"Because once she decided to say as she did, my only choice was to announce that I too am in love with another, so the people did not consider her the only one who had broken vows."

"So it was more for her protection?"

"Not more, but as much. It feels as if ... I do not know ... the truth wil set you free?"

"Oh, boy, hate to say it, but I have a feeling that in the long run you aren't going to get the credit for that one. Damn shame."

"My pardon?"

"Never mind. At any rate, do you feel set free? Because personal y I feel about a hundred sets of eyes staring daggers at me."

"Should any try to harm you, they must go through me first. I love you, Isabel. And, yes, I do feel set free. Hiding my feelings for you does not sit wel . I would like to be able to let the world know my true feelings for my true love."

"Wel , I'm pretty sure the Camelot world is now wel aware."

He shrugged. "The ruse is over. We have no need to hide behind closed doors and in public live a lie. That does not sit wel with you?"

"I could have lived with it for a while longer."

"Why?"

"Because I'm afraid for you, you big oaf. This undermines your status as king."

"I would be happy to turn the crown over to Mordred this moment if it means being free to live the rest of my days with you."

"Oh, Arthur, don't you see? That's exactly the type of thing I don't want to be responsible for. Camelot needs you. And you, whether you believe or realize it, need Camelot."

"Not as I need you, Isabel. Camelot is but land. You, you are my heart. You are ... my everything."

She laughed, and the musical sound of it, the beauty of her, from the inside al the way to the outer beauty, had his heart pounding.

"You know, witty man," she said, "if this king thing doesn't pan out, you have a great future as a songwriter."

He grinned. "I have absolutely not one clue what that means, but I wil just assume it is a good thing, and we can move on from there."

"Deal."

"Would you care to move upstairs?"

"While fifty gazil ion people are watching every twitch we make? I think not."

"Later?"

"Oh, definitely. Without question." She moved closer and whispered in his ear, "In fact, your Highness, should you not appear, there wil be dire consequences."

"Oh, I am frightened. I wil -"

"Arthur! Arthur! Please ... help."

He turned to see Gwen, distraught as he had ne'er seen her afore.

"What's wrong, Gwen?" Isabel asked.

"They ... they have Lance. And they are threatening-"

"Where?"

"In the bailey."

Arthur ran. "James! Mordred!" he yel ed. "I have need of you." He glanced back. "And, Isabel, you stay put," he demanded as he realized she was running right behind him and beside Gwen.

"Just try to stop me, big boy."

Good gods, he was in for the ride of a lifetime with that woman. He could not wait to enjoy the journey.

James and Mordred both caught up to him as they al left the castle and entered the bailey.

Two men were holding on to Lance as he struggled to break free.

"Leave off, Michael, David. Now! Release him."

"My lord, he has betrayed you!" Michael said. "He must be punished. It is king's law."

"Are you deaf?" Isabel yel ed. "The king has told you to release him."

Arthur nearly groaned. "Isabel ..."

"Wel , you did! I heard it! Did you not hear it, Mordred?"

"I did, Countess."

"James?"

"I, too, heard it. Michael, David, should you defy your king's order, you are in much more trouble than you care to imagine."

"Betraying our king is treason," Michael shouted.

"As is defying his direct order," James said. "Do you not release this man, you are guilty of such."

That stopped them. They took their hands from Lance's arms.

"Thank you," Arthur said. "And listen to me. Listen wel , my friends. I do truly appreciate your loyalty, but in this case it is misplaced. Sir Lancelot is a true and loyal soldier, committed to Camelot. Just yesterday he was wil ing to battle to save our land, and both of you, should you have needed his aid, he would have ... would have ..."

"He would have had your backs," Isabel said.

Arthur did groan this time. "Thank you, Countess. Al ow me to take it from here?"

"Al yours."

He heard Gwen's soft sobbing and Isabel saying, "It's okay now, Gwen. Al is wel . Arthur is on the case."

He nearly laughed, because he knew not what that meant, either, and by the puzzled looks both James and his son shot him, he was not alone in this. Thank goodness 'twas not just him.

"Lancelot has not betrayed me or Camelot. He merely fol owed his heart. With my complete acceptance. You wil not, you wil not attempt to punish him for something that I do not find a grievance against me or Camelot. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, m'lord," Michael mumbled.

"Yes, King Arthur," David said. "We but wanted to show our loyalty to our king."

"I very much appreciate that. But 'tis not necessary. Yet please understand that I care very much for the good health and wel -being of Sir Lancelot, and wil take very harsh measures to any who would harm him. Is that clear to one and al who are standing about listening?"

Which, as it happened, 'twas many.

"Yea," those many answered.

"The laws of Camelot are about to take a turn. I wil not announce at this moment what they entail, but I assure you that neither Lance, nor Gwen, nor Isabel, nor I, for that matter, are guilty of any crime against the crown. We merely"-he shook his head, not quite certain what the correct words were, and would not you know it, Isabel chose this time to remain silent-"chose to take differing paths to happiness.

"I believe that every human deserves to choose which path, do you not think?"

"Hel , yes," Isabel said.

"And now she speaks up," he said to Mordred.

Mordred grinned. "You must admit, Father, she chooses her moments rather wel ."

He pul ed his son to him and gave him a hug. But not for Isabel choosing moments, the rift between them might stil be a relentless divide. "I fear I am never going to tame that woman," he said.

"I have high hopes you do not," Mordred said. "Life would be so dul around here."

He released Mordred, his heart ful . For the newfound relationship with his son and the promise of many tomorrows with Isabel.

He raised his hands. "Then we are al now of the same mind? No harm shal befal Lance."

"Yea, my king," many said.

"Good. The drama is over. Please return to your regularly scheduled feasting. I hear there is much pickled eel to be had at the tables."

He turned, grinning, knowing he was going to pay mightily for that last jest. He could not wait.

Isabel was stil holding on to Gwen, who was stil crying in her arms.

"Gwen, see to Lance," he said. "I have this notion he could use your care at this moment."

At the tap on his shoulder, he turned back. Lance looked at him, his eyes stil troubled. "I am so sorry, King Arthur."

"'Twas not your fault, Lance. None of this was. I am only sorry that you had to suffer the humiliation of this event. Now please, you and Gwen get out of here. Go to the cottage. Go wherever you choose. Just go and celebrate that Gwen loves you so much that she risked death to proclaim her feelings for you."

"I ne'er meant-"

"I know. Trust me, I know. And trust also that I am not unhappy. I hold not one bit of il wil . This I swear on my crown."

Lance lowered his head. "You appear very happy indeed, m'lord."

"That I am, Lance."

"You know that I pledge-"

"Yes, yes, I know. And I am grateful. Now go grab Gwen afore she has Isabel wet head to toe with her tears."

ISABEL couldn't love a man more. Not a single ounce more. She didn't know what the future held, she only knew she had never been happier in her life.

"I am so mad at you," she decided to say to Arthur as the crowd dispersed.

"Why am I so not shocked to hear that, Countess?"

"Would you like to hear why?"

"HaveI a choice? If so, I choose no."

"Too bad," she said, but she couldn't help grinning.

"Now see, I expected this. What have I done now?"

"You have made it impossible not to love you."

"Does it ever, even for a moment, occur to you that you make no sense at times?"

"Oh, I've lived with that one al my life."

"So this is a bad thing. Your love for me. My love for you."

"No, that's the good thing."

"Okay, I am having you committed," he said.

"You shouldn't even know what that means. For crimes against humanity?"

"For crimes against sanity. Why, then, are you angry with me?"

"Because, m'lord, you are so wonderful, it makes my heart crazy. I have more of a cardio workout just watching you be you than I ever have on my NordicTrack."

"Once again, no sense."

"I love you so much."

"Oh, I definitely do understand that one. And I return that feeling, more than tenfold. May I ask what brought on this ... strange conversation?"

"I admire everything about you. I love everything about you. The way you handle and care for your people, the way you want to make the world a better place, the way you believe in honesty, just everything."