''Hi, did you enjoy dinner?'' Merlin asked when Arthur entered the room.
''We have a problem. Morgana knows,'' Arthur said and looked seriously at Merlin. By his look, Merlin understood that he was referring to Elena.
''What? How does she know?'' he asked and Arthur threw his arms in the air.
''Because I'm an idiot! Apparently, I looked at her in a certain way at dinner,'' Arthur sighed.
''Okay, but Morgana would not tell anyone, right?,'' Merlin said and tried to sound as convincing as possible. Arthur nodded.
''Right, you are right,'' he repeated after Merlin.
''Good, so let's just calm down a little and think,'' Merlin finished and Arthur let a big exhale out.
''You are right, Merlin. But someday it won't be Morgana we're dealing with, and I can't let harm come to Elena because I can't control myself. I have to let her go,'' Arthur said after a moment of silence and Merlin turned surprised towards him.
''And how will you do that?'' Merlin said a little disappointed.
''She has to leave,'' Arthur said and felt an ache in his heart.
''Arthur, are you sure?'' Merlin tried.
''There's no other options,'' Arthur said.
''What would happen if you just tried to explain to your father? I saw with my own eyes how much all the royal families cared for Elena after that incident, I refuse to think that it's all show,'' Merlin objected.
''Merlin, they will have my throat. When it comes to the rules everyone known's their place, everyone,'' Arthur replied and Merlin was starting to become irritated.
''It feels like you're not listening to me. You mean to tell me that in all these years - no one, and you mean no one, has ever fallen for someone of opposite house?'' Merlin said and looked with wide eyes at Arthur. Arthur looked at his friend for a while.
''Merlin, this has to be done,'' Arthur said and to that, Merlin didn't bother to continue.
Arthur walked over to Elena's room and swept his sweaty palms up and down the side of his clothes. He let his knuckle fall towards the door, giving away an echo of two knocks, before he entered.
Elena peaked up from her bed that she was lying in and looked out of the window to assure herself that it actually was dark and that she hadn't fallen asleep and overslept.
''Arthur?'' she frowned as she crawled up to seated position.
''Have something happened?'' she added worried and rose from her bed, now standing by it. He felt sorry for her always thinking that something was wrong as soon as someone approached her. He could not imagine what type of experience she must have with it.
''No, not at all... I first have one question that I want you to answer, and I then I have one request that I beg you to just do,'' he said and she frowned.
''At this hour?'' she said confused and he sighed.
''Please. Just listen,'' he said and she stayed quite, aiming him to say what he wanted to say.
''The other day, when Anette came in and interrupted us, you said 'if'. If-what? What were you about to say?'' he asked and she tilted her head backwards, she hoped he had forgotten that.
''Arthur, please let us not go through this again,'' she sighed and looked at him with tired eyes.
''I won't declare my feelings for you like last time, I just want you to finish what you were about to say. And I know that it does not matter in the end, I just want to... know,'' he plead and she looked at him for a while before deciding to give him what he asked for.
''I was about to say that... if the rules were different, then things could perhaps have been different. But they are not,'' she said. He looked at her and nodded, it was more or less what he expected, but it meant everything for him to hear it.
''Thank you,'' he said.
''Now for the request, I need you to go back home,'' he said as his voice cracked with emotion. She looked shocked at him.
''What? Why?'' she asked. He observed her for a while in her white nightgown. She looked like an angel in it, and her body was just perfect. When he caught himself staring at her he twisted his head to the side and started to shake it.
''Because of this, I can't control myself when I'm around you,'' he said.
''You men are unbelievable, you actually mean that because you can't control yourself, I have to leave?'' she said and rose her brows, looking at him in anger.
''I'll guarantee you safety and peace, I will never bother you again, and I'll make sure that Henry goes with you,'' he begged. He knew this sounded like madness, but this was what needed to be done. By the mention of Henry's name she widened her eyes.
''Henry? You know where he is?'' she said with hope in her tone. He didn't reply.
''Arthur, please. I have looked everywhere for him,'' she begged him and took one step forwards as she collided her hands. He hesitated before replying.
''He's in the dungeons,'' Arthur replied and she gasped before covering her mouth with her fingers.
''Will you go?'' he forced himself not to let the initial purpose of this conversation be forgotten.
''Arthur, this – everything right now is just very overwhelming,'' she said with tearful eyes and he looked at her in devastation. He hesitated before he took some big steps forward and captured her lips in a kiss. Every sound disappeared within a second as his heart slowed down to a peaceful rate. His head had never felt this light before and his body felt like it was levitating. He just stood there and kissed her and wished for the moment to never end.
She eventually placed her hands on his arms and broke the kiss by pulling back, keeping him in place by holding his body to its spot. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at him, he was already looking at her, not saying a word.
''Okay. I'll leave,'' she let out.
