Other Worlds Spotlight - My Top Ten Scifi/Fantasy Pairings of All Time

Many people become immersed in the world of science fiction and fantasy for many different reasons, I am all about the love. I have always been attracted to the relationships that characters have with each other in my favorite stories/movies and I thought it would be fun to list my top ten favorite sci-fi/fantasy ships of all times.

Deanna Troi and William Riker

Star Trek the Next Generation

"And somewhere, somewhere deep within Riker's mind, merged with his spirit, a word echoed. A word that he had never heard before. A word filled with mystery and promise and a future . . .
And the word was Imzadi"---- Imzadi, Peter David 

This was the couple who made me fall in love with science fiction, really, they were my gate way into other planets, parallel universes and got my

eleven-year-old self dreaming about what happily ever after looks like in a place where no one has gone before. I watched for the romance and ended up falling in love with the genre.

Their onscreen chemistry was amazing, but it was actually Peter David's novel Imzadi that cemented them as one of my favorite romances of all time.

I think I love them so much because Will and Deanna are true soul mates in the literary sense of the word.  They call each other Imzadi, a  ridiculously romantic word for ultimate soul mate, they can communicate telepathically, and they seem to feel each others emotions. It was also obvious that no matter who they got involved with they were the love of each others lives. As Next Gen began to wind down its run it looked like they would never get it together and the finale, and first two subsequent movies, did little to reignite the flame. They FINALLY reunited in Insurrection and married in Nemeses,  much to my utter delight. The best part is that I can follow their continued adventures in the wonderful Star Trek: Titans books in which they are not only happily married, but raising a daughter.

Lois Lane and Clark Kent

The Superman Universe

 "You were the one that I've always needed." -- Clark Kent to Lois Lane, Smallville: Salvation.

Lois and Clark are my favorite comic book pairing of all time. There is something really romantic about the most powerful man on Earth finding peace and happiness not with a superpowered equal but a snoopy reporter with a penchant for getting into trouble.

Their dynamic has always been fascinating --- a triangle built for two in which Lois often times doesn't realize that the mild manner Clark is really the Superman of her dreams. Their banter is fun and funny and whether they are competing for a story or sharing a romantic flight in the sky it is clear that they both challenge and anchor each other.

One of the reasons this pairing works is that Lois is a great character in her own right --- spunky, independent and no nonsense. You see why Clark likes her and its been so amazing to see them sparkling in every incarnation, especially in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Smallville. This is a timeless couple who always works (even in Superman Returns, no small feat) and they will always be relevant to readers. Lois and Clark forever!

Dana Scully and Fox Mulder

The X-files

Mulder: I think what we feared were the possibilities. The truth we both know.
Scully: Which is what?
(Still holding the BABY between them, Mulder leans down and kisses Scully on the lips. And keeps kissing her. Scully reaches out to hold Mulder's arms and returns the lover's kiss) --- X-files: Existence

Many people believe that shipping began with Mulder and Scully, I don't know about that, but I don't know another couple who could send their fan base into an overwhelming tizzy at the mere notion that after five years in a not exactly platonic partnership they were finally going to kiss. Damn that bee! Damn him!

Beautiful, independent, and SMART, Mulder and Scully were a new type of pairing whose bond was sexy, but not necessarily sexual. They respected and loved each other as friends and colleagues long before they realized they wanted something more. They could convey more passion by touching hands then most couples locked in steamy embraces. What also separates them from other couples who try unsuccessfully to emulate their dynamic is that their relationship was just icing on a very delicious cake. The X-files was one amazingly written show that didn't need their sexual tension to keep it alive, but the dynamic, rather you were a noromo or a shipper, just made it even more special.

Yes, their relationship was co-dependent and unhealthy at times, but their need for each other was palatable and they made each other better. They were also complete opposites --- logic and emotion, faith and facts drawn together by the need to find their truths.  Finally they realized that after everything they were trying to uncover and expose, the truth was that their love was the only thing that mattered.The truth is that there will never be another pair like them.

Han Solo and Leia Organa

Star Wars

Leia Organa : "I love you." 

Han Solo: "I know."

The Tracy and Hepburn of a galaxy far, far away, Princess Leia and Han Solo took the standard love/hate relationship and made it their own icon dance. Brother or no brother, hero and farm boy Luke never had a chance.Few movie screen pairings have ever worked as well as the princess and the pirate and they continue to fascinate and delight after three decades. They cemented their relationship in Return of the Jedi and I'd like to think that after helping to topple an evil empire that they took on marriage and a family--- the biggest adventure of them all.

Note on The Expanded Universe

I know that Leia and Han marry in the EU ,and while I am Anakin/Tahiri shipper, I reject a future where Han and Leia lose so much, therefore the EU does not exists in my fannon. But I think they do marry and Leia takes over the government while Luke rebuilds the Jedi Order.

Guinvere and Arthur Pendragon

The Arthurian Legend

As his Queen, Guinevere gave Arthur every happiness he could wished for.
Camelot flourished as never before. Knights flocked to offer their services to the King for they were determined to rid the land of evil. They were happy times,  "The Once and Future King."

While there are those who consider Lancelot and Guinevere to be the true love story of the Authurian Legend, I have always shipped Guinevere and Arthur and wished that their pairing got more love, so I have been very happy with recent interpretions such as Antoine Fuqua's King Arthur and Helen Hollick's Kingmaker that put the romance front and center. With Merlin I feel like I hit the Holy Grail of Guinevere/ Arthur Shipdom, as they are painted as star crossed lovers who have to beat all odds to be together.

Merlin portrays Gwen and Arthur's romance as epic and legendary and most importantly essential to the king he will become. It is Gwen who brings out his soft side, keeps him steady, and helps gives him purpose. While Lancelot is around, he is portrayed as the second choice, the attainable love, not the preferred one. While many interpretations have Guinevere only marrying Arthur out of duty,  this Gwen clearly loves Arthur, even as she fears he will break her heart. But when she does allow herself to believe in Arthur's love she gives herself to him completely, promising to wait for him and showing her loyalty to him by fleeing Camelot to join him on the run when Morgana takes over Camelot. How this pairing will play out on Merlin in not yet known, but I a enjoying it immensely. I haven't been this excited about a couple in a while and they  have become my favorite interpretation of the pair.

Richard Grayson and and Barbara Gordon

The Batverse

Dick Grayson: You're right I need to find out who I really am and when I do you are the first person that I am going to look for.
Barbara Gordon:  I'm going to hold you to that.

There are a lot of reasons that I love this pairing.  Firstly, I love the two separately, Dick Grayson is my favorite comic book hero and Barbara Gordon is my favorite comic book heroine so I was going to love them together. I love the fact that they fought together as Robin and Batgirl. I love that as Nightwing and Batgirl 1.0 they became the template of the Batfamily dynamic. I love the idea that they fell in love as kids but couldn't come together due to age gaps and bad timing. I love their playful banter. I love the way they look together. I love the fact that the smart, nerdy  girl gets the hunkiest guy in the DCU. I love the fact that even after a great romance with Starfire that he still sees Babs as the one. I just love them. Babs and Dick are so imperfect that they are perfect for each other. Truth is, Babs and Dick are two people who just can't get out of each others way. Fear and uncertainty keep them apart. Dick is more emotional than Babs, but they both live in a dark world and neither one of them really believes in happily ever afters. With Dick now firmly entrenched as Batman and Barbara doing her Birds of Prey thing there seems to be no reconciliation on the horizon but these are two characters that I am always going to root for to find their way back to each other.

Ronald Weasley  and Hermione Granger

The Potterverse

All's fair in love and war - Ronald Weasley

Everybody knew from the very first novel that Ron and Hermione were destined to fall in love, everybody except them that is. They've been battling it out since the first moment they saw each other, but it's obvious they'd rather make love, not war. I'm a sucker for side kicks in love and their budding romance is one of the best things in The Potterverse. What I like about Ron and Hermione is that they actually act like kids in love who don't know how to act on it. Also, kudos to Ms. Rowlins for NOT going the dreaded triangle route. I love a triangle as much as anybody, but not among close, young friends. Harry/Hermione have one of the best friendships EVER and part of the reason it works is that the romantic element was never involved. Also, Ron can be a prat and I like that about him, it's easy to love the hero, but loving Ron Weasley was enough to drive even the greatest of witches batty!

They were especially hilarious in The Goblet of Fire and The Half-Blooded Prince, where they didn't take too kindly to other people looking at their boo, but while Ron was happy to sulk and be a jerk about it, Hermione let him have it and boy was it glorious. The movies have not done the romance the justice it deserves, but it has done an admirable job and thankfully Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have chemistry, invoke their novel counterparts perfectly, and look great together. While I was surprised that JK. Rowlins dragged their will their/won't they dance out for all seven books, the moment they finally kissed was one of the most satisfying literary moments ever. Plus, they get married and have Rose who seems destined  for some bad boy Malfoy loving. Now if J.K. Rowlins would only write that series...

Julian Bashir and Miles O'Brien

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Chief O'Brien: [of Keiko] She always said I... I liked you more than I liked her.

Doctor Bashir: That's ridiculous!

Chief O'Brien: Right.

Doctor Bashir: Well, maybe, maybe you do, a bit more.

Chief O'Brien: What? Are you crazy? She's my wife, I love her!

Doctor Bashir: Of course you love her - she's your wife.

Chief O'Brien: Yeah.

Doctor Bashir: I'm just saying, maybe you like me a bit more, that's all.

Chief O'Brien: I do not.

Doctor Bashir: You spend more time with me.

Chief O'Brien: We work together!

Doctor Bashir: We have more in common.

Chief O'Brien: Julian, you are beginning to annoy me.

Doctor Bashir: Darts, racquetball, Vic's lounge, the Alamo... Need I go on?

Chief O'Brien: I *love* my wife.

Doctor Bashir: And I love Ezri - passionately.

Chief O'Brien: You do?

Doctor Bashir: Yes.

Chief O'Brien: Have you told her?

Doctor Bashir: Not yet. But I will.

Chief O'Brien: Oh, yeah? Huh... When?

Doctor Bashir: When I'm ready. It's just that I... like you... a bit more. See? There, I've admitted it.

Chief O'Brien: Yeah, well - I *love* my wife, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Extreme Measures

Anybody who wants to know what a real bromance looks like needs look no further then Julian Bashir and Miles O'Brien. Total opposites ---  a hardened military guy and an optimistic doctor, they exacerbated and exhilarated each other and made each other better. While they both had fairly popular romantic pairings,  it was their brotherly love that defined the these guys. Their characters really came alive when they were together and whether they were battling in the holedeck or in space they were a joy to watch. Bashir and O'Brien were THE RELATIONSHIP of DS9 and it was their goodbye in the final episode that hurt the most and the one thing that every DS9 fan was going to miss most.

Dr. Julie Parrish and Michael Donovan

V

I'd like to build a future with my son and I'd like you to be a part of it.  --- Michael Donovon to Julie Parrish. V: The Final Battle

V and V: The Final Battle may be considered cheeseball classics today, but there is no denying that they were two of the best and most popular miniseries of all time. Mike Donovan and Julie Parrish managed to find love in a time of resistance and their relationship was a large part of why I enjoyed the story so much. Who can forget their big, long almost slow mo kiss at the end when the Resistance wins? "This war isn't about your love life," my man Ham (played by the amazing Michael Ironside) said when Mike wanted to rescue a captured Julie, but in a very real way it was. Everybody was fighting for their lives and the lives of the ones they loved. Mike and Julie were fighting for a future, one they wanted to spend together.

Aeryn Sun  and John Crichton

Farscape

You see that one, that's that star right there. It's my point of reference, my guide, and it always becomes the center of my chart. I always name it Aeryn. --- John Crichton

John and Aeryn's romance was the heart and soul of Farscape. These were two people who were literally from two different worlds who had to overcome their own beliefs, prejudices and expectations to find the love they always needed. This was an imperfect romance. There was no violins or flower petals in sight, but it was also very raw and very real. They couldn't always trust each other, hell they didn't even always like each other. There were times when I honestly wanted John to walk away from Aeryn and her lies, but the pull between them was so strong that you just knew they'd figure out a way to come together and they actually got to live happily ever after, a nice surprise in a universe where the likelihood of that happening was the same as Darth Vader suddenly deciding he was a pacifist and wearing all white. But it was a nice gift to the fans and an even nicer way to say goodbye to a show that was all about love and family from the beginning.

And Five Pairings that Make Me Go Ugh!

Clark Kent and Lana Lang

Smallville

I am a die hard Lois and Clark shipper from back in the day so I was never going to be fully on the Clana train, but I do like Comic Lana and the Clark/Lana dynamic in the comic book and when Smallville aired I was  looking forward to a sweet romance built on friendship and roads not taken, not the never ending abyss that was Clana.

Part of the problem was their individual piss poor characterizations. Clark seemed angry way too often and he seemed wishy washy and insecure, running away from his destiny instead of trying to accept and live with it.  Lana fared even worse as we watched her morph into a different girl every season --- from damsel in distress, to kung fu expert, to scheming vixen, to super heroine --- faster than you can say, "up, up and away." When your two parts need so much tinkling it's hard to enjoy the whole.

Also frustrating was that despite the fact that everybody knows that Lois and Clark have been destined to be together since 1939, The Smallville Gods decides that Clana were soul mates and they were going to be
treated as such. Had they been given the Chloe/Clark treatment these guys really could have been interesting. They would have been two best friends who brought out the best in each other who, through a series of events, slowly realized that they weren't meant to be together in that way, but NOOO.  Lana had to be the unattainable perfect princess and they spent the first three seasons dancing around each other and when they finally did get together even the writers had to admit they were BORING.

The Powers that Be had the right idea by bringing in Lois and Jason in beginning of  Season Four, Clark never sparkled more than he did with Lois, and Lana actually seemed to be in a relationship that could work, but by the end  of the season Jason was a villain, Clark wanted Lana back, and the dreaded Lexana was on the horizon. Now, I thought Lex and Lana had chemistry, but it made no logical sense that they would be together. Why would Lex want Lana?She's beautiful but so are a million other women. She lacked the fire and mystery that would attract a guy like Lex. Conversely, by turning to Lex, a man she showed no prior interest in, when Clark was pushing her away, Lana looked like a little girl who would just leaned on any man who was interested, not a good look for the show's heroine.

An even bigger problem was that I couldn't figure out what Clark liked about Lana besides how she looked. Again, although I love Chloe to bits, the writers really messed up by giving Chloe Lana's comicbook history with Clark. Had they been friends who could trust and lean on each other their relationship wouldn't have seemed so shallow and hard to swallow.  Also, one of the running themes of the show was that they never really knew each other, so why would I root for them, and the Romeo and Juliet antics? They also spent a great deal of time making each other miserable. Kristin Kreuk's exit gave them the prefect opportunity to have these two part as friends and to let us see that Lana will be ok without Clark. But like a dog with a bone the writers wouldn't drop their STAR CROSSED LOVERS refrain and their last episodes together involved a disastrous plot in which the two were forced apart by a Kryptonite  Power Suit. Yeah, you read that right. It wasn't until a few episodes later when Clark realized that he had already moved on and smiled as he put his picture of Lana in a high school scrapbook that Lana  and Clark finally got a dignified end that invoked a sense of sweet nostalgia that this romance was supposed to always be about. And I couldn't have been happier to see that book literally closed.

Bella Swan and Edward Cullen

The Twilightverse

I have heard of people who have death wishes but geesh no girl has rarely been as eager to die and throw her family away as Bella Swan and I think that's why I detest this pairing. Twilight is little more than a young adult romance novel so I don't expect much from Bella's characterization, but come on can she at least be a bit relatable or likable?  Bella is a girl with serious issues. She has no hopes, no dreams, no goals. Edward arrives just in time to give her life meaning and she becomes all about being with him, even though that means she'll literally have to die to do it.

Bella is also a wuss. I mean seriously, becoming catatonic because your boyfriend dumps you and doing dangeous stunts to invoke his spirit self? Honestly, I had a really hard time caring about whether her attempts at "suicide" failed because they made her look almost too stupid to live. Also, Edward isn't very interesting. Really, he's a Dud Muffin. Sullen and self-pitying and stalkerish to the extreme he just doesn't float my boat. I understand that Bella is an immature seventeen- year -old girl, but what's Edward's excuse for all this foolishness?

Truth is if there was any attempt to make this pairing look like anything other than the Ultimate Teen Romance I'd be able to give it a pass, but if this is a "great love story" I'll make due with some mediocre ones, thanks. 

Worf and Deanna Troi

Star Trek the Next Generation

I hate this pairing with the passion of ten thousand Vulcan suns. No seriously, it came out of nowhere and was the most unwelcome of surprises. These two were mismatched from the go and it wasn't believable that Worf would be interested in Deanna and vice versa. Worf likes rough and tough women --- see wives Keylar and Jadzia Dax. Deanna likes tall, dark and handsome men with a sensitive side and a heavy dose of rogue --- Will, Devononi Ral, Connor, etc. So their attraction to each other made sense because? Yes, I could buy that they would become FRIENDS because of Deanna's interest in Worf's son Alexander, but that  friendship blossoming into romance? No way.

On another note, I will never understand why the writers thought that after eight years of watching Will and Deanna's will they/won't they dance that we wanted to see her walking down the corridor with, and kissing Worf in the first scene of the last episode, instead of Will and Deanna reconciling. Yeah, I'm still bitter about that. But thankfully Will and Deanna reunited and everyone acts like this debacle never happened so all is right in the Trekverse.

Movieverse Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter

This actually pains me to write because I have been shipping Harry/Ginny since The Chamber of Secrets but as much as I LOVE this pairing in the BOOK, their celluloid counterparts are an absolute snooze. Daniel Radcliffe and  Bonnie Wright have no chemistry--- zilch, zero, nada. Sorry, but Bonnie is miscast as Ginny, who is a lively, popular, funny girl, in the book, not this sullen one expression wisp of a girl we see onscreen. Also, the movie didn't do this romance any favors by skipping their book hook-up so we could see how their sweet romance unfolded and how happy it made Harry. Zipping up the object of your affections dress does not a great romance make.

Chakotay and Seven

Star Trek: Voyager

This pairing existed for one reason only --- to quiet the Janeway/Chakotey shippers. With Kate Mulgrew adamantly against the idea of a captain sleeping with her first officer the Voyager couple that everybody was rooting for was over before they began. Seeing the desire for more loving on the ship the writers decided to pair Chakotey with the Ex-Borg Formerly Known as Seven of Nine, but the romance, you know, made no sense and no matter how much we were TOLD they were true love it just seemed forced. Janeway/Chakotey forever!

Merlin - Gawain

In the first season we were introduced to Arthur's future greatest knight and biggest threat, Lancelot the Poetic Saint, this season we meet Sir Gawain of the Luscious Hair.

Arthur and Merlin are out of town when they stop in to a local tavern for a drink. But apparently it's Sunday at the OK Corral and the not so friendly neighborhood extorters have come for their cut of the tavern's profits. Arthur decides to get involved and ends up in a bar fight that he only manages to survive courtesy of a mysterious young drunkard named Gawain.

Merlin and Arthur take their new friend back to Camelot and Gawain quickly gets to work drinking, wooing  and taking his shirt off whenever possible. Meanwhile Arthur is preparing for yet ANOTHER tournament, which means that a magical bad guy is lurking somewhere in the shadows waiting to use the melee as a way to off him. This episode baddies are the thugs from the bar fight who want revenge for their beat down and have managed to find a crystal that makes them magically delicious faux knights. It doesn't take Detective Merlin long to realize that something is rotten with the newest melee contestants and he enlists Gawain's help. Gawain, an undercover Noble, says no at first, he's one of the peeps now and would rather leave all that hero stuff to other guys, but he ends up helping anyway, but not before flirting with Gwen who doesn't mind the attention, much to Arthur's chagrin.

This was a really fun episode. It actually reminded me of watching an old  episode of Hercules The Legendary Journeys and seems to be the beginning of stories being told in the larger world of Albion. Let's face it, there is always something special about the introduction of a character from the legend, especially one as important as Gawain, and the actor playing him had to be a little bit better than the usual guest star of the week and Eoin Macken delivered. He fit right in with the cast and had chemistry with everyone. While we know  little about Gawain's past, I hope the fact he is a noble turns out to be significant. Usually Gawain is Arthur's nephew and Lancelot's BFF. I can't wait to see how Merlin re-imagines him, but I'd love for him to be Morguese's brother or maybe Arthur's cousin on Ygraine's side of the family. Hey, knowing Uther he could even be a long lost brother, although I still believe the never to be forgotten Mordred is Arthur and Morgana's little brother and that Uther has magic he is suppressing, but that theory is for another post.

 Also, these tournaments always seem to pit Arthur against some magical baddie with a grudge  so at least the show seems in on the joke and has decided to play this beat until the wheels fall off.

Questions/Comments
Loved getting to see Arthur interact with people who live outside of Camelot's walls. I wish we saw it more often. I'm also a sucker for a medieval bar fight.

As much as I love Lance, and I love me some Lance, he is super serious so Gawain is a nice change.
It was nice seeing a rogue interact with our usual serious boys and girls. As the anti-Lancelot, Gawain gets to flirt with Gwen, without the serious feelings that drag Lance into a depression: he gets to needle Arthur, sans the serious respect that underlines Lance's interaction with Arthur; and he gets to have a light hearted relationship with Merlin that is quite different from the Merlin and Lancelot Save the World dynamic that makes Merlin and Lance more like fellow superheroes than true buds.

It's always fun see Gwen's playful side and she and Gawain were totally adorable.

I loved Gawain and Merlin as instant BFFs but it reminded me that Merlin feels alienated from the two people closest to him --- Arthur and Gwen and doesn't feel like he can confide in them which is sad.

In the last season Arthur and Gwen were CLEARLY in love, Arthur even told Gwen that he'd never love another. So why are they acting like Gwen is the girl who sits behind Arthur in class that he doesn't have the nerve to ask out? If you take it in the context of this season's reset it makes sense but UGH.

As much as I hate Uther, and I hate Uther, I am glad that they don't sugar coat the fact that peasants had no rights. Gawain was obviously telling the truth but because Uther thought he was a commoner, he dismissed him. Jerk.

Loved that Gawain has no interest in serving Uther and called Uther out!

Way to stand up to Uther Arthur...oh wait but you didn't. Again!

Why do all the baddies have to be magic users? It makes Uther seem right about magic being EVIL. I know our hero is a wizard but this show tends to make Merlin using magic for good look like an aberration, not the norm.

And So I Waited --- Turn of the Di

Here is the next chapter of My Merlin Fic. Read the first couple of chapters here

I knock on her door and my breath catches in my throat when she opens it. She is so beautiful in her pink dress, her hair wild and full of flowers. I look inside and playfully raise an eyebrow.

“I can’t help but notice that you are alone.”

She smiles. “Actually, I am expecting a guest.”

I cross my arms. “Anyone I know?”

“Maybe.”

I lean closer. “I’m afraid I do not like the idea of you having a gentlemen caller, especially one who insists on being shrouded in mystery? I demand to know who he is so that we can come to an understanding.”

Her smile widened. “I promised him I would not reveal his name.”

“What does he look like?”

“He is old, very thin, and his hair almost all gone.”

“Sounds like a worldly man.”

“Very.”

“I suppose that he is good with a sword.”

“Yes, but I think you can take him.”

“I guess we will see when he arrives.”

“I don’t think he is coming.”

“No?”

“No.”

“And you made him dinner? That is not very gentlemen like.”

 “Well he is no gentlemen.”

“Since I am already here, maybe I can be his replacement.”

She looks me up and down. “I don’t see why not.”

She lets me in. She has decorated her table with flowers and I see two plates full of chicken.

“How can you afford this?”

“It is complements of The Lady Morgana,” she says taking my cloak. “She likes you.”

I nod, unsure of how to feel about how accommodating Morgana has been, but I put it out of my mind – for now.

“I am glad that she approves.”

I sit down and she puts a cup in front of me.

“It is really odd. You are all she can talk about lately and what a wonderful couple we would make. My Lady and I have always been close, but she is My Lady and we have never been too personal.”

Gwen was right, there was something about The Lady Morgana’s interest in them that he found unsettling.

 “And to say all the things she said about you in front of Arthur.”

I look up. “Why would it bother you that she is talking about me in front of Arthur?”

I wait with baited breath, wondering if her memories have begun to return.

“I just think it is inappropriate to talk about servant matters in front of the Prince, although…

“Although what?”

“I see a change in him. He is not the arrogant prat that I remember. There is softness and a caring. Do you know that he stood up for a peasant who could not pay his taxes and forced King Uther to back down? I was impressed and proud.

“Proud?”

“Yes,” she said sitting down across from me. “He is Milord.”

I picked up my fork. I was tiring of talking about Arthur.

“This food is delicious.”

“Thank you. I remembered from last time how much you loved my chicken, at least I can remember that. It is so good to see you. I can tell just by looking at you that the time away has been good for you.”

“In some ways it has been very good for me and in others….”

She put a piece of chicken in her mouth. “But you must have met people who you like.”

“Yes, I did.”  Elaine’s face flashed quickly before my eyes. “But no one who could ever make me forget about my time in Camelot.”

“Oh come on Lancelot, are you telling me that you have not met somebody?”

I laughed. Can she be this blind? “As a matter of fact I have.”

“Oh.”

Her disappointment was evident and it warmed me. It made me feel that she was finally letting her guard down.  I leaned forward. “You,” I said. “You are the one I met and the only one I ever want to meet.”

She blushed. “Lance.”

I put my hand on hers and she looks away. I squeeze her hand.

“Next time we will have deer.”

She laughed. “Deer?”

“Have you ever had it?”

“Not really. Once I did sneak a bit off of Morgana’s plate when I was in the kitchens.”

“And did you like it?”

She let out a sweet sigh. “It was heavenly.”

“Well that settles it. We will have deer. I will catch it myself.”

“And how many paces does it take for you to kill a deer?”

“I am not sure but I will make it a point to count so that I can tell you.”

She reached for my cheek and stopped, a puzzled look was now on her face.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know, it’s just, there is something very familiar about all this.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. This dinner, this conversation, it feels like I’ve had it before. Have we?”

“No.”

She looks back at the chicken and throws her fork down in disgust. “Why can’t I remember?”

I take her hand again. “When the time is right you will remember. 

She squeezes my hand. I lean in for a kiss and I see the expectation in her eyes. She wants this moment, this intimacy, with me, as much as I do.  A loud noise from outside makes us both jump apart.

I see the swish of the blue cloak and I know exactly who are uninvited guest is. This will definitely come back to haunt them later.

“Do you see anyone?” she asks. I can hear the concern in her voice.

“No. No one is there.”

I close the door, aware that I had just told her another lie.

****

I knew he’d come.

It was not my plan for us to meet like this, in The Merry Hovel, in the middle of the night, but there are things in life that are inevitable and this confrontation is one of them and there is no perfect place for it.

He looks around, please to see that no one but me and Andella was there. Andella jumps up from the table and bows, grabbing her drink as she scurries away. He walks over to the table, towering over me. It was clear that he means to intimidate me. But I did not intimidate easily, not even when confronted by the great Prince Arthur Pendragon.”

“I am sure that you know why I am here.”

“Yes. I have been expecting you.”

“I went to check on Guinevere and I saw you in her home. You have been at her home every day this week.”

“Have you been spying on us milord?”

“Guinevere’s safety is my only concern.”

“As is it is mine.”

He folds his arms. “You and I both know that you are motivated not by Guinevere’s needs, but by your own.”

I stand up. “I am afraid that you have me confused with yourself.”

Arthur moves closer. “Guinevere has been through enough. She doesn’t need you making things harder.”

“It is not my intentions to make Gwen’s life harder. I came here to lift her burdens. She is the greatest of jewels to me and it is my only wish in life to love her the way she deserves and give her a life worthy of her.”

Arthur snorts and at that moment I know he hates me. “Save all this poetic dribble for Guinevere. You came here because you heard about what happened and you thought this was your chance to come between us, since she would not even look your way if she could remember what we had.”

“What you had?  What exactly did you have? Did you think that Gwen was happy to be your secret? Do you think she relished all the sneaking around and the lying? Gwen, who is so honorable and good? What you had has caused her to lose her mind.”

His face grew serious. “If you think that you’re going to steal Guinevere away from me then you are mistaken.”

There was no mistaking the threat in his tone.

“Gwen needs a man who she can depend on, someone who can make her happy and I’m sorry Arthur that is not you.”

 “I have faced down a lot of monsters, but I have never seen the likes of you, to take advantage of an innocent girl.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Me, take advantage of Guinevere? I am not the one who took her honor and left her to fend for herself. I am not the one who has endangered her very life for my own lust. But I am sure that it is a Prince’s privilege to exert your will on a maid, damn the consequences.”

Arthur’s face reddened.

“You have no idea what it means to be me, the pressures that I have. How do you think it feels to have so much power, to be able to command so many, yet have no control over my own life? I have fought and bled for everyone in this kingdom and I could not protect my own son! I have to watch as the woman I love scrubs floors and empties chamber pots!”

I rolled my eyes. “That is your choice Sire. You decided that you would deny your son; you left Gwen scrubbing The Lady Morgana’s floors. You refused to stand up to your father, refused to do what was right because you feared you would lose your place as Prince Arthur!”

I didn’t see the punch coming, nor did I expect for Arthur to start swinging his sword at me with such veracity. I managed to get my own sword out, clinking it with his as I moved to protect my chest. Arthur was fighting like a man possessed and I was having a hard time absorbing his blows, but I did get the better of him, finally, and I managed to get him on his back.

“Sire, enough,” I said, holding my sword to his chest. I did not want to hurt him. I just wanted him to stop hurting Gwen.

He looked at me, his expression full of disgust and jumped up, lunging for me. It took me off guard. I fell onto the ground and he had me pinned.

I heard a familiar cry from behind me.

“Arthur,” said Merlin, his voice getting closer. “What are you doing?”

“Stay out of this Merlin, this is not your concern.” He looked back at me. “I will not lose her. I have already lost too much.”

Arthur sword was at his neck and for a brief second I wondered if he was going to cut my throat.

“Arthur,” Merlin said again. “Gwen would not want this.”

Arthur’s eyes narrowed and he moved his sword. “And Gwen does not want him.”

“I beg to differ,” I said, trying to sit up.

“Guinevere does not have her memories. She does not know what she is doing.”

“And what if she remembers?”

“Then it will be her choice.”

“And if she chooses me?”

Arthur looked at me and dropped his sword.  “She won’t.”

****

I wince as Andella places a rag on my bleeding lip.

“The Prince seems quite angry with you.”

“Indeed.”

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with Gwen would it?”

I don’t answer, she laughs as she takes a swig of the ale on a nearby table.

“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?”

“No.”

“I know that you are upset but it is not fit for a lady as pretty as you to carry on so.”

She laughs harder.

“Sir Lancelot, always the picture of nobility.” She took another swig. “I hope that Gwen knows how lucky she is that you love her.”

I got up and took the cup from her. “As is any man who wins your love.”

She turns away. “I hear that the Lady DeNobley is with child. Do you think it will be a boy? A heir for their budding dynasty?”

I put my hand on her shoulder.

“You will find the love you deserve.”

“ENOUGH!” she yells. “Take a look around here. I am a wench, a peasant whore and that is all I’ll ever be! If I’m lucky I’ll catch the eye of a cook or a blacksmith and I’ll at least be able to eat in the winter, but I’ll never have love. I’ll never have Leon. That is not for girls like me or Gwen.”

I crocked my eyebrow.

“No offense, you are a prince among peasants, but you are still a peasant. You are not Prince Arthur.”

“No I am not.”

She leans closer. “Prince Arthur will never marry Gwen. He’ll use her and throw her away. If you love her, you’ll save her from that. You’ll save her from him.”

I look at her, she is broken. Leon has done this to her and if I do not do something, Arthur will do this to Gwen.

“You are right. I am going to see her now.”

“Good boy. Stop in the marketplace and get her something pretty and then claim your woman.”

I smile. It was time.

*****

I wave at Merlin as we pass each other in the marketplace. He walks closer, but I can tell by the way he is looking and standing that something is bothering him.

“What are you doing here?” he asks, trying to sound like his usual chipper self.

“I am looking for something for Gwen. What do you think?”

I hold up a green scarf.

“She likes pink or purple,” he says tensely.

I shrug.

“What is wrong Merlin? You seem upset with me.”

He shrugged. “Gwen told me that you are courting her.”

“I am.”

Merlin let out a sigh.

“Does that bother you?”

“It’s none of my business.”

“Just say it.”

“I think what you’re doing stinks!”

“Merlin…”

“You are taking advantage of Gwen’s illness.”

Merlin words hurt.

“I am taking care of her Merlin.”

Merlin turns around. “I like you a lot Lancelot. I think that you are a great man and I know that you care for Gwen.”

“I love her.”
“But you don’t know how it is between them.”

“Gods! I am so sick of hearing about this so-called great love between them. If what they had was not worth touching, she would not be working so hard to forget it.”

Merlin shook his head. “You just don’t get it.”

“And you can’t see beyond your loyalty to Arthur.”

“I won’t deny that I feel for what Arthur is going through, but I am worried about you too, and Gwen. You have to know that things would be different if she could remember loving Arthur.”

“But she can’t.”

“But one day she will.”

*****

She is startled to see me at her door. It is the middle of the night and I can tell that I have awaken her.

“Let’s leave this place.”

She looks at me like I am madman and perhaps I am, but this place is not good for her, not good for us.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about starting over.”

“Where would we go?”

“Anywhere you want.”

“You’re serious.”

“Yes.”

“How would we live?”

“I have met a lot of people while I was away. I can provide for you, give you the life you deserve.”

And I could. All she had to do was say yes.

“The life I deserve. Listen to yourself, you sound as if I am a Lady.”

I bowed. “You are my Lady.”

She kissed me. It was long and passionate. When she pulled back; I saw the turmoil in her eyes.

“I’ve been having these dreams, images that I can’t make out. I’m almost there Lance. I know it.”

I kiss her hand. “The past doesn’t matter. What matters is the future we can build together.”

“Lancelot you barely know me. How do you know that your feelings for me will remain?”

I laugh, the idea was so ridiculous. Did she not know that she and she alone owned my heart until the end of time? I pull her into my arms. “I will love you until my heart stops beating and beyond.”

I feel her relax in my arms. “Oh Lance.”

She kisses me again, but this time she pulls away. I reach for her but she quickly pulls away.

“What is wrong?”

She moves a hand to her head. “I…I wish I could say what you want me to hear but there is something holding me here…something that I can’t grab hold too, but it’s in me.” She grabs her head again and closes her eyes. I call her name but she doesn’t answer. When she finally opens her eyes they are full of tears. She puts her hand to her chest as she lets out a loud gasp. “Oh Gods. Oh Gods…”

“Gwen what is it? Look at me. Tell me what is wrong.”

When she looks at me, it’s almost as if she is seeing me for the first time. “Oh my gods,” she says again touching her lips. “It can’t be.”

I wipe the tears from her face.  “What is it?”

“I remember. I remember it all.” She smiles and let out a small laugh. When you kissed me just now…,” her face grew serious. “Lance I am so sorry.”

“Gwen what is it?” My heart was beginning to beat faster.

“It’s Art…”

“Guinevere !”

We both jump when we see Leon and a guard move towards us.

“What is the meaning of this?” I ask, still holding on to Gwen.

Leon looks at us sympathetically. “The King has ordered Gwen be brought to the castle immediately. “

A guard pulls her away from me.

Gwen nods, but I can feel her fear. I move to grab her arm, whatever the tyrant has planned now, I will not let him get away with it. Uther Pendragon will never hurt Gwen again.

One of the soldiers moves between them.

I gave Leon a confused look.

“Gwen is to come alone, by order of Prince Arthur.”

Gwen’s face falls

I seethe beside her. Arthur has betrayed her, he has sided with his father to get back into his good graces and if it’s the last thing I do I will see that he pays for this.