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    “NOOO!!!!” Arthur falls back and crawls away, nearing the cupboard and shrinking away into the shadows. “NO!!” he keeps saying, shaking his head. ‘This is not true … not true!’ he keeps thinking, still shocked.
    “Arthur…” Geoffrey stops, unable to continue as his own cœur, coeur suffers watching the boy he raised since infancy in pain. He swallows and sighs. “I understand this must be hard for toi but… It’s the truth, Arthur.”
    “NO!!!!!” Arthur shouts back at his butler. “You’re lying, Geoffrey… you’re lying. My father wouldn’t do this to me, no… no at all.”
    “Arthur, please calm down…” Geoffrey stands up and walks towards Arthur, kneeling down right in front of him, reaching out to hold his hands but Arthur pulls his away. “Please, Arthur!”
    “No… I want toi to leave this room now. I won’t believe you, no matter what happens. This is a lie… a betrayal!” Arthur shouts at Geoffrey. “How could toi do this to me, Geoffrey? I held toi in equal regard to my father… I… how could you? How?” Arthur pounds the floor in anger.
    Geoffrey knows Arthur is reacting based on his emotions and what he is saying isn’t coming from his heart. “What your father did to toi was betrayal, Arthur. I’m finally just rectifying the situation,” Geoffrey says and when Arthur turns his head away, Geoffrey reaches out and turns Arthur’s face to face him. “Look, Arthur! I’ve known your father longer than toi have. I’ve been beside him in everything he did, good and bad. And I know what he a dit to Guinevere the jour he forced her to leave you. I was devastated par his actions because I like her and for the first time in my life, I was satisfied with your choice of woman. And she reminded me so much of your mother, which is why I knew you’d be happy with her. But unfortunately your father’s view differed from mine, and at the end of the day, he’s your father. But trust me, Arthur. Your father is the reason why you’re suffering silently today. And he’s the reason why Gwen is blind.”
    Arthur looks surprised at Geoffrey. “How did toi know about Guinevere?”
    “I heard when toi told Merlin about Guinevere’s condition and that’s when I decided I had to break my silence. I can’t watch the agony any longer and I don’t care what happens to me now. I just want toi to know the truth and reach out to your old love, your true love.” The old butler explains and sighs sadly.
    For Arthur, the world is erupting viciously inside his head. He doesn’t want to believe this new information, yet it’s impossible not to believe it. If he had heard this from anyone else, he would have removed them himself but this is Geoffrey, the man he regards as highly as his own father, so how could he not believe it. He feels his cœur, coeur racing. His mind goes berserk and he covers his head with his hands, trying to stop the nightmare from repeating it self. ‘Could it be true? Everything Geoffrey just said?’ he thinks and closes his eyes. ‘All that he heard and saw from his father … a LIE!’ the truth slaps across his face in a whip, stirring the pain in his heart, rekindling old hatred for his father. He snaps his eyes open and looks up at Geoffrey.
    “Why didn’t toi tell me this before, Geoffrey?”
    “Your father made me promise not to…”
    “And now? What about your promise?” Arthur cuts in.
    “I don’t care about the promise ou Uther any more. I care about you, Arthur,”
    “LIE!!!” Arthur pushes himself out of Geoffrey’s way and gets up to his feet. He drags his weak limbs towards the chair and plops down. “It’s all a lie… toi want something from my father too, just like Guinevere and you’re using my weak point to get at my father. It’s a lie and I won’t believe it,” Arthur shouts and points his finger at Geoffrey. “Not a single word,”
    “Fine… then why don’t toi ask your father himself, Arthur? Merlin challenged toi a while il y a and now I’m asking toi the same. Ask your father why Guinevere was told to come to his office and why was she offered money? And why was your uncle Agravaine summoned from Cornwall suddenly? And why rush toi into this marriage? Ask your father all these questions, Arthur, and hear what he has to say,” Geoffrey says and gets up to his feet. “I’m just a servant, yes, but I know all of your father’s secrets. I held the information back from toi because I promised your father. Yes… I did. It was wrong of me and a betrayal of the trust toi have in me and toi can curse me all toi want, but… I just thought of your safety, that’s why. I was worried if I hadn’t promised your father, he would go on to make the situation worse. And I was thinking of Gwen’s safety as well which is why I decided not to tell you,” Geoffrey explains.
    Arthur hears silently. His cœur, coeur is weeping inside and he doesn’t know how long he can go on listening to all this.
    “This is devastating, Arthur, I understand, and I know how painful it must be for you. But this is something toi need to believe, no matter how grieving it is for you. I would have held on to my promise if I didn’t have to watch toi and Gwen suffer. Yes, Arthur… I swallowed the truth fearing for the safety of both of you, but when I realized that the lies are tearing both of toi inside, I could no longer stand back and keep myself quiet. And if toi think I’m merely blackmailing your father…” Geoffrey laughs, “I could have done that way back, Son. I have had many opportunities in my long years in his service,” he adds.
    Watching Arthur remain silent, Geoffrey says softly, “This is your life, Arthur. Yours. toi need to make the decisions, not your father, not anyone else. And if toi l’amour Guinevere like I know toi do, and then toi surely wouldn’t allow yourself to be fooled par these atrocities your father throws at you. toi will know the purity of her heart, the truth, because toi l’amour her. Think of what I’ve just told toi and make sure toi question your father when he returns,” Geoffrey finishes. He starts to leave the room but then he stops and digs into his vest pocket, fishing out the chain Arthur had asked him to throw that the morning. He walks back to Arthur, pulls out Arthur’s hand and drops the chain in it.
    “I believe this belongs to you,” he simply states and turns back to leave the room.
    Arthur stares at the chain a long time and didn’t even hear Geoffrey closing the door. The chain brings back fresh memories of Guinevere and suddenly his cœur, coeur soars. He yearns for her and he brings the chain closer to his heart, wrapping both hands around it, as if that helps. He closes his eyes and goes through the information Geoffrey just told him. ‘Could it be true?’ he thinks. His father does have the reputation to come up with something unexpected like this but didn’t he promise? Didn’t his father promise to change himself? Then why… why? Arthur slams his head back in such force that the chair rattles, threatening to give way. ‘Is this all true?’ he thinks again. ‘If … if it is true ... then … then … oh god!! GOD!!!’
    Arthur slams his head again and cries, thinking back all the curses, profanities and hatred he threw at Guinevere. He ridiculed her situation, slapped her not once but twice and abused her with his words; because he hated her, because he savored revenge when in truth, she was a victim like he is. She gave him up because she loved him plus than she did herself, something he failed to recognise. What kind a man he is? He showed his affection for her publicly but failed to realize the truth when she desperately could have used his help. She saved not one but two lives yet she tossed her own into the fire. Arthur shakes his head and sobs uncontrollably. His cœur, coeur threatens to explode and he wishes it does, as that feeling would be preferable to the pain in his empty heart. It needs its life and that life is somewhere else and goes par the name of Guinevere.
    “Arghhhh!!!!” Arthur stands up in a force and picks a crystal goblet beside him and heaves it towards the wall, smashing it into pieces. “WHY?” he shouts and falls on his knees, looking up. “WHY?”
    He asks again and cries, tears wetting his collier and the front of his shirt. Then he stops crying, all of a sudden. ‘There’s only one solution!’ he thinks, wipes his tears and gets up. He picks his coat, slips it on and walks to the door. There’s someone he needs to meet if he has to find out the truth.


    Merlin reaches the door and hesitates. Should he ring the cloche, bell ou should he knock ou should he simply wait until Gwen opens it on her own. ‘How could she? You’re stupid, Merlin…’ he whacks his temple and goes to the cloche, bell beside the door and presses it. A while later, the door opens and Gwen stands behind it.
    “Hello?”
    “Why didn’t toi ask me who I am before opening the door, Gwen? toi know how dangerous it is to open for strangers. Anyone can be standing here and toi simply hold the door open?”
    “MERLIN!!!” Gwen shouts happily and steps forward, her arms stretching out for an embrace.
    Merlin accepts her hug and they stood in other’s embrace a while before Merlin releases her.
    “Yeah, I missed toi too,” he says with a smile. But his smile fades the moment he notices her blindness. He reaches up and cups her cheek, sighing sadly. “What happened, Gwen?”
    “How are you, Merlin?” Gwen tries to change the subject but Merlin insists on going back to his question.
    “I asked toi first.”
    “Merlin…”
    “Fine, at least invite me in, won’t you?” Merlin teases jokingly and Gwen laughs. “There, that’s better. But seriously, I could use a seat.”
    “Come in, Merlin…” Gwen steps back and invites Merlin in to the house.
    “Thank you, Gwen, but let me help you,” he says, closes the door and leads Gwen inside par holding her hand.
    “Thanks, Merlin… would toi like a drink? I don’t have …”
    “Gwen,” Merlin stops her first par grabbing her shoulder and urging her to sit down. “Sit down with me, please.”
    Gwen obeys Merlin and sits down, but she keeps her head down. Merlin reaches out and clips her chin, lifting it up to have full view on her. “I know what happened, Gwen, so don’t even try lying to me… I want to know what happened to you? Why are toi torturing yourself?”
    “Merlin, I don’t understand what you’re talking about? Torturing what? I am good, like toi can see me now. This,” she points at her eyes and smiles, “this is only temporary; the doctor a dit it should come back in weeks ou days time. So I’m not worried about it and toi shouldn’t, either.”
    “I told toi not try and lie to me, Gwen. I am your friend and I know what you’re trying to hide. I don’t need to see your eyes to know the truth because I found it from Reagan. I managed to dig out the truth.”
    “WHAT!!” Gwen seems terrified suddenly. “What did toi find out, Merlin? What did he say?”
    “Everything that happened, Gwen!” Merlin eyes her suspiciously. If he plays his cards well, he may as well dig the truth out from Gwen herself. “I know why toi left Arthur.”
    “Merlin, please…” Gwen gets up and turns away, clutching her hands in fear. ‘God … Merlin knows? Does that mean … Arthur knows too?’ she thinks.
    “Why did toi do that, Gwen? Do toi have any idea how distraught Arthur’s been? How hurt he’s been after toi left? Why? Don’t toi l’amour him anymore? Haven’t toi any pity Gwen?” Merlin asks softly, coming to stand beside Gwen.
    Fresh tears rolls down Gwen’s cheek. “Don’t say that Merlin, please.” She sobs and covers her mouth. Merlin waits patiently. He wants to comfort her but he has to know the truth first. “I l’amour him, with all my heart,” she finally says.
    “Then why did toi leave him?”
    “Because I have no choice, Merlin. I was asked to choose and I choose someone else.”
    “Someone else? I don’t follow toi Gwen. What do toi mean, someone else?”
    “I chose Morgause over Arthur, because I wanted to save her life and in return I have to leave the only man mattered most in my life,” she says in between her cries. “I didn’t have any other options, Merlin… I had to,” and she couldn’t continue any further. Merlin moves closer and wraps his supportive hands around her.
    Merlin knows Gwen had been helping Morgana with her problems and though he doesn’t know the depth of the issue, he suspects Morgause is part of that problem. And no matter what it’s been, someone had used it to ask Gwen leave Arthur. He has a name playing in his mind but he wants to learn it from Gwen herself. “Who told toi to leave Arthur, Gwen?”
    “Uther,” Gwen says shortly, bitterly, as if the very name makes her ill.
    ‘Ahhhh!! Just like I thought,’ Merlin spits in anger. “Didn’t I warn toi about him, Gwen? Didn’t I ask toi not to fall on his trap?” Merlin reminds gently, sighing in disappointment.
    “I know Merlin. I was a fool to fall for his trap, but…” she wipes her tears. “It’s too late now. There’s nothing much I can do about it. What’s done cannot be undone anymore. But I am happy Arthur found someone else in his life. At least my sacrifice wasn’t wasted.”
    “What about you, Gwen?” Merlin’s temper flares. “Have toi thought about you? Your life? Your future?”
    “There’s nothing plus for me.”
    “That’s bullshit, Gwen,” Merlin snaps angrily. “I’m sorry, but I think it’s time toi stopped looking out for others and started considering yourself for a change.”
    “What do toi expect me to do, Merlin?”
    “Talk to Arthur. Tell him what happened and help him see the truth.”
    “NO Merlin!!! Never!!” Gwen says abruptly and steps ahead, releasing herself from Merlin’s protective arms. She feels relieved Arthur doesn’t know the truth and hope it stays like that. “I have donné my word to Uther and will not step back from it!”
    “The hell with Uther, Gwen!! I couldn’t give the smallest crap about him anymore. It’s toi who should be marrying Arthur, not Mithian, because he loves you!”
    “Merlin, please don’t push.”
    “I’m not Gwen! I’m merely reminding toi of your mistake. Arthur loves you.”
    “No, he doesn’t!!” Gwen says, remembering the scornful words Arthur threw her way today. “He loves her and wants to marry her. He told me!”
    “He lied, Gwen, just to irk toi up for what toi caused him. He confessed to me a while ago. He doesn’t l’amour anyone except you. He couldn’t stand the pain toi caused him. That’s all. Just… just for once in your life, do something for you.”
    “I… I…” Gwen struggles for words as emotion chokes her throat, threatening to break her down to shards. The pain in her head returns but not as bad as she suffered a while ago. She is surprised Merlin found out about the deal and fears the circumstances of it if Uther learns that the secret it known. And Arthur? What will he think if he learns the truth? Will he return to her? But what about Mithian? That poor girl has been caught in this and Gwen wishes nothing but goodness for her. It will kill Gwen if Arthur decides to dump her and get back with Gwen. Like Elena, Mithian will be become another woman in Arthur’s life, but how will Gwen get over it? She still feels guilty about Elena, and now must she add Mithian?
    “Gwen?”
    “Merlin… I don’t know what to do,”
    “Tell Arthur the truth, Gwen… please, I’m begging you!” Merlin turns Gwen around, clasps her hand and begs. “It kills me to see toi both suffer, just please!!”
    “Merlin… how can I betray the girl whom Arthur will marry? That’s not what I have in mind,”
    “Mithian will understand, Gwen… she’s a good character and she expects l’amour from Arthur. But unfortunately that dollop head can’t give her in return. He loves toi and only you, Gwen… how else can I prove it to you? I don’t know… I’m really clueless here,” Merlin informs Gwen. “If I could rip open Arthur’s heart, you’d see that he has your picture in it and no one else’s.”
    “Oh, God…” Gwen cries, covers her face and buries herself into Merlin’s chest. Merlin calms his friend and strokes her hair gently.
    “I know, Gwen… it’s has been a torturous time for toi both. There are no words to describe the hardship toi both endure but take this as your test. There are reasons for everything, réponses to all questions and maybe there is one for this as well. What’s important is that both of toi l’amour each other. God loves toi both and he knows what lies ahead and perhaps that’s why he’s placing this test on toi both; to prepare for plus obstacles ahead. But if toi can endure this, then there is nothing else both of toi can’t work through together,” Merlin explains. “Everyone born in this world will have to go through hardships in life, Gwen… no one is spared, but that doesn’t break them down. In fact it makes them stronger. And it will do for both of you. What’s important is that both of toi stay true to one another and nothing will break that bond,” Merlin says and lifts Gwen’s face. He thumbs off the tears from her cheek and smiles. “The bond that ties toi with Arthur is unbreakable, Gwen, it’s unshakeable no matter what demon tries to lay their hands on it. And that’s why I’m telling you… it’s destiny at play here. toi and Arthur are meant for each other.”
    Gwen’s cœur, coeur lifts listening to Merlin’s encouraging words and she feels bolstered. Perhaps Merlin is right. Maybe, Arthur is meant for her after all. If not, what compelled her to come back to Camelot? Meet Arthur when he’s in the midst of his own engagement? Become blind? All the consequences seem to have a role to play in their lives. Only the answer is unknown. Gwen sniffs and wipes her tears off. “Fine. Merlin, just say you’re right. Now what do toi want me to do?”
    “Talk to Arthur and tell him what happened. Make him see the truth. Get back to him and this time don’t let any other demon invade your lives,” Merlin advises. “You have a good heart, Gwen, don’t let evil counsel tempt toi away with false promises.”
    “Thank toi for believing in me all this time, Merlin. And I’m sorry for the hurt I’ve caused toi and the rest.”
    “Gwen, you’re an Angel in disguise and there’s no way toi would hurt anyone par your own wish. And toi can never expect me to believe different, yeah!” he flicks her nose and Gwen smiles, for the first time that day.
    “There, that’s better. The smile is back on your face and now we have to make it return on Arthur’s. Let’s go.” Merlin grabs Gwen’s hand and starts to lead her away.
    “Merlin… where?”
    “To meet Arthur of course, come…”
    “At least allow me to change, will you?”
    “Oh… sure.” Merlin laughs sheepishly as Gwen walks slowly to her room. Her face is bright and colored, thanks to the happiness which returns back to her in the form of Merlin. She loves Arthur and wants him back in her life. If Arthur loves her like Merlin says, then he’ll accept her. And Gwen can’t wait to meet him.



    Arthur walks into his father’s meeting uninvited. The whole room looks stunned and surprised that the younger Pendragon has decided to rejoindre them for the meeting. Uther is stunned as well but he masks it well. If his son wants to mingle in meetings and get to know the board members, why should he even stop him? This should be encouragement for Uther not disappointment.
    “Arthur?” Uther responds.
    Arthur doesn’t answer him; instead he looks at the remaining people in the room. “If toi all don’t mind, I’d like to have a private audience with my father,” he tells them.
    Immediately there are murmurs around, members in the room starts to whisper with one another. Simply put they are not amused because it is an important meeting which brings them all together today and now, even before they have hardly discussed anything important, the future director of the company walks in and asks them to leave. Uther realizes the uneasiness within his board and looks at his son.
    “Arthur? What ever toi need to say, I’m sure it can wait. I’m in a very important meeting right now.”
    “This is even plus important than that, Father, and I don’t really care how important this meeting is. I need to talk to toi right now!” Arthur insists stubbornly and before his father can answer, he turns his attention back to the not so amused board members in the room.
    “Look, everyone… this meeting is over. Like I said, I need to see my father urgently. Go home, do whatever toi want… explore the building, eat what ever toi want… everything is on me, but just get the hell out of this room this very instant! And when I’m the director, we’ll have to look into the meeting rules immediately. Remind me to make some changes in it,” Arthur says coolly.
    The board members erupt into heated discussion. It’s obvious they are all stunned par Arthur’s harsh remarks and they do not like it one bit. After all they are CEOs and directors of their respective companies and to be called for a meeting in urgency and then humiliated isn’t on their agenda. Some of the members were up on their feet immediately while others look angrily at Uther, seeking explanation for his son’s action. Uther, realising how the events have turned acide, sure all thanks to Arthur nevertheless, tries his best to calm the situation. He talks and persuades the member to sit down.
    “Guys… come on, if anyone of toi has at least some sense of dignity, you’d be out of this door the moment I say get out!”
    “ARTHUR!!!” Uther’s suivant words pause in his throat in anger.
    The member of the board rises one par one. Some argue with Uther while the rest assures that Uther have just Lost their support in the program he is currently planning. Others just walk out angrily, obviously humiliated.
    “Please wait… please,” Uther pleads with them but they shove his hands off and leave. Some stare at Arthur on their way out but the latter looks at them without the slightest of interest. He simply walks to the table, pulls out a chair and sits down, crossing his leg.
    When the last of the members leave, Uther turns towards Arthur, his eyes fiery with anger. “What madness is this Arthur?” he pounds the table, tableau angrily.
    “Are they all gone?” Arthur peeks at the open door and satisfied with what he sees, he looks back at his father, smiling. “God, I was wondering when they were going to leave. Anyway, toi have no idea who I met today,” he says as if nothing happened.
    “Do toi have any idea what have toi done? That was a gigantic project, Arthur, and it was in the final discussions!!! Now, I’ve Lost everything… thanks to you!! Why did toi do that? Are toi insane?” Uther still could not believe how the meeting, which had been running for a week, was finally being fruitful and was just minutes from closing, had the final solution turned into ashes in seconds, the moment Arthur stepped in. And what’s worst is that he will no longer have the support of his neighboring companies; something he’s been hanging onto since his rise in the corporate world. These groups are the ones propelled him to an untouchable status and out of his gratitude, Uther made sure all these companies benefitted from his projects. But now, within a second, he Lost his friends, their money and their support. Worst, he Lost his place on the corporate ladder. His rivals will be laughing at him right now and will be seizing the opportunity to challenge him using his own friends. GOD!!! What madness is this?
    “Forget that, Father… there are plenty of projects out there waiting for us… did toi hear what I just said?”
    “Arthur…” Uther throws his hand in the air in anger and walks to the mini bar at the end of the room and pours himself a glass of whisky. He gulps it down and pours another. He drains that as well and smashes the glass into pieces.
    “Toast father? Good, I was thinking of one too…” Arthur gets up.
    “ENOUGH ARTHUR!!!” Uther shouts and smashes a bottle of scotch against the wall, halting Arthur in his steps. “This has to stop… toi have to stop!!”
    “I didn’t do anything, Father …”
    “Didn’t do anything?” Uther points at the door. “Those people, the ones that walked out a minute ago, are the reason why we are in this position. Why we are being heralded as the haut, retour au début of the heap… why am I known as the king in Camelot. I worked hard to gain their trust and loyalty and now… a single word from toi chased them out! And they are not coming back… no matter how I plead ou kneel, they will not come back.”
    “Father, really, just throw them a couple of projects ou money and they’ll come running back to you, like dogs!”
    “This isn’t about money, Arthur… this is about loyalty and trust. toi build the trust and gain their support through all the hardship toi go through building it. That’s how people believe you… that’s how toi will be seen in their eyes.”
    “Really, Father?” Arthur asks as if amused.
    “What would toi know, Arthur?” Uther snaps angrily. “You’re nothing but naïve in this matter and it will take a long time for toi to understand how business works. Maybe, one jour when toi have your own clients and lose them because of one idiot, perhaps then you’ll understand the pain. Now… all this will matter not to you!”
    Arthur laughs loudly and slams his hand on the table. Uther looks at his son in anger. Arthur continues to laugh and walks to the window that over looks the garden and the car park. “I’m afraid toi are still wrong about me, Father…”
    “Look, Arthur…”
    “Of all people, toi shouldn’t talk about loyalty ou trust, Father, because toi have none and will never have any!”
    “What are toi blabbering about?”
    “Blabbering?” Arthur turns back to meet his father. He smiles painfully. “I craved for your trust and loyalty. toi never gave me any. And toi tried to buy Guinevere’s with money, too… how could toi talk about something toi don’t practice in your life at all?”
    Uther freezes but he doesn’t montrer the trouble on his face. He remains angry. “That’s some bollocks.”
    “Yeah?” Arthur walks towards his father and stands right in front of him. “Then why don’t toi explain about the money toi gave her to help Morgana when I had decided to place it upon me? ou why did toi stop my transfer and pretend that it was cancelled due to some errors in the documents? ou why did toi offer her money father? And…” Arthur chokes and thinks back of the one word which still makes his blood boil. “Why did toi tell her to leave me, Father?”
    ‘How in the world?’ Uther thinks and looks at Arthur blankly. He doesn’t know what to say ou how to say anything. His words freeze in his throat and his mind is digging deep to come up with another lie to cover up this one. But unfortunately, he looses the plot. Something ou someone has betrayed him. ‘Geoffrey!’ he thinks angrily. ‘Wait till I feu the old man from my house!’
    “Tell me toi didn’t do any of this, Father!”
    “Huh?”
    “Tell me toi never did this and I’ll believe you,” Arthur repeats which surprises Uther. He’d been expecting lashings but not this.
    “Arthur… I…”
    “Merlin, Reagan and Geoffrey told me that toi betrayed me, that toi are the reason why Guinevere left me but I’m not buying any of that. Because I trust you… toi promised me, Father. toi promised you’d change and toi did. So, how could they blame you? They don’t know toi like I do, Father… right? I know you’d never betray my trust ou love. So, I came here to find the truth from your own mouth. Tell me toi didn’t do it, Father, and I’ll montrer them who’s wrong!” Arthur says calmly.
    A sharp couteau pierces Uther heart, digging the sharp end right into the core where the pain is the sharpest. Uther winces as if he could feel the couteau itself. ‘Arthur trusts me?’ he thinks and lowers his head. His son still trusts him after finding out the truth because he loves his father. [i]‘And what did I do to him in return?’[/] Uther thinks in shame. Nothing pains plus than betrayal and Uther finally gets the taste of his own medicine.
    Arthur reaches out and holds his father’s hand in his. “Father… none of this happened, did it?”
    “Arthur…”
    “I believe you, Father. I will protect toi from everyone else. Just tell me this isn’t true. Prove to me that my outburst a while il y a is merely out of scope, that I was wrong to believe their words.”
    Uther feels ashamed meeting Arthur’s face. How many times has he played around with Arthur’s life, betrayed and used his son’s trust for his own selfishness and yet, Arthur still trusts him. And this time the guilt is plaguing his cœur, coeur like an incurable disease. There’s no way he can gain Arthur’s trust if he confesses to him but if he doesn’t, he will be forever guilty. How can he look Arthur in the eye any more? How can he face his wife when he passes over to the suivant life? Suddenly Uther is afraid. He fears the wrath that awaits him from God, Arthur and his lovely wife. If they decide to punish him, he will be alone. Painfully rejected from everyone and the world will spit on him, cast him aside like a leper. He will be alone and he fears facing death in such sight.
    “Father?”
    Uther looks into Arthur’s eyes for the first time that jour and finds nothing but love. He feels guilty and ashamed. He had mistreated his son since the jour his wife died and Arthur kept on loving him without any amer feelings. And yet, what did Uther do in return? He used Arthur like a pawn, moved him according to his own needs and refused his son the happiness he deserves. And still Arthur waited, thinking his father will realize his l’amour one jour and that jour did arrive, albeit a feigned one.
    Uther feels humiliated, guilty and dirty for the miseries he caused his son. He has never felt guilty for his mistakes before, yet Arthur’s unshackled l’amour breaks Uther’s arrogance. Arthur’s confession and loyalty strips Uther’s tyranny, and now the king resembles the portrait of a father, guilty of losing his son’s trust. No money in the world can buy his son’s l’amour if Arthur decides to leave him forever.
    “Father, please… I just need the truth. For mother’s sake… please tell me what happened.”
And that is the final straw. Uther knows he is lost. And he must face the repercussions of his actions like a man. “I am sorry, Arthur. What toi hear from them is… completely true.”
    Arthur releases his father’s hand and steps back, struggling to hold the tears back. He came here with hope, thinking his father isn’t as bad as they have mentioned, hoping for a change in their words, but alas! The truth, the blind truth that separated him from Guinevere is true after all. His father is the demon behind all this. He had never changed despite his promise. He never loved him at all!
    “Arthur… I’m sorry…”
    “Don’t say it, Father!” Arthur stops his father with his hand, halting Uther in his steps. Arthur’s cœur, coeur is bitter. “Just don’t say anything.”
    “I must… I want toi to know how sorry I am about this!”
    “Is this another lie of yours? How will I know it isn’t? Since toi are terribly good in covering your dirt on others?”
    “Arthur,” Uther stops and looks at his feet, ashamed.
Arthur scoffs bitterly as tears rolls down from his cheek. “What have I done to you, Father? I don’t understand at all… why all this hatred?”
    “I don’t…”
    “You do, just don’t tell toi never hated me… I refuse to believe anything that comes out from your mouth any more. I feel… hurt, Father. Do toi know how it feels? Have toi felt it before? Oh… silly me, I shouldn’t be asking this of someone who doesn’t even have a heart.”
    “Arthur, stop, please…”
    “Why? The damages are done. toi had your wishes and what else is there to be done ou seen to? Like toi wished, Guinevere left me and I’m going to marry Mithian. You’ll have your millions and a daughter-in-law of your status. toi can be proud of me and Mithian and use it to gain plus projects for your business so… why do I need to stop now?”
    Those words plunges into Uther’s cœur, coeur like poison and unable to tolerate it any longer, he turns himself away from Arthur.
    “I was willing to listen to you, Father, despite what my Friends a dit about you. Even Geoffrey told me not to trust you, yet I didn’t want to believe them. Do toi know why? Because I have always hoped you’d be the father I wanted. And I believed toi had changed… I was a fool, believing on your false words when you’d been happily stabbing my back all the while. What a fool I’ve been!” Arthur says, his voice drops almost to a whisper. “And I came here to learn the truth from your own mouth because I believed toi wouldn’t lie to me. And despite the outburst a while ago, I feel sorry I did that. I still do…”
    “Arthur… I am sorry, Son. I didn’t know how else to apologise to toi but…” Uther closes his eyes in pain and chokes on his words, unable to continue. “I just wanted toi to be happy…”
    “Happy?” Arthur laughs in sarcasm. “Do toi know what the word even means?” he adds.     “Unfortunately toi can never assure a happy life for Mithian and me. I will never l’amour her and provide toi the heir to continue this empire. I will plunge her into unhappiness until toi hear nothing but her tears and cries filling the Pendragon household, not her laughter. And you’ll hear her confession about her unhappy marriage to me until it breaks your heart. And the guilt and pain will drive toi to insanity… you’ll suffer alone, Father, you’ll be in greater pain than the one toi caused me!”
    “Enough, Arthur!!” Uther stops his son and turns around. “Stop it!! I am sorry. I am terribly sorry for what I did and I am ashamed of it now. I realize my mistakes and wish I could turn the time back so that matters can be rectified. But unfortunately I can’t… but I am sorry.”
    “Tell that to Guinevere, because she’s blind because of you!”
    “What are toi saying, Arthur?”
    “She Lost her sight thanks to the pain toi plagued her with. The stress of losing me and the agony of our separation took toll on her health and now, she’s blind. What will toi do now, Father? Will toi offer another million to buy her sight?”
    “GOD!!” the news is a amer blow to him. If facing Arthur is bad, facing Guinevere will be even worse than this.
    “She’s all alone because of you. And I, not fully aware of your play, spewed atrocities at her, hurting her further. What was her mistake? Is it because she loved me? Is l’amour a crime that it merits such a punishment? And if toi wanted her out from my life, toi could have asked me to do it, why choose her?”
    Uther doesn’t know how to answer him. He stays silent.
    “There are no words to describe toi ou the bitterness I feel inside. I am ashamed of you… ashamed to call myself a Pendragon. toi betray my trust and Mother’s trust as well, and I know she’s ashamed of toi like I am. I wish I had remained blind so that I didn’t have to witness any of this. toi failed, Father… toi failed in your duties as a husband, a father and as a man. toi can never sleep at night because you’ll be tormented par your sin, you’ll be thinking about your betrayal. I am no longer your son, and this is the last time toi will see me. I am leaving toi and the Pendragon Dynastie forever. I am going to where I belong, to my Guinevere. And toi can sit and cry with your money, status and those who still wish to be around you. But remember what toi a dit earlier: Trust and loyalty need to be earned; no money in the world can buy them. Unfortunately toi just Lost yours. Goodbye, Uther Pendragon!” With that, Arthur walks out from the room. But he stops par the door and looks back at his father.
    “You were wrong about Guinevere. Even after all the agony toi caused her, she didn’t utter a word about toi to me. Not a single word! And doesn’t this tell toi something about her? Isn’t this the daughter-in-law the Pendragons need? The rest of the world saw her kindness but toi didn’t. Because you’d been blinded par your arrogance. And that’s your loss not hers. Too bad indeed!” and he leaves the room.
    Uther stares helplessly at his son, unable to stop him ou offer anything to recover his mistakes. His days as the glorious Uther Pendragon are over. The days of his grief has taken over.


    Arthur stops his car par the side of the road and leans his against his seat, sighing sadly. He’s devastated. He’s been searching for Guinevere all over Camelot and there’s no sign of her anywhere. He’s been to Morgana’s home, to her précédant work place, met Gaius, and even to the park where he met her earlier. Still he Lost her. And probably for good, too, because he hurt her deeply this time. A single tear rolls down his cheek and he thumbs it away. He feels ashamed of himself. How will he face her now? How will he apologise to her after spewing all the hurtful words? How will he ask her to accept him back? Arthur’s cœur, coeur is weak and he fears he might die anytime because of all the pain he collected today. The only medicine his aching cœur, coeur needs is Guinevere, and he has to see her immediately. He fears his time is running short.
    If he can’t find Guinevere today, he will not give up. He will travel to Carleon tonight, meet Elyan and find out from him about his sister’s whereabouts. And if Elyan wishes to throw his anger at him, par all means let him do so. At least it’ll make Arthur feel better. But he needs to find his Guinevere. He opens his eyes and looks to his right. The Pendragon mansion sits proudly, beaming high on its glamour. But no matter how long he looks at it, Arthur feels sad. He has just relinquished his rights to the Dynastie and now, the mansion is nothing but another old manor with heritage and history. He didn’t want to come back here but he owes a man an apology and before he leaves town, he better get that off his chest first. He has called his uncle and cancelled his wedding with Mithian. And like he expected, it didn’t go down well with Agravaine. But Arthur spoke to Mithian as well and miraculously she understood. Though Arthur suspects she is hurt par his words, she was wise beyond her age and decided to honour his wishes. And Arthur is thankful to her for that. He opens the door and steps out. Closing the door close, he drags his weak feet towards the place he once called home.

    He pushes the door open and steps in but his feet stays glued when his eyes spots a figure of a woman, seated in the middle of the room. His throat becomes dry and unable to déplacer ou clear his throat, Arthur looks petrified at Guinevere.

    “Arthur?” Guinevere calls as she thinks she heard a sound.
    Arthur braces himself and shakes from his petrifaction. He takes his steps carefully towards her.
    “Is that you?” she asks, getting up to her feet. But before she can take a step forward, her feet tangles with the chair and she trips. But before she can fall forward, Arthur hurries and catches her in his arms.
    “Arthur?”
    “Yes, Guinevere… this is your Arthur,” he tells her softly, helping her to regain her balance.
    “Oh, I’m… sorry, Arthur. I…”
    “Shhh…” Arthur places his finger on her lips, silencing her. “Let me talk, Guinevere. Please,” he tells her.
    Taking her hands in his and clasping them softly, he looks at her. “I am sorry, Guinevere. I am sorry for everything. I apologise to toi on my father’s behalf and I apologise to toi on my behalf. I won’t dwell further on our separation ou the issue which led to it but I will say that I am ashamed for everything I did and a dit to toi while not knowing the truth. I am extremely guilty for your current state of health and will do everything in my will to see that toi regain what you’ve lost. I just want toi to know that I’ve never stopped loving you, even during the trials of our l’amour and still will, even after this soul leaves this body. I was angered par your rejection and therefore went on to say terrible, hateful things without knowing your reasons. I am not expecting toi to forgive me, Guinevere, but I want toi to know, when toi have forgiven me and when toi have decided to accept me, I will be waiting for you. I have nothing else to say…”
    Tears well in Guinevere’s eyes as she listens to Arthur’s beautiful confession. He has a dit it beautifully and how will she haut, retour au début that?
    Arthur reaches up and caresses her cheek. Gwen closes her eyes. How long has it been since they’ve held each other this close? And how she has yearned for his touch. It was like they are back to the first time she met him in the hospital where her cœur, coeur leaped to his. When she first fell in l’amour with him.
    “Arthur… I l’amour toi too. And I just want toi to know, every hurtful thing I was forced to say to toi was like a couteau in my own heart. I had no choice. But I swear upon my father’s grave, I never meant any of it. I have and will always be in l’amour with you; now, tomorrow and forever.”
    And Arthur cups her cheeks, brings her closer and seals his lips over hers, s’embrasser her passionately. Tears rolls down on both of their cheeks but it doesn’t bother them one bit. The passion and l’amour along with the affection that held them away for such a long time floods through them, sealing them forever, binding them into a sacred tie that will not bow to anyone any more. They have come through their tests, and now they will withstand every other obstacle that comes along their life. They have won and nothing can break them apart because their l’amour have grown stronger, bolder and held them true to each other. In Guinevere, Arthur has seen his mother and in Arthur, Gwen has recovered her father.

    Someone clears their throat and Arthur releases Gwen to find Merlin, Leon, Gwaine and Geoffrey standing, watching them with smiles on their faces. Merlin in particular looks completely happy.
    “Guys… thank toi for returning Guinevere to me, and… I’m sorry for not trusting toi earlier. Especially you, Merlin,” Arthur says as he drapes his hand over Gwen’s shoulder, holding her close.
    “It’s all right, Arthur. I would have done anything to see the smile back on your faces,” Merlin replies.
    “And we are sorry too, Gwen… I feel ashamed for the way I behaved,” Gwaine apologises.
    “Gwaine, please… toi haven’t stopped apologizing to me since we arrived here. Anyone in your shoes would do exactly the same. And I’m sorry, too. I’m just glad this is behind us now,” Gwen says.
“Well said, Gwen… now we can all get back happily again,” Leon says.
    Arthur smiles and looks at Geoffrey. He leaves Gwen and walks towards his butler. “Geoffrey,” he takes the butler’s hand in his and clasps it tightly. “Thanks for being honest with me and I’m sorry for being rude a while ago.”
    “Arthur… toi know I’ll do anything for you. I just want to see toi happy and I’m fulfilling your mother’s wishes. Now, be a good man to Guinevere.”
    “Thanks, Geoffrey,” Arthur embraces his butler and walks back to Gwen. He takes her hand and finds her still wearing the engagement ring. He kisses the ring.
    “Arthur?”
    “You still have it?”
    “How could I remove it, Arthur? It was the only thing I had of you. Parting with it would kill me.”
    “I l’amour you, Guinevere… and now I want to marry you. Let’s get married, as soon as possible.”
    “Sure, Arthur, but with your father’s presence.”
    Arthur looks surprised par her request. He turns towards his Friends and they too seem to have the same expression on their faces. “Guinevere, toi know what toi are asking, don’t you?”
    “I do, Arthur, and I also know toi gave up your father to be with me, but… he is still your blood. Your only family and the only connection between toi and your mother. He needs you.”
    “I don’t!” Arthur snaps. “I’m sorry, Guinevere, but this time I’m not listening to anyone on this matter. He is the reason why toi are blind, have toi forgotten that? He ripped us both apart and toi still want him to be part of our life?”
    “He did that because he loves you, Arthur. He didn’t know how to montrer toi his l’amour because he’s been deprived of his one love, his wife. Your mother.”
    Arthur keeps quiet and listens.
    “If your mother had been alive, toi would have seen a different Uther. toi would have seen the father toi dreamed of and he probably would have a different view on me. But losing your mother at the early stages of his life hardened his heart. He closed it shut even for you, refusing to open it for anyone ou anything. He isn’t a tyrant Arthur, like everyone thinks, but he chose that life because he thought it would make him stronger. He refuses to be vulnerable because he fears making mistakes.” She tells him. “He had great plans for toi and the Dynastie he will leave behind. He worked hard for the name he carried and to ensure toi are well taken care of after he’s gone. And he did all this because he loved you. His ways were wrong but he is human, Arthur. He didn’t know how to do it properly and used methods that work well with him. I understand your anger but it’s our duty to forget and forgive.”
    “I don’t know if I can do that, Guinevere. I’m sorry, but I’m still not accepting him.”
    “I’m not asking toi to accept him back in your life, Arthur, just forgive that man for his mistakes. Give the honour of a father at our wedding and let him savour that moment so that he will be relieved of his guilt. Everyone makes mistakes Arthur; and toi and I are no exceptions. So why not forgive your father.”
    “I don’t believe this, Guinevere. He caused toi all this…” Arthur says, still not believing what he hears from her. “And toi still have a soft spot for him?”
    “I don’t want toi to be burdened with the guilt of not being able to forgive your father when he’s not around any more. Just forgive him, Arthur, that’s all I am asking. Let our wedding be free of any ill feelings. We need l’amour from everyone, including your father,” Gwen puts in.
    “She’s right, Arthur… she does have a point there,” Gwaine chips in.
    Arthur sighs and then smiles, slowly. He caresses Gwen’s cheek and shakes his head. “My father is so wrong about you… I just wish he could hear toi now.”
    “Invite him for the wedding and he will be able to do so,” she tells him.
    “Fine, I will…” he says and plants a Kiss on her forehead.
    “Thank you,” she réponses with gratitude.
    “All right everyone… we have a wedding to organize,” Merlin rubs his hands in glee.
    “Time to get busy…” Gwaine says, winking at Arthur. “Come on, planning time!” he loops his hand around Leon and drags him away.
    Geoffrey smiles and follows the boys from behind. Merlin waits a while, sighs and smiles at Arthur. Arthur smiles back at him and mimes thank you. Merlin nods in respect, turns around and leaves the room.
    Arthur turns his attention towards Guinevere. “I still cannot get over how beautiful toi are,” he says softly, tracing her cheek with his finger.
    “Thank you,” she whispers.
    Cupping her cheek, he leans in close and rubs his nose against hers. “I can’t wait to be your husband, Guinevere.”
    “And I can’t wait to be your wife,” she tells him, but her smile fades.
    “What is it?”
    “I just hope I can see our wedding… and do it properly.”
    “Don’t worry; I’ll be your eyes, sweetheart, just like you’ve been mine all this while.” He says with a smile as he kisses her nose. But Guinevere’s smile still has traces of sadness.
    “Sweetheart … I understand how toi feel but I assure you, I will get the best treatment Camelot has and make sure toi get your sights back before we head for our honeymoon. And that’s a promise.”
    Gwen blushes and lowers her head, smiling and this time there isn’t any sadness attached with it. “I just need to stay stress free Arthur … like I said, it’s temporary and I am sure I will regain it sooner, now that I’m happy.”
    “Then I’ll make sure toi stay happy forever,” he says, caressing her cheek.
    “Thank you, Arthur…”
    “No, thank you.” And with that he seals his lips over hers, passionately; knowing their futures are secured and ensured of an everlasting happiness.