"Mary and I were having a girlie moment, and Gwen asked to join. Why do you look so upset? Nothing wrong happened here. We were having fun."

"Gwen knows of us."

"And guess what, I know of that. She told me."

"She did?"

"Indeed. In fact, she was very accepting of the situation. So why are you upset?"

"I feared ... wel , was concerned ..."

"Hey, I'm stil here, Arthur. Gwen is not the murdering kind. You must know that. You would not have married a woman whose heart you believed to be cruel. You never would."

"I would hope not. But with you I cannot begin to take the chance."

"I love you, Arthur."

"And I, you, Isabel."

"Leg up?" Isabel asked, holding out her arm.

"What?"

"Just a saying. Meaning please help me to my feet."

He took her arm, and as he brought her up to him, he wrapped an arm around her and lifted her.

Stil inches from the ground, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Oh, Isabel," he said moments later. "To my dying breath, I wil ne'er stop desiring your touch and your kisses." He lowered her slowly, which was his intent, as she slid down the front of his body in the most sensual way.

"Why did you, Arthur?"

"Why did I what?"

"Why did you tel Gwen?"

He brushed hair from her cheek. "She deserved the truth."

"You could have said nothing."

"That might have been an option. But what does that say about me, Isabel? Would you have me hide my love for you?"

She butted his chest with her head. "If this gets out, she and Lance could be in trouble, as al of the truth wil get out. Don't you think that James would spil the truth because of his loyalty to you? There is no way he would al ow you to take the blame."

"He wil if I command so."

"And wil you? Wil you, for lack of a better term, fal on the sword?"

"No. If it comes to that, no."

"How do you know?"

"That is an easy one."

"Which is?"

"Take that one for a thousand, Isabel."

She laughed. "I wil take that for a thousand, Arthur."

"The woman who Arthur, King of Camelot, has come to love so much that he wil do anything to protect her from harm."

Melt. Melt. Melt. Why couldn't love come easily?

"That is a simple one," she said when she relearned the fine art of breathing. "It would be, 'Who is Arthur's beloved and besotted beagle, Pix, who fol ows him everywhere.'"

"Wrong, my lady, although I admit Pix would be a close second. I give you another chance."

"Pix would be a close second?"

"Lady, you would jump in front of an arrow to save Burny."

"Oh, but he is a dog like no other. Truthful y. He is a dog like no other. And I mean that in the most, 'what in hel is he, exactly,' way."

Arthur laughed and hugged her even closer. "No one knows. We do not question, we just constantly look forward to whate'er pups come about."

"He is so sweet."

"And he fol ows you around as if you were indeed his mother."

"I did not realize you had noticed."

"I thought I noticed every single piece of what happens around you, Isabel. Though I must admit I did not see today coming. I failed this day."

"What? In what way?"

"I ignored the obvious, while you saw it and took action."

"You mean with Gwen?"

"Yes."

"You did what any good husband would do. I just happened to talk to Tom, and then talked to Gwen."

"Which should have been my responsibility."

"You didn't fail, Arthur. How many burdens are you supposed to take on? Not that Gwen is a burden. We have been enjoying the afternoon. She has been delightful, Arthur. I don't know what exchange there was between you, but she holds no bitterness at al that I noticed. In fact, she seems more at peace than I have seen her since meeting her."

"She truly is a good woman," Arthur said. "Just so very young. I do not know what I was thinking." He kissed her again. "But no matter. I just had need to see you and make certain al was wel ."

"Are you relieved or saddened by your talk with Gwen?"

"Much of the former, a little of the latter."

"Understandable, Arthur."

"And then I had this burning desire to check on your welfare. Not that I believe ... wel , that is a very lame excuse. I just wanted to see you."

"Oh, Arthur," she said, brushing his hair away from his temple. Wow, it had grown so much in just days. "You have many, many issues to deal with at the moment. I should be the least of your worries."

"Worry was the pretense. Seeing you was the need."

"We wil see each other later. You need to get back to what you most treasure."

He stared down at her. "Isabel, if I have not made this clear, you are what I treasure above al else."

"Camelot-"

"Is but a place. Yes, I love Camelot. But am I able to hold Camelot at night? Am I able to lie with it and share what has happened on any given day? I wil , without even a moment's thought, give it up for the rest of my days if every moment of those days be spent with you."

"Oh, Arthur, I would never ask."

"Of course you would not. Another reason why I love you, Isabel. But do not ever doubt my priorities." He kissed her, and then let go. "You have not correctly questioned my answer," he said.

Isabel stood total y dazed, confused and with a heart fil ed with so much emotion, she didn't know what to deal with first.

"I forget the answer," she final y said.

"I wil repeat. 'The woman who Arthur, King of Camelot, has come to love so much that he wil do anything to protect her from harm.'" He grinned.

"The first response was slightly insulting, as it was a slobbering dog. I wil , however, forgive that one and al ow another choice."

"Who is Countess Isabel?" she whispered.

"Oh, so correct, Isabel."

"I have one for you."

He smiled. "As you say many a time, hit me."

"The woman who refuses to al ow you to give up your lands, your dream, your love just for her. The woman who is so ready to fol ow you into battle to keep the dream of Camelot alive."

He took her face in his hands. "The question would be, Who is the one I would hold captive afore I e'er al owed her to run into harm's way on my behalf? It wil not happen, Isabel. I cannot even believe of such."

"Has it ever occurred to you that women could actual y help behind the lines? Al ow us to take part."

"No. I wil not have women harmed. And you ... I could not live if you were harmed. I just could not."

"And yet you expect me, or any of us, to stand by and watch you be injured, or worse?"

"I do. It is what I must do. Please, Isabel, do not make me worry about you, should it come to this. I could not do my job."

"Is it coming to this?"

He hesitated, but final y nodded. "It appears a possibility. Those not invited to the table have banded together, according to reports. We must prepare."

"Then we wil ."

"Isabel, no."

"I wil not al ow anyone to harm you without a fight. Wouldn't you do the same for me?"

"'Tis not the same."

"It is exactly the same. If you think women are incapable of doing what they must to protect their king, their castle, their life, then you are underestimating us al ."

"I do not underestimate. I have need to protect. You, most of al ."

"How much time do we have?" she asked.

"Isabel-"

"How much time, Arthur?"

"My best estimate with my men's information is three weeks. We believe they plan to attack when al of the knights invited to the table have gathered."

"That sounds like a pretty stupid plan to me."

"Not should there be traitors sitting amongst us."

"Do you know which?"

"I have a fair idea."

Isabel growled. "The women wil not only aid, we are going to kick ass."

"Isabel."

"Yes, Arthur?"

"You excite me and drive fear into me at one and the same time."

"I hope you bring the excitement with you this evening. The fear, al ow me to take care of that."

"Isabel, I am to protect you."

She thumped his arm. "Just for once, Arthur, get used to the idea that women can be very useful in taking care of their men. Just once."