Chapter 20: Of Days To Come

Once Elaine and the travelling party had left Camelot, Arthur was thrust into more duties. During his duties, he barely had time to even speak to Gwen. It was one night, when he was readying himself for bed. When he had an idea. "Merlin. Do you remember when I asked you to organise some time with myself and Gwen?"

"Yes, sire." He nodded, standing near to the door.

"Could you do it again? For two days time?"

"Yes, sire." Merlin smiled broadly and bowed. "Same place?"

"Yes, Merlin." Arthur huffed in frustration. "Make it for midday too. If that isn't too much to ask."

Merlin chuckled softly and bowed. "Yes sire." He quietly left the room and began making preparations for Arthur and Gwen to have some time alone.

It was all arranged. Merlin had informed Gwen of the plans and Arthur made sure to keep his afternoon free. "Knock knock." Merlin tapped on Gwen's door and walked into her small dwelling. "Gwen?"

"Two minutes." She called from the back of the house. She finally came into view. "I'm ready." She wore a pale blue dress with a white shawl around her shoulders. Merlin stared at her in awe. "Each time I wear a nice dress, you turn speechless."

"Sorry." He laughed. "I can't help it. You look beautiful." They smiled at each other for a moment and they left the cottage to walk to Arthur and Gwen's meeting place. "Enjoy your time together." Merlin spoke with a smile as they walked deeper into the forest. "This time you have nothing to hide."

"Except from the people." Gwen spoke with slight sadness.

"For now. I know Arthur will publicly court you. For now, enjoy your precious time together." Merlin smiled at his long time friend as they stopped walking. "I leave you here." Pointing ahead of them, where Arthur stood.

"Thank you." Gwen smiled at Merlin and she left Arthur's manservant alone as she walked towards Arthur and their afternoon together.

The young couple enjoyed a small picnic together. "I'm sorry." Arthur apologised. "I have been too busy to be able to spend time with you."

Gwen laughed heartily. "Arthur, you are a King." She cupped his cheek and lovingly kissed his lips. "You need not worry about me. I am happy when you are happy. I see you when you are giving orders as King and caring for your people. You have a smile on your face when you give good decisions and it warms my heart." She sat up from her lying position, looking down at Arthur.

"You are too good to describe." Arthur smiled up at her. "I do not deserve you." He sat up and cupped her sun kissed cheek. He watched her. His eyes examining her beautiful face. "Gwen, I love you."

Gwen smiled widely. "I love you too." Arthur leant forward and pressed their lips together. When they pulled apart, they lay down next to each other. "I have really enjoyed today." Gwen smiled, her head lay against his shoulder and he had his arms around her.

"And I." Arthur chuckled softly. "I hope we can have more days like these." His lips brushed against her dark hair. "I shall make it possible for us to spend one whole day together every week and soon making it as much as I can. As I cannot be without you for this long." Gwen smiled silently as he rubbed her back gently. "Beautiful." He murmured against her hair.

The couple walked back to Camelot, hands clasped together. The people of Camelot gasped at the sight of their King holding hands with a mere serving girl. Gwen blushed brightly but Arthur did not care. He held her hand tightly as the two walked up to the heart of the castle. Servants gawked at their King as he led Gwen to the low wall, which surrounded the courtyard. The two sat on the wall together and spoke quietly together.

Arthur held her hand, his thumb sweeping over the top of her beautiful and soft skin. "I have another long day tomorrow."

"So do I." Gwen chuckled. "Even with Lady Elaine away, I still have to help around the Elyan with looking for a new blacksmith."

"Oh I see." Arthur chuckled.

"But for now, I am the blacksmith." She laughed lightly, her free hand rested over her own and Arthur's clasped hands. Her fingers brushed against his skin. Her round eyes watched her fingers run along the skin of her love's hand. "I enjoy it. It keeps me busy."

Arthur looked up at the sky and then back to Gwen. "Since you have been busy. I have another treat for you." Gwen looked up at him with a small smile. "I would like for you to join me for dinner."

Gwen's small smile grew into a larger one. "I would like that very much." Arthur raised her hand to his lips and gently brushed them across her knuckles.

Arthur rushed around his chambers as he searched for the most suitable thing to wear for his dinner with Gwen. He searched through all his clothing, until he was happy with his choice. He wore his brown breeches with his red tunic and red leather jerkin. As he finally pulled on his boots, he walked out of his chambers and to the dining hall.

Gwen was in the same frenzy as Arthur was. She could not find the prefect dress to wear. Once she had chosen a pale blue dress which was decorated with sewn yellow flowers. She took one last deep breath and left her small dwelling. She felt very self conscious as she walked the long walk to the citadel.

Arthur paced the hall as he waited for Gwen to arrive. "Sire." Leon announced. "Gwen is here." Arthur's trusted knight showed the young woman into the hall.

Gwen smiled widely to Leon. "Thank you, Sir Leon." Leon left the two of them alone. "No Merlin this evening?"

"I have actually given him the evening off. So, we have to fend for ourselves." Arthur smiled as he walked towards her. He reached down for her hand and raised it to his lips. "You look beautiful." His breath brushing against her knuckles before he brushed his lips against them, without breaking eye contact with her.

Gwen felt a blush grow on her cheeks. "Thank you. You look very handsome." Allowing him to lead her to her seat. Arthur aided her into her seat and proceeded to pour two goblets of wine. "This is odd. It is usually the other way around. You are seated and I am pouring the drinks."

Arthur chuckled as he sat in his own chair, holding his goblet towards her. "Times have changed." She raised her goblet to him and they tapped them together. Together they ate the food and spoke of the days to come.

A/N: I am so sorry for late reply and for such a short chapter as I found it really hard to write. I tried to give you the Arthur/Gwen scenes people have been asking but I have found them really hard to write. So sorry. There will be very little Arthur/Gwen scenes in the future. They will be there but not whole chapters dedicated to them.

Responses from Chapter 19:

ForeverTeamEdward13: Sorry for not updating soon. But Thank you. :D

acklesaddict: I am loving the Gwaine too. :D In the legends, Lancelot seems to have trouble with a lot of Elaines. LOL. Elaine of Corbenic and Elaine of Asolat are the most famous of them all. :D

chescake: I'm glad that the fic has caught your attention. You'll find out why there is a lack of assertiveness from Lancelot. Lancelot has his reasons for the way he is acting and they will be shown soon. The next chapter or so.

Larasmith: ahhh! There is a reason as to why Lancelot and Elaine are not connecting and you will find out soon enough. I can't say about the Lancelot and Gwen relationship as I am not 100% sure as to how I am going to write it. I have written Gwaine as a gentleman towards Elaine because of his mother. In the show, his father died when he was young and left Gwaine and his mother in poverty and I wanted to show that Gwaine has a respect for women, especially ones who are threatened by powerful men. I will show Lancelot's feelings to Elaine leaving in the next chapter. Of course there will be trouble along the way with Elaine back home. And yes they involve trouble from King Lot. I hope you enjoyed the ARWEN chapter, but I found it very hard to write. So I will only stick to scenes rather than whole chapters.