Chapter 2
The walk to the house where Gwen had been living seemed to take forever. She had pulled her hand away as soon as they left Hunith's house. The comfort that holding her hand gave Arthur was something Gwen wasn't willing to give him.

Once inside Gwen turned to face Arthur. He could tell immediately that she was angry. "Well here we are. What is it that you wish to say to me?"

"Guinevere, why didn't you tell me you were with child?" Arthur said. "I would never have let you leave."

"I wasn't sure until I was already here. You say you wouldn't have let me leave but you were still upset with me. You weren't ready to forgive me. I wanted to leave and give you time to do so but the next thing I hear from Camelot is that you are married to Mithian. You hurt me more than you could ever know."

"I wasn't sure that if I had asked you, that you would come back." Arthur said. "You are right. I have hurt you, not just once but many times. The whole thing with him was more than I could stand. I was so angry. I knew that you and he had feelings for each other but I never thought that you would betray me with him."

"Lancelot and I had feelings for each other many years ago. I loved you not him. He still loved me but I didn't return his feelings. He left me over and over again for this thing or that thing. I was not enough for him. It was you that I counted on. It was you that I loved." Gwen started to cry.

"Loved? You no longer love me?" Arthur asked. The hurt was obvious in his face.

"I don't know." Gwen said. "I have had to put you out of my mind. Duran is all that I can think of now."

"You weren't even going to tell me I had a son." Arthur sat down in one of the chairs at the rough wooden table. "He is mine. I can see it."

"Yes, he is yours. What good would telling you do? You were already married when he was born. She would have given you many sons, all legitimate heirs to your throne. Duran may be your son but he is not your heir."

"He could be. Come back to Camelot and marry me. He will be given his birthright. He will be the Crown Prince." Arthur said.

"I'm not going back." Gwen said. "You speak of heirs and thrones but not of your feelings for me. I do not believe you have forgiven me yet."

"I forgave you years ago. I have searched for you. I have never loved another." Arthur said.

"I don't believe you." Gwen said. "You must have had some feelings for her. You bedded her and conceived a child with her."

"It was only duty." Arthur said. "You have been among the nobility enough to understand that. I could take him."

"You sound like Uther now. If you take him from me, I would say he is Lancelot's son. There are many that would believe me." Gwen said.

"I am the King." Arthur slammed his fist on the table.

"You are not the King of these lands or in this house." Gwen said. "You are nothing here. You are not even Duran's father. I am his mother and his father. I am all he needs."

"Guinevere!" Arthur was shocked.

"Merlin should have never brought you here. He was never supposed to tell you that we were here." Gwen said. "We were fine before you came. Duran and I don't have a grand palace or anything like that but we have each other."

"Please Guinevere." Arthur said. "Please think about what is best for him. In Camelot, he will have everything he needs. The winters are harsh here and food is scarce sometimes. He will be better in Camelot. He will have an education and anything he desires."

"I will educate him and give him what he needs and that includes love." Gwen shot back. "I want you to leave. I want you to go back to Camelot now."

"I will not." Arthur stood and walked closer to her. "I want to spend time with my son. You owe me the chance to know him."

"I owe you nothing." Gwen said. "You are the one who owes me. You send me from my home not once but twice for something I don't even understand. I didn't love him. There was no reason for me to be there kissing him."

"Are you saying you think you were enchanted?" Arthur asked. "Who would do such a thing and to what end?"

"I don't know. Morgana or Agravaine could have done it. They would think that killing me would break you. I should have been executed and you know it." Gwen said.

"I couldn't ever do that to you. I love you even now. I look at you and I am ashamed. You should be wearing silks not homespun wool. You should be well cared for and not having to struggle for every single thing. I did this. My pride did this."

"Yes it did." Gwen said. "I'm tired. The days start early here. I'm going to get my son."

"Not yet." Arthur blocked her way. "Hunith can watch over him for a little while longer. I need you to tell me what I can do to change your mind. What will it take for you to come back to Camelot?"

"I don't know yet." Gwen said. She pushed him out of her way. "Stay while Merlin is here but when he leaves, do not expect us to come with you."

"At least think about it." Arthur said.

Gwen nodded. "Please don't speak of Camelot to Duran. I don't want him to be disappointed if I choose to stay here."

"Were you ever going to tell him about me?" Arthur said.

"I think when he was older. I would tell him only the good things between us. He need never know of the pain we caused each other. I must get him." Gwen turned and walked out the door before Arthur could say anything else.
X

Over the next two days, Arthur spent as much time with Duran as Gwen would allow. He would play games with him. They would walk talking about things that Duran wanted to talk about.

On the eve of their departure Arthur and Merlin took a walk into the woods. The excuse was to hunt for meat for the table to thank Hunith for her hospitality but Merlin knew that Arthur really just wanted to talk.

"So what do you think of him?" Merlin asked tentatively.

"I think he is the most wonderful child in the world. How could he not be? He is my son after all." Arthur said with a big smile.

"Only if Gwen allows it." Merlin said. "You need to win her over Arthur. There has been much between you, now you must make things right."

"Merlin, don't be all wise with me now." Arthur said. "I know I have treated her very badly but I hope she will see that I am willing to make amends for it."

"In the morning when we leave without her and Duran, what will you do? Merlin asked.

"They will be coming with us." Arthur said. "Now quiet! I see something. Arthur leveled the crossbow at the large pheasant and killed it cleanly. "There! That will make a good meal. I would say it would be plenty for five people."

Merlin went to get the bird. "You think one meal will change her mind?"

"I have been trying to change her mind for days now." Arthur said. "All I have is this last meal before we leave at first light. Merlin, do you think there was a possibility that she was enchanted when she kissed him?"

Merlin looked at him. "You think she was enchanted?"

"She says she can't remember why she was there or why she was kissing him. The way she said it makes me think she may have been enchanted. Is it possible?"

"With Morgana and Agravaine anything is possible. They were thick as thieves. Morgana could have enchanted something and had Agravaine give it to Lancelot for Gwen."

"That would mean that Lancelot was in on the plot." Arthur said. "Gwen said that he never stopped loving her. Do you think that was true?"

"I know it to be true." Merlin said. "He admitted it to me."

Arthur looked at him. "You said nothing to me about it."

"There wasn't anything to tell really. He said he still loved her but he knew she was in love with you. He wanted her to be happy." Merlin said

"I wonder what changed." Arthur said.

They walked a little further into the forest. Arthur took a shot at a rabbit and missed.

"You're bothered now." Merlin said. "I can tell because you never miss unless you are bothered."

Arthur sighed. "Shut up Merlin."

"See you are bothered." Merlin grinned.

"Let's just head back. I think the bird will be plenty." Arthur wasn't really in the mood to hunt any longer. He had talked to Merlin about what was on his mind with no real resolution to it.

Merlin tapped him on the shoulder and pointed. There was a large rabbit just feet from them.

Arthur nodded and took the shot. At that range he hit the rabbit easily. He hit it squarely between the eyes when it turned to look at him.

"Satisfied?" Arthur said. "I killed it."

Merlin looked at him. "You are still bothered. Only Gwen can make it go away."

"But will she?" Arthur said as he picked up the rabbit. "Let's go. You have to clean these and I want to spend some more time with Duran before we leave."

"Have faith Arthur." Merlin said as he took the rabbit from Arthur. "She will see sense and come with us. I'm almost positive."

"I wish I had your optimism, Merlin." Arthur handed him the crossbow. "I have a feeling we won't know until the morning when we leave."

"Surly, she wouldn't make you wait to the last minute to know if she was coming. I don't think I can stand the worry." Merlin frowned.

"You just said that you were sure she was coming."

"I was speaking of your worry." Merlin shook his head and walked out of the woods toward his mother's house.

"I thought we were speaking about me being bothered." "Now I'm worried?" Arthur said.

"You are both. Really Arthur you need to just enjoy the time there is left. If she doesn't come then there is nothing that you can do but accept it."

"I will never accept it. This whole mess is my fault." Arthur said.

Merlin looked at him. "Most of it is your fault but you need to accept whatever decision she makes. You have to do it for Duran."

"I'm trying Merlin but there is so much to make right. I don't know how much progress I have made in just these few days. I can't read her like I used to. She is so closed down."

"That is the hurt." Merlin said. "She doesn't want to get her hopes up because she is afraid just like you."

"I'm not afraid." Arthur grumbled.

"Of course not, Sire. You are a mighty King. You are never afraid." Merlin grinned.

"Shut up Merlin." Arthur walked faster leaving him behind.