Disclaimer: Merlin does not belong to me. I wish it did :) And trust me, I would tell you!
Author's Note: I have never written anything quite as Gwen/Arthur as this chapter, but I had so much fun that I'm starting to wonder why.
Chapter Five, Sickness and Health
Arthur stared across the table at his father. Morgana had been asked to take her dinner in her chambers so that the king and his son could have a moment alone, and Arthur was sure that would not be a good thing.
Arthur could feel the anger burning in his father's silence, as Uther glared at him from across the table. The expression on the king's face was odd. He seemed to be constantly changing from angry to thoughtful to confused to angry again. All Arthur knew was that whatever was wrong, it was best to let the king make it to the subject on his own, rather than asking what the problem was.
It was a very rare occasion that Uther Pendragon was angry enough to remain silent.
After a painfully long and suspenseful silence, his father laid down his fork and said slowly, "I have decided upon the serving girl's reward for saving you." His voice was cool and quiet and strange, and Arthur wasn't sure what Guinevere could have to do with his father's anger.
"Oh, really?" He tried to sound casual. "What is that?"
"She'll be given a nice home in one of those outlying villages and enough gold to last her a lifetime. She should live a very comfortable life." Uther said firmly, picking up his fork again and rather stabbing his food with it.
"What? That will hardly do!" Arthur said, fighting to keep his voice calm, "Her whole life is here, why make her leave Camelot?"
"She would be very happy in one of the outlying villages-"
"And how do you know that she would?" Arthur demanded, his anger defeating his calm. "You cannot force her to leave her home!"
"I am the king. I will do as I wish." Uther said firmly, anger in his eyes.
"What has Guinevere done to deserve to be banished from Camelot! That is unjust and unfair!"
"She is not being banished she is being moved. And I cannot have my son, the prince, thinking that he is in love with a serving girl!" Uther's voice was determined and he pounded the table once with his fist as he spoke.
Arthur paled, but he did not try to lie to his father, however he knew, there was no going back now. He took a few deep breaths and tried to reply rationally. "It is not Guinevere's fault that I have...fallen for her. She's a charming girl. That is hardly cause for...for banishment!" There was so much more to Guinevere then that she was charming. Arthur would die for her. He loved her. But he could not speak these feelings to his father, it would only make things much, much worse.
"She is not being treated with cruelty, Arthur. I think I am being quite reasonable, considering the circumstances!"
"Reasonable? Forcing someone to leave their home is not reasonable no matter how much gold you give them!" Arthur got to his feet in his anger, "This isn't fair to anyone!"
"You sound like a child, Arthur!"
"Father, you can't do this!"
"I can do what I would like!" His father responded, anger filling his voice.
Arthur sighed and collapsed back into his seat, burying his face in his hands. "Please don't do this," He pleaded, his head still in his hands.
He heard his father push his chair back and walk towards him, then he felt a warm hand on his shoulder, "I know you are upset now, Arthur, but there will be other women, and you will thank be for this later."
Arthur looked up at his father, and fighting to keep his voice calm, he said, "I understand that Camelot's wellbeing is your concern, as it should be. But your son needs your concern on this matter as well. Guinevere is the kindest, gentlest, and most loyal woman I have ever met, or will I ever meet. She would make a far better queen someday than any noblewoman could! Besides, she is the only woman I could ever even consider loving. Now if my happiness matters to you at all, please, let me marry her."
Uther's eyes widened in surprise at his son's request. He had been convinced that his son's feelings for the girl were mere infatuation, nothing serious. Hardly love!
"Arthur, you do not owe her a marriage because of her sacrifice for you!" Uther told his son, shaking his head and sighing.
"I know that! Despite what you may think father, I am not foolish!"
"No, you are not, you are in love, which is just as bad!"
"Father! Please..."
"What do you suggest, Arthur, I cannot present a serving girl to Camelot as their future queen!"
"Then grant her a title, as her reward, grant Guinevere a title!"
"What?" Uther asked, staring at him in surprise.
"You can make her a Lady of Camelot, present her to the people as the hero of their prince, which is exactly what she is! Grant her title as Lady Guinevere, and some time from now when I'm a little older and you are convinced that I'm not a fool-"
"And what if when you are older you decide you did not love her after all, Arthur?" The king demanded of his son.
"Then fine, it will be fine! She will still have received her due reward."
"It seems a rather large reward for-"
"For risking her life for my own? I do not think a single thing on this earth should be withheld from her for that." Arthur said earnestly.
Uther sighed and was silent for a long time. "The maid will be granted a title. This is her reward, but it is not permission for you to marry the girl."
"And you won't make her leave Camelot?"
"She will not have to leave Camelot."
Arthur sighed in relief and then a grin spread across his face. "Thank you, sire, you are a kind father and an excellent king."
00000
There was an urgent knock at Merlin's door, and he flung it open to see a smiling Verona outside of it.
"What is it?" He asked, confused.
"Your friend, Guinevere, she's awake!"
"Gwen's awake?" He asked, eagerly. "Has someone been sent to tell Arthur?"
Verona nodded, smiling, took Merlin by the hand and lead him out to where Gwen lay. He glanced down at their joined hands in surprise for a moment, but was distracted when he saw Gwen's open eyes.
"You're awake!" He said happily, eager to know that his friend would be alright.
"Hi, Merlin..." She said weakly, "Is Arthur…?"
"He's fine, he's on his way now!" He said, grinning down at her.
She smiled softly, and then the door flew open and Arthur entered, "Guinevere!" He said eagerly, before giving Merlin a pointed look.
"Oh, you want us to leave? She's our friend too-" He began, but with one look from Arthur he glanced at Verona, "Want to, er, go on a walk?" He offered.
She laughed, "Sure, come on."
Together they hurried out of the room, and began laughing happily.
Merlin glanced down at their intertwined hands once more, a little awkwardly this time.
Verona noticed, and dropped his hand, her laughter faded and she stood there awkwardly for a moment. "Sorry." She mumbled quietly.
"No need." He grinned, "You helped Gaius with Gwen, yeah?" He asked her.
She shrugged, "Only a little, my father did all the hard work."
"But she is going to be alright, now?" He asked, hopefully.
She smiled and nodded, "Almost certainly."
Merlin stood there smiling for a moment, because everything seemed like it was going right. He had felt so horrible before that Gwen had nearly died saving Arthur, when keeping Arthur safe was supposed to be his job. But it seemed just fine now that he knew Gwen was going to be okay.
Perhaps he was too caught up in the joy of the moment, but in the blind happiness of it all, Merlin didn't think twice before quickly leaning down to kiss Verona.
Author's Note: So, I hope you liked that chapter! I'm not so sure if Uther would actually have done what I wrote here, but I decided to go with it anyway. The guy can be merciful sometimes, right? Hope you don't hate me for that Merlin and Verona bit at the end, but I DID warn in the description that Merlin would fall for an OC. Hope you liked it! Please review!