What if Arthur hadn't banished Guinevere from Camelot when he had found her in the arms of his most trusted friend? What if he was persuaded by his advisers to have her executed the following day?
-One shot story, for more search Livi4eva Fanfiction and click on 'Goodbye my love'. Please read, fan and comment if you like :)

GOODBYE MY LOVE

Her eyes filled with tears as she watched the two men she loved fight to the death. The sound of metal clashing together rose in pitch and echoed in the great hall. Soon the two men stepped back and circled each other while exchanging glares. The sweat on their foreheads was hidden by the darkness of the room. But all could see Arthur's crystal blue eyes which had turned liquid ever since he had entered the hall.

A few moments ago Arthur had wandered in there in the darkness of the night with only a candle light to guide him. Only to find the woman he loved in the arms of his most trusted friend. His lips coaxing on her mouth and his eyes sealed shut. Her arms had been snaked around his neck and her body pressed against his. The two of them had turned to the doorway when they had heard something drop. They found the young King Arthur standing there with his mouth slightly open in shock. The candle had been abandoned on the floor with the wax spilled around it.

Guinevere had pulled away from Lancelot. Her eyes met her fiancé's and she felt guilty. Arthur felt contaminated by what he had just been witness to. She felt filthy and ashamed of herself. And Lancelot, he returned his friend's gaze in an almost mocking way. That look had driven Arthur to unsheathe his sword and charge at him with a roar.

Now the two men, who had once been so close, were now enemies and were trying to kill the other. At the thought of Lancelot and Guinevere being together, Arthur let out a cry before crashing his blade down onto Lancelot's right arm. His opponent was startled and he stumbled back a bit, his hand covering his arm. When he let go of it, blood gushed freely from the wound. He twitched when he felt the stinging pain. Then raised his sword to attack Arthur and Arthur responded by doing the same.

'Stop!' Screamed Guinevere as she ran between them. Guilt filled her heart; she had made two friends hate each other. 'Please, stop!'

Her begs caused the two men to drop their swords hastily but neither of them went to comfort her when she began to cry. Arthur looked at the woman he loved with eyes which melted her heart. How could she have done this to him? She loved him just as much as he loved her; and in a couple of days she was to be his wife- the Queen of Camelot. Then Lancelot had returned and he had turned her world upside down. Her attraction to him couldn't be controlled and now they ended up in the position they were now in. Guinevere looked at her fiancé, hoping to find forgiveness in his eyes. But he broke the stare by looking away.

The blade of the axe perched on the scaffold glistened in the little sunlight there was. The crows screeched above among the dark clouds in the pale sky. A large crowd of whispering Camelot citizens surrounded the scaffold. Arthur watched all this from his balcony, his eyes as liquid as they were last night. He was attending the execution of the one he loved, Guinevere. Lancelot had already been executed privately earlier this morning. And Guinevere had weeped all day in her cell until this moment.

It was the law that if the lover of the King/Queen had been found 'behaving inappropriately' with the opposite gender should be executed the following day. Arthur did not want this happen to Guinevere but she had been charged with adultery. He considered banishing her from the kingdom but then his people would see him as a weak king. His advisers had persuaded him to do this, to do what was right.

Guards brought Guinevere out into the open, her wrists were chained and her head was bowed. The crowd immediately booed at the sight of her. She was heading for the scaffold where the executioner waited for her with his axe. A shiver ran down her spine as she looked up at him. He was a large man and had a mysterious scary feeling about him. His face was covered by a black mask and he wore clothes like a blacksmith. Despite the booing of the crowd, Guinevere walked up the steps of the scaffold gracefully like a queen. As she did she looked up and her eyes met Arthur's. He looked away quickly and she felt rejected. He didn't want to look at her in the eye or he would break down and cry.

Her eyes adverted to the large stump on the scaffold with a perfect curve at the top for her neck to fit in. At the sight of it her eyes filled with tears. She felt like she had been betrayed by the one she loved. But she had also stabbed him in the back so hard that it forced him to do this. Her head turned to look at the executioner who was expecting her to do something.

'Kneel!' He demanded and she immediately knelt down to the stump when she heard his frightening voice. Arthur was now looking down at the execution once again. He wanted to call out and stop it but he knew he couldn't.

'God have mercy on your soul,' muttered the executioner as Guinevere rested her head on the stump. Tears rolled down her face and she gazed at the crowd in front of her.

'Whore!' They were yelling at her and she looked down. These were people who once loved her greatly.

'Any last words?' asked the executioner and Guinevere blinked twice before opening her mouth.

'I know I have done wrong,' she called out to the people and their chants slowly died. 'But I hope you find it in your hearts to forgive me one day. I cannot describe how ashamed I am of myself. I have never felt so distraught in my life. Be good to your king, Arthur. I know he wants the best for you; and so do I.'

The crowd were silent for a moment and some people began to whisper. Was it a good idea to execute Guinevere? She had done so much for them recently. And she would make a wonderful queen. Now that Lancelot was dead she couldn't be drawn to him.

The executioner raised his axe and the crowd gasp. The tiny hairs on the back of Guinevere's neck stuck up and she accepted her fate. Her eyes closed and the last few tears streamed down her face.

Arthur looked down at her and the axe hanging not far above her. He couldn't do this, he had to stop it. He called out to her.

'Guinevere!' He cried and the crowd of people looked up at him. Guinevere opened her eyes and smiled slightly, he did love her. But it was too late, the axe was already crashing down on her and with one hack, her head was off. Arthur looked away with liquid eyes before burying his face in his hands. Guinevere, he thought to himself, forgive me.

-I can add the other chapters if you want :)