One look at the guards immediately told Gwen something was wrong. They were stood absolutely still, staring at the opposite wall. She ran into the doorway and almost dropped the basket of flowers in shock. The rage that rose in her helped her control herself as she looked at King Alined and his jester as they stood in the throne room, staring at Morgana. She took two careful steps forward, making sure she wasn't heard as she crossed over the threshold of the room.

Then she unleashed her anger.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?"

They both turned, jumping a little. Gwen's eyes narrowed as Alined looked at her in amusement. She guessed she didn't strike the most imposing figure, at least not without Uther there to defend her. Still, she couldn't help but think that it was her job to defend Morgana. She was the one looking after her, and these two had broken into a room that was off limits.

"I'm sorry, but the door was open."

Gwen narrowed her eyes. "Oh and I suppose the guards were like that when you came along."

She glared at the man with the king. The jester had the decency to look uncomfortable. No doubt he would, compared to Merlin he was nothing more than his name suggested, the Trickler. That was probably why they were down here, enchanting guards and breaking into the room where Morgana slept. They wanted a look at Merlin's power. Gwen looked at Morgana daily and felt awed during the moments when she considered that Merlin had done this. That he had also somehow imprisoned the armour of the knights so it was there, but not there. She was a day older than she ought to be, because of him. Gwaine had joked that she could make her birthday last twice as long because of that, and he wished he could do the same. Merlin had said Gwaine probably did anyway.

"You are aware that any act of sorcery is illegal in this kingdom," Gwen said steadily.

"Yet, the Regent's servant is still alive," Alined said.

"I never said that it was punishable by death, I said acts of sorcery are illegal."

Gwen felt quite smug when both the men looked confused. She smiled.

"Only those that have pledged allegiance to Camelot survive the penalty. You were having issues with certain items of the agenda, were you not?" Gwen asked Alined, feeling quite smug and relaxed at challenging a king. She could do that, Uther did as he was told most of the time when she asserted herself, and this room was her domain. Only her and Uther spent time in it. Arthur and Merlin had access, but they chose not to ever stay to long. Merlin looked frightened of what he had done, and Arthur couldn't stand to look at Morgana.

"Are you threatening me?" Alined snapped. Gwen lifted her chin and glared back. She watched Trickler move up behind the king, looking smug, Gwen stared back, daring him to do something. He looked confused by her confidence.

"No, stating facts," Gwen said.

"Oh, you think because Uther has a thing for you that you can get away with threatening a king?"

Gwen couldn't help but look offended.

"How dare you?" she snarled. "You were quite clearly told that this room was off limits. You have thought to ignore that, and no, not ignore the warnings just disregard them, and think that it is fine to use your magic to stare."

Gwen glared at them both, she felt like thumping the king. Instead she focused on Trickler.

"Had a good look? And realised that Merlin is way beyond your league?"

Then she looked back at Alined.

"And since, as you presume, Uther has a thing for me, wouldn't it be interesting if he comes and looks for me now. What would he make of a king, violating something of a simple request?"

"Don't you threaten me girl!"

"Why?" Gwen snapped. "What are you going to do to me? You've seen Uther being overprotective of me, use magic on me and Merlin will not be happy."

"Sorcery is illegal, isn't that what you said. Which means it doesn't matter who does it."

She opened her mouth to reply and then jumped at some careful footsteps and a voice asking.

"Are you all right, Lady Guinevere?"

Alined jumped and Trickler ducked. Gwen turned to look at King Olaf, who was looking at her, and the room, and Alined with calm authority. He moved closer to her side and glared at the other king.

"I'm fairly certain we were told this room was out of bounds," Olaf said.

"What are you doing here then?" Trickler asked.

"Hold your tongue," Olaf said calmly. "Or I will do it for you."

Gwen straightened up. "Yes, it is."

"I can presume he is responsible for the state the guards are in."

"Yes, he is."

"I very much doubt," Olaf drawled, "that Uther will be pleased with you breaking in here. I fail to see why you would."

Alined pulled himself up, straightening his shoulders. Olaf did nothing more than raise his eyebrows to make Alined look a little ridiculous.

"We simply lost our way," Alined said. "If you'll excuse us."

"No guarantee of that," Olaf said, turning as he watched the pair scurry away. Gwen smirked and then pressed her lips together, as she tried to control herself. Olaf turned to her and smiled as he saw her smirking.

"Are you all right, My Lady?"

"I'm fine, thank you, the intervention was quite timely."

Olaf's smile faded. "Did they threaten you?"

"I'm rather hard to scare My Lord," Gwen assured him. "They were just being…"

"Curious… it is hard not to be," Olaf said. He turned and looked at Morgana and then back to Gwen. "I do apologise, I had no intention of being nosy, it was you I came to see. One of the servants pointed me in this direction."

"It's fine, but she is not a freak show to be ogled at."

"Quite, no lady is," Olaf said, turning away from Morgana and holding his arm out to Gwen. She took it, wanting to get him out of the room. As they passed the inert guards, their movement seemed to snap them both back to attention. Simultaneously, they jumped a mile and looked around in shock, blinking as they saw Gwen.

"Oh, Guinevere," one announced, and then he looked at the open doors. "Have you finished, I don't remember you arriving."

"I'll return shortly, just close the door for now. Just close it," Gwen informed them, as they looking increasingly baffled. Olaf nodded calmly to help them along, and then Gwen looked down at her basket of flowers.

"I'd best go back to that."

"In a minute, just walk back in a moment, I wish to speak to you."

"About what My Lord?"

"You seem to be a sensible young lady, and someone who understands about life at court."

That could have been rude, Guinevere thought, but it wasn't. Olaf knew she was, she had been, a servant, but he had also called her a lady. Gwen just waited walking with him.

"Yes, I suppose, My Lord."

"I've kept my daughter sheltered, but…"

"She's of an age, and someone had proven to be in love with her. He broke the enchantment; he truly loves your daughter."

"Yet I don't remember any time they spent together, in such a fashion. Vivian has never shown any sign of interest. Except in Arthur."

"The enchantment does not make it a necessary thing. He loves your daughter, she has no requirement to feel the same. I sincerely hope you have done nothing to the knight that unlocked the spell."

"No, although he is rather worried."

"You do want your daughter to marry someday?" Gwen asked him.

"Yes, of course I do."

"Then you have to let people near her. She's not a silly girl, she's your daughter. She had rejected Arthur."

"Did she?"

"Straight away, when he tried to woo her," Gwen said.

Olaf tried to process that.

"It was why Trickler enchanted her. They just assumed she would reciprocate, but they then discovered that she didn't."

"Oh," Olaf thought about that.

"What has she said about the knight who broke the spell?" Gwen asked.

"Nothing. He's one of her bodyguards, I don't think she's even noticed him."

"That's a little unfortunate," Gwen said. "Maybe you could give her some encouragement."

Olaf looked uncertain about that. Gwen watched his reaction carefully.

"It's just…" Gwen started. "The only other option will be to marry her off to somebody she doesn't really know, that you choose for her."

Olaf nodded, and then looked at Gwen just as intently as she had regarded him.

"And when the enchantment was broken on Arthur, who was it that did that?"

"Oh," Gwen said, she glanced up at Olaf and felt her cheeks start to flush. By the look on his face he didn't know, and seemed rather interested in the answer. Comprehension rippled into his features as he watched her reaction.

"I see."

"Yes," Gwen said, slowing as they reached the council chamber. By the low murmur of voices Gwen guessed everyone else was in there. Olaf glanced in the direction of the sounds and then looked back to her, turning to face her.

"And are these feelings reciprocated?"

"I believe so," Guinevere said. If the previous night was anything to go by Gwen had clear confirmation. Olaf shrugged.

"That's a shame. I have a knight who was interested in courting you and I believe there are a couple of others. Arthur may have a bad morning, they'll probably go to him and not Uther."

"Oh dear," Gwen said.

"I feel this peace conference has been a little too much for the Prince Regent," Olaf said. Gwen straightened up, riling.

"I know he's new to it, but he's been doing well."

"I know that," Olaf said, smirking. "I just think a little change in strategy might be in order."

"What are you up to?"

"You'll find out," Olaf said. He stepped back and gave her a polite bow. "My Lady."

Gwen bobbed a curtsey. "Sire."

Olaf wandered off into the council room. Gwen rolled her eyes and headed back to her usual routine in Morgana's room.