"Merlin?" Gwen called to her friend, who was lying on the grass outside the castle, using his hands as a pillow, gazing up at the night sky. He didn't falter at the woman's voice, but only removed one hand from behind his head and beckoned her. She walked over and sat down beside him. Now that she was queen, Merlin didn't see much of her, so moments like this were precious. "What are you doing?"
"Deciding," he replied.
"What?"
"Do I lie here forever, watching the stars?" he looked at her.
"I don't think Arthur would be too thrilled," Gwen laughed. Merlin smiled. She didn't realise he was serious.
"Or do I carry on as I am, in this lie of a life?" he sighed. "I can't talk to anyone, only the stars. They're what keeps me from going completely insane." Gwen shook her head.
"You can't talk to anyone about what?"
"About who I am," he looked away from her. "I'm not just Merlin."
"Who are you?" Gwen was confused now. Merlin rolled onto his side, facing away from Gwen.
"Emrys," he murmured. "I'm Emrys."
"No, you're not," she tried to laugh it off. Merlin didn't kill the king.
"See?" Merlin felt a teardrop on his cheek. "Who can I talk to? I'll be banished, beheaded or laughed at." Gwen put her hand on his shoulder.
"Well, you can't lie here," she told him firmly. "Not alone." She made herself comfortable beside him. Merlin shuffled himself so that he was lying on his back next to Gwen. He looked at her. She didn't care who he was. "I'll lie with you."