Short Story

Moving quietly, Gawain made his way into the cottage and closed the door without a sound. A low fire burned in the hearth and Ulrich lay on his bedroll while the king and queen slept together in the small bed. Gawain was grateful Arthur slept beside Guinevere, because the limited floor space meant Gawain would have had sleep jammed right up against Arthur, and if that had been the case, neither of them would have rested.

During his years in Camelot, Gwaine had only been in this chamber a handful of times. Typically, his meetings with the king took place in more formal settings, or on the training field. He couldn't recall the last time when he had been summoned to speak with Arthur alone. The roguish knight felt a bit uneasy as he entered. He took a seat across the desk from Arthur and waited, twisting his hands nervously.

With a gentle nudge of his thumb, Gawain turned the queen’s face back toward him. He sensed it was a poor idea to waste too much time, as it would allow both of them too much of an opportunity to talk and overthink. It was time to settle in and do what they agreed to

Arthur appreciated having the chance to get his mind of how Gwen might be suffering. He told Tristan about his undergraduate days at Georgetown, even though that timeframe seemed inextricably linked with Gwen.

Gwen inhaled and declared, “It is with great sorrow that we are all assembled here. Prince Merlin and Princess Mithian, I can only add Camelot’s and my own condolences to those already expressed. In terms of King Rodor, I can speak of a King who cared about his family and people. He governed with due regard and purpose. He also saw the greater purpose in things. He valued the happiness of

Gwaine did not respond, nor did Percival or Elyan. They say huddled around the pit fire, gaping at something Gwaine held in his lap.

“The only thing you can do now is give her time and become the man you say you’ll be.” I left Tom to sit there alone with his thoughts and headed home. By the time I got home it was nine o’clock. All I did was fall into my bed, emotionally and mentally drained from the proceedings that had happened that

“I forgive you as well. You no longer need to carry the guilt about banishing me. Banishment was difficult, but I learned a good deal during my time away. And in the end, we found our way back to one another, and that’s all that matters.” Guinevere squeezed Arthur’s hand. “And there’s something else. I never loved Lancelot. I was infatuated with him, yes, but it was nothing like the love I feel for you. I don’t know why I kissed him; I still can’t explain it. All I know is when I did it, I didn’t

“You’ve been unfair. Deceitful, even.” Mithian’s voice grew loud and she gave the king a look of extreme disapproval, brows drawn together and her eyes narrowed. “How would you like it if I’d done the same to you? The least you could have done was tell me the truth and allow me to decide how or if I wanted to proceed. This nonsense about how you ‘thought’ you’d be able to get over this other woman is preposterous. When you came to my chamber last night, you were still in love with her and you knew it. You should be ashamed of yourself, Arthur.” Tears ran down her face.

As he moved his hands around Mithian’s body, Arthur observed the woman’s breasts were small, but nicely-rounded, and her nipples responded to Arthur’s touch. Arthur forced himself to stay in the present, forced himself to banish Guinevere’s memory as he touched the arousing woman before him. He slipped his hand into the fabric of the peignoir, cupped Mithian’s bare breast, and leaned in to kiss her.

Arthur: “Guinevere, why have you been acting so strangely towards me? Please, do tell me, what is the matter, my love?”

Kara stared at the king as he finished his speech, amazed she'd been given a final chance at a reprieve rather than being led straight to the gallows. She knew then that Mordred was right about this man… saddened by the realization that Arthur had a truly merciful heart, quite unlike the monster Morgana had painted him out to be.

But finally, after weeks of care, Percival found himself hovering quietly at his friend's side as Gwaine made his way to the Great Hall, slowly but on his own two feet. Gwaine carefully knelt before Guinevere and, after apologizing for his perceived failures, pledged his life and his sword to her.

"Perhaps, I would have cared about Arthur's affairs before, but now I do not. Just like your magic, your words can't hurt me any longer,

Last night she had scratched behind its ears and remembered the time when Arthur was victim to a goblin's mischief. He had sat humiliated and dejected on the floor in his chambers, large donkey ears twitching nervously at every sound. And when he spoke, only a bray of distress came out as he tried to explain what had happened. Gwen and Merlin had laughed at his expense, though not in his presence, at how pitiful he'd looked and panicked he must have felt. She giggled about it last night, the memory enveloping her like Arthur's caress used to. And then she suddenly cried. She missed him with all her heart, knowing that she would have no more memories to build upon like that again with the man she