A/N: OK. So the ball thing is a little Cinderellaesque but I kinda like the idea of Arthur and Gwen at a ball.

Arthur woke up next to a sleeping Guinevere. Her eyes closed tightly, and her lips pursed into a small smile. Her hair was spread all over the pillow and she was holding onto his waist, clinging to him like a baby. Arthur smiled; there was no other place he rather be than right here right now. The memories they made last night were irreplaceable. Arthur never realized he could want someone, the way he wants Gwen. His body ached for hers; her body responded by giving him everything he needed. Her lust for him, her want for him and her love for him.
When he was with Gwen nothing else seemed to matter. What took him so long to figure out she was his one true love? Many things. His father, his crown, all influenced him to the point where he doubted she loved him, but all that was in the past now, he had her, she was his. Nothing could stop them now. Not even Uther, no one was going to come between them.

Gwen started to stir as Arthur played with her curls. She finally opened her eyes and smiled as she saw him.
"Arthur?" she asks.
"Yes?"
"What are you still doing here? Your father is probably looking for you!"
Gwen was worried. What if Uther were to find him here? He would cut her head off and have Arthur married off so fast his head would spin.

"Let him look. I just wanted to wake up to you, that's all."

"That is very sweet Arthur but I do not wish any harm come to you because of me." Gwen looks up into his watery blue eyes with worry. Even if she wasn't around to take care of him, she wanted to make sure he was always alright.

"Do you always worry this much? Is that what I should look forward to in the future?" he laughed.

"Yes. I will always worry about you Arthur. I love you." at that he brought their lips together slowly. The urge was seeping in again, the urge to show her that he felt the same way... That he loved her so much that it hurt.
Gwen broke their kiss and pushed him back. She didn't mean to but it seems as though 'little Arthur' couldn't help but pop up in their intimate moments.

She stroked his face and brushed his hair out of his eyes. "You should go." she said.

"I really should." he said back.
"So why aren't you leaving?"
"Because I rather stay here and look at you all morning, afternoon, and night then get up and follow orders."
Gwen blushed. The man had a way with words. Maybe that's why it was so easy to fall for him. He was charming, sweet, kind, fair, just and reasonable. A man fit to be king. Gwen just didn't know if she should be the person sitting next to him when he was crowned.

"Do you ever think about the future?" Gwen asks. She gets up and wraps the sheet around her. Arthur was too busy watching the sway of her hips to realize she asked him a question. Gwen turns around and sees his eyes glazed over... Ugh. Men.

"Arthur?" she asks again.
"Hmm?" he says.
"Are you even listening to me?"
Arthur gets up and walks towards her. As soon as they were face to face Arthur takes her in his arms. "I do, think about it. But I do not dwell. If I do then I miss out on this, us and what is happening now." he kisses her neck and Gwen rolls her head back loving the sensation.

"You must go." she giggled as he bites down on her soft spot.

"Not yet..." he smiles.

"Oh Arthur! I know I'm late but in all fairness Gaius had me cleaning out the leech tank and Gwaine woke up early and I cannot find him." Merlin hurried into Arthur's chambers and opened the drapes.

"Ok! Time to get up!" Merlin pulled back Arthur's covers and no one was there. Just pillows shaped like a person.

"#**!" Merlin exclaimed. Merlin knew exactly where Arthur was. His new task was to go find him, bring his stupid royal backside back here so that Uther will not murder him. Merlin was in for a very interesting morning.

Gwaine was walking through the lower town taking in the sights. Camelot itself was so beautiful. The flowers were fresh, the men were burley. And the women were gorgeous. It was going to be a very good day in his mind. Very good.

"Ok I will see you later?" Arthur said to his wife.

"Of course. I will count each second until then." she looks around the town sees that no one is looking, she kisses him with passion. Arthur almost got weak in the knees.

"I have to go. I love you Gwen."
"I love you too." he hurries up the stairs and Gwen makes her way through the lower town. She left morgana's clothes out to dry and she had to go and get them.

Gwaine walked pass many beauty's in the town, but one in particular catches his eye, a beautiful brown skinned maiden. He rushes over to her side to say hello.

"Why hello beautiful." he says to Gwen. She smiles at him but keeps walking. He follows her and then stops right in front of her.

"May I help you?" she asks.
"I'm Gwaine. You can help me by telling me your name, and why such a beautiful woman is doing carrying her own washing?"

"I'm Gwen. Or Guinevere, whichever you prefer. This isn't my washing, it's my ladies." he watched her smile and wished already that he could kiss her lips.

"So Gwen... You are not a princess? Because I saw you and immediately thought you were royalty."

"That's very kind of you, but I am no princess, I am no one."

"I do not think that is true... How would you like it if I asked you to go to lunch with me?"
Gwen laughed he was very forward, but very funny all at once.

"Thank you but I cannot." Gwen began walking away.

"Some other time then?" he walked with her.

"I assure you, I cannot. But there are many others who you can fancy here. Now excuse me, I must go." Gwen hurried off

"but I have only eyes for you!" he yells to her as she walks away.

"I'm sure!" Gwen laughs what a peculiar man.

Merlin rushes down the corridor and sees Arthur. "There you are! Where were you this morning?"

"I went for a walk, to clear my head."

"I find that rather strange... Where did you walk to?"

"Merlin I do not have time for your stupid questions, I have to take a bath and change my clothes." Arthur smelled himself. He smelled like Gwen. Her beautiful scent was all over him. He liked that a lot.

"On second thought I think I'll go skip the clothes change!" Arthur couldn't help it. He was happy; at first he didn't think he could have it all. But now, hope was shining brighter than the sun in the early morning.

"Well ok you stay dirty then... But in the mean time you should know, Gwaine is missing and your father wants to see you... Immediately."

"You go search for Gwaine and I will deal with my father..." Arthur grabbed merlin's face and kissed his cheek.

"I'm so happy this morning merlin, nothing can bring me down!" he let go and pranced off like a school girl. It seemed if Arthur was a fully rejuvenated man. And merlin knew who the reason was for it.

Arthur came into the grand hall and saw his father and morgana eating breakfast. He only looked at them for a brief moment before noticing Guinevere. She was serving morgana some water. It only been an hour since he seen her but she still was so incredibly beautiful. One of those women who could take your breath away every time you saw her. Arthur was trying to contemplate on whether she looked more beautiful in or out of her dress when Uther called him to sit down. Gwen lifted up her head and saw him. She gave him a small smile. That would last him all day. He sat down next to his father.

"Arthur having a long day are we?" morgana said.

"I'm not sure what you mean"

"if I recall you were wearing that same outfit just yesterday." she snarked.

"What? Oh this... Right" Arthur looked up at Gwen who was turned around. Images of him and her started to flash before him. One day she was going to have to let him inside that beautiful backside of hers. "Merlin that fool forgot to put out my clothes this morning!" Gwen giggled lightly. Arthur was the only one that heard.

"Well if your servant cannot be relied on Arthur I can easily have him replaced." Uther added.

"No that won't be neseccary father. Merlin is very efficient."

"Well, we have more important things to worry about anyway. Arthur, I wanted to talk about something with you seriously."

"Yes father, anything."

"I know your marriage to Princess Elena was not a good fit. But I'm getting old Arthur and I need you to seriously start considering taking a queen. It's best for Camelot, and you."

At that Arthur looked over to Gwen who was looking down. All Arthur wanted to say to his father was that he was already married and happy, and that one day Gwen would take her rightful place beside him on the throne. Instead he tried to backpedal his way out of this conversation.

"I understand father. I do, but I've been a bachelor for some time now, shouldn't that say something? No woman would want me as their husband. Not even beautiful Elena." Uther laughed.

"Nonsense! Women flock to you, every land we go to women asks me for your hand! There isn't a woman alive that wouldn't love to be your wife." Arthur sighed. He was right, women loved him. And He loved women. But none were like his wife. Beautiful, smart, loyal, witty and downright lovely. Arthur remembered his days as a young royal. Having his share of princesses. All of them vain and vapid. All of them meaningless. Arthur remembered waking up to warm bodies; all their faces seemed to mesh together after a while. Then he met Gwen. He immediately thought she was beautiful. But knowing she was a servant he stayed away, and then the dreams started to happen. Dreams where she was his. He would dream that she loved him, cared for him. He never thought about making it a reality. Then constantly she showed him her strength and loyalty. It only made him want her more. To know that she was finally his is a dream in itself. One in which Arthur did not want to wake up from.

"Father, I do not believe that is true."
Arthur added. He just wanted the conversation to be over with.

"Well. This was a very... Interesting breakfast but I'll leave you gentlemen to discuss alone... Gwen?" morgana called to Gwen to leave with her. Uther was going to let morgana leave but stopped Gwen.

"girl." he says to her.
Gwen turns around knowing that Uther was talking to her. Morgana was excited nothing Uther could say to Gwen would be good.

"Yes your majesty?" Gwen replied. Arthur gave her a worried expression. What could his father want with Gwen?

"Come here and take a look at my son."
Gwen didn't have a choice she came over to Uther and looked Arthur in the face. "Tell me something... Would you marry my son?" Uther asked. Gwen was nervous she didn't know how to answer that. Morgana was overjoyed, Gwen's little crush on Arthur was becoming obvious? Arthur was nervous. If Gwen said yes, would it be suspicious? If Gwen said no would that be even more so?

"Sire, I am just a servant. It does not matter what I think of your son." that was the best ambiguous answer Gwen could give. She didn't want anything to seem strange.

"Oh come now, I won't behead you for this. Assuming you were of any importance, would you marry my son?"

Damnit! Gwen cursed to herself. He still wants a straight answer. "Yes. Assuming I was of importance I would marry Prince Arthur." Uther raised his hands in delight. "See Arthur, every woman wants you." he turned to Gwen.

"You are dismissed of course." Gwen bowed and her and morgana left.

"Father putting Guinevere on the spot like that... Was unfair. She could've just been speaking out of obligation."

"Please Arthur. She is just a servant. It's not like you're ever going to actually marry her." Uther laughed. Arthur looked away. "Right. Of course not."

"So it's settled. We will have a ball in your honor. I will invite all the finest princesses in the land all to come and see you."

"But father I-"

"I won't hear anymore Arthur. This is for the future of Camelot."
Arthur wanted to say no but deep inside he knew his father was right. And there was no point in disobeying a man who already made up his mind.

"Yes father of course."

Merlin went all over looking for Gwaine. He finally found him at lunch perusing through the royal kitchens.

"Gwaine! I've been searching all over Camelot for you!" Merlin pulled Gwaine out of the kitchen and into the hallway before he got a chicken leg.

"Sorry Merlin, but I've been busy. First i've gone through town and saw the most beautiful woman in Camelot, and now I've got my eye on that chicken."
Merlin stopped him from going in the kitchen again.

"Arthur wants to see you, to give you a proper thank you, for last night."

Gwaine started to walk down the hallway and Merlin followed.
"You know I've been asking around about Arthur. Turns out he's Arthur Pendragon. Prince of Camelot. Something he forgot to mention?"

"No. He did not think it would matter his title?" Merlin was confused.

"My father was a knight. He died for men like Arthur and his father. What do they show for it? Nothing. Nobel's are men who prance around thinking they are better because they were born worthy. They don't stop to think about those who do the right thing because it's right, not because of who they are. I have no doubt Arthur is the same way. For that I must leave."
Merlin stopped his tracks.

"Look I may not know what your father been through, but Arthur is not like his father. He's fair and just, please I beg of you give him a chance before you judge him so preemptively."

"Why do you speak of him so kindly? Does he not treat you like your worthless?"

"Only sometimes. But more than anything he's my friend. Stay here; tell Arthur of your father, you could be a knight yourself!"

"Ok, Merlin I'll stay. But I do not want to become a knight. Not now or ever understand?" Merlin shook his head yes and they continued walking.

"I'm only staying for three reasons. One I'm hoping you're right about your prince. Two I heard your tavern serves great beer. And three there is a woman here whom I must get to know better. Although she gives me the strange feeling that she is already romantically involved." Merlin laughed. He was glad Gwaine was staying.

Alexander waited for Gwen outside Morgana's chambers. Arthur told him to give up but he couldn't. He wanted Gwen to be his and was going to take every opportunity he has to do so.
Gwen came out and closed Morgana's door. Alex popped up out of nowhere and scared her.

"Hello beautiful." he said to her.

"You frightened me prince." she said.

"I am truly sorry. These are for you, I handpicked them myself." he handed her at least 6 roses. Gwen smiled at his kindness

"thank you, they're very beautiful. But I cannot accept them sire, I told you I am involved with another, and I'm sure he wouldn't like it if you gave me flowers." Gwen tried to hand it back to him but he wouldn't accept it.

"I heard but I'm sure he cannot give you what I can, he does not have my resources."

"Even if he did, I do not care about such a thing. Please, take your flowers."

"no." he was as stubborn as an ox.

Arthur and the lady Vivian was walking down the hallway. She found him and starting walking arm and arm with him. Arthur didn't want to be rude but he needed Vivian to just go away. She wouldn't stop talking for a second.

"I think Esmeralda is a beautiful name for our daughter don't you think? And of course Arthur would be our sons name... I think that I should move to Camelot after all we are in love and I do not wish for anyone to keep us apart-" he stopped her.

"Vivian! Please. I have a headache..."
Before Vivian could answer him Arthur noticed Merlin and Gwaine walking their way. He rushed over to them.

"Merlin! I've been looking all over for you... Save me." he whispered. All Merlin did was laugh. Gwaine heard it and wondered why Arthur needed saving. He looked at Vivian up and down. Beautiful. Vivian noticed his stare down. She didn't like it.

"Look at me again and I'll have my Arthur chop off your head and you shall stare no more." Gwaine was now turned off. How rude was this one?

"My Arthur huh? Arthur is this your wife you were-" Merlin put his hand over gwaines mouth to shut him up.

"Gwaine this is the lady Vivian, Vivian Gwaine."

She huffed and turned to Arthur completely not acknowledging Gwaine.

"Arthur when are we ever going to get some alone time?" she asked.

"Uhhh?" Arthur looked down the hallway ignoring Vivian. Gwen was there holding roses. And so was Alex. Arthur motioned Merlin to look and Gwaine turned around too. Lady Vivian wanted to know what the hell they were staring at.

"Ahh Merlin! That's her, the beautiful woman I was telling you about. She says her name is Gwen. What a sight for sore eyes aye?" Gwaine nudged merlin playfully.

"Excuse me?" Arthur interrupted.

"Yes prince?" Gwaine said.

"Arthur! If you not going to pay me any attention I'll just walk away!" Vivian whined. Arthur again ignored her.

"Fine!" Vivian stomped down the hallway.

"I think it's very rude for you to speak about Gwen like she's just another beautiful woman. She's far more than that. She's the kindest, loyal person you'll ever meet. And she's got this great thing she does when she's-"
Gwaine stopped him.

"My god. You're in love with her aren't you?"

"What? No. I was just saying-"

"well doesn't matter anyway, looks like another royal has her heart." Gwaine said mentioning Alex.

"Not if Arthur has anything to say about It." merlin said jokingly. Arthur hit him hard in the ribs with his elbow.

"Wait... What does that mean?" Gwaine asked.

"He's joking. Merlin likes to joke. We were actually thinking about making him the court jester!" Arthur laughed nervously. Gwaine started to put the pieces together. "Wait, if the blonde, rude one isn't your wife... Gods smite me! Are you married to Gwen?" he asked rather loudly.
Arthur covered his mouth and whispered yes.

"Why are we whispering?" Gwaine asks.

"Because no one knows. Expect me and now you." Merlin added.

"You secretly married a serving girl even though you are royal?" Arthur shook his head yes.

"You're right Merlin I prejudged him. I fully respect you for that prince. I'm guessing you married for love."

" yes. She is my true love. But if my father ever found out..." Arthur warned.

"Do not worry. Your secret is safe with me." Arthur smiled. " Thank you."

"So how about you Merlin? Got any secrets?" Gwaine asked.

"Ha. Wouldn't you like to know?"

Gwen was finally able to give Alex back his flowers. He got a little angry but at least Gwen got her point across. Still, Alex told her he wouldn't give up. And Gwen wasn't sure if she needed another distraction. Between managing her and Arthur's secret and morgana Gwen had her hands full. She finally was able to call it a night and go home.
Arthur knocked on the back door.

"Arthur!" she said "what a day I have had."

"Me too." he says.

"So where do I begin?" he smiles.

"At the beginning."