Merlin noted Agravaine's surprised expression when they all came back alive and nodded to himself. That mystery: solved. Probably a bunch of men Morgana hired for the job, but they were dead and Merlin was satisfied it was just a desperate move.

They brought Percival to Gaius and got him patched up and his arm put into a sling "until further notice", physician's orders. And then, even though the sun was just coming up, everyone went to sleep. Arthur wanted to stay awake and get some work done, but he decided that he wouldn't be any use to anyone sleep-deprived.

In other words, Gaius ordered him to bed.

Merlin, however, had a feeling. So he didn't sleep; instead, he stopped by Arthur's room and cast a quick protective spell on his door (after all, if they were getting that desperate…), and then headed back to Gaius's chambers and waited.

Gaius saw him pacing by the door and raised an eyebrow. "Waiting for someone, Merlin?"

Merlin looked up. "Gwaine should pass by soon," he said. "I think I hear his footsteps now."

"Some kind of trouble?"

"No, probably not. I should be back by the end of the day," Merlin said, dashing for the door. "Oh, and Gaius?"

Gaius, who was reading some boring old tome, looked up.

"When Arthur asks where I am, don't tell him I'm in the tavern. I'm collecting herbs if he asks."

Gaius looked slightly embarrassed. "Of course," he replied.

"Don't forget," insisted Merlin, hand on the doorknob. "Collecting herbs."

"I won't forget."

Merlin didn't believe him, but he sighed and left the room quickly. Gwaine had passed the room by and was already near the street. He had on his red cloak, making him easy to spot. Merlin caught up with him quickly, tapping him on the shoulder and calling, "Gwaine."

Gwaine spun around, hand on his weapon, but then he saw the identity of the person who'd snuck up on him and relaxed. "Merlin," he said. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I imagine for the same reason you aren't," Merlin told him. "I want to help you."

"I don't know what you mean," said Gwaine, but the smile was starting on his face. He never was able to keep it away.

"Well, if you're sneaking out of Camelot despite what the king told you, you must have a good reason and I assume you'll want company. We're going back to the woods where we were attacked, right?"

Gwaine eyed him warily for a second, and then laughed and nodded. "Yes," he said. "I believe company would be welcome."

"Good," said Merlin, smiling. "So we're grabbing the horses and leaving?"

"That's the idea."

"One question, though," said Merlin, falling into step next to Gwaine as they headed across the courtyard lit by early morning. "If I help you find this necklace…"

"I call it a pendant."

"Fine. If I help, will you tell me why it's so important?"

Gwaine thought over this. "Sure," he said at last. "It's a bit of a lengthy story…"

"But then when have you minded doing a lot of talking?" Merlin said as they reached the stables, and Gwaine laughed his deep laugh again as he headed for his horse.

"You know what it looks like, don't you?" asked Gwaine.

"A silver charm and a ring on a chain, isn't it?" Merlin guessed, getting his own horse ready. He considered himself pretty observant; after all, he had to be able to spot danger from a mile away.

"Yeah," agreed Gwaine, mounting up. "I got the two charms separately. The first belonged to my sister… You wouldn't have liked her… boring toad, really…"

A/N: So, I'll get the next chapter up when I can. Please review.