Hello my dear readers!

I know, I know, once more I abandoned you... What can I say? Social life got in the way and I spent my two last writing cessions writing a one shot that crept on me (it is under correction with my Beta soooooo SOON)...

I want once more to thank you all for reading this story, favoring and reviewing (never underestimate the power of reviews)

I hope you will love the chapter, don't hesitate to tell me anything you think!

Enjoy!

Chapter 24:

Gwaine felt a strange mixture of relief and ever present guilt when he left Merlin to report to Arthur. He hadn't expected to be forgiven so easily. A little voice told him he should have because it was just so typically Merlin, wasn't it?

"You okay mate?"

Percival's voice interrupted his musing.

"What? Yeah."

"You look a bit out of it, did Merlin hex you or something?"

The joke fell flat on Gwaine.

"In fact, no. He wasn't even angry at all. Said that he would have told her anyway so I just helped." The drunkard explained.

"Well, that's great! Why do you still look like some kicked puppy?"

"It shouldn't have been so easy!" Gwaine cried out.

The other knight looked at him with a frown.

"You know you're a really weird man my friend."

"Anyway, I should better go to Arthur. Have to inform him of the light duties order Alice gave."

Without further ado, he left Percival still staring at him with a confused expression on his face.

Nodding to the guards outside the throne room, Gwaine entered to find Arthur reading some report at the middle of the long table. He looked up after a few seconds.

"Gwaine. What brings you here? I thought you were training at this hour." Disapprovement was audible in the king's voice.

"Yeah… About that… I was involved in an incident yesterday and sliced my arm. Alice requested that I have some days of light duties only."

A blond eyebrow rose as Arthur examined him, head to toe.

"You were involved." He repeated, clearly knowing that the knight didn't merely get involved in things. "You mean you started a drunken brawl at the tavern?"

"I didn't start it!" Gwaine contradicted automatically. "Well… Technically I threw the first punch but the other guy deserved it."

Arthur just continued to watch him for a long time before sighing tiredly. When he finally spoke, it was with a resigned tone.

"Well, I suppose that I don't really want to know the details, do I? I hope you know that I won't be paying for any of the damage you caused. And in the meantime, I suppose you can supervise the grain stocking. This shouldn't affect your recovery."

Gwaine nodded and opened his mouth, almost wanting to tell the king of what else had happened but he remembered his promise to Merlin.

"Fine Sire." He bowed a bit before retreating, completely missing the astonished look the king sent him at his far too serious tone.

The work he was assigned didn't put any stain on his arm. It was also incredibly boring. And frustrating.

Boring because watching people hauling sacks of grain was repetitive and unsurprising. Frustrating because he didn't sit well with watching people, including children, work when he was there doing basically nothing. Not to mention the fact that it all left him with far too much time to think about Merlin and that was more than frustrating.

He just couldn't understand why Merlin would forgive him. No matter how many time the man explained it to him. It just wasn't logical.

His doubts kept replaying in his mind for most of the day until finally, the villagers announced they were done. Gwaine thanked them and went on his way back to the main part of the castle. The sun was already setting and from the corner of his eye he noticed a familiar blue cloak billowing behind its wearer.

Where was Merlin going so late? Night would be upon them in a matter of hour. He debated following the younger man before he decided that for once he shouldn't impose himself if his friend wanted privacy.

After all, maybe his talk with Alice didn't go that well… He bit his lip. Should he worry? Should he follow?

"What makes you look so worried Sir Gwaine?" A voice askes behind him and the knight turned to be faced with Alice watching him.

"Merlin." He said, glancing back to where the younger man had disappeared.

"Ah yes… Is everything alright between you two?" She asked kindly.

"I should be the one to ask you this question." Gwaine retorted suspiciously.

"Of course. We spent some time talking this morning before he left. I assure you there are no hard feelings between us."

She seemed annoyed at what he had been implying. It reminded her strangely of his mother and he repressed a shiver.

"I'm sorry Alice. I wasn't right to say that. It's just that I don't like him leaving like this… Brings back bad memories." He explained.

"No harm done. But don't worry. I'm sure he's fine."

Gwaine hummed, unconvinced but at least reassured that things had gone well between the new physician and the warlock.

"I guess I'll have to trust him on that."

Alice nodded and left with a goodnight. Gwaine didn't move. He trusted her when she said Merlin was probably fine. He just needed to see it for himself. He knew first-hand how well the warlock could hid his true feelings.

He decided to go find some food in the kitchen before settling there to wait for his friend. That wouldn't be too invasive. Hopefully.

The sun had set and torches had been lit around the courtyard for a long time before Gwaine finally caught sight of a figure walking the streets of the lower town with a lit torch in hand.

He pushed himself up from his sitting position on the stairs with a groan and observed his friend. He looked focused on his thoughts, clearly not really watching where he was going as he passed next to the knight without a glance.

"Merlin!" Gwaine called out.

The younger man jumped and almost lost his footing as he turned back towards his voice.

"Oh Gwaine! What are you doing here? Did Arthur put you on guard duties?" He sounded as distracted as he looked.

"No. I… Hum… I was waiting for you in fact."

"For me? Why?"

"I saw you leave earlier and I was worried. Are you okay?"

"Oh. Yes, yes I'm fine. Perfect. Just have a lot of work to do, that's all."

Gwaine frowned as Merlin turned back to carry on his way. He ran up the stairs to fall in step with his friend.

"Where have you been then?"

"With the dragons. I had to talk to Kilgharrah."

"Should I be worried?" The knight couldn't stop himself from asking. After all, the only times he had heard of the older dragon was when something was wrong.

"What? No! No, of course now! Really, Gwaine I'm fine, everything is fine." Merlin answered, turning towards him, finally focusing on their discussion as if he sensed the knights worry. "You should turn in for the night, you were injured only yesterday."

The drunkard couldn't deny that the offer sounded great as his arm has been steadily throbbing throughout the day. Yet he had a feeling that his friend wasn't telling him everything. And that was always concerning.

"You know you can tell me everything right?"

"Yes Gwaine. I know. I swear there's nothing to worry about. I just have some things to take care of. I promise everything is fine."

The knight was still pretty much unconvinced, experience taught him that, but he was willing to let the matter go for the moment.

"Fine." He conceded. "I'll go, but you should follow your own advice, you look as his you could use some sleep too."

"Yeah, yeah of course, I will. Goodnight Gwaine."

"Goodnight Merlin."

Gwaine watched as the younger man walked away, once more back in his own world as he nearly collided with a passing servant. The knight shook his head fondly. He didn't know what this was about but he had a feeling it was the start to be a whole new adventure.

Soooo... What do you think? I know, you probably weren't expecting that...

See you soon (with a one shot :D)