Hello my dears. I would like to thank Meri Ley (Guest), parrillaxrobbie (Guest), mersan123, OechsnerC, AndreKl and MargsMonday for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.

So here is the next chapter, I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Gwen was confused when Arthur pulled her out of Morgana's rooms, and not just because he was pulling her away from her duty, but also at his words. What did he mean by the love birds? She was under the belief that the enchantment upon Merlin had been broken, so why would he say that? Oh no, don't say they had something else to deal with. She wasn't sure she could cope with another drama in Camelot, and while she thought that at the back of her mind the startling thought that it was usually Merlin who dealt with it all came through loud and clear.

But she did not say any of this as she followed the prince who had her heart. Followed him as he walked towards the disused parts of the castle avoiding all the guards along the route. In fact she did not say a word until he guided her into an empty chamber and shut the door behind them.

"What is going on Arthur?" She asked without any preamble. She needed to know, needed to know how she could help him.

"I… " Arthur tried to say, but found he had no words to speak what was on his mind. Was he truly going to tell Gwen his suspicions? Was he truly going to lay the burden he carried, upon the shoulders of the one he loved?

"Is it Merlin?" Gwen asked thinking of the only thing she could that would cause such worry and conflict upon Arthur's face. What had her friend got himself involved in now? What had he done this time to protect the man they both loved?

"Yes. He…" again Arthur found he couldn't say the words. Instead he ran his hand through his hair as he turned to look out of the slit window in the wall, hoping that the sight of Camelot would sooth him, would help him find the words he needed to speak, or give him the clarity he was so desperately trying to find.

"Why did you leave him with Morgana?" Gwen asked deciding to get answers to the practical concerns rather than trying to get Arthur to talk. Maybe they would help her understand what was wrong.

"Because I knew she would be able to occupy his mind for a while. I mean who wouldn't be occupied when alone with the woman they love?" Arthur replied, taking a step towards the one who held his own heart, reaching for her hands before he lifted them to his lips so he could plant gentle kisses upon her knuckles.

"Arthur." Gwen whispered softly smiling softly at him. She would never be able to understand how a man like him could possibly love someone like her, but she knew she was also selfish enough to not really concern herself with that fact. She had him, and that really was all her heart cared for.

And Arthur, staring into her deep brown eyes found the peace he had been seeking. The calmness that made it possible for him to put words to the worry's in his mind. "I don't know what to do Gwen." He whispered still holding her hands tight.

Gwen tried to keep up with the conversation. Tried to find what it was that Arthur was unsure about. But the only thing she could find was his words concerning his friend's feelings for her mistress. Was that what was worrying him? But if so, why leave the two together? She was so confused. But she knew the only way to find out the truth was to ask. Therefore taking a deep breath she did just that.

"Because Merlin loves Morgana?"

"No," Arthur responded with a frown. Surely Morgana had told her about the relationship she had with Merlin, right? I mean he told Morgana about himself and Gwen, surely they talked while they were away?... But that was nothing more than fleeting thoughts as his mind returned to what was truly at its forefront. What was the cause of his worry and upset. Therefore taking a deep breath he continued, in a voice barely above a whisper, not wanting anyone to overhear even if they were in deserted part of the castle. Even walls had ears here he knew. "Because I think… I think he has magic."

At those words Gwen pulled her hands out of Arthurs, raising one to her own neck and the other to her mouth as she breathed out one single sound. "Oh."

"I don't know, I don't want to believe it, he can't. I mean he's… Merlin. How could he have… but I can't, I don't know what to do. Guinevere, please, help me." Arthur rambled on, his eyes filled with confusion and hurt, and worry and so many things that couldn't be defined. But when that was greeted with nothing more than silence he said the only thing he could think to say.

"Gwen, tell me what to do." He begged. He wished she would speak, or even move. Because it was only then that he realise she was still standing as she had been when he had first uttered the words. Still standing there staring at him with wide eyes, and her hands at her neck and mouth.

Gwen heard the words, heard Arthur say he thought Merlin had magic and all she could think of was the image of her friend burning on a pyre because of it. She didn't know what to say or do, she was frozen with the thought that she held Merlin's life in her hands. Frozen with the idea that Merlin of all people could be a sorcerer. That Merlin was evil. But no, he wasn't. Merlin was the definition of good. So how…?

It took longer than she wanted to admit before the shock and worry receded, before she could remove her hands from where they had automatically gone, and instead moving them to take Arthur's once more. Longer than it should have done before she said in a surprisingly even tone. "Tell me."

And so Arthur did, he told her about what Merlin had said when he was enchanted, he told her about how the spell had been broken by true loves kiss. And Gwen had to say that surprised her, she had never considered Morgana and Merlin as a couple, but she put that aside as she listened to how Arthur had told them both he would support them when he became king. She couldn't have been more proud of him in that moment if she tired. That he was willing to do that for his friend, it made her heart swell and the love she felt for him to grow even more if that was possible. But then he went on to talk about the battle. About how a seemingly healthy tree branch knocked out the men who would have killed him from behind, how the enemy dropped their weapons as if burnt, and he told her of all the other times he had seen it happen. How he had always put it down to luck but was now wondering if maybe it was something s else, something more… wondering if it was Merlin.

And Gwen thought over all her own experiences with the young man. Going right back to the being when he claimed to be the sorcerer who had healed her father soon after he had arrived in Camelot. Then she remembered the conversation they had had when that knight was in town, using magic in the tournament, at how she had told him he was going to have to show everyone he was using magic and how he had asked to borrow her wheelbarrow to move a stature. She had never seen that stature again come to think of it. Not to mention when he was poisoned. Morgana had told her of the light that had saved Arthur in the caves, and she couldn't help but remember the mumbled words Merlin had spoken, words which she now knew were of the old religion. She stood there listening to Arthur with half her mind as she ran through all her own experiences, and yes. She had to agree. When looked at collectively, the most probable cause of them all was… magic.

And each and every one of them had been solved by Merlin.

Merlin had magic. It wasn't a suspicion in Gwen's mind, not now. No now it was a certainty. It made everything make sense… well except for the fact he wasn't trying to kill Arthur or Uther. In fact from what she had seen, and worked out, he had saved them both numerous times. Why would a sorcerer save the life of a Pendragon? That she didn't know, but why would Merlin save the life of anyone? That was easy to answer. Because that was who he was. He had a pure heart, he wanted to help everyone, and he did. He made Camelot a better place, and everyone knew his name, from the highest of nobles, to the simple peasant boy. Everyone knew who Merlin was.

So if Merlin had magic, then that could only mean magic was not evil. Gwen had not been raised by Uther, she had not been forcefully indoctrinated as Arthur had. She had seen things, heard whispers in the lower town which would never reach the ears of prince. She therefore was not as scared at the idea of her friend having that power. Of course she was worried, but it was more for Merlin himself than what he would do. And as she thought that it eased a part of her mind she had been trying to hide from. The part that was sure she had seen Morgana use magic. Surely if Merlin used it and was good, then Morgana could be as well? Especially if he loved her. She could not see Merlin falling for someone evil. Maybe he was helping her and that was how their love had formed? It was such a romantic story if it was true. But however it happened, she did not care. The idea that Morgana had magic no longer terrified her, because Merlin would guide her to the right path. He would show her the way, because he had been here for years, using magic to protect them all. No one could go down a dark path when they had Merlin to guide them. Of that she had complete confidence, she only had to look at the man in front of her to know that was true. Merlin had made Arthur the man she had fallen in love with, he had made him the king she always knew he could be. Merlin was Arthur anchor in the world, the one that connected him to the ground. To his people. He was what he had always needed but never had until a boy had confronted him in the square for his behaviour to a servant.

Yes there was no way Merlin was evil. She needed to make sure Arthur did not do anything he would regret. It was as she was coming to this realisation that Arthur finished with his story.

"What do I do Gwen?" He asked desperately, wanting her to tell him that he was imagining things, but also wanted her to tell him that she too believed his friend was magical. He was so confused.

"All you have at present are suspicions Arthur." Gwen replied, trying to buy time as she thought. Because she knew Arthur, she knew his strong moral code. He would hate to go against his father, even for Merlin. She did not want to put him in that positon by telling him she was sure he was indeed correct.

"I know… but I can't look at him. Can't talk to him, because every time I try, all I see is him trying to kill me." Arthur responded finally telling the true worry on his mind. The thought he would have to kill Merlin to protect himself. He wasn't sure he could do it. Wasn't sure he would ever be able to raise his sword against his friend, no matter what.

"Merlin will never harm you, Arthur. How could you think such a thing?" Gwen stated loudly in condemnation, pulling her hands from Arthur's as she glared at him for even thinking that Merlin could ever move against him.

"Magic is evil Guinevere, what else am I to think?" Arthur demanded back, his eyes blazing in equal to her own. And if anyone had been watching, they would have seen the king and queen they would become in their stance and expressions.

"Merlin is not evil, no matter what you suspect. He had been by your side for years. If he wanted you dead, you would be by now. Tell me, do you know why he is always late with your food? It's because he is testing it for poisons ever since he drank that goblet for you. Did you know that Arthur?" Gwen demanded in a regal tone, forgetting for a moment who she was talking to, forgetting their stations in her fierce defence of her friend.

"He does that?" Arthur asked in strangled voice, deflating at her words.

"Of course he does. He protects you." Gwen replied softening her voice at his stricken expression, though in her head she adds to herself, 'he protects you, from all the danger you cannot see. In more ways than even I knew.'

"He… why?" Arthur asked still staggered by this latest revelation of what his servant does for him. What danger he puts himself in, to make sure he survives.

"Because he believes in you, just as I do. You will make a great king Arthur, we both know it. We both love you." Gwen replied, taking his hands in hers once more hoping to rely through the contact the feelings she knows both herself and Merlin hold for the man in front of her.

"But… I can't go on like this Gwen. I can't see have him around me all the time with this suspicion in the back of my mind." Arthur responded with a frustrated shake of his head. What was he going to do?

"Have you thought of asking him?" Gwen asked cautiously, not wanting Arthur to know she was sure of what the answer to that question would be.

"No. I cannot, and will not, watch him die." Arthur stated in voice which would brook no argument. And Gwen knew better than to suggest he go against his father for his friend. He was the crown prince and he would always do his duty to the king, even if that duty led to the death of closest friend. Therefore she turned her mind to what to suggest to help Arthur out of the situation he found himself in.

"How about suggesting he work for Gaius full time?" Gwen finally suggested. It was the only solution she could think of that would still keep Merlin close to Arthur, while also completely the princes wish to show the court how highly he valued his friend.

"Why would I do that?" Arthur asked with a frown. I mean why would he apprentice Merlin to Gaius? He was servant.

"Because then when you are king he could be your court physician and have a place on the council. It would give him a positon that would allow him to marry Morgana, and he would still be able to advise you." Gwen explained, already thinking ahead to what role Merlin could play in the court of the man she loved.

At her words Arthur's eyes lit up. "Gwen, you are brilliant." He responded seeing what she did now. It was perfect. And it gave him a way to present it to Merlin without saying anything about… his suspicions.

"I like to think I have my moments." Gwen replied with a small smile, glad she had helped him in some way.

"I will go speak with Gaius now. Thank you, my lady." And with that Arthur bent his head so he could gently place a kiss upon her lips. Hoping she knew that when he my lady he meant it in every sense of the word. Hoped she knew that one day he hoped to make her his queen. He would never ask her to wait for him, but he hopes she would.

And Gwen returned the kiss, dreaming of the day that was now one step closer to a possibility in her mind. Hearing Arthur's thoughts on Merlin and Morgana gave her hope for her own future. Maybe one day, she really would be his lady.