A/N – Thanks for the reviews – nice that people enjoyed the twist. There are still a couple more of them to come.

Really hoping that these two chapters, which hopefully I will have managed to post together are good. Had a hard time polishing them off so hope I got them right.

Disclaimer in Chapter 1

Chapter 15 Rumours and Revelations Part 2

Arthur quickly walked down the corridors towards his chambers. He was concerned about Tayla, but given the way Tristan was right behind her, he knew she wouldn't be alone. He was also concerned about Guinevere. If she had heard the rumours, then he needed to set everything straight with her. He hadn't had time to talk to Guinevere about the proposal before it had slipped out yesterday. Arthur had wanted to prepare her. Now, he had so much more to tell her, he could only hope that she would be willing to hear him out. As he went up the stairs near his chambers, Merlin caught up with him.

"Arthur, what is going on this morning? You were gone before I had even brought breakfast."

"My father wanted to see me. Merlin, I need to see Guinevere as soon as possible. Can you find her for me please?" Arthur asked continuing to walk.

"Of course, Arthur. But first, why was the Princess crying when she ran past me just now? What did you do?" Merlin asked, his concern for the princess making him slightly more careless with his words.

Arthur glared at Merlin.

"Nothing! You know I would never hurt her!" protested Arthur.

"Then who did?" asked Merlin, sorry he had accused Arthur, for he knew very well that what Arthur said was true.

By this time, the had entered Arthur's chambers, and Arthur closed the door behind them, before turning to Merlin.

"Merlin, this is not to be repeated. Do you understand?"

"Yes, of course Arthur," Merlin said, concerned.

"It was my father," Arthur said.

"Of course it was," said Merlin and Arthur noticed the tone in Merlin's voice.

"Merlin," Arthur reprimanded, though he didn't really mean it. It was more instinct that caused him to do it, after all a servant should not speak of the King that way.

"I am sorry my Lord but it is true. He has left Morgana in tears more than once," Merlin replied in his own defense.

"Yes I know." Arthur started pacing around the room. For once, Merlin remained quiet, waiting for Arthur to be ready to speak.

"My Father decided to finally tell me that there is a possibility that Tayla may be his daughter, my sister."

"Oh, OH!" Merlin replied.

"So she wasn't happy about that," Arthur said. Not happy was definitely an understatement.

"I guess not, but this is good right. I mean you really care about each other," Merlin said.

"Merlin, her parents lied to her. My father lied to me." It appeared Merlin hadn't heard the rumours yet. Maybe there was hope that Guinevere hadn't, though he remembered how formal she had been this morning when he had been his way to see his father. Arthur groaned.

"Merlin please, I need to see Guinevere."

"On my way, Arthur. Shall I bring her back here or somewhere else?" Merlin asked, wondering what was so urgent.

"Here. I will wait," Arthur said as he started to pace around the room.

Merlin was just about to close the door when he heard Arthur say "Thank you." Merlin popped his head back around the door and replied. "You're welcome."

Merlin was sure he knew where Gwen would be and knocked on Morgana's door. Gwen answered.

"Oh good, you are here. Arthur wants to see you right away. He is in his chambers," Merlin said to her.

"I am busy with Morgana," Gwen replied stiffly. Morgana came up behind Gwen and smiled at Merlin before looking at Gwen.

"Gwen, go. There is no rush for this," Morgana said. "Go see him," Morgana continued as she pushed Gwen out the door and closed it firmly behind her.

Merlin raised his eyebrows.

"What was that about?" Merlin asked. It was unusual to see Morgana so, well so pushy, with Gwen.

"Nothing Merlin. What does Arthur want?" Gwen asked, resigned to seeing him, though not sounding happy about it. This made Merlin concerned for his friend, both of them actually. Oh, who was he kidding, so far today he was concerned about pretty much everyone.

"He wants to talk to you. About some stuff," Merlin said.

"Stuff? Did Arthur really use the word 'stuff'?" asked Gwen, a slight smile coming on her face.

"No, that was me. But he did use please," Merlin said, with shock in his voice, hoping that Gwen would smile.

"Well, it must be important then," and they both started to laugh, though Merlin noticed that Gwen's laugh was a little strange, a bit fake sounding. They arrived at Arthur's door and Merlin knocked.

"Come in."

Arthur turned around to see Merlin walk in with Gwen close behind.

"My Lord," Merlin said, "Guinevere as requested."

"Thank you Merlin. You can go now. Tayla's parents should be arriving soon, could you check that there are chambers ready for them please." Arthur was looking at Gwen, worried. She wasn't looking at him, she hadn't even given him her usual warm smile.

"Of course, my Lord." Merlin said as he left.

"Guinevere," Arthur started to say.

"My Lord, what is it? I am very busy today," Gwen said, standing as far away from Arthur as the room would allow.

"Please Guinevere, I really need to tell you something. It's about Tayla," Arthur said, desperate to make her listen.

"Yes I know, I hear congratulations are in order," Gwen said, her heart breaking a little. So it was true.

"Oh for heavens sake Guinevere, will you please stop putting words in my mouth." Arthur said, frustrated that she wouldn't let him speak.

"Sorry my Lord," Gwen replied, not quite sure what was going on anymore.

"Yes, I proposed to Tayla. It was to keep her safe. You heard about the two princes, you know what her choices were. The raiders that attacked her and Tristan. Well, they weren't raiders. From what we can work out, one or even both of the princes had sent someone to kill her." Gwen gasped at this information and took an unconscious step toward Arthur.

"Guinevere, I was going to tell you before I proposed to her, but it just happened. I am sorry," Arthur said sincerely.

"My Lord, there is nothing to be sorry about. She will make you a wonderful wife," Gwen said, knowing it was the truth. She did actually like Tayla, it wasn't her fault that Gwen felt the way she did.

"She said no. Well, actually it was sort of maybe," Arthur said, absently running his hand through his hair.

"Arthur you are confusing me," said Gwen.

"I am sorry. Tayla promised she would marry me if she was left no choice but to chose between those idiots. But, before that, she said no," Arthur said. Gwen was still confused. She couldn't understand why Tayla would say no. Well aside from Tristan.

"But why?" Gwen asked.

"Because she thinks we belong together," Arthur said, stepping closer to Gwen.

"But we can't be," Gwen replied sadly. Her opinion of the Princess went up again, knowing that she had been willing to give up an ideal marriage because of her, a servant girl.

"Doesn't stop her wanting it. She is a rather determined woman. There is more though, Guinevere." Arthur needed to tell Guinevere everything. He saw how the lies had caused so much pain in Tayla, he wasn't going to repeat his father's mistakes.

"More?" Gwen wasn't sure how much more new information her mind could handle today.

"Yes. When my father heard the rumours, which you also obviously heard, he was furious. At first, I thought it was because I hadn't spoken to him first," Arthur said, reaching out to brush a curl off Gwen's face.

"Well, that would probably make him rather annoyed," Gwen said with a smile, trying not to move into his touch. Uther Pendragon being left out of the loop regarding his son proposing. Whilst the idea was appealing, she didn't think she would want to be a witness to that confrontation.

"Yes, well. Then he went and forbid me from marrying her. He didn't at this point know that she had said no. I wasn't particularly happy with him, so let him think that she had said yes and ... well eventually he finally told me that I couldn't marry her because she is my sister."

"What?" Gwen asked. She must of misheard.

"His daughter," Arthur confirmed. Nope, she hadn't heard wrong.

"Oh Arthur, I am sorry. Does she know this yet?" Gwen asked, concerned for both Arthur and Tayla having to deal with all of this.

"Yes. She overheard. She was most upset. Actually I think she was even more furious than my father. She actually slapped him in the face." Gwen's eyes went wide at that, and though she would never admit it, even under pain of death, she was rather happy about it.

"My father wasn't impressed," Arthur continued, struggling not to smile. He on the other hand, had been. Arthur stared pacing as he remembered what happened next.

"You know Guinevere, I really thought I knew my father a little, but I never would have thought I would see him about to strike a Princess," Arthur said frowning.

"He hit her?" Gwen gasped, reaching out and taking Arthur's arm. She wasn't quite sure why she did that, it was instinctive, perhaps to comfort him.

"No, though he tried. I grabbed his arm and stopped him, though Tristan had already pulled her out of the way." There was a small smile of satisfaction on Arthur's face, knowing that together, they had kept her out of harms way, at least physical harm.

"I am sorry, my Lord." Gwen didn't know what else to say.

"I just wanted you to know Guinevere, what was really going on," Arthur said, looking at her.

"Thank you." Gwen said, smiling at him.

"Do you know if Tayla is alright?" Gwen asked him.

"I am not sure. I am sure Tristan is with her, so most likely she will be, eventually," Arthur replied, thinking how wonderful Guinevere was to be so concerned, and he knew that she meant it, it wasn't out of duty.

"Guinevere, I ..." Arthur wasn't quite sure what he was going to say, he knew though, that he needed to make sure Guinevere knew that he cared, that he wasn't going to give up. "I ... I love you Guinevere. I don't know how, but I will try to find a way for us..." Arthur stopped as there was a knock on his door. He went over to it, opening it slighty. It was Merlin. Typical Merlin timing.

"What is it Merlin?" Arthur asked, stepping back to allow room for Merlin to enter.

"I thought you might like to know that Tayla's parents have arrived. They are in with her now." When Merlin didn't come in, Arthur looked at him.

"Sorry my Lord, too much to do," Merlin said with a smile at him and Gwen and left. Arthur noted Tristan standing outside Tayla's door.

"Is she alright?" Arthur asked him quietly.

"I don't know my Lord. We will know soon enough though, " Tristan replied. Arthur noticed the strain in his voice and wondered just how he was managing to stay outside the door when he wanted to be in there with her.

"My Lord, I should get back to Morgana. If you or the Princess need anything though, please let me know." Gwen said to him as she walked out the door, giving him a smile before she left that let him know she knew what he had been trying to say.

"Thank you Guinevere," Arthur said as he closed his door to wait.