Well, people seemed pretty happy that Gwen is back to normal now (myself included) XD I hope you enjoy this chapter too :D And thanks so much for all of the lovely reviews- please keep 'em rolling in!

Oh, a bit of warning: I'm travelling back up to my Uni house tomorrow (because I do actually have to start on revision at some point *sigh*), so it's quite possible that I won't have the time to complete the next chapter in time to post it before Saturday :'(

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin

Chapter 14

Gwen opened her eyes, confused, for a moment, that all she could see was a grey blur dotted with flecks of light. Then she realized blearily that she was staring at a grey stone ceiling, and that the light was coming from the window of her cell. Wait, cell? What was she doing in a cell?

She blinked again, and decided that she should probably start looking around. So she began scanning the room, her eyes roving first to the left. Nothing there. She looked to the right, and noticed a large smear of blue and red. Blinking hard, she concentrated on focusing on the strange object in front of her. Was it a person? She couldn't tell.

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to clear her head, and when she opened them again she was able to see clearly. And, yes, the object in question was actually a person. But she must have banged her head harder than she thought (had she even bumped her head? She couldn't remember) because the person kneeling beside her couldn't possibly be there. It was impossible. Unless she was dreaming. It was, she reasoned, entirely possible that she was dreaming.

But then the person spoke, that goofy grin she remembered so well stretched across his face.

"Welcome back."

She couldn't hold back the smile which broke out on her own face. Even if this was a dream, it was a lovely one. And then the person continued speaking, and she could hardly believe that she was finally getting to speak to her friend again, even if only in dream form.

"How are you feeling? Better? Do you remember what happened?"

She smiled. "I'm fine, Merlin. Just a little groggy. And am I supposed to have forgotten something?"

Merlin let out a quick breath of laughter. "It's good to see you again, Gwen." He turned his head to face where she knew the bars of the cell must be, and called out a single word. "Arthur."

The name set off a pressure in Gwen's forehead, and as the young Prince in question rushed in to view, kneeling at her side and gently taking her hand in his, the pressure grew larger and larger. She had a horrible feeling that there was something that she had forgotten. Something which made her spine tingle horribly. But what?

Then, suddenly, the pain exploded behind her eyes, rushing through her brain. She noticed dimly that Arthur's expression turned into one of utter panic, and Merlin had to reassure him that everything was alright, but she was more focused on the agony going on inside her head.

Images flashed through her mind, moments she hadn't even known she had forgotten. A man's voice yelling than Morgana had returned. A feeling of terrifying calmness, forcing her in to a tiny corner of her own consciousness. The sudden knowledge that the Prince was missing. Her trek down to the dungeons. Her encounter with the Prince, and the fierce fury she had felt- the knowledge that that one man was all that stood between her mistress and her true place as Queen. The horrifying realization that... that...

She stared up at the pale-faced man stroking her face worriedly, blinking tears from her eyes. "I tried to kill you." She didn't care about the tremor in her voice, or the way her hands were shaking uncontrollably. She had tried to kill Arthur. She had tried to kill the one person she cared most about in the world.

Arthur looked as though he were attempting to force back the tears threatening to appear in his own eyes. He gave a minute shake of the head, placing a steady hand either side of her face, making it so that she couldn't try to look away.

"It wasn't your fault," he insisted. "You didn't know what you were doing. You were under a spell."

Another memory flashed through her mind. Arthur, infatuated with that horrible Lady Vivian, and not even remembering their relationship. She had been heartbroken at the time. But now she had done so much worse to him.

"How could I have hated you?"

The words stung him- she could see they did. Because not only had she forgotten her love for the man, forgotten all they had been through together, but she had seen him as no more than an obstacle. An enemy. She couldn't help but repeat her words, her voice quavering.

"How could I have hated you?"

Arthur pulled her up so that she was sitting, and drew her firmly into a tight embrace. She nestled her face into his chest, sobbing. And he allowed her. And, in just that one simple gesture of his affection, she knew that all was forgiven.

When they drew apart a minute or two later, and he had gently wiped the traces of tears from her cheeks, she looked around the small cell once more.

"Where's Merlin." Had he even been there?

"He left. He's just outside, keeping watch along with Kennard.

"Kennard's here?" She could recall the young Knight- the soft, far-off look in his eyes, and the way he shied away from attention. He was a good man. And then there was another image- of the silent apology she had seen in those eyes just before he had knocked her unconscious.

"Yes. He was unaffected by the enchantment's power. He helped me get to Merlin, so that we can see about sorting out this whole mess."

Gwen frowned, confused. "He wasn't affected?" But the call had been impossible to resist...

"It's a long story." His gaze softened. "Are you sure you're alright now?"

She took a deep breath, then nodded her head, smiling gently. "I'm fine."

Arthur smiled right back, planting a light kiss on her forehead. "I'm glad." He turned towards the bars of the cell. "Merlin! Kennard! You can come in now!"

The two men in question entered through the open door, both not quite meeting her eyes. Both looking slightly uncomfortable. She realized, with a jolt, that the young Knight must now know about hers and Arthur's feeling for each other. The thought gave her equal measures of relief and unease. One the one hand, she wouldn't have to hide it for now. But, on the other hand, could he be trusted to keep the relationship secret? She glanced over at Arthur for reassurance, and was met with a calm nod. Kennard could be trusted. She nodded back, then stood up, walking over to meet the young man.

"Sir Kennard, I wanted to thank you. If it weren't for you, I don't know what would have happened back then."

She saw a quick flicker of guilt flash across Kennard's eyes- he was not the type to take any pleasure from injuring a woman- but then he bowed his head gracefully. "It was nothing, my Lady."

"Oh, I'm not a Lady."

Kennard's eyes flicked momentarily to where Arthur stood, and then he smiled. "Nobility is measured from the heart. From what I have seen, you are most definitely a Lady."

Gwen stood for a moment, somewhat taken aback. Then a slight movement at the other side of the cell forced her to shift her attention that way. And there, over by the window (and most definitely not a dream) stood Merlin. He smiled, and she rushed over to him, drawing him in to a quick hug, reassuring herself that he was actually solid as she did so. They stepped apart, and she took a moment to study her friend's face. Merlin seemed more mature somehow- more confident in himself. There was a definite hint of power in the way he stood, and in his eyes, which she had never noticed before. She guessed it was only obvious now because she knew it was there. Besides, Merlin had no reason to hide it any more. For one, the King already knew about his magic. And, more to the point, it wasn't like anyone would notice him right now. She had felt the cold, hard heart of the sinister magic which had held her in it's thrall. It blinded you to anything but the goal you were given. In this case, that was probably their biggest weapon. If everyone was searching for Arthur, then they wouldn't notice the Warlock until it was too late.

She beamed at him. "It's good to see you out and about, Merlin."

"Likewise. I'm glad you're feeling better."

Gwen laughed. "You don't have to be so modest, Merlin. I know it was you who freed me." She paused. "Thank you."

The reunion was interrupted by Kennard, who was by that point standing over by the bars of the cell.

"Someone's coming!"

The group was instantly on alert, the two Knights and the serving maid staring warily out towards the passageway. Arthur tugged Gwen behind him, and he and Kennard faced the door, forming a barrier between her and and the entrance.

Merlin, meanwhile, was looking around the room with a thoughtful expression on his face. Gwen knew that he was probably capable of freeing whoever was coming, but she also knew that it would be highly impractical. After all, he couldn't very well go around curing everyone individually, could he? They just didn't have enough time.

After a few moments, the young Warlock gave a determined nod. He gestured to Gwen, and they each tugged on one of the Knights' shoulders. The four of them moved in to the far corner of the cell, Merlin standing in front of them all. Gwen could sense Arthur figiting beside her. He really wasn't comfortable when he wasn't the one doing the protecting. She had to admit, though, that she could see the humour in the situation. Merlin was so lanky- not exactly what came to mind when someone mentioned the word 'powerful.' And she honestly couldn't imagine what he had in mind.

But then he started whispering a string of foreign words under his breath. In a language which, at first, she half believed she had never heard before. It took her a few moments to realize why it sounded so familiar- a picture on Merlin lying, dying, on a cot in Gaius' chambers springing unbidden to her mind. She shook it away, instead focusing on the present.

The young Warlock was still mumbling, getting faster and faster, when a group of four men came in to view- men she recognised as servants to various Lords. She waited with baited breath as one of the men froze outside the cell. She watched as he turned, ever so slowly, and stared through the bars.

Stared exactly towards where Arthur stood.

There we are. A mini cliffhanger just for those of you who missed having them. Hey, even I missed having them!

There are a lot of fun bits (for me) coming up soon, so please stay tuned. My inner sadist (who IceCreamDoodle13 and I have christened Winston McFarley) is getting impatient, so I can assure you that I will be back to more evil cliffies soon *maniacal grin*