Me: I got this idea while watching heartbreaking music videos of Freya and Merlin. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own the show that shattered my soul, Merlin.

~Pokemon67 wishes to apologize for any and all grammatical errors, especially of the misspelling of Gwen's full name. She tried, but spell check kept telling her she was wrong~

''The feast takes place tomorrow, and all the nobles are arriving later today.''

Morgana roller her eyes. ''I hate this time of year,'' she grumbled. ''I love a good feast, but to have so many at once? Why can't we spread them apart, savor the joy of a party?'' She got up from her seat at the table and went over to her wardrobe.

Arthur frowned at her from his seat. ''What are you doing?''

''I have to pick out my outfit.''

''What, now?''

''No, I'll wait until the last second like you do.''

''And yet I always look perfectly handsome.''

''Except that one time where you forgot your belt and shirt.''

''Now hang on, I admit I forgot my belt, but I was wearing a shirt!''

''That's right! I forgot, silly me. How could I forget that hideous, bright green shirt that the Duchess of Lares gave you?'' Arthur was about to retort when Morgana sighed as she looked though her closet. ''Gwen? Could you come here please?''

Gwen, trying not to laugh as she listened to the sibling banter, put down her mending and walked across the room to where her mistress was standing in front of her wardrobe. ''Gwen, I've been meaning to ask you if you've seen that purple dress of mine. It's been missing for ages and it would complement Arthur's blue nightshirt should he chose to show up in that

tomorrow perfectly.''

Gwen smiled at the comment as she began shuffling thought the dresses. ''I don't recall seeing it in the washing of late…'' she mused as she searched. ''Did it fall off the hanger?'' Gwen began to search the bottom of the wardrobe.

Arthur watched the girls, not making any move to help. Had it just been Gwen searching, he might've, but because of Morgana's comments, he was content to ignore them.

''Oh, I miss that dress,'' Morgana sighed as Gwen came up empty handed. ''Are you sure it didn't get lost in the washing?''

''I distinctly remember hanging it up a few weeks back,'' Gwen replied. ''I haven't seen you wear it since.''

Morgana closed the wardrobe. ''Thank you, Gwen. Keep an eye out for, okay?'' Gwen nodded and went back to her mending.

Morgana sat back down again. ''Maybe one of the maids took it,'' she mused.

''Why would they?'' Arthur finally inquired. ''Why would one of the maids steal a dress?''

''Because it was a very pretty dress,'' Morgana replied.

''You have a thousand 'pretty' dresses,'' Arthur countered.

''I know that,'' Morgana said patronizingly.

''Then why are you getting so worked up?''

''I'm not!''

''You just had Gwenivere tear apart that cupboard for it!''

Morgana turned in her chair towards her servant. ''Gwen,'' she called, ''Did I 'make you tear apart' the wardrobe or did I simply ask if you had seen my dress?''

''I believe it was the latter, my lady,''Gwen replied respectfully. She tried to bite back a laugh as she watched Arthur roll his eyes'. Goodness, she loved their banter.

Morgana turned back to Arthur pointedly. ''See?''

''Oh, sure. You think she's going to risk her job by siding with me?'' Gwen turned her laugh into a cough as Morgana gave Arthur a death glare. ''What is so special about this dress?''

''Why do you want know?''

''Since it had such an impact on your life, perhaps we should hold a ceremony for it?''

Morgana picked up an apple and held it threateningly above her head. ''I will throw this at you.''

Arthur laughed. ''No seriously, why do you need this dress?''

''For the last time, I don't need this dress, just as you don't need many pairs of boots. But if one pair were to go missing, you'd look for it, wouldn't you?''

''Fine,'' Arthur consented, leaning back in his chair. ''What does this unimportant, but mysteriously vanishing dress look like?''

''Why should I tell you?''

''Because it gives me an excuse to stay here and not do the work father assigned me.'' Morgana raised her apple again. ''Plus,'' Arthur added to save himself. ''Maybe I'll have seen the maids washing it and that can further clarify the last time it was sighted.''

Morgana, still holding her ammunition, gave in. ''It was a dark blue,'' she said. ''With lacy sleeves, and a little bit of red round the trim. The skirt also had a purple tinge to it.'' She trailed off, trying to think of another detail. She didn't really care about the dress— she had a lot. If it turned out one of the maids did take it, that was fine (as long as they were told that if they really needed a new dress, they can ask instead of steal).

Gwen looked up from her mending, expecting Arthur to give another sarcastic reply in order to continue avoiding his work. But instead the prince had a thoughtful expression on his face. Finally, he shrugged and got up from the table. ''Nope, doesn't ring any bells,'' he said. He then walked to the door.

''Leaving finally?'' Morgana asked. She took a bite of her apple.

''Can't delay forever I'm afraid,'' Arthur nodded solemnly. ''I must pick out that outfit.'' It was only because he had been expecting it that Arthur was able to doge the half eaten apple that was thrown across the room at his head.

Gwen put down her mending, determined to follow Arthur: he was hiding something, she saw it his face. ''If you'll excuse me, my lady,'' She too went to the door.

''Gwen?'' Morgana asked.

''Yes?''

''When you get a chance, and when Merlin has an alibi, hide a pair of Arthur's boots for me?''

Gwen smiled at the idea. Oh, the argument that would ensue. ''As you wish, my lady.''

Gwen was quick to catch up to Arthur. He had gone to his room, but he wasn't working. He was just sitting at his desk, thinking. ''My lord?''

Arthur looked up. ''Ah, Gwenivere. Sorry, does Morgana want to throw a pear at me too?''

''Not today I think,'' Gwen closed the door behind her. ''I was wondering if there was something wrong.''

''Wrong?''

''Well, it's just that— and forgive me, if I'm mistaken— I just thought that when Morgana was describing her dress, you seemed as if you had thought of something.''

Arthur looked uncomfortable, a sure sign that Gwen was right. Finally, he sighed. ''If I tell you, promise me you won't say anything.''

''Of course, my lord.''

''It's only that no harm has come of it, and though it is strange and, well, just plain weird, and nasty rumors could spread so I don't think—''

''Arthur!'' Gwen interrupted his rambling. ''Just say it.''

Arthur sighed deeply. ''Merlin took the dress.''

Gwen frowned. ''Why?''

''He said he was checking for moths.''

''…but…?''

Arthur looked extremely uncomfortable. ''Remember, you can't say anything!''

''I won't!''

''Merlin took it to- to try it on.''

Gwen couldn't remember when she last laughed so hard.

Arthur's face was a look of such seriousness, and the idea of Merlin rifling though Morgana's things was so ludicrous that Gwen couldn't have hidden her laughter even if she had been forewarned.

She tried to control herself; after all, she was in front of the Future King of Camelot. But as soon as she saw his face she started laughing all over again.

A few more minutes went by, with Gwen laughing all the while. ''Are you quite done?'' Arthur asked irritably.

Gwen bit her lip. ''I don't think I will ever be done laughing about this,'' she said shakily. She tried to keep a straight face, but it was impossible.

''It's not funny.''

''Your right, Arthur, it is down right hilarious,'' Gwen covered her mouth with her hand. ''I'm sorry, but, you know, the cook was missing an apron a while ago, do you think Merlin took that too?'' She began laughing all over again. ''I- I have some shoes that maybe he'd like. Do you think I should offer?''

Arthur got up from his seat, face red with embarrassment. ''I think you have chores to do, don't you?''

''Nothing that can't wait,'' Gwen replied. Her sides ached from laughing.

''I think Morgana called you.''

''Oh, come on, Arthur,'' Gwen said, trying to be serious again. ''You really think Merlin took Morgana's dress to use?''

''I saw him take it out of the wardrobe and inspect it. What else could he have been doing with it?''

''Maybe checking for moths like he said?''

''Do you or Morgana recall asking him to do so?''

''No.''

''Then what other option is there?''

''Something other than cross dressing!''

''You don't know that.''

''I know Merlin.''

''What? You think you know he's not the kinda of man to do that?''

''Of course not.''

''How?''

''His sense of style would have to be better. That blue dress would make him look to gangly. Now, Morgana has this red dress— that would look good on Merlin.''

''Out.''

''She also has these pins to go with it. Oh, he'd look gorgeous!''

''I don't want to speak with you for a very long time.''

''Oh, alright I'm leaving,'' Gwen kept grinning as she went to the door. ''Thank you for such a marvelous time. Oh, wait, one last thing.''

''What?'' Arthur asked angrily, expecting another sarcastic comment.

''When was this?''

Arthur paused, thinking. ''About, two weeks ago?''

Gwen nodded. ''Thank you!''

….

Gwen finally left Arthur's chambers, determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. So, Merlin was the one last seen with the dress? Arthur had had a point when he said neither she nor Morgana had asked him to check for moths, nor had anyone mentioned if there were moths in the castle.

Two weeks. That's how long ago. Was it a coincidence….?

Gwen had noticed a change in Merlin lately. He seemed withdrawn, his usual cheerful self dimmed, and his laughter and jokes forced. This changed started about two weeks ago. But how could that be connected to Morgana's dress?

Gwen went on her way toward the armory. When Arthur had come in to talk to Morgana, he had just come from training. So Merlin was probably cleaning up.

Sure enough, there was the servant, hanging up swords and polishing helmets. He turned his head as he heard Gwen's footsteps. A smile slid into place. ''Hi, Gwen.''

''Hi, Merlin,'' Gwen greeted. ''Do you want help?''

''No, nearly finished,'' Merlin replied. He slid the last sword into place and turned back to the helmets lined up on the bench. ''Thanks. Do you need something? You don't usually come down here.''

''Yes, actually. I need to ask you a question.''

''Yeah?''

''I was wondering if any of Morgana's things had gotten mixed up in Arthur's washing?''

Merlin thought for a minute. ''No, I don't recall seeing any of her stuff. Has Lisa mixed up the baskets again?''

Gwen shook her head. ''No. It's just that Morgana is missing something and I wondered if you had seen it.

''What is it?''

''A dress.''

Gwen was looking to catch for a cover up, so she noticed Merlin's slight pause, freezing at the mention of a dress. ''I- I don't remember seeing any—''

''It was blue, with lacy sleeves and red trim?'' Gwen pressed gently. Merlin turned his back to hide his face, placing the helmets back on their shelves. ''It's not that important,'' Gwen assured him. ''I mean, Morgana has plenty of dresses. She just wanted to make sure she hadn't misplaced it or anything.''

''Why do you think I've seen it?'' Merlin asked. His tone was a poor imitation of his usual carefree voice.

''Well, Arthur said he saw you with it,'' Gwen admitted sheepishly. ''Said you were checking for moths?''

Merlin scoffed. ''He didn't believe that,'' he said.

Gwen smiled, her mind going back to her conversation with Arthur. ''Yeah, I know,'' she said. ''He apparently jumped to conclusions.''

Merlin laughed, but it didn't sound right to Gwen ears. ''So you don't think that of me?'' He asked sarcastically.

''No. I said that dress wouldn't have complemented your figure, so it must've been for someone else.'' Merlin didn't respond. He bit his lip and continued with the helmets, his back once again to Gwen.

''So, what happened after you saw the dress?'' Gwen asked carefully after a moments silence.

Merlin sighed and kept busy with his task. ''I- I did take it,'' he admitted. ''I- I gave it to someone who needed it.''

''You could've asked, Merlin,'' Gwen said gently. ''I'm sure Morgana would've been happy to help.''

''It was short notice,'' Merlin whispered. He was tense. ''I- I have money. I can replace it-''

''That's not nessasary,'' Gwen interjected. ''Morgana just wanted to make sure she wasn't becoming careless.'' Merlin nodded. ''You know, if your friend needs more dresses, I'm sure-''

''She doesn't,'' Merlin said coldly. Then he added in a whisper, as if speaking to himself, ''She never will.''

Gwen watched as Merlin placed the last helmet on the shelf and gathered his rags. ''I have to attend to Arthur,'' he said. He walked past Gwen, but not before she saw the sadness deeply etched onto his face.

….

It was late as Gwen walked home that night. On top of her usual nightly duties, she had to help prepare for the feast tomorrow, and she had wanted to catch up on that mending she had put aside to figure out what had happened to the dress. Morgana, after five times insisting that the mending could wait, had finally snatched the work out of her maid's hands and pushed her toward the door, ordering her to go home and sleep.

Gwen pulled her shawl closer around her against the cold air. Her heels clicked against the castle wall stone. She was almost to the steps when she caught in the corner of her eye a figure sitting onto the wall, staring off into the forrest.

Gwen frowned and was about to call out, when she recognized the figure as Merlin.

She changed her direction and was soon on the wall, walking over to Merlin. She had felt guilty the whole day about angering him, and hadn't been able to shake the image of his grieving face from her mind. Maybe now she could apologize.

''Merlin?'' She asked. Her voice seemed so much smaller in the still air. She walked over to him. He didn't look at her, but kept staring off into the woods.

''She was running,'' He said quietly. ''People were after her and I offered to help.''

Gwen sat down next to him. ''The girl you gave the dress to?'' She asked gently.

Merlin nodded. ''She was innocent; she hadn't done anything at all. But they were going to kill her, so I helped her.'' He swallowed hard. ''She was in rags. I thought if I disguised her I could smuggle her out of the city and get her to safety.''

''And did you?''

Merlin bit his lip and shook his head. ''They got her,'' he whispered. ''I couldn't save her. The wound was to deep…'' He trailed off. He took a deep breath. ''I couldn't- I couldn't let her go in rags. So instead of returning the dress-''

''You buried her in it,'' Gwen finished softly.

Merlin nodded again. ''Yeah.''

''When was this?''

Merlin hesitated. ''Two weeks ago.''

Gwen thought for a minute. Two weeks. That was about when that bounty hunter had had the city torn apart for that Druid girl, who turned out to be a monster…

Merlin was watching Gwen's face— he knew she was putting the pieces together. But Gwen was not going to say what Merlin was hinting at. Not here, outside the palace. ''She was innocent,'' Merlin said again.

Gwen bit her lip and leaned her head against his shoulder. He was right; from what she had heard, the girl had been cursed. But even if she hadn't been, Uther still would've seen her dead simply for being a Druid. It was wrong. It was all so wrong. ''I know.''

Merlin seemed to relax at that. Perhaps that is why he told her, so someone other than him would know that the girl was innocent, that she hadn't deserved what she got.

''I can replace the dress-'' Merlin began to offer again.

''Oh, Merlin,'' Gwen sighed. ''No one cares about the dress.''

They sat in silence on the wall. Poor Merlin. He had been grieving for this girl in secret all this time, and pretending that he was fine. Gwen wished there was something she could do for him. But there wasn't, except to be next to him. So that's what she did. She couldn't take away his grief, but he didn't have to grieve alone. ''What was her name?''

''Freya,'' Merlin pronounced her name slowly, savoring the syllables. It occurred to Gwen that this might be the first time he had said her name aloud since it happened. ''Her name was Freya.''

Freya. Gwen thought about the name. She had no face to put it to, but it was a lovely name. She wouldn't forget the name; the least the living can do for the dead is remember them.

…

''Morgana!'' Arthur called. Morgana and Gwen turned to watch their friend come up the hallway towards them.

''For the last time, Arthur, I haven't seen your boots,'' Morgana huffed in annoyance.

''No, I found this in my laundry.'' Arthur held up a yellow dress. ''I think that maid mixed the clothes up again.''

Morgana frowned at the dress. ''Do you recognize it?'' Morgana asked Gwen.

Gwen shook her head. ''No, it's not one of yours.''

''What are we all doing here?'' Merlin asked as he came down the stairs. He stared at the dress in Arthur's hands. ''Where'd you get that?''

''That's what we are wondering,'' Arthur grumbled. ''I don't know where it came from. I found it in my laundry, but it isn't Morgana's…''

Merlin snapped his fingers. ''I knew I washed it!'' He declared happily. He took the dress from Arthur. ''Thank you, Arthur, for finding it for me!''

Arthur watched aghast as his servant walked down the hall and around the corner with his dress. ''Well, there you are then,'' Morgana shrugged as she and Gwen walked past Arthur. ''Do pick your jaw up off the floor, Arthur.''

The girls kept a straight face as they walked away. But as soon as they were out of Arthur's sight, they descended into giggles and ran around the corner.

As planned, Merlin was already there, leaning on his knees to keep from falling over in his laughter. ''Did you see his face?'' he choked out.

Gwen had to lean her back against the wall to keep from falling down. ''Yes,'' she laughed. ''Oh, that was brilliant.''

Morgana put her hand on Merlin's shoulder. '' 'Thank you, Arthur, for finding it for me!' '' She quoted Merlin. ''Oh, that was perfect, just perfect…''

''What was?'' a voice said. A young maid came up the stairs. She frowned at the sight of the king's ward and two servants laughing in the corridor. ''What's going on?''

Merlin tried to compose himself. ''Here's your dress back, Lisa,'' he said, handing the garment over to the bewildered maid.

''What did you need it for?'' Lisa asked. ''Why couldn't you use one of your own?''

''Well, mine might be recognized and Gwen is too short,'' Morgana explained.

''Too short for what?''

''For me,'' Merlin responded. Lisa's confused expression made the three jokers descend into laughter once again.

''Nuts, the three of you are nuts…'' Lisa shook her head and continued on her way.

The three stayed in the corridor for a few minutes, trying to compose themselves. Gwen watched Merlin next to Morgana, who was trying to balance herself by leaning on the servant. His eyes, though not quite as bright as they used to be, were sparkling. And his laughter, for the first time in a long while, sounded genuine.

Gwen smiled, but not because she was thinking of Arthur. It would take time, and the events would always haunt him, but Freya could rest easy knowing that Gwen was going to make sure that Merlin would be okay.

Me: Morgana's and Arthur's banter was so much fun to write. Oh, Morgana… does anyone else feel so much pain when you go back and watch episodes when she was good?

I hope you like this story! If you have time, please review and tell me what you think!

Happy Writing!