Random plot bunny that kept bouncing in my face. So yeah, here it is - my take on how Arthur getting with Gwen really happened. For my really huge Merlin fic (if I ever publish it) I'm going to include most, if not all of this, but very altered and twistified. But enough of that! Here it is! Just because that moment between them in the last episode just made my sister and my friend and me squeal like the pathetic fangirls we are. Well, actually, not my sister. She distances herself as much as possible from anything fangirlish, inwardly fearing that she'll end up as obsessed and weird as me. Or so I like to think. :D

READ THIS!!! Okay, to actually understand this, you need to know a little of what's been going on in Camelot before this story.

1) Merlin's magic has been discovered. He and Arthur are both okay with it, Uther knows and is letting Merlin remain and keeping his magic a secret. Gwen and Morgana are the only others who know.

2) Morgana is gone. Yup, that's right folks, she's turned 'evil' and gone to the far reaches of Albion to unite her people against what she believes is the cruelty and oppression of Uther and his rule. And Christianity.

I think that's all. I hope so anyway. If you find something that doesn't fit, please tell me.

DISCLAIMED

"No!" Gwen cried as the guards took her arms in grips strong enough to bruise and tore her away from her home. "No! Please! I'm not a thief! I'm not, I swear!" She began to sob – how much must she suffer?

"Burn it!" A spiteful old woman cawed from the mob of people gathered to witness Gwen's disgrace and discovery. "Burn her home! Burn it to the ground, lest it be cursed!"

There were yells and shouts of agreement, and Gwen cried hysterically as she was dragged away, and the first torches were flung into the house Arthur had promised her would always be hers. Her last security, gone. Burned in fear and hate and hot, hot flames.

Her cheeks were wet as the guards tugged her through the courtyard, and the servants who knew her gaped in astonishment as Gwen – small, chatty, innocent Gwen – was dragged off to the dungeons.

As she stumbled and tripped on the cobbles, Gwen saw through her tears to Alice, a pretty young maid, grab the arm of one of the soldiers and demand to know what her friend was charged with.

"Thievery." Was the blunt reply, and Gwen's voice rose in pitch, her wailing intensifying as she realised that her two greatest hopes could not save her – Arthur and Merlin were not due back for days. She was doomed.

It was with those desperate thoughts that Gwen collapsed in an ungainly heap as the guards shoved her through the iron-barred door to her cell. Her heart broke as she realised that it was the same one her father had been kept in before he had been killed.

She tried to calm down and sort through her muddled thoughts. She had no idea how those items could have gotten into her home. What use would she have had for them anyway? Rings of gold and silver, necklaces of pearl and shell beading, and countless other priceless pieces of jewellery that had belonged to the Queen. And worst of all – Uther's crown. The thin, patterned one he wore only for special occasions because it was so valuable.

Gwen was a smart girl – she could see that the odds were heavily tipped in her opposition – as the daughter of a blacksmith, she would have the knowledge of how to melt down the costly metals, separate the gold and silver and copper and bronze and cast them in lumps of pure metal, and sell them on for great prices.

And Uther was furious, of course. It was no secret how much he had loved Igraine – the stories of what he was going to do with the thief were horrific, and Gwen shuddered at the memory, and then burst into fresh gales of tears.

What was she going to do?

No answers were forthcoming, and Gwen's scared thoughts were interrupted as the door to her cell opened and two guards stepped in, stern expressions on their faces beneath their helmets.

She stood up and scrubbed a sleeve across her face, trying to stand tall and not let them see the way her bottom lip trembled. They were not fooled, and each one took one of her arms, pulling her out.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked tremulously.

"To the King." The one on her left replied in a gravelly voice. Gwen bit her lip to stop it trembling and took deep shuddering breaths all the way to the audience chamber.

Uther's eyes under his heavy brow were dark and terrifying. Gwen trembled as she was pushed in front of him – she stumbled and fell, looking up at him with desperate, pleading eyes.

"Have you anything to say?" The King asked, his tone low and deadly. It was clear that anything she did say would not be taken into account.

"Please, Sire!" Gwen begged. His bad reception was not going to stop her pleading for her life. "I am telling you, I have stolen nothing! I have never seen that jewellery in my life!"

"And yet it was found in your house." Uther's glare intensified and Gwen flinched as though she had been struck.

"I never took them!" She cried empathetically. "Please, you have to believe me, I am no thief!"

"Your actions say otherwise." Uther continued dangerously. "I have heard enough." He sat back and waved a hand, his glare never leaving Gwen. "Take her away."

"No!" Gwen protested as the guards yanked her to her feet and spun her around. "Please! Somebody! I didn't steal anything! I never saw those things before in my life, I swear!" She kept up her cries until they were well down the corridor, and then she simply dissolved into tears. The guards had to carry her between them and set her down in her cell, where she curled up and cried herself to sleep.

xXx

Satisfaction glinted in Uther's eyes as the girl was dragged away. She was afraid, and so she should be! How dare anyone take Igraine's jewels! She had so loved those necklaces and earrings and bracelets – Uther had gifted her with new ones whenever he could. Her beautiful face would light up and she would cup whatever new pendant he had given her in her slender hands like a fragile baby bird, full of wonderment and gratitude. Then she would look up at him, a huge smile on her face, and fling her arms around him.

"Oh, Uther!" She would cry. "It's beautiful! You're so good to me."

She had loved each and every piece of precious jewellery, wearing them all regularly. And that wretch had stolen them! His face darkened as the guards admitted a man to the chamber – Gaius.

"Sire," He began, his opinion already evident in his tone of voice.

Uther held up a hand and scowled. "I don't want to hear it, Gaius. The jewels and my crown were found in her house."

"And therein lies the mistake." Gaius said. He peered at the King knowingly, his right eyebrow raised in that irritatingly permanent way.

Uther sighed angrily. "What mistake, Gaius?" Why did he always have to ask, he wondered. Why?

"No thief hides their plunder within their own house." Gaius said in a low voice. "Especially one who has stolen such valuable artefacts. And Gwen is not a thief. It is clear that she has been set up." He was wearily certain, and Uther's reputational temper flared to life at the hidden patronisation.

"They were found in her house!" He hissed, turning the full force of his fury on the physician. "My Igraine's jewels! The last hands to touch them were hers, and that servant stole them, her fingers all over them…" He trailed off, breathing heavily, his expression thunderous, daring Gaius to challenge him further.

Which of course he did. "Sire, I know Gwen." He stepped closer, his eyes intent. "She is the gentlest woman I have ever known, and besides, no one even knows where you keep Igraine's jewels."

"Enough!" Uther swiped his hand through the air, incensed and beyond reason. "I will not hear this! Get out of my sight, Gaius! The girl will hang as soon as the gallows is constructed. She will hang, and all of Camelot will see what happens to those who steal from me…from Igraine!"

Gaius held his gaze for a moment, water against fire, but then the resistance was gone, and he ducked his head in submission. "As you wish, Sire." He muttered, and turned to leave.

Gwen sat, staring blankly at the wall. She had had nightmares about this, after she had been charged with causing the water disease. The threat of execution hanging over her like (ironically) an axe. The long wait, with nothing to do to stop the imagination running away with itself. The grey stone walls that seemed to close in on her, shutting out the light and sound.

And this was a hundred times worse than the last time (last time – there shouldn't even have been a last time!), because at least then she knew that Merlin and Arthur and Morgana were trying their hardest to prove her innocence and set her free. Now she didn't even have her father. He had died escaping from the very cell she was imprisoned in.

A noise distracted her from her deep thoughts, and Gwen turned to the door to see Gaius hurrying towards her. She scrambled to her feet and ran to the bars, clutching the cold iron in her hands as Gaius slid his fingers, warm and papery, over hers in a comforting gesture.

"Gwen," He said sadly. "How are they treating you?"

"I'm fine." Her voice trembled. "Gaius…I'm scared." She lowered her voice to a frightened whisper. "At least last time there was Arthur and Merlin and Morgana – now I have no one!" Fresh tears started in her eyes, and Gaius reached a hand through the bars to wipe them away gently.

"There, there, Gwen. Don't worry. Uther may not listen to me, but he will listen to Arthur."

"But Arthur is days away!" She cried. "He'll never make it back in time! I'll be dead by the time a message reaches him!"

"A message sent by normal means, perhaps," Gaius smiled cunningly. "But not one sent by magic."

Gwen gasped. "Magic?"

"Yes." Gaius nodded. "Fear not, my child. By the time your gallows are built, Arthur and Merlin will be here, and they will bring the King to see reason, you'll see." He patted her hand confidently.

Gwen nodded, not so sure. "I hope you're right Gaius." She whispered. "Because they plan to start building it today, this very afternoon. It will be completed by dawn tomorrow."

"Then the Prince and Merlin will be here by dawn tomorrow." Gaius reassured her. "Don't you worry, Gwen." He patted her hands one last time before stepping back. "And make sure you keep eating." He added as he turned away.

Gwen stepped back from the bars and sank to the floor, twisting her hands in her lap. There were no windows in this cell, but she could hear the sounds floating in from the courtyard outside as carpenters and guards wheeled in planks of wood to build her gallows.

xXx

Gaius hurried as fast as his aged legs would allow. If the guards below had heard his and Gwen's exchange, then they could already be on their way to stop him. Luckily, the spell was a quick one, and he had all the amplifying herbs all ready in his chambers.

He reached his rooms without challenge, and promptly set about making a pouch of speech-aiding and summoning herbs. He had to be swift now, in case the King discovered his intentions.

Holding the pouch in his hands, he raised it up towards the ceiling and closed his eyes. "Il ânnαgh ðé muriích gweňna tach." He felt the familiar power well up inside him and welcomed it like an old friend. It had grown weak over the years with lack of use, but it still held enough power to reach out across the land, attracted to the most powerful source of magic in Albion – Merlin. In the cup of his hands, the pouch started to glow.

Riding with Arthur in the woods, Merlin jerked suddenly, not familiar with Gaius' magical signature. As he grasped the tendril of magic however, he recognised that sense of crabby goodwill and concern that Gaius always held for him.

Gaius? He asked uncertainly.

Merlin. Back in Camelot, Gaius smiled with relief.

What is it? Merlin asked worriedly. What's wrong?

It's Gwen. Gaius told him quickly. Someone planted Igraine's stolen jewels in her house – Uther won't see reason and she is due to hang tomorrow morning. They're building the gallows now.

Merlin was horrified. They can't! He cried. They can't kill Gwen!

"Merlin?" Arthur pulled Hubert up to fall in next to Merlin. "What on earth's the matter with you? You're just staring off into space." He laughed.

Merlin shook his head, his eyes still unfocused. "The King is going to hang Gwen." He told Arthur in a faint voice. "Tomorrow morning."

Arthur's eyes widened. "Hang her? Why?"

"For stealing some jewels." Merlin replied. Have you spoken to Uther? He asked Gaius.

Of course, but where Igraine is concerned, Uther is blind to reason. Gaius snapped. The only person he might listen to is Arthur. You must get back by tomorrow, or Gwen will hang.

We will make it back. Merlin told him determinedly. I swear it.

I believe you. Gaius smiled. Oh and Merlin? He added as his surrogate son prepared to break off the connection. Hurry.

Don't worry about that. Merlin said darkly. See you by midnight at the latest.

Gaius only had time to raise his eyebrows before the connection was broken and the pouch in his hands stopped glowing. Back in the forest, Arthur was railing at the trees and bushes.

"He can't hang her!" He waved his hands as though addressing a court. "Gwen couldn't steal food to feed herself, let alone jewels! And what use would she have for them anyway? She knows that if there's anything she wants or needs, she need only ask us! What on earth can my father be thinking?"

"Arthur!" Merlin shouted, snapping the Prince out of his rant. "We will get back by midnight."

"What?" Arthur raised his eyebrows. "Midnight? We're leagues from Camelot, Merlin. It'll take days to get back!"

"Not with magic." Merlin smiled slightly, stretching his hand out to Hubert's hooves. The large horse shifted uneasily as a green-blue light enveloped his legs up to his knees. Arthur was also shocked, staring down at the ethereal smoke-like cover of magic. He watched in silence as Merlin did the same to his own mount, then looked up at him.

"Let's go."

So yeeaaaaah...thoughts expressed in the form of reviews are nice...more than nice, actually, more like little messages of strength that give me the will to carry on, but don't let my rambling distract you from pressing the review button and at least letting me know that you made it to the end of the chapter! Which is always comforting.