Chapter Twenty-three

Gwen rolled over and wondered what had awakened her. Morgana had made it clear she didn't expect Gwen to work for a few days after everything that happened the night before last and Gwen planned on taking advantage of that fact and sleeping in.

She closed her eyes and was just preparing to drift back off, when she heard a soft knocking on her door.

Sitting up she frowned at the door and then pulling a shawl around her shoulders went to answer it.

"Arthur?" She glanced over his shoulder and looked up at the sky. It appeared to be a little past dawn.

"Gwen, I was hoping you'd take a walk with me."

"At this hour?" asked Gwen frowning.

"…yes."

Gwen looked at him curiously. He looked nervous and strained. She decided it was best to just agree.

"Alright," she said. "Wait while I get dressed."

Gwen glanced curiously up at Arthur as he led her out of Camelot and into the woods. He wasn't saying very much as they walked. He simple held her hand and looked preoccupied.

"Is everything alright Arthur?"

"What?" he looked down at her.

"I mean yesterday when Uther summoned you to the castle. He wasn't angry with you was he?"

"Oh no, not at all. He thanked me for saving Morgana," said Arthur looking confused. "Why?"

"You seem anxious."

"Ah, I…" Arthur trailed off. Gwen waited expectantly for him to continue speaking but he seemed set on silence, so she decided to wait and see. Clearly he hadn't shown up randomly at her door asking for a walk for no reason.

The trees parted and a small clearing of smooth grass spread out before them, and past the clearing lay the lake. It was lovely.

Arthur let go of her hand and walking over to the foot of a tree pulled out a basket that had been hiding behind tall grass.

He set it down in the middle of the clearing and opened it.

"What's that?" asked Gwen, coming over to sit down beside him in front of the basket.

"A picnic. Not a very good one," Arthur added hastily. "I…cooked it. And as Merlin was very kind to remind me while I did it, no one wants to eat my cooking. But I wanted to do it for you Gwen. I wanted to do something for you."

"Arthur…" said Gwen touched. She leant forward and kissed him.

"I love you Gwen."

"I love you Arthur."

He reached out and ran his hand through her hair gently, and then he turned his attention back to the basket.

He pulled out a blanket which he spread on the ground and started to take out the food. He had clearly gone for simplicity, trying not to push his skills, or lack thereof, too far, but Gwen thought it all looked wonderful. They started eating, but she noticed that Arthur didn't seem to have much of an appetite and he was still looking nervous.

Once Gwen had finished, Arthur asked her if she would like to take a walk around the lake. They started off in silence.

Silence, until Arthur stopped suddenly and turned to stand in front of Gwen.

"There's something I want to say to you," he began, his voice sounded surer now. "There are two things actually."

"What is it?"

"You are a wonderful woman. You're beautiful, but you are also brave, kind and good. I know now, what I should have known for some time: that you make me a better man. I want to live up to everything I feel like I can be when I am with you. I want to be the man you think I am. But more importantly, I never want to go another day without you. I love you Guinevere and I wish that you would marry me."

"Arthur…" she took a step towards him, but he took a step back, holding up his hand. She looked at him confused.

"There's something else I have to tell you before you give me your answer," he said. "It wouldn't be fair to you otherwise. You remember when we first met and you lied for me?"

"When you were in the throne room claiming to be the prince of Camelot?" Gwen asked wondering where he was going with this.

"Yes. Everyone assumed I was crazy. And later, when I was sick and we talked, you assumed it was brought about by grief from losing my family."

"Yes, I remember."

"I still believe it."

A long moment of silence followed as Gwen tried to understand what he was saying. She blinked. "You mean you still believe you're Uther's son?"

"I know I am. And I know you don't. I know no one does. There's a spell cast. That's why no one remembers me. Their minds, their very memories, have been altered with magic. The only thing remembered is of a baby that died at birth along with my mother."

Gwen stood there, looking at him, without saying a word.

Desperately Arthur continued, "I know you can't believe this…I'm not really expecting you to. But I needed to tell you. Because I don't want to go back to the life I use to have. I want the life I have now, with you. But there is a small chance, that someday, something might happen, and I could be remembered…and it's not fair of me to marry you and not to warn you that that could be a possibility. But I swear to you Guinevere, on my honor and on my love for you…that if I were ever again to be Prince of Camelot…you would be my Princess. I would never allow anyone, my father included, to take you from me now."

"…if you were going to say yes," Arthur added embarrassed, "Which I don't actually know that you are."

Gwen stood for a moment more in silence and then she smiled. "I can't believe you Arthur, but I can believe that you believe it, and that's enough for me. I want to marry you."

"Gwen…" his voice was low.

She laughed. "But could you really imagine it? Me, Princess of Camelot?"

"Absolutely." And he pulled her to him and kissed her.

The large stone alter stood in the cave. Amon's body lay on it. His last breath had escaped him as the last shadow hound had faded into the dawn. Morgause stood over him. Prices had to be paid. Amon had been willing enough, even if he had not expected the death to be quite so long and drawn out. But he had made his choice and Morgause did not feel any remorse.

She stepped away from the alter and walked towards a small stone table. She placed down on it Morgana's bracelet. She ran a finger over the family mark. Then she placed down the vial of blood beside it.

"Soon," she whispered into the darkness. "Soon it will be time. And Emrys will meet his destiny willing or not. But meet it he shall. And the time of the Pendragons will end and magic shall be restored."