From the stiffness in his stance and the frown on his face, Arthur could tell Merlin thought the whole thing was a bad idea.

"Arthur and I were going to the Isle of the Blessed. Surely this can wait until we return." Merlin crossed his arms and frowned.

Arthur tightened his hold on Gwen's hand. "That was the plan, Merlin but things have changed and I can't just stand by as Hector and the others treat Gwen this way."

Merlin's jaw clenched. "Gwen is more than capable of holding her own."

"I know but that doesn't mean she should have to. Not when I'm here. I thought you trusted me."

"I don't think you will do anything bad intentionally." Merlin started to pace as his voice got louder. "But we still don't know how you returned or why and that bothers me. You insert yourself into the politics of this kingdom again without knowing, how do we know we aren't playing into the hands of your enemies?"

Gwen let go of his hand and stepped forward, placing a hand on Merlin's shoulder, stopping him. "Arthur still doesn't have his memories so he doesn't get to rule or make decisions."

At her words, Arthur raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Gwen had a point even if something in him rebelled at the idea of not playing a part in the decisions of the kingdom.

Merlin took Gwen's hand and squeezed. His voice gentled and he looked at her. "Have you really thought this through? Do you think the council is simply going to accept Arthur's return? Do you think Hector will?"

"I'm not a fool," Gwen bit out. "I know it's not that simple."

"Hector will not be pleased. He has plans and Arthur's return is going to destroy them."

"Then he will just have to deal with that," said Gwen. "And so far, Arthur's done nothing to suggest he's here to destroy Camelot. And I know you've been watching him. What does he have to do to prove that he's Arthur?"

Merlin had the decency to look a little shamefaced at her words but it didn't last long. "As I said before, it's not him that I'm worried about. It's the forces behind his return. We need to go to the Isle of the Blessed."

"And we will," said Arthur. "I'm sure we can come up with a plausible reason for the trip."

"With the visit by King Lester just around the corner? How would it seem for you to return then leave again when something so important is happening? What if we don't return in time?"

"Then we'll visit the Isle after King Lester's visit," said Arthur firmly.

Gwen stepped between them. "I can handle King Lester's visit. If going to the Isle of the Blessed –"

"No. We will visit the Isle after King Lester's visit." Arthur curled his fingers around hers. "I've left you to deal with all this alone for far too long."

"You were always a stubborn one," sighed Merlin. "We should plan how we want to do this."

It was somewhat ironic that Arthur, once very reluctant to take the throne, was now itching to do so. But instead of the proclamation of his resurrection to an awed council, as he'd imagined since he made his decision, he was still stuck in his claustrophobic room while Merlin had decided to go to the Isle of the Blessed on his own. At least, Gwen was lounging on the bed with him.

"Why did we agree to wait on the announcement?"

"Merlin is right. Your return is a trump card for us," said Gwen as she leaned towards him and cupped his cheek. "And, as much as I want to declare to the world that you are not dead, we need to wait for the right moment."

Arthur pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. "And you want to take Hector by surprise."

"I do. Hector thinks he's smarter than me –"

"He isn't." He pressed a kiss to the other corner of her mouth.

Gwen's lips curved into a smile. "No, he isn't. But the more he thinks he has the upper hand, the better. With this mystery man and the pregnancy, Hector thinks I'm in a weak position now. But once we announce your return, what will seem to be my weaknesses, will suddenly be a strength."

"I feel like I'm just returning to be a symbol," said Arthur as he cuddled her closer, enjoying how easily she sank into his arms.

"Well, I think you entering the tournament we'll be holding would definitely raise the morale of the people. Everyone loves you in tournaments."

Arthur smiled. "A symbol and entertainment. Is that all I am to you?"

"Maybe," said Gwen. Her fingers ran down his chest, before finally resting against his hip. "You are very good at entertaining me."

Heat flared in him at the way she was looking at him. "Am I now? It's good to know that there are things that I haven't forgotten."

Gwen's hand moved lower and Arthur bit down on a gasp once she reached her target. Then there was little more talking.

In the aftermath, sated and full of affection, Arthur looked at the dozing Gwen next to him and touched her bare stomach. It was slightly rounded, evidence of their child, and he smiled. He might not have his memories back, but this all felt so right. Certainly, taking up the crown worried him but after all this time in Camelot, he'd learned to love her, mostly when he saw her through Gwen and Merlin's eyes. But it was Gwen that made him feel at home.

"You're staring."

"I am. Because you're beautiful. I imagine that you must have distracted me a lot when you were serving me."

He felt her laugh against him. "No. You barely noticed me in the beginning."

"Clearly I was a blind fool then," said Arthur. "But it's good to know that I got better. It's clear that I fell in love with you because you're smart, kind and brave. What made you decide I was worth loving?"

"I always thought you were a bit of an arrogant ass."

"And arrogant asses turn you on?" Arthur pulled her closer to him. "I can accept that. It's not like my arrogance is based on nothing. I gather I'm great with a sword, lots of people love me and I have to say, I don't look too bad. Plus, you did say I was good at entertaining you."

That earned him a smack in the chest. "You're also stubborn and care too much about everyone."

"You know, that sounds like a good thing." Arthur dipped his head and nuzzled her throat. "I don't know why you're complaining."

"It is," said Gwen as she lifted her neck, giving him more access. "You care so much and you trust so easily and it always gets you and Camelot into trouble."

"Good thing I have you to set me right."

"Yes, good thing." Gently, Gwen shrugged out of his hold. "I'm very sensible and so I'm going to do the sensible thing now and get out of your room."

Arthur grabbed her and pulled her down for a long kiss. "I'm going to miss you."

"The first thing that I would like to address –"

"I'm sorry my lady, but I feel that with recent developments, it might be more pertinent that we discuss your situation." It wasn't Hector who spoke but one of his close friends.

Her heart sped up but she kept her face expressionless. "My situation?" The smile she gave Hector's friend was cold and she watched with some satisfaction when he withdrew.

"You have news to announce I believe?" said Hector.

Part of their plan to lull Hector into a false sense of superiority was to play into his hands. "I do, in fact," she said as calmly as she could. "I'm pleased to announce that I am with child."

Immediately the room erupted into chaos. While she heard a few shouts of congratulations, she noted that most of the council seemed confused or upset with the news. She had expected it but it still hurt. Announcing a child should be a joyous occasion, not one marred with power struggle and politics.

She nodded at Percival who immediately called the meeting to order.

"My lady," another elderly council member said after everyone had quietened down, "I do not mean to be rude but are you certain the child is Arthur's and not the man you have been visiting?"

"I am," she said, desperately wanting to tack on the fact that this man she was visiting was really Arthur.

"How can you be sure?" asked another council member.

"That," said Gwen, "is none of your business. The only reason you need to know about my child is because he or she will be heir to the throne."

Hector spoke again. "I feel that in this situation, it is even more imperative that you accept King Lester's proposal. Bringing up a child alone is not an easy matter. I am sure Prince Reynard would be a good father."

"Prince Reynard might be a perfect father but I am still not marrying him."

"In light of new developments between Lord Edward and Lady Joan, I would suggest that you reconsider, my lady." Hector's show of fake concern grated at Gwen but she still managed a smile. That seemed to encourage him and he continued. "As Percival will explain in more details, Lady Joan's army is growing and there are rumours that she might use magic. Lord Edward will not take Lady Joan's threat sitting down. I suspect we're heading towards war."

"Is that true, Percival?"

He nodded regretfully. "It would seem so. Lady Joan seems determined to retake land she feels was taken from her in the peace agreement."

"She signed the peace agreement! And she was more than adequately compensated for the land." But Gwen knew. With Arthur gone, these kingdoms were going to push their boundaries and test her. "Leon, send an army of knights to the border. Don't interfere - hopefully, our banner will be sufficient to make them think twice. I want them issued invites to Camelot for the tournament and both Edward and Joan escorted back here."

"I fear that getting our army involved will only make matters worse," said Hector.

"They need to know that Camelot will not stand by idly while they create conflict in Albion. But I have no intention of waging war with either fiefdom." She looked at Leon. "Ensure they arrive around the same time that King Lester does. It would be the perfect time for a renegotiation of the peace deal."

She watched as Hector's eyes gleamed. He was planning something, but he was missing a piece of key information – Arthur was back.

"Almost all the names you mentioned flew right over my head," said Arthur wryly as he sprawled on their bed. He languidly traced intricate patterns along the exposed skin on her arm, leaving a trail of goose bumps behind.

"I know it's a lot but you have to know this by the time they all arrive in Camelot." She knew she sounded a little impatient but Arthur had spent most of the morning flirting with her and trying to get her to abandon the books and snuggle with him instead.

Responding to her curtness, he withdrew his hand. "I said I'd look at it when you're not around. It's not like I have much to do in those hours."

She groaned. "I wish there was some way to just get your memory back immediately."

"I do too." He reached for her again, as if he couldn't stop touching her. This time, his fingers wrapped around some of her curls that had come out of her bun, twirling and tugging at them. "Why can't we tell the council now?"

"It's just a while more. Let Hector make his plans. It's obvious that Hector and King Lester are working together, clearly wanting to get their grubby hands on Camelot."

Arthur nodded. "And you have Lady Joan and Lord Edward clashing over land."

"Which doesn't make sense because I know Lady Joan and she's always been forthright. After your funeral, she came up to me and said that she didn't think I could rule Camelot on my own. Of all the rulers in Albion, she's the only one who said what most of them were thinking. If the peace agreement that she signed was unfair, she would have said so. So why is she sneaking around, amassing an army?"

"Why indeed? Something must be making her think that she's being short-changed in the deal she agreed to. Are you sure she's the one making the first move against Lord Edward?"

"If it was just Hector's word, I wouldn't believe it but Percival has confirmed Hector's words." There was a connection Gwen was missing but with everything that had been happening, Gwen found herself unable to make it. Yet just having Arthur around to discuss the situation with made the anxiety that had throbbed dully in the background of her daily life recently ease a little. "I have no evidence but I am sure that Hector and King Lester are involved somehow."

"What happens if Lady Joan does invade Lord Edward's lands?" Arthur had finally stopped touching her and was simply leaning against the headboard of the bed, arms crossed behind his head.

"Camelot will have to step in. Our role in maintaining the peaceful borders is in the treaty and we're obliged to go to war to help the invaded kingdom."

"And after Lady Joan's defeat?"

Gwen sighed, looked at Arthur, then, at the invite in his eyes, moved to lean against him. "Then we'll take a portion of her lands as compensation to Lord Edward and us."

Arthur was silent for a while. "That seems like a clause ripe for abuse."

It wasn't a thought that was foreign to Gwen. When Hector had proposed the clause during the peace negotiations, she had vetoed it immediately. But the pressure from the rest of the council, most of whom, either fearing Camelot would lose her position among the Albion kingdoms or bullied into submission by Hector, refused to endorse a peace negotiation without the clause. She could have prevailed – she didn't need their endorsement – but she had been hurting, worried and determined not to allow the other kingdoms to see her as weak and she'd relented.

It was a foolish decision and she regretted it since.

In the midst of her thoughts, Gwen felt Arthur's arms slide around her waist, his face pressing into her neck. "I am sure you made the best decision that you could have at that time."

"Maybe. You wouldn't –"

"Don't," said Arthur firmly as his arms tightened. "I am sure that I've made poor decisions too. Neither of us is perfect."

Gwen tried to smile. "You have made some awful decisions."

"And yet, Camelot survived."

"You didn't." Maybe it was the baby. Maybe it was the impending war. But Gwen suddenly felt tears prick at the back of her eyes. Arthur wasn't looking at her but somehow he knew that she was on the edge of tears because his hand came up to her chin and he tilted her face to his.

She looked into his eyes, clear blue with nothing but love shining through, and her heart stopped. The physical attraction had been there from the start but Gwen couldn't deny that every moment that Arthur didn't say he loved her, chipped at her heart. This, however, was more powerful, more real than any words he could have conjured up and the tears she'd been trying to keep at bay spilled. Arthur turned her so she faced him, and hugged her to him.

"I want to promise you that I'll never leave you again, but we both know that's a promise I might not be able to keep." His breath ghosted along her cheek as he spoke. "But I want you to know that despite my misgivings in the beginning, this is what I want. I want to be your husband, the father of our child and the king of this kingdom you love."

Gwen nodded, pressing her face into his shirt and wiping her tears. Then she lifted her face. "Well then, your highness, we have work to do – unravelling this mess and who is behind is."

"Perhaps," said Arthur quietly, "my return has something to do with this as well."