Yet again, I must apologise for the length of time it's taking me to update this, thank you all for bearing with me.

Disclaimer:I sadly don't own Merlin, it belongs to the BBC.

The following morning Guinevere left her chambers to visit Gaius the court physician, However having entered the physician's home she found Merlin bustling about, carrying a pile of books that she was sure were going to topple over. Almost as soon as this thought crossed her mind she heard Merlin shout as the books came crashing to the ground. She stepped forward, kneeling down to help Merlin pick the books up,

"Oh you don't need to do that", Merlin said, piling books back on the table.

"I know, but I want to, so I'm going to, there we go", she said as they put the last of the books on the table. "Is Gaius busy?" Guinevere asked,

"He's gone out to gather a few herbs I think, he left just after Arthur came over, not sure what that was about, but he'll be back in a bit", Merlin replied as he started to put the books on the shelves, "Do you need to see him for something?",

"Well yes", she replied, slightly evasively, "You don't mind if I wait here do you? I have no plans for the morning, if I go back to the palace I will only end up twiddling my thumbs and if I go to the training grounds to see the knights I'll have to resist the urge to pick up a sword myself, so I might be better off here, if you don't mind", she continued, picking up some of the books and putting them on the shelves by Merlin.

Just as Merlin was about to reply, Gaius came into the room, without looking up he said,

"Merlin you had better get a move on, Arthur is looking for you, something about the horses needing mucking out and the dogs needing walking", he looked up then, realising Guinevere was in the room, "My lady, what a pleasant surprise to see you", he said, looking her steadily in the eye, looking back to Merlin then he said, "Get a move on Merlin, we don't want to keep the prince waiting, do we?",

"Right, um, yes", Merlin said placing the books he was holding into Guinevere's hands, before realising what he was doing and taking them back and putting them on the shelf, "Um, yeah, bye", he said as he quickly left the room, leaving Gaius looking somewhat perplexed and Guinevere giggling quietly. Hearing the door finally close Gaius stepped towards Guinevere,

"You must forgive Merlin, my lady, he gets a little bit clumsy sometimes, hasn't quite adjusted to the subtler ways of court life yet I think",

"Oh really Gaius", Guinevere replied lightly, " I don't mind, I'd almost go so far as to say he and I are sort of in the same boat, I don't think I've quiet gotten the intricacies of this particular court myself either sometimes", She sighed slightly, "Merlin mentioned that Arthur has been to see you this morning?",

"Indeed, he has my lady, he took the opportunity to make me aware of some, uh, shall we say, difficulties you are experiencing", he said gesturing towards a chair. Sitting down, Guinevere replied,

"The 'difficulties' being the frequent nightmares, cold sweats, occasionally waking up screaming, I suppose?",

"Yes, indeed, as a result of your mother's murder I assume?", he said gently,

"Yes", Guinevere agreed quietly swallowing hard, having not mentioned the subject in daylight in many years, "As I expect Arthur told you, I've had the nightmares almost constantly ever since, I just wish I could close my eyes confident in getting a descent night's sleep, it hardly would look right , me turning up at a court function which dark circles under my eyes because I couldn't sleep now would it?",

"Certainly not", Gaius agreed, "I will make up a sleeping draft for you, "I'll have Merlin deliver it to you before nightfall",

"Thank you Gaius", Guinevere said, visibly relieved,

"It is a pleasure my lady, if you ever need my assistance, I am at your command, as with every other member of the House of Pendragon". Gaius said, as he finished the sentence, there was a knock at the door behind Guinevere.

"Come in!", Gaius called, then as the door swung open continued, " Ah Lady Morgana, a pleasure as always, how can I assist you today?",

"Well as it happens I'm here to see Guinevere actually", seeing the confused looks on the other two people's faces see said, " I bumped into Merlin on my way through the courtyard, he said you were here".

Guinevere nodded and Morgana continued,

"Gwen and I are going to take a couple of horses and ride down to the lower town for a while", she then added calmly, " I was thinking we might take a look in on Arthur and his knights on the way back, just for a bit of fun, perhaps, keep the men suitably distracted", she said as she saw Gaius raise an eyebrow.

"Yes I think I'd like that", Guinevere agreed, suddenly aware that her heart was beating a little faster, surely it wasn't the thought of seeing Arthur, was it?

Morgana and Gaius exchanged knowing looks as the women said goodbye and left the Physician to his work, and rode together with Gwen to the lower town, were they received a rapturous welcome, something which, even after so long in Camelot, still heartened Morgana to see it.

***

Some time later the three women were riding back towards the training area, laughing and joking as they went, Guinevere's dark mood of the previous night, almost forgotten,

"What were you seeing Gaius for anyway?", Morgana asked quizzically, "Not a love potion I hope?",

"A potion? A love potion at that? In Camelot? Morgana are you mad?" Guinevere replied, pretending to be outraged, "What would I want one of those for anyway?", she asked,

"Oh nothing I expect", Morgana replied innocently, "I think he's already in love with her any", she whispered to Gwen, both women stifled giggles.

"What was that?", Guinevere said intently,

"It's nothing", Gwen said brightly,

"And anyway, look", Morgana chipped in, "We're here now", as the three of them rode through the side entrance of the grounds.

Seeing the three women on horseback enter the area, Arthur nodded to two of his knights and the three of them approached the horses swiftly,

"Ladies what a surprise!", Arthur called cheerily, moving around to the side of Guinevere's horse,

"We were just passing, thought we'd drop in", Morgana said lightly, "You don't mind do you?",

"Of course not", Arthur replied, "It's always a pleasure to see you", he said, fixing his eyes on Guinevere, before offering her his hand and helping her dismount.

"Thank you" Guinevere whispered into Arthur's ear as he lifted her down from the horse,

"Are you well, my lady?", Arthur asked, making it sound as if it was a perfectly normal enquiry,

"Yes thank you my lord", she replied, in much the same way, " Or at least I will be now", she said quietly.

***