Destiny
"In Camelot, the Prince and the Servant love each other tenderly since years. But what will happen when a close friend to Gwen propose to her ? Will she cede to the easiness knowing the Arthur and her could never be ? Or will the two lovers fight for their love ? Is this a battle lost since the start ? Can we really fight against destiny ? " Set after 3x10. Things are a little different, the end isn't the same as the episode, Morgana is the same as in season 1 ( I can't have her as the devil one, sorry !) and there was no promise of wait for each other in my version..."
Chapter 5:
Arthur suddenly froze. "I beg your pardon?" He asks trying to sound casual.
"Oh please Arthur, don't play dumb. I know the truth about you and Gwen!" She said smiling.
He turned around slowly ready to explain himself but then saw the happy glint in his sister eyes.
"And you're not mad?" He asked confused.
"No, of course not. I'm so happy for you" she finally said and an exciting laugh escaped the Prince's lips.
"Really?" he asked getting closer to her bed.
"Truly." she smiled sincerely.
And before she could add anything, he leaned in and took her in a brotherly hug, breathing in her ear. "Thank you."
She smiled and squeezed her little brother before she receded, wiping a tear that had escaped his blue eyes in a maternal gesture
"Mum would have been so proud of you Arthur ..."
He opened wide eyes and she saw the little golden-haired boy on his mom's knees, all those years ago.
"Really?" he whispered, "Do you really think so?"
"I'm sure of it."
He smiled and squeezed her again.
"I miss her ..." he whispered in a broken voice and Morgana felt tears pricked at her eyes.
"I miss her too Arthur."
She felt his body shook by sobs and tightened her hold on him. Rarely did he let himself seem so vulnerable. Only three people were to know him this way Morgana, Merlin and of course Guinevere. He was her little brother, she must protect him, prevent him from the pain, no matter what. It was her duty.
Arthur enters his chambers, a smile on his lips. He was glad he was honest with Morgana, his sister, the woman he trusted more than anyone, with Merlin (even if he would never admit it if he was ask) and Guinevere. He removed his shoes, his sword and his belt and was ready to remove his shirt when he glimpsed a shape in his bed. Frowning, he walks closer; he had given Merlin the night off, so it couldn't be him!
He walked closer again and felt his heart quicken, recognizing the curls that was escaping the covers. He walked closer again and couldn't help the smile that lighted up his face. Guinevere. She was peacefully asleep, wrapped in his covers. A smile on his lips, he raised a hand and stroked her cheek tenderly. Then, he walked away; as quiet as he could and change by himself, before coming back toward his bed.
The Prince hesitated a long time on whether he should or shouldn't let her stay with him, it was not right to let her, yet ... she was just sleeping and she needed it. She was so pale lately that the next step would have been to force her to sleep! Arthur got under the covers and after hesitating for a moment, he pulled her against him and buried his face on her neck, her curls stroking his face. He smiled when unconsciously, her hand wrapped with his and she settled a little more against him. Arthur was thinking about Guinevere, about their future. She couldn't leave him. He wouldn't survive it. He needed her by his side and couldn't survive, seeing her leave him for another... The Prince closed his eyes harder and squeezed her against him and then, in her slumber, Gwen turned around and cuddled against his chest, her hand on his heart. Arthur smiled at the gesture and closed his arms around her, letting finally sleep take him.
The next morning, Merlin came without knocking and found Arthur, already up and dressed, in front of his window, paler than usually.
"Arthur?"
The Prince didn't answer and just kept on watch by his window. Quietly Merlin walked closer and looked at what his friend was staring at. He saw Gwen and froze when he recognized the person by her side.
"Oh Arthur ..."
"I think she's going to leave me for him." breathed the Prince in a broken voice and unshed tears in his eyes.
Some hours before.
Arthur woke up slowly, feeling watched. He opened his eyes and found Gwen's beautiful eyes staring at him.
"Good morning love." he smiled and moves closer to kiss her.
She didn't smiled back and kept on staring at him while he kissed her gently.
"It's been a while since I woke..." she breathed.
"You should have woken me." he rubbed his eyes,
"I needed to think."
He laid his head on his pillow and stroked her back tenderly.
"Won't Merlin come?"
"Not now. We've got plenty of time."
She sighed but he didn't hear her. He was just thinking about the night he had had, he had not sleep so well in days! And having her by his side ... He smiled, thinking about it. After the previous day's insecurities, he was glad all seem to be well.
"I'm tired Arthur."
"Yet, you slept well" he frowned.
"No." she whispered, getting up a little, "No, what I mean is ... " she looked up toward him and when he saw her eyes full of tears, he sat up too, worried.
"Guinevere?"
"I ..." a tear rolled down her cheek. "I love you so much!"
"You know I love you too." he felt his heart quicken. "There's not a thing I wouldn't do for you ..."
"Oh Arthur, it's not what you would or wouldn't do. It's what you can't do.
She right away saw tears gather in his blue eyes and his face lost all its color.
"What?" he whispered dazed, "But... but it was you who came yesterday and ..."
"I know." she whispered, looking down.
"You're tired Guinevere." he resumed in a shaking voice. "But you can't make a decision right now."
"Arthur..."
She closed her eyes and felt tears escaped it.
"We're happy together"
"How long?" she asked opening her eyes. She regretted it right away seeing the pain she was inflicting to her beautiful Prince.
"Forever." he breathed, "I ... I thought that ... that ... that we ..."
"Oh Arthur."
She then threw herself in his arms and felt him squeezed her while his breath was quickening. She receded slowly and found herself an inch from him, she plunged in his devastated eyes and saw him hesitate in speak
"Don't leave me." was his only whisper.
He took her hand and laid it on his heart and others tears escaped her eyes, feeling it beat so quickly.
"I beg you Guinevere. Don't give up on us."
She looked up toward him and bit her lips in order to prevent herself from bursting in tears. He looked down and she saw the pain she was inflicting on him. She couldn't do that. It was not fair. She wanted nothing else that makes him happy, but she had thought a lot, and things were not that easy. His father will never let them be happy together. It had taken her years to see it but ... it wasn't possible. Arthur and her. And it shall never be. She had cried quietly for hours before Arthur woke up. And now, sitting so close to him she just couldn't do it. She couldn't break his heart. She loved him too much. It was not fair. Instead, she got up slowly, without looking at him. Arthur wanted to retain her, but he couldn't. He was frozen in fear. Unable to move. Unable to keep the woman he loved.
"I think she's going to break up with me." Merlin heard the prince say and when he looked at Arthur he saw a tear escape his eyes.
Gwen was taking care of some of Morgana's things in the Castle courtyard, when she was joined by Louis. She didn't want to see him. Not now. She wanted a man she shall never have.
"Your Prince doesn't stop looking at you..." he whispered,
She didn't answer but tries discreetly to look towards the Prince's window. He was there indeed and she felt guilty suddenly, knowing how much it will hurt him, seeing her with Louis. She tries to walk away, but the man follows her.
"Are you well?" he asked. She turn looking annoyed, but then she saw genuine concern in his brown eyes and calms herself a little. He was her friend. It wasn't his fault if things were what they were!
"Yes Louis." she said, gently, "I'm fine."
Arthur kept on staring at her. Merlin was gone with the order of making know that the Prince was ill and was to stay in his room for the day. It wasn't even a lie for Arthur felt ill. The woman he loved more than anything in the world considered leaving him. Was seriously considering it. He shook his head. If only she could see in his heart, she'd see nothing but love for her in there. She'd see that for him; just to imagine a life without her was making him sick. He would have done anything for her. Anything. Relinquish his right to the throne if it means keep her by his side. He would. He played with his mother's ring and felt suddenly the urge to see Morgana. She was the only maternal figure he ever had and he needed her now, in order to know what to do, but he couldn't go and see her, bother her with his problems when she was having some troubles on her own.
Merlin had told him the same morning that Cenred, one of Camelot's enemies, a tyrannical and cowardly brute, had again offered peace with Camelot in exchange of the Princess's hand. Arthur knew that the only reason why this alliance was not already done was because of the strong disapproval of Morgana. But it must be exhausting for Morgana, fighting this way against their father's will, and Arthur knew that better than anyone. He was going to leave her in peace and work out his problems all alone. As the man he now was.
Gwen was heading toward Morgana's chamber when she met Merlin, a worried face on him.
"Are you alright Merlin?" she asked, gently.
He stopped and plunged his blue eyes in hers.
"Is it true?"
"What?" she asked frowning.
"That you want to break up with Arthur." She felt her heart stop.
"Who told you that?"
Merlin didn't answer and shrugged.
"This is the reason why he didn't come out today..." She asked.
He looked down and nodded silently before looking at her with sadness and disappointment in his eyes.
"I think you're making a huge mistake Gwen."
Gwen was wiping a tear that was rolling down her cheek. She knew how much she was hurting Arthur and she was not doing any better. But what else could she do? They were breaking both their hearts by staying in a relationship that would never work. Never. Feeling her sobs take over at the thought, she enter one of the secret a passage in the castle and just let herself cried.
Morgana came into Arthur's chamber, just to find him standing by his window, looking particularly pale. For a few moments, she forgot her own troubles to focus on this brother she loved so much.
"Is everything alright Arthur?"
The young man jumped and turned around slightly. He found Morgana and noticed that she was pale as death.
"What about you?"
She sighed and took a chair.
"Father wants to marry me with this..." she didn't finish her sentence and Arthur walks closer, taking a chair by her side and taking her hand,
"I won't let him do it Morgana."
She looked up toward him and smiled slightly,"I wasn't expecting any less from you, little brother."
Gwen didn't know how much time she was there, crying, hidden in her corner. Morgana must be waiting for her by now, or even looking for her. But for now, nothing else mattered. She felt as if her heart was imploding and could do nothing to prevent it. She was coming out when she heard it, the noise of some footsteps which are coming.
"Gwen?"
She closed her eyes hard. For a few moments, she had wanted it to be Arthur, and she wanted him to take her in his strong and protective arms and tell her that everything was going to be fine and that they were going to find a way.
"Please leave me Louis." She asked politely.
"No."
"I want to be alone."
He walked closer and in the darkness of her hiding place, she glimpsed his determinate face.
"Have you chosen?"
"Leave me alone." She said with a hard glared.
"I know why you're acting this way," he breathed, "You broke up with that little Prince of yours."
"That is none of your business. And just so you know, I haven't done it yet."
"Not yet."
She heard the smile in his voice and would have wanted to remove it. "It doesn't mean I choose you."
His smile faded away immediately.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I thought about it," she started, "If I can't have Arthur, I want nobody else."
"You can't do that."
"Of course I can, it's my life."
He didn't answer but she saw his eyes fill with anger, "Goodbye Louis."
She started to leave but he stopped her by caught her arm. "Let me go."
He tightens his hold and Gwen started to struggle, "Louis, let me go. You're frightening me."
"I love you Gwen. I always loved you... I'm the one for you, why can't you see that?"
"You're frightening me, let me go!" She really was started to get scared and regret the hidden place they were. She didn't know that part of her friend and truly, did not want to.
"Why don't you want me?"
"I don't love you."
"You will be my wife." hissed coldly Louis and she froze,
"No."
"Oh yes you will," he smiled, "Do you want to know why? I'll tell you..."
Gwen was walking on the corridors toward the Prince's chamber. She couldn't believe what Louis, her friend, this person she thought she knew, had just done. How could he do that? Did love truly make things so cruel? Was she ready to do that if Arthur told her he didn't love her anymore? She shook her head. Non If Arthur didn't want her anymore, then, she would have accepted it, despite the pain. Because she loved him and wanted him as happy as he could be. Then why did Louis do that? Why had he ruined everything?
"Oh yes you will" he smiled, "Do you want to know why? I'll tell you..."
She stared at him with wide eyes, stunned in front of this side of him she was discovering and that she didn't like at all.
"You see Guinevere, that's how he calls you, right?" She tried to struggle but he squeezed her arm harder, "I'm a really a good friend of King Cenred. It seems that, during all my years wandering, we grew bound to each other and let's just say, I have a certain power over him..."
She frowned, not understanding what his point was.
"And if, by any luck, I were to tell him that an union with the sole Princess of Camelot was not a good idea, and that it would be better to negotiate a peace treaty based on common land then I think he would listen to me. "
Gwen paled suddenly and another smile lighted up the young man's face.
"I didn't want to do that Gwen. I'm sorry! But you leave me no choice... It's up to you now. Marry me and Lady Morgana will not be bothered anymore, Camelot in peace for sure. Or choose your Prince and face the consequences."
A tear escaped Gwen's eyes, reaching this door she knew too well. She wiped her red eyes and tried to fix her hair before knock.
"Leave me alone."
Her heart tightened but she came in nonetheless and found Arthur, looking pale at the table, playing with his fork, pushing the food from one corner to another of his plate. He looked up and his eyes widened, seeing her in his room. He got up right away and made a step forward, before seemed to remember something and stop.
"Guinevere..." he whispered,
"Hello Arthur."
"What are you doing here?"
"I had to ..." she swallowed with difficulty, "We need to have a talk."
He looked down a few seconds and raised his head in a sad smile.
"Are you going to leave me?"
She didn't answer. The words died in her throat.
"I can't tell you that I don't understand..." he whispered, then plunged his sea blue eyes in hers, "I just want ..." he cleared his throat, "Guinevere, I want to know if there's still a chance, even a tiny chance that ... that you still want me, even if it's just one." she saw his eyes fill with tears, "Because if that's the case, then I will fight for you. I will fight until my last breath in order to keep you by my side."
"Arthur..." she started,
"No." he cut her and she saw his fist was clenched so hard, his knuckles were white. "Because if you tell me that there is none ... If tonight, you tell me that you don't want me anymore and that there is not a chance of ever…".he closed his eyes and a tear escaped it. Gwen felt like she was dying. He opened his eyes and breathed in a broken voice, "in this case, even if it kills me, even if it rips my heart and my entire soul in a million of pieces, I'll let you go... I'll let you run straight out of my life and I'll never try to come into yours again. I'll never bother you again. I promise."
Gwen wanted the ground to open and swallow rather than see Arthur in this state because of her. She opened her mouth, closed it. Not very sure of his choice anymore...
"Arthur, I ..."
So ? Cliff hanger, sorry for that, couldn't help myself ;) So, now, I know, right now, you probably hate me and want to throw things at my face but please DON'T ! I can't handle the pain very well ;) Ahah. Anyway, what did you think ? I hope you liked it ! Arthur and Gwen ? Gwen giving up her hope on a futur with Arthur ? Morgana's troubles ? Arthur and Morgana ? Louis threat ? What do you think Gwen will tell Arthur ?
I wanted to do my usual thanks,
FIRST, A BIG THANKS TO MY BETA : LunaSolTierra, truly, a big thank you for all that you've done :)
Thank you to all my readers, followers and people you put me in their favourite :)
Thanks for following me, to : Arthurlover7, Cowboy's Lover Dimitri No 1, LHC1, LunaSolTierra, Missyhoneybee, RavenBaller-23, carlinejo and tfurman2011, THANK YOU :)
Thanks for all the people that have add me in their favourites : Allie988, Arthurlover7, LunaSolTierra, RavenBaller-23 and -stories, THANK YOU :)
And thanks for their AMAZING reviews that really help me write and keep going, to : Arthurlover7 (love you sis :) ), RavenBaller-23, GPendragon, LHC1, larasmith, Megan and Guest, THANK YOU, YOU ARE ALL AMAZING :)
I wanted to answer to Megan and Guest, as I can't do it,
'Megan' : Ahah it was a feint ;) But now, the true question is, will Arthur, in order to keep Gwen, tell his father ?
Thanks for your review :)
'Guest' : Thank you I'm so glad you liked it ! Yes, you're right, it was dangerous... But for this time, Uther was not here hopefully !
Thanks for your review :)
Thanks to everyone and I really hope this chapter didn't disapoint you,
Keep Safe :)