she knew it, his lips were on hers.

And it felt good. Gwen had never been kissed before, and only been in love once before, with Lancelot. She couldn't help herself; she was so shocked by the whole situation that she just froze.

Then he pulled back, and they stared at each other awkwardly for a moment. Gwen could feel the heat rising to her cheeks as she realized what had happened. "Oh no," she breathed. "No, no, no, this is not supposed to be happening…" She quickly stepped back from the prince.

"Guinevere," Arthur tried, but she stepped back again.

"You should be kissing Merlynn, not me!"

Arthur stopped in his tracks. "Merlynn?"

"Yes, Merlynn. She's the one you love, not me," Gwen wailed. She couldn't believe she'd done this to her best friend. Merlynn would be heartbroken.

"I don't lo–" Arthur started, but the maid interrupted him.

"Of course you love her! You just don't realize it yet. The only reason you kissed me is because I've been acting more like her these past few days, but that's not who I am!" she shouted, and ran out the back door. She couldn't face Arthur like this – or Merlynn, for that matter. Oh god, what would she say to Merlynn…?

/*/

Arthur POV

So… he'd kissed Gwen…

And he'd felt nothing. He'd thought he'd felt some attraction to the maid, especially since the dinner he'd cooked, but when he actually kissed her, he felt nothing. He'd kissed girls before – he wasn't a hermit, after all – but Gwen just felt like all the others. He would've thought that love felt more… unique.

And then she'd gone on a rant about how he should be kissing Merlynn, and it baffled the prince. Kissing Merlynn? He had to admit that she could be an attractive girl if she wanted to be. Nowhere near Morgana's beauty, or even Gwen's elegance, but she shone with a power and authority that one wouldn't typically expect in a servant.

Gwen had said that he was in love with Merlynn. The idea was preposterous, and yet… He remembered how desperate he'd felt when she'd drunk the poison meant for him. He pictured her in his mind, cheeky grin in place, her hair in the usual braid and her ridiculously large ears prominently displayed. Then, he pictured her as he'd seen her when they'd rescued the druid boy: in a deep blue dress, her hair down because she hadn't had time to braid it, and a soft smile on her face as she looked at the child. In that instant, she had been the most beautiful woman in the world.

He recalled how jealous he'd felt when he had realized that Merlynn and Will had been a couple before she left Ealdor, how willing she'd been to drink the poison for him during the unicorn situation. She was so incredibly self-sacrificing and generous… She was kind, and honestly funny, witty, and could banter like nobody else. But, most importantly, she was always honest with him. She told him when she thought he was being an idiot, and she was a horrible liar.

Did that mean he loved her? He didn't think so… As Gwen rushed out of her own house, Arthur vowed to watch Merlynn more carefully in the next few days, and to think about his own behaviour. He was fairly sure Gwen was wrong, but there was a nagging sense of doubt in the back of his mind.

/*/

Merlynn POV

At first, I thought the final was going well. I was watching from the sidelines as Arthur and Sir Alynor charged at each other, and I saw the prince get hit. He was bent over his horse, and clutching his chest as he directed his horse over to the lance rack at his end of the arena. As the other rider made his round, I saw a metal stake being pulled back into the lance. I left Gwen to tend to Arthur, so that I could follow the other knight.

I peered through a gap in the canvas and saw the assassin I'd seen in the dead guard's memories. Glancing down, I also saw the body of Sir Alynor underneath a table.

I ran, hoping to catch up to Arthur before he would ride back into the jousting arena. I saw Gwen standing near the lances and bolted to her. "Gwen! Where's Arthur?"

"He's about to joust," she replied, not meeting my gaze.

"He's jousting against the assassin!" I shouted and continued running. I had to stop him! If something happened to Arthur now…

I got there in time to see the two charging at each other, but Arthur was swaying in the saddle, obviously hurt; he was losing too much blood. I saw the stake slide out of the assassin's lance, and made a snap decision. I whispered a spell to break the murderer's saddle straps and hoped that the roar of the crowd would cover my whispered words.

Myror, as the assassin was called, moved his arms to maintain his balance, thereby bringing the lance off-course. Arthur, with one last effort, lined up his own lance and unsaddled Myror.

Arthur had won the tournament, and Myror broke his neck in the fall.

As soon as I knew for certain that the man was dead, I rushed to Arthur's side, helping his off the horse. I was just happy he was all right.

/*/

Arthur POV

"You were jousting against the assassin. He killed Sir Alynor and took his place," Merlynn explained. She glanced outside. "The people are waiting for their champion," she said with a grin.

Arthur sighed and looked at the others in the tent: Gwen, who was carefully avoiding his gaze; their fake William, who had a vague look in his eyes; and Merlynn, his maidservant and best friend, who Gwen said he was in love with. Merlynn was smiling softly. "It's time to reveal yourself."

Arthur thought back to the conversations he'd had with Gwen. She was right – she had been acting like Merlynn to deal with his rude behaviour, and what she'd said had been what Merlynn had been saying all along. He'd gotten so used to Merlynn not caring about social positions that it had taken someone like Gwen to really get it through his thick skull.

"You must go and collect your trophy," he said to William.

"I thought this was going to be your moment of glory?" Gwen asked. Though her head was turned in his direction, she was not looking at the prince.

Merlynn just smiled wider. Her pride in him was enough of a reward, he realized.

"Perhaps this is a time for humility," he said, looking straight at Merlynn.

/*/

Gwen POV

Arthur stood before his father and told him that he didn't think Odin should be punished. Gwen looked over at Merlynn. The other maid was grinning at the prince. It made the guilt Gwen felt triple. She still couldn't believe she'd kissed Arthur, when she'd known that Merlynn loved him – and, even worse, that he loved her too, but just didn't realize it yet. She just couldn't face Merlynn now, or Arthur. So when the latter stopped her after his audience with his father, she felt her cheeks burn. Why couldn't he just ignore what had happened?

"Guinevere," he said, but paused, as if he didn't know what to say next. "I… What happened yesterday…"

"Please, sire," Gwen started uncomfortably.

"No, please let me say this. When I… when that happened, I didn't feel anything. I don't know if I believe what you said about Merlynn, but… It was wrong of me to kiss you, I mistook my feelings of friendship towards you for something more. I apologise."

Gwen was shocked, to say the least. Not that she had expected him to profess his love for her, but the fact that he apologised said volumes about what he'd learned. 'Maybe something good will come from that horrible mistake,' she thought to herself. "I'm happy to hear that, sire."

Arthur nodded and turned to leave, but she stopped him. "You really should think about Merlynn, sire. I think you'll find happiness with her."

The prince didn't look convinced, but he nodded all the same. Gwen watched him go with a smile. She still might not feel like facing Merlynn any time soon, but at least she'd pushed Arthur in the right direction.

Merlynn would have her happily ever after, Gwen promised silently – she would make sure of it, one way or another.

A/N: DON'T KILL ME! I know it's not the typical way this episode goes (actually, this is the only story that does this, I think), but I felt like it was needed, ya know? Plus, Arthur needed some convincing, and, let's face it, he's an idiot who's not exactly in touch with his feelings, right?

So suck it up and deal with it. Merlynn/Arthur will happen.

Next chapter will be next week (hopefully).