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    Uther sits on his trône with his face buried in his hands. He stamps his feet restlessly. ‘Where are they?’ he keeps thinking to himself. His mind drifts off, thinking the unthinkable and then he shakes them off, focusing back on the ground. ‘No, Arthur will bring her home’ he thinks again and stamps loudly. The noise keeps him focused. The door of the great hall opens, the guards step inside and allow Arthur and Merlin to walk past them. Uther lifts his head. His eyes widen in anticipation. His cœur, coeur soars. But when his eyes rest upon both men, his cœur, coeur sinks. His stomach churns in fear. The unthinkable thoughts he had been wrestling with a while il y a return to haunt him. He swallows and exchanges a look with his wife. Katrina looks terrified as well. But she seems to be in control of her emotions whereas Uther looks as if he will explode. Then Merlin and Arthur part, revealing Gwen in the middle, behind them.

    “Guinevere!” Uther shouts her full name and gets up to his feet. His eyes are full of life and a smile is etched on his lips.

    Gwen slides in between her husband and Merlin and rushes to the king.
    
    “Gwen!” Uther cries, steps down from the dais and rushes to meet Gwen. He embraces her warmly while Arthur and Merlin stand aside and watch the scene ahead. Merlin smiles while Arthur just looks on.

    “Sire,” Gwen réponses and curtsies. But Uther grabs her shoulder and shakes his head. “I am so happy they found you.”

    “Good heavens, Gwen. Where have toi been?” Katrina asks, joining the king and Gwen. She comes in and stands beside Gwen.

    “She went to her father’s place, Mother,” Arthur réponses before Gwen can open her mouth. Both Gwen and Merlin seem surprised par Arthur’s willingness to intervene.

    “Really?” the king seems surprised. “But why did toi go on your own, Gwen? toi didn’t even take a guard with toi ou Arthur.”

    “I didn’t want to trouble anyone, Sire,” Gwen answers, looking down at the ground.

    “Trouble? This isn’t trouble, dear. This is strictly a condition. What if something happens to you? How will we ever find you?” Uther says. He sounds concerned. In fact, ever since he heard she was missing, he hasn’t been able to focus on anything at all.

    Gwen keeps quiet. His words are true and she knows it, but she was angry with Arthur and didn’t consider any of these things at all. She went par her instincts, and now that she is back, she knows she has to answer the king honestly. But should she tell why she left in the first place? Will the king accept her answer ou will he believe her?

    “Gwen?” the king calls her. She looks up at him.

    “Is something wrong?” he asks her. “Something toi aren’t telling us?”

    ‘Great work Gwen!’ she scolds herself and tries to remain calm. “No, Sire. I missed my father and wanted to see him. I didn’t want to disturb anyone. I didn’t know about the rules here. I am sorry.”

    “It’s all right, child.” Uther clips her chin and smiles. “I understand, and visiting your father is not a crime. Just take some knights with toi the suivant time so that I’ll be in peace.” He laughs. Gwen laughs as well. Arthur watches them both without moving a muscle. Merlin continues to watch Arthur without asking much.

    “Thank you, Father,” Gwen says.

    “You’re most welcome … toi must be tired. Go and have some rest,” Uther says. Gwen curtseys to the king and Queen and takes her leave. Arthur waits until Gwen has left the hall before turning on his heels, following her, when Uther stops him.

    “I’d like a word with you, Arthur, alone. Leave us!” It was an order and everyone obeys, leaving just the father and son in the hall.

    Uther waits until the hall is empty save for them both alone before turning to face Arthur. “Where did toi find her?”

    “In her old home, with her father. As she said.”

    “She misses her father, seems to me.”

    “Looks like it.”

    “And I wonder why?” the king asks, eying Arthur suspiciously.

    “What is that supposed to mean?”

    “I was expecting toi to tell me, Arthur. Why would a girl, recently married to the prince of Camelot rush off to her father without taking her husband along ou the guards? I’m clueless and expecting toi to fill me in,” Uther states, crossing his arms across his chest.

    “Father, toi should ask her, not me! She was the one who ran away.”

    “Yes, but since toi answered for her a while ago, I’m expecting toi to answer this as well. toi are her husband.”

    “Ridiculous!” Arthur throws his hand on the air and mutters under his breath. “What is your point? Are toi blaming me for her disappearance?”

    “Smart… yes.”

    “That’s rubbish!”

    “I don’t think so. She’s hiding something and toi answered too quickly for her, as if you’re hiding something. Don’t think I didn’t notice anything!” Uther says.

    “I don’t understand, Father!” Arthur snaps. “Why would toi blame me for everything that goes wrong here? Look, I am not your scapegoat, all right! I don’t need to shoulder all the wrongs here!”

    “I don’t see why toi should get angry, Arthur. It was just a question,” Uther réponses calmly, infuriating Arthur further.

    “It was plus of an accusation than a question, SIRE!” Arthur says, clenching his fist.

    Uther sighs. “Look, Arthur. Your wife is your responsibility. toi are answerable for her well-being, get it? I don’t care what she has done … I know that girl and she is an honest person. Something happened between toi both. If it was something of a private nature, it should stay between the two of you. So I don’t want to know your matter, just,whatever it is, get it resolved. Sooner the better. This is a father’s conseil to a son. Don’t make me say it as the king! No girl would go running back to her father so soon after her wedding if she wasn’t in misery. Gwen is clearly in agony over something and needed a shoulder to lean upon and cry, so she went seeking her father. But now that she is back, I don’t this repeating anymore, understand?”

    And when Arthur doesn’t respond, Uther repeats again. “Understand, Arthur?”

    “Hmmm …”

    “Go now … go and comfort her,” Uther advises.

    Arthur turns on his heels and leaves as quickly as he can. Uther watches him sadly, shaking his head.



    “Why did toi run, Gwen?” Merlin asks as he sits opposite her in her chamber, accompanying Gwen until Arthur returns from his audience with the king. He hasn’t spoken to her much since they came back and she hasn’t a dit a thing about why she left the château without notifying anyone. She’s been very quiet. And Merlin can understand why, but he simply can’t allow that silence between them to continue any longer. He decides to make the first move.

    Gwen doesn’t answer him immediately but she looks sadly at Merlin. Her eyes are red, yet they are not teary. It’s painfully sad and Merlin chokes back his own pain to see her like this. “Don’t toi know?” she asks after a while.

    “About?”

    “What happened between me and Arthur? Didn’t he tell you?”

    “Oh, yes … he did. Is that the reason?” Merlin asks, biting his lips.

    She nods and looks away.

    Merlin sighs. He had guessed it right from the beginning but he didn’t expect it had such an impact on Gwen. Whatever happened between them must have hurt her badly. And Arthur hasn’t been entirely honest with him. “He’s an idiot, Gwen. toi know that don’t you?” Merlin tries to make her feel better. It is all he can say now. It isn’t much, he knows but what else can he say?

    “Doesn’t mean he has to continue being one, Merlin.” She turns back to him, her eyes fiercely upon him. “He should learn to respect others, especially his wife.”

    Merlin sighs. “I understand, Gwen …”

    “No toi don’t, Merlin. No one does.” Gwen cuts him short. She has her eyes fixed upon him and he feels uneasy. He feels like a prey being hunted par the predator. “The way he treats me, as if I’m his mistress and not his wife … hurts so much. toi should hear what he a dit to me … that he’s been lusting for my body and nothing else. Do toi have any idea how that makes toi feel? I feel cheap … like a prostitute!!”

    “Gwen, I am so sorry …”

    “Why should toi be sorry, Merlin? He’s the one who should be feeling sorry and he hardly cares!” Gwen snaps. She doesn’t know why she is angry at Merlin but she just can’t control her emotions at the moment. Her cœur, coeur is aching and she feels lonely. She doesn’t have anyone she can confide her problems to and she knows Merlin is only trying to help. Yet she keeps flashing her anger at him. She feels bad for him.

    “That’s not entirely true, Gwen. If he doesn’t care he wouldn’t have come looking for you,” Merlin explains.

    “He came because he doesn’t want to shoulder the blame should I go missing. I know him, Merlin. I might be new in his life but I think I know him better than all of toi combined!” Gwen says, wiping the tears that have started to roll unexpectedly. “He is a self centered shit who doesn’t care whom he hurts! He thinks only of himself!”

    Merlin agrees with Gwen but he doesn’t say ou montrer it. Right now he must calm Gwen and make sure both husband and wife reconcile. And reconciliation isn’t an easy task, especially when it involves a hot headed person like Arthur. “Gwen, he feels bad for saying those words to you. He told me this morning.”

    “What?” Gwen thumbs off her tears.

    “It’s the truth, I’m not making it up. He told me this morning … and I believe he still feels bad.”

    Unexpectedly Gwen laughs. “He’s … feeling bad? Merlin, are toi dreaming?”

    “Gwen …”

    “Like I said, I think I know him better than all of toi here. toi see him as a friend and toi don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. I know him as a wife, and trust me; he shows his real colours to me at night. And it’s not something I like to discuss, Merlin …” Gwen tells him, shaking her head. “Even if toi are trying to help.”

    “Has he hurt you, Gwen?” Merlin doesn’t care, he wants to know. He knows Arthur will not hurt a woman but he isn’t sure about anything that has to do with Arthur. Like Gwen says, perhaps she knows him better after all.

    “No, I haven’t donné him that much room.”

    “But he did something, didn’t he? Apart from those words …” Merlin tries to guess.

    Gwen gets up and walks to the window. The scenery outside looks very inviting but Gwen isn’t in any mood to enjoy it. She is still troubled par what happened between her and Arthur and the pain and hurt is still raw in her heart. “I hate him, Merlin.” She tries to avoid the question.

    “You are not answering me, Gwen.”

    “I can’t, Merlin …” she shakes her head. “I … just can’t!” her voice chokes with pain. “I hate him, that is all!!”

    Merlin understands her difficulty and decides to let it go. “It’s not something I haven’t heard before …”

    “I mean it. I really hate him.” She spins around and looks at Merlin. Something in her eyes makes Merlin sad. He witnesses her sadness and loneliness through the look she shoots towards him. All of a sudden he understands. Whatever was supposed to come out from his mouth eventually stops. He is speechless.

    “I hate him, Merlin,” she repeats again. “I can’t tolerate him ou this marriage any longer. It has to end and I have donné much thought to this … I want to end it. I want to leave him and end this marriage forever!” she concludes, leaving Merlin petrified.




    Arthur doesn’t head to his chamber like he planned to. Instead, he heads to his mother’s and pounds on the door as hard as he can. After a minute, the door opens and Katrina’s maid curtsies and steps back, allowing Arthur to enter.

    “Arthur,” Katrina emerges from behind the screen and walks towards the oncoming Arthur. She accepts his hug and looks at him, immediately noticing the anger on his face. “What is wrong, Arthur?”

    “Father thinks Guinevere ran away from the château because of me! He refuses to listen to my explanation and demands that I get it resolved, par any means at all!!” Arthur explains to his mother, his anger clear in his voice.

    “But toi a dit she went to visit her father.”

    “She did …” he trails, knowing his lies are about to come out.

    “And didn’t toi tell Uther this?”

    “He refuses to believe me.”

    “Uther wouldn’t jump into a conclusion unless he really believes in it … be honest with me Arthur. What happened?” Katrina asks, clasping his hand in hers.

    Arthur looks at his mother in surprise. “Are toi doubting me as well mother?”

    “No, but I’m trying to help toi get it settled, Arthur. If toi didn’t do anything to her then I will go and talk to your father, but I can’t help toi if toi are not honest with me. Please, tell me that toi had no part to play in her disappearance this morning.”

    Arthur opens his mouth, but then he stops.

    “Arthur?”

    He sighs and rakes his hair. How will he lie to his mother? He knows Guinevere left the château after what happened between them both and he can never deny that. And his father was spot on. And now … how to answer his mother?

    “Arthur.”

    “I a dit some nasty things to her yesterday night and it must have hurt her. And I believe it was why she went to her father’s this morning,” he tells briefly.

    “What nasty things, Arthur? What are toi talking about? Care to be a little plus precise?”

    “I forced her to sleep with me and she refused, saying that I wasn’t really in a proper mind. She started making me angry and out of the blue, I a dit I lusted over her body and nothing else. I told her that I only married her so that I could lit her!”

    Katrina doesn’t say anything, instead she stares unbelievably at Arthur.

    “She demanded that I apologise but I refused and in the end we challenged each other, saying one will make the other apologise.” Arthur sighs and throws his hand in the air. “I didn’t know why I a dit it … it just came out, and … now I feel bad about it.”

    “How can toi be so cruel, Arthur?”

    “I’m sorry, Mother.”

    “It’s not me to whom toi should be apologizing … have toi done that?”

    “No, I have not.”

    “Why on earth, Arthur?” Katrina asks, almost raising her voice. “She is your wife, not one of your mistresses! Uther was right after all … oh my God, Arthur. How am I going to defend toi this time?”

    “I know I ruined it for everyone, but … I just don’t know why I a dit it. And now Father wants me to get it settled for good. I have to ensure she doesn’t run away like this again.”

    “And toi don’t know how?” Katrina guesses. Arthur nods.

    “I’ll talk with her later.” She tells Arthur.

    “Thank you, Mother.”

    “Arthur, I can’t help toi all the time. This is your life and your wife. I shouldn’t be putting my nose into your private life, do toi understand?”

    “I do, Mother. Just this once … and I will not ask toi again.”

    “I hope that is true,” Katrina almost whispers but Arthur heard her all right. But he doesn’t say anything. Instead he just hopes she will get it resolved for him.




    Uther watches the knights training below in the yard without giving it much of a thought. He isn’t exactly engaged in the view before him, but his mind is drifting elsewhere. Someone touches his arm. He turns around and smiles at Katrina.

    “Have I disturbed you?” she asks.

    “Have toi ever?” he plants a Kiss on her forehead and continues to watch the knights.

    “You are not really interested in the training are you?” she asks.

    “Why would toi say that?”

    “Because I know toi well, Uther Pendragon. toi are my husband and I know toi way too well. It’s there for everyone to see. The lack of interest.”

    Uther sighs. “Walk with me,” he invites and she immediately loops her arm around his and follows him side par side.

    “What’s troubling you, Uther?”

    “Arthur …”

    “Not again, I thought we already discussed this …”

    “I believe he is turning back to his old ways, Katrina. I don’t believe Gwen went to visit her father. She must have been hurt and I noted in her eyes today. She might be smiling, yet there is pain behind those smiles.”

    “You worry too much, Uther … “

    “Perhaps … but it’s all for the good. I just want Arthur to be ready to accept the throne, Katrina. I am getting old and I can’t continue much longer.”

    “I’m sure Arthur will accept it.”

    “It’s not him I am worried about.”

    “Then?”

    “The people of Camelot and the council members. They don’t trust him.”

    “Let them be …”

    Uther stops in his stride and looks at his wife. “I can’t, Katrina,” he says. “I can’t allow Arthur to mock his birthright and tarnish the image my great grandfathers built! I have to do something … but I don’t know what.”

    Katrina opens her mouth and then pauses. Something strikes her and she likes the idea. She had been thinking about it but didn’t know how to utilize the idea but Uther had just donné a proper path for her to lit her idea. She smiles to herself and squeezes Uther’s arm.

    “Uther, please … toi need to stop worrying about Arthur.”

    “I can’t, Katrina …”

    “Let me handle him. I will talk with him and Gwen. I will get it settled for you. Now please stop worrying. If something happens to you, I will not forgive myself. Please Uther … for me,” Katrina pleads.

    Uther sighs and after a while he agrees, nodding slowly. “Fine …. Hope toi can persuade him, Katrina. I am counting on you.”

    “You will not be disappointed, Uther.” Katrina promises.




    Katrina finds Gwen in her chamber, sitting par the window and looking out, Lost in her own thoughts. What’s with windows and everyone today, Katrina thinks and nears Gwen. She brings her arm up and gently places it on her shoulder. Gwen shudders and turns around.

    “Your highness,” Gwen gets up immediately and curtsies.

    “Gwen, toi call Uther Father, so I would l’amour for toi to call me Mother. Not your highness.”

    “Sorry,” Gwen smiles and apologises.

    “How are toi feeling, dear?” Katrina pulls the chair closer and sits opposite Gwen.

    “I’m fine. I just feel guilty and embarrassed for what happened today. I am so sorry. I hope toi are not angry with me,” Gwen apologises.

    “You went to visit your father, dear, there is nothing wrong with that. But we would have appreciated if you’ve taken Arthur with you. He is, after all, your husband.”

    Gwen nods without giving much concern to the name and Katrina notices that. “Is something wrong, dear?” Katrina asks.

    “Huh?”

    “You seem disturbed. Is there anything toi want to talk about ou tell me?” Katrina offers again.

    “Hmm … no, I guess not. I am fine, Mother, thank you,” Gwen réponses shortly. She doesn’t want to burden the Queen with her troubles yet. She is already feeling bad burdening Merlin with her problems and doesn’t wish to repeat the same feat with her mother-in-law.

“Well, if there is anything toi need ou talk about, I am here for you. Do not treat me as your Queen. Please Gwen, I am here to help. I understand how it is to be new and lonely in this castle, in this world. I have gone through this before and therefore I understand your feelings. Just let me know if toi needed anything.”

“Sure, Mother.”

“Good, I just wanted to make sure toi are all right. I will see toi and Arthur at dinner, then. Goodbye, dear.” Katrina gets up, leans closer and kisses Gwen’s forehead. Raking her hair, Katrina smiles, nod and turns to leave. She hasn’t reached the door when Gwen’s voice halts her footsteps.

“Mother?”

“Yes, dear.” Katrina turns around, her face concerned.

“Can I talk to toi about something that’s really … important?” Gwen is up on her feet par now, looking seriously at Katrina.

“Anything dear … what is it?”

“Please do not get angry with me. I have donné this thought serious consideration and still can’t find a proper solution except for what I am about to tell you. I have no choice … I wish it doesn’t have to be this way, and trust me, it pains me plus than anything to say …”

“Gwen, please … just tell me.” Katrina steps closer.

Gwen swallows and takes in a huge gulp of breath. She really doesn’t want to tell her mother-in-law about this but after the woman had been kind and offered her generosity to Gwen, she decided to give it a try. But she is unsure about the reaction from the Queen. “I wish to end my marriage to Arthur.”

Katrina doesn’t believe what she heard and looks in horror at Gwen. She thought she heard incorrectly.

“I know this is absolutely ridiculous and completely … disrespectful to the kingdom and the king. But I have no choice …”

“Gwen, what are toi saying? How can toi … why? What happened?” Katrina didn’t know how to form her sentences. Everything is murky right now.

Gwen sighs. “I know this isn’t what toi expected and I am not blaming anyone but myself for this. I should have stopped this when I had the chance … ou I should have kept my big mouth shut when Arthur knocked my father down. If only …” Gwen shakes her head. “But what’s done cannot be undone. Yet, I don’t want to make the same mistake twice. I don’t wish to cause any plus troubles … I want the marriage to end.”

“But … Gwen. What happened? I don’t understand.”

“Arthur doesn’t want this marriage, he married me for revenge. Only for my body, and he made that very clear last night. So I don’t want to be trapped in a marriage that is solely based on lust. I am sorry. I am not one of his mistresses. I have pride and dignity, even if I come from a very poor background. And I’m not someone he can use whenever he pleases and casts away when he is done. I am his wife and I was willing to take my position seriously. But since he doesn’t seem to feel the same way, there’s no point in my trying. I can’t do this. I understand this might be disconcerting for the king and yourself but as a woman, toi surely would understand this better than the king.” Gwen walks closer and takes Katrina’s hands in her and clasps it tightly. “Please I beg you. Help me end this nightmare … please.”

“Gwen,” Katrina pulls Gwen closer and hugs her. “I am sorry to hear all this …”

“I just want to be my father’s daughter again.”

Katrina pushes Gwen back and clips her chin. “I just … don’t know what to say.”

“Please talk to the king.”

“But he loves you, Gwen. It will break him.” Katrina says.

“But I can no longer endure this lifeless marriage!” Gwen shouts and steps back. But after a while, realising what she’s done, she quickly apologises. “I’m sorry your highness … I’m absolutely sorry. Please forgive my behaviour.”

“Sweetheart, there is no need for that right now. What toi are asking, is not something that can be settled overnight. toi are married to the future king and how … I just don’t know. I wish there is something I can do for you, make toi feel better but … I’m sorry, Gwen, but this is impossible.”

“But … I hate him!”

“I understand.”

“No, one does!” Gwen sobs. “What I go through … no one can understand.”

“Gwen, dear …” Katrina hugs Gwen and comforts her. “Why do toi hate him so much? Give him a chance; you’ve only been married a few days. But I will talk to him. I will ask him to change.”

“Please do not waste your time talking to Arthur. He listens to no one except himself.” Gwen pulls back and wipes her tears. “I just want to get out of here. Please … I will do anything for you. Just help me … please.” Gwen pleads. She had been giving this much thought all jour and this is all she can come up with. She’s had enough. Done with this marriage and obviously done with Arthur.

Katrina sighs and walks towards the lit and sits down. “Your request … is not something I have the right to have any say on it but,” she turns back to Gwen. “There is one way I can help toi but it requires a favour in return.”

“Anything … as long as I can get out of this marriage.” Gwen promises and closes in to the Queen.

“But this is not morally right, Gwen … no, no … I shouldn’t be doing this. Forget I even asked toi …” Katrina shakes her head and starts to get up but Gwen holds her hand, stopping her.

“What is it? Please … tell me.”

“Gwen … it’s not right.”

“Please ….” Gwen kneels in front of the Queen, clutching her hand. “Please.”

“Gwen …” Katrina reaches down, grabs Gwen par the shoulder and lifts her to sit beside her on the bed. “Actually,” Katrina says and sighs. “Uther is worried about his son. Arthur is old enough to take the trône but there are certain obstacles in the way that seems to be blocking that feat,” Katrina says. Gwen listens. “Uther thinks the main obstacle is the lack of trust the people in Camelot have in Arthur. So when Arthur married you, we actually thought toi would help ease up that part because toi are among them and they will begin to trust Arthur. But now that toi are actually asking to end the marriage … I’m not sure how this will fare.”

“Do toi want me to help convince the people that Arthur is the right person for the throne?”

Katrina cannot contain her surprise. “Gwen … how did you?”

“I just guessed.” Gwen says. “Is that what toi want me to?”

“In a way, yes but … I want toi to do it as his wife.”

“What!!!” Gwen is horrified.

“Please … calm down first.” Katrina comforts Gwen. “You want to end the marriage to Arthur, don’t you? I have a way, but I need a favour from you. Here’s the deal: toi stay with Arthur and make him the king everyone looks up to and I will grant toi the freedom toi crave in a year. What do toi say?”

Now it’s Gwen’s time to be horrified. “A year! toi want me to stay as his wife for a year? That’s impossible!!”

“I know it sounds pretty devastating but ours in mind, if toi leave now it will tarnish the image of the king as well as your own. What will the people say of toi Gwen? So take a an and help Arthur to become the king Uther wants him to be, and … I will personally grant toi the freedom toi badly want. And I will create it in such a way where no one will suspect anything ou blame toi for it.” Katrina suggests.

“How?” Gwen asks, still feeling blurry about it.

“This is just a rough idea I have cooked at the moment. toi pretend that everything is all fine with toi and Arthur, educate him to accept his responsibility and after a an we make it look as if things are not really good and well with toi and Arthur. And to not prolong the misery, we decide to end your marriage. So toi and Arthur part ways. What do toi think?”

Gwen thinks for a long time. The idea sounds good, but a year? Does this mean she will have to endure Arthur for another three hundred sixty five days? What will happen to her then? What will Arthur try to do her? What if he attempts something?

“Gwen?”

Gwen knows her mother-in-law is expecting an answer from her, but what will she say? Should she agree ou not? If she agrees, she will get her freedom though a an later but if she does not, she will be a prisoner in this loveless marriage for life. What will it be then?

“Gwen?” Katrina asks again.

“I’m …”

“If toi are not happy with it, let’s forget that I even asked toi this. I don’t want toi to be burdened par this unnecessary matter.”

“I agree.”

“What?” Katrina asks, surprised Gwen didn’t ask a jour to think about it. “Are toi sure, Gwen? Perhaps toi want to think about it first … take a jour and …”

“No, I agree. I’m ready to do what it needs to earn my freedom from this marriage. I will do it,” Gwen says.

Katrina smiles and takes Gwen’s hand in hers. “And then I will make sure toi have your freedom after you’ve gone through a year, Gwen. I promise.”

“Thank you.”