"I see you are enjoying being back."

Merlin's sudden appearance at the training ground distracted Arthur and the knight he was duelling landed a hard blow, sending Arthur tumbling to the ground. Accepting the knight's hand, Arthur got to his feet, pulled off his helmet and sent Merlin a scowl.

"I need to talk to you."

Arthur slapped Sir William on his arm. "Good duel. Next time, I won't hold back."

Merlin snorted. "You're taking to it like a duck to water."

"Here." Arthur tossed his helmet to Merlin, then grinned. "You should get used to having me back as well. Let's walk to the kitchens. I promised Amber I'd drop by."

Merlin passed the helmet to a pageboy, then fell in step with him. Despite the three day journey he had taken, Merlin didn't look any worse for wear. Arthur wondered if it was because he had magic.

"How's being back?"

Arthur gave a shrug. He kept up a strong front for Gwen, not wanting to add on to the pressure that she was already under. Hector and his faction were far from happy but none of them dared to show it in front of him, but he'd heard the angry whispers and the looks shot at Gwen, as if she'd somehow brought him back to life just to ruin them. Men like Hector were all the same. Nothing was ever their fault and they were always the victims. On the other hand, there were Leon, Percival and everyone else who seemed to see his return as a remedy for all their problems, and inadvertently casting doubt on Gwen's rule – something that did not sit well with him either.

Merlin stopped. "You can tell me the truth."

They had entered the castle and with everyone either training for the tournament or getting ready for King Lester's arrival, they seemed to be all alone in the corridors. Their footsteps echoed, his heavier ones next to Merlin's, and Arthur wondered how many times the two of them had walked down these corridors together, discussing matters of the kingdom and the heart.

"I knew people would have certain expectations of me. But my imagination wasn't sufficient to prepare me for the pressures of them. And it's strange to have people bowing and carrying out my every whim."

"You love that," said Merlin, a hint of amusement in his voice. "The bowing, the scrapping, the awe that accompanies your every move. Wait till the tournament. Things will get worse."

"I didn't say I didn't like it. It's just strange. Where is Gwen?"

"She's in the kitchens."

Arthur frowned. "Why is she there? Surely the kitchens can run on its own."

"Gwen may be queen but she's never forgotten her roots," said Merlin quietly.

Of course, she hadn't. Gwen might be struggling with dealing with the various kingdoms and the complex politics of the land but she was the best person he knew, and no matter how painful or difficult, she would do the right thing. But at least now, he was here to support her.

As the stepped into the kitchen, Amber was first to notice them. A smile broke across her face and she turned to him, but just as she was about to break into a run, she stopped suddenly and jerked into a clumsy curtsey. Clearly, Gwen had briefed her well about how she should act before him in front of others.

"Your highness."

Arthur walked to her, bent down and picked her up. Protocol be damned. Amber was like a daughter to him and he wasn't going to have her act his way. She squirmed in his arms as the rest of the kitchens looked upon them, some with amusement, others with disapproval. Merlin simply lifted his eyebrows.

"Where's the queen?" Merlin asked their audience.

"Put me down," whined Amber, her feet kicking him. Then after a moment's hesitation, she added, "Your highness."

Arthur laughed and set her back on her feet. "You don't have to call me that, especially when you rescued me in the forest."

Her eyes widened. "But I –"

Leaning down, he whispered into her ear. "Friends don't call each other by titles."

Amber nodded, her eyes still wide. "I have pies to make."

"Save one for me and Gwen," said Arthur as he tucked a stray hair behind her ear. Finally Amber smiled again and nodded. "And one for Merlin, too."

"There will be a lot of pie for everyone," said Gwen. "Go on, Amber."

Arthur smiled at her and took her hand. "Good. Pies are important in a good feast."

As they made their way out of the kitchen, Gwen shook her head. "Now I will probably have to transfer Amber to become my handmaiden although she is a little young."

"Why?"

"We can't have you playing favourites with the servants!" Affection laced her voice and she snuggled into his side.

Arthur kissed the top of her head. "I definitely played favourites with you."

Gwen didn't say anything but the smile on her face warmed Arthur's heart.

"That's all very sweet but we have a crisis on our hands. King Lester is about to arrive in a few hours. And I have news from my travels."

"Let's talk in our chambers," said Gwen, the smile on her face fading and her steps quickening. "The walls here have ears."

The moment they entered the royal chambers, Arthur sat on his bed, pulling Gwen to sit next to him. Merlin paced the room, seemingly deep in thought.

"Spit it out, Merlin."

"I spoke to the Cailleach." He finally stopped pacing and leaned against the wall opposite them. "You were brought back from the dead with magic. Dark magic."

A chill settled around Arthur's heart and Gwen's tightened her fingers around his. "What does that mean?" asked Gwen. Her voice wobbled a little and Arthur quickly slid his arm around her shoulders, his throat working yet unable to get any words out to express the fear and worries that crowded his brain.

"It means, he shouldn't be here." Merlin looked away. "And if he is, there is a price to be paid."

"A price," said Gwen slowly, her voice coming from far away even though she was pressed next to him. "And who pays this price?"

"I don't know. The Cailleach intimated that whoever is responsible for Arthur's return would pay. But –"

Arthur finally found his voice. "But?"

"I don't trust her." Merlin let out a long sigh and sank into a chair, worry creasing his brow. "All these magical creatures who guard the Old Religion – they are manipulative and selfish. If they didn't want Arthur to return, they could have dealt with that easily. But they let him return. They want something, something that only Arthur's return can give them."

"Is my memory the price?"

Merlin lifted his eyes to Arthur's. "It may be."

"Who could have wanted Arthur's return?" Gwen asked. "Aside from us?"

"That's what we have to find out."

Gwen detangled herself from Arthur, stood and laughed, a cold, bitter sound that tore at Arthur's heart. "And at the end of everything, are they taking Arthur away again? This magic, this Old Religion – they just toy with our lives with no regard for us. Just whatever takes their fancy."

"Gwen." Merlin reached for her but she avoided his touch.

"Don't. Your magic has been more than useful and I've worked at integrating it into life in Camelot because I believed you when you assured me that it is just a tool, but the way the Old Religion plays with our lives –"

At the sight of the glisten in her eyes, Arthur pushed himself off the bed and wrapped Gwen in his arms. "We'll work it out. I am not leaving you again."

Gwen pressed her face into his shoulder and he squeezed her close, burying his face in her hair as he blinked back his own tears. He didn't care what the Cailleach wanted from him. Seeing Gwen in pain was killing him and he decided there and then, as long as they allowed him to stay, he would do whatever they wanted.

From her window, Gwen watched as Arthur threw his head back in laughter in response to something Percival said. After the conversation with Merlin, they had spent some time simply cuddling together, both painfully aware that their time together might be shorter but neither wanted to talk about it. Finally, Arthur said he needed to work off his emotions and made his way back to the field where the knights were still training. Emotionally and physically exhausted, Gwen had decided to stay in her room. King Lester would arrive in the evening and she needed to be at her best.

After a short yet restless nap, Gwen had wandered to the window and gazed at Arthur. Despite coming back from the dead, Arthur still wouldn't be easy to beat. The twirl of his sword, the stance he dropped into, the way his body moved as he sparred with one of the younger knights were all very familiar to her. But the man who was in the training ground moved with a freedom that Arthur had lacked in the past few years. She smiled.

As if he could hear her thoughts, Arthur lifted his head, his eyes searching but he failed to find hers.

Another knight approached him, and with a slap on the young man's back, Arthur's attention was drawn back to the training ground.

Gwen told herself she was glad Arthur seemed to be fitting into his role as King easily. No one seemed to notice his memory loss and the knights seemed willing to accept his miraculous return to the land of the living, something she attributed to them having seen it before with Leon. Arthur's easy camaraderie with his knights helped greatly and any difficult questions there were stopped being asked. The council, especially Hector's little group, however were being more difficult about it.

"My lady."

She turned from the window. "Sir Brom."

"King Lester is on his way."

"Thank you. Please get the King from training for me."

She looked at herself in her mirror, smoothing out her dress. Her stomach was rounder but at a glance, she didn't really look pregnant. Not that it mattered. She was under no illusion that news hadn't already spread, somehow, to King Lester that she was pregnant.

The horns sounded and taking a deep breath, Gwen walked to the courtyard to receive King Lester.

Arthur was already there and that calmed her heart slightly. She watched as King Lester's carriage approached, flanked by his knights. It came to a stop just in front of the steps and Gwen walked down, Arthur a few paces behind.

"Queen Guinevere!" King Lester's voice filled the courtyard. Then his eyes fell on Arthur. Confusion coloured his face and he stopped. "King Arthur?" he asked tentatively.

"Lester!" said Arthur. "How good of you to pay us a visit."

Warily, King Lester shook Arthur's hand, then introduced his son, Prince Reynard.

He was young, thought Gwen, as she studied the shy prince. Perhaps as young as she was when her future was inexorably changed with that kiss in her home.

"I have to admit that I wasn't aware you survived the battle at Camlann. In fact, I remember attending your funeral just a few months ago. Didn't we, Reynard?"

Prince Reynard nodded and Gwen thought he'd agree with anything his father said.

"We all thought he was dead too but recently, we discovered he wasn't." Gwen tucked her hand in Arthur's arm. "As you can imagine, we were all very happy. And your visit is fortuitous. We can celebrate Arthur's return together. We have a tournament and a fantastic feast planned for you."

"That," said King Lester, uncertainly, "sounds great. Welcome back King Arthur. We have missed you. If you don't mind, it has been a long journey and we would like to rest a while."

"Of course. Sir Lief, please show King Lester and Prince Reynard to their rooms please."

Side by side, she stood with Arthur and watched as King Lester and Prince Reynard walked into the castle.

"He doesn't look happy," said Arthur.

"No. He doesn't."

Arthur looked down at her, his face serious. "It's going to be a difficult few days."

"That," said Gwen, leaning into him, "is an understatement. But we're together, and we're stronger together."

"I love you, Gwen," said Arthur, the words simple but the emotion deep. His thumb brushed across her cheek and her heart swelled.

"I love you too."