A/N: Update time! Thanks to Taura Callisto (heh, hope you felt OK staying up so late!), Mediatrix (no I haven't seen those yet!), Healed535, SereneMayhem, kibaxkaori, hieisdragoness18, and Samerys707 (and SubRosa7 and Kate for your reviews of Revealed Truths) for your great reviews, glad this is living up to expectation so far. Hope it continues to do so!

BTW, I warn you, it's going to get angsty! But...trust me.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.


The sun was a pleasant and unexpected change from the rain that had been falling for the last few weeks. Soon the winter would hit fully and snow would start to cover the land again, so Merlin had taken the opportunity to go into the forest and collect some extra herbs for Gaius. It was the least he could do after putting his guardian through so much over the last six months. Even now, the old man was hurt and angry at what he perceived to Merlin's excessive self-sacrifce and Arthur's reaction to discovering the truth about his servant's magic. Arthur had apologised to the physician, which Gaius had accepted but he had refused the king's offer to reinstate him to the council - he was willing to serve the king while Merlin remained so steadfastly loyal but he could not forgive Arthur as quickly as Merlin. There were things, Gaius had said, which could not be undone by a simple apology.

It saddened Merlin to see the wedge that his loyalty to Arthur was driving between him and Gaius. The old man was the closest thing he had ever had to a father - he'd liked Balinor and had they been given more time together, he had no doubt they would have built a strong relationship but it was not to be. Gaius on the other hand, had always been there for him and he hated the thought that he might ever have to make a choice between the two.

Bending down to pick some of the blue flowers that Gaius used in his painkilling tonic, Merlin resolved to make sure it never came down to such a terrible choice. Arthur knew his secret now, he had accepted him and the lies that had threatened to crush him with their weight were gone. The golden age of Camelot would soon be upon them - he could almost feel it like a living thing on the edge of his consciousness, it was gone if he focused on it, but it was there. It would be glorious and it would be remembered forever.

"Well, well, I see Gaius still has you running errands for him."

Merlin swung round, one hand out defensively. That voice haunted his dreams, it was so similar to the girl he had known so many years ago, yet so filled it hate and cruelty it was almost unrecognisable.

"What are you doing here, Morgana?" he asked, taking a cautious step backwards. Morgana was not someone he wanted to reveal his magic to. Not yet.

"Oh do not worry, Merlin," she smiled, her eyes full of amused malice, "I am not here to kill you. Or even hurt you."

"Then what is it you want?"

"I want you to know where you need to bring Gwen when the time comes."

"What are you talking about?" he demanded.

"You'll know. Bring her to the Isle of the Blessed."

"Gwen is the queen and more than that she is my friend," Merlin said, shaking his head. "I'm not going to take her anywhere for you."

"Really?" Morgana smirked maliciously. "I think you will."

"What happened to you, Morgana? Why do you hate her so much?" he asked desperately.

"She sits upon my throne and you dare to ask me such a question?" the witch snarled.

"It was never your throne, Morgana! The fact you were Uther's daughter does not change the fact that Arthur was and is the rightful heir!" Merlin stated vehemently.

"Silence!" she shouted. "I did not come here to discuss this with you. Bring me Gwen when the time comes, boy. I shall be waiting."

"Never."

"Do not be so quick to refuse," she said calmly, the smirk reappearing on her face. "I will see you when the time comes." She turned and walked away, her head held high and proud.

Merlin watched her leave, his magic thrumming through his veins, begging to be used. One flick of his wrist and he could end her life as easily crushing an insect and it would be for the best. She was powerful and deranged, with both purpose and steely determination; if anyone had a chance of destroying Camelot, it was Morgana. But he could not bring himself to do it. Cold-blooded murder was beyond him.

Instead he turned and ran back to Camelot, the herbs he'd been gathering forgotten. That the witch had approached him could mean nothing good and he needed to tell Arthur.


When he reached the castle, Arthur was nowhere to be found. Out of pure habit, Merlin made his way to Gaius' chambers, opening the door without thinking to knock, since they were his chambers as well, and was surprised when he saw his guardian handing Gwen a potion and stating that her symptoms were completely normal. When she saw him in the doorway, Gwen smiled but hurried past with a hasty "Thank you" to Gaius.

Merlin frowned as he watched her go, before turning back to his mentor. "Is Gwen all right?"

"Yes, she's fine," Gaius replied, busying himself with the various ingredients laid out on his work bench.

Something about his actions made Merlin suspicious and he made is way over to the table, leaning on it. "If she was fine, then why would she need," he glanced at the herbs Gaius had been preparing, "something to stop nausea?"

"Merlin, it is not my place to tell you the Queen's business," Gaius stated with disapproval.

"So there is something?"

"No! Yes," Gaius sighed and sat down heavily. "Very well, Merlin, since I can see you are not going to leave it be - the Queen is with child."

"What?" Merlin exclaimed, his voice strangled. "Are you serious?"

Gaius raised an eyebrow, "What else would I be?"

The warlock stumbled back and sank onto a nearby stool. This was bad. Very bad. Morgana approaching him in the forest, wanting him to bring her Gwen and now this. The two events had to be linked - which meant that Morgana knew. She knew and she would stop at nothing to kill Gwen and the child because if Arthur had an heir then she would be even further from the throne than she already was.

He ran a hand through his hair. "Does Arthur know?"

"I doubt it," Gaius said. "She has said nothing to me about it." The physician watched his ward for a few moments before walking around the bench to stand next to him and placing a hand on his shoulder. "What is it, my boy?"

"Arthur needs to know."

"Merlin," Gaius began sternly, "this is none of your business. It is a personal matter between the King and his wife."

"You don't understand, Gaius!" Merlin exclaimed looking up at the old man frantically. "I think Morgana knows and if she does, what do you think she will do?"

Squeezing his shoulder, Gaius sat down on the bed next to him. "Why do you believe Morgana knows?"

Quickly Merlin related what had happened in the forest, his mind racing with thoughts of Morgana's revenge. It was bad enough that the witch knew of Gwen's pregnancy but she had been so sure he would bring the queen to the Isle of the Blessed. It was something he would never willingly do, so what did she believe she could do to make him do something so unnatural?

"I agree that Arthur needs to know," Gaius said grudgingly, "but it is still not your place or mine. You will just have to remain extra vigilant. The Queen will tell him when she is ready."

"But, Gaius - "

"No, Merlin! There are some things which must just be left alone, no matter the circumstances, and this is one of them. Promise me you'll say nothing of this to Arthur," Gaius waited for a reply that he did not receive. "Merlin, promise me!"

Merlin sighed, "Fine, fine. I promise. But I pray she tells Arthur soon, otherwise - "

There was a knock at the door and it swung open, a guard standing at the threshold. "The King requires your presence in the Council chambers, Merlin," he said.

"I'll be right there," Merlin acknowledged, standing up.

Gaius caught his arm, stopping him. "Remember your promise."

Merlin nodded and pulled his arm away gently, making his way out the door.


A/N: Ooops, that can't be good! What do you think? Please review!