Princefinder

[Guinevère]

Guinevère knew she was right, but knowing she was right and hearing him say it in this tone seemed like two very different emotions. She wanted to feel glad that everything would be alright but there was something about his demeanor that held her back for the moment. Was something wrong? Was there something he was not telling her? "What is wrong?" She asked with worry in her tone.

"If Gaius is free, we should be happy. Were did the witchfinder go? I did not see him leave." Something felt wrong, and she was on the edge of feeling real panic and just the small type of panic that her mind made up for no reason. The type of panic you felt silly for later. "You do not looked please." Which was why she was holding back the feeling of joy at the news Merlin Arthur had saved Gaius.

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur could tell by her expression and tone of voice that she was still concerned. She had no reason to be really, and Arthur realized that he should be focusing on reassuring her that everything had worked out. Gaius was alright. He was alive. He was safe. That was the main thing. And yet, Arthur could not stop thinking about what she had said to him . . . knowing she was right. He could not stop thinking how terrifying it was that his father heard the word magic, and could turn against even his closest friend. "I am," he said, not fully lying for he was indeed pleased that the true criminal had been revealed.

"He's dead," Arthur revealed in a low voice, still looking at the amulets. He knew that if he had not died by accident, then he would have been sentenced to death by the king. First for framing others, and second for threatening the life of his ward. "He tripped and fell out of the window . . . shortly after holding a knife to Morgana's throat," Arthur added, a bit more anger in the last part of his words. The nerve of him.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère felt shock at his words. The witchfinder had done what?! To Morgana?! She glanced at the door, clearing thinking about running to find her mistress to comfort her before she looked up at Arthur. She felt shocked that all this had happened and she had been so close but not heard anything. "Morgana is unharmed?"

He sounded upset. Guinevère moved closer and placed her hand over his on the silver bracelet he held. She knew it was the object that was used to frame Gaius, or at lest one of the ones. Was this why he was upset? Because he believed the lies? "Thank you." She spoke softly, "You saved Gaius' life today, and who knows how many others you saved because he can not frame anyone else."

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[Arthur Pendragon]

"She's a bit shaken, but she will be fine." She was a strong woman, and this was not the first time a blade had been pointed at her. She had fought in Ealdor which showed her courage. The only difference this time was that had been more so the shock of it all. Thank goodness Aredian was clumsy enough to drop the dagger . . . and then trip out the window. Very clumsy indeed. But it ensured her safety so Arthur still felt the relief from that . . . as well as the overall relief of Gaius being saved. When she came closer, and put her hand on the amulet, he looked up at her, making eye contact.

"No," he immediately argued when she said that he had saved Gaius life. Arthur would take credit when it was due to him, and this time, he had not been the one to save Gaius. He would have been as responsible for his death as he was for . . . Tom's. He did not have to pass the sentence to be as equally responsible for what happened. Being a bystander was bad enough. "I should be thanking you. For it is you and Merlin who saved Gaius' life and brought to us the necessary evidence." He paused for a few seconds before continuing. "Had it been left to me, I would have ended up watching him burn." He said that with no pride, only the utmost shame.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère did not believe that. Some part of her, the part that she loved him with, she knew. Her heart told her that he would not have let harm to come Gaius. That had she not ran up to him in a panic he would have stopped it on his own. That before the fires were lit, Arthur's heart would have kicked him into action. That she had only been the excuse his mind had been looking for. "I don't believe that." She told him what she had been thinking.

"Not for a moment." Because Arthur was not his father, and anyone could see that sometimes it weighed on Arthur to be the good son to a close minded father. "I was only the excuse you needed. I nor Merlin could have done anything to save Gaius, that was you. Merlin only gave you the proof you needed to do it with." She believed that, with her whole heart.

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur felt flattered that she had that much faith in him, but at the same time . . . he felt he did not deserve it. He knew he didn't. When he was unconscious, she had once spoken to him about how much hope and faith she had in him. He didn't want to do anything to diminish that but at the same time, he had nearly let Gaius die. It would have proved that he was not as great as some thought him to be; that he was not as fair and just as others claimed. It was an honor to hear such things, but Arthur felt that right now, after what had happened or almost happened, such compliments were wrongfully bestowed.

"You were not the excuse Guinevère, you were the reason. Had you not come to me . . . " Well, everyone knew what would have happened. He couldn't help but think if her faith in him would deplete after this . . . and he could not blame her if it did. "You were right in saying what you did. To have the power to stop something and do nothing, is not the quality of a just and fair prince or king." Or even future king in his case particularly. He was now also speaking in terms of her father, not just Gaius.

[Guinevère]

He was feeling guilty and she did not wish him too. She did not mean to make him feel like this, only to make him see what was happening. "I don't believe that." She told him again, "I saw your face out there Arthur. I think when it came down to it, you would have stopped it. I think that you would not have been able to stand there and watch it happen." By the time the fires would have been lit, she honestly believed he would have stepped up on his own. She had just given him a legal way of doing it.

"There had been many times when I watched you step up and save innocent people. I do not doubt in where your heart is. That you not the best that you can be." Her voice was intense and strong and sure. She believed every word she was saying. "How many times have you done it before? This time it just got closer then ever before, but you have have stopped it. I know you, and I know you could not have stood in place and watched it go much further."

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur truly wished he could take the credit she was giving him; that he would have surely done something to stop the horrific act. But they would never know. And he could not accept something that he was not certain was true. He wanted to believe it, as easily as she said it. But he could not. And probably never would. It was of course an extreme relief that he was safe now, but at the same time, the what ifs of the situation would haunt his memory. How could she be so sure? She knew him, almost better than anyone . . . how could she be that certain that he would have put a stop to it? He wanted to ask, but let a moment of silence pass between them instead. Another example she had spoken of in her desperate attempt to stop the burning also nagged at his mind.

"I did not do so where your father was concerned." He had not stepped up. That was a prime example. It showed that he would just stand by and watch it happen, for he had not done more to convince his father of Tom's innocence. He may not have known Gwen and her father well, but he should have at least trusted his instincts, and trusted Morgana if nothing else. He did not bring that up now so that she could apologize for using that example of the past. He merely brought up the subject to support his claim; to display his horrible mistakes that innocent people had to suffer because of.

[Guinevère]

She had not said those words to make him feel guilty for not taking action back then, only to make him take action now. "When I was accused of magic, and Merlin had proof of my innocence, you risked your life to save mine." She reminded him, "I was nothing to you then, Arthur. Just Morgana's servant. You did it, because you believed."

"My father died, while trying to escape. Had we been given more time, we might have found proof to save him." Stepping closer, she put one hand on each of his forearms. "You are who protects the people from your father's hate of magic. When he hears the word magic, sometimes he does not need proof. The people know you are fair. over this past year look at how you have helped them. Look at each and everything you have done and know that I do not have doubt in you. You should not let something from the past . . . . ." Her voice broke, for her father was always a hard topic for her.

"Learn from it, but do not let it cause you pain. I do not blame you, no matter how my words might have suggested it. Your a good man, Arthur Pendragon, remember that."

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[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur listened to Guinevère very attentively, even if he could not look at her right away. Her words brought forth an array of emotions. Hearing her bring up the fact that she was accused of magic, caused Arthur to think back to that day, knowing that she was right, hating to admit that she was right. He had not loved her then. He barley paid her any attention. And now . . . now was very different. He knew it was not her intention to cause such guilt and remorse in him, but how could he help it? He had arrested the woman, that he would soon fall in love with. What sane man did not regret doing that? It was not until she stepped closer to him, gently placing her hand on his arms, that he looked at her.

Everything she was saying was true. From reminding him that before she was only a servant to him, to his father's stubbornness and irrationality when it came to magic. He had used that argument to defend Gwen when she was suspected of using witchcraft; that something happened to his father when he heard the word magic. But he had to stop agreeing with her words when she began to talk of all that he had done. It was never enough. Helping one person did not make up for allowing another to die. He could not solely recognize what he did to try and help the people, for it was expected of him. But when someone died . . . when an innocent person died . . . it was unacceptable. People spoke of the brighter Camelot he would build and his recent actions -- or inactions -- disproved their hope.

And yet, here was Gwen, trying to convince him otherwise. Try to re-instill his faith in himself. She was becoming his confidant in many ways . . . as a wife would be for a husband. She was becoming one of the few people that he disclosed his fears, worries and uncertainties to and felt entirely comfortable doing so. How could someone he had such a strong relationship with, be so difficult to be with? It did not seem right. It did not seem fair. Hearing her confidence in him, when he lacked it so much . . . meant the world to him. It did indeed give him comfort, for he knew Guinevère was an honest woman, as she had proven in the past. She would not say something to him that was not true, for she was not shy to be brutally honest with him. Which was why it was so easy to believe her. And why he felt a strong sense of honor upon hearing such things.

"Thank you," he expressed in a low voice, barley above a whisper. He did not know how to express how much her words meant to him. While he still felt horrible for what almost happened, he would be lying if he said he did not feel better after hearing her reassurance. "But the people deserve the benefit of the doubt," he began to say, speaking in terms of when they were accused of magic . . . or anything really. While he was referring to the general public, he had specific examples in his mind [mainly Gaius and Tom]. "I fear they will not have that." Because his father refused rationality to the point that he would see his own closest friend executed. Because Arthur was not being a man of action and using his power to save them. Too many people have suffered from false -- or not fully proved -- crimes.

He gave a bit of a smile, not trying to force out further compliments from her, but merely return the favor of honesty. "I do not know what kind of king I will be, but I know what kind I do not wish to be." He would learn from his mistakes, but how was it that his father never approved of his views? Uther was undeniably a strong king, so how could his own and his father's views and opinions differ so much? Arthur trusted his instincts, but at the same time, there was a reason his father constantly stated that he was not yet ready to be king. "And that is one who stands by, realizing when its too late that he has made a mistake." He knew what Camelot deserved; it was not a king who so easily forgot the loyalty that people have shown towards them for so long . . . one who was so willing to execute them. It only made Arthur desperately wish that his father was not so rash, for the guilt must fill the king as well and it was not at all an enjoyable feeling to be consumed with.

[Guinevère]

"You will not be that man, Arthur." She told him, trying to make him believe in him self even half as much as she believed in him. "Your father had to be strong against magic in the beginning, maybe he does not know any other way; but you do. You know when something is wrong and you make it right. You've been doing it for years. Your father might not hear reason when he sees magic but he hears you. He loves you and Morgana deeply, and you can be his reason--as you have been it before."

"When I was assues of magic, and you fought the beast . . . You father could have still blamed me for that, but someone had to have spoken to him and made him see reason. Morgana's temper gets the best of her and she had been with Merlin and I. I know you had to be there. You did it then, when you only though I was a servant. No one fears the day when they follow your lead. . . . . trust me, I am down in the towns everyday. I hear how highly they speak of the day when you are their king." The people loved Uther, for the most part. He was not a hated king, just feared when it came to magic and his being their judge. Arthur would not be that for them.

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[Arthur Pendragon]

He truly wished he could believe her words as easily as she spoke them. There were so many conflicting thoughts entering his mind. Even if he had fought the beast, she never should have been in that position to begin with. Had he truly been doing his duties, he would have found a better way to prove her innocence. He should not have permitted her to get arrested. There were many things he regretted. But as always, Guinevère's seemingly undying faith in him always focused on the positive rather than the negative. And that meant so much to him. Especially when she attempted to see things from his father's point of view . . . for it was he who had sent the order out for the death of her own father.

To hear that the people in the towns spoke of him, was the highest honor. One that he - yet again - could not explain in words. He never quite knew what the people thought of him, for most would not be brutally honest with him, or dare speak out against any either of the Pendragons. So to hear someone who has heard first hand the murmurs in the town, and to hear what they were saying . . . was a high form of honor for the prince. So much so, that he did not even know what to say in return. What could he say? Nothing could amount to how much the people's faith in him meant to him.

"You should not have been arrested in the first place," he told her, wanting her to know how much he regretted that. "It is my obligation to protect the people," It was their right for they trusted him, not only as the Prince but also the leader of the army, to protect them and for security. "And while your words mean a great deal to me Guinevère, I can not ignore the past. The distant past, nor the recent one." He slowly looked at her, half a smile on his lips, though it was far from a jovial one. "I am only grateful that you were there to make me see reason, as you always are." It was becoming a frequency.

She was proving more and more every day, why she would make such a perfect queen for this kingdom. One that Camelot deserved. "The people trust me to protect them, to provide them with security, and it only seems that they are getting more and more afraid." He did not blame his father; he blamed whatever the root was that had caused him to despise magic so much; that had made him so irrational when it came to the mere mention of that word. There was nothing he could do to change the king's harsh penalties for magic; he would just have to do a better job in convincing him to look at all the facts. To t least attempt to be rational, as difficult as that would be.

[Guinevère]

They were getting afraid, but not of Arthur. She wished she could let him see the world the way she saw it, they way his people saw it. How they both loved and feared his father--and some even hated. Yet how they all looked to him for fairness and protection more so then any king from before his father. Arthur was strong, and they saw that. They would fight for him, and they knew he would fight for them. Not a just a kingdom, but for them!

How could he not see that? Maybe one day he would see that, and know that this was what they meant when they called it his birthright. Not something given to him by the blood in his veins but by the heart of his people. "You should doubt in your self less, and trust in your people more. They are strong, and most day very happy and safe. Yes, there are times when darkness comes but you always come for them. Ever servant, farmer and child. Even when you were just a . . . . " she smiled, teasing him now, " . . . just an arrogant bully, you still fought for them."

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[Arthur Pendragon]

He gave her a faint smile when she referred to him as an arrogant bully. He knew he had been one, thanks to her honestly -- which he did not hold against her. She had made him see the error of his ways, and he had wanted to be better since that day on. To hear her say all these things now, knowing that she did not have . . . knowing that she was honest rather than one to say only things he wanted to hear . . . made him believe her, made him believe that he had perhaps changed for the better after all. "At the very least, they deserve that," he said in a thoughtful voice. It was not a favor for him to stand up for them; it was to be expected. As he had used the word before, it was his obligation. Any failure in that . . . would only raise doubt in the people. Would only make them question their security and trust they had willingly placed in their sovereign.

His expression softened a bit as he rested his gaze on her, not too ashamed to look away, though he still felt those pangs of regret and fear. "Thank you Guinevère," he said with the utmost sincerity. While Morgana had always been the one to give him that push of confidence and encouragement, Guinevère did it in a very different way. She did it with less . . . teasing and provoking. Of course, his relationship was completely different with Guinevère than it was with Morgana, as Morgana was more of a sister -- one that teased and playfully mocked -- and Gwen was the woman he had given his heart too, even if they both knew it could not be. "I doubt anyone else could have eased the mind of an, arrogant bully," he said, still with a bit of a smile. The last part had been a bit of a joke, but his words were true. She always seemed to have that effect on him. To ease his troubles. To provide him with comfort. To have become his closest confidant.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère gave a soft laugh when he teased her back, and was so very glad that he seemed to be more at ease with today's events. She felt guilty for tossing her father into his face but she had been desperate and had not though before speaking. Even still, she might have said it for Gaius' life had been moments away from the fire. Yet she knew that she only gave him the reason to speak up. Had he not wanted to speak up already he would not have done so.

Suddenly the room had become slightly too intimate and personal. She felt that slight butterfly in her belly that came before she hoped he would kiss her. Her eyes feel to the floor for a moment before she looked up with a small smile at her. "I should go." Before someone came in and wondered why she was here. "Morgana might need me after she's been checked to make sure she is unharmed." While it was true, it was still just an excuse.

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[Arthur Pendragon]

While he wished they could spend more time together -- just as he always did when they parted ways -- he also understood why they could not. And that made the separation so much more difficult. It seemed that while the two knew they had to keep their distance, it was so difficult when they had these few stolen moments together which only reaffirmed the strength of their relationship . . . or at least how strongly Arthur felt towards Gwen. He gave a very faint smile, and a short nod of his head, in agreement . . . though he wished it was not the case. Every time she left, he felt like he needed just one more second with her.

"As should I," he added. He needed to go check on Gaius, to apologize to him. While Gwen's words had provided him with comfort, he still still strong pangs of regret for what he had almost allowed to happen. And the person who deserved to hear such apologies was Gaius. An innocent man who had been convicted under false accusations . . . and a false confession, which now made sense in understanding that he was only protecting Merlin. Until she left, he just looked at her, longingly, as if he wanted to say something more before she departed . . . but used ever ounce of strength within him to restrain from doing so. For he knew, it would only cause them more pain.