Chapter 12. - Spells and Kisses.

Merlin was down in the West wing of the citadel. He was hoping that Princess Tylluan and Arthur were in the same room. Although a part of him, really didn't want to see what he had seen the night before. That had definitely been too much information that he never wanted to see again. He walked steadily towards Princess Tylluan's rooms. He took deep, steadying breaths to stop himself from throwing up at the thought of what he might see this time. 'Okay go in. Try the spell, then get out.' he said to himself over and over in his head. 

He knocked loudly on the door. No reply. He knocked again but there was still nothing. He knocked again just to make sure, before pushing the door open. "Hello?" he called nervously, unsure of whether to remain on the threshold of the room or enter further. He didn't want to intrude. Then he saw Princess Tylluan come out from behind her screen, wearing a pearl white gown. "Oh hello." she said in surprise. "What do you want? Beth ydych chi eisiau?"

"Err...." Merlin stammered caught off guard. 'Best to try and talk it through with her first I guess.' "My lady. I....need to tell you something. Err..... You see Arthur already loves someone. Err.... Gwen. Her name is Gwen." He saw her face fall in disappointment.

"No. Yn gelwyddgi!!!" she screamed. "He loves me!!!! Me!!!!!" her eyes flashed golden and a vase full with roses shattered. Merlin jumped in fright. Just then there was a loud knock on the door. Princess Tylluan blinked the tears away, before opening the door. "Arthur. Fy nghalon. Fy nghariad." she smiled. She sent Merlin a dirty look.

"Your servant, I believe." she said, her voice cold, indicating towards Merlin. Who was stood there a sheepish look on his face as Arthur regarded him.

"Yes. Merlin what are you doing here?!" Arthur asked slightly irritated. Merlin stared at the floor.

"He says you love someone. Gwen he called her. A yw'n wir?" Princess Tylluan asked.

"Merlin!!!! A word. Now!" Arthur ordered sternly, storming out into the corridor. Merlin followed Arthur shutting the door behind him. "How dare you?!!! First that serving girl thinks I love her and now I find you spreading the rumors to my wife to be!!!! Have you indeed lost your mind?!!!! Get out of here and if I catch you here again spreading those idle rumors I will feed you to the dogs!!!!" Arthur fumed.  Merlin ran before Arthur had a chance to throw something at him.

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Arthur was on his way back to his chambers after visiting his soon to be wife. He was walking with a bounce in his step when he entered his room. He was glad to see that his annoying servant was not around. But there was someone else in the room. "Show yourself!" he called. Guinevere stepped out from behind one of the pillars. Her face was tear stained but Merlin had somehow managed to convince her to try and speak with Arthur. She knew what Merlin had meant by 'speak with Arthur.'

~ Que Gwen's Flashback. ~

There was a loud knock on her front door. Gwen slowly stood up off the bed and hastily wiped away the recent tears that had fallen as she remembered the hatred and disgust that showed on Arthur's face the other night. A small part of her wished for Arthur to be on the other end of the door, knocking and begging for forgiveness and kissing her as he had done a few days ago. She opened the door to find not Arthur but Merlin. The disappointment rose inside her, forcing tears to prick the corners of her eyes. "Hello Merlin." she said with a forced smile, trying not to let the disappointment show on her face as she moved out of the way to let Merlin inside the house.

"How are you Gwen?" he asked. Gwen just shrugged her shoulders. Truth was she wasn't really sure how she felt. Physically she felt okay, but emotionally she felt drained. Merlin moved onto his next question. "Gwen I know Arthur he wouldn't be doing this if he was in his right mind." That struck Gwen as intriguing as she knew Arthur loved.... well had loved her, but know he loved Princess Tylluan now.

She forced herself to speak. "What do you mean?"

"I mean love potions, juices, enchantments. None of his feelings for Princess Tylluan are genuine. Look inside yourself, you know who he really loves." Merlin said.

"He doesn't love me. He said so himself." Gwen said sadly.

"Okay. Then. Go see him, kiss him and you'll find out whether he loves you." Merlin replied stubbornly before leaving Gwen's house. Gwen nodded to herself. She would go see Arthur but not to kiss him.

~ End of Guinevere's Flashback. ~

Arthur was looking at her expectantly. Gwen realized that tears were sparkling in her eyes and she hastily blinked them away before they could fall. "I've c-come to apologize S-Sire. For t-t-the other night." Gwen said, her voice cracking with suppressed emotion. Arthur looked at her slightly confused for a moment and then a flash of anger flitted across his face as he remembered the other night.

"And also to say goodbye." Gwen said before she walked up to Arthur, pushing her lips onto his and knocking him into the stone pillar behind him. She thought that Arthur was going to go back to normal, so she removed her lips from his. She watched him, hoping against all that he would remember....would love her again.

He looked at her as though he was in love with her again, the same grin as he had, had when they kissed. But it changed to an expression of outrage. He stepped forward and grabbed her by the arms. "GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE I CALL THE GUARDS AND GET YOU EXECUTED!!! HOW DARE YOU?!!!!!!" he yelled, throwing her outside of his room, slamming the door in her face. "Goodbye Arthur." Guinevere whispered, before fleeing from the scene, tears trailing down her cheeks.