To be awakened by the warmth of the sun's rays in the morning was a felling Arthur hoped everyone had the privilege to experience. He swung his legs out of bed and rose. Merlin would not assist him this morning since his father had ordered him to make sure the guests was feeling courted around the castle.

''So, what's the plan really?'' Leon asked as him, Lancelot and Arthur now walked towards the crown room.

''We are waiting for the other two families to arrive before a meeting is to take place between the four kings,'' Arthur replied.

''They are meeting because of the republicans, aren't they?'' Lancelot asked and Arthur hesitated before giving away a nod.

''Last time father rode to the North to meet with the kings, I was eight years old... that was when the first attack by the republicans had occurred,'' Arthur said as the three of them remembered it like it was yesterday.

They entered the crown room and both his father and king Anthony were already there along with most of the councilors. Arthur took his seat.

''Is she on her way?'' Anthony asked and turned towards Uther that looked troubled. Uther was quick to put on a smile for his guest.

''Yes, they should be here any minute,'' he said before he locked eyes with Arthur that was a little confused about who they were referring to. He glanced around the room and spotted Morgana, 'if she already was here, they had to be referring to-' Arthur thought as Merlin appeared.

''We're here!'' Merlin said while he stumbled in and almost fell in the process. He bent down to catch his breath before he glanced up and met both Arthur and Uther's angry looks. Merlin tried to come up with an excuse and was saved by the sound of heels that was heard in the hallway, shortly after Elena appeared by the threshold. She noticed Merlin was anxious and was quick to read the room.

''Forgive us for being late. You have a big castle, your highness,'' Elena smiled lightly at Uther and he was visibly flattered by her complement. People started to bow as she entered the room and Arthur just observed her capturing beauty while he was impressed by how gracefully she handled the situation. She walked up to her father and took her seat.

''Should we start then?'' Anthony said and with that, the discussion began. For two hours straight they talked strategy and the latest updates about the republicans in each kingdom.

''King James should arrive within two days, and king David around the same time,'' Arthur said and referred to the kings of the East and North in the named order.

''Good. We will have a feast when they arrive,'' Uther said and heads around the room nodded to show that they approved of the idea.

''Well then, you're all dismissed,'' Uther added eventually and they all started to empty the room. Arthur and Merlin was heading towards his chambers to fetch Arthur's sword but was stopped by a voice.

''I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble, Merlin,'' the voice said and Arthur and Merlin turned to face Elena standing behind them.

''Not at all, I'm the one that should apologize,'' Merlin said and bowed when he saw who it was. Arthur slightly bent his head to show manners.

''I'm not used to... heels,'' Merlin added and Elena giggled to his saying.

''Understandable,'' she replied.

''Anyway. Do you have a royal garden by any chance?'' she continued and both Merlin and Arthur frowned to the sudden and unexpected question.

''Yes, why?'' Merlin asked.

''I enjoy nature,'' she said shortly, keeping a soft smile across her face. Silence followed for a little while before Merlin decided to accept her answer. He was a little surprised that Arthur was so quiet since it was not like him.

''We'll show you the way,'' Merlin eventually replied with a smile.

''How are you feeling after yesterday by the way?'' Merlin asked as they now walked towards the garden.

''I feel better, thank you for asking,'' she replied.

''Yeah, I actually spoke to your father about how impressed I was over how you got yourself out of his grasp,'' Arthur now spoke, but by Merlin's face to read he understood that it was unsuitable to the topic and insensitively said.

''Yes, Henry has trained me since I was three years old for... occurrences like those,'' she said as Arthur observed her profile, she didn't seem too eager to talk to him which wasn't a surprise.

They entered the royal garden and was met by Gaius that seemed to have picked some herbs.

''Arthur,'' he greeted them and Arthur gave him a nod back.

''Princess Elena wished to see the garden,'' Arthur began and noticed how Gaius started to chuckle.

''Yes, I can see that,'' he said as he nodded towards their side. Arthur and Merlin turned towards the direction he had pointed them at and saw that Elena had walked away from them and was now standing by the pond that laid under a big tree.

''What do we do now? Should we go?'' Merlin asked and Arthur was not sure what to reply.

''I should stay to make sure she's being watched over,'' Arthur said, making Merlin turn towards him with a look.

''What?'' Arthur frowned and Merlin couldn't help but smirk.

''Nothing, nothing at all,'' he said before him and Gaius left the garden. Arthur looked after them before turning his gaze back towards Elena that now had taken a seat in front of the pond. He looked around again and felt how a nervous feeling started to take over. He realized that they were alone and that he clearly had not fully thought this through.

''You have a beautiful garden,'' she eventually spoke and Arthur was a little surprised over that she had initiated a conversation. He cleared his throat before speaking.

''Thanks, I... well...'' he tried to reply but couldn't figure out what to say. She smiled before turning her head back to the pond.

''And you have very beautiful fishes, ours are orange but I like that yours's white. Perhaps I'll add some white ones in our pond when we're back home,'' she said and Arthur didn't even know that there were fishes in the pond. He had barely been in the garden, in fact this must be the longest he had been here since he was born.

He walked closer to her and guessed that her garden had to be bigger and more beautiful then theirs, perhaps because they had a woman that cared for it. But to him it was only green stuff, and he was not even sure if his father knew this place excited.

''It seems like we need some cleaning up,'' Arthur said, trying to make a decent conversation out of the situation. She turned to see what he was referring to and saw dandelions beside the roses that laid around the pond.

''Why? I think they're beautiful,'' she replied, making him frown.

''You do? But they're... distributed weed?'' he said confused and felt how almost everything he said to her was wrong.

''Or you could see them as downy tufts of seeds, reminding you of beautiful clouds. And when the time is right, they become bright yellow flowers that looks like the sun itself,'' she said without looking at him.

''It's all about perspective,'' she added before turning her head towards him and meeting his eyes. He looked at her for a while and was stunned by both her mind and her elegant use of words.

''It seems so,'' he replied before breaking the eye contact, now clearing his throat again.

''Yes. Shall we?'' she said beating him to it and he just nodded since he was about to ask the same thing. They walked back into the castle in silence and eventually entered the hallway.

''Perhaps it's best if we part ways here?'' she said and he looked over at her. She didn't have to explain, he understood.

''Yes, that sound's wise,'' he replied to ensure her that she was right. He bowed his head slightly.

''Thank you for the... guarding,'' she added and walked away. He looked after her for a while before shaking away the improper thoughts from his head. He knew this was wrong, but the worst part was that it bothered him that it was wrong.