AN: Thanks again for your reviews and support. I've been debating on how I'm to play out the events of episodes 12 and 13. I want to stick to the canon yet put my own spin on it so bear with me.

As soon as the knights made their way down to Gaius' chambers once more; Elyan detoured by his chambers and fetched a pair of trousers and a loose shirt for Gwen to wear. As he walked; Elyan thought about what his sister had said. Years ago when they were children; Elyan was notorious for getting himself and by extent; Gwen into trouble. It wasn't his fault; Elyan had a talent for either being in the wrong place or saying the wrong thing at the wrong times. The end result was that Gwen had to get them out of trouble; usually before Tom found out or preventing Tom from going completely mad. Yet each and every bailout was nothing compared to last year when they were held hostage by Cenred's men. Elyan really hadn't seen that one coming. It was one thing being reunited with his long-lost sister but a whole something else when the prince of Camelot and the king's ward arrive to break both of you out. And that was nothing to when he and Gwen were discussing Arthur in the cells and Elyan realised that his sister was in a relationship in the prince. Before Elyan had left Gwen was claiming that Arthur was 'the most conceited and spoilt brat she ever had the misfortune to meet'.

How times change. Elyan thought wryly as he returned to Gaius' where the others were sitting around discussing on what was going to happen next.

"Is Gwen awake?" Elyan asked Merlin.

"I don't think so," Merlin replied. Elyan crossed the room anyway and opened the door to Merlin's room. He could tell straight away that Gwen was awake. He'd shared a bed with her when they were younger and Gwen never stayed still when she slept. If she wasn't kicking you in her sleep; she was tossing or turning or stealing all the blankets. Elyan gave her a few seconds to maintain the pretence before walking over to the bed.

"You think I don't know you're awake?" Elyan asked. Gwen rolled over and kept her back to him.

"Leave me alone." Gwen asked.

"No," Elyan replied and sat on the bed. "I brought you some clothes. You don't have anything else do you?" Gwen sat up and took the clothes Elyan was offering her. She had left all her stuff behind when Helios kidnapped her and the only thing she had was the dress she was still wearing; if the skimpy fabric could even be called a dress. Beggars can't be choosers after all.

"Thanks." Gwen muttered and pulled the shirt over her head. It was baggy and too long in the sleeves but it covered her and was warmer than the dress. For a moment the siblings sat in silence before Elyan suddenly sniggered.

"What's so funny?" Gwen asked.

"Do you remember the time we wrapped up one of the newborn piglets in our blanket and walked around the town all day?" Elyan asked. A smile appeared on Gwen's face as she remembered that day.

"And everyone wanted to see the baby." Gwen recalled but looked at Elyan. "Why did you ask me that?"

"I don't know; I just remembered it for some reason. It was funny wasn't it? The looks on people's faces when we pulled back the blankets and claimed that it was our new adopted brother and Mother caught us." Elyan smiled.

"Mother was so cross because the blanket was muddy and said we were so naughty for scaring everyone. But Father just laughed and offered to let us keep the piglet as a pet." Gwen finished with a smile. They had some good memories of their childhood. They fell into silence and Elyan got serious.

"Are you going to tell me what really happened?" Elyan asked.

"About what?" Gwen replied.

"Start at the beginning; when did Lancelot give you the bracelet. I want to understand Gwen; you can't cut yourself off from us." Elyan reasoned. Gwen looked at him for a moment before nodding once.

"It was the day after the tourney. After he told us those lies about being healed. He came to the house to speak to me and offered me the bracelet. He said it was a gift amongst the people to give it to someone he cared about. I should have seen it then." Gwen replied shaking her head. In hindsight the whole fiasco had Morgana's name written all over it.

"What happened when you put it on?" Elyan asked.

"It's strange; my mind was all over the place. One minute I was fine then the next Lancelot was all I could think about. I started having these insane thoughts; that I was supposed to marry him and not Arthur. Then they would suddenly stop and I'd have no idea why I was thinking that. I'd remember how much I loved Arthur and was so excited about getting married. Then those thoughts would come back twice as strong. That night; Lancelot was all I could think about; all I wanted to think about. But at the back of my mind I was screaming. Part of me knew all along what I was doing was wrong but it wasn't enough. The spell was stronger. When I was put into the cell I flung the bracelet off but it was too late. The damage was done." Gwen explained.

"I still think I should have left with you. If I had then maybe we wouldn't be in this mess." Elyan said.

"I stand by what I said that night; your place is here but mine isn't." Gwen stated.

"Are you sure about that?" Elyan asked. "Arthur just told the council that he's repealed your banishment as well as informing them that both you and Lancelot were under a spell. The records are being corrected. As far as the law's concerned; you're legally allowed to be here."

"It still doesn't mean anything. Just because I can have a place here doesn't mean I will. You don't get it. It still happened and nothing will ever change that; people will still talk and I'll still be the woman who betrayed the king the night before she was supposed to marry him. I'd prefer a quiet and peaceful banishment rather than a lifetime of scorn and abuse and being an outcast." Gwen reasoned. She meant it. She was done; she'd had enough. She didn't belong anymore and the sooner all of them accepted that and she was able to leave then the better it would be.

Elyan shook his head and frowned. "That doesn't sound like you. You're brave and strong enough not to let words affect you. Gwen; honestly you're being selfish." Elyan stated.

"It's something I learnt recently. When you've got nobody to depend on but yourself; you tend to get quite selfish. Don't think I'm proud of it Elyan; I'm not." Gwen replied.

"You didn't have to be alone. I was ready to pack everything up and go with you. If you want; I still will. Do you honestly think we just forgot about you? Every day and night since you left; all I could do was worry about you. Where were you? Were you safe? Would I ever see you again? You're my sister Gwen; the only real family I have left. I want you to stay. We all do. You're our sister and we want you to stay here with us, where you really belong." Elyan said. He wasn't lying; the knights hadn't really discussed Gwen's banishment but they all were in agreement that she was still their sister and they all wanted her to stay in Camelot with them.

"Thanks for the clothes." Gwen replied. Elyan took that to mean that the conversation was over and so nodded and left the room. Gwen pulled back the sheets and slowly attempted to stand up. Her leg was still very painful but she was able to stand as long as she had something to hold onto for support.

"If I got some sort of walking stick…" Gwen murmured as she attempted to step forward but it just caused further pain to shoot up her leg.

"Or maybe not." Gwen sighed and eased herself back onto the bed and reached for the trousers and pulled them on over the bottom of the dress. The style of the dress was strange; it was like a cross between a skirt and trousers and had allowed her to run better than her dresses usually did. It hadn't been much help in the end but it got her to safety one way or the other. Once she had the trousers on and knotted the waistband in order to keep them up, Gwen laid up on the bed to rest her leg again.

Gwen stared at the ceiling and thought about what she had just said. She hated to admit it but there was a part of her mind that was telling her that she was in the right to be selfish; that she should demand the men get on bended knee and beg her for their forgiveness over the past few weeks. Yet it wasn't like she'd known all along that she was under a spell. She had thought the same as the others; that her banishment was deserved for what she had done to Lancelot. None of them could understand and not even Gwen could explain why she had acted that way. What did she gain by staying angry with them? Gwen knew that things wouldn't go back to how they were before. Banishment repeal or not; the past couldn't be erased. Time couldn't magically change itself to go back to that day so that things could be done differently. They had to move on; look forwards. And as far as Gwen could see; her future wasn't in Camelot. What she had said to Merlin bounced around in her head.

'How can I forgive them Merlin when I can't even forgive myself?'

Maybe Gwen was doing things the wrong way. Forgiveness wasn't as simple as an 'I'm Sorry' and everything gets forgotten. Sorry doesn't revive the dead or heal wounds. Sorry doesn't make wrongs into rights. But it's a start. Saying sorry shows remorse; you've done wrong; you know you've done wrong and you want to do something that can put it right. It's the first step towards forgiveness not the last. If she did stay; Gwen knew she would be the subject of gossip; lies and ridicule. She knew there were rumours circulating about her and that it would be hard to stay and listen to them. Rumours never really disappeared; they remained in the background of the mind and occasionally force themselves forward in order to hurt once more. It was partly why, if she had to, Gwen had always preferred to physically fight rather than verbally. Cuts and bruises healed and faded but words remained in the head; they taunted and stung and hurt in ways which took a long time; if ever to heal. The knights and Arthur were giving her a chance; a chance to come home; to be part of their makeshift, ramshackle and crazy family again. Maybe she ought to give them a chance instead of being so fierce maybe…

"Are you decent? Never mind, I'm already in." Gwaine said as he opened the door. Gwen looked at him as Gwaine perched himself on the edge of the bed. For a moment they looked at one another.

"What's really wrong with you?" Gwaine asked, showing the sharp mind that hid under his carefree exterior.

"Everyone's acting like nothing happened and that we should all just forget it. We can't forget Gwaine; I can't forget." Gwen replied.

"Do you honestly think any of us will be able to forget what happened? I know the queen's been trying to figure out what to do but what do you want to do?" Gwaine asked.

"I don't know." Gwen replied.

"Yes you do." Gwaine pressed.

"I thought I knew what I wanted but now I don't know. Part of me wants to run away from this place and never look back but… I still think of Camelot as home. Everywhere I went I was asked where I came from. The only place I would reply with was Camelot. It's where I was born, where I grew up and where I thought I'd live the rest of my life. Part of me does want to stay but I can't." Gwen answered.

"First of all I think you do know what you want to do. Secondly no matter what Camelot will always be your home. The banishment's been repealed; so you can stay. Agravaine loved hearing that," Gwaine added sarcastically.

"I can imagine," Gwen stated.

Gwen thought about Agravaine; how he was willing to turn against his nephew and destroy the last link to his dead sister just to help Morgana get power. Is that where the path of anger; forgiveness and hatred always led to? People getting hurt and killed? If she didn't forgive the knights would she end up the same? Wanting to see them getting hurt or killed? Gwen couldn't imagine being like that; then again she had never thought Morgana would be like that either. Was it possible that some of the same darkness which dwelled within Morgana and Agravaine dwelled within her too? Gwen wasn't always the sweet and nice young woman everyone used to think. She had a fierce temper; she spoke out of her place; she could be bossy and never understood the concept of thinking before she spoke. If that was manipulated against her; could the day come that she would look in the mirror and not recognise the person she had been before? Even as Gwen considered the possibility; she already knew her answer. No. Not in a million years.

"We all did miss you; who was supposed to try and make us behave when you weren't around?" Gwaine claimed with a grin before he got serious. "Look Gwen, at the end of the day it's your choice. If you want to leave then you can leave. But if you want to stay then you stay."

"Thanks Gwaine," Gwen replied. Gwaine nodded and walked across the room. When he reached the door he turned around.

"It is good to have you back." Gwaine admitted before he left Gwen alone with her thoughts.

Part of what had made her so angry was the fact that the men all just wanted to overlook things; sweep what had happened under the rug and move on. Part of Gwen did want to do that; another part of her brain was the selfish part which wanted the knights to beg her forgiveness on bended knee. Finally the rational part of her brain decided to make itself heard. If she decided to stay in Camelot; she could start again. Gwen didn't have to slip back into her old life of being a servant. She and Elyan still owned the forge; she could work there instead. Gwen had always loved the forge and used to beg Tom to train her up to be a blacksmith and while he taught her how to mould and beat the metal; Tom insisted on Gwen working in the castle; she earned more money working for Morgana than she would have in the forge. If she stayed in Camelot maybe she could build a new life while maintaining some of the old. Maybe she could befriend the knights again; they wouldn't be the way they had been before; a pack of bothers and a sister but they could at least be friends. The whole concept; even the possibility of verbal abuse sounded more appealing that constantly wandering from place to place; seeking for somewhere new that she could call home. The knights were right; at the end of everything Camelot always had been and always would be her home. Just as she reached that conclusion, the third time since the council meeting; there was a knock at the door. It was Arthur.

"May I come in?" Arthur asked.

"Sure," Gwen replied, Arthur walked over and sat on the bed.

"I spoke to the council about you and Lancelot. I set the record straight; legally you're allowed to stay in Camelot." Arthur said somewhat nervously; he was walking on eggshells around Gwen; unsure of what to say or do; weary that one word could be the wrong one.

"Thank you Sire," Gwen replied.

"It's Arthur, Guinevere." Arthur corrected.

"Thank you Arthur, Gwaine told me that your uncle wasn't pleased with your decision." Gwen said. She couldn't tell Arthur what she heard about Agravaine. He wasn't the only one walking on eggshells. If she accused Agravaine, he would never believe her.

"No he wasn't. But I don't care. I'm the king and my word is the law. If I want to clear the names of two people I care about then I will. I don't want to make the same mistakes my father did. But apparently this along with the whole Mithian debacle will present me as a weak king, he says." Arthur replied. Arthur loved his uncle; he was the last connection Arthur had to his mother but sometimes it felt like Agravaine was putting him down, heightening his concerns that Arthur wasn't good enough to be king.

"Mithian? Who's Mithian?" Gwen asked.

And Arthur had broken the eggshells.

"I had arranged to meet with Princess Mithian from Nemeth to discuss a possible treaty between Camelot and Nemeth and I well, there seemed only one way to seal it." Arthur replied. He didn't have to say it. Gwen knew what he was saying.

"Oh, well I'm sure you and Mithian are happy together. I hope you are; that's all I want for you Arthur. To be happy." Gwen replied. She knew that Arthur would have to marry someday but not even three weeks had passed since they were engaged. So much for Arthur being desperate to stay; he didn't want or need her around anymore. He was married now; what they had was long gone. Gwen gritted her teeth; that was what she wanted wasn't it? To move on? What was that saying? Be careful for what you wish for? Arthur looked gob smacked as he realised what Gwen must have thought; nobody must have told her what he said.

"I didn't marry Mithian." Arthur replied.

"You didn't?" Gwen asked.

"I couldn't. I liked Mithian; she was a nice girl but I could never marry someone I didn't love. That was what angered my uncle so much. The marriage would have been a benefit for Camelot; Nemeth is just as powerful as we are. By not marrying her I risked starting a war with her father. But we were able to sort out the treaty a few days ago." Arthur explained.

"And Mithian was alright with that? I mean she probably expected to get married." Gwen replied. She didn't know Mithian from Adam but she felt sympathy for the princess. She knew what it felt like to be looking forward and preparing to get married only to have it taken away from you at the last minute. At least Gwen had had a hand in that matter.

"Yes she was. I explained to her that I couldn't marry a woman I didn't love and that I loved someone else. I think she took it well, Nemeth's yet to declare war so I think we're fine." Arthur explained with a small smile. Gwen smiled wanly; Arthur had no idea of what was going to happen. She wished she could tell him; he wouldn't believe her. He hadn't believed Gaius and Merlin so why would he believe her? However four words Arthur said echoed in her head.

"I loved someone else."

Gwen tried to ignore what those words could mean but she couldn't. She thought she'd grown up. She wasn't Cinderella dancing with her handsome prince anymore. She was Cinderella in the cinders with a shattered glass shoe in her hand. No matter how many times her mind insisted that too much had happened; they couldn't go back to how they were before, her treacherous heart was telling her otherwise. It was telling her to take one last risk; if she didn't try to reconnect with Arthur then she'd live the rest o her life not knowing. Yet she did know; she knew what it was like to love and be loved by Arthur. She had had her heart broken by him and she had broken his. It was impossible. It was unthinkable. They could not go back to how it was before. The clock had struck midnight and they had to go back to how they really were; he a king and her in the cinders. Part of her wanted to ask what Arthur meant but she was unsure of how he would answer. Would she want to hear the answer?

Arthur studied Gwen in silence. He wanted to tell her how he really felt. How after his heart had been stamped all over by the kiss; his anger was replaced by sadness and regret as he clamed down and realised what had happened. Arthur had thrown away the most important person in his life and never expected to see her again. Missing Guinevere had been like a constant stomach ache which never left. It was partially why he considered marrying Mithian. The princess would never have replaced Guinevere but maybe he wouldn't have felt so alone if he'd married her. But then he and Merlin found Guinevere in the woods and everything was turned on its head. All the love he had for her; which he had bottled up came flooding back. Whenever he learnt the truth; Arthur had wanted to marry Gwen the moment she woke up. He hadn't expected Gwen to be so angry and standoffish with them; then again he deserved it. After he repealed the banishment Arthur had hoped the Guinevere would stay in Camelot. They all wanted her to stay but it was her choice. Arthur wished that he and Guinevere eloped months – no - years ago. Then there wouldn't be any of this trouble. They would be husband and wife and there would be nothing and nobody who could change that. Then again, maybe not all hope was lost. If Guinevere agreed to stay then maybe, just maybe, they could try again.

"I did miss you Guinevere." Arthur admitted. "Ever since you left I missed you. It never stopped. I'm really glad you're safe."

'Tell her how you feel you git!' A voice which sounded like Merlin's yelled inside Arthur's head.

"Thank you Arthur, I missed you too." Gwen replied.

'Tell him how you feel!' Gwen's heart demanded.

Arthur left the room and Gwen slumped back onto the bed. Things just seemed to get a whole lot more complicated but that was nothing compared to what was to happen.

Thursday was fairly uneventful. The knights and Arthur trained while Merlin, Gwen and Gaius discussed what Gwen heard in the tunnels between Morgana and Helios about Agravaine and the planned attack. There seemed to be absolutely nothing that they could do. Gaius and Merlin had tried to suggest to Arthur that Agravaine was the traitor and Gwen knew that she wouldn't be able to accuse him. Gwen also refused to keep Merlin from his bed and instead slept on the floor under a blanket. Her leg was still painful but she could almost stand unaided and took a few steps while using a stick as a crutch. In the evening the knights came down to see them. Nobody seemed to suspect anything was out of the ordinary. It was common for Arthur or the knights to spend time in the evenings talking to Gaius or Merlin and they had managed to keep Gwen's return a secret. Friday began the same as Thursday but whenever the knights came down that evening Gwen was slowly taking a few steps while holding onto the crutch. The arrow had damaged some of the muscle in her thigh and therefore she couldn't walk too well yet but had to exercise the muscle in order to help it repair and strengthen itself. Gwen was able to make it to the steps which led up to Merlin's room and sat down on them and looked at the knights.

"Any new developments?" Gaius asked.

"Nothing yet; no sign of Morgana. I'd say that maybe she's given up but that's just wishful thinking." Arthur replied.

"So Gwen, have you thought about what you're going to do whenever you're better? Are you leaving or what?" Percival asked.

"Well I was talking to Gaius and Merlin and I would like to stay in Camelot but I can't just slip back into my old life. I was thinking about possibly working in the forge." Gwen replied.

"That's great," Elyan replied as he hugged Gwen. Gwen was going to stay! That was brilliant; he thought she'd have left and never looked back and besides Gwen worked better in the forge than he ever had, not that he would ever admit it.

"I want to try again." Gwen said. "I want us to be friends again."

"What happened to water under the bridge and all that stuff you were yelling about?" Leon asked.

"I was angry then, you all seemed willing to pretend nothing happened but I couldn't. We can never forget what happened but you were right; we have to move forward from it. If I could go back and stop myself from putting that damn bracelet on then I'd do it in a heartbeat. You know I would. I'm sorry." Gwen explained.

"It's us who should be apologising. We were being stupid." Arthur admitted.

"No change there then." Merlin quipped but he was silenced with a look.

"We are sorry and we do want to make it up to you." Arthur continued. Gwen however shrugged it off. She didn't need them to grovel or anything. She knew they were genuinely sorry and that was enough for her. If remorse is genuine then that's all that matters. Gwen put a muffler over the irrational part of her mind which again wanted them all to grovel to her on bended knee in front of the five kingdoms. It was madness, besides they wouldn't do it.

"I'm sorry I called you childish the other day." Leon apologised walking over to Gwen and squeezing her arm.

"It's fine, I'm sorry for yelling at all of you." Gwen apologised. She wanted them to try and see things from her perspective but she had always hated yelling at people.

"You should be; I completely dunged myself when you started yelling." Gwaine joked and they all laughed. However the laughter stopped whenever there was a loud knock at the door.

"Gaius, can you open the door. I know Arthur's in there."

"It's Agravaine!" Merlin hissed. They immediately sprang into action. Gwen slowly began to pull herself up but Percival simply picked her up and lifted her into Merlin's room the way one would do with a child. Elyan followed and they shut the door behind them as Gaius crossed the room and unlocked the door. Percival, Elyan and Gwen pressed themselves at the door, ears firmly fastened to the wood to listen to what Agravaine had to say. In another lifetime the situation would have been quite funny; childishly hiding and listening at the doorway to what the bad man had to say.

Agravaine had been having his suspicions about Gaius and Merlin every since he had killed Eagan. Agravaine knew that the doddering old fool and the idiot servant were onto him however they had no actual proof. With Morgana so close to striking; it would be disastrous if he slipped up now. Arthur and his gang of servant-soldiers had rarely been out of Gaius's chambers ever since that Mithian debacle and Agravaine had gone down with the intention of finding out once and for all what was going on. As he neared the room he could hear voices; he was right Arthur's little gang were in there. As he reached the door he could hear Gwaine making some loud crass comment followed by roaring laughter. Typical. The moment he knocked on the door and called for Gaius; they fell silent and he could hear a door slamming before the door opened and Gaius appeared.

"My lord," Gaius commented letting him into the room. They shared a glare; both fully aware of the other man's hatred for him. Agravaine walked into the room and looked around. Arthur was there with Leon, Gwaine and Merlin. Elyan and Percival were nowhere to be seen. Strange; he was sure there were more of them.

"Is there a problem uncle?" Arthur asked.

"I wished to speak to you privately." Agravaine replied.

"Whatever you have to say to me; you can say in front of the others. I have no secrets from them." Arthur replied honestly. He trusted every man in that room with his life and then some. Agravaine inwardly rolled his eyes. Arthur was like Ygraine; too trusting for his own good. However if all went to plan tomorrow; Arthur would regret that.

"Arthur I am asking you to reconsider your actions the other day." Agravaine replied. Arthur held up a hand. He was not going over this again. He loved Guinevere; he wanted her to remain in Camelot and possibly one day they would marry. Now that Guinevere had agreed to stay; there was a chance of it happening. However Arthur knew he could say it until he was blue in the face yet his uncle refused to see things his way. Agravaine however wasn't going to back down; if he had to maintain the façade for one more day then he would have to. Arthur would learn soon.

"I do not think it was wise for you to go back on your decision to banish Guinevere. I know she meant a lot to all of you but you have to move on. Arthur, you rejected a possible great allegiance with Nemeth which would have strengthened Camelot's future, what about your duty to Camelot?" Agravaine argued.

"My duty to Camelot comes second to one other thing. My duty to my heart." Arthur argued.

"Will you stop acting like a lovesick idiot and listen to yourself? How would your father have reacted if you had done this? You risked Camelot's future for a servant who betrayed you for goodness's sake!" Agravaine snapped.

Behind the door Elyan reached for the handle; ready to give Agravaine a damn good piece of his mind. He had made his decision by Gwen's bedside that nobody would hurt her in any way without them paying the price. Gwen however closed her hand on his wrist and shook her head. Agravaine's words were like needles being jabbed repeatedly into her skin but she was going to have to get used to it if she stayed in Camelot. Besides she wasn't the traitor.

"She's not a servant; she's the sister of a knight and that makes her a lady!" Merlin argued.

"The sister of a peasant knight who betrayed the king the night before she married him. It's not very ladylike is it?" Agravaine sneered.

"I suggest you hold your tongue," Gwaine warned. Arthur might think his uncle was on their side but Gwaine knew better and he had no qualms about introducing Agravaine to his sword.

"I will say it because nobody else will. Arthur you need to face the truth!" Agravaine insisted.

"I have. I love Guinevere. I always have loved her and I always will. Neither she nor Lancelot could control their actions that night and I forgive both of them. Lancelot is still the best and noblest of us all; he gave his life to save us. As for Guinevere; I love her more than anyone else in the world. I would give my life for her a thousand times. I know that someday she will return and someday she will return to be the Queen Camelot has waited so long for. I know she will be that Queen who is adored by her people. But their adoration and love will pale in comparison compared to mine. I know as well as my own name that I will love her until the day I die and beyond that. And nothing anyone says or does will ever change that. Even if she doesn't love me anymore; and finds love with someone else; it wouldn't matter to be. As long as Guinevere is somewhere that she's safe; loved and happy that is all that matters to me. So I would suggest that you be the one who faces the truth Agravaine. I love Guinevere and nobody, not Lancelot, not Morgana and definitely not you will ever change that." Arthur claimed.

Behind him Gwaine, Leon, Merlin and Gaius raised their eyebrows. None of them, not even Merlin had heard Arthur speak of Gwen that way. The speech had been passionate and they all knew that Arthur meant every last word. Agravaine looked stunned for a second before shaking his head. Arthur just didn't get it. Part of him wished to yell at Arthur; tell him that he or one of his servant-soldiers killed their precious Guinevere and her body lay rotting in the woods. Behind the door, Elyan and Percival looked at one another before looking at Gwen who was clearly just as stunned as Agravaine. Arthur had obviously told her in the past how much he loved her; he had been willing once to run away with her. They would elope, get some land and be farmers. However everything he told her before paled in comparison to what he had just said. Did he mean that? Her head told her to be weary but her heart told her to be brave. The rash idea appeared suddenly and Gwen knew exactly what to do.

"Arthur you need to face the truth. Guinevere is gone and she will never come back!" Agravaine insisted as the door to Merlin's room opened and a figure in a loose shirt and trousers appeared leaning heavily on a crutch followed by Elyan and Percival.

"Hello my lord." Gwen said with false politeness as she made her way down the few steps from Merlin's room.

Merlin could only wish he had some way of capturing the look on Agravaine's face.