Notes: Alright, here it is people. The big reveal. I hope you like it. I'm not very nice to poor Merlin in this. He may be having a little freak out later. The stress, you know. Enjoy!

The morning was gone and the sun arced across the sky into early afternoon. The town was still busy with people shopping in the market but the lengthening day had calmed the frantic activity and most were now lazily strolling up and down the stalls. Somewhere, probably in the square, a band had begun to play and Merlin could hear their music float above the noise of the market. It took some time for the awkwardness to wear off, for hurt feelings to be soothed, but eventually Merlin and the others eased in each other's company again. Merlin was glad, looking at some glass jars and wondering if Gaius would like some of the small colored ones. He didn't like being out of sorts with his friends.

"Merlin, do you want an apple or a pear?" asked Kay. Merlin straightened and walked over to the next stall where Kay was purchasing fruit for their lunch. They had been slowly making their way toward the lower city and the gates, idly heading out of the city. Merlin mouthed his choice to the blond haired Knight and turned to look for Arthur and Lancelot.

The prince appeared holding a wrapped parcel of brown paper and a corked jug hanging precariously from one finger. "Here, get that would you?" Merlin saved the jug from an unfortunate meeting with the ground and felt liquid swish around the inside. Arthur nodded his thanks and looked around the busy street. "Where's Lancelot with the bread?" They wandered a little further down the street, stopping to watch a stall keeper demonstrating a toy to some delighted children. Merlin watched the man flip the ball attached to a string up into the air and catch it in the bowl of the toy. He'd had something similar as a child before Mordred had snapped the string and tossed the ball into the pond, trying to hit a duck that had thankfully flown away.

Lancelot arrived with the loaf of bread and a suspicious little bag. Merlin cocked an eyebrow at the dark haired Knight but Lancelot just smiled playfully. "Done. If you're ready to go," Lancelot said to the others. They drifted out of the eastern gates, getting a nod from the guards manning the wall, and up the road away from the city. They received more strange looks from passersby than they had walking in the market and soon drifted off into the trees to escape the scrutiny. Merlin wondered how rare it was to see the Prince and two Knights of the Realm walking around Camelot for the inhabitants to be so startled by it. They reached a break in the trees and Merlin displayed his desire to stop by sitting down at the base of the tree.

Arthur used his own dagger to slice off hunks of ham from the salted meat he'd bought and Lancelot handed around chunks of fresh bread. The jug of watery wine was passed around the group and the three warriors struck up a conversation about some drill that had been conducted yesterday. Merlin barely listened, thankful for the easy atmosphere that allowed him to relax. The suspicious little bag that Lancelot had was filled with buttery cookies that melted on the tongue. Merlin smiled as he ate one.

The conversation ebbed and flowed around them. Kay asked if they were going to work Percival harder with the mace or if Arthur still feared the younger Knight would brain himself with the weapon. Merlin laughed, imagining how Percival would pout if he heard such comments about himself. Lancelot lay back and thumped a stick on the grass, asking if they were going to ride out to the southern estates in a few weeks. From Arthur's sour face at that question it appeared the prince was not looking forward to the idea. The sun shifted, painting gold spots across the green grass. Feeling contented and slightly sleepy, Merlin lay down and pillowed his head on his arms, idly watching a ladybug crawl up a leaf in front of his nose. It was because he was facing the opposite way, looking behind the backs of his companions, that he saw the first man approaching through the forest.

They weren't far from the city. A good shout would be heard by workers in the fields if not the guards at the gates. Merlin didn't think anything of the other man, closing his eyes lazily. Arthur and Kay were having a wandering conversation about the merits of someone Merlin had never heard of as a candidate for Knighthood and it was making him sleepy. The dark haired man yawned and opened his eyes. Now, the man was on the edge of the little clearing they had settled in and froze when he saw Merlin looking at him. Merlin frowned and raised his head a little, getting a strange vibe. Lancelot saw his friend move and glanced in the direct Merlin was looking. This was the moment the man decided to draw a sword and charge them.

Lancelot was up on his feet with a shout in the next instant, Arthur and Kay standing a second later. The attacker swung at Lancelot, who danced away from the broad arch of the weapon. Shock froze Merlin on the ground for a moment and Arthur yanked him up by his arm. "Run! Get back to the gate and summon the guards!" ordered Arthur. The blond's eyes darted over Merlin's shoulder and he pulled the both of them backwards quickly. A second man appeared from behind the tree, swinging his own blade at the pair of men. Arthur cursed, pulling Merlin behind him, and Kay rushed in to slam into the shoulder of the new assailant. Kay and the second attacker fell into the tree trunk and the thug gave a cry of pain as he was forced against the rough wood.

Arthur caught movement from the corner of his eye and turned the both of them out of the path of a falling ax, jerking Merlin around and away. The axmen continued to barrel forward and plowed his shoulder into Arthur's stomach. The prince let go of Merlin to grapple with the third attacker and the dark haired man lost his balance and fell to the ground. Arthur allowed himself to fall back, lifting his feet and tossing his opponent over his head. Merlin scrambled to his feet, feeling various old and new bruises complain and his wrist give a warning stab of pain.

Lancelot stumbled back from his adversary with a cry of pain, blood dripping from his arm. Kay was faring better with the second swordsmen, grappling in close quarters so that the attacker had no room to swing his weapon. Arthur was ducking under the high swing of the ax and darted in to land a solid punch in his opponent's stomach. Merlin took a few steps back toward the edge of the clearing. His friends were faring well but they would need help. If the dark haired man ran quickly, he could bring the guards back in just a few minutes.

Merlin had almost turned to flee back into the forest when the man Kay was fighting jerked his elbow up and slammed it into the blond Knight's nose. Kay stumbled back and the swordsmen turned to where his fellow attacker was trying to defend himself against Arthur's quick punches. Merlin watched the sharp blade arch over the prince's head and swing toward his unprotected back, feeling his heart freeze with horror. "Arthur, look out!" The red ruby that was Arthur's name, a gold coin, and a deep red rose bloom tumbled to the grass as Arthur rolled away and the sword thumped harmlessly to the ground.

Merlin stumbled back from the evidence of his fairy gift, his secret laying damningly on the green grass. He gasped as an arm went around his waist, trapping his left arm against his side, and cold metal rested at his throat. "That's enough," said a calm voice in Merlin's ear. Everyone froze at the relaxed command. The three attackers picked themselves up and backed away from the Camelot men. "Drop it," said the man holding a long knife to Merlin's neck. Lancelot tossed away the sword he'd managed to get away from his opponent and glared back.

Arthur stood, drawing himself up tall and leveling the man with a cold look. "Let him go."

Merlin could feel the man holding him shake his head. "Now, see, I normally would be very happy just to relieve this young man of his money pouch and the sparkly ruby we saw earlier." Merlin squeezed his burning eyes shut, his shoulders sinking. Almost a week of being careful, of not allowing anyone to see the amount of money he carried, ruined by the silly urge to show Arthur and his companions that Merlin could take care of himself. All the good it did him now. The man gave Merlin a little shake. "Until I came across this little marvel. Say something."

"Something," repeated Merlin currishly. Whatever the word produced thumbed to the ground but Merlin didn't dare look down to see what it was.

The man gave a satisfied huff against Merlin's ear all the same and smiled up at the Camelot men. "It seems like we found a bigger prize than just a money pouch." He backed up a few steps, forcing Merlin to move with him. "Now, here is what is going to happen. You three are going to stand right there, all nice like, and me and my friends are just going to leave with this here young man." Arthur started forward angrily and the man pressed the blade against Merlin throat tighter, drawing a bead of bright red blood that stopped the prince in his tracks. "None of that, now, or I'll just slice open his throat to see what we can find inside."

Merlin was sure that the only thing they would find would be a dead man and looked up to meet the furious stare of his friends as he was forced back into the shadow of the forest. They continued to walk backwards, the long knife at Merlin's neck, until the trees closed over in front of him and Merlin could no longer see Arthur or the others. The knife left Merlin's throat and he was pulled around to walk straight, hurried along by a strong grip on his upper arm. "Let go of me," demanded Merlin as they hurried further away from the clearing. He glanced back but all he could see was the greedy eyes of the second swordsman and the forest.

"Don't be like that," said the man holding his arm in a reasonable voice. "You behave and you'll be treated well."

"And you pop out more money," said the axmen gleefully.

Merlin was experiencing a curious mix of emotions, half terror at what these men were going to do to him and half anger that they had hurt his friends. He dug in his heels. "I will not! Let go!"

They all jerked to a stop and the man whipped around to wrap a hand around Merlin's throat. He lifted the dark haired man slightly and Merlin scrabbled at his wrist, his air choked off. "You cause me any trouble and I will just cut you open like I said."

Merlin thought it was the calm, rational tone the man said those words in that frightened him the most. "You'll get nothing that way," gasped Merlin, black spots dancing across his eyes. The hand released him and Merlin sank to his knees, coughing and breathing deeply. "The gift doesn't work like that," Merlin assured them in a raspy voice. Already he had a small pile of coins and gems by his knees from talking. One of the men cursed and Merlin looked up, a little satisfied smile on his face.

Movement in the trees caught Merlin's attention and his heart jumped in hope. But it was not one of his friends that appeared in the forest like the dark haired man expected. Instead, Merlin found himself looking at the familiar features of the fairy that had given him his inconvenient gift. Her blue eyes were calmly regarding the men before her, delicate and translucent wings arcing high above her head. "What the devil?" cried the first swordsman. The look on the fairy's face turned slightly stormy and disapproving. Merlin shivered as the temperature around them dropped and the forest became chilly. It seemed as if the space the fairy stood was having problems containing her, the green grass and leaves wavering around her.

The axmen raised his weapon and advanced on the fairy woman, a twisted smile on his lips. Merlin felt the air around them turn frigid and the fairy's face transformed into something fierce and angry. He curled into a ball, feeling fear freeze his spine and hoping the fairy's outraged attention did not turn on him. A bright light lit up the world and Merlin squeeze his eyes shut, hearing cries of pain and tell-tale thuds happening around him. The dark haired man, however, remained untouched from the bright chaos going on around him even as his ears popped and his breath misted.

Finally, the light dimmed and silence fell across the forest. Merlin dared to raise his head and found the last man, the one that had held the knife to his throat, lying on the ground like a broken doll. The two swordsmen and the axmen were sprawled a distance away, weapons gone. Merlin looked back at the fairy and found she was once again calm, smiling slightly down at him. Then she began to fade, her face turning watery and bright embers of green light flying from her wings, and Merlin raised a beseeching hand toward her. "No, wait! I need you to take away the gift! Please!" The faint shadow of the fairy smiled and shook her head before disappearing altogether, leaving Merlin alone in the forest.

Merlin let his hand drop, staring at the place where the fairy had stood. Tears pricked his eyes and Merlin shuttered on a choked breath. He had been so close! The fairy had been right in front of him and he still hadn't been able to get rid of the gift. It was all ruined. People knew his secret and he was in danger. What was he going to do? For a moment, panic clouded Merlin mind, making his heart race but a voice cut through the forest, "Merlin!"

Merlin jerked at the call, raising his head. "Arthur!" he called back without thought. Birdsong and sound rushed in, as if the world had released a held breath. Merlin heard running footsteps and turned to see Arthur appear between two trees.

The blond prince raced past the thieves and fell to his knees next to Merlin, grabbing his shoulders. "Are you alright?" Arthur demanded harshly, running his eyes across Merlin's body. His gaze landed on Merlin's throat and what was going to be a splendid bruise and then jumped up to the tear tracks on his cheeks. "Are you hurt?"

Merlin shook his head, rubbing at his eyes. He hesitated, wondering if he should, and then spoke; "No, I'm fine." Arthur's eyes watched the silver coin, purple amethyst gem, and tiny white flower fall from Merlin's lips. The dark haired man suddenly felt inexplicably tired again as the blond stared at the objects.

"What happened to the bandits?" Merlin looked up to find Kay kneeling by the first swordsmen. The blond knight checked the still man and shook his head. "Dead," he proclaimed, looking up at where Merlin and Arthur knelt together.

Merlin closed his eyes and dropped his head forward. "The fairy killed them."

"Fairy?" echoed Arthur, sounding strangely calmer.

Merlin laughed a little and Arthur began to unconsciously rub his arms. The dark haired man wondered how mad he sounded to them. "It's a long story. The short of it is that a fairy gave me a gift and now coins, gems, and flowers fall from my mouth when I talk. My mother went mad and tried to kill me and I fled to Camelot in hopes that Gaius, an old friend, could help me." Merlin looked up to see all three men staring at the rain of money and plants falling from his lips. "So far, no luck," he said sourly.

Arthur took a slow, deep breath and forced his eyes up to Merlin face. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Merlin felt cold and hot and thought he might either be sick or faint. "Tell you?" he cried. "Why would I tell anyone? If anyone knew then I feared they would do exactly what happened here!" He gestured wildly at the dead thieves. "Look what they tried to do! They tried to kidnap me and nearly were successful! It wasn't even that they saw the fairy gift, just one of the rubies that was produced by it!"

"Didn't you trust us?" asked Arthur, a touch of anger lacing his voice.

Merlin whacked him in the arm. "Trust you? Arthur, I had just fled from my home where my mother had seemingly gone mad! I was alone and scared and I'd just met you! What did you expect? I didn't know what would happen to me and was absolutely terrified that someone would find out about the fairy gift and do something horrible to me!" Tears had begun to pour down Merlin face and his breathing came fast. He remembered the knife to his throat and his mother's hysterical screams that she would kill him. He sobbed against Arthur's shoulder as the prince pulled him into an embrace.

Bent coins and cracked crystals fell from Merlin's lips as he cried, sobbing half words into the cloth of Arthur's shirt. The fear he'd felt as his mother's mad eyes gleamed with greed and the hurt and pain as she cried for him to be gone, had yelled that she never wanted to see him again. It tore at his heart, pulling up feelings of abandonment that still burned. The sorrow of having to flee Ealdor, leaving Gwen and Lettie and May behind. The unrelenting worry and fear of traveling to Camelot, cautious of letting his new companions see the fairy gift. The pain when they arrived in Camelot and his friends had seemingly turned from him and then the lost hope as Gaius was unable to help get rid of the fairy gift.

It was some time before Merlin quieted, feeling drained and hollow and mysteriously calmer. Arthur was petting his hair while he held him and Merlin sniffed a final time before pulling back in embarrassment. "Better?" asked Arthur softly. Merlin nodded and wiped his face, keeping his head down.

Kay was fiddling with a gold coin, sitting a few feet away on the ground. "Then the coins and ruby you showed us before were ones you produced by speaking?" he asked.

"Mm-mm. Arthur's name," answered Merlin, lifting his head. He pushed his hand through his dark hair and tried to compose himself.

"My name?" asked Arthur in confusion.

Merlin smiled a little, thinking about the little fact about the fairy gift he'd figured out. "Arthur," he said, catching the ruby that fell and handing it to the astonished prince. He then glanced at the two Knights and said their names. "Lancelot. Kay." A diamond and sapphire fell and Merlin handed the gems to their owners. "Certain names always produce the same gems. It doesn't happen for every word or even every name, but Arthur's name has always produced a red ruby." They looked at him in wonder and surprise and Merlin blushed a little. "I don't know why."

"And the fairy was here?" asked Kay, looking around the forest.

Merlin's shoulders slump. "Yes. I asked her to remove the gift but she just shook her head at me and disappeared." The three men looked around, peering into the trees, and Merlin shook his head. "She's gone," he assured them.

Lancelot's gaze dropped to the men lying on the forest floor. "What are we going to do about them?"

Kay waved at the pile of coins, gems, and flowers resting around Merlin. "And those?"

Arthur looked around and nodded to himself. He stood and grabbed Merlin's hands, pulling the surprised man up onto his feet. "We'll wrap the coins and gems up in the paper from lunch then Lancelot will take Merlin around to the southern gate and back up to the castle while Kay and I return to the eastern gate and get the guards." He sent a piercing look to the two Knights. "As far as anyone is concerned, we were attacked because they knew I was the Prince and we defeated them ourselves."

"Why do I have to go to a different gate?" asked Merlin, confused.

Arthur shook his head and squeezed his hands. "I don't want you involved. I'll have to tell my Father about this and I don't want his attention on you for any reason. If we're going to hide your secret, the fewer eyes that are on you the better." Kay and Lancelot nodded in agreement.

Merlin felt his chest tighten. They were going to keep his secret. They were not going to betray him to the King or anyone else. He nodded, "Alright." They bundled the coins and gems up in the paper from lunch and then Lancelot and Merlin hurried away through the forest. They made a wide curve around the town and then emerged from the trees on the other side of the outer wall. In the distance, they could see Arthur and Kay stirring up the guards and making a ruckus at the eastern gate. They slipped unnoticed through the southern gate and hurried through the town toward the castle.

By now, a group of armed guards was marching from the castle and Lancelot and Merlin managed to slip into the courtyard without being noticed. They hurried inside the castle and up to Gaius' chambers. They burst through the doorway into the workroom and closed the door behind them quickly. Gaius blinked up at them in surprise from where he was sitting at the long table. "Gaius!" cried Merlin happily. He dumped the bundle he was carrying on the tabletop and the coins and gems spilled out. "Guess what happened?" The physician's gaze jumped over Merlin's shoulder to Lancelot, his shoulders tensing. Merlin shook his head with a grin. "No! It's okay! They know. We were attacked in the forest and…"

"You were attacked?" exclaimed Gaius. He stood and reached for Merlin's neck, wetting a cloth and cleaning away the trickle of blood. They'd forgotten about the wound where the knife had nicked Merlin's skin.

Lancelot stepped forward. "Some thieves saw the gold coins and a ruby Merlin was carrying and attacked us when we were having lunch."

"Was anyone else hurt?" asked Gaius as he reached for Lancelot's arm and turned the bleeding cut toward the light of a candle.

"I don't think so," said Lancelot, wincing as Gaius pulled the cloth away from the dried blood.

"Where are Arthur and Kay?"

"The fairy killed the thieves when they tried to kidnap me," answered Merlin, sinking onto a stool. "They stayed to alert the guards and we escaped back to the castle."

"The fairy?" asked Gaius in alarm.

Merlin sighed and nodded. "Yes. I don't understand why she came to help me but I couldn't get her to remove the gift. She just shook her head at me and disappeared." Emotion burned up his throat and Merlin squeezed his eyes shut.

Gaius' face fell in disappointment. "That is unfortunate." He walked over to the table and picked up a piece of paper there. "I've had news from your family."

"My family?" asked Merlin, taking the paper. His face drained of color as he read the letter.

"Merlin? What's wrong?" Lancelot asked with worry.

"It's my Mother," breathed a shocked Merlin. "She knows I'm here."

"She suspects you are here," corrected Gaius quickly. "Nimueh wrote me because she thinks Camelot is where you would have fled but she has no proof. I do not plan to answer her." Merlin let the letter flutter to the ground and laid his head on his arms, a shutter racking his body. The memory of the ornamental box his mother had thrown at him as he fled the parlor, shattering so close to his head, still sent chills up his spine.

Lancelot laid his hands on Merlin's shoulders. "It will be alright, Merlin. She can't harm you here, not with us looking out for you."

"You don't understand. What if the accusation got out? God, the way she screamed that night. I could hear her all the way from the orchard as I ran. Even if people thought her mad, the rumor of the fairy gift would still be there." Merlin shivered. "All it would take would be one desperate person, someone willing to test the rumor because the greed was too strong. I'd never be safe."

Lancelot knelt by the stool and pulled Merlin around to look at him. "No, we wouldn't let that happen," the dark haired Knight said fiercely. "We will hide the fairy gift and protect you."

Merlin groaned and shook his head. "This is a disaster, Lancelot. You can't promise such things."

Lancelot looked like he might argue that point when the door opened again. They all tensed and then relaxed as Kay appeared. "We must learn to lock the door," muttered Gaius, getting the broom and beginning to sweep up the coins and gems rolling all around the floor.

Kay took in the atmosphere in the workroom and quickly closed the door, this time locking it. "What happened?" the blond Knight demanded.

"My Mother knows I'm here," answered Merlin.

"She suspects! She doesn't know," countered Lancelot.

"As good as!" cried Merlin, getting up and walking around to the other side of the table. Lancelot stood and frowned at him. "I don't think you are grasping how very bad it is that my Mother even thinks I'm in Camelot or did the whole 'insane' part of her description escape your notice!"

There was thump and then a grunt on the other side of the door. "Hey, open up!" Kay jerked the door open and Arthur slipped inside, taking in the scene around the room and Merlin pale face. "What happened?"

Merlin gave a wordless cry of frustration and yanked on his hair. "My Mother knows I'm here and I'm a dead man!" he screamed, his voice cracking. "We were attacked today and it's only because that damned fairy decided to interfere once again that I'm not sitting in some mud hut with a knife to my throat singing like a canary!" He choked on a panicked breath, fighting for air, and the others looked alarmed.

Arthur stepped forward quickly and wrapped his arms around Merlin. "None of that," hissed the prince. "We would never let that happen." Merlin let out a sharp bark of laugher and began to cry, winding his fingers in Arthur's tunic. The blond shot a flustered look at Gaius.

Gaius glanced up at him as he quickly worked with several bottles on the table. "It's been a very stressful few days," he explained shortly. Merlin hiccupped and choked against Arthur's shoulder, tears pouring down his face and soaking the cloth. "I'm afraid he's having a panic attack." Arthur began to rub Merlin's back, feeling the lean body shake.

"How do we calm him down?" demanded Lancelot, hovering over Arthur's shoulder.

Gaius poured a brown liquid into a cup and grabbed a spoon. "Here, help me to get Merlin to swallow some of this." They succeeded, with much coughing, to get the dark haired man to drink the whole cup one spoonful at a time.

Finally, they all sat back on the floor, Merlin breathing semi-calmly in Arthur's arms. Tears still rolled sluggishly down his face and his sniffed, staring sightlessly at a button on Arthur's jacket. "I feel stupid," Merlin croaked.

Gaius sighed and stood slowly, kicking away some misshapen coins and gems. "Don't. You have been under a lot of stress lately. I'm rather surprised you waited until now to have this little scene."

Merlin still closed his eyes in mortification. "I still feel stupid." Arthur's arms tightened for a moment. Merlin sighed and shifted away from him. "What are we going to do if my Mother shows up?"

"We'll deal with it when and if she comes to Camelot," Arthur reassured him. He stood and pulled Merlin up from the floor with him. "It will be alright." Merlin sighed, rubbing at his forehead. The tea that Gaius had forced down his throat was beginning to make him light-headed. He left to wash his face in the tiny bedroom he'd been sleeping in. "I've got to get back down to the courtroom. My Father is in an uproar about the new den of thieves," said Arthur, wincing a little.

"I have to go too," said Kay sourly. "I have to give my account and be praised for taking on four men in the defense of my Prince." Kay rolled his eyes and Arthur smacked him in the arm.

"Will you be alright?" asked Arthur, his eyes jumping toward the doorway to the bedroom.

"We will," answered Lancelot. "I'll have to be down in the dining room for dinner, so I'll see you then."

Merlin emerged from the bedroom, a wet spot on his collar. "We'll be fine," he said calmly. "I plan to return to the Library and search for more information about the fairy gift."

Gaius nodded. "We're hoping we can find an account of a person that got rid of their fairy gift or that had a gift similar to Merlin's. So far, we've been unable to find anything but there are many more books to look through. We may find something yet."

"I'll help," said Lancelot eagerly.

"We'll all help tonight," said Arthur. He grabbed Merlin's shoulder and squeezed, giving the dark haired man a reassuring nod. "We'll figure out a way to help you." Merlin smiled slightly and grabbed Arthur's elbow, squeezing back. He and Kay then left the workroom and Lancelot locked the door behind them.

Gaius picked up the broom and began to sweep up the coins and gems that had been scattered around the room. Lancelot knelt and fished some silver coins and dust bunnies from under a cabinet. "How much money have you created?" asked Lancelot, dropping the coins in a bucket.

"Enough," said Merlin shortly, feeling uncharitable and sour. He scooped up the piles Gaius was sweeping up and dumped them into a sack.

Gaius eyed him as Merlin rubbed at his forehead. "Come, let's get something to eat and then head down to the Library." He fished some roasted potatoes from the fire and dropped them on the table, blowing on his fingers.

"I'm not hungry, Gaius," said Merlin, hiding the last of the coins and gems.

Gaius gave him a stern look. "Eat. It will help with the headache." Merlin scowled but joined the physician and Lancelot at the table. After the food, Merlin looked a little less pale and more himself. Gaius nodded in approval as Lancelot poured Merlin another cup of water. "Better?"

Merlin nodded, smiling a little. "Yes. Thank you." Lancelot picked up the blue rose that dropped on the table, examining the soft petals. "Yes, Lancelot, it's real. As far as I can tell, everything that drops from my mouth is real. Even the gold."

Lancelot sniffed the bloom, the scent not of a proper rose but of something else. The scent reminded him of something supple and sweet, like an old memory. A blue sky and warm spring wind. "It's beautiful," muttered the Knight. Merlin turned a little red in the cheeks.

Gaius coughed, sounding amused, and Merlin glared at him lightly. "Let's get to the Library before it gets too much later."