AN: Set after 4x06

"My head is killing me." Merlin commented as he gingerly touched the three large bumps on the back of his head, curtsey of Gwen.

"Good," Arthur replied unsympathetically. "It's what you get for trying to kill me."

"It wasn't my fault. Morgana enchanted me. Besides, if I really was trying to kill you, you'd know about it." Merlin retorted and Arthur shoved his shoulder. The brief smile that had flickered over Merlin's face fell as he thought about what he had done. he'd almost killed Arthur. He'd poisoned his food, rigged a crossbow into his wardrobe, turned his bath water to acid and charged at him with a sword. As Merlin thought about all he had done whilst under Morgana's control, one random thought came to mind.

Thank goodness for Gwen and her talent for beating people over the head.

"Merlin?" Arthur asked, Merlin's silence had admittedly been unnerving him.

"I'm so sorry Arthur. I honestly didn't meant to do it." Merlin apologised; he had almost killed his best friend. Arthur looked at Merlin and placed a hand reassuringly onto his shoulder.

"It's forgiven. You were under a spell after all." Arthur said and smiled at Merlin. "Besides, all those bashings with a jug might have knocked some sense into you."

"Ha ha," Merlin commented sarcastically, wincing as he gingerly felt the bumps on the back of his head. Two of them had merged into one big bump and his neck was still aching too. "Who knew Gwen had such a good backhand?"

"A woman of many talents." Arthur stated. "Could you imagine Guinevere taking on an army single-handedly and armed with a saucepan, a jug and a bad temper?"

Merlin laughed and rubbed his head. "Yeah, she'd win."

"I don't think I would actually." Gwen said as she entered the room and handed Merlin a compress which he took and gratefully pressed onto his head. "How are you?"

"Alive," Arthur replied.

"Not too bad, aside from the headache," Merlin replied and Gwen bit her lip.

"Sorry, but I had to stop you somehow." Gwen replied and Merlin waved a hand dismissively.

"It's fine. Arthur's alive, Morgana's plan failed and that's what matters." Merlin dismissed as he accidently pressed to hard and hissed into his teeth. "Although next time, use something less heavy. It feels like Percival punched me."

"Merlin's right, all that matters is that Morgana's plans were foiled yet again." Arthur replied. Morgana must be getting really desperate if she was resorting to using Merlin of all people as a possible assassin to kill Arthur. It led to the rather worrying thought of just how far Morgana was going to go to seize power.

"Yeah, you saved both our lives and the kingdom too if you think about it." Merlin said and Gwen modestly shrugged her shoulders.

"It was nothing. We're friends after all and friends look out for each other." Gwen said and smiled at Merlin and Arthur. "Even if that does mean denting the occasional jug."

The three friends looked at each other and did the only thing they could do after that remark which Gwen had said with a straight face and serious tone of voice. They laughed.