Thank you for your interest! I really hope you like the story so far! This is so exciting for me, so review! I'll do my best to update every two days if possible.

*disclaimer* I own none of this!

II

"Odin and his men will be here in two days to lay down a treaty. I called this meeting to discuss the policy we will follow while Odin is here. Now, although we are now allies, we will take all due caution when Odin arrives. I want all patrols doubled." The king stood at the round table, looking over his knights. "Also, a strict curfew will be enforced at ten, no exceptions. Anyone caught wandering the hall after that is to be escorted to the dungeon for the night until I have time to deal with them." He addressed a few more security concerns before saying, "You are dismissed." The knights began to leave when Arthur said, "Not you four." Sir Gwaine, Sir Elyan, Sir Percival and Sir Leon all sat back down. Sir Mordred looked back, but Arthur waved him away. The young knight left, looking a bit miffed, but left the room without question. Arthur shook his head. Young Mordred was eager to prove himself, but this was not the time. He needed these experienced men for the job he had in mind.

He sat down beside them and they waited for the others to leave before leaning in and speaking in a low voice. "You four are my best knights, and I can trust these tasks to you alone. Elyan, I need you to guard Guinevere. Stay with her." Elyan nodded, looking relieved. "Gwaine, I want you to look after Gaius. Stay with him. Take Merlin's bed, he can sleep on the floor." Arthur looked away as Gwaine raised his eyebrows.

"Look after Gaius? Or maybe Merlin?" Gwaine asked with a smile.

"I don't care what happens to Merlin, just look after Gaius," Arthur huffed. "We need him, especially if anything goes wrong." All four knights smiled, knowing that what Arthur wasn't saying was that if anything happened to Merlin, he'd never forgive himself. Everyone was fond of poor bumbling Merlin, with his easy smile and charm. "Percival, stay with King Rodor. He's still recovering from his wounds, and I won't have any harm befall a guest of Camelot. Leon, look after Mithian. I've arranged rooms for you three," he said, gesturing to all but Gwaine, "near your respective charges. Start your duties immediately. I don't want to alert Odin of our heightened security, he may take offense. I want everything running smoothly by his arrival, understood?"

"Yes Sire," all four knights answered.

"You are dismissed."

Sir Elyan hung back. "What about you Sire? Shouldn't you have a guard?"

"You forget, I'm a knight of Camelot too, I can take care of myself. Besides, I have Merlin to protect me," Arthur said with a mocking smile. They all laughed, and went to attend to their respective duties.

Arthur was met in the hall by is lovely queen. He kissed her gently and said "Hello Guinevere, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Cannot a woman simply want to walk with her husband?" Gwen asked playfully, taking Arthur's arm as they walked down the hall. Elyan followed a respectful distance behind.

"Of course, but I happen to know that you left to visit those ill in the town with Gauis this morning, and wouldn't be here if it wasn't important," he said with an impish grin. He didn't tell her he hadn't known until Merlin told him after being hit in the head with a dinner roll.

Gwen blushed. "It was nothing, honestly. We finished an hour ago, while you were in your meeting and I asked him about Princess Mithian."

"Ahhh." Arthur frowned. "How is she?"

"Gaius says she'll be fine. Medically, there's nothing wrong with her. I'm worried though, Arthur. Merlin told me she's barely eaten since she returned, and she hasn't left her bed since the day Gaius treated her father's wound. I'm really worried." Gwen bit her lip. She liked Princess Mithian, despite everything that stood between them. None of it was Mithian's fault.

Arthur couldn't help but smile at Gwen and squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, Sir Leon's looking after her now. She'll be alright," Arthur assured her. Gwen didn't look convinced, but she didn't press the issue further.

"Are you nervous about King Odin's arrival?" Gwen asked gently.

Arthur frowned. "I keep thinking back to years ago, when King Bayard of Mercia came to Camelot. We, too, were enemies, and he tried to poison me. You remember? Merlin drank the poison for me, and almost died as a result," he said grimly. "Even though it turned out to be the work of a sorceress, I worry. I don't want anyone to die for me Gwen. I want this to go peacefully, and then for Odin to get out of my kingdom!"

"I'm sure it will be just fine. There is, however, the matter of entertainment," Gwen chided gently. "I've arranged banquets for both the beginning and end of negotiations, as well as a hunt. I know you don't want this to last long, but we've standards to maintain."

Arthur smiled lovingly at his queen. "You truly are an admirable Queen," he told her, kissing her forehead. "What would I do without you to remind me of my manners?"

"When I met you, you didn't have any," she teased, "so not very well, I'd imagine." They both laughed, and talked of lighter things. Elyan shook his head, and silently swore yet again never to marry.