You Made Your Bed; Now Lie In It [Uther | Arthur]

[Guinevère]

Gwen had known she should not have come to Arthur's room after this, but now that Vivianne was gone she had wanted to make sure there was no lasting effects of whatever this love spell was. Merlin said a true love kiss would break it but poor Lady Vivianne was heartbroken. She had really only planned to just ask him how he was but somehow the simple question had turned into a passionate kiss.

Her arms were locked around his neck, and she was standing on her toes as if trying to get a few inches closer. She pulled away slightly to say something but just as she did she heard the hard falls of boots walking down the hall. Her eyes went slightly wider and she stepped quickly away. Giving him a panicked look she ran her hands over he hair, before dropping her gaze, turning to face his table, and pretended to be folding the mass of . . . unwashed clothing she was about to take down the wash room.

[King Uther | Prince Arthur | Servant Guinevère]

[Arthur Pendragon]

After all of the confusion and misinterpretation, this was the moment he had longed for. He had felt horrible over what Gwen had to go through with him being enchanted and everyone thinking he was madly in love with Vivian. When really, his heart only belonged to one woman, and that woman was with him right now, embracing him in a passionate, intimate moment. It was a little ironic too, since their last conversation had consisted a discussion regarding how they could not be together right now . . . how at some point, he would find his Queen, and it could not be Guinevère. And yet, here they were. Arthur knew he would not be able to love anyone else, and while it made moments like these incredible, the separation became that much more difficult and painful.

He was so caught up in the moment, that he almost didn't hear footsteps approaching. They were heavy, so it was not Merlin -- since he would be clumsily scurrying down the hall. It may be a passing knight, or . . . . wait. It sounded like they were coming to his bedroom. She created enough distance, but Arthur still took a step back. Never the less, he hated seeing the way her eyes suddenly avoided his. It should not have to be like this. He looked at her, but had to quickly avert his gaze as well as it was now rested at the door, wondering who had disturbed their moment and who had almost caught them in it.

[kinguthersqueen]

Arthur wasn't aware though of just who was standing at the door. Uther had often wondered about these two, and he still wondered what exactly they'd been doing. As Prince, it was within Arthur's right to tend to certain needs if he desired-he was a young man, and although no one knew what hormones were at this time, it was still known that men would be men. Even Uther was not averse to requiring help from one or another of the servant girls from time to time-but he wondered sometimes if this might be more. At the moment, though, he had no proof of anything. He was going to watch them, but he chose not to accuse of that right now, with other things on his mind.

Uther was well aware of the need for political alliances, and it was true that Lady Vivan was a noble, and techincally fair game for Arthur. But although he would love to make an alliance with a king like Olaf, there was no way Olaf would ever agree to it. Arthur must have realized that. He looked at them with his typical fury in his eyes, his facial expression clearly one of anger.

"Arthur, what were you thinking? Certainly you must be aware of Olaf's reputation, that making any advances on Vivian would be suicide. I know that you are a young man, and that you have certain feelings, but you nearly got yourself killed!

[Guinevère]

Guinevère's eyes stayed down at the clothing she was folding but she jumped slightly when the KING of all people entered the room! This was why she had told Arthur they needed to back off, that this would only get them hurt. If this was the king's reaction to Arthur and a PRINCESS; he would have murder in mind over a SERVANT!

She kept folding the clothing as if nothing happened, but she did not know how to make her escape. If she picked up the dirty clothing then he would wonder why she was folding it. She would have to finish it before running away. She only hoped, they lived that long.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Oh . . . dear . . . god. It had been his father. Why couldn't it have been Merlin, or Sir Leon, or Morgana, or anyone else but his father! Such bad timing, and the beginning of what Arthur knew would be a lengthy lecture made it even more awkward. To Uther, Guinevère was just a servant but to Arthur, she was obviously something more. She was someone who's opinions he valued and cared about and so hearing his father talk about his needs in the same room that the woman he truly did love was very, very, VERY uncomfortable.

Arthur forced himself to keep his gaze on his father, no matter how tempting it was to look at her. "I know," he said sincerely, trying to phrase his words very carefully. If ever there was a time that he needed to think before he spoke, now would be it. "I can not explain it father. I was . . . clearly not in my right mind and by the time I realized I was not, I ended the challenge with talks of peace." How was he possibly going to talk himself out of this one? "And now, I have no urge or desire to be with her, for I realized I did not actually love her. No feelings what so ever."

It would appear that he was emphasizing this point to his father, but at the same time, he was also making it clear for Gwen, wanting her to understand that, even if they seemed to have somewhat gotten past it. "Thankfully, things did not end too badly." . . . Relatively. Poor Vivian was still enchanted and now Arthur was going to be subject to ridicule for his scandalous acts. He knew his father had a right to be upset with him. If only it was so easy to explain how and why it had happened.

[kinguthersqueen]

"That is one thing that was commendable out of all this, your desire to try and preserve the peace" agreed Uther.

"I cannot help wondering if it was, perhaps, magic that affected your mind, but I know as well how the minds of young men can be, and I know what you have attemped before, when you asked to marry that girl Sophia. You very nearly got yourself killed that time, as I recall. Sometimes, I honestly do not know how you have managed to keep your head on your shoulders this long" he said with a sigh.

"I am relieved that it did not disrupt the peace treaty, but you are very lucky that it did not. That was something Camelot could NOT afford to have fail, and if it had, the resulting wars would have been your fault. Even so, the gossip has already started making its way around the castle and the kingdom, and will likely do so for some time. I obviously take no pleasure in hearing such things being said about you. I only hope that word does not reach Olaf's kingdom as well, as it will damage Camelot's reputation as a kingdom. That is what you must remember, that you, as prince, represent the entire kingdom, and your actions reflect on it, whether positive or negative."

"I am still inclined to order you punished somehow. Maybe some time in the stocks would give you some time to think" the king scowled

[Guinevère]

Guinevère somehow managed not to smile when Arthur started talking about how he did NOT have feelings for the visiting Princess. She believed him, but she had also believed that he loved the princess. She knew she needed to force her heart to not love him, or not love him as much for he would only break it. For now there was no princess he was in love with but one day he would marry his queen; and she would still be Morgana's servant.

Part of her wished she had been given the choice to go with Lancelot int he woods. She might not have grown to love Arthur this much had he taken her away to live with him some place else. Her heart might not be breaking at the idea of watching him marry another woman.

When the king spoke of time int he stocks she did her best not to drop the shirt she was folding. Merlin seemed to take them in good humor, however the prince might not. Who would dare though food at the prince?

She could not say anything, she could only stand there and pretend that she was just part of the wood work, blind, deaf, and mute in their conversation. Like a good servant girl.

[Arthur Pendragon]

The more his father spoke, the more pressure Arthur began to feel. With the reputation of the him, of the Pendragons, of the entire Kingdom! To reminding him that every action he made would reflect on him and ultimately the kingdom! With Guinevère standing here, these were not the words he wanted his father to be saying. It made him realize the impossibility of anything happening between them even more, though that did not seem to stop him from seeking her out and continuing to romance her.

"It was, a very intense infatuation, but once I realized the obsurdity of my actions, I quickly rationalized the situation. It will never happen again father, I promise." Did he say that after what happened with Lady Sofia? He couldn't remember. He hoped not because then how would his father trust him on his words? How could Arthur trust himself with these words? What if someone else came and struck him with a love potion that made him mad over another woman? He couldn't help it! Apparently, using magic to woo other women was becoming a horrible frequency. "I understand the responsibility I have. But if I can remind you, it was not only me . . . it was Lady Vivian too." Arthur was not trying to worm his way out of it, he was just trying to point out that if news of this reached Olaf's kingdom, then it would also be Vivian's reputation on the line, and her father would do whatever he could to protect it.

Arthur's eyes slightly widened when his father began to speak of the dungeon and . . . wait, did he just say the stocks?! The dungeon was bad enough, but was his father really planning to throw him in the dungeon, again?! He wanted to blurt out right there that it had been magic, but he knew that would only upset his father more, and that it could potentially start a war between the kingdoms that signed the peace treaty if he were to find out who had done it. That, and the fact that it would be difficult to explain how the enchantment had been broken. Either way, he needed to talk his father out of putting him in the stocks.

"I have already learned my lesson, and I regret being so reckless with what I did, to jeopardize both our kingdom and King Olaf's. As I said, it will not happen again." He was a bit desperate in his attempt to change his father's mind and convince him not to punish him in this very humiliating way. "It was foolish, and . . . " And he was in love with another woman who was standing in this room. "I have had plenty of time to think, and I know what I did was terribly wrong. Did King Olaf accept out sincere apologies? He seemed to be rather understanding before he left." He wanted to make sure though since Uther had spoken to him more than Arthur, especially after their fight to what was supposed to have been to the death.

[kinguthersqueen]

Uther had his suspicions, really, recalling Alenid yelling at Trickler before making him walk all the way home, but he had no proof and no desire to destroy the entire peace process by accusing him of causing trouble. It was not easy to tell if it was magic or just the unthinking mistake of a young man struggling with normal adult desires. Olaf wouldn't have cared either way anyway, and would have still tried to start a war with Uther.

"I am pleased that you say that, I only hope that you mean it this time, given the fact that you have done it repeatedly. It is not easy to trust you after two such incidences. That is why I am inclined to order punishment this time, at least mild form of one. Nothing severe, because it did work out well, and Olaf did leave on fair terms, at least for him. He is never fully content with a situation. And also, you acted wisely during the duel, and for that I am pleased with you. "

The king was quiet for a moment, considering.[ He couldn't afford leniency with Arthur, he had to be stern, but at the same time, Arthur had managed to recitfy the situation quite well. He waited for Arthur to speak again, his face telling the prince that he was considering everything as they talked.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère tired not to pause what she was doing and just watch them. She was wishing Arthur would just admit that it was a magic spell and then his father would spare him. She wished she could speak up for him. Surely the king would believe his son! She knew it might be hard to explain the how and why he was put under the spell and even worse the how and why of how he was free-ed from the spell. She knew if the king ever found out that she'd kissed him that she would be in more then a little trouble.

When Arthur wanted the marry Lady Sofia, the king had almost had Sofia jailed. Who knew what he would do to a servant. After being accused of a witch once, and then having her father die as he did; Guinevère was afraid of the king's wrath.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Shoot. Arthur still had no reasonable explanation for what had happened with Sophia. Part of him wanted to believe that was magic too because he had been far too impulsive and infatuated for it to make sense . . . but he could not blame sorcery for that. This on the other hand, was more frustrating because had actually had a legitimate reason, but one he could not reveal to his father. They had just signed a peace treaty, he would not risk breaking it. "I understand father," Arthur submitted. He knew his father had a right to punish him, though he sincerely hoped it was not with the stocks. As much as he hated the dungeon, he would gladly pick that over the stocks. He had suffered enough humiliation.

And yet, his father had said he was pleased with him. It was phrases like these that Arthur hung on to, as his father did not always express his emotions, so to hear that . . . especially after what Arthur had done, was a big relief. "I swear to you. I will never do something as impulsive as that again." He repeated, trying to phrase his words carefully, as he did not want to completely give up the hope that there was a way that his father would accept him and Guinevère.

"I realize that it should never have come to a duel, and I assure you, the woman that I do marry will not jeopardize the safety of two kingdoms." Especially if he did marry Guinevère one day. Arthur could not let it go. "I will act in the best interest of my people, and myself." He paused, fighting the urge to glance over at Gwen while saying such things. "What do you think would be a fitting punishment for this then?" Arthur was almost afraid to ask, afraid that the word 'stocks' would come up again. He knew that once his father's mind was made up, it would be too difficult to change. He never thought he would actually be hoping to go to the dungeon . . . but if he must, then there was no way he could challenge the king's authority by objecting.

[kinguthersqueen]

It did please the king that Arthur seemed to have learned a lot from this experience. It had all been extremely lucky the way things had resolved, and it frightened Uther a bit how easily things could have gone differently, how one wrong decision, one foolish or impulsive move, could destroy or save a kingdom. He sincerely hoped Arthur had learned enough from this to wake him up and keep anything from happening in the future. Uther had someone in mind for Arthur's bride, but he was still in the process of arranging Lord Godwin's visit here to set it up.

"I fear how we are seen by the other kingdoms, how badly our reputation has been tarnished. I hope not too greatly, since the treaty was still salvaged, but I don't like it even so. Thus far, I like what I have heard, I hope that you will not forget the lessons of this incident. I do hope it will ultimately be as you say. But to ensure that the lesson is learned, I think a day or two in the dungeons will suffice."

(ooc did you still want the stocks? I can change it.)