They were picking flowers in the forest just outside of Camelot. Actually, she was picking flowers. He was looking for herbs for Gaius. But that didn't matter. Just being near him made her happy and she kept sneaking glances at him. Unlike the other men she knew in the castle, Merlin was different. He was unfailingly cheerful, extremely loyal and most importantly, he was brave and stood up for what he thought was right. That was a trait she thought was very lacking in many people. It was always so easy to follow others, to pretend that you didn't have a choice.

Merlin looked up and caught her staring. It warmed her heart when instead of teasing her about her blatant interest, he grinned at her. A flush on her face, Gwen quickly looked away.

She was in love for the first time in her life.

"How is she?" Arthur paced the room, his eyes focused on the limp figure on the bed.

"She's alive but I am not sure why she isn't waking," said Gaius apologetically.

"It's been 3 days and she's still unconscious. Isn't there anything else we can try?" Arthur tried to keep the desperation from his voice, tried to calm his pounding heart. He couldn't believe this was happening. They were supposed to be getting ready for their wedding. Not this.

"I'm sorry my lord. It's just a matter of waiting. I'll be back tomorrow morning to check on her." Gaius bowed and left the room.

Fear threatened to choke him and Arthur slumped onto the chair next to the bed, taking Gwen's hands in his, kissing her knuckles, mentally wishing that she would wake and miraculously be alright.

"You should get some rest. I can stay with her tonight. You haven't slept in days and you still have that big council meeting tomorrow." Merlin hovered outside the room, concern in his eyes.

"I'm not leaving her. I can't." He looked at her sleeping figure, her breaths steady and slow, her face too serene. With a shaking hand, he pushed her hair from her face, his fingers lingering against her cheek. His heart clenched again and he felt the tears gathering in his eyes. He should have gone with her when she wanted to visit her father's grave instead of just having Elyan and Percival accompany her. Since the two knights had rushed back with her unconscious body, he hadn't spoken to them. He couldn't because all he wanted to do was scream at them even when in his head he knew that they would have done all they could. Instead, he left it to Merlin to find out what exactly happened.

"Arthur. Don't be foolish. Gwen wouldn't want you to behave like this. I'll be with her. I will call you if anything happens."

Arthur rubbed his face and sighed. The council meeting was an important one - the first since they reclaimed Camelot from Morgana - and he needed to be alert for it. Gwen would never forgive him for neglecting his duties.

"You're right. I'm going to get some sleep. Make sure you call me if anything changes." He pressed a kiss to Gwen's forehead and stood.

Merlin touched his shoulder. "Go on. I'll be here."

Arthur nodded. "Thank you." He took one last look at Gwen, then walked out of her room. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed two gossiping servants dart away as he walked down the corridor but he was far too tired to stop them, to tell them that Gwen was not dying. She wasn't despite the hushed whispers in the castle. She couldn't.

Despite the heaviness in his heart, he slipped easily into sleep the moment he lay on his bed, exhaustion claiming him.

Merlin had been ordered to polish all the knights' swords by that prat of a prince and Gwen was seething on his behalf. She'd wanted to help but Merlin has rebuffed her so she sat next to him with her sewing.

"He's doing this to you because he can. They don't need their swords polished this often. It's as if you don't have to rest."

Merlin just smiled at her. "You know how he is."

"I can't imagine what kind of king he would make. He's lived in privilege all his life and is such a bully. At least his father had to fight for his position."

"He's a better person than his father."

Gwen scoffed. Arthur Pendragon was a prince alright. A prince of selfish, useless prats. Her eyes slid towards Merlin who frowned slightly as he polished the sword in his hands and she smiled.

While he fell asleep easily, he didn't sleep well, plagued with dreams of Gwen dying in his arms, of her blood all over his white shirt, of her eyes blank and her body limb. He woke several times, jolting up before remembering Gwen was still alive, if unconscious. In the middle of the night, he'd snuck to her room and watched her breathe from the shadows. Merlin had spotted him immediately but said nothing.

Arthur was staring up at the canopy of his bed, his mind a mess of anger and despair, when Merlin entered to get him ready for the day.

"How is she?" He dragged himself out of bed and went to wash his face. The splash of cool water on his face perked him up a little and he felt slightly more human.

"There's no change. I'm sorry."

He already expected the answer but he couldn't help the pain that ripped through him when he heard it. "I'm going to be in her room. I'll have my breakfast there."

It took a great deal of effort for him to tear himself away from her for training but he knew he had to be there to look over the new knights. Sir Leon was now in charge of training but Arthur wanted to make an appearance. Morale was quite low after the whole battle and Gwen had convinced him that taking a personal interest in the things happening around the castle would make a big difference. Even with her still lying unconscious in bed, Arthur was determined not to let Gwen down. He'd done it before and it wasn't something he wanted to do again.

The recruits appeared happy to have him around - he even sparred half-heartedly with some of them. Then it was time for the council meeting. It wasn't going to be easy. His willingness to trust Agravaine had ironically ruined the council's trust in him. Not that he blamed them. After recent events, he was reluctant to trust himself too.

"Arthur! Arthur!" Merlin skidded to a stop in front of him. There was only one reason for that. His heart lurched. Please let it be good news. "Gwen. She's up."

He ran as fast as he could to her bedroom.