Ok. Because I was in this mood and had a free time from my flu beaten family, needing to cheer myself up, I wrote this. And as it's always the case with me and I just so love Gwaine, it became longer than I wanted and obviously want to separate it from Merlin's and Arthur's next chapter... So, there's going to be a fifth in this fic.

There is one quick, painful way to handle this, Gwaine thinks with a sight, following Merlin into the edge of the wood, making sure they stayed close enough for Arthur to watch.

Arthur was in conversation with Leon when his eyes flicked over to them. He broke off the sentence in the middle and Gwaine felt his heart skip in excitement.

Arthur stood there, eyes now glued to them, trying to speak again.

Gwaine stood behind Merlin who was gathering some herbs. When he straightened, Gwaine bumped solidly and very deliberately into him.

''Oh, Gwaine.'' Turning his head, Merlin regarded him with a surprised smile.

''Sorry. It was my fault.'' Gwaine drawled into Merlin's nape, drawing his hands slowly along Merlin's side.

Merlin took a step aside.

Gwaine swirled to face him, blocking his way.

''Gwaine, you are in my way.''

'' That's right.'' And since he was, he took a long, appreciative look. '' And you look just ravishing today.''

Merlin glances up at that, giving an inquiring sort of grunt, both eyebrows rising. '' You alright?''

A quick glance toward Arthur and Gwaine catches the chill in his eyes. Shoulders rigid, back jammed straight as his sword. Gwaine isn't sure, but the additional jerk of Arthur's head and the twitch on his face may be a good sign?

It took only for his arm to reach out and grab the swell of Merlin's ass- surprise-surprise!- for that sharp, impatient tone he already recognised.

''Merlin!'' Arthur's voice cut through the air.

Yeah, small victory.

Grabbing Merlin's hips Gwaine moves so that they are in plain sight. His fingers tracing Merlin's humps then slipping under his tunic, sliding over silky flesh. Flashes of burning, hot desire shooting through him he hadn't been expecting from the touches.

But well, it's Merlin, his longest and biggest crush.

A quick check and he sees ice forming from the chill in his King's eyes.

Gwaine must really-really hardly make himself remember the fact, that he is only a supportive ally in all this, when he leans in and nuzzles Merlin's neck.

He didn't know, until now, he could be so shatteringly aroused just from the smell of somebody's skin. Suppose, that's what a person does to the other who is in love. For seconds he couldn't breathe from the hunger craving the taste of Merlin's skin. He took a deep breath, relieved that it went smoothly in and out.

Hey, he is on a mission here.

He darts a glance toward Arthur and feels the frostbite. Gwaine could almost see himself split in half from that icy, razor-edged stare.

Tossing back his hair, being proud of his own restrain, he jerks his head back and sees the flicker of shock and amusement on Merlin's face.

'' Gwaine, what's wrong with you? Are you drunk or what?'' Merlin asks, eyebrows shooting up. ''But we haven't even been near a tavern today.'' He adds with a considerate huff.

Wiggling his eyebrows at Merlin and grinning with all the giddy excitement of someone who is just about to do something potentially dangerous and definitely stupid, his eyes flicker to Merlin's full, red lips. Wondering about (mind you, not for the first time) how they would taste.

For the hell of it, if he gets beaten, at least it should worth it, and anyway if it doesn't triggers the Princess into action…. He just really doesn't know what does.

He cups Merlin's face with both hands and kisses him full on his mouth.

Jerking his head back, eyes having grown impossibly wide Merlin is looking at him like he lost his mind. Which Gwaine absolutely can agree with, considering in the span of a mere minute he's going to- willingly - on top of that, become Arthur's living punch bag. So, to spice it up, he grabbed Merlin's ass.

Slowly like handling a mad man, Merlin takes his hands away from his nut cracking hips. Then his eyes narrowing, he asks with an analysing look.

'' Gwaine, are you under some spell?'' he is placing his hand on Gwaine's jaw, turning his head left and right, with an adorably worried look forming on his scrunched up face.

Which, ouch, doesn't bode well for Gwaine's ego. Considering he just barely manages to suppress the urge to devour Merlin's lips thoroughly right there and like that. But he should keep his libido in check, because apart from the fact that Merlin didn't really seemed to be a keen participant in the sexual act, he has no desire getting to know the sharpness of Arthur's sword.

His lips curving, he gives Merlin a sizzling look, accompanied by a lusty wink.

His reached out arms never had a chance to cup Merlin's face for the second time.

The impact of what Gwaine assumed was a horse at full speed-(but as it turned out, it was only Arthur, having grown wings of his jealousy) -slam into him with whole force, sending him on his back on the hard, forest's floor.

He was expecting the punch, and took the fist on his jaw rationally.

It's always satisfying to make your point.

'' Arthur, stop it!'' Merlin's angelic shout is a balm to his ringing ears.

He didn't needed to be a genius,( though he is, no matter what everybody thinks) to figure out how much Arthur is wrapped around Merlin's long fingers, who could almost always charm Arthur into doing pretty much anything or in his case not doing.

This is why, he is absolutely not surprised, and a great deal grateful when Merlin's voice stops Arthur's fist, frozen in the air, from getting into a closer relationship with his face than considered enjoyable, for a second time.

He lifted a hand, wiggled his jaw, mildly relieved it wasn't broken. Bloody hell, was Arthur's right fist made of stone?

''I ought to hit you again, you son of a bitch.'' Arthur said between his teeth.

Merlin gapes disbelievingly, mouth opening and closing soundlessly a few times before he's able to produce actual words.

''What the hell is in the air? ''He asks with a confused crinkling of his eyes.

Arthur groans, no mistake here, really groans at Merlin '' Will you just shut up?'' before turning his all royally pissed attention back to him.

'' If you touch him again, in that way..'' Arthur trails off with a vicious snarl, his fisted fingers whitening from the force of the strain against his side.

But Gwaine is not stupid, he can wrap his mind very well around that unsaid threat.

Helping himself to his feet, holding up a placating hand and a hopefully charming smile '' Well, you can't blame me for trying.'' Gwaine answers with an innocent little shrug he hopes Arthur is buying.'' After all, a dead man would fantasize about rolling around with a man who looked like Merlin.''

'' How dare you?! What makes you think, you are-'' Arthur begins in order to be cut short by an appealed Merlin.

'' Arthur, that's enough.'' Merlin snaps with a tip of indignation.

Don't needing more words with the other, Arthur's hands trailing through his hair while he's staring at Merlin incredulous, expression as open and confused as Gwaine has ever seen it. It's really fun to watch as Arthur takes a few deep, calming breaths while he tries and utterly fails to process the reason of his wrath.

Mission accomplished,-due to his genius plan-Gwaine thinks proudly with a sly inward smile, despite the painful shit in his cheek.