A/N – Okay, so I won't make you wait.

Thanks for the reviews and Story Alerts

Hoping to let people into Tristan's mind a little in coming chapters, not this one, to help understand why he does what he does, because he is supposed to be liked.

Disclaimer in Chapter 1

So, why the proposal and what will she say?... Let's find out.

Chapter 13 The Proposal

"What?" Tayla said, shocked.

"Marry me Tayla," Arthur repeated with even more determination in his voice. This wasn't quite the way he had planned this. Actually, he hadn't got to the planning stages yet.

"Arthur,..." Tayla started to protest.

"Tayla hear me out." Arthur watched as she closed her lips and nodded.

"It would solve your problems with your unwanted admirers. It would be a good alliance for our two kingdoms. Our parents should approve. You would be most comfortable here at Camelot," Arthur said. They were all very good and suitable reasons to marry.

"And what would you get out of this?" Tayla asked, confused. Every thing he had mentioned was a good reason, but more for her than him.

"A wife I can respect, that I care for. Tayla, you know I love you."

"Not the way you love Gwen," Tayla replied. Arthur's heart ached at the thought of not being with Guinevere, but he had made a choice. One that, whilst not ideal, he felt he could live with.

"You know my father will never allow Guinevere and I to be together," Arthur replied, a hint of pain in his voice, which he hoped Tayla wouldn't hear. Though he doubted he would be that lucky, she knew him too well.

"But you love her," Tayla said gently.

"Yes, as you love Tristan, but you will not marry him either. You will marry someone who will make a good alliance, as is your duty, as is mine. Why not me?" Arthur said, a hint of desperation in his voice.

At the mention of Tristan, her heart broke a little. Yes, she loved him and she wanted to marry him but, as Arthur said, it was her duty to marry outside of her kingdom, to forge ties stronger than a normal alliance could. There was no logical reason why she should say no to Arthur.

"Where is this coming from Arthur? You have never spoken of us this way before?" Tayla replied. Now it was her turn to start pacing in front of him.

Arthur took a deep breath, wondering would it take to convince her to say yes.

"My father wants me to settle down and find a bride. I know that if I do not soon, he will choose for me, and I would rather make that choice myself." Arthur looked at her as Tayla stepped closer to him.

"Oh Arthur. You know that I love you. And if I had not already seen how you are with Gwen, if you had asked me this just a year ago, then I would have agreed." At least that was something he could work with.

"Tayla, we are good together. We care deeply for each other already. It is more than most marriages have to start with," Arthur pleaded.

"I know. But Arthur, this is not what you really want," Tayla replied, knowing it wasn't what either of them wanted. If they didn't love others, maybe this would be easier.

"Tayla please, this is the only way to keep you safe," Arthur snapped. His emotions had been frayed for a couple of days, since Tristan had delivered a piece of startling information to him and he finally lost his hold on them. "I am sorry, I did not..."

Tayla frowned at him and waved her hand at him to stop.

"What do you mean?" Tayla asked him. Arthur took a breath. He hadn't meant to say that, but now, knowing Tayla, she wouldn't let it go until she was told the truth. And he knew it wasn't worth the fight trying to keep it from her.

"Tristan was able to identify one of the raiders. He had seen him at Dover Castle one time when the two princes came to visit you, and only then. He did not trust him at the time and kept an eye on him, though he was not able make a connection to a particular prince. Tayla I am sorry, I never meant for you to find that out." Arthur reached for her as she went pale at this information, pulling her close. Tayla rested her head on his shoulder for a moment before stepping back.

"How did they find us?" Tayla asked, there were only a few people who had known she had left Dover. Who would have done this?

"We don't know. Tristan believes that they must have been following you from very soon after you left, they were too close to have had to wait for someone to realise you were gone."

"We did ride fast, and barely slept. But maybe someone told them," Tayla, in an odd way, hoped. She felt she could handle the idea of someone betraying them rather than the thought that they had been so close for so long. What if they had stopped sooner, further away from Camelot. Tayla shuddered.

"Tayla, I believe that Tristan is right. He told me that only your father, mother and the two of you knew when you left. Your parents were not planning on telling anyone until that evening, and then, only those they trusted that were necessary. I am sorry Tayla." Arthur said, wishing he could ease the fear he could see she was feeling.

"I needed to know, Arthur. So this is what is behind the proposal?" Tayla asked quietly.

"Mostly yes, but everything I have said is true," Arthur said, sensing her weakening.

"But it does not change the fact that Gwen is who you are meant to be with, even if your father is too blinded by class to see it. She can bring out the best in you if you let her," Tayla said, holding desperately to what she knew to be true.

"You already do," Arthur replied. Tayla smiled.

"I know. But Arthur." She paused for a moment. "Look, with me by your side as queen yes, you would make a great king." She wasn't saying this to boast. Tayla knew that all Arthur needed was someone to care and support him, to be there for him and that she could do that. He started to speak, ready to try and persuade her to say yes, to let him keep her safe. Tayla placed a finger over his lips to stop him.

"With Gwen by your side as queen, you will be even more. Your name will live on forever. Centuries will pass and people will still know of King Arthur." Tayla stopped, she'd said too much already.

They looked at each other for a few moments in silence before he asked, "See the future can you?" Tayla hoped he was just being funny. Perhaps not she thought, as a frown flitted across his face. Tayla took a deep breath.

"No. I know you Arthur. I know what you are capable of being, perhaps more than anyone else. I know what I see when Gwen is near you and I know your heart just as well as you. Deny that all you wish, but you know it is true." Tayla reached to stroke his face, resting her hand on his cheek she continued.

"I can not marry you Arthur. I am not the one for you." Tayla turned away from him, "There will be someone else out there for me, but you, you must fight for Gwen. She is part of you, part of your heart and soul." If only that were an option Arthur thought, knowing how strongly his father felt about servants and their place in the world.

"Tayla..."

"Tayla, look at me." She turned back to face him and he saw the tears glistening on her cheeks and in her eyes. He wiped them away gently, resting his hands on her shoulders before speaking.

"Promise me something. Promise me that if it comes down to a choice between a drunk or a violent prince with murderous thoughts, you will reconsider my proposal."

Tayla looked at him, and Arthur felt her shudder at the thought of that choice, especially now, knowing that one of them had tried to have her killed. Tayla smiled gently at him and, in a moment of weakness, even though she knew he belonged with Gwen, she nodded.

"If it comes down to that, then I will change my answer," Tayla replied, a hint of fear coming through in her words.

"Promise me," Arthur demanded of her.

"I promise."

Arthur pulled her into his arms, placing a kiss gently on the top of her head, as he held her and they watched the sun set.

Neither knew that Uther watched from a window in the castle, frowning at what he saw in the distance.

Neither knew that the proposal had been heard by a servant hurrying by, who could not stay and wait for the answer.

Neither knew that their world was about to be turned upside down as things they believed were revealed to be lies.