Gwen is being held in the castle and there are rumors that she has been sentenced to death. The thought of her locked away in the palace dungeons, awaiting a fate that she did not deserve, grieved me to my very core. But I know that she is being brave, just like she was when she was in Heignst's castle, and I also knew that I would somehow manage to come to my lady's rescue again.

A few hours later I have managed to sneak inside the citadel. During my very brief time as a knight I was housed here and managed to acquaint myself with every room and corridor that I could. I leaned back into the wall as I saw Arthur walking down the hallway with his guards, looking anything but stricken. Anger welled up inside me. How could he be so indifferent to Gwen's plight, a woman he claimed to love? I moved stealthily but stopped again when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I have been found out. I grip the head of my sword, ready to fight, but smile when I see Merlin staring at me.

"Lancelot, what are you doing here?"

"I am here to save Gwen."

He shook his head. "She is too well guarded, even Arthur cannot get to her."

"I saw him a few minutes ago. He did not seem to be trying."

Merlin's lips tighten. "All is not what it seems Lancelot. Arthur …."

"Is the reason that she is in this situation. He alone is to blame."

Merlin shook his head again and I cannot help but wonder how he can show so much loyalty towards a man who he cannot even confide his secret too.

"Arthur wants the same thing we all want. He has a plan."

"Given everything that has happened, I have a hard time trusting Arthur with Gwen."

Merlin looked at him seriously. "If you can't trust Arthur than trust me. Go home. I will do everything that I can here and I will send word soon."

"Merlin you know that I trust you with my life." And I did, I just wasn't sure that I trusted him with Gwen's.

"Then go back to Gwen's and wait."

I didn't move.

"Lancelot, you will be no good to her dead."

I grab his arm. "Will you? Will you use your magic?"

He looks me, his blue eyes hard and determined.

"I won't let her die."

He turns and walks away from me and when I see two more guards heading my way I headed back down the corridor, praying that Merlin would once again find a way to save us all.

Word of her pardon reaches me as I sit in the local tavern. The people around me have mixed reactions, some are thrilled, other feel she must be punished for daring to love their prince, others, so bogged down under the weight of their own problems, simply did not care.

I laugh.

Merlin actually did it.

I grab my sword and head to her home. They had been given a second chance, and this time he was not going to waste it.

The laughter is unmistakably Gwen's and when I look through her window I am horrified at the sight. They are kissing, passionately, hungrily, she is giving his hands access to places that she never gave me and a jealousy that I did not know could exist begins to well up inside me. Once upon a time I thought that Arthur was a man of courage and honor, but no man of honor would continue to take advantage of Gwen like this, not after everything that has already happened. I walk inside. They do not notice me, so enraptured in each other.

"You should be careful," I say, making no attempt to hide my bitterness. "Someone might see you and tell the King that the Prince has not given up his whore!"

Arthur's face reddens and he hits me hard. I fall to the ground and smile as my mouth fills with blood.

It is what I deserve.

Soon he is over me, pounding my face again and again, but I do not feel it. I can only feel the sting of my broken heart. I hear Gwen's voice through the fog, begging Arthur to stop. He does and the way she looks at him, with so much gratefulness, makes me want to hurt him. I find my strength and I lung for him, back turned and all. I imagine that it is quite the spectacle - Prince and would be knight, fighting in the tiniest of hovels over a servant girl.

"STOP THIS NOW!"

It is Gwen, her voice as regal and commanding as her prince's. I feel sick to my stomach. She looks at me with an expression that I cannot make out.

"Lancelot you have no right!"

It is anger. She is angry at me! Me who would do anything for her…

"I do not have the right? Neither does he. Prince or no prince he does not have the right to put you in such danger. '

Arthur steps forward. "The danger for Guinevere has passed. My father believes that we were both enchanted."

"What? " I ask in disbelief. "That is preposterous."

"Indeed, but it is easier for my father to believe this than to accept the fact that I love a servant and that he is solely responsible for the death of my son. He has apologized to us both and agreed to intern Llachue with his ancestors since it is not his fault that he was conceived through magic."

The anger in his tone is unmistakable and I wonder if the King knows just how much his son hates him.

"That is something at least. I am sure that it is a small comfort to you both."

They do not answer.

"Has he given his blessing to you as well?"

I dread the answer.

Arthur laughs. There is a new hardness to him that troubles me.

"No. The King would never allow his son to marry a maid. He believes that now that the enchantment is lifted that I no longer care to see Guinevere."

Then he is a fool, for he knew more than anyone her never ending allure.

"So, if the two of you were to be caught here…"

"We won't," The Prince says firmly.

"You were caught before," I said, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Lancelot, I know that you see yourself as Guinevere's protector, her knight and savior in all things, but Guinevere is my betrothed. I will protect her from all harm."

My mouth opens in shock. "Betrothed?" I look at Gwen. She is avoiding my gaze. "Is this true Gwen?"

She looks at me now. "Yes," she says, squeezing his hand.

"But how is this possible, the King…"

"Will not live forever. When he is gone I will be King and as King I will be able to marry who I choose and I choose Guinevere."

I move towards Gwen. This is madness, a disaster waiting to happen. "Gwen, I am not sure what Arthur has told you, but you must know that he cannot tell you when…when or if your situation may change. I may be years. Please do not throw your life away like this!"

She looks at Arthur and then back at me. "I know," she whispers so low that I barely hear it. "But I…I…I have no life without Arthur."

The look of triumph on Arthur's face is missed by her but not by me. I open the door without looking back. There is nothing more to be said.

"Lancelot wait!"

The sound of her footsteps behind me only makes me want to run faster but I know that as much as I want to I cannot run away from this.

"I know that this is a shock to you, and for that I am sorry, but this is the way things are, I cannot change it, not even for you."

"You would wait for him? Even now, even as your baby lay dead in the ground?"

Her eyes widen in horror. "That was not Arthur's fault! He feels the loss of our son just as I do, more so for he blames himself."

"He should!" I said circling around her. "It was his cowardice that caused it, his inability to stand up to his father…"

She raises her chin defiantly, I have angered her. "Arthur has a burden that you cannot begin to understand. If he could be with me right now he would."

"Yes, your prince has come full of words and apologies, with fancy jewels and silk dresses and promises of a life far away from the kitchens and in your Lady's service. Is that all it took to buy your love and devotion?"

It is raining now and her eyes are full of tears and this …whatever this…is becoming even harder.

"It's not like that. I love him."

I wince in pain; for some reason that was a truth I refused to see until now.

"There was a time when you said those words to me," I said bitterly.

She grabs my hand. "Please do not do this Lance. I care so very much for you but he and I made promises to each other," she says plainly, as if the only promises that matter are those made to a prince.

"And you made a promise to me!" I said, no longer able to control my anger. "Do you remember in Heignst castle when I risked everything to save you? You looked into my eyes and you promised me that as long as you lived your feelings for me would never change."

She shifts uncomfortably, her hand folded around her chest. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"Say that you love me as much as I love you, that this thing with Arthur means nothing, that you want a life with me."

Her face grows pale. "I…you have to understand Lancelot. Please understand. What we had was special but that is in the past now. You left me."

"I felt like I had no choice, that he…" the words die in my throat. "It was a mistake, the biggest mistake of my life and I have regretted it ever since."

"You left me," she repeats, "and Arthur would never leave me. He has proven that to me time and time again. He needs me, he's"…

I put my fingers on her lips, willing her to stop talking, begging her to leave me with some shred of dignity. I turn from her and walk towards the inn where I am storing my horse but I cannot resist turning back to look at her one last time.

"I wish you luck Gwen, you are going you are going to need it."

She is crying even harder now, lips quivering and I can see her pain, but it only magnifies my own. How can she feel this way about me and still choose him? Her door opens and he is the doorway, scowling at me, no doubt angered that she would cry tears for me. I hope the knowledge burns him and drives him insane. I force my feet to start moving and soon I am running as fast as I can, leaving her crying in the rain.

A/N it has been a LONG time since I updated but special thanks to ABVM for getting this started again. Next up Lancelot meets an old friend and starts a new chapter in his life.