Note: Spoilers for Episode 1x05 "Lancelot"
Gwen's father senses that something's troubling her. He watches in concern as she prepares their breakfast and looks at her questioningly when she finally sits across from him.
"Is anything wrong?" Tom asks.
Gwen doesn't know where to begin. The griffin's been defeated but Lancelot, who should've been celebrated as a hero, has already taken his leave of her, perhaps never to return. And Arthur, of all people, released him from the dungeons. He's changed so much that Gwen can't believe she ever considered him a bully.
But she smiles and says, "I'm fine." And she will be, in time.
Morgana says they have a busy day ahead, and she does her best to keep Gwen's mind off Lancelot. But Gwen finds her attention drifting as they walk together in the gardens or as she mends Morgana's dresses, though she recovers herself before her lady notices.
She falters once whilst fixing Morgana's hair. Her eyes are turned to the window and she doesn't even realise that her fingers have stilled in mid-plait until Morgana's hand reaches up to cover her own. Their eyes meet in the mirror, and when Gwen tries to apologise Morgana just gives her a sympathetic smile.
Gwen knocks hesitantly on Arthur's door, half-hoping that Merlin will answer. But it's Arthur's voice that tells her to enter, and she finds him sitting at the table, looking surprised to see her.
"I just wanted to thank you," Gwen says, hovering in the doorway. "For helping Lancelot."
"I wish I could have done more," Arthur says, unable to hide his disappointment.
Gwen beams at him. "You were wonderful! I mean – wonderfully kind," she quickly amends, embarrassed.
"Thank you, Guinevere," Arthur says gravely, though Gwen sees the amusement in his eyes before she awkwardly excuses herself and flees the room.
She meets Merlin in the corridor, precariously balancing a stack of plates containing Arthur's evening meal, though he doesn't seem concerned about letting it go cold as he stops to talk with her.
"Do you think Lancelot will ever return?" Gwen asks, because she knows Merlin misses him too, and she doesn't have to pretend around him.
"I'd wondered about that." Merlin grins suddenly. "He probably will someday. I think he really liked you."
Gwen denies it, blushing furiously and making Merlin grin even more. "He did! He wouldn't stop talking about you," he insists, and Gwen can't stop smiling.