THE ROYAL CHAMBER

"Guinevere…"

"You are not going."

"I am fine."

"Arthur."

Merlin knocked lightly on the door, a breakfast tray balanced on his other hand.

"Enter." Arthur's annoyed voice came through the wood.

Merlin pushed it open with his back and entered the room to see Arthur sat at one end of the long wooden table, his sword and chain mail on the table in front of him.

Guinevere was sat at the other end, papers for the council before her.

The empty space of the table between them was almost symbolic.

Merlin had to bite his lip against a grin at Arthur's expression.

He was almost glaring at his wife across the table.

Gwen pretended not to notice and smiled at Merlin as he put the plates form the tray down on the table, as well as the jug of water and two goblets.

"Thank you Merlin."

Merlin swore he heard Arthur's teeth grind together.

He spoke almost as though his servant was not in the room.

He leant forwards in his chair and rested his elbows on the able, staring at his wife.

"It is the hunt of the summer solstice Guinevere, I cannot miss it."

"Yes you can."

"I have been every year…"

"That you have been fit enough to go." She cut him off.

Arthur groaned and leant back in his chair, glaring at the ceiling.

His wife looked back down at her papers.

"Are you happy to have the chicken at the feast tonight that we had at Christmas?" Guinevere asked without looking up, eyes on a parchment that looked like it was covered in a list.

"The chicken is fine, but not the sauce." Arthur muttered without looking at her, "It was more like leek cream that creamed leeks."

Merlin had to swallow a snigger and it sounded almost like he was choking.

Gwen glanced at him and but her lip, having to look down to avoid laughing herself.

Arthur lifted his head to narrow his eyes at his servant.

"Something funny, Merlin?" He asked, his tone making it clear that he thought nothing was humorous.

"No." Merlin choked out.

There was another softer knock at the door and Arthur glared at him, watching as the young warlock moved to open it, allowing Tanya to enter.

She curtsied at the king and queen, not spilling any of the laundry she held in a large basket.

"Here let me take that." Merlin said after he closed the door.

She smiled, "Thank you."

He took the heavy basket and made a show of pretending to grimace under tis weight.

The demonstration made Tanya giggle quietly, and Gwen to glance at them, before giving a knowing look to Arthur who arched an eyebrow, still annoyed.

"Where do you want me?" Merlin asked as he followed Tanya through the room.

"Over there by the bed," Tanya answered with a smile.

Merlin chuckled.

"I mean," She flushed and stammered, "If you could set them by the bed, then I can put them in the wardrobe nearby…"

"I know." He grinned and she hurriedly led him to where she meant.

Despite all of this going on Arthur had only glared at his wife.

She did not even look up from what she was doing as Merlin started to help Tanya unpack the laundry.

"Stop glaring at me Arthur, it isn't like you." She commented.

He snapped his teeth together, "I am the king of Camelot I do not actually need you permission to go on this hunt."

"No." She said firmly, lifting her eyes to stare at him, "You need Gaius's permission as your physician."

Arthur sighed and looked at the ceiling.

"You know that your shoulder is not healed and to go on a hunt racing through the forest is ridiculous Arthur." She stated.

"My shoulder is fine." He replied in the same manner, "Honestly it feels as though I have never been injured."

He pushed himself out of his chair.

His words made Gwen glance at Merlin who looked up.

She swallowed and looked back at Arthur who walked to the window in his study, the room separated by an arch from the part of the chamber where the bed was, and the part of their chamber where she was sat at the table.

He looked out over the courtyard where the other knights were getting ready to leave.

Frustration radiated off of him.

Gwen sighed and pushed herself out of her chair, pushing the small amount of guilt she felt over keeping the nature of his recovery a secret from everyone besides Merlin.

One day soon she would tell Arthur, just not yet.

She was unsure what he would do.

Tanya and Merlin excused themselves and remained silent and obediently focus on their task of putting the clothes away as Gwen walked up behind Arthur.

One of his hands was resting above his head on the window frame, the other on his hip.

She was stood at his side where hand was at his waist, arm bent at the elbow.

With a small sigh she rested her hand on the inside of his elbow and kissed the top of his arm as her hand rested on the back of his shoulder.

Arthur sighed at her touch, his eyes staring out as Leon and Percival checked their mounts and their saddles.

Finished in their task, Tanya and Merlin slipped from the room.

"You are right. If Gaius has told me to sit this one out I should." He murmured and glanced down at her, "and I should listen to you and what you want."

She smiled up at him, happy he was no longer frustrated with her.

"I never want you to leave my side." She breathed.

He chuckled, "well there is one thing we agree on."

She smiled and her eyes fluttered closed as he bent down to kiss her softly on the forehead, the arm that was on his hip mobbing to take her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.

She smiled as he straightened and looked back out the window.

With her other hand she hugged the arm of the hand she held to her gently, resting her cheek atop his arm, staring out of the window as her brother and Gwaine and a few other knights mounted with their crossbows.

A few servants and attending dog handlers were ready to run alongside them.

One horse remained that was not mounted by a knight, or anyone, and at that moment Arthur watched as Merlin scampered down the steps and ran towards it.

He watched as the knights laughed and threw jokes at the manservant.

Gwen watched as Tanya watched from the stairs as Merlin rode away with the knights.

"Merlin is going?" Arthur demanded, "But he hates hunting!"

"Gwaine and the others asked him to go… and Gaius never said that he couldn't go." Gwen reasoned.

Arthur groaned and sunk to sit on the chaise under the window.

Gwen smiled and stroked his hair.

THE FOREST OF NEMIA

The knights rode along the winding path, Merlin's eyes flying around all the while.

Gwaine chuckled and rode his horse up behind Merlin's, reaching into his satchel pack for a crossbow arrow.

He spun it around in his hand and leant towards the young warlocks back and dragged the feathers along the back of his ear.

Merlin yelped in surprise and the knights roared with laughter.

The young warlock scowled and turned his eyes away from them to the forest.

He really hated hunting.

His eyes narrowed as through the trees that surrounded them he saw a young grill being beaten and thrown around by a group of bandits.

His eyes narrowed and he listened hard, eyes flashing for a moment.

The world seemed to slow, and through the leaves he watched as she was thrown on the floor, the contents of what he assumed to be her back emptied over her head by one of the bandits.

She was wearing a green dress which was torn at the knees, hanging in strands and curls that nearly reached her ankles.

Her hair was brown, cropped at the shoulders, full of plaits and curls.

The sound of the menus laughter snapped him from his sight and merlin stiffened as he realised that sir Leon had raised his hand for the party to stop.

The knights sat for a moment at the top of a small hill, staring down at the scene.

"You there!" Leon called, "You are trespassing in the forest of Nemia, property of the King Arthur of Camelot."

Leon knew, as they all did, that the Bandits were from Odin's kingdom.

The bandits stared at them before they all reached for their swords and one of them lunged at the girl.

The Camelot knights charged forwards.

AUTHORS NOTE: WOO! So episode 2 has started :D there are more trailers on my profile if you want to check them out, they say what is going to come up in future episodes?

If you have any ideas or serious questions about what is going on do not hesitate to ask :D

I check my fan fiction incredibly often!

REVIEW and I will UPDATE tomorrow :D