Merlin was disconcertingly quiet as Gwen finished her story. She hadn't known where to start but once she had found a footing everything sort of came pouring out. They were both sat under the tree and Gwen was only glad that Merlin hadn't got up and walked off half way through her anecdote.

"I just can't see it." He said quietly, playing with his sleeve. "I cant believe she's anything but evil, yet at the same time I cant believe you'd lie." He sighed. "Last time I saw her she tried to kill me."

Gwen frowned. "Don't say that like you never tried to kill her."

Merlin picked at the sparse grass he sat on. "She's a traitor. She has no manner of loyalty."

Gwen couldn't contain her incredulity. "Merlin, she's traded everything in order to try and help her people. Your people. To stop them being slaughtered by Uther and now Arthur and their senseless hate. What have you done? Nothing. You stood by and watched your own kind get condemned everyday and didn't lift a finger to stop it. You turned Morgana away when she went to you for help all that time ago, I know you did because it was me who held her for hours when she cried her heart out afterwards. Yet it's Morgana who has the loyalty issues? You had Gaius to guide you. She had nobody. You can hardly blame her for going with her sister."

Merlin stared at his feet. "I didn't mean to let them die... I always thought Arthur would be different." He looked up at her. "If I could go back, I would help her. If I knew..."

Gwen sighed. "You should have helped her regardless."

Merlin threw down the blades of grass in his hand. "I know. And I'm sorry, I really am. But that doesn't mean I'm stupid enough to walk right up to her."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Merlin, she's not thrilled about the idea either. She knows you're Emrys. But she's willing to let you come back with me and give you a chance. You're walking into a castle containing the joint forces of Morgana and Morgause. If it were a trap and she wanted you to go there on the basis of revenge, she would have made it sound at least a little bit doable."

Merlin sighed. "I can't just disappear."

"I did."

"Arthur had you banished."

Gwen wondered if it was blackmail time. "If he found out your secret, he'd have you executed."

Merlin looked almost sad. "I know. Lately he's been worse than when I first met him."

Gwen smirked. "He was an ass. Actually, I remember a time when he really was an ass."

Merlin grinned. "Those ears. I don't know how I kept a straight face when he started braying."

They both laughed, dispelling the unease of the night around them. Gwen took a deep breath, still smiling. "Come on, please? Just give her a chance? You can always run back to Camelot and say she kidnapped you if you want."

Merlin sighed heavily. "I don't know. If I go and it does turn out to be a trap, it's going to look like I believed something really stupid."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "No one would know, Merlin."

"I would know." He mumbled.

"Just... hear her out. If it helps, you at least get the day off from bending over backwards for Queen Arthur."

Merlin considered for a moment. "Okay. Okay, I'll hear her out. But only because I owe her one... I know I should have helped her."

Gwen smiled. "Thank you."

"How are we meant to get to wherever she is?" He said, looking around as if he expected Morgana to jump out from behind a tree. Gwen looked down at her necklace. "I just have to think really hard and this necklace does a magicy... thing."

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "I'll take your word for it."

"It's a perfectly valid word."

"Bloody-" Merlin nearly fell over as Morgause spoke from behind him.

The blonde smiled at Gwen and Gwen smiled back. Merlin just stood, not really knowing what to do.

"Merlin." Morgause said in acknowledgement. Merlin just nodded, obviously on guard. The blonde strolled casually over to Gwen and put an arm around her, then held a hand out to Merlin. He stared at it with something akin to suspicion, before gingerly taking it. The second his hand touched hers, Morgause's eyes flashed and they were gone, leaves spiraling up into the still air around where the three had stood. They reappeared in the same room Gwen had first arrived in. The fire was, as always going strong in the hearth but this time the room was empty. Morgana was elsewhere in the castle and it showed on Merlins face as he scanned the empty shadows. Morgause immediately let go of his hand but was less rushed to move away from Gwen. It made Gwen strangely happy to know that Morgause had accepted her.

"Wait here." She said, turning her back on the two and leaving to find her sister Gwen assumed.

"So, where are we?" He said slowly.

Gwen shrugged. "Don't know. Days from Camelot and surrounded by trees is all I've gathered. I don't really care to be honest."

Merlin was about to reply when Morgause came back through the door, Morgana trailing somewhat reluctantly behind her. Her eyes met Merlins and she sighed. Gwen couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Before she could act on her pity, Morgause's arm was back around her and she was being swept out of the room and down the corridor, leaving the two sorcerers alone.

"It's best just to leave them to it." The blonde explained, even though Gwen hadn't opened her mouth.

"Yeah, I guess."

Morgause let go of her as they entered the room they had been sat in that morning and took a seat at the large table. Gwen sat down next to her and sighed.

"I hope they don't kill each other." She said bluntly.

Morgause smiled. "I'd know before Morgana knew herself if that was what was going to happen and I doubt Merlin would be quite that stupid." The blonde said reassuringly.

Gwen hoped that was true.

"So, you're still in my sister's bed."

Gwen nearly choked on thin air as Morgause's question caught he off guard. "I- uh.. I.. Yeah..."

Morgause laughed. "Well that was articulate. I don't mind, I was merely observing. I might be overbearingly protective but I don't chose who she shares her bed with, I'm not quite that bad."

Gwen smiled sheepishly. "I don't have a bed of my own, so I just kind of stayed in hers."

Morgause raised an eyebrow. "You think she doesn't know that? She missed you in the time when you were gone- she doesn't want you out of her bed."

Gwen had never considered that. "Really?"

Morgause gave her a look. "Gwen, she adores you. And we both know you at least feel something for her."

Gwen looked down at the table's surface. "Deep down I've loved her since the day I set eyes on her."

Morgause smiled. "Well, you have my blessing. Morgana is a powerful sorcerer but she was lonely; erratic. Now she's got you I think theres more of a chance for her to stay grounded. I think now she can finally trust herself enough to get on with her life, whether that means claiming the throne which is rightfully hers or opening a flower shop- she can actually do it now and I can't thank you enough for that."

Gwen was quiet for a moment. "And I'll help her whichever she chooses."