Author's Note: Hey guys. Thanks so much for all the lovely reviews by the way guys! I wouldn't be writing right now if it weren't for all you lovely bodies out there! A bit of Merlin love going out to all of you! There! Did ya feel it?

Bit of a rambly chapter but we finally get a bit of Gwaine POV and some much needed development of this reward Arthur's planning for him. So, this chapter gives us a bit more of a look in! Hope you enjoy! As ever, please review!

Chapter Ten

Victorious

Arthur strutted down the corridor the next morning with an heir of victory. The events of last night still lingered in his mind and the good mood continued today. A servant boy rushed past him with a bundle of armour piled up in his arms. Arthur held out a hand to stop him. The boy stopped obediently and hesitantly looked up to Arthur.

"Y-yes Sire?" He stuttered nervously.

"Could you go on a little message for me?" Arthur asked curiously. The boy nodded shakily. "Good. Well, could you find Sir Gwaine and tell him to meet me in the Council Chambers at midday? He should know what it's about," Arthur finished. The servant nodded nervously again.

"Of course Sire." The servant repositioned the bundle in his arms and dashed of down the corridor in the opposite way. Arthur shook his head and continued on his way toward his chambers. There were some 'extremely important' documents that needed reading waiting patiently in there for him. Arthur could hardly contain his excitement. Not.

Gwaine rushed up the stairs toward Gaius' chambers. He had decided to go and check on Percival and Leon this morning. He hadn't had much to do recently so he thought it may be best to go and stick his head round the door and say hello to Percival and Leon. He wasn't entirely jumping at the idea, but he knew if it was him, he would want plenty of visitors. While he was thinking about all this, he almost collided with a servant boy scurrying down the stairs. A couple of shoulder plates clattered from his pile onto the stone steps in his surprise.

"S-so s-orry Sir G-gwaine. Oh! Um, Sir Gwaine. I-I have a message for you. From Prince- Prince Arthur." His eyes lit up as he noticed who he was talking to. He crouched in an attempt to pick up the armour he had dropped but only ending up with him sending yet more armour falling down the steps. Gwaine sighed and caught them, returning them into the arms of the servant. "Th-thank you S-sir Gwaine," he stammered. He seemed to be getting more and more nervous the more he spoke.

"It's fine. You said you had a message for me? From Prince Arthur?" Gwaine changed the subject quickly before the servant could start stuttering apologies again.

"Um-um. Y-yes! He asked if you could meet him in the C-Council Chambers at

m-midday? He said you would know what it was about," the servant said quickly but Gwaine just caught what he was saying. He did indeed know what it was about. He was finally going to find out what his reward was. Gwaine nodded to the servant to show he could go. The servant returned the nod and scurried off, glad to leave the situation. Gwaine went to carry on his ascent up the stairs but hesitated. He changed his mind and turned, stepping down the stairs instead. He headed for the training field. He would have to be ready for anything that Arthur threw at him.

Arthur paced up and down the floor of the Council Chambers. He only paced when he was excited. Or frustrated. Or nervous. Anyway, it was definitely one of them. Arthur couldn't believe he was making this decision. Was he really sure he wanted to give this reward to Gwaine? Gwaine? But it was too late to go back on his decision now. He heard the creak of the huge doors swinging open and saw Gwaine stride in. Arthur instantly stopped pacing and turned to face him. The Guards quietly shut the doors after him and Arthur and Gwaine were alone in the room. Gwaine shifted nervously. Arthur confronted Gwaine straight away. He didn't want to waste any time.

"Well, I'm sure you know why you're here. You have been doing very well the last few days and I have made a decision. But before I tell you this, you must know I am placing my complete trust in you. So you'd better not slip up with this," warned Arthur. He wanted to make sure Gwaine realise that this was serious. Gwaine nodded anxiously. Arthur decided to come out with it. There was no point in waiting. "Ok, here's what I want you to do. I have heard from some of the villagers that they have seen the Thief creeping towards the edge of the Darkling Woods on a regular basis. I have reason to believe that this is where his hideout is. I want you to go and find it. You up for it?" Asked Arthur, lifting his head expectantly. Gwaine looked a little taken aback.

"Um, yes, yes of course Sire. But there's just one thing. Why couldn't you have you and the Knights come with me? Wouldn't it be easier to ambush him with more men?" Queried Gwaine. Arthur considered this suggestion but shook his head. He had already thought about this.

"I admire your tactics but I have a reason not to do this. Firstly, he wouldn't expect just one person as he's so used to having at least five of us all running at him. Secondly, it would be much quieter than having all the Knights creeping round the woods. And lastly, I needed some sort of reward for you. You really have done well Gwaine. So are there any other questions you have?" Arthur finished. He felt that his 'mission-briefing' had gone well. Gwaine shook his head slowly. He seemed simply overwhelmed by all this. "Right. Well, we'll go out just as normal tonight and we will try to flush him as far southeast as we can so it will take longer for him to reach the Darkling Woods. But you stay at the north of the woods. I will show you a station for you to wait at and then, when we are about to return to the castle, I will send one of the Knights to the agreed post to alert you. You will then move west and search the perimeter before he gets back. As I say, we will push him as far southwest as we can so you have as much time as we can buy you. But beware any traps. I doubt he would leave his hideout unguarded. Oh, and I wouldn't take too many weapons. Just a sword should be enough. There is only a very small chance that you will even see him anyway. Well, if that is all, you are dismissed. I'm sure you will want to be prepared for tonight. Be ready in half an hour to take a ride out to where you will be stationed this evening." Gwaine nodded slowly, still taking it all in.

"Yes Sire." He turned to leave but just before he reached the door he looked back over his shoulder. "Oh, and by the way Sire. Thank you, this means a lot to me." And with that, he closed the doors silently behind him.

The clattering of horse's hooves bounced off the walls of the courtyard. Gwaine held the reins tightly in his hands, turning his knuckles white under the leather of his gloves. He was excited. Once he had got over the disbelief, excitement had kicked in. The high speed cantering only made it even more strong. The wind streaked through the black horse's mane and made it fly up in Gwaine's face. He smiled. It was times like this he loved being a Knight. Arthur was in front of him, his grey horse's tail flicking up in the air with eagerness. They cantered on, heading for the perimeter of the wood. The treetops loomed closer and eventually covered their heads as they rode in between the out skirting trees. This reward was better than Gwaine could ever have anticipated.

Arthur swung his leg over the horse's back and dismounted. He patted the grey cob's neck. She snorted fondly as he wrapped her reins round a trunk and walked off into the trees. Gwaine followed, dismounting his own horse. He pulled up a sprig of grass and held it flat in his hand. She nibbled on it and whickered gratefully to him as he also tied her reins round another trunk and followed Arthur. They only walked a few steps into the forest when Arthur halted at a small clearing. He produced a red cloth from his pocket and tied it round the trunk of a thin tree in the middle of the clearing.

"That should remind you where the meeting point is." Arthur stepped back and checked it was noticeable enough. It was. "Right, well if that's it, I guess we should be going back. A short but sweet ride." Arthur turned and strode from the clearing. Gwaine took in his surroundings for a moment. He wanted to recognise it tonight so he took in every fallen branch, every stray leaf and every tree that surrounded him. Then he turned and left. But he would be back soon. Under the cover of night.