A/N : Hey guys! First of all, I want to thank everyone who has reviewed the first chapter, it really meant the world to me, it really really did. I hope you'll keep on telling me what you think, please?

Now, this is VERY IMPORTANT, SO PLEASE READ : when I started this story, I had a certain storyline in my head, but when you really liked the first chapter, I was sort of hesitant to continue with that, because it features some sort of metamorphosis. This would make the writing of the story a little more complicated - it would be a real challenge for me - but also very interesting. But as I said, I don't know if you would like it, and the other way works too. So what I did is : I have put the second version (that's a more 'safe' option, and I like it just the same!) in THIS chapter, and the next chapter will be a 2b, showing what I originally thought of writing. Now, please tell me which version you like best, okay? (what I COULD do is write one story in this version, and start up another story with the more challenging version... Lots of possibilities..) Just tell me what I should do, please? And tell me if you like it, because knowing which version is better isn't enough, I need to know if the version you chose is good as well...

Anyway, please let me know? Pleaase?

XO, as always

Merlin

"Gwen."

The clanging of the tin jar falling to the floor made him smile. He knew he shouldn't have surprised her like this, but it had been the only way to make sure she was the only one who knew of his presence in Camelot. Well, that's what he'd thought, anyway. The loud crashing sound along with her tiny yelp probably alerted the entire household.

"Merlin," she spoke. "I thought you'd left."

"I had." He amended, walking over to where she was standing to ease the conversation. His stomach clenched together when he saw the emotion in her eyes, and cursed himself for not having picked it up sooner. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was leaving, Gwen. Things were complicated, and I knew you'd see right through all my excuses for why I had to go. I couldn't face you like that."

"Because you didn't trust me?" The heavy hurt in her voice made him cringe inwardly. He had been wrong to leave her like this, without the smallest explanation. But at the time, he'd been fearing for his life, and she would have been able to see the raw pain that drifted on the surface.

He touched her arm, curling his hand around her sleeve, and squeezed slightly. "You're the only one I can trust. That's why I'm here with you now."

"Your mother…she's not ill, is she?"

Merlin shook his head, grateful that she was giving him an opportunity to explain himself. "No, she's not."

"Then why leave?" The ammount of confusion was only building up inside of her, and he could almost see her clouded mind. She was crossing every single possibility off of her list, dismissing it as a lie. "Why did you go from us, Merlin?"

"Something happened…between me and Arthur." She stayed silent, wishing for him to continue, but he couldn't. Not this time. "And I'm so sorry, Gwen, but I can't tell you what it is. Just that it's bad. Really bad."

For the first time since he had entered the lady Morgana's chambers, she gave him a brief smile. "That explains his foul mood, then."

Merlin chuckled, but sobered up immediately. Maybe Arthur was cranky because Merlin had left, but maybe he was silently plotting his revenge, thinking of different ways to make Merlin pay for what he had done. Maybe the search parties had already started the hunt for him, longing for another prey to fall under their command. Thirsty for his blood.

Gwen shook her head, her loose curls bouncing with the movement. "Alright, I get why you had to leave, but now I don't understand the reason for your coming back." She sighed. "You must think I'm awfully dimwitted."

He pulled her into a hug and smiled next to her ear. "As someone who's been called that on a number of occassions, I can confidently say that you're not." He sighed, the heavy exhale tickling the strands of hair next to her ear. She almost felt the need to giggle, but refrained. "I just had a strange feeling that he was in danger."

Pulling back a little, he gave her a cheeky grin. "See?" he said. "Now you think I'm crazy."

Gwen laughed. "We balance eachother well." Pause. "Not that..there's any reason why we should balance this – friendship thing, if that's what you want to call it, I just.. never mind."

Merlin squinted at her, tilting his head in reflection. "I've missed you, Gwen." He really had.

-

Arthur

His presence had been 'requested' at dinner in the great hall this evening, even though his father knew he was not in a mood to be conversational. People had begun to notice, too – dear lord, his servant ducked every time he came near, shuffling away as quickly as he possibly could. Merlin would have called him an outright prat, and he was being one, so he wouldn't blame him.

All that being what it was, it struck him that Gwen was serving their meals this evening. It was a first, and the way she kept on glancing at him from the corner of her eye told him that something was up. He couldn't find it in his heart to glare at her.. not Gwen, whose heart was as fragile as it was rich, and who had never treated him with disrespect or manipulated him into doing something he truly didn't want to. So he beckoned her to come to him, and gave her a soft smile, the first smile he had granted anyone in days. It felt good, the upward quirking of his lips. It felt normal, again.

"Guinevere, will you voluntarily tell me what is going on, or am I going to have to drag it out of you?"

She started to stumble, tripping over her words in that cute way she did when she was around… Ah. Arthur smirked. "Never mind, all you have to do is tell me where he is, exactly, and I promise I'll leave you to your work."

"I don't know what you're talking about, sire."

Arthur grinned. Merlin was lucky to have a friend such a this. A friend. A stabbing pain shot through him, and his mind raced with the things he would say to Merlin if he were here, right now. "Gwen.. Do me a favor, would you? Don't signal me with your eyes, just tell me, and I'll go to him myself."

Gwen sighed. She would never dare to refuse the crown prince anything, even though he was dearer to her than she let show. Arthur was her friend, similar to the way Merlin was. And she would betray his trust by giving his hiding place up to the one person he didn't want to know.

"I promised him I wouldn't, sire."

-

Merlin

He knew there was reason to be alarmed when Arthur motioned for Gwen to come over and smiled at her. His hands desperately clawed at the marble, looking for some loose end to cling to, but all he found was a smooth polished surface. He was gliding downwards toward the cold tiles, and if Arthur found out he was here, he probably would hit rock bottom.

Watching Gwen shake her head sadly, his breath caught. Gwen. Don't.

He looked on anxiously, staring around the room to try and send her a sign – maybe even knock an object into her head – but no sign would be subtle enough for Arthur to miss. Now that he knew what he was looking for, it wouldn't take too long for him to figure out what had happened, and how that fork had flown through the room and landed right next to Gwen's feet.

Besides, he trusted Gwen with his life. The way he had once trusted Arthur. No, he shook his head, I still trust him with my life, I just don't know if his hatred of magic is strong enough to send me to my grave. I just don't know if I've lost his trust, forever.

He angled his forehead to rest against the pillar and let out a deep sigh, feeling his warm breath bounce right off the cool stone cilinder.

"So, your mother has made a miraculous recovery, I presume?"

Please tell me what you think? Xo, as always!