GOOD MORNING! :) Honestly I don't know if it is actually morning whenever you are reading this, however I tend to say 'morning' to people no matter what time of day it is.

Stay fresh!

Walking back into the camp, Lexi allowed a small frown to slip into place upon her lips. This Gwaine... She'd have to keep a closer eye on him and Hannah. She knew a fair bit about his character and had deemed him trustworthy long ago, but whether or not he could be trusted with her best friends heart was another matter entirely. Hannah just seemed so... *relaxed* with him. And for one who was always cautious and hesitant with strangers, that in itself spoke volumes. By the gods, she had almost told him... well, everything!

Lexi hadn't *really* been trying to evesdrop. After all, their voices had been rather loud. But what she *had* heard had caused her to listen intently, and eventually interrupt before too much was revealed. There were some things, (such as promise of large sums of money), which could cause *anyone* to break a bond of trust and friendship. And she didn't want Merlin and Gwaine to be the people who did that to Hannah and herself. It was just too *risky*.

Well, she'd just have to have a little chat with Hannah later on the matter of secrets, and her wayward heart.

Lexi looked up as she entered the campsite, breaking herself out of her musings. She was met with the sight of Merlin, standing back from a wide clearing with a satisfied smile adorning his face.

"Ah, Merlin, well done. I see you've put the barriers up."

"Oh, thankyo... Wait, how'd you know? They're invisible!"

"All magic leaves traces. For example, I can tell you started a spell right here... And here, and ended one over there." She carefully pointed out small patches of earth. "When living in a magical kingdom, you pick up certain survival skills. Detecting magic without magic of your own is one of them."

Merlin guessed he should just expect the unexpected from now on when it came to these two. "Whaa..? Is there anything you *don't* know? And what do you mean by 'trace'?"

She moved around him and knelt on the ground by his feet. "Look." Once again she pointed a finger at the ground. "See how the air above this spot shimmers? It's almost like heat distortion. You can barely see it, but when you know what to look for, it's relatively easy. Of course, each spell's trace looks slightly different."

Merlin nodded, noticing for the first time the slight haze. That skill would certainly come in handy later on.

"Now, on a completely different matter..." She straightened from her crouch in one smooth movement, until she was eye to eye with Merlin, her expression adopting a serious air.

"It's about Hannah and Gwaine. I'm... well, to be truthful, I'm worried. From what I know of Gwaine, he's a drunkard and a player, and now he's set his sights on Hannah. I wouldn't normally be concerned... But it seems she is besotted with the fellow. Is it even *possible* for his intentions to be honorable?"

"Well..." Merlin began, running a hand through his raven locks. He too had noticed the growing... *thing* between his friend and the seer. "Gwaine may appear to be an entirely superficial man, but he can be a loyal, trustworthy and sincere when he see's fit to be. I wouldn't worry too much. I'm sure Hannah can deal with him, should be try and break her heart."

At his words, Lexi's eyes blazed, alight with newly lit anger. "Not that I'd let him get even get *close* to doing such a thing!" She hissed. "We have been through enough these past few years, the last thing we need is some meddling man trying to mess it all up! We came on this quest to get away from it all, and to save your friend's royal ass. NOT so that we could end up worse than we started!" Her cheeks were tinged with red, her words hinting at a simmering anger against something far greater than this simple argument. He feared for whatever, or *whom*ever had caused such anger and hatred to grow inside her.

"You really do have a protective streak, don't you?" Merlin murmured, carefully gauging her reaction. He hoped by keeping it light, and focusing on her attitude rather than her words, he could guide her away from the danger zone.

"Yes I do, and many have learnt the hard way to fear the times it mixes with my aggressive streak. And I have every right to be protective - to be cautious! After all that's happened, how could I *not* feel over-protective of my friends and family? How could I *not* act the way I do? Hannah and Ombra are all I have left!" As though realizing she'd said one thing too much, her jaw snapped shut, and her eyes screwed closed, fingers coming to rest upon her throbbing temples before sweeping agitatedly through her chocolate curls.

"You can't keep doing that you know. Hinting at bits of your past, revealing that there's something there to tell, and yet not giving us the whole picture. Why do you do it? If it's so important, could you not share it with us?"

A soft sigh slipped unguarded through her lips. "I'm sorry, but I cannot tell. Sometimes... it all just gets too much - staying positive and carefree while it feels as though the weight of the world rests on your shoulders. But no. The time is not right. You are not ready." Her voice dropped to a shivering whisper. "*I* am not ready..."

As though on cue, a dripping wet Hannah and Gwaine stumbled into the clearing, breaking the heavy silence which had newly fallen. Looking around and seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere, Gwaine rubbed his hands together happily. "Well done Merlin! Got the tents set up and everything!"

Hannah, who was walking slightly behind Gwaine, stopped in her tracks, her eyes momentarily clouding over in an eerie silver. She hummed lightly, a crooked smile alighting upon her lips. "Well done indeed, Merlin..." She murmured, reaching out and resting a hand against what appeared to be thin air, but Lexi and Merlin knew to be to the invisible barriers and protective enchantments.

As Hannah walked over to stand beside Gwaine, he casually slung an arm over her shoulders, pulling her against his side as she shivered daintily. "How about a fire? My little lady is freezing over here!" He chuckled as he begun to gently rubbed a hand up and down Hannah's arm, creating a small amount of warmth through friction.

Lexi's eyes widened dangerously, her eyes locked on Gwaine's casual embrace. She tensed up, before turning away and walking over to her bag. Back visibly stiff, she rummaged around in her pack before withdrawing, a few odd items in her hands. Eyes now narrowed dangerously, she lobbed a small tube at Gwaine, seeming satisfied when he had to break his hold in order to catch it.

"It's the salve." She practically growled, before moving onto her next item. "These are firestarters. There should be enough dry wood around the camp to make a fire. Do *not* wander off, any of you. I'm going to catch some lunch... dinner - whatever. And to, well, cool off a bit. Stay safe." And without another word, she had pulled a rope from her belt and cast it into a tree, disappearing in the foliage above with barely a whisper to betray her whereabouts.

Hannah's brow crinkled. Lexi's attitude seemed a little.. off.

"Lex? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

A disembodied voice drifted down from the canopy above.

"Nothings wrong... yet. And I'm fine. Or I will be."

Merlin gazed into the trees above, rather worried about his companion. Hannah and Gwaine exchanged puzzled glances.

"Well, that was weird..."

Oohhh :3 what do we have here? Hannah and Gwaine? My oh my...

Well, here we see the first bit of real fangirl obsessiveness ;) guess we'll just have to see where this leads...

Thanks for taking a look. If you want, let me know what you think...