Time seems to have stopped for the two, overjoyed by the thrill of a newly found love. Their hearts are brimming over with love and they are reluctant for anything to penetrate their bubble. Hours drift by without either of them noticing. Between talking and kissing, they learn a lot about each other, like their favorite childhood memories, their favorite past- times, what they love the most about their lives. Arthur discovers what a compassionate person Gwen is, taking aid to the poor and sick in the surrounding villages during winter and Gwen finds out that beneath the arrogant façade he puts on, he is very loyal to his friends and has a high sense of fairness, which would explain the way he has been so torn at his feelings for her. He would never willingly cause his friends or men pain.
Arthur lays his cape on the grass so that they can sit and enjoy the sun that has suddenly made an appearance from behind the white clouds that lines the sky. Arthur cannot stop gazing at Gwen in wonder. He still cannot believe that this magnificent creature loves him. He is filled with such a sense of euphoria he cannot contain himself. He suddenly stands up, cups his hands over his mouth and shouts at the top of his lungs.
"She looove-s meee-e! Guinevere Leodgrance looovee-s meee-e!" Gwen giggles, swatting his legs with her gloves.
"Arthur-r-r shhh-h! Someone might hear you."
"I don't care. I want everyone in the world to know. I want to shout it from the peak of the highest mountain. I want to…to announce it to the four winds of the earth. I want to howl it to the moon and the sun. I am in love with the most beautiful woman in the world and she lo-o-ove-e-s me-e-e!"
Gwen chortles understanding this feeling of euphoria. The feeling of loving and being loved making her feel giddy. However, a thought niggles at her conscience. She still formally belongs to another. She does not want to dwell on that issue but Arthur notices her slight hesitation and sits down, knowing what has made her seem a bit deflated. He takes her hands in his, eyes boring into hers, determined.
"Guinevere, you cannot marry Ewan now. You have to cry off."
"Yes I know. I just do not know how I will do it. All I know is that there is no way I can be with Ewan after this."
"I don't think I would be able to stand by and let you do it either. It almost killed me watching you and Ewan before. Now that I know that you love me almost as much as I love you, I would positively murder anyone who attempts to touch you. I hope that does not shock your delicate sensibilities, my lady."
Gwen is surprised that it does not indeed shock her, but remembers how she had felt when she thought Morgana was Arthur's intended. She laughs a little remembering her jealousy even then when she did not know much about him. When she lifts up her head he is looking at her with a questioning look.
"I am not shocked at all, my Lord. I just remembered that I felt the same way before I knew that Morgana is your sister. I felt like a knife was going through my chest just watching the banter between you."
"You thought Morgana and I were …?" Arthur laughs so loud he falls on his back. "Even if she were not my sister, Morgana and I are the least suited people to get married. We would kill each other within moments of being married. But really Gwen, we have to find a reason for you to cry off. I cannot carry on with you behind Ewan's back especially in the condition he is in. I know you wouldn't either. We have to find a way and do it soon. I can't share you; I am just selfish that way." He ends on a teasing note although Gwen knows that what he said is all true.
"Neither can I, my Lord. I want you all to myself. I never knew that I was selfish until I met you." She says coyly. She is rewarded with a soft kiss and then another and then another…until Arthur jerks away suddenly, standing up in haste. He swiftly reaches for his sword, drawing it out of its scabbard.
"Arthur, what…?"
"Sh-h-h…Someone's is watching us. Stay behind me. I will protect you."
Gwen swallows hard, fear stopping her from protesting that she is not a helpless female who needs to be protected.
"Declare yourself!" Arthur calls, deciding to let whoever has been watching them that he knows they are there and thereby forcing them to make themselves known. To their surprise Leon, Elyan, Gwaine and Percival appear from behind the shrubs that are scattered around their chosen area of repose. Relief at realizing that they know the intruders is soon taken over by anxiety at the possibility that they had witnessed their little canoodling earlier on. By the looks on all the four men they probably had. The three knights are blushing and looking everywhere else except at their monarch, while Elyan's temple vein is ticking, a sure sign of anger as Gwen very well knows.
"Gentlemen! You gave us a fright," Arthur ventures either oblivious to the building tension or choosing to ignore it completely.
"Our apologies sire. It was not our intention to frighten you," Leon, Arthur's right hand man, mumbles miserably, looking like he would rather be anywhere but there.
Elyan 's eyes are drilling holes into Arthur, a fact that does not go unnoticed by his sibling. That could only mean one thing. The knights, or at least Elyan, know what has been going on. Gwen knows that Elyan has a temper and cannot be trusted take it quietly. Shoot!
The knights are shuffling their feet, clearly wishing to be far away from whatever is about to explode.
"So gentlemen, why are you here. Has something happened?"
Before anyone can answer there a shout and within moments they are surrounded by men that are dressed in grey apparel. The men draw their swords giving their backs to each other forming a circle around Gwen. Gwen would have liked to get back to her horse where her weapons are, but she cannot do that now without running the risk of being captured.
Arthur gives a signal to his knights and speaks to Elyan without turning towards him.
"Elyan, how competent are you with the sword?"
"I can take down a few of them I'm sure. Gwen, here is my dagger. You remember what to do?"
"Of course, little brother."
"Gentlemen, whatever you do, protect Gwen with your lives. If we fight in this formation we can cover each other backs. And Gwen, please stay within this circle. Are we all clear?"
"Arthur no, you cannot risk your lives for me."
"Gwen, no time for arguments. Gentlemen you have your orders. Gwen is to be protected at all cost."
Gwen bristles at the order but common sense forces her to realize this is indeed not the time to reassert her independence. So she meekly lets it go, promising herself that she would deal with it later. Her mouth set in a thin line, she gets into a defensive position. Elyan smirks discretely, almost pitying the young king, having had an unfortunate encounter with Gwen the Fierce when they were younger.
The bandits descend on the small group like flies on a carcass, making noises meant to cause fear and confusion. The knights are calm and ready for battle. They bandits attack in a haphazard manner and Arthur can tell they are not very skilled warriors. Their advantage is numbers and they probably hoped to wear the small group out. They had not counted for most of the men being so well trained having spent great amount of time in training. Soon the bandits' numbers were greatly reduced. One managed to lure Elyan away from his original position and a moment later a cry escapes him as the bandit catches his right arm. On instinct, Gwen rushes to his side distracting the knights for a second. Arthur cusses, realizing the vulnerable position Gwen is in. He deals more forceful strikes to his opponent, in a bid to dispose of him quickly so that he could rush to Gwen's side.
Meanwhile the bandit that had injured Elyan smirks at Gwen recognizing the opportunity that had presented itself. He moves away from Elyan, considering him less of a threat and advances towards Gwen. The bandit is not close enough for her to use the dagger and she does not want to throw it and in case she misses. Instead Gwen grabs Elyan's sword, which unfortunately is too heavy for her making her movements jerky and inaccurate when she tries to swing it. Within moments, the bandit gets rid of her sword and has her in a death grip, her back against his chest with his sword against her neck. Arthur disperses of his enemy, turns and almost blows up in anger when he sees Gwen being held so. The rest of the knights are down to their last opponents and quickly defeat them only to realize the situation Gwen is in.
"Put down your weapons now if you ever want this lady here back in one piece."
Arthur grits his teeth in ire. His eyes pierce the bandit's and his voice turns into a menacing growl. "If you break just one strand of her hair, you will rue the day you were born."
The knights see the bandit almost shake in his boots recognizing the sincerity of the threat. His eyes waver for an instant and then he strengthens his resolve backing away dragging Gwen with him.
"Stop right there! Don't come any closer or I swear I will slice her throat."
Arthur drops his sword, his hands in the air, his eyes never leaving the bandit's. "Here, you can take me, leave the lady alone."
The man's eyes turn wild with fear and confusion. "No, I said don't come any closer. Stay where you are. The lady and I are going for a ride alone. If you follow, you would have sealed the lady's fate."
Arthur sneers nastily. "Oh no, oh no my man. You are not going anywhere with that young lady. You just don't know how precious she is. Oh, no you definitely will not take her away; not while I am still alive. So let's make a bargain. Why don't you fight me and if you win you can take her with you." Arthur makes as if to pick up his sword. The bandit in panic takes the sword from Gwen's neck and points it in Arthur's direction, swinging it threateningly.
"No! Don't pick up your sword. You are in no position to bargain with me. I have the upper hand. I have your young lady and I know you will not do anything to cause harm to her."
Arthur smirks. First rule of combat- never show any signs of fear to your enemy. "So it would seem we are at an impasse. Um-m so what are we to do my good man? You see you are right, you do have leverage because you see, that young lady is indeed worth more than you can imagine. I will fight to my last dying breath for her. So how are we going to resolve this?"
The man is no longer paying attention to Gwen's movements and does not see that she has a dagger until it is sticking painfully out of his thigh. The man drops his sword yelping in agony.
Arthur rushes to her side engulfing her in a bear hug.
"Guinevere, darling! Don't ever do that again. You will make my heart stop." He buries his face in her curls that look relieved to escape the confines of the ban they had been in. He forgets about the knights and Elyan in his relief and does not notice the seething looks emanating from the lady's brother.
"Gwen! Remove yourself from that man's embrace this instant."
"Elyan…"
"No sire this is not right, you and my sister. Can I speak to you on the side my Lord?"
"Elyan Edward Leodegrance! You will not speak to him in that manner and you will not speak of me like I am not here." Gwen objects. Elyan is shocked at the way Gwen almost sounds like their mother used to when she was angry.
"Elyan, you are hurt and you need attention immediately. You are bleeding and we are a distance from your home. Can this not wait until later?" Leon tries to bring sanity to the matter.
He gives in reluctantly but still warns. "You will allow me to speak to you later though, won't you my Lord?"
"As you wish. Gwaine kindly bind Elyan's wound to stop the bleeding until he can get it attended to. Here you may use my tunic." He tears a piece of fabric from his tunic and as he does Gwen gets a glimpse of his hard stomach muscles. She stares entranced then turns away, a red hue seeping up her cheeks as she notices Elyan and Gwaine watching her. Elyan rolls his eyes while Gwaine winks at her, a wicked smile on his face as he playfully punches Arthur on his shoulder much to Elyan's chagrin. He grits his teeth to stop himself from saying things that could get him hanged.
Gwen looks at the bandit who still has not stopped filling the stratosphere with despicable profanities.
"I think you should do the same for that poor man as well."
"Gwen that 'poor man' wished to cause harm to you."
"Arthur, if you don't then I will. I will not watch this man bleeding to death."
Arthur sighs. Ah-h stubborn females! Arthur tears another piece of fabric from his tunic grudgingly giving it to Percival to bind the bandit's bleeding leg.
"The bandit comes with us. He might prove a useful source of information."
"Yes Sire."
"Leon, I assume you came looking for us for a reason?"
"Indeed my Lord. We looked for you until Merlin told us you had probably gone riding. The groom is the one who pointed us in the direction you most likely took and told us you had offered to escort Lady Guinevere as he feared for her safety."
"Clearly he should have been more wary of the danger you posed to her than from any bandits," Elyan mumbles.
"Elyan.."
"It is true, so who is going to protect you from the protector."
"Elyan, I am warning you…" Gwen's fists are balled in anger. Elyan knows that he can go so far with his sister so he moodily goes quiet.
"Clearly Elyan has things that he needs to get off his chest. We cannot begrudge him that right?" Arthur says trying to dissipate the tension.
"Oh thank you. You are ever so kind sire." Elyan replies sarcastically. Percival looks like he is about to object but Arthur lifts up his hand to stop him.
"Alright men. Let us make our way back. Lady Guinevere may I kindly help you get on your horse?" Arthur says.
'Of course, Sire." She smiles at him while feeling a sudden urge to stick her tongue out childishly at Elyan. She understands his concerns but does not excuse his rude behavior. They were brought up better than that. Her mother must be turning in her grave at such behavior surely.
They are well on their way when Arthur asks again why the party had come searching for them. The knights look at each other seeming unsure how they should break the news they have.
"So..?" Arthur prompts.
It is Elyan who has no qualms supplying the answer once again.
"Well Sire, you will be glad to hear that while you were out enjoying yourself with my dear sister, Ewan awakened."