Disclaimer: As before

Note: apologies for the very short chapter, just needed enough to move along to the next stage

Arthur chuckled in amusement at Gwen until he saw that she was far from pleased. He quickly rearranged his expression to one of solemnity and tried to keep a straight face.

"Guinevere, I'm sorry but I haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about." Arthur reached out for her arm but she stepped back from him.

Ooh, the nerve of the man! Gwen had allowed the blond Prince to hold a place in her heart and she had not forgotten the hurt when he had seemingly trifled with her affections, albeit under a powerful enchantment. That he could so insensitively brush her emotions to one side again was too much – and not just her, if the reports were correct (as she believed) then there was another poor maiden somewhere who would also get her heart broken.

"You are getting married." Gwen said it slowly, allowing each word to sink in.

"I most certainly am not," denied Arthur, firmly. He hadn't realised just how quickly news and rumours could travel through the kingdom and it was imperative that he dispel such a story from the head of the pretty young woman who had long since captured his love. The Prince could also have happily kicked himself for letting the situation back at the castle get out so out of hand.

His voice softened, became earnest as he held Gwen's deep brown eyes with his sapphire ones. "Guinevere, I know the story you have heard and I beg you to believe me when I tell you it is not true."

Gwen desperately wanted to believe Arthur but she had suffered as a result of his careless actions before and she couldn't take another crushing disappointment. "Then why?"

The Prince looked away for a moment. How could he even begin to articulate how or why he had unintentionally yet intentionally courted a lady of noble bearing in order to try and forget about the maid who had so completely taken over his every thought and action. In short, he had behaved like a fool.

Arthur took Gwen's work-roughened hands, silently marvelling at how small they looked in his own sword-calloused ones. He also loved the way her warm dark skin contrasted with his own paleness, mirroring the stark contrast between her lowly station in life and his high-born role. In that instant, he knew that there would never be anyone else who could compare to her.

"Guinevere, I was an idiot. I let my feelings run away with me and she was there…"

"You are telling me you lacked self-control?" Gwen interjected in disbelief.

"Well, yes."

Gwen's eyes widened.

"I mean, no," he added hurriedly. "I mean, not like what you think." Never in his life had the young royal been so lost for words.

The maid drew away from him, her arms crossed in front of her. "And what, pray tell, do I think?"

Arthur felt his calm demeanour quickly shattering. "Nothing happened. Nothing like that," he stressed.

Gwen remained looking unconvinced. It called for more decisive action.

The broad-shouldered man impulsively pulled a startled maid close to him. "I know it how it looks but I promise you, it was not how it seems to you now. I…I…was trying to forget you, I didn't want to think about how I felt about you not being near me." He leaned back slightly to look her squarely in the face. "I am here because I can't stand being apart from you any more."