Arthur was so handsome Morgana mused. Sunlight gleamed off his hair; his lips puckered in distaste as his body sprawled in a wooden chair. His sapphire eyes clouded with fury. Morgana twisted her lips; she swept into the Council Room in a blaze of opal fabric.

"Arthur, have you slept well?"

Arthur rolled his eyes at Morgana. Another conversation of fake concern. He didn't bother to hide his distaste. "Lovely." Morgana leaned over his chair; her finger tips brushed his silky blonde hair. "Last night, an owl screeched until almost dawn. Could you hear it?" Morgana shrugged. "I thought, maybe you sent Merlin to hunt the bird."

Morgana quivered from the venom in Arthur's eyes. "Merlin left Camelot?"

She pressed a hand on a hard shoulder. "Yes, I couldn't sleep. I went on a walk through town to calm my frazzled nerves. I spot wildflowers, and I… thought of Gwen. She loved wildflowers. It's so… hard to be without her, Arthur," Morgana stated flatly. "I stop to pick a few, a tribute, like having a bit of Gwen in your life. A challenge… everyday to be without her. Then, I saw Merlin dashing by. He looked like he headed towards Lake Avalon.

"Was he alone?"

Morgana tapped her chin, and blinked as she pretended to think about her morning. "Yes, all by himself, except his pockets seemed heavy. And-"

"What?"

"It looked like a dress sleeve hanging from his bag." Morgana wriggled her eyes. "Maybe, he has a ladylove. Always, thought it would be Gwen."

Arthur lowered his dark blue eyes. "Morgana, you are well aware that Gwen loved me, not Merlin," he drawled darkly. "Let's stop, changing the past. Her heart was mine."

Morgana wiped a finger across her eyes. "Of course, I just miss her."

Arthur ignored an impulse to wrap his hands around Morgana's slender throat. His fingers itched to see her life drifted from her green eyes. He could almost hear her begging for her life. Right before, she drew her last breath, Arthur would whisper, "You ripped Guinevere from my arms. Feel her pain."

Arthur smiled. He would wait to introduce chaos into Morgana's life. He would wait until she dropped her guard, and she would pay dearly for her crimes against Camelot and Guinevere.

Arthur rose from the table. A tight smile on his face. "Have a good day, Morgana."

She waited until he reached the door. "Where are you off to Arthur?"

"I'm going for a ride, alone."

Merlin stood before Lake Avalon; the sun felt hot on his back. He could feel Bob staring at him with annoyed eyes. He couldn't wait until Gwen realized her "baby" was downright awful. Gwen slept in his palm like a freshly picked rose. Gently, Merlin stroked his large thumb across her sleeping head. Merlin smiled at Gwen, sleep rushing from her body. Her little limbs pushing out as she blinked from the bright sunlight.

"Gwen, I need to swim in the lake. Do not be afraid. You have to go with me. Hold my ear, and take a deep breath."

Merlin thought Gwen nodded. He hoped she nodded. He placed her on his left shoulder. He flinched when her hands gripped his ear tightly. Slowly, he walked into Lake Avalon. The water felt cool on his aching feet. A sloshing sound filled the clearing; he noticed birds landing on leafy green tree limbs. His pants clung to his legs. He walked deeper into the lake, Freya's lake. He took a deep breath as he dropped into the water. He felt a tingle sensation dancing along his ears. He felt Gwen slipping away from him. His hand reached for her. His heart raced a she washed away. He swam for her until he felt a hand on his arm.

"Merlin, she's safe," Freya reassured. Merlin's heart cracked as he floated into Freya's arms. He brushed his lips across Freya's.

Gwen watched her hands growing in the blue water of Lake Avalon. She twirled around. Her body felt light and carefree. Gwen's eyes opened; she saw Merlin kissing a dark haired woman. "Swim, Gwen, swim to the top," Mary urged in her mind. Her feet fluttered until she reached the surface.

Bob's exhaled when he saw Mother emerged from the lake; dark hair covering her face. Loudly, she swam to shore. She crawled out of the lake. She dropped tiredly on a sandy river dune. Bob grabbed Merlin's pack, and flew into his mother's lap. Joy danced in his little heart. Gwen smiled at the baby dragon. "Hello, my darling, I've missed you."

Merlin swam to the other edge to allow Gwen a few moments of privacy. A wet hand wiped water from his eyes. He sat alone as he cried over everything. He cried for losing Freya. He cried as he remembered Gwen's accident. He cried for not being able to do anything to Morgana. He cried for the heavy burden of his life.

Bob snored as he slept in a tight scaly ball. His little wings flapping ever so often. Gwen pulled her wrap tightly across her shoulders. Dark curls hung across her shoulders; her eyes full of questions as she watched Merlin eating a piece of chicken. She noticed misery in his blue eyes. She recalled Merlin slipped into a deep melancholy after a strange beast attacked the Citadel. He wasn't himself for months. Well, something always seemed to attack the citadel.

"Merlin."

"Yes, Gwen."

"Who was the girl in the lake?'

Merlin lowered his eyes. "What-"

"I saw you kissing her in the lake. Who was she?"

Merlin moved his head around in small circles. "It's… hard to explain, Gwen." Tears dropped from his eyes. He bit his lips. "Freya, her name was Freya, she was cursed, she died, and I loved her."

Gwen threw her arms around Merlin's sobbing body. Her hands rubbed his back as he cried for Freya. Gwen murmured reassuring words as she listened to his mumbled monologue.

Arthur tied his horse to a tree. He ran his hand along his shiny mane; he poured cool water over his sweaty back. Arthur gently patted his horse. A magical sounded filled his ears. Whimsical laughter drew him to the lake. Guinevere

His feet broke twigs; his eyes screened the parameter as he cleared the area. His lips curled when he spotted them. Guinevere cradling Merlin's face in her hands. Why is she touching him? Their foreheads touching with their eyes tightly shut. His heart pounded in his ears when he overheard Merlin discussing his love for his dark haired girl. Arthur's teeth gritted when he noticed Gwen's finger stroking Merlin's cheeks.

She always cupped my face. She stoked my cheeks. She whispered words of encouragement to me. Arthur exhaled. His eyes glazed with hate. He walked back to his horse, and galloped towards Camelot. The last of his kindness faded away.

"Gwen, you can't return to Camelot. It's much too dangerous for you." Merlin knew his words hurt Gwen. It was wrong to place Gwen in such isolation. What could he do? Gwen needed to live. Although, he missed her terribly; Gwen needed to hidden away from Camelot. The ball fiasco enlightened Merlin that Arthur's feelings for Gwen clouded his judgment. Merlin couldn't lose another loved one; kissing Freya ripped the bandage off his mending heart.

Gwen brushed a tear from her dark eyes. She wanted to argue with Merlin. Part of her wanted to reason with him; yet, deep inside she knew that Merlin was correct. Camelot was dangerous for her. Mini Gwen was not a fun time for her. Gwen sighed deeply.

"Where will I go?"

Merlin rubbed his chin. Ealdor is dangerous place for you. Cenred might return to visit the peasants. You seemed to draw the rough and tumble types, must be the curls"

"Merlin!"

His dancing blue eyes ease Gwen's soul. His chuckling reassured her that one day; maybe, she could have her happy ending. A servant will marry her handsome, charming prince. Gwen's heart descended into a bottomless despair, and her dream floated away from her delicate grasp.

"Laughter is good, Gwen."

He noticed Gwen cleaning the mess from their day at the Lake. If only, he could organize the disorder in Camelot. "Over the hill is a tower, legend has it that a king was obsessed with his daughter. He built a great tower to hide her from the world. A handsome prince listened to her melody. He fell instantly in love with her voice. He would come every day, Gwen. Just to speak, with her… his heart fill of devotion. Slowly, the princess fell deeply in love with the prince. "

"What happened? "

Merlin grimaced. "He murdered the prince…, and she threw herself from the tower," he muttered quietly.

"That's not happy!'

"Love is brutal, and sad, Gwen. Sometimes, you don't get a happy ending."

Gwen's chin trembled. "I know."

Arthur wasn't in the mood to listen to Leon's ramblings about the outer lands. Cenred's army attacked a scouting party. The knights of Camelot ran home to Uther like babes just off of Mother's milk. His father sat there, and listened as another man sought to steal his lands. Another man dare touch what belonged to a Pendragon. Uther wanted to offer a treaty. Arthur smiled, and he rose from his chair. His blue eyes watched as the council regarded him coolly.

"Father, perhaps, the time has come to stop appeasing and ignoring Cenred. Camelot has turned a blind eye to his aggression for far too long.. He tests the strength of Camelot."

Uther's eyes narrowed at his son. "Cenred has a massive army."

"We have to increase our forces. Sooner or alert, Cenred will not be appeased with a few raids. He attempted to conqueror Camelot. We must be ready for an attack. Our lands must be protected, at any cost."

"Arthur."

"No, Father, I will not allowed anyone except a Pendragon to rule Camelot. We must prepare."

Arthur met his father's gaze; Uther was stunned by the challenged issued by Arthur's eyes. Something in the pit of his stomach knotted.

"Perhaps, you have a point Arthur.'

Arthur grinned darkly. "Thank you, Father." Things need to change in Camelot.

Morgana listened at the door. She realized that Arthur was different, almost cold. Perhaps, she should formulate a plan with her sister. Arthur could help them achieve their goal of ridding Camelot of Uther.

Gwen was thankful that Merlin used his magic to clean the dusty Castle. She leaned out of a window. Her curls blew in a cool wind. She didn't want to turn around. She could hear Bob meddling with something. It better not be my little bit of sugar. She waved goodbye to Merlin.

"How will you get up here, Merlin?'

"I have a magic spell, and it makes your hair grow. So, I can use it as a rope." Merlin grinned.

"Not funny." Gwen beamed at Merlin. "I miss our day like this."

"The old days, you and me. Well, me in the stocks… or fired, or hit, or… yelled at. You were always there."

The sadness in Gwen's eyes haunted Merlin. Gwen's drifting away from us. I can't touch her. I can feel her pain.

"I'll fly up or something. Be safe, Gwen."

"You too, Merlin. Give Arthur, my love."

"Of course."

Gwen watched Merlin dash into a thicket of large green tipped tress. Her constant companions, despair and loneliness, joined her. Gwen sank to the floor as tears wracked her small body. Bob crawled into her lap; his sticky tongue lapped her tears. Gwen leaned against a stone wall; her arms enfolded Bob tightly across her heart. She cried until she fell into a deep sleep.

A/N: Fairy tales aren't happy until the end. The middle is dark and sad. Arthur ( legend and show) fell deeply in love with Guinevere, and never looked back. I just don't get why he had an affair too. Nobody ever mentions his adultery!