I do not own Merlin, I just let my plot Gremlins play with him.

Merlin hurried through the corridor trying to move as quickly as he could without tripping over something and dropping Arthur's breakfast. Gaius was away for a few days which led to Merlin sleeping in, he couldn't believe that today of all days he had slept in. Arthur had told him he wanted to get an early start and expected him to wake him up an hour after sunrise. As it was Merlin would be waking an hour and a half after sunrise which was still earlier than normal.

Merlin opened the door and stepped into Arthurs Chamber, he walked over and set the breakfast tray on the table before turning to the bed. Arthur's bed was empty, a noise coming from the direction of the anti-chamber caught the servant/advisor's attention. He walked over and peaked around the door. The king was on his belly half way under the bed wriggling out, and muttering curses under his breath.

"what are you doing?" Merlin asked when Arthur was out from under the bed.

Arthur did not jump from being startled by Merlin. Arthur stood and turned to Merlin holding a small package wrapped in cloth. Merlin didn't comment on Arthur's choice of hiding spots, after all what thief would think to look for what Merlin knew was hidden in the cloth under a spare servant bed.

"you're late," Arthur remarked as he stepped past Merlin back into the main chamber.

"and you know we have a supply of the poison testers in here, so you can't use that as an excuse anymore"

"I never used it as an excuse in the first place" Merlin pointed out.

"come on sit down and eat your breakfast.

"Merlin, you're the servant I'm the master I give the orders remember" Arthur said as he sat down.

"I'm also your advisor and I advise you to eat your breakfast" Merlin said as he took the lid off the breakfast tray and moved the plate from the tray onto the table infront of Arthur.

"come on you know how you get when you don't eat breakfast"

Arthur half heartedly glared at Merlin as he picked up his fork and dug into his breakfast. Today was not the day to pick fight with his friend, he wanted everything to be perfect.

"do you rember what need's to be done today?" Arthur asked between bites

"yes Sire" Merlin said from the wardrobe where he was looking through Arthur's clothes for an outfit for the King.

"I'm serious Merlin, I want everything to be perfect" Arthur told him.

Merlin stepped back from the wardrobe with a casual dress shirt and pair of pants, he brought them over and hung them on the changing screen, not answering Arthur.

"Merlin," Arthur said after a minute.

"don't worry Arthur," Merlin said

"everything will be fine"

Arthur huffed and set his fork down on the plate with his half-eaten breakfast, he turned to Merlin who was going about making his bed.

" I don't want fine, I want perfect" Arthur told him

"after everything that's happened these past couple of years, she deserved perfect"

Merlin sighed and stopped fussing over Arthurs bed, he turned to the obviously nervous king. He walked over and sat in the chair to the Arthurs right.

"relax Arthur" Merlin said

"everything will be as perfect as possible, the worst that can happen is she says no"

Arthur's face fell and he pailed.

"oh my god" He choked out his heart beat increasing in a small panic.

"what if she says no?"

Merlin would have almost laughed at the expression on Arthurs face if he didn't feel bad for panicing the man. He had hoped to snap Arthur out of his nervous funk, get him to relax a little. It seemed the king was more nervous about what he planned to do that day than the servant/advisor realized.

"Arthur calm down, breathe," Merlin told him in a slow calming tone.

"you two love each other, there is slim to no chance she'll say no"

Arthur took a calming breath and nodded slightly, he knew Merlin was right but he couldn't help being nervous today would be a major turning point in not only his life but Gwen's as well.

"what if this is a mistake?" Arthur asked

Merlin raised an eye brow but before he could say anything Arthur continue.

"what if my uncle Agravaine is right. Gwen and I may love each other but what if no one accept her."

Merlin rolled his eyes, this again. Agravaine had not taken it well when Arthur told him his plans for himself and Gwen.

Agraviane while praising Gwen as a wonderful person who would make some man happy someday, she was a commoner and was not an appropriate match for a King. He expressed his belief that Arthur should seek a princess and create or fortify an aliance with another kingdom.

It had taken Merlin over an hour to get Arthur to tell him what he was so upset about, he kept rambling on about not wanting Gwen to make some commoner happy and if he wanted to marry for an aliance he would have married Princess Elena.

"Arthur do remember what you told your father after you and Elana both agreed you didn't want to marry each other?" Merlin asked.

Arthur turned his attention to Merlin he thought for a moment then nodded as he remembered.

"I told him I would be a better king with the support of someone I love by my side"

"and has that belief changed?"

"No, it hasn't"

It was one of the things Merlin was greatful for when He and Morgana had returned home. He found out from Sir Leon that Uther had tried to arrange a marriage between Arthur and a princess Elena, a rather clumsy girl who it had turned out was possed by a sidhe.

Arthur had been stressed and unsure what he should do, he had gone for an over knight hunting trip to clear his head and ended up in Ealdor where he had a long talk with Hunith and Balinor who happen to show up just after he did.

At the almost wedding Arthur and Elena both admited they liked each other but neither wanted to marry the other, Elena being free of the sidhe by that time thanks to Gwen, Leon and Gaius. Elena's father accepted his daughters decision but Uther wasn't to happy, There was a time when Arthur would have thought his father was just concerned about the future of the kingdom but knowing what he knew Arthur hadn't been able to help wonder if his father arranging a marriage for him was about control.

"Arthur?" Merlin asked snapping his fingers infront of the king after Arthur hadn't spoken for a couple minutes as he remembered the woman he had been engaged to for less than a fortnight. The night after the almost wedding had been when Arthur had first admited to Gwen that he was in love with her and had been for a while, it was that night that Arthur had made up his mind once and for who he wanted to be with for the rest of his life.

"Alright," Arthur said standing up, his determination and resolve renewed.

"come on Merlin we have to get everything ready, today is going to be as perfect as possible."

"if you want it to be as perfect as possible finish your breakfast" Merlin told him.


Gwen walked into Morgana's room followed by a young girl named Diha whom she had been assigned to train as a ladies maid. Gwen held the door open for Diha who was carrying Morgana's clean sheets. Morgana looked up from the book she was reading, Diha bowed while trying not to drop the basket of sheets at the same time.

"Diha, I told you, you don't need to bow every single time you see me, " Morgana told her.

"yes," Gwen chimed in as she closed the door and took the basket from Diha setting in on the chair by Morgana's bed.

"the bowing really only needs to be done in court and when there are the more uptight lords and ladies around"

"sorry," Diha said

"I will remember"

Gwen observed Diha as she made the bed, for the first week she had needed Gwen's help but the girl was a quick study and could make the large bed on her own now. Not that Diha couldn't make beds on her own before but she had been used to beds only half the size of Morgana's and fitted sheets were new to her.

"she's learning quickly" Gwen commented quietly to Morgana as they sat and observed Diha work tidying up the room, not that there was much to clean up Morgana wasn't a quarter as messy as Arthur was.

"she should do well with whoever she ends up working for"

Gwen didn't see the small knowing smile that Morgana gave her before schooling her features.

"yes, she will" Morgana agreed.

" I just hope she doesn't end up with someone like lady Bianca".

"heaven forbid," Gwen said

Lady Bianca was known for being uptight and spoiled by her parents. She was also rumoured to have gone through several servants a year, she was as bad as Arthur used to be before Merlin, without nearly the status to back up her attitude. Gwen had been unfortunate enough to have been assigned to serve her for a fortnight when she and her mother and father had come to Camelot for Arthurs almost wedding to Elena.

Bianca's father, although he was careful not to let it show was very pleased when Arthur didn't marry Elena, it was a known that he hoped to make a match for his daughter with prince Arthur.

Gwen of course, told Morgana about the whole experience after she had returned.

"my Lady is there anything else you need?" Diha asked

"thank you Diha, no I don't have anything I need you to do," Morgana told her.

"you can have the rest of the afternoon off, just make sure you return before supper time"

"yes my lady" Diha said giving Morgana and Gwen a bow of her head before turning and leaving the room.

Gwen watched as the girl left before turning to Morgana to share with her the latest gossip. They talked for over two hours before Morgana noticed the possition of the sun it was getting close to midafter noon.

"Gwen, don't you have plans with Arthur this evening?" Morgana asked

"what? Oh, yes we're going for a ride before supper" Gwen said also noticing the time.

"if you'll excuse me, I should go get ready"

Gwen stood up and straightened her skirt, she bid Morgana good day with a slight bow and moved toward the door. Just as she place her hand on the handle she turned to speak to Morgana.

"perhaps you would like to join us Morgana" Gwen asked.

"I'm sure Arthur wouldn't mind"

Morgana bit back a laugh, she was certain that Arthur would mind very much.

"thank you Gwen, no" Morgana said picking up the book she had been reading when Gwen and Diha had entered the room.

" I was planning on studying some of the histories of Camelot that are no longer forbiden to read about"

"alright," Gwen said with a nod before leaving.


The slim average looking man looked around before ducking into the back room of one the taverns in a small town just a short ways out of the city of Camelot. He had been asked to meet someone who required use of his skills, he wasn't expected to meet the person who wanted to hire him for another half hour but he like to arrive early make sure he wasn't being set up.

Twenty minutes later a man in a dark cape came into the room and looked around before sitting in the chair that faced the door. He didn't notice the man standing still and quiet in the dark corner of the room which the chair he sat in faced away from. He didn't know the other man was in the room until a small blade was at his throat.

"who are you and why have you summond me here?"

"I want to hire you, and considering what it is you tend to get hired to do I don't think names should be exchanged do you?"

"my services don't come cheap"

"I know, but from what I hear you're worth the gold."

The man slowly pulled a good size bag from his belt and toss it up on the table, the bag open to show it was full of coins.

"half now and half when the job is done. That is how your deals work is it not?"

The slim man moved the blade away from his customers kneck and picked up the bag of gold.

"what do you need me to do?"


The after early autum afternoon was warm without being to hot as Arthur and Gwen rode their horses at a leasure paise through the forest not far from Camelot. The leaves had just started to turn so the colours were a mix of green, yellow, red and orange, they hadn't really started to fall yet but once in a while the couple would see one or two leaves on the ground.

"this was a lovely idea Arthur" Gwen told him

"I'm glad you like it" Arthur said

"I have a surprise for you, it's just up ahead"

Gwen smiled, Arthur didn't often surprise her but when he did it was usualy good.

"what is it?" She asked curious

Arthur laughed a little.

"patience Gienevere," He said.

Arthur led Gwen to a small clearning beside a small lake, where Merlin waited for them standing beside a presetup picnic.

"My Lord, My Lady" Merlin greated them with a low bow and a sweep of his hand toward the picnic blanket.

"your supper awaits"

Arthur dismounted and Merlin moved forward to take the reins of his horse, he led it over and tighed it to one of the tree's not so close it would be a distraction but close enough that Arthur and Gwen could get to it quickly if need be.

"oh Arthur it looks wonderful," Gwen said as the king helped her down from her horse holding her just a little longer than was needed.

Arthur and Gwen walked over and sat down on the picnic blanket while Merlin secured her horse beside Arthurs.

"I wondered why Merlin wasn't with us," Gwen said as she looked around at the scenary.

"you did an excellent job setting this up Merlin"

"thank you Gwen" Merlin said

"it was Arthurs idea though"

"she is right Merlin, " Arthur said

"everything looks just right"

Merlin opened one of the picnic baskets and set up the plates of food on the blanket with in the couples reach. Once he was finished he stood back, after taking a good look around using both his mundane and magic senses to make sure the area was secure he turn back to Arthur and Gwen giving them a small bow.

"If that will be all?"

"yes, thank you, Merlin," Arthur said just short of getting impatient for Merlin to leave.

"I'll see you back at Camelot then"

Arthur and Gwen watched as Merlin walked away making sure he was gone before Gwen finally let out the laugh she had been holding in.

"I'm sorry" she said

"it's just seeing Merlin act like a proper servant, it's rediculous and just not him"

Arthur agreed with her, it was not in Merlin's nature to act that way. Which was why He and George had been practising in secret for several weeks.


Morgana finished reading the book on Cornelius Segan and placed it with the other's on the table. From what she read she could almost under stand why he had been so angry when he had possesed that servant who turned out to be a thief. Cornelius had been almost as loyal to Brutus as Merlin was to Arthur going as far as building the man a city, only to be betrayed by the man he swore loyaly to.

Morgana looked over when someone nocked on the door, she bid her enter when Diha called from the other side. The door opened and Diha walked in balencing a small covered tray. She walked over and placed Morgana's dinner on the table.

"my lady" Diha said with a small curtsy dip.

"thank you Diha," Morgana said giving the servant a smile as she sat down.

"you may return in an hour for the dished, mean while you should get your own supper if you haven't already"

"thank you my lady, the cook was just almost done with the preperations for the servants meal when I was leaving it should be ready by now"

Morgana waited for Diha to leave before starting to eat, she had only a few bites when something in her mirrow caught her attention. Morgana gasped as she dropped her fork on the plate and stood up quickly her eyes on the image playing out in the mirror.

A slim man hid in the tree's watching a man and a woman sitting by a lake, he carefully loaded his cross bow and took aim.

Morgana frowned furrowing her brow as she recognized the man and women sitting by the lake. The slim man made sure his target was in just the right place then pulled the trigger.

"No!" Morgana screamed her eyes flashing gold sending a pulse through the room as the bolt struck Gwen through the heart, if Merlin hadn't cast protection spell on her mirror, window and flower vases they would have shatered.

The door burst open and the guards from the hall out side her door ran in looking around for a threat.

"my Lady what?"

Morgana rushed passed the gaurds and down the hall towards Sir Percival's chambers it was the closest and Gwaine and Lancelot would most likely be there as well.

""Merlin"" she telepathed loudly as she ran down the hall followed by the guards who had no idea what was going on.


Arthur sat with his back against the tree that Merlin had set the picnic blanket beside. Gwen sat in front of him the back of her head resting on his shoulder and his arms wrapped around her waist from behind. It was nice having time to themselves for the first time since Arthur had been crowned king. They would find moments here and there but they never lasted long.

Gwen smiled as she looked out over the lake, the sun was low in the horizon just starting to set casting a light across the water.

The fire flies were just staring to come out and the air was cooling with out being cold.

"do think your ready for dessert?" Arthur asked

"I suppose," Gwen said lifting her chin a bit to look up at Arthur.

"What is it?"

Arthur shrugged and gave her temple a small peck. He gave her a small smile with a bit of a twinkle in his eye.

"I don't know, open the basket and find out"

Gwen moved from her possition out of Arthur's arms she glanced back at him as she reached for the lid of the second basket, the first basket had held their supper. Gwen gave him her I know your up to something look before turning her attention back to the basket.


The slim man watched the young couple from his vantage point in the tree having located them only ten minutes prior, He hadn't been impressed when his customer had informed him the job needed to be done that day. It had taken him hours to find them, as all the man who had hired him knew was that the target would be near a lake.

He readied his bow and aimed, he watched as the young woman leaned forward and reached for one of the baskets. He took a slow breath and pulled the trigger, the bolt flew from the cross bow speeding toward it's target. Suddenly the bolt stopped less than half way to the target. The slim man watched confused as the bolt turned in mid air, his eyes widened and he dropped his cross bow scrabbling to move as the bolt flew back toward him. The bolt caught the slim man in the shoulder causing him to fall out of the tree and land at the feet of a tall dark hair man.

Merlin placed his sword against the slim man's kneck.

"don't move"

The slim man sneered at him as best he could as he was also grimacing in pain from the bolt in his shoulder and falling out of the tree hadn't helped. He swung out with his good arm to knock the blade away, his eyes widened in shock as Merlin's eyes glowed then felt himself pass out.

Merlin used a spell to send the sword back to the armory where he had summoned it from after Morgana had telepathed that she had a vision of some trying to kill Gwen. Then he send a blue light to guide Percival, Lancelot and Gwaine who Morgana had said were on their way.


Gwen opened the basket and was immediately confused, there was no food just a small folded up cloth. The cloth was made of silk and had gold embroidering on it. Gwen pulled the cloth out leaving it folded and turned to Arthur. While Gwen's back was to him Arthur had moved and was on his knees when she turned to him with the folded up cloth.

"there's no desert, just this" Gwen said handing him the silk cloth.

"Arthur what's going on?"

"Guinevere, you have been my strength and my morral compass. You have always been there when I needed you weather you knew or not, I've always been able to count on you to tell me what I need to know even if I don't like what I hear. You have shown me what it is to be truly loved. My life is better for being with you and I cannot imagine my life without you and I cannot fathom loving anyone as much as I love you." Arthur spoke looking into Gwens eyes, He unfolded the cloth to reviel a gold ring with a cushion cut diamond encirled with with smaller jewel each a diffent soft colour.

"Guinevere LeBlanc will you give me the honer of allowing me to be your husband"

Gwen's eyes watered as she smiled and nodded her head.

"yes," she said when she was able to speak over the lump in her throat.

"with all my heart, yes".


The first snow fall of the season left a thin blanket on the ground and a light frost on the trees. The area was decorated with green garlands and white and cream flowers. A few of the guests thought the bride and groom were moving to fast others thought this day was a long time coming. After everything they had been through they deserved to finally be together.

Arthur stood in his court regalia, he smile when he caught Gwen's eye from across the aisle . Gwen blushed and smiled back, her hair was half down half up in a small loose bun with a thin tendril of hair hanging down and tiny flowers that matched her dress weaved into it. Everyday Arthur was glad she had said yes.

Merlin stood as one of the groom's men, his out fit was made from finer material than he had ever worn before. Mordred was dressed up as well, Merlin looked at his foster brother from the corned of his eyes. The boy stood with Gaius and the other guest looking a little nervous but happy at the same time.

Morgana stood on the other side of the makeshift aisle a long green carpet that the snow which was still lightly falling didn't stick to.(*cough* magic *cough)

Her hair was up in a french twist with thin braids twisted in and small flowers in her hair that matched her dress.

The knights stood near the sides of the room their capes with the crest of Camelot freshly cleaned and pressed, they were alert yet relaxed. Most of the knights were pretty sure that if someone was going to strike the wedding seeing a large dragon sitting near by they would rethink their plans.

Kilgarrah sat with Gwaine and Percival observing the days big event, he was pleased that the wedding was being held outside where he could share in the joy of the day. While Kilgarrah was adament that he was not a horse, he hadn't minded at all when he was asked the carry the bride to the wedding. He thought perhaps it was like the humans tradition of giving the bride away, which he knew was tradtionaly done by the brides father, however her father had passed on years ago. He could not physicaly walk her down the aisle so flying her there was the next best thing.

The wedding officiator began the ceremony, speaking loudly so everyone could hear him.

"we are gather hear on this day to unite these two people in the bonds of marriage through the tradition of handfasting" He turned to the bride

"Hunith Aldan, is it your wish to be bound to this man"

Hunith stood looking at the man she loved, her gown was cream with ivory embrodering on the sleeves and the skirt flowed down softy to just above her feet. Her hair which had been brushed to a pefect shine was up in a french braid with little flowers that matched her dress woven in and one slightly bigger flower was pinned at the top of her braid.

"it is"

He turned to the groom who was gazing at Hunith.

"Balinor Ambrosius, is it your wish to"

"it is," he said before the man could finish the question, the bride blushed a little and a second of soft under the breath laughter was heard from the guests.

The officiator's lips twitch in an almost smile, He turned to the guests.

"if any object to this union speak now or no"

There was silence from the people gathered for the wedding, satisfied that no one would object he continued.

"who holds the brides fastening?"

"I have" Morgana spoke taking a step forward holding up the thin gold cord, she gave it to Hunith.

"you may place the cord over the groom's wrist"

Balinor held out his arm his elbow bent hand up, Hunith laid the cord over his wrist letting it drape evenly.

"who holds the groom's cord?"

"I have" Merlin spoke stepping forward, he handed the cord to Balinor.

"you may place the cord over the bride's wrist"

Balinor while not displacing the cord on his wrist placed his cord on Hunith's wrist her hand facing down.

Hunith placed her hand in Balinor's up turned hand.

"as the bride and groom each speak their vows, I will tye an end of each cord to the other symbolizing an endless unity.

The official gently took hold of the end of Hunith's cord and one end of Balinor's cord, he nodded to Hunith.

"I take thee Balinor to be my husband and I give myself to be your wife. I love and shall love you all my days. I will honer you and cherish you. I will be by your side in through times of plenty and times of not, in times when you are healthy or ill, as we both grow as people. I am yours until the end of my days on this earth.

As she spoke these words the cord was tied together making it like one long cord.

"I accept thee with clear mind and open heart," Balinor said

The official took hold of the other ends of the cord and nodded to Balinor.

"I take thee Hunith to be my wife and I give myself to be your husband. I love you and shall love you all my days. I will honer you and cherish you. I will be by your side through times of plenty and times of not, in time when you are healthy or ill as we both grow as people. I am yours until the end of my days on this earth"

"I accept thee with a clear mind and open heart," Hunith said.

The official took a step back as he finished tying the two cord which now formed one cord around Hunith and Balinor's wrists.

" As these two cords that were once apart are now bonded together as one so are you both bonded to each other for life under the eyes of these men and women and the gods and goddesses. Let the union of life never be broke by any man low or high born."

The official turned the guests.

"friends and family, I present to you Balinor Ambrosius and Hunith Ambrosius nee Aldan bonded as husband and wife."

he turned back to Hunith and Balinor.

"you may kiss your bride"

Balinor and Hunith stepped toward each other, Balinor reached his free arm around behind Hunith's back pulling her to him. Hunith reached up and wrapped her free arm around the back of Balinor's kneck. There was a cheer from the crowd as their lips connected in a deep long kiss.

When they pulled apart Balinor was blushing just a little bit, Hunith smiled.

"hello my husband," She said

"Hello my wife" Balinor said

"finally," Merlin said from behind Balinor.

A young man stepped forward from behind and to the right of the official with a scroll and a flat board, the official addressed the bride and groom and the small group that stood with them as he unrolled the scroll.

"If the bride and groom will sign the document of marriage and then have your witnesses sign under your names"

The young man that had stepped forward held up the board so they could use it as a table to sign. Balinor took the quill the official handed him and signed his name, then Hunith used the quill to sign her name. Then Merlin, Arthur, Morgana and Gwen all took turns signing their names.

Lastly, the wedding official took the quill and signed his name before rolling the scroll back up.

"if you will," he said holding the scroll up his hand on one end leaving the middle and one end exposed.

Together Hunith and Balinor took the fasting cord and placed the hoop over the end of the scroll, they folded and looped and relooped it around the scroll until there was not enough cord to loop it again. Once they were done the official turned and placed it in a small chest that his assistant had gotten for him and closed the lid. He then handed the box to Hunith and Balinor with a small bow. Balinor took the box and he and Hunith gave the official a little bow and thanked him. Then they turned, Hunith placed her hand around the inside of Balinors elbow and they walked up the aisle. Merlin followed with Morgana on his arm and then Arthur with Gwen on his arm.

yay Merlin's mom and dad are married.

And Gwen and Arthur are engaged.

I bet some of you thought the proposal and the wedding was going to focus on the same people. Did I fool you at all?

My plot gremlins thought it would be a fun tiny twist, point one way then go another.