AN: I'm sure it's great being the one to own Merlin. I wouldn't know.

So I wasn't going to expand on Merlin's Secret, but I got a prety good response to it, so here's a short sequel. I got a comment about adding Gwaine, so that's what I did.

Also, PLEASE check out my profile where I have a poll going. I want to know what fanfic you think I should write!

"C'mon, tell meee," Gwaine whined.

"No," Arthur said flatly.

Gwaine turned beseechingly to Merlin, who only smirked.

"So Arthur assumes he knows your secret, which is hilariously wrong and would be perfect teasing material, and you won't tell me?"

"That's right," Arthur said sharply. He'd threatened Merlin with the stocks, extra chores, even a night in the dungeon if he spread the story to the knights. He hadn't spilled the beans so far, but Arthur suspected he would soon crack. Merlin had never really been one to fear punishment.

"You are cruel," Gwaine pouted. "Merlin, I thought you were my friend." And he stormed out of the armory.

Arthur gave Merlin his best warning glare that said very clearly he was lucky he'd kept his mouth shut.

"Gwaine left his sword," Merlin noted, picking it up. He stood and left to return it to his owner.

Arthur sighed, praying Gwaine would drop it soon. But he had hardly a moment of peace before Gwaine came barreling back in.

"I don't believe it!" he guffawed. He paused. "No scratch that - this is you we're talking about. I can totally believe it."

Arthur glared at him, which only made the knight grin wider.

"Alright, fine," he snapped. "You happy now? It's hardly my fault Merlin is loyal to a fault. How was I supposed to know it's just 'cause he's an idiot, and not for...other reasons."

He stopped, seeing Gwaine's astonished face. Then, slowly, it split into an evil grin.

"Oh, this is priceless."

And Arthur realized he had been tricked. Gwaine had had no idea what Arthur had thought Merlin's secret was.

But now he did.

He heard the knight run out, laughing as hard as Merlin had, and seriously considered, for the first time ever, skipping the morning training session.