Holy wow! So much response in less than 24 hours! I am beyond overwhelmed! :D As is, I decided to update as a kind of Christmas Day present to all of you, since I got so many lovely ones from my family. Special seasonal love and ale (and mulled wine - big thing back then and now) to HopeCoppice (thanks for the fave!), Marmite, ShanniC (Thanks for the fave and for adding me to the C2!) and dimple-lala. Also to Lady Jayde Une for putting it on alert. You guys are the shizzle!

DISCLAIMED

Gwen woke to sunlight pooling weakly on the stone floor outside her cell. Her breath caught in her throat as she realised that it was morning, and she had fallen asleep at the door, waiting for Arthur to come and release her.

But he hadn't. Tears of shock sprung to her eyes as she prayed hysterically for a miracle. Arthur had said he wouldn't fail her. He had promised. Gwen calmed her breathing and nodded to herself firmly. No, Arthur wouldn't let her down. He had promised. He would save her somehow, and everything would be alright.

Gwen was calm as two guards came into her cell and grabbed her arms, escorting her outside. The gallows was ready, she noted with a tremor of fear, but the rope was missing. Instinctively, she looked to the window where her mistress, Lady Morgana would have looked out of. But Morgana was gone, disappeared from Uther's kingdom to unite her people against him.

Looking around, she saw that Arthur wasn't there yet. She schooled her expression, controlling her panic with dignity. She would not lose faith. Arthur would save her. He had promised.

xXx

Merlin was awake as the guards came to release him. "Has Gwen been let out yet?" He asked as they opened the door to his cell.

"The thief hasn't been hung yet, if that's what you mean." The soldier shrugged. "They still have to get the noose. But she's just been led out to the courtyard, all ready." He grinned, and Merlin backed away, breaking into a run. He had to ask Gaius what the gallows law was before it was too late.

He took the servants ways through the castle to cut his journey short, and was at the physician's quarters in less than a minute. Gaius looked up as the door burst open and gaped at him. "Merlin? Where on earth have you been?"

"Gaius?" Merlin ran over to him breathlessly. "What's the gallows law?"

Gaius looked at him in shock. "Good god, Merlin! You're not thinking of invoking it are you?"

Merlin stared at him. "I don't even know what it is!"

Gaius frowned, his wide mouth puckering in worry. "The gallows law," He began slowly, "Has existed since time immemorial. Since the first hangings in Albion, since before the land was even called Albion. The gallows law can be invoked when a young man or woman has been sentenced to hang, and a willing person of the opposite sex stands up to take the condemned to be their partner in marriage. It is binding forever, and just as legal as a real marriage." He turned his penetrating gaze on Merlin. "You understand what I'm saying, Merlin?"

"That Gwen can be saved if a man proposes to her as she is about to be hung." Merlin breathed, sitting down. "Oh my god…" He looked up at Gaius in shock. "That's what Arthur meant!"

"Arthur?" Both Gaius' eyebrows rose, and Merlin's jaw nearly dropped. If Gaius was that surprised, he should be worried. "Do you mean Arthur is planning to invoke the gallows law for Gwen?"

"I think so." Merlin nodded slowly. There was a yell from outside, and both of them turned to the window. "They've found a rope." Merlin whispered, and he and Gaius hurried outside.

xXx

Arthur's boot crashed against his door again, and again. He yelled furiously and kept up his attack. How dare his father lock him in! Well it wouldn't work, he vowed as he picked up his chair and slammed it into the wood with a satisfying crack. He would save Gwen. He had promised.

On the second blow by the chair, there was a splintering sound, and Arthur grinned as he lifted the chair again, throwing it forward with all his strength. The door buckled under the assault, and Arthur dropped the chair in favour of his feet again.

This time, the tough wood finally snapped, splintering beneath his heels. "Yes!" Arthur yelled, not caring who heard as he battled his way through the wreck of his destroyed door and ran off down the corridor. A yell sounded from outside, and sweat beaded along his neck as he pumped his legs faster. They had readied the noose.

xXx

Gwen didn't even look ruffled as the noose was secured on the gallows and placed around her head, though inside, her heart was beating wildly. She was facing the royal balcony, and she quailed inwardly as Uther walked out onto it, glaring down at her. The phrase if looks could kill, came to mind…

"People of Camelot." Uther said loudly. "The woman before you stands guilty of theft. The penalty for such a crime is hanging. Guinevere of Camelot, I hereby sentence you to hang by the neck until dead, and may God have mercy upon your soul."

There were yells and jeers from the crowd, and Uther smiled grimly. The people were on his side. He would show them exactly what someone like this Guinevere deserved. He raised his hand, and the hooded executioner went to the lever, tightening his grip on it. Every eye in the courtyard was trained either on the thief, or Uther's raised arm.

Uther took a deep breath, relishing the moment. Now this was power. The power to punish those who did wrong by you. This was it. A speck of horror in the crowd caught his eye, and he narrowed his eyes on the warlock, Merlin. How he wished it was him with a rope around his neck. But this girl was the next best thing.

Just as he was about to slice his arm down, there was a disturbance in the crowd. Shrieks and cries of shock as people were shoved out of the way by a red-coated young man. Uther's eyes widened in fury and surprise as his son battled his way through the crowd and made a leap for the stage.

The King turned to the executioner and his arm was a sword as it flew down, a swift signal. The hooded man pulled the lever, and there were three separate yells – one of horror from the warlock, Merlin, one shout of defiance from Arthur, and one gasping scream from the condemned Guinevere.

But the executioner had pulled the lever a fraction of a second too late.

Arthur's arms closed around Guinevere just as the trapdoor beneath her swung open, and he held her easily, pulling her back to the safety of the platform and tearing the noose off from around her neck. "Sorry I was so close." He murmured quickly in her ear. "I was locked in."

Gwen laughed slightly hysterically. "Better late than never." She gasped, holding onto him tightly. Arthur smiled at her, then turned to glare at Uther, his arm still around Gwen's waist.

"What is the meaning of this?" Uther bellowed. The crowd watched with baited breath. This was the most eventful hanging any of them had ever attended.

"I claim her." Arthur called back clearly. "I invoke the gallows law."

There were gasps and yells of shock from the crowd, and everyone looked up at Uther, who paled dramatically. "You are not serious." He said in a quiet voice.

"I am deadly serious." Arthur glared at him. "You cannot stop me."

"I am the King." Uther hissed, loathe to discuss this in front of half of Camelot.

"Even the King can't revoke the gallows law." Arthur told him, lifting his chin.

Uther glared down at him, and the people in the crowd flinched away from the fury in his eyes. "Inside." He said in a clipped, hard tone, and his cape swirled as he turned abruptly and disappeared inside.

Arthur squeezed Gwen's waist and looked at her. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" She gasped. "You just saved my life!"

Arthur nodded and helped her off the stage – the crowd parted before them, the people staring openly at the odd couple of a Prince and a servant. "You don't mind then?" Arthur muttered in her ear as they walked along.

Gwen blushed furiously and ducked her head. "Of course not. I mean, I can't believe you'd do this for me." She swallowed. "I'm just a servant." She whispered.

Arthur squeezed her waist again. "Not to me."

A smile crept onto Gwen's face, and she bit her lip to stop it spreading. Arthur saw and smiled too. Loud footsteps behind them, and Merlin appeared at Gwen's side.

"I can't believe it!" He gasped at Arthur. "Cut it close, didn't you?"

Arthur laughed, the sound echoing strangely in the silent courtyard full of people. "Better late than never."

Merlin chuckled, then asked in a subdued voice. "What do you think Uther'll do?"

"Try and stop me." Arthur shrugged. "Yell himself into a fit, try and scare the socks off Gwen, but no matter how much he yells, the gallows law can't be revoked now. It's too late."

Merlin grinned at Gwen and winked. She blushed and looked down. Of all of her friends (there weren't actually that many), Merlin was the only one (she hoped) who knew of her attachment to Arthur.

"You're getting married." The warlock sang under his breath, a stupid grin plastered on his face. "You're getting married."

"Shut up, Merlin." Arthur rolled his eyes, and Merlin was intensely gratified to see a rosy tint in the Prince's cheeks.

"I love weddings." He confided to the couple. "I can't wait."

"I'm so glad you're happy for us." Arthur said through gritted teeth, wanting nothing more than to whack his servant around the back of the head.

He restrained himself (barely) and the strange trio made their way inside, out of the way of the prying eyes of the crowd who had come for a hanging only to get a proposal, and a royal one at that.

Gwen shrank into Arthur's side as the doors to the audience chamber were opened by the guards. Arthur squeezed her waist. "Don't worry." He muttered. "He can't harm you."

Merlin's smile vanished and he fell into place behind Arthur, watching as Gwen straightened her spine determinedly. He suppressed a grin. He was so proud of her. And Arthur. Gwen would make an excellent Queen. Queen Guinevere Pendragon…had a lovely ring to it, he decided. It sounded grand enough at least.

Uther's glare was enough to scorch the air between him and the new couple. "How," He hissed, "Did you get out of your room?" He didn't even look at Gwen.

"I broke the door down." Arthur deadpanned. "It's little more than splinters now."

Uther struggled to compose himself, his breathing uneven and his fists clenched. "Why?" He demanded furiously.

"Because Gwen is innocent." Arthur said simply. "And you would not see reason."

"She is a thief." Uther said, his voice a low hiss.

"She is a victim of your madness." Arthur swallowed, but didn't break eye contact. "Not even you can revoke the gallows law."

"Just you watch me." Uther snarled.

"The people will not stand for it." Arthur said easily. "The gallows law is older than Albion itself. You cannot revoke it."

Uther growled wordlessly and turned away. He was beaten and he knew it. But that didn't mean he had to like it. "You will be the laughing stock of the court." He muttered.

Arthur shrugged. "The court doesn't matter. The people will support it – Gwen is one of their own."

"The people seemed happy enough to watch her hang just a few minutes ago." Uther spat.

"They'll get over it." Arthur smiled slightly, his eyes still hard as they focused on the King. "They'll have no choice."

The battle was won, and Merlin clenched his fists and grinned, bouncing on the spot in a kind of restrained victory dance. He couldn't wait for the wedding!

"My Lord." Arthur bowed, Gwen with him, as he refused to take his arm from her waist, as if afraid she would collapse without his support. Uther refused to look at them as the couple turned and left. Merlin bit his lip and looked after them, then to the King. He really shouldn't, but…

"I'll send out the invitations shall I, Sire?" He said brightly.

The resulting growl would have made a grizzly bear proud. Merlin swiftly decided that it was within his best interests to retreat. Fast.

Of course, he grinned as he followed Arthur and Gwen, the growl could be taken as an affirmative, and the court would have to be informed, and official proclamations put up…he nearly broke into another celebratory victory dance on the spot. He used the energy instead to run off to find Geoffrey of Monmouth, the court genealogist, librarian and scribe. He just loved weddings!

xXx

Arthur heard Merlin run off in the opposite direction and wondered briefly where he was going, then decided that he didn't care. He looked at Gwen instead. "You…you're sure you're okay with this?" He asked hesitantly.

"Of course!" She replied empathetically. "More than okay. That is to say…" She backtracked furiously. "I mean…it wouldn't matter even if I wasn't okay, because if I said no I'd be hung. Not that I mean I'm not okay with it! I am. I mean," she attempted a carefree laugh, "Of course I am."

Arthur smiled at her amusedly and she blushed, ducking her head. "Sorry."

"What for?" He laughed. "It's lovely."

"You think so?" Her eyes danced brightly as she looked up at him. They turned the corner and she gasped, her eyes falling on the wooden wreck spilling into the corridor that used to be a sturdy door. "You did that?" She stared at it, then Arthur.

He cleared his throat and laughed self-consciously. "Yeah. Well, it was a close thing – a few seconds longer and you might have…" He trailed off, unwilling to follow the unpleasant thought through.

"Thank you." Gwen said seriously as they neared the splintered wood. "For everything." She looked up at Arthur, who smiled hesitantly, then more openly.

"You're welcome." He said softly. He suddenly realised how close they were, but didn't dare pull away. He didn't want to. The moment was too perfect. Slowly, slowly, their faces crept closer to one another…

"Hey future monarchs!" Merlin sauntered casually down the corridor and Arthur ground his teeth together, restraining the urge to punch the lanky idiot. It was a tough battle.

"Merlin." He ground out finally. "What is it?"

"Geoffrey needs the royal seal for the invitations and official public proclamations." Merlin couldn't contain his grin. "I'll take care of Gwen." He added. "Don't worry."

"Worry about Gwen while she's with you?" Arthur asked sarcastically. "Hah. How did Geoffrey find out so fast anyway?" He added, frowning at Merlin.

"I told him." Merlin grinned and shrugged. "Seems a good idea to hurry things along before Uther decides to have Gwen assassinated." As Gwen paled, Merlin hastily reassured her. "He wouldn't really, honest. Besides, you're going to be Queen of Camelot." He grinned. "The future is in your hands!" If anything, Gwen got even paler.

Arthur sighed and patted her shoulder gently. "Pay no attention to him – I don't. If he gets too irritating, just send him to muck out my horses." He smiled at her and turned to leave.

Merlin scowled. "I resent that you know!" He yelled at Arthur's retreating back.

"Which is of course why I do it." Arthur waved a hand, not looking back.

Merlin scowled until Arthur turned the corner, then smiled kindly at Gwen and kicked aside some of the wreckage of the door to clear a path into Arthur's chambers, waving Gwen on in an overstated gesture that looked simply ridiculous. Gwen couldn't help but smile weakly and play along.

"So how does it feel?" Merlin grinned foolishly as Gwen perched on the end of Arthur's bed. "To have all of your dreams come true?"

Gwen flushed and looked at her feet. "I don't know what you mean."

"Yes you do." Merlin grinned, hardly able to contain himself. "Come on, I know you must be just a little bit ecstatic that you're getting married to the Prince of Camelot."

"Arthur being Prince has nothing to do with it." Gwen argued without thinking.

"Ah ha!" Merlin grinned, and Gwen hid her face in her hands.

"Be quiet, Merlin!"

"I didn't say anything!"

"You didn't have to!" Gwen looked up to see Merlin grinning smugly at her and relented. "Fine. I may be just a bit happy to be marrying Arthur."

"I knew it!" Merlin grinned. "I knew you liked him."

"Oh stop it, Merlin!" Gwen hissed, a smile creeping across her face. It died as she touched her throat where the rope had been and she started to shudder.

"Gwen?" Merlin asked in concern. He crossed the room and sat next to her. "Gwen?"

"I actually fell, Merlin." Gwen whispered. "If Arthur had been just a second later…"

Merlin bit his lip and put an arm around her quaking shoulders. "But he wasn't. He saved you – completely destroyed his door as well." His voice turned rueful as he surveyed the damage. "And you know who's going to have to clear that up?" He asked her rhetorically, rolling his eyes. "Yeah – muggings here."

Gwen giggled slightly and Merlin smiled at her. "Alright now?"

She nodded and sniffed. "Thank you, Merlin."

"Don't mention it." He grinned, getting up. "Seriously – Arthur'd probably eat me if he found out I'd hugged his future bride."

"Oh, Merlin!" Gwen smiled. "Don't be silly."

"What?" Merlin shrugged, still grinning. "He likes you too, you know."

"Merlin!" Gwen blushed again and Merlin laughed.

"Fine, deny it. But you know, there's this bit in the wedding ceremony – did I mention I loved weddings? – where the King will say 'you may now kiss your bride'…"

"Merlin."

Merlin jumped about a foot in the air at Arthur's voice, innocent grin already in place as he landed. "Arthur! I was just –"

"Bothering my bride." Arthur deadpanned, a smile twitching the corners of his lips. He jerked his head at the wreckage of the door. "You'd better see about that getting fixed."

Merlin sighed and hung his head like a guilty child. "Yes, Sire."

"Good man." Arthur slapped his back. "Get to it."

"Yes, Sire." Merlin muttered. Arthur and Gwen watched him leave, kicking the splintered wood despairingly, then turned to each other.

"So…" Arthur cleared his throat awkwardly. "You know the rest of gallows law?"

"We have to marry within a day." Gwen nodded, whispering.

Arthur swallowed and smiled, aiming for cheerful. "At least you were due to be hung in the morning. This way at least we have the day to prepare."

Gwen laughed, slightly hysterical. Arthur looked at her.

"Nervous?"

"Petrified." She admitted. She looked at him desperately. "You were born to this life, Arthur. I wasn't. I don't know the first thing about being a noble."

"Oh it's easy." Arthur grinned, waving a hand. "Especially for the ladies. Just resist any urges to help with the cleaning and you'll be fine."

Gwen laughed, then sighed, leaning against the bedpost. "Somehow I don't think it's going to be that easy." She whispered. "They'll hate me. I'm common."

"You're a better person than most of them." Arthur said seriously, stepping closer to her and lifting her chin with a finger. "I know that."

Gwen smiled and Arthur smiled back, moving his hand to take hers, pulling her gently to her feet. "Come on."

"Where are we going?" She asked, confused.

"To get your dress fitted." Arthur grinned. "The seamstress is having a fit – a wedding in less than a day, and she doesn't even know what size you are."

Gwen bit her lip. A seamstress herself, she could only imagine the horror the poor woman was experiencing on her behalf. "Oh dear." She murmured.

"Don't worry." Arthur said comfortingly, hesitating only a moment before putting a warm arm around Gwen's shoulders. She really was small, he realised with a start. So fragile, despite her hard-working, down-to-earth demeanour. It was just a reminder of how much protection she would need in the times ahead.

"Thank you, Arthur." Gwen smiled, looping her own arm tentatively around his waist, trying not to let the butterflies in her stomach show in her voice.

Arthur just smiled back and led her from the room as Merlin returned with a large hammer to bash the remaining door out of its frame. He grinned as he saw them. "Future King and Queen." He bowed teasingly.

"Shut up, Merlin." Arthur rolled his eyes, not missing the wink Merlin cast at Gwen, nor her resulting smile and blush.

"Shutting up, Sire." Merlin grinned and got to work. Arthur was heartily satisfied as, as he and Gwen turned the corner, there was an especially loud bang and a howl of pain.

"Do you think he's alright?" Gwen asked worriedly, twisting her head to look behind them.

"I hope so." Arthur said thoughtfully. "If he's lost a thumb he'll be even slower cleaning my chambers than usual." At Gwen's horrified look, he laughed. "I'm joking, Gwen. He's fine. If he'd smashed something, he'd be making more noise."

Gwen winced at the mental image and tried not to focus too much on how warm Arthur was. It was like sitting next to a fire, but softer and far more comforting. She was reluctant to pry herself from his side as they reached the royal seamstresses chambers, but had to make herself do so anyway.

With a charming smile, Arthur lifted her hand and kissed it with a bow. "My lady."

"Arthur." Gwen smiled back, unable to feel nervous. There was no room next to the squishy feelings overwhelming her.

He smiled one last time, then released her hand and left, disappearing round the corner. Gwen stared at the stone sorrowfully, starting as the seamstress banged her measuring stick on the doorframe. "Come on, Gwennie. I've only got a day to do this, so the sooner we start, the better."

"Of course, sorry." Gwen nodded and stepped inside. She had known Ellen Partridge since her childhood, and the older woman always called her by her pet name. If she was angry, it was Guinevere. Never had Ellen ever called her Gwen.

"No need to apologise." Ellen scolded her, nudging her up on the stool. "Arms out. Goodness, nearly gave me a heart attack this morning, watching the Prince catch you like that."

"It was far worse from my perspective." Gwen murmured.

"I can only imagine." Ellen clucked. "Down you hop. Of all the ways to send me into an early grave with stress, you had to pick today to get married. And me missing Lilly and all!" She huffed. Lilly was one of the seamstresses under her, and had recently contracted a coughing illness.

"I could help, if you like." Gwen offered. She was renowned for her speed and steady stitching throughout the servants quarters. But Ellen hesitated.

"I don't know," she worried, measuring around Gwen's head. "I mean, you're going to be a Princess or whatever…"

"Not until tonight." Gwen whispered, trying to push the terrifying thought from her mind. "And even a Princess should be able to sew. They do that, don't they?" She asked worriedly. "The noblewomen? Don't they embroider things to pass the time?"

"Yes, I suppose so," Ellen conceded. "All right then. I'll send Sarah to Jacob for the material. I've already got a pattern in mind." Her eyes gleamed with the fervour of a new project. "I'll make a bride of you yet."

The rest of the castle was in absolute uproar as the servants scurried to prepare for the wedding. Borne of the gallows it may be, but a royal wedding was a royal wedding, and nothing could change that. Not a single pair of hands or legs could be spared, and the stables and such outlying jobs were abandoned as the men and women there were roped into helping in the kitchens or decorating the halls.

Meanwhile, Uther brooded furiously in his chambers. None dared to disturb him for fear of a beating. The King was a force to be feared when he was angry. He glared out of the window at the servants, ant-like in their busyness. As he observed the courtyard from his window, he noted moodily how not one of them was walking – all were running. Hurrying to get everything ready for the wedding.

An invitation had been slipped under his door earlier and Uther turned his seething gaze upon it once more. It was a beautiful piece of work, the royal seal clear at the bottom. Evidently Arthur was taking charge, as Uther certainly hadn't issued permission for use of the seal. He ground his teeth and tossed the offending paper into the fire, watching in grim satisfaction as it burst into flame.

How he would like to do that to the thief, and that infuriating Merlin, for being able to use magic and live, and Morgana for leaving. And even Arthur, for daring to go against him so publicly.

Uther tried to calm himself with a tried and tested method – imagining how he would kill each of them, and in which order.

The thief first. She deserved to be hung – the most dishonourable death anyone could earn. Uther pictured the scene, smiling serenely. Arthur would be drugged into sleep, unable to interfere. Merlin and Morgana would be made to watch, of course. He wasn't sure which way he wanted the thief to die – being hung resulted in one of two ways of death. The first was quick and relatively painless – with the drop, the neck would snap, and that would be that. The second was the one that was slowest. The gallows jig, as the victim slowly strangled, turning blue and writhing and jerking like a fish on a line.

Uther nodded to himself – for touching his Igraine's jewels, the thief deserved to die slowly, and it would make the torture that more acute for the watching Merlin and Morgana.

He toyed over which of them to kill next. He hated Merlin more, so he should be made to watch, but he wanted to punish Morgana more, so perhaps she should be made to watch instead…

It was a slow decision, but Uther finally decided that Morgana would die first. Executed, for he still held a tiny well of compassion for her, the remnants of the days when she had been a daughter to him.

He scowled and smiled as he reached the end of his line of imaginary victims – the sorcerer, Merlin.

He had discovered the young man's magic by witnessing Merlin save Arthur's life. It was for that reason only that he had allowed Merlin to live. Had he had his way, the sorcerer would have been banished from the kingdom and forbidden ever to return, on pain of death, but after Arthur and the rat had had a long heart-to-heart without his knowledge, the warlock had bewitched his son into convincing Uther to let Merlin's magic remain a secret and allow him to remain Arthur's manservant.

It had taken a long time, and many heated arguments, but Uther had finally been convinced after Arthur threatened to leave with Merlin if he was banished. But even if Uther was beaten, it didn't mean he couldn't fantasise about the oh-so-beautiful death of said magician.

So, Merlin was last. Uther smiled. Having watched his two friends die, he would be in a state by then. For practising magic so close to the royal family, Merlin would not hang, or die by the sword or axe. No. He would suffer the most painful, excruciating death Uther could offer – burning. By dampening the wood first, Uther had found many years earlier, the process could be prolonged for hours. The victim would burn slowly. Very, very slowly.

Uther smiled and closed his eyes, calmed by thoughts of destroying his enemies.

I love you all! Do you think Uther was a bit OTT with his mad ravings? -worried- Do tell me in a Christamassy review people! To anyone who's read this far, I love you!!!