Okay Guys! Here is Chapter Two! To those that have read this far I thank you from the bottom of my heart! Anyways! Here you go!
Chapter 2: Lies of Love
The next day began with the same routine as the last, and the hundreds before that. Arthur kissed Guinevere gently before climbing out of bed to get ready for the day. He stroked his hand over her hair and whispered his hello's in her ear. Gwen sighed and sat up watching him prepare his armor.
"Where are you going?" She asked quietly.
"I did not mean to wake you up my sweet flower. Rest your head and go back to sleep." Arthur answered stepping over to her and kissing her yet again.
"You didn't answer my question, Arthur. Where are you going?" She asked again.
"Don't trouble yourself Guinevere. I'm going with Merlin for a ride." He answered.
"Do you think that little of me Arthur? You don't need armor for a casual ride. Where are you going, or would you rather lie to me again?" Gwen asked quietly.
Arthur sighed, "I didn't want to alarm you Gwen, But It seems that one of the merchants saw Morgana last night. I don't know what she's doing here. Merlin and I are going to go see what's going on, and to see if she's already moved on, and if she has, we will need to find her."
"Morgana? That's great!" Gwen answered not fully understanding Arthur's predicament.
"No, Gwen. It's not great. Considering she committed treason, I need to find out what's going on."
"Arthur this is the same girl that was your father's ward. She was practically your sister, you cannot mean to arrest that girl. She stuck with you for a long time. You've known each other most of your lives. You can't just throw that away Arthur."
Gwen's words brought a memory flooding back through Arthur's brain. It didn't take long for Arthur to be completely immersed in the memory.
"Arthur!" Morgana cried, "You mustn't go!"
"Morgana, I must. I can't let this, this beast get away with tormenting our people. I'll be back tomorrow for the feast. I promise you."
Her eyes welled with tears as she stared into his.
"Arthur, Please be careful. I can't lose you like I lost my father."
"Gwen, It is my duty as the King to protect our people. I can't let her slide, I'm sorry."
"Arthur, I understand it's your duty, but at one time she was your friend. You can't forget that, nor the time that you two spent together. You will become just like your father if you let your power over rule your friendship with people."
"Don't you think I know that? I don't want to be like my father, but I don't want to endanger all that matters to me. I don't want to risk you, or Lilly or even Merlin."
Gwen stood up, and crossed the room to Arthur. She put her hand on his face and allowed his hand to curl around her growing waist. "Arthur, you don't need to worry about me. You are the one always saying that I have the heart of a warrior. Talk to Morgana, see what she needs, and then make your decision. Okay?"
"I promise," Arthur said. "I'll be back later this evening tell you if I will be searching further for her."
"You better. And Arthur?" She said as he raised her hand to his lips and began slowly to depart. "Please be careful."
"Count on it."
As he strode out the door, armor already on and fastened, it brought Gwen back to a place she didn't care much to remember. It was a time when Camelot was no longer the fair city that Gwen had lived and worked in most of her life. It was a time when there was no heat left in the sun, no happiness left in the clouds or blue sky. It was the time that Gwen had thought she'd lost Arthur for good.
"Arthur," Gwen said sitting on the side of the bed where the fallen Prince now lay. "I know you'll survive, because one day I know you'll make a great king. You aren't as bad as people make you out to be once you scratch your surface. Underneath I know you are kind, just, and loving, just as any king before you has been. Don't abandon all of us now Arthur. Not when you've worked so hard to prove yourself." Tears pooled in Guinevere's eyes as she looked down at him. His eyes were shut, and his skin was a feverish pale ivory instead of its normal tanned tint. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his cheeks were hot and red.
Gwen lifted his hand to her lips and retreated as the tears began to fall. She knew both Merlin and Gias had gone in a search of a healing remedy that would work to revive their future king, yet still she had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach that something wouldn't be quite right. Arthur had to be okay-didn't he? Uther couldn't go on without him- Couldn't he?
Gwen hurried along the corridor to Morgana's chambers to attend to her Lady. Gwen entered only to see Morgana sitting on her bed with her head in her hands.
"My Lady?" Gwen questioned, hoping her voice sounded stronger than she felt.
"Guinevere," Morgana answered looking up, "How is Arthur?"
Gwen unsure of how to answer sauntered across the room to Morgana. She stroked her hands down Morgana's hair in a gesture of friendship and then sat down beside her. Morgana began to cry again, this time her shoulders shook with the force of the sobs erupting from her body. "I c-can't bel-believe that- that he's n-n-not going t-t-to m-m-make it-t-t," she cried out.
"My lady," Gwen said forcing the tears that were returning to the surface back down inside of her. "Gias and Merlin will be back soon with a remedy to bring him back. He's going to be okay. I'm just sure of it." Gwen knew it was a lie that she was sure of it, but the idea seemed to calm Morgana down.
It was the next day that Merlin came back. It seemed hopeless, because the remedy had not been found. It seemed as though Arthur would die.
"I'm sorry Guinevere," Merlin said. "We found nothing. Gias is back in our chambers trying to find an elixir that will cure him."
"You tried Merlin," She answered not really wanting to face the inevitable truth. "I'm sure that's all anyone can ask of you. I guess I'll go tell Morgana, and go say my goodbye's."
"Just to be safe," Merlin agreed. "Who knows he might come around all on his own."
"Merlin, you know as well as I do that poison doesn't work that way. Once you are poisoned you are poisoned unless or until you get the antidote or die." She answered angrily and she stalked off to say goodbye to the one person she thought she would never have to say goodbye too.
She stepped into Arthur's chambers, surprised to find no one in there. She sat down beside him on the bed, and let the tears drip down her cheeks. "I told you that you'd make a great King one day, and I suppose that wherever you wind up that you will. I know I've never told you this, but I'm sorry for the way I acted during the time that you were staying in my house for the jousting tournament. I should never have blown up at you like that. I also know I don't tell you this enough, you have been a great friend to me, and not just as my Lord but there were a few times that you actually treated me like an equal. I know you would you would deny it, but it's true as day. Anyway, Goodbye Arthur Pendragon."
It was then that Gwen heard the shriek outside the bedroom door. "Guinevere! I have amazing news!" The voice belonged to Merlin. Gwen stood up and walked to the door, unready to face the 'amazing' news Merlin had to offer. It was probably just a scam in order to get her to cheer up. Gwen, however, wasn't ready to cheer up.
"Gwen," Merlin said bursting through the door into the room. "Gias has found something that will cure him. It is a rare flower, one drop of the nectar will fix what ails him!"
Gwen jumped up and threw her arms around him. "Merlin! Thank you! You are the best!" She paused. "Not to say that I think you are the best. I mean, Gias is the best. Actually I don't know what I mean. Thank you!"
What happened next, in Gwen's mind was one of the best moments of her life. She sat in Morgana's chambers tending to her needs of tying the dress she was to wear during the day, breakfast, taking the dishes down to the kitchen staff, and tidying the room. Merlin rushed through the door just as Gwen had presented Morgana her breakfast.
"He wants to see you," Merlin said clearly out of breath.
"Go ahead My Lady. I'll cover your breakfast to keep it warm until you return," Gwen answered hiding her happiness that Arthur was alive.
"No, not Morgana. He's requested you Gwen." Merlin clarified just as Morgana was about to head out the door.
"Me? Why does he want to see me?" Gwen asked feeling both confused and a mite bit grateful.
"I have no clue. He woke up and said your name. Then he requested to see you."
Gwen rushed out of the room as Morgana nodded, and she hurried down the corridor to Arthur's room. She had a handful of her dress in her right hand, and her other hand swung limply by her side as she practically ran to where she needed –wanted- to be. She entered his room to find Arthur sitting up in his bed with King Uther at his side.
"Sire," Guinevere said as she curtsied and stepped up beside Arthur's bed.
"Father, Excuse us for a second. Please?" Arthur said looking deep into Gwen's eyes. What he expected to find there she did not know, and the intensity of his stare had Goosebumps forming on her flesh. As Uther exited the room, not before giving Gwen the death glare, Arthur turned his head to the side and back again.
"So, you really think I'll make a good King one day?" Arthur asked conversationally, causing Gwen to turn a bright red color. He would have to remember how she looked when she looked when she blushed and remind himself to make her blush more often.
"You heard that huh?" Gwen asked shakily.
"Guinevere, I heard everything that you said to me," he answered smiling at her. He pulled himself up so that he was looking eye to eye with her. He brushed the hair from her face and tucked it smoothly behind her ear. He let his lips lay softly on hers, and both of their eyes were covered with their eyelids in a matter of milli-seconds.
So again I'm sorry It doesn't really have a plot yet! I'm trying to find the right way to ease into it. Although thanks to those of you who have read this far! Since I'm working on my other stories, and my other fan fiction, This one might take a little while to update. So if there is a wait, I'm sorry! Anyway! On to chapter THREE.