I know. Gwaine is acting like a complete ass. I understand that he is acting a bit out of character, it's to be expected with my story. Just hang on and we'll see how things go.

Once again, my sisters are watching Merlin and it's completely distracting me. I've decided to write though, so, here's to hoping it turns out alright.

P.S. This is a short chapter. Sorry! Got distracted. x_x

-Monty


LOWER TOWN -

"Merlin, it's good to see you." Elaine's smile beamed brightly on her face as she spotted Merlin making his way over to where her tent was pitched. Several of the children went rushing out to greet him, tugging on his shirt sleeves, asking him to do a trick for them or something. She couldn't help but laugh lightly as Merlin almost tripped over his own feet as the hord of children closed in around him. "Alright, enough!" She called out to them. "He's not here to be trampled on, go now, leave him be."

The children were a bit disappointed that they couldn't spend time with him, but, they obeyed Elaine and hurried off.

"They think the world of you." Elaine said as Merlin reached her. "The great Emrys."

Merlin ducked his head. "Eh, not so great..."

"You're too modest." Elaine motioned for him to come inside and pointed out a place for him to sit. "So, what brings you out this way today?"

Merlin shrugged a bit. "I was just curious as to how things are going. Are you all still getting along with the other towns people?"

"Oh yes. Everyone here in Camelot has been very kind - though I'm sure that's only because they don't know what we are." Elaine sighed a bit, disappoinuted by that thought. The people of Camelot were great people, kind people, but, if they heard the word 'Druid' or 'Magic' they would turn them in quicker than she could lace a arrow. "So far though, things have been pleasant. How have things for you been?"

"As good as they can be at the moment I guess." Merlin said.

"Gwaine told me that you were unhappy with Arthur."

At the mention of Gwaine, Merlin knew that something needed to be said. It was obvious that he was not going to let things go and Merlin knew that he wasn't going to be the one to say anything to him about Elaine and Galahad. It was something that they needed to do, not him. "Speaking of Gwaine...why haven't you told him?"

Elaine's smile faded. "Merlin...you know why."

"I didn't, not until you told me."

"You already knew. That was different. Besides, my friendship with you is different than what Gwaine is wanting of me. It would never work out, so why tell him?"

"Because he's not going anywhere, Elaine. He's going to find out sooner or later. Whether you tell him or time shows him." Merlin's words seemed to echo throught Elaine's very soul and she looked away, knowing he was right. He reached over and took her hand in his own, giving it a gentle squeeze. "If there's one thing I have learned, it's that Gwaine doesn't like to find out important information from other people. He would rather hear it straight from the source. You should tell him."

"That will go well." Elaine replied sarcastically with a bitter laugh, but nodded to Merlin. She would do it. It was time to. She had been avoiding it for so long. Merlin was right, she couldn't avoid it forever. She had a feeling that things within Camelot were not going to remain calm and peaceful as they had been the past few months. It was a feeling she got and that feeling had never steered her wrong yet. As Merlin went to pull his hand away, Elaine gripped it tighter. "Now that you've given me some advice, let me return the favor. Be watchful. It is only a matter of time now."

Merlin knew what she spoke of.

He felt it to.

Like at any moment something was going to cause the collapse of everything around them.

"Ah, so, this is why you can't be with me?"

Inwardly, Merlin groaned. 'Annnnnnd the collapsing starts, now.' He looked over his shoulder to see Gwaine standing there. He was glaring at the two of them and Merlin wondered why on Earth he would be in such a foul mood (other than the fact that earlier on he had basically told him to piss off for trying to get information out of him) when suddenly he realized what it was and he yanked his hand away from Elaine, then quickly stood up. "Gwaine, it's not what it looks like."

"That's why you can't be with me? You like Merlin?" Gwaine ignored him and questioned Elaine, pointing accusingly over in his friend's direction.

Elaine shook her head quickly. "No! No, it's not like that - STOP!"

Merlin was grabbed by the front of his shirt and yanked up off of the floor. Gwaine looked like he was about ready to take off his head. Elaine felt her heart slam against her chest. Gwaine was no match for Merlin, she knew that. She also knew that Merlin wouldn't defend himself against Gwaine, he wouldn't dare use his magic to fight off a friend. Racing forward, she grabbed Gwaine's arm.

"He was just talking to me!" Elaine snapped at him.

"Talking about what? Looked a lot more like just talking."

"I was talking to her! Encouraging her!" Merlin said.

Elaine nodded in agreement.

"Encouraging her to do what?"

"To tell you what you want to know." Elaine said, tugging on his arm. Gwaine's glare faded and he glanced over at her. She nodded. "He was asking me to tell you and helping me get up the courage to do so...Will you please, put him down?"

Gwaine looked back at Merlin, eyes wide, as if realizing what he was doing, and let him go.

Merlin sighed, brushing himself off. "See? Nothing was going on."

"Why would you do that though? After how I've treated you...you shouldn't want to do anything for me." Gwaine said, brow creasing.

"Yes, he shouldn't." Elaine replied. "But he did."

"I'm so sorry, Merlin." Gwaine breathed out, feeling horrible. "I...I was coming to say I was sorry the first time, but, then..."

Merlin said nothing. He felt overwhelmed by all of it. He didn't think that Gwaine would ever react that way towards him. The two of them had always been close and he had thought that Gwaine could never be affected by anything. That Gwaine, out of all people, would be able to move on and continue on with life as normal. Apparently that wasn't the case. His friend had a breaking point like everyone else.

"Merlin, you can go." Elaine wasn't asking him to leave or suggesting it. By the tone in her voice, it was a command. She was quiet and reserved most of the time, but, when it came to instances like this, she showed that she was not a force to be reckoned with.

As Merlin slipped out of the tent, Gwaine turned to Elaine to apologize, but before anything could come out of his mouth he received a harsh slap to the face. Instantly he saw stars and he blinked a couple of times, trying to get his vision to work correctly once more.

"That, was for being an ass." Elaine said firmly. "I should do a lot more than that for the way you have been behaving. I thought you would move past things after a while, apparently I was wrong. You've been behaving like a child and I hope you realize that now."

Gwaine nodded, rubbing the side of his face. He looked very cross with her, but, he wasn't saying anything about it. He knew he deserved it. After everything he had done, he was lucky that that was all that he had gotten.

"Now sit." Elaine pointed to where Merlin had been sitting just moments before.

"But-"

"Sit."

Without argument, Gwaine sat down.

"Albion, give me strength." Elaine's breath escaped from her lips shakily as she took a seat beside Gwaine. Slowly, she laced her fingers with his. "First, you're a damn fool for going at Merlin like that. He's a warlock. What were you going to do if he used a spell on you?"

Gwaine opened his mouth. "I...I..."

"Nothing?"

"I know one spell! It's about fire... Four barns or something." Gwaine muttered.

Elaine wanted to scoff, but she supressed it. " SECONDLY," Elaine's voice rose to where Gwaine knew to be silent. "I'm ready to tell you about me. You mustn't say anything while I talk. Just sit here and listen and when I am done, that is when you may do what you will."

Gwaine nodded. "Tell me."

"In order to understand anything about me, you must start at the beginning of my life." Elaine began. Gwaine nodded, ready for that. Elaine took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. "The beginning was around three hundred years ago."

Silence filled the tent.