As soon as the dinner was over, Arthur walked hastily towards his chamber. He barely said goodbye or goodnight to anyone. He had seen Lincoln starting to approach Elena and he just could not see them touch, or even worse – kiss.

He climbed into his bed and inhaled deeply before exhaling slowly, trying to calm his mind and his heart.

''Arthur?'' a voice said and Arthur turned his head to see Lancelot standing by the door. The two men just looked at each other.

''Are you okay?'' he asked worried as Arthur returned his gaze towards the roof.

''I'm fine, I just, need a minute, please,'' Arthur let out, he found himself having trouble breathing correctly, making every movement difficult and heavy.

Lancelot looked his friend over before giving him a nod, a nod that Arthur did not see since he was not looking at him. He walked into the room and closed the door behind him before he took a seat at the table. He faced the door as he sat, making sure he gave Arthur space.

About five minutes passed, which felt like hours, before Arthur inhaled deeply. He exhaled and opened his eyes again, now tossing his legs over the bed and dragging himself up to a seated position. He looked over at Lancelot and watched his profile, seeing him stare at the door, just waiting.

''I almost forgot that you too have feelings for her,'' he said after debating with himself for a while, deciding that he was okay with Lancelot finding out. Lancelot turned towards Arthur with those words and they just looked at each other. After a few seconds, Lancelot broke the silence.

''You know, I had the feeling after that talk. But I thought I was craze since... you know, the rules,'' Lancelot said a little nervous and Arthur nodded, showing him that he understood.

''I know, crazy, huh?'' Arthur snorted, shaking his head.

''I could say that you and I have been called back on an urgent matter of the south?'' Lancelot suggested, causing Arthur to let out a laugh.

''Perhaps a bit too dramatic since my father would think the castle is burning down, but I appreciate the effort,'' Arthur smiled and Lancelot shrugged with a chuckle. Arthur valued Merlin a lot, but to talk to Lancelot about this was a little different. He felt less alone since he knew Lancelot understood him in a different way, even thought he hated that Lancelot too had feelings for her.

''So, how do you fell about all this?'' Arthur asked, he knew this was a weird conversation, but he just wanted to feel that his emotions were, well; okay for a few seconds.

''He seems nice, Lincoln... but I would give him a fist to the face if it was pitch black and no one could tell who it was,'' Lancelot said without questioning Arthur, probably understanding and sharing the feeling Arthur had. His reply caught Arthur a little off guard as he started to laugh, causing Lancelot to laugh too.

''So, what are you going to do?'' Lancelot asked as the laughter started to subside.

''Nothing. Perhaps start drinking,'' Arthur said and shrugged, making Lancelot chuckle.

''You know where to find me if you need a drinking partner,'' Lancelot said before he rose from his seat. He walked over to the door and turned to face Arthur again.

''You'll be fine,'' he said before he walked out. Arthur was a little surprised by him saying those specific words, but he was grateful for them.

Arthur whirled around the hallways, not really having any destination, just walking. He knew it was late and that the whole castle probably was sleeping, but he felt like he needed this.

He stopped by a bridge that connected one side of the caste to the other and looked out, the moon shimmered along the water and the air was crispy and fresh.

''You seem very focused,'' her voice was heard, but this time Arthur managed to retain control of his body as he turned to face Elena.

''Late, isn't it?'' he asked and looked around, she had no guards with her.

''It is. So what are you thinking about?'' she asked, she stood about two meters from him.

''Oh, you know... thoughts,'' he said and tried not to blush. She looked him over before nodding.

''Yeah, I know thoughts... the thousand voices that howls in your head,'' Elena said smiling and he looked at her with admiration.

''Precisely,'' Arthur replied before he turned his gaze away from her. She always managed to capture him, he thought.

''You seem troubled,'' she continued and he let out a laugh without really meaning to.

''It'll be fine,'' he said more seriously and looked back at her. He was too tired to play the game of being diplomatic right now. She gave him a compassionate look, by now Arthur had started to feel a little irritated that everyone seemed to pity him.

''And you? Are you... in love?'' he struggled to say the word but it eventually came out.

''Lincoln is a nice guy, and I'm doing what's expected of me,'' she replied, making him frown.

''Tell me you are not marrying someone because it's what your dad expects of you?'' Arthur said, raising his voice slightly. She narrowed her eyes on him.

''I'm marrying Duke Lincoln because it's what my kingdom and its people expect of me, it's my duty,'' she said and he blinked stunned at her.

''Hold on,'' he said and waved with his hand, he took two steps towards her. However, she made sure to remain the control.

''I have people to take care of, a kingdom to take care of. People follow kings, not queens. Therefore, I'm doing what's expected of me and marrying someone that can provide the strength and finance that the kingdom needs. A queen's job is to provide the king with heirs, do her duties for her nation and make sure to support the king in the ways he needs her to,'' she said harshly and he just stared at her. Arthur had heard this many times, not described as unfiltered as that, but he knew that this was what the world expected of a queen.

''And what about your happiness?'' he asked.

''If my people are taken care of, I'm happy,'' she replied.

''I see,''

''I just think you're worth more than that,'' he added and for a second her dominance broke into pain, before it hardened again.

''My faith was decided at birth, as was yours,'' she said and he just looked at her.

''It was. But I still think you deserve someone who loves you unconditionally and makes you genuine happy,'' he said and looked at her, wanting her to be his queen.

''Oh really? And whom would that be?'' she asked. Silence followed for a while as he just looked at her.

''That... I would not know,'' Arthur sighed and she started to nod slowly. He was not sure why he continued to torture both her and himself in this way. He should just had stayed diplomatic, he thought.

''I'm sorry, my lady, I overstepped... again,'' he said.

''I will not bother you anymore, you have my word,'' he continued and bowed before he started to walk away. She did not stop him, nor speak a word. He made sure not to look back at her.