Merlin tried desperately to concentrate on his classical literature essay, but it was nearly impossible to care about the morals some stupid dragon was trying to teach the protagonists when he could hear his friends shouting in the hallway. Guiltily, Merlin turned up his music just enough that he couldn't hear the words being used.

If he wasn't mistaken, it was Arthur and Elyan this time. Elyan had sided with his sister when it had all come to light, claiming she had the right to talk to or see whoever she wanted. His intervention had been the trigger for Arthur to release the anger the he couldn't let out at Gwen, and the night had gotten very loud after that.

Merlin rubbed his temples, trying not to remember the scene that had taken place in his living room two days before. He forced himself to think about.. Kilgareth? What was the name of- Kilgarrah. Because ancient Celtic symbolism of destiny was so important.

Merlin shut down his laptop and flopped back on his bed. How did everything get so complicated so fast? Had it really been five days since they'd stayed up all night, eating popcorn and popsicles and drinking too many cans of warm beer? He remembered feeling so good that he wanted the night to last forever, even when he watched Arthur and Gwen cuddling on the couch. Merlin had decided that he would be happy with the revels around him even if he could only spend the rest of his life watching watch Arthur from a distance.

And now the secret was out. After corresponding for a year, Gwen and Lance had admitted to falling in love when Arthur caught them kissing in Merlin's living room, the unofficial common room. The resulting shouting had attracted everyone on the floor, and Merlin's team had broken apart before his eyes.

Merlin turned over and shook his head, trying to forget Gwen's tearful apologies, Arthur's betrayed expression, Lance's stoic sadness, and then the angry reactions of their friends as they tried to defend whoever they thought needed defending. The team had split down the middle, Lance and Gwen were temporarily rooming on the third floor and the varsity fencing team was left simmering with hostility, teammate turned against teammate.

Merlin's laptop let out a muffled roar, a sign that he'd gotten a message from his classics TA. Three days ago, he and Gwen had laughed like maniacs choosing that alarm, and now the thought only made Merlin wonder whether they would ever laugh together again.

...

Merlin's first class on Monday was Gen Ed geology with Leon. Merlin watched his friend's sluggish movements as they claimed a lab bench and began setting up a lab. Although it was one Merlin could do in his sleep, he found himself nearly knocking things over, he was so distracted by the dark circles under his friend's eyes.

"How're you holding up?" he asked casually.

Leon had to blink before he could answer. "Not bad."

"Are you getting to sleep okay?" Merlin focused an a beaker.

Leon glanced at him with a hint of a smile. "Don't beat around the bush, Merlin."

"Fine. Is there anything I can do to help?" he offered.

Leon shrugged. "Lance always told me to stop studying and get to bed. He'd get up early in Spain to Skype me."

"And he can't, now?" At a sharp look, Merlin said casually, "I mean, he's still your friend, right?"

"Yes, he's my friend, but Merlin… I've known Arthur since we were kids. He was my first fencing partner. I can't turn my back on him, not after what Lance and Gwen did."

"But you've known Gwen for just as-" Merlin cut off as their professor started to instruct the lab. Leon looked exhausted as he shook his head, and Merlin gave up. He slid his coffee over to his friend, who accepted it with a grateful look.

...

Merlin normally met with Gwen at a red- and gold-themed campus coffee shops every week to go over her math and his writing. Today she hugged him extra long before they sat down at their usual booth, and her eyes were puffy when she finally showed them.

"Are you alright?" he asked gently.

Gwen shook her head. "I feel so horrible. I never meant to hurt Arthur like this, you must believe me, Merlin!"

"I do," Merlin swore. "You're too good a person, Gwen."

"Am I?" she sniffed and blinked back the shining in her eyes. "I've known Arthur since we were children and I've never seen him look so devastated. I did love him, I really did. But now…" Her eyes implored Merlin to understand.

"You're with Lance… I didn't know you two were more than friends," Merlin said slowly.

"We weren't, not for a long time," she assured him. "But this summer… Arthur was distant. Distracted. I thought… I thought he was going to break up with me," she said quietly. Then she sniffed again. "But I guess he wasn't, or he wouldn't have been so hurt!"

Merlin stayed silent as she wiped away a few escaped tears. "He's Arthur," he said weakly. "I can't imagine he'll be angry forever."

"We'll see." Gwen gave him a watery smile, then took a few seconds to pull herself together. "Now. Classics essay. How much have you written?"

Merlin groaned. He'd almost prefer another shouting match.

...

Fencing practice would have been a nightmare if Gaius hadn't been the head coach. Even the gymnasium, large enough for a regulation-size basketball court and two sets of bleachers rolled into the walls, seemed full of bitterness and resentment. When Gaius called the team to order, Merlin watched as Arthur and Lance ended up on opposite sides of the group, with all their friends ranged symbolically between them. With all the delicacy of a scientist used to working with volatile chemicals, Gaius decided to arbitrarily split the team down the middle for warm-ups.

Merlin was filling out the start-of-term requisitions and sneaking looks at his friends when Gaius sat beside him with an aggrieved sound. "They're going to have to practice together eventually," the elderly coach noted. "Matters of the heart can cut deeply, but the tuition of several of our athletes depends on the continued achievement of this team!"

"I know." Merlin watched Morgana leading Lance, Elyan and a few prospective varsity athletes drill on one side of the strip. Across the center lines, and ignoring everything the other side was doing, Arthur called out steps for Percival, Leon, Gwaine and a few other sabreurs. Merlin could only be grateful that Gwen didn't fence, or the evening might have been even more dramatic. "I don't know how we can fix it."

"Perhaps there is nothing we can do," Gaius said with a sigh. "We shall have to wait and let those involved work things out for themselves."

As they watched, the steps of the drills brought Elyan and Percival close to the center line. The two roommates glared and quickly shifted away from each other.

"What if they never do?"

Gaius raised his eyebrows significantly and went to instruct the fencers. Morgana and Arthur met him at the center of the strip, not looking at each other. Merlin watched Arthur, listening intently to Gaius' instructions, then striding back to his sabreurs. He was sweating lightly from the drills and his thick cloth armor, and he tossed his head to brush his hair out of his eyes.

The pencil on Merlin's clipboard broke without him touching it. Merlin swore and dug out a new one from his book bag.