Well this story's impressively kicking my ass...It refuses to act appropriately and I have a gap! A gap in the story that's in a fairly noticeable spot because it's the explain-what-the-hell-just-happened-there part, near the end. Argh! So I figure, put this up and try and fix it tomorrow...I think I'll go have a cup of tea.

This bit's fine...most of the story's is fine... *narrows eyes* MOST of it.

It's a future fic, set a few years in the future - Gwen and Arthur are together but not publicly, Merlin knows and Morgana suspects - there are whispers about them but no one's mentioned anything to the King because Arthur's matured, generally becoming a better man and things are going well in the kingdom. Lancelot's back for one of his random visits - he's been back for a while. Uther's a little mellow and Gaius is gone...somewhere (because I wanted to avoid anymore characters then I really had to).

After this chapter I use the words 'outlaws' and 'knights' a lot for lack of better words and because i didn't want to go into greater detail - there's really no good alternatives besides 'opponent' (which I'm guessing is the 3rd most used word) - it was really frustrating. It was going so well for a while there. I tried fight scenes.... yeah, that varied between good writing and repetitiveness.

So, I don't own Merlin.......

Gwen kept her eyes low as she passed a few of the new guards, there was just something that felt off about them – she wished she could put her finger on it.

Arthur inspected the makeshift settlement currently occupied by refugees. It would do for now but his father wanted them moved on soon, as a treaty with a neighbouring region broke down. A few of the looks he received weren't unfriendly exactly but he couldn't help becoming more aware of the people who did their best to keep out of way – sticking to the shadows.

Merlin tripped over a tent's rope and tumbled to the ground. He looked up noticing a pair of boots standing very close to his face. The look he received from the man wearing them was intense, he felt like he was being sized up.

Morgana watched out her window at a few refugees who looked like they were standing on guard around the courtyard – it was understandable she supposed, after being chased from their home. There was no need to be suspicious.

Gwen waited in an alcove, her attention focused on the courtyard. She could see small pockets of light flicker every now and then; the guards should have started their evening patrol by now. She shook her head; there were probably a thousand harmless reasons why she couldn't see them. Her train of thought was interrupted as strong arms wrapped around her middle. She relaxed into Arthur's arms as his head fell to the nape of her neck, his breath tickling her. Gwen smiled, her arms covering his.

The moon shone brightly as Arthur walked Gwen home – the slow way of course, with little detours into any and all private corners they passed. She was trying to quiet him as he laughed a little too loudly when they noticed the two slumped figures hidden against a pillar. Her shout of warning had Arthur ducking out of the way of a hastily swung sword, he kept her behind him, quickly slamming the intruder into the wall and knocking him out. Gwen returned to his side with two swords as the warning bell started to chime, the sounds of war cries and the clang of swords bounding out from of the night. They shared a look – both realising this was the moment they'd both been sensing for days.

'Chemistry of a Car Crash' and 'Ricochet' (Shiny toy guns) mainly inspired this fic, as well as 'Glittering Clouds (Locusts)' (Imogen Heap).

I'm considering having a choose what happened bit where there are like 2 or 3 possible options - just to save me having to decide what happened...because I don't know - currently, I have before and after STUPID GAP!