Alaia Skyhawk: Here's the second chapter, guys. GWAINE'S WEDDING WOO!

And a forewarning, in that this first 'episode' is going to be relatively short. I honestly don't have a lot I can cram into this first segment. The longer chapters will come with the episodes that have action etc in them :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Music:

~(-)~

Chapter 2: A Kingdom at Peace ~Part 2~

The bells tolled cheerfully, announcing to the city that the wedding was beginning inside the castle. That the big day of one of Camelot's most popular knights, was now under way. Nobles gathered in the Great Hall, along with a number of commoners who Gwaine had insisted also be invited. There were even a handful of nobles from Caerleon, distant cousins of his, there to witness the day.

Merlin allowed himself a wry smile at that, since he knew that the only reason those cousins had come, was because Gwaine was a Knight of Camelot and held huge respect with a great many powerful people. But if the cousins thought that by being here they could gain some powerful connections of their own, they were sorely mistaken. No one of the ranks they hoped to impress, would give more than a blandly polite 'sorry, but I have more important things to tend to'.

Merlin looked forward to seeing those fellow's disappointed and frustrated expressions when they had to return to Caerleon in a few days. But then his thoughts were set aside, as the doors of the Great Hall opened and Gwaine was escorted up the aisle by Leon and Mordred, while Arthur, Gwen, and Balther watched from the thrones upon the dais. And then, a few minutes later, the doors opened again to allow the bride to enter.

Lady Viridiana, or 'Lady Viri' as she preferred to be called, looked resplendent in her gown of cream-coloured silk, with her auburn hair coiled in rings of braids that were threaded with flowers. Gwaine was transfixed by the sight of her, to which Merlin spotted a hint of an amused smile on Viri's face. She was a noblewoman of good grace and modest standing, but for all her courtly behaviours, she didn't put on airs. He'd also witnessed in the few months she'd lived in the citadel, that she had perfected putting Gwaine in his place without him being the slightest bit offended.

Of course, Merlin knew that Gwaine found her quips to be charming. He also knew that Viri considered Gwaine to be 'sweet when he wants to be, and entertaining at all other times'. The two of them were a perfect match; she would keep him in line during formal occasions, so he wouldn't embarrass himself with social errors, and they both thoroughly enjoyed each other's company.

And the smile on Gwaine's face as he watched her walk towards him, showed that no amount of teasing from his friends was going to dampen this day for him.

Arthur rose to his feet when Viridiana reached Gwaine's side, and strode forward to stand in front of them.

"Citizens and guests of Camelot. We have gathered here today to witness this union between Sir Gwaine, Knight of Camelot, and Lady Viridiana of the House of Falwren."

Merlin smiled to himself as the ceremony continued. Arthur had presided over Leon and Percival's marriages as well, and Merlin hoped that Arthur would do the same for him once the day had come when he'd finally plucked up the nerve to ask Katryn. But right now, as close as the two of them had become, he was still wary of pressuring or rushing her. He wanted to be sure he wouldn't scare her off, before he asked that question.

The gathering of people began to clap and cheer, jolting him from his thoughts to join in as Gwaine and his new wife were now presented to the people, their vows now made.

The guests began to file out, and before Gwaine's cousins could get close to him, Merlin imposed himself in the way first to talk to his friend.

"Congratulations, Gwaine. Good to see you've finally got someone to make you behave. They're going to miss you at the Rising Sun Tavern. You were their best customer."

His arm around Viri's shoulders, Gwaine smirked and flicked the end of the warlock's nose.

"You're one to talk. Get yourself a girlfriend, Merlin, or people are going to think you want to marry your books."

Viri reached up and tugged a strand of her husband's hair.

"Stop teasing him, or he might turn you into a toad and then where would I be?"

Gwaine grinned.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that at all. For a kiss from you, my princess, would restore me to your side."

"If you think I'd kiss a toad, even if it were you, you are sadly mistaken."

There was a glint of mischief in her eyes as she said it, and Gwaine pouted in mock hurt. More members of the Brotherhood came over now, creating an effective wall between the knight and his cousins, who turned and left to obviously bide their time until this evening's feast.

Merlin watched them go, and smirked ever-so-slightly. He'd arranged to have them sit at an isolated side-table, very close to the doors. It was as draughty and as far from those they wanted to impress, as he could put them. The excuse for putting them there, was that there were far far more important guests attending, who merited being sat close to the High Table. Being a distant cousin to the groom, didn't outrank knights from various kingdoms, or priests and priestesses, and Druid representatives, who were also attending.

Arthur must had spotted that smirk, for as the group of friends headed out of the Great Hall, he fell into step beside his Court Sorcerer.

"Keeping the opportunistic relatives away from him, are you?"

Merlin glanced at him, keeping his voice low so no one else would hear.

"We both know those cousins are only here to try gain favour. They would have known about Gwaine when he was a child, before his father died, but when that happened they didn't lift a finger to help him or his mother, who was common-born. They only 'care' about him now, because he's one of the most vaunted Knights of Camelot. They wouldn't care two sticks and a mud puddle about him otherwise."

Arthur nodded at that, and then nudged Merlin lightly in the ribs.

"Good thing he has you keeping a look out for him then. And, speaking of Gwaine, he has a point about you not having a lady friend to court. You're definitely taking your time."

Merlin considered it for a moment, and then smirked as he leaned close to whisper.

"And who's to say I don't have a lady friend that I'm courting. You were so blind, that you didn't see me using magic in front of you for three years before you found out... I've been courting my 'fair lady' for almost as long, and so far only Gwen has noticed."

Arthur stopped in his tracks and stared at him, the rest of the group continuing on to the feast oblivious to the two of them lagging behind.

"You're courting someone? And Gwen knows who?"

Merlin drew himself up, looking smug.

"Yes, and I'm not going to tell you who until I ask her 'the question', which shouldn't be too much longer, I hope. I can't begin to tell you how idyllic it's been, to be able to enjoy a relationship without being teased about it by you lot." He pointed a finger at Arthur. "And if you try to tease me after I tell you all, I can just point out that none of you noticed until I did. It makes all of you look rather silly."

Arthur gave him a flat look.

"You do realise that I'm not going to stop trying to figure out who your lady is, don't you?"

Merlin grinned, raising his eyebrows mockingly.

"You can try. And don't bother asking the Queen, because she won't tell you either. She thinks how oblivious you've been, to be as funny as I do."

Arthur reached out to ruffle Merlin's hair in retaliation, causing the warlock to make the king's hair stand on end with a gust of wind. The result was that both of them had to hastily neaten their hair and straighten their clothes before entering the feasting hall, leaving those inside there none the wiser to the bit of rough-housing that had gone on.

Throughout the feast, the speeches, and the musical and magical entertainment, Merlin saw Arthur glancing about the room at the various unmarried ladies present, trying to figure out which of them could be his friend's love interest. The attempt made the warlock chuckle inwardly, because if Arthur had ever thought to look over his shoulder, the lady he was looking for was standing just three feet behind his wife.

Katryn saw that glint of mischief in Merlin's eyes, glanced from him to Arthur and back again, before a tiny smile of her own tugged at her mouth. And then, with the hour being late, she stepped forward to murmur to Gwen.

"Shall I go prepare your chambers, My Lady?"

Gwen looked at her and nodded.

"Yes, if you would. It is past my son's bedtime, and he should really be taken to his rooms."

Merlin rose to his feet.

"I'll take him. He loves his 'Uncle Merlin', anyway. I'm his favourite playmate, other than Scild."

Gwen gave Merlin a long look.

"That may be true, but no games tonight. The prince needs his sleep."

Gwen planted a kiss on Arthur's cheek and Merlin picked up the clearly sleepy prince. The four of them then left the feast and proceeded to the nobles' wing, whereupon Gwen lifted her son from Merlin's grasp to take the boy to his room and nursemaid.

Meanwhile Merlin tugged Katryn into the nearby alcove, triggering the concealment spell anchored within it to hide them from view.

She smiled at his chuckling, laying a finger playfully across his lips.

"You've been teasing the King, haven't you. You told him that you're courting someone."

Merlin rest his forehead against hers, smiling.

"He'll still never figure out who. The answer was stood behind him all evening, and he didn't even once turn around."

Katryn put her arms around Merlin, pulling him closer.

"And I, for one, am glad it didn't take you so long to notice me."

He kissed her, and the two of them were still kissing when Gwen returned and paused outside the alcove. Even if she could not see or hear them, she knew they were there.

"If you would kindly release my maid, it's time that I went to bed. You can dally some more tomorrow."

There was a muffled giggle as the spell in the alcove was released, and Katryn emerged looking only slightly ruffled as she fell in to step behind her friend.

But Merlin remained where he was, watching them go, before his hand sought out a small pouch in one of his pockets. His fingers closing on the outline of a ring, before he sighed quietly to himself.

"You've faced down dragons, Saxon hordes, and even the undead, Merlin... How hard can it be to ask a single question?"

And the answer to that would be 'harder than it looks'. And Merlin wasn't going to tell anyone that he'd had the ring in his pocket for almost two years... Not even Arthur had waited that long to ask Gwen, after the time came that he was King and was free to marry her if he wished.

No, Merlin wasn't going to leave himself open to the teasing that little revelation would cause. That he'd hidden his courting of Katryn for over two years, was no defence against the fact he'd been trying to pluck up the courage to ask her to marry him since shortly after the Battle of Camlann.

But it would be soon, he was sure of that. He wouldn't keep her waiting for much longer.

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: If I say that I've changed my 'event 7' and put it as 'event 3', my friend Julie will probably be able to figure out what I'm going to do. Trust me when I say that you guys are going to love it :)