Arthur strode into the great hall the next day, confused to see Guinevere standing and speaking with a group of musicians. His eyebrows shot up as he realized just what she was going to teach him today.

She looked over at him and smiled, her skirts swishing softly around her.

"Dancing?" he asked, looking at the musicians.

"I'm very well not teaching you how to play an instrument," she stated.

"Why do I need to learn to dance?"

"There will be a coronation feast and there will be dancing. So as much as I would love to see you embarrass yourself, it's probably best if our new king doesn't trip over his feet on the dance floor," she said.

She motioned to the musicians who quickly set up, before looking at him expectantly.

"We'll start with some simple court dances."

Arthur looked at her as she stepped back and into position. The musicians started playing an upbeat tune.

"Right, then. For this one, you should start facing your partner," she said, pointing to a space just in front of her.

Arthur stepped over to her.

"Here?" he asked, an amused look on his face. Guinevere nodded.

"You start by bowing," she said. Arthur just stood and blinked at her. "Seriously, King Arthur."

He finally bowed, flourishing his hand dramatically as he looked up at Guinevere and winked.

"Like this?" he asked.

Guinevere rolled her eyes and dropped into a curtsy.

"This would be much easier without the snark," she said.

"I'm curious as to why exactly you think I don't know how to dance," he said, rising.

"I'm fairly certain you probably don't know these dances," she said.

She then proceeded to show him, step by step, the first of the court dances she had prepared. Arthur thought it would be easy, but he didn't want to admit that he was struggling a bit with remembering the steps.

He had watched some of the dances at festivals in the city - even took part in some - but these were a bit more complicated.

"Ow, are you even watching where your feet are going?" Guinevere shouted as he stomped on her foot a fourth time. "I thought someone with your sword skills would be a bit more coordinated."

"Perhaps I'm just using this as an opportunity to get even for leaving me in the dust yesterday," he said. "And I do know how to dance, for the record... just not like this."

Guinevere stepped back and stared at him.

"Pray tell, then. Show me some of your dances," she said with an exasperated sigh.

Arthur grinned as he grabbed her, pulling her close, and set off bounding around the room, one hand gripping her waist tightly while the other held her hand out. Guinevere let out a yelp as she struggled to keep up.

"This is not dancing!" she shouted at him.

"You mean, this is not the kind of dancing you're used to," Arthur shouted back at her, laughing.

"There are no steps!" Guinevere complained, as he spun her around and headed back towards the other end of the hall.

"You're just not paying attention, Gwen."

"Stop calling me Gwen!"

As the two continued frollicking up and down the hall, Bedivere and Bill watched from the entry, quietly assessing the situation.

"You think she would marry him?" Bill asked, watching as Guinevere managed to extract herself from Arthur's arms and smack him on the arm. Bedivere chuckled softly.

"Perhaps," he replied. "She would make a great queen. I suspect that is partially what her father had in mind with her upbringing."

Bill glanced at him.

"What do you mean?"

"You know as well as I do that Uther and Leopold had been discussing a betrothal," Bedivere said.

Bill looked back at the couple, watching as Guinevere stomped her foot and pointed, waiting for Arthur to move as instructed.

"They had intended to sign the contracts and wanted the two to grow up together - to take the edge off of an arranged marriage."

"But Guinevere couldn't have been much older than a year or two when Arthur disappeared and Vortigern took power," Bill said.

"Leopold never gave up hope of the Born King. And he knew he would need a strong partner. So he raised Guinevere to be outspoken, strong, opinionated. To understand how to rule. To be independent," he said. He glanced at Bill. "Even if it never came to pass that she married Arthur, at least she would be capable of running his lands."

"Vortigern knew about this, didn't he?" Bill asked. Bedivere nodded.

"He was probably waiting for the right time to wed her," Bedivere said with a sigh.

Bill nodded and returned to watching as Guinevere rolled her eyes while Arthur foolishly attempted to move through the steps she had just shown him.

"You should be graceful! Not galloping around like a horse!" she shouted.

"My lady, I fear this is as graceful as I get," Arthur replied.

"We have so much work to do..."

Guinevere sighed heavily as she sat on a bench in the gardens later that day after lunch and looked around at the peaceful setting. It seemed hard to believe that just days ago she was being held prisoner and faced an unwanted marriage to an evil man.

Now she was able to freely move about the castle grounds and would be returning home soon. She closed her eyes as a gentle wind blew, transporting herself back to the home she hadn't seen in over a year.

"Seems such a world weary sigh for a lady," a voice said.

Guinevere opened her eyes and watched as Arthur walked up and sat next to her.

"Shouldn't you be running a country?" she asked, finding she was only partly irked that he interrupted her moment of tranquility.

"They can spare me a few moments. Besides, we got a lot done before our little dance lesson. And more afterwards," he said. Guinevere nodded and looked back out to the garden. "Did I interrupt your thoughts?"

"Just... thinking about home," she said. "I'm ready to get back."

"I'm sure your father will set out as soon as he gets the letter," he said.

"I hope so," Guinevere responded.

"You'll... you will stay for the coronation, won't you?" he asked.

Guinevere glanced at him, an eyebrow raised.

"Yes, I suppose. Though we'll likely head out shortly after," she said. "Father can't really be gone for too long."

Arthur hummed but didn't say anything in return. Guinevere returned to studying the garden, taking a deep breath as she built up the courage to ask him her next question.

There had been a face missing from the hall. While she wouldn't be surprised to learn that Arthur was holding Vortigern's daughter prisoner, she felt she should speak on her behalf. The girl was innocent, in her opinion, and shouldn't be punished for her father's transgressions.

"Where's Catia?" she asked. "Has she been taken prisoner? Because I assure you, she couldn't hurt a fly and is guilty of nothing."

There was yet again no immediate response, which had Guinevere turning towards him, seeing the quiet anger on the young king's face.

"He killed her," he stated. "From what we gathered since the battle... he sacrificed her to the sirens to gain power. Like he did with his previous wife Elsa when he defeated my father."

Guinevere's stomach churned as she closed her eyes, whispering a soft prayer for the teen girl. They hadn't interacted all that much before her imprisonment, but she still mourned her passing.

"I always knew he was selfish in his thirst for power... I just never realized how selfish," she said. "Catia didn't deserve that."

"She didn't... have you been sleeping well?"

Guinevere startled at the sudden question, glancing at him cautiously.

"Well enough," she said shortly, returning to looking out at the gardens. "Why?"

"Just noticed you seemed a bit... tired," he commented. Guinevere sighed.

"Probably because I stay up late into the night wondering how I'm supposed to turn you into a king in a week," she said. Arthur chuckled.

"Please, do not lose sleep on my behalf," he said. Guinevere smiled slightly. "I don't sleep much myself, truth be told. Haven't really in years..."

Guinevere's eyes widened at the confession. She almost made a snide comment but a look at Arthur's face told her he was being serious. For once.

"Truth be told? I stay up reading until nearly dawn," Guinevere said softly. "I can't seem to quiet my thoughts."

"Does it have anything to do with my uncle?" Arthur asked.

Guinevere's face was a mask of indifference.

"Does it really matter?" she asked, her voice turning slightly colder as she stared out at the garden. "He's gone."

Arthur shifted on the bench.

"You know that you can... you can talk to me about it... if you like," he said.

She couldn't quite figure Arthur out with his offer. He appeared genuine. Though she had been fooled before.

"There's no point," she said, turning back to the garden. "Not now." She then stood, with Arthur hopping to his feet immediately after. "If you don't mind, I'm feeling quite tired. I think I shall retire to my rooms."

She then walked off, Arthur following her with his eyes.

"Rest well, Gwen," he called after her.

Guinevere stopped and looked over her shoulder, shooting him a scowl.

"Really, Arthur... I told you I don't like it," she said, a hint of a smile on her face.

"And that's why I enjoy calling you Gwen," he replied with a smile.

Guinevere shook her head and continued walking.

He would likely never learn.