A/N: "All I Ask of You" cover by Josh Groban and Kelly Clarkson is a HUGE inspiration for this chapter…Well, the Arthur/Merlin bits. My inner romantic is squirming with delight.

Gwaine hissed in pain, the bitter taste of blood harsh upon his tongue. His brown eyes zeroed in on the smug man before him, the man's right fist sprinkled with blood—Gwaine's blood. Gwaine let out a sharp cry as he returned the favor, his right hook hitting the man square in the jaw, his left bringing the gasping man to his smiled, bloody teeth and all, spitting down at him when he curled into a tight ball of misery. He looked up only when the gasps that had surrounded him before turned into angry grunts and curses. The angry brunette whipped the hair from his eyes; arms open wide in welcome, a furious smile upon his split lips.

Gwaine was drunk. Gwaine was drunk, and angry.

"Bring it on!" Gwaine roared, wiping away the blood from his mouth, fists curled.

"Gwaine!" Gasped a familiar voice and Gwaine quickly found the source: Will. His little brother was currently struggling with the crowd, pushing and shoving his way forward. How had he found him so quickly?!

"William!" Gwaine almost rasped, worried. "Turn back! You shouldn't be here! What are you—?" Gwaine couldn't finish as a bottle was smashed over his head, the man falling to his knees in shock before blacking out completely.

"G-GWAINE!" Will screamed as others cheered, the younger man half flinging himself on top of his brother, perhaps hoping to shield him from the laughter and flying bottles alike.

Merlin sighed, and closed her book. As her chair creaked threateningly, Arthur blinked out of a daze, his cobalt eyes locking with hers. Merlin chuckled softly, her plush bottom lip caught between her teeth, eyeing the closed book upon his right thigh.

"How are you finding Chaucer, my lord?" Merlin asked with a cocked eyebrow, setting her own down in her lap. Arthur floundered a bit. He wasn't reading Chaucer…Well, he hadn't for a while now. No, Arthur was trying to read the mysterious woman before his eyes—her beautiful face.

"Ah…" The Prince stammered and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, the blonde having to catch the book as it almost plummeted to the dirt below him. "He is a wordy sort, is he not?" Arthur asked as he pressed the book stiffly to his chest, his face a bright fuchsia in his embarrassment.

Merlin laughed, nodding. "Yes that he is! Have you not read him before?"

"I-I have, it's just that father never approved…He said his words were immoral and unfitting of a king…" Arthur trailed off. Merlin looked down awkwardly, her fingertips dancing upon her book's worn cover.

"If you don't fancy it, please do not force yourself…"

"No, no!" Arthur assured, panicked, nearly dropping the book again. "Books…reading…brilliant, yes!"

"Arthur, would you tell me honestly? You're not the reading sort, are you?" Merlin asked through another giggle, the woman covering her smiling mouth with the back of her book. Arthur bit his lip, hiding his smile, shaking his head.

"You've caught me, my lady…" Arthur sighed, putting down the book for good and scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "I fear my heart is a hand wrapped around the hilt of a sword." Merlin's smile faded almost immediately, her blue eyes searching the prince's own.

"…For conquest?" Arthur's eyes widened then.

"No! Never! For sport, I assure you. War is not something I support…Nor shall it be when I am king. It is something to be avoided at all costs. My father…" Arthur clamped his jaw shut, a muscle jumping.

"My father, as you know, is a headstrong king. He is strong in the face of death, and he knows how to bring a country together during a tragedy…" Merlin listened silently, the woman shocked the prince was telling her so much. She was honored, but she had opinions of King Uther Pendragon herself…Some that would send the prince running.

Arthur looked off, out the open window, blue eyes distant. "…I feel that I can admit things to you. Things I could never tell another…not even my own parents." Arthur looked at her then, eyes trusting. Merlin tensed up in her chair. "Tell me, Branna, can I trust you?" As Merlin's eyes widened, her stomach dropped into a pit of depression.

No. That is not my name…Use my name! Merlin! Merlin wanted to scream, beg, but she couldn't.

"…Yes, my prince, you can tell me anything you wish. I will lend you my ear, if that pleases you…" Merlin murmured softly, like a whisper, but couldn't force herself to say 'trust'—it just wouldn't form on her tongue. She was a liar. She was untrustworthy. But, God, Arthur's answering smile set her heart a flutter.

"Then tell me, fairest lady, when you see me—the one I am presenting to you now. Do you see a man like my father? Do you see me becoming the monsters in the books you so hold dear?" Merlin watched him closely, studied the changing blue of his eyes—all the pressures the man before her had ever had to face.

Prince Arthur's father, King Uther, was not a bad king, per se. He did everything he said he would do—set out to do. However, he was also not afraid to literally crush the enemy. If you stood in his way, you would be eliminated, period.

Many years ago, even before Merlin's and Arthur's time, there lived a peaceful group of people called the Druids. When King Uther claimed them as his own people, almost all of them had protested against it. They had kept to themselves, lived off the land, and took nothing that they themselves hadn't made. They saw no reason to become part of Camelot, not when they were thriving on their own. From what Merlin knew, Uther was furious…and, in the end, the once thriving culture was now all but gone. Only a few still held onto their culture, and religion, and they had all but fled from Uther's sight.

Merlin could not see Arthur doing anything like that. Before her eyes, she saw a boy—a frightened youth, like she was, and a frightened man… with a heavy burden upon his shoulders.

Merlin shook her head gently. In a smooth move, the woman pressed a few fingers against the Prince's furrowed brow. Arthur blinked in shock. "I see nothing more than a caring person," Merlin murmured, her fingers smoothing down Arthur's worried brow, her fingertips brushing down the side of his face comfortingly. "…A person whom has shared his heart with the likes of a stranger. So, no, I see a good man, not a monster."

"T-thank you," the Prince rasped, staring at Merlin in awe. Merlin flushed a dark crimson, withdrawing her hand, smiling warmly at him. She looked down quickly when something that sent chills down her spine sparked in the Prince's eyes. Merlin gave a little gasp when Arthur's hands suddenly wrapped themselves around her chair's creaky arms, his movements smooth and sure.

His warmth loomed over her hunched form almost protectively, and did things to Merlin's heart that, she was sure, was going to stop it completely. Merlin's eyes were blown wide, her face and ears bright crimson. She very hesitantly looked up at the Prince, her blue eyes trailing up his torso slowly until she met with his steady eyes.

Arthur looked down at her as if she were the light of his life—the Sun itself. The emotion that flowed from his look alone nearly had her shivering openly. When his gaze shifted, and landed upon her lips, Merlin was sure she was dreaming. He was too beautiful to be real—too bright to stare at her as if she were the same. She was different from him—too different, and shame sunk into her bones. Arthur shouldn't be looking at her like that, he should be angry with her—with the liar before him.

Oh God, his face was closer now, Merlin now able to see every freckle upon his tanned face—upon his full lips.

"A-Arthur," Merlin gasped, practically squeaked, when Arthur's face was leveled with her own, his warm breath upon her heated face. Arthur smiled at her adoringly, only pressing his forehead against hers, his left hand coming up to cup her inflamed cheek. The Prince surprised Merlin still when he pressed a warm kiss to her forehead, the gesture causing her to close her eyes. She opened them only when Arthur's calloused fingers brushed against her cheek, his eyes lingering upon her scratched up cheek with genuine worry. Tears threatened to well up in Merlin's eyes, the Prince's warmth and kindness something she could have never guessed possible. Arthur was lovely, a true gentleman, and Merlin didn't know what to do with herself.

Part of her, one that she thought would never see the light of day, wanted to close the gap between them and perhaps taste the Prince's warmth fully—his light. She wanted to offer him her bleeding heart, thinking that he were the one God had intended to help her mend it. The other part, one whom she knew all too well, wanted to run away and never see him again.

The feeling in her chest came too soon—too quickly, it told her; screamed. It wanted her to scream all her lies at him, and hope his wrath was quick and painless. It came so quickly, so it would end just as swift.

However, her fears may have come too late, Merlin feared. Already she found her heart once again fragile—open—something she had promised herself long ago would never happen. If Arthur would reject her, she feared she wouldn't recover. That was the scariest thought yet.

"Careful, you blundering idiot," Will grumbled, messing with the crude bandage wrapped around his brother's head. Gwaine kept tugging at it, confused and angry. The brunette frowned, both drunk and annoyed, stumbling on.

"…My 'ead hurts," the brunette grumbled uselessly. Will rolled his eyes, steering his brother in the right direction as he almost ran into another person, again.

"Serves you right!"

Gwaine had nearly given his younger brother a heart attack. After he had been knocked out, Will had basically dragged Gwaine out the bar, the younger man not knowing what to do with his rebel of a brother. Luckily Gwaine had come to not long after that, though he was nowhere near being okay. He had a concussion, and it looked as if he may be of need of Gaius's skilled hand. He was going to need stitches, quite a few.

"What the hell is wrong with you anyways? Why would you do this? Merlin is going to have heart attack!" Gwaine scowled, ashamed and hurt, pulling his arm free of his brother's helpful grasp. Gwaine tripped on his very feet, the man having to grasp onto the stone wall to the left of him before he face-planted on it. When Will went to help him, Gwaine slapped his hands away, pushing himself away from the wall.

"D-don't talk about her," Gwaine warned, his voice laced with hurt, and Will's eyes widened. So, Gwaine was drunk because of Merlin? Again?

"Oh, Gwaine…" Gwaine couldn't stand his brother's pitying tone. He hated it. With an unsteady hand Gwaine used the rough stone wall as his brace and sped up, the brunette not wanting to embarrass himself further—not in front of his little brother.

"Gwaine—wait!"

Gwaine loved Merlin—always had. Yet, she was as blind as ever. It hurt.

It hurt so much. So, why couldn't he drown his feelings? Truly?

"What news of the engagement?" Gwaine nearly swallowed his tongue, opening his eyes wide, gasping in pain.

Lady Katrina?

Gwaine looked to the right of him and sure enough she was there alright, the lady talking with a man—more like pleading with one; the two of them shrouded in the shadow of a crumbling building. Gwaine blinked at her in shock, his body pressed weakly against the stone wall.

What was she doing out here? For someone as stuck up as the baroness Gwaine would have never thought she would dare think to tread in the lower town. Merlin's step mother was with a man he had never seen before. He was of medium build, his clothes the ones of a servant—a royal one at that. However, what really caught his attention were the burns on the man's face. They were horrible.

"Canceled," The man said looking as if all he wanted to do was to flee. Gwaine couldn't really blame him.

"Gwaine! What the he—?!" Will gasped as he caught up with him. Gwaine about jumped him, injured or not, the man pressing a hand over his mouth and pulling them both of sight when both the baroness and servant looked their way. Hidden by the wall, Gwaine snuck a quick peek, the two going back to whatever discussion they were having before.

"Please, Edwin! Details, details!" Edwin sighed.

"Gw'nee!" Will grumbled, his brother's hand still clamped over his mouth. Gwaine shushed him.

"Rumor has it he has only 'til that night to find himself a bride, or he will have no other choice but to marry the Nemeth Princess." Gwaine turned back around, letting the words sink in, trying his best to connect the dots, and stay conscious.

"Prince Arthur…?" Gwaine murmured aloud, his head swimming with more than questions. Will stopped squirming then, eyebrows furrowed, looking up at his brother with confusion in his eyes.

"Pr'ce Ar'fur?"

"Shh," Gwaine scowled once again, turning to look again when Katrina started talking again.

"Well, that doesn't give us very much time!" Lady Katrina grumbled and looked side to side before taking out an emerald colored coin purse. Gwaine nearly growled out loud when she started putting coin after coin in the man's open hand.

"I will need to know..." Katrina murmured sultrily, one coin pressed into the man's palm, "...who the competition is," another coin, "…every move he makes..." two more coins, "...his agenda..." three more coins, "...and any other titbits you might pick up." By the end Gwaine had counted over ten silver pieces had been given to the man; coins that could be used for much better things than bribery.

"Snake…!" Gwaine growled and lurched forward. Will pulled him back, shaking his head in worry. Whatever was going on here was beyond them both. They needed to tell Merlin—everything.

"He's playing tennis with the Marquis de Limoges tomorrow at noon," Edwin informed Lady Katrina, Gwaine, and Will. Both boys nearly turned green when Edwin laced his fingers with the baroness' own, his demeanor seductive.

"A skin of such... elegance...concealing such... ruthlessness." Edwin murmured, pressing a kiss to each one of Katrina's knuckles.

"Let us go," Will practically begged, his face a sickly green for a completely different reason than his brother's own.

"W-wait," Gwaine gasped, his hair sticking to his face as he fought to stay conscious—to stay awake.

"Gwaine, please," Will begged and pressed a worried hand against his brother's flushed forehead. Gwaine closed his eyes at the cool contact. "You're burning up!"

"I've grown rather fond of our intrigues together. Surely you must know that." Katrina murmured back at him, her free hand tracing the scars on his face adoringly. "When my daughter is Queen, perhaps we might come to a new arrangement. Gwaine's eyes snapped open then, his breaths coming in sharp pants.

So, that's what this is about. The baroness is trying to ensnare the prince.

"Gwaine," Will pleaded once again. Gwaine nodded at him, smiling tiredly.

"Let's get out of 'ere," Gwaine gasped and willingly let his little brother sling his arm around his neck.

"I have frightened you," Arthur said, his eyes watching hers carefully, watching every emotion flash in them. The Prince stood up, sighing loudly and running his hands through his hair. "I-I realize that whatever…this is has happened quickly." Merlin wiped her and eyes and stood up too, nodding. Arthur's face fell but Merlin shook her head with a soft smile, her left hand coming to rest on his right forearm.

"It's not that I'm afraid of you, I-I'm afraid of how easy this is…" Merlin squeezed his arm, fingers trembling, and Arthur covered her hand with his free one. "I feel like I have known you all my life."

"Yes," Arthur agreed, eyes dancing. "Like…destiny." Merlin looked at him, the word setting in. She reached up and cradled his face in her hands, her thumbs brushing the sides of his face gently. As Arthur leaned down, and Merlin closed her eyes, a voice shocked them both to the core:

"My lady! Merl—"

"—I must go!" Merlin said, almost screamed, muffling out her own name.

"What? No! Go where?! I thought you—?!" Arthur asked, genuinely confused as the voice called out again. The Prince looked ready to go for his sword.

"Good bye!" Merlin gasped and pressed a quick kiss to Arthur's cheek, distracting the Prince enough for her to flee out the door.

"Branna! Wait! What's going on?!" Prince Arthur cried and ran after her, Merlin climbing up the rocky hill as if she were an expert.

"My lady!" The voice rang out again, and Merlin's heart thudded dejectedly in her chest. She could not let Arthur hear her real name!

"M-My company…I'M COMING!" Merlin tried to explain and comfort Alice at the same time. Arthur was even more bewildered—suspicious. Seeing how confused he was, Merlin met him halfway, both of their breaths ragged.

"Meet me here tomorrow?" Merlin asked quickly, her curls bouncing about her wildly. Arthur smiled at her, nodding his head.

"Tomorrow then," Arthur said with a brilliant smile, grasping her jittery hands in his own. "There is to be a tournament tomorrow early afternoon…I do not hope you can go?" Merlin opened her mouth to reply but was caught off as Alice called for her again, her head whipping back around, Arthur nearly getting a mouthful of black curls.

"I-I can't, I'm sorry—"

"—Meet me here mid-afternoon then," Arthur finalized, backing away, smiling.

"I expect to hear about a victory—yours!" Merlin told him as she hurried up the hill once more, flashing the Prince a charming smile.

"I shall win it in your name!" Arthur told her through cupped hands, his smile even wider. Arthur wondered then, if it was the trick of the light, or if perhaps he really did see Branna's smile drop then before she disappeared from his sight completely.

A/N: Sorry this took so long…Registering to University has been a bigger pain than I thought it would be…

Best wishes as always,

Lthien