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How was it possible to be in so much pain? I couldn't understand it, my chest hurt, my head hurt but my arm hurt most of all. Where the dagger had penetrated my skin and tore into my muscles. I felt an odd sort of comfort after a while, and I seemed at ease. I suppose I was dying, and that Jesus was comforting me towards my final journey. But if I was dead, then why did I feel a pair of hands in my own? Why did I sense that I wasn't in danger? Why was I here? I realised, I was waking up. Returning to the cruel place that had put me here in the first place.

I opened my eyes slowly, peering into my surroundings. The last thing I remember was being in Gaius' chambers, but I wasn't there anymore. I was also propped up on a large bed that was very comfortable. I also had been changed into some of Morgana's old pyjamas. There was a thick white bandage around my left arm, and I could see the blood that had seeped through the layers.

I turned to my right. I gasped as I saw Arthur sitting on the bed, just as I had done all that time ago; tending to his wounds from the Questing beast. He had large bags under his eyes, and looked worried. "Arthur?" I asked my voice hoarse from not having spoken in so long. He smiled grimly.

"Are you really awake?" he asked, moving a little closer towards me.

"Yes, what's going on, why am I here?" I looked at the bed. He sighed, rubbing his eyes gently with his free hand.

"You went to Gaius', not in great shape may I add."

"I remember that, what am I doing here in your bed?" I pushed, he laughed bitterly.

"You nearly die, and you are worried about why you are in my bed?"

"Yes."

"I thought it would be easier to manoeuvre around here than in Gaius' stingy space," he sighed, circling the back of my hand with his fingers. "The real question is, how you ended up in such a state anyway?" he looked me straight in the eyes. The power of those blue irises could make me weak at the knees.

"Would you believe that I walked into door?" I smiled; he frowned at me, raising an eyebrow. "Or that it was one hell of a party," I looked down at our intertwined hands.

"Guinevere please be serious," he pleaded.

"I am being completely serious. I also have, walked into a rake, and fell down in the woods. Take your pick," I smiled, but it hurt, so it looked like a grimace.

"What happened to you? Were you attacked?" he asked, getting a sponge from a waiting bucket, and dabbing it on my forehead. I smiled to myself.

"Never thought I would see the day that you would be caring for somebody else," I looked at him, "Well not in a nursing way anyway,"

"Please tell me, it's driving me crazy. Thinking about what could have happened to you."

"It's fine," I whispered.

"Guinevere you got stabbed, that's hardly fine!" he shouted. I closed my eyes.

"I-I'm sorry,"

"Were you attacked?" He asked returning to his normal tone of voice. There was a long pause, I didn't want to face up to it already, but I would have to at some point. I sighed. Looking at my bandaged left arm.

"Yes," I muttered. "Okay? Happy now?" I looked up to him. He was shaking his head.

"No, who did this to you," he pushed.

"I don't Know," I lied, "It was too dark to see his face,"

"What were you doing out at 2am anyway?"

"I wasn't out," I grumbled, saying it lowly.

"Pardon?" he looked at me suddenly. "I got you a lock for your door, don't tell me you left it open?" he sounded incredulous.

"It was locked okay? I just, I just woke up and I was being battered in." I snapped, a tear fell from my eye, as I remembered the confrontation.

"Okay...I don't want to argue with you," he sighed, placing the cloth back into the bucket. I brushed the tear away with a quick movement of my right hand.

"How long have I been here?" I asked. He laughed. His back was turned towards the chest of drawers.

"About 2 hours, but that was only because of nightfall." He turned around, some bandages flung over his shoulder. I nodded, trying to figure out how long I had been unconscious.

Arthur went around to the left side of the bed, and sat down, touching my arm softly. I winced even so. It was very painful. He noticed, but carried on. He loosely untied the bandage around the wound, reeling off layers and layers of white cloth. When that was done, I looked the other way not wanting to look at the exposed wound. I gasped as he put some lotion on it.

"Sorry," he apologized, "should have warned you," He carried on dabbing it slowly. I grabbed the red blankets to stop myself from crying. It was a few minutes then he started to bandage my arm up again. The next thing I knew he was un-bandaging the cloth around my head. My heart sped up as his hand touched my ear as he passed it.

I looked around the room to distract myself. It seemed it had become the medicinal base. There were bottles of salve and potions on Arthur's dining table, bandages and splints. I sighed; I don't think this was the best place to put me. People would talk. I now noticed that there were also bandages around my knuckles. What had happened? I only remembered parts of it.

"Done," Arthur proclaimed. He got off the bed. My head was no longer bandaged and I could feel where I had been hit. I looked at Arthur as he bustled around his chambers, picking up after himself. He had turned around with a cup of water and some food, laden on a plate. Sitting down on the bed again he put the plate on his knee and handed me the cup. "You have to keep hydrated; you lost a lot of blood. Eating is also recommended," he said. I laughed to myself. "What?" he laughed.

"Nothing, nothing. Just," I sipped my water, "Why are you doing this? I'm sure Gaius or Merlin would have been happy to do it," he smiled looking down.

"I didn't want them to," he admitted. I think he started to blush.

"If I die then, I am blaming you," I joked.

"Do you think that I would let you die?" He asked, jokily.

"I don't know, hopefully not," I looked at him. "I have grown accustomed to living you see,"

"Guinevere, I am not going to let anything happen to you. Do you understand?" He said, I bit my lip as he held my hand around the cup. "Do you?"

"I suppose. Where am I supposed to sleep tonight?" He raised an eyebrow. "Well I can't sleep here, this is your bed. I can sleep in the servant's bed."

"Do you honestly think I am going to make you get out of the bed? Uh uh, no you can sleep here, and I will sleep in the servant's bed." He argued, passing me the plate.

"Arthur, I cannot allow that. You are the Prince." I took a bite of bread.

"And you are a woman what kind of man would that make me? That and I owe you. I did make you sleep on the floor when I stayed with you," he laughed. I sighed in defeat.

"Who knows I am here?" I asked.

"Just Gaius and Merlin." He replied.

"What if the King finds out?" I looked towards the door, expecting him to burst through any second.

"So what if he does? What's he going to do?"

"Throw me in the dungeons?" I frowned, "put me in the stocks? Pla-"

"Shh!" he laughed, "It's going to fine. If worse comes to worst then I will just tell him...that I put you here,"

There was a silence for a while whilst I ate. I noticed that Arthur yawned a lot. It was 11pm anyway. He would have been up for over 12 hours. Why was he still awake? He looked tired and withdrawn, yet still concerned. When I was finished, I went to pull the covers back so I could get out of bed.

"Where do you think you are going?" he grabbed my hand.

"I need to stretch, and putting the plate back seemed like the perfect way to start."

"You're telling me that even though you have two broken ribs, a sprained ankle, stab wound and a head wound, that was less than 24hours ago. You want to stretch your legs?"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

"You always surprise me Guinevere," He smiled.

"You need to get new lines. You have said that before. "We both laughed. He yawned. "Arthur you should get some sleep. I'll be fine."

"I thought I would get Merlin to go back to your house, get something a bit more comfortable to wear," Arthur suggested, ignoring me.

"No!" I stood up, turning to face him.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked.

"No...No. Just a bit of a mess is all. I'll go back there when I feel better. Sort it all out," I hobbled my way to the table. I stumbled slightly and leant on the back of his chair. I didn't even have to turn around; Arthur's Pig snoring filled the room. I smiled slightly. I walked back over to the bed.

He had fallen asleep exactly where I had been lying. He was over the covers so I went to his wardrobe and pulled out some blankets. Not before noticing my purple cloak, with my dress and corset in there, fresh and clean. I walked back to the sleeping figure of Arthur. He looked small and angelic. I threw it over him, watching him snooze. I blew out the candles that surrounded the bed, slowly. Wondering what was going on inside his head. Before I could stop myself I caught sight of myself in a mirror.

I gasped. I had a black eye. I have never had a black eye in my entire life. My lip was swollen too. I looked like I had just been in a fight with the devil. And he had won. I sighed and walked over to the window. I looked out over Camelot. I saw Leon walk off to start his shift again. I touched the glass, if it wasn't for him I would have died. I must thank him at some point. I looked like a mule, a confused mule. There were some abrasion marks on my neck. I knew that they would develop in bruises in the shape of his fingers. I sighed.

What had I ever done to him to make him hate me so much? He had broken my ribs, sprained my ankle. Nearly killed me...What kind of bastard does that?

My thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock at the door. I froze. The person came in anyway. I held my breath. I couldn't hide, or run. If it was Uther, I was screwed.

"What a Prat...Gwen?" Merlin's whisper echoed throughout the room. I laughed.

"In here," I smiled, sitting on the window sill. He came into view. The look on his face was evidence enough.

"If it helps, you should see the other guy?" I tried to lighten the mood.

"Sorry about Arthur. How long he been asleep for?" he asked, joining me on the window sill.

"A few minutes," I whispered, looking out at the night sky.

"You scared the hell out of me Gwen. I thought we were going to lose you," he looked at me.

"I am sorry. But I am fine now. A few weeks and I will be fine. I can go back home tomorrow," My voice faltered. I couldn't bear to return to the place I was nearly killed. I shuddered, but Merlin Laughed.

"Well good luck with that,"

"What do you mean Merlin?" I asked, looking at his face for misplayed emotions.

"Nothing, I have said too much,"

"Tell me! What's wrong," I punched him playfully. He sighed.

"Well, You won't be going back home. Not if Arthur has anything to do with it," I narrowed my eyes.

"What?"

"Ever since he found you this morning, he has been making contingency plans. Scoping the castle...He wants you to move into the chambers in the eastern wing." He said quietly.

"Why?" I asked. The eastern wing chambers were reserved for visiting nobility.

"He doesn't like the thought of you being at risk in your house. At least if you are here he knows that you're safe," he smiled. I looked in the direction of the slumbering prince.

"What if I don't want to move," I glared.

"He will supply you with a 24/7 group of guards. So you don't get threatened."

"Humph" I huffed. "Yes, because that won't arouse suspicion at all. The Prince supplying a servant with bodyguards." I replied sarcastically.

"I think that's what he's going for. Moving into the castle is definitely the least suspicious option." Merlin laughed. "Not that he cares,"

"Merlin?" I asked. He smiled gleefully, like a naughty child.

"I don't think he cares about people finding out anymore."I clutched the sill. "Ever since Morgana left, he doesn't care what people think. If he lost you, then I don't know how he would react. But trust me, it wouldn't be a pretty sight," he laughed.

Arthur didn't care who found out anymore. That was why he was so flippant about Uther finding out, he didn't want to tell him and himself he wanted him to figure it out on his own. I loved him, so much, but why had he neglected to tell me. We weren't even courting and he was already lying to me.