Short piece just for self satisfaction and because I miss posting.

Summary: An alternate take on the aftermath of Uther's death. Proactive Merlin and Reasoning Arthur. Also pretend Gwen knows more about what's going on than she did in the show.

Wreak

"Gaius found it around the king's neck?"

"Yes. When I came around to check on him he had just taken it off. He says there was nothing the sorcerer could have done, the pendent reversed the spell. Turned healing into death. The trouble is, how are we going to tell Arthur?"

"Should we even?"

"Gwen he'll tear himself to pieces if we don't. He asked the old man to heal his father and now he's dead. We can't let him keep thinking it's all his fault."

"No you're right, but how could such a thing have gotten there? If I wasn't with the king, Gaius was. Who could have-" She cut off.

"What? What happened?"

"Nothing, it can't be."

"Gwen this is Arthur's heart at stake, you have to tell me."

"He would never turn his back on Arthur."

"We never thought Morgana would either. Who?"

"Yesterday afternoon Agravaine dropped by. He'd come by before but usually only when he was looking for Arthur. This time he stayed and talked for a minute. His manner was...well a bit strange. He commented that the room was cold and that I should go and fetch more wood for the fire. I could have sworn I refilled the fire box the night before but maybe I was wrong."

"How long were you gone?"

"Ten minutes maybe? I only went to the storeroom one floor down. But anyone could have come in while I was gone."

"Was he still there when you got back?"

"Well yes but-"

The doors to the viewing room opened and Arthur exited. His face was tired but dignified, whatever grief he'd expressed in private was now buried under the calm facade of a soon to be ruler. He frowned when he saw them.

"Tell me you haven't been here all night?"

Gwen shook her head, blinking quickly to banish her tears.

"Merlin?"

"You might have felt alone if I hadn't."

Arthur nodded solemnly and squeezed his shoulder before kissing a still visibly distraught Guinevere on the cheek and turning to make his way up the stairs.

Merlin had brought a large breakfast to Arthur's chambers as requested but neither king nor servant did much more than push the food around on their plates. Merlin's lack of appetite was brought on by worry and guilt, Arthur's more because he was struggling to find the right words for what he needed to say.

Finally he broke the silence with a question.

"So what's your plan?"

"Plan my lord?" Merlin's blue eyes filled with confusion. Arthur stared into them intently.

"Don't play dumb, if you don't have one now you will soon. As your king I have a right to know how you're going to do it."

"I'm sorry, do what?"

"Force my uncle to confess to his role in my father's murder."

The sip of water Merlin had taken to distract himself went down the wrong pipe and he sat sputtering and choking for a minute.

"I overheard your conversation." Arthur added when he had his breath back. "You're sure it wasn't the old man who planted that pendant?"

Merlin gave a resolute shake of the head. "What reason would he have to kill the king that way? Uther - forgive me sire - but your father was dying. Even Gaius had no hope for him. If a sorcerer wanted him dead all he had to do was nothing."

"After a lot of thought I'm inclined to agree." To avoid considering just why his friend's voice carried so much passion and conviction Arthur changed the subject. "Now, my uncle. Why are you so convinced it was him?"

"You heard what Gwen said. And who else could have known what you were trying to do? I was with you yesterday afternoon, Gaius has been a loyal friend and servant of your father for longer than either of us have been alive, and Gwen? Do you honestly believe it was her?"

"He's my uncle."

"Who you haven't seen in years. People change. Maybe he never would have made a move against Uther on his own but…if he found himself involved with someone who hated the king above anyone else?"

"Morgana."

"It would make logical sense."

"Logic is not evidence"

"People have been convicted on far less."

Arthur didn't comment on the bitterness in his tone.

"Look, if you can't bring yourself to accuse him now, at least have him watched. At the very least it might concern him enough to break off contact with whoever is trying to move against you."

There was silence for a long time. At last Arthur nodded.

"Very well. I will give him a chance. But if you're right then trust me when I say he will wish he'd never set foot in Camelot."

Another brief silence passed then he spoke again in a softer but no less serious tone. "Thank you Merlin. I realize I don't say it enough but I appreciate your counsel. You've saved me from making critical mistakes in the past. You might just have done so again."

From the corner of his eye he saw the younger man duck his head, the beginnings of a shy smile on his face.

"I'm always willing to help. You come first, you know that."

"I do. What I don't know," He adopted a more business-like tone, "is how I'm going to properly apologize to that old sorcerer. I suppose I'll need you to find him for me first."

"Er...about that?"