Madelyn smiled to herself as she watched the people of Camelot. It had only been a few weeks, barley over a month since Morgana's betrayal, her fall and Arthur's victory but the people seemed happy. Camelot seemed alot brighter since Arthur saved it's people, the people seemed cheerful and hopeful, despite the state of the king. Madelyn's smile faltered slightly at the thought of the state of Uther, and how he must be in pain since Morgana's betrayal.

"Hello Maddy." Madelyn smile grew as she saw her friend and the current caretaker of the king, Gwen.

"Hello Gwen. On your way to the castle?" Already knowing the answer Madelyn took a better hold of the basket in her arms before joining the side of Gwen and they walkes through the bustling streets of Camelot.

After some small talk Madelyn noticed something in Gwen's basket and smiled to herself before asking.

"Anyone special to receive those flowers you've picked?" Madelyn had that mixed look of innocence and smile upon her face as she turned her face to look at her friend and she was amused by Gwen's flustered face.

"T-They're for... you know... I just saw them this morning and... they... I..." Gwen's ability to talk, or the lack there of made Madelyn smile wider.

"I'm sure the king will love them." Madelyn's answer made Gwen blush even further and that only confirmed Madelyn's thought. The flowers were obviously for Arthur.

"You're always so kind, I sometimes forget you can be like this." Gwen laughed as her flustered face calmed down. Madelyn smiled and shrugged her shoulders lightly.

"I guess I've been spending too much time with Merlin." Madelyn smiled as she remembered all the time Merlin and her spend together since the reclaim of Camelot. Almost every evening Merlin would come knocking on her door or during the day join her as she walked to the market.

"So... you haven't spent time with a certain someone else?" Madelyn smiled and looked at Gwen. Now it was Gwen's turn to look innocent and Madelyn chuckled lightly before shaking her head.

"Not much. Lancelot has been very busy, his duty as a knight has kept him very busy these past weeks. He's helping Arthur with everything, patrolling and training. Helping people in the outer villages to rebuild, keeping the people safe."

Madelyn spoke with pride. Yes, she missed him very much but they both understood and accepted that Lancelot's new position as knight kept him occupied after events like the war. They had managed to steal some smiles and longing looks as they saw eachother from afar, they only had time to communicate through Merlin.

A warm hand made Madelyn smile and look up at her friend again, Gwen smiled back.

"I'm so happy for you two. I'm sure things will calm down soon." Madelyn nodded, agreeing with Gwen's words.

"I think so aswell." Smiling wider the two hugged as they were to walk different directions in the castle. Watching Gwen walk up the stairs Madelyn added in a hushed voice to herself. "I hope so."

After leaving a few new dresses to a lady at the court aswell as some clothes for the servants of Camelot Madelyn smiled to herself. She loved helping, and when she saw the state of the clothes of some of the servants she made sure to use all her effort and help out. Almost everyone had been affected by the siege by Morgana and so Madelyn didn't want clothes to be a problem for anyone so she used all the fabric and thread she could spare to sew extra clothes and patch holes. She had just given the people in the royal kitchen the new aprons and the female cook had been happy and given her some sweetbread. Madelyn remembered how Merlin had complained about that woman, but Madelyn couldn't understand. The cook wasn't angry at all.

"Maddy!" A voice that Madelyn had known all her life was heard from a distance making her stop and look around. Where was that brother of hers?

"Madd- ough!" The noise of a body falling down the stairs aswell as things made out of metal made Madelyn turn around and behold, her brother sprawled out by her feet and pieces of armour all around. "...ouch." Seeing how Merlin rubbed his head but smiled, Madelyn shook her head at her clumsy brother as she helped him up.

"It's never boring around you Merlin, is it?" Laughing Merlin shook his head and started picking up the pieces of armour, then looked around confused as he couldn't see the last bit. With a cough and a small smile Madelyn got his attention as she held out the last piece. "I'm sorry but it's a small dent in it..."

Merlin's face fell confirming Madelyn's suspicion, it was Arthur's armour. Putting the piece back in Merlin's arms she leaned closer and whispered. "I'm glad you're special, brother dear." Merlin looked at her confused before he realised what she meant. Smiling, he looked around to confirm no one was watching and his eyes glowed for a second.

"Are you sure, sister dear?"

Madelyn laughed at his smile. "It seems as if I was wrong, there's no dent in that armour at all." Merlin's goofy smile made her heart warm and she pulled out the sweetbread and layed it in his pocket in his jacket. "For later."

"How come the cook hates me but she loves you?!" Merlin exclaimed as he realised where she got it from, making Madelyn laugh but before she could answer the sound of hooves made both look out the courtyard. Madelyn's heart skipped a beat as her eyes searched for a familiar face, but the only ones she recognised was Elayn and Percival. The third man must be Arthur's uncle, Agravaine. Madelyn felt her shoulders sink a little aswell as her heart. She wouldn't be seeing His face today either.

"He misses you too." Merlin's voice made her swallow the lump in her throat as she looked back at him. His goofy smile was gone, now his eyes showed sympathy but also sadness. He knew, and saw how much his sister and his best friend missed eachother. It pained him to see them suffer, just from being apart.

Madelyn smiled weakly a final time, kissed Merlin's cheek then walked away leaving Merlin more determined than ever. This had been going on for long enough.

Merlin's struggle with opening the door to the chambers while carrying his armour amused Arthur beyond belief. What he didn't expect was Merlin to dump it all on the table.

"Merl-!"

"Now you listen! If you don't let the knights rest or at least take a night off I'll... " Arthur lifted an eyebrow while waiting to hear what Merlin was going to say. Merlin was opening and closing his mouth, trying to figure out something to end the sentence with. "... I'll come up with something but they do need rest! "

Arthur sighed and stood up, amused but also tired. "The knights haven't complained and we need to restore all that was destroyed. If this is you trying to take the evening to go to the tavern..."

"No! It's not me, it's for Lanc- all the knights! Arthur, don't you believe that they will work better if they have one evening to have fun and relax for once?" Arthur looked like he considered Merlin's words before shaking his head.

"They'll be able to have fun and drink tonight when we have a feast in my uncle's honour." As Merlin opened his mouth Arthur raised his hand. "They all need to attend, no one can go to the tavern. Not even you." Merlin closed his mouth annoyed. He needed to use other methods to help hid sister.

Now Merlin was pacing outside Arthur's chambers, waiting. As Arthur's door gently opened Merlin stoped and looked hopefully at the person leaving. Unfortunately Gwen shook her head.

"He said that he needed all the knights to be there and there was no room to invite anyone else but the court." Both sighed disappointed. What were they going to do?

Lancelot stood outside Arthur's door, he knew he looked nervous and his heart was beating fast. This was one of the most important conversations he would have to have with Arthur and so yes, he was nervous. Finally lifting a hand he knocked on the door.

"Come in." Arthur's voice called from behind the door making Lancelot take a deep breath and open it and walk inside. "Ah! Lancelot, I've been meaning to ask you something. " This threw Lancelot off. He had prepared this, went through in his head the speech and events that could happen but never had he expected Arthur to ask him something.

"Sire?"

"Yes, do you feel like I've been asking too much of you and the other knights? I mean, have I been asking too much of you?" Arthur's face showed Lancelot that this had been troubling the prince.

"Not at all, Sire. We're all more than happy to serve you and Camelot. Serving you and Camelot is why we took the oath. " Lancelot's calm and truthful answer calmed Arthur and the prince nodded before smiling.

"Thank you, Lancelot." Lancelot bowed his head smiling, always happy to help. After a short moment of silence Arthur broke it. "I'm sorry, what did you need?"

Lancelot felt his heart speed up again. This conversation, or the outcome of it, would determine everything.

"I do have a question, Sire. It's about ..."

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