She giggles.

Merlin props her up, leading her down the corridor towards the castle exit.

Arthur has just ordered him to take her home, and it isn't like he can say no to the Prince, not with Gwen in this state. She could hardly make it home by herself.

"You know Merlin," she starts in-between giggles, "I used to have the biggest crush on you. I did."

"That's nice to know, Gwen," Merlin answers as he scales the doors, holding Gwen up and mashing at the handle to get her into the open air.

"You were so charming and lovely. You did what was right, damn those consequences. Consequences be damned!" she keeps going as he leads her down the steps. Arthur emerges from the physician's tower with a remedy in hand, one for Gwen tomorrow morning when she will undoubtedly hate herself for today.

"Here, let me help," Arthur hands Merlin the vial of liquid, easily taking Gwen from him and basically carrying her along as she pretends to keep stepping beside him, "Come now, Guinevere, time to go home."

"No, no, no," she giggles some more, "I think it best to stay here. Right here," and right there in the middle of the courtyard she stops him, swinging herself around into his front, arms keeping her standing by looping about his neck and kissing him square on the lips.

She giggles again.

Merlin busies himself, humming and looking away. He knows what Arthur is like whenever he mentions his feelings towards Gwen. Merlin dare not risk a flogging for accidentally witnessing anything.

"Guinevere," Arthur is easily composed with Gwen in this state. He knows anything that happens will most likely to forgotten tomorrow and he is an honourable man, he knows not to take advantage. What sort of person would that make him then? "Now is not the time or place."

"I don't care who sees me! If I want to kiss the Prince I will!"

"It isn't that I don't want it, Guinevere, it is that you will hate me tomorrow if I let you."

"Pah!" she breaks away from him and runs towards the cloisters, back towards the party.

"Gwen!" Merlin trots after her, managing to grab her before she pulls open the servant door. He grabs her around the middle and pulls her back towards the castle exit, "I shall get her home Arthur."

"I don't want you to take me home! I want Arthur to take me home!"

"Gwen, that isn't a good idea?"

"Oh what am I going to do? Make him take me? I may be drunk, Merlin, but I am not stupid. H can keep his hands to himself!"

"Which he can manage easier, if I take you home," Gwen hears nothing of it and runs back towards Arthur. She hides behind him, her slim frame fitting neatly behind his without being seen.

"Arthur?"

The Prince sighs, and reaches out a hand to take the vial from Merlin, "I'll take her back. I'll leave her there; I'll just make sure she gets back safe."

"You'd better."

"I'm not going to take advantage of her like this. When we do, I'd rather both of us remembered-"

"I don't want to know."

"I bet you don't, Merlin! You know every little thing about Arthur! You know we kissed in the tent! You know that he loves me! You know that!" Merlin can't help but grin inanely at his intoxicated friend. Never had truer words been spoken so openly.

"And it is because he loves you that he would rather I took you home…"

"No!" Gwen then runs from behind Arthur, picking his hand as she runs past him and takes him off towards the town, "I don't want you anymore Merlin!"

"Wait a minute-"

"I'll explain another time, Arthur," Gwen has already pulled him off towards the town too far, and Merlin is too tired to run after them with too much effort, "I'll ready your chambers, shall I?"