The Once and Future King (S02E02)

Part 2

Previously: He placed his head on a potato sake, his ears going down ready for sleep to take over, and closes his eye with that, 'I'm pleased of myself', smile on his face, sleep quickly taking over.

Gwen woke up really early that morning to try and hide were she had slept, but she came to find that Shadow was not asleep under her head which made her frown, but then she heard a gruff kind of sound that came from in front of her, she looked up and there stood Shadow with a plate in his mouth. Gwen took the plate to find food on it, some plain bread and grapes, she looked at the plate and looked at Shadow in shock.

"Is this for me?" Gwen asks the wolf that seemed to smile as his tail wagged. "Did you use your mouth to put the bread and grapes on the plate?" He shakes his head quickly. "Did you nudge it onto the plate with your nose?" She asked not knowing any other way he could have done it, and he nods his head one in pride. "Thank you." She smiles at him stroking his head, and eats her breakfast.

Once finished she gets up, but before she could fold the blanket and put it away, Shadow did it for her. She has no idea how Shadow was able to fold it with his nose but he did, and placed it carefully on the potato sake knowing she would need it again tonight, which made his ears drop. Gwen noticed this and frowned at the black wolf she didn't know was actually Merlin. "Thank you for last night Shadow, I really appreciate it. Merlin has really taught you well." She stated making Merlin turn to face her. "But I wonder…" She stated then smiled slightly. "How much of Merlin's habits you've picked up from being his pet." She smiled, whispering to make sure she didn't wake Arthur. To make sure Shadow knew what she wanted to see him do, if he would actually do it that is. She looked towards Arthur, and Merlin smirked.

Merlin walked over and put a handful of the sheets that kept Arthur worm in his mouth, and quickly pulling them off. Arthur awoke to the sudden, unexpected movement of the covers, and sure Shadow staring at him. "Shadow!" Before Arthur could continue, Gwen came in with Arthur's breakfast and placed it on the table.

"Did you see what he just did?" Arthur asked Gwen who had to hide the amused smile that was on her face by making sure not to face Arthur.

"No Sire, may I ask what he did?" Merlin caught the amusement in Gwen's voice, but as usual Arthur didn't notice.

"Let's just say he's too much like Merlin for his own good." Arthur stated as he got out of bed and sat at the table and started eating, without so much as a thank you to Gwen for the food.

"He is, isn't he?" She said softly, looking at Merlin in wonder. "Excuse me Sire, I need to let Shadow out." She said, Arthur just waved his hand which frustrated her, but she started walking to the back door. "Come on Shadow." She called, Merlin obeyed not wanting to hesitate, but by the why Gwen looked at him no a moment ago, he was starting to get scared. What if she knew? What if she figured it out?

When they were outside Gwen made sure no one was around, which luckily they weren't. "Shadow, sit." And Merlin sat, Gwen knelt down in front of him and looked deep into his golden eye. Merlin did everything he could to keep a stern, animalistic look about him, but he knew Gwen, and she was a very smart girl. Gwen smiled at Merlin with a friendly smile. "Please don't be afraid of me Merlin. I would never want to course you harm." She reassured him, shock was on Merlin's face but it soon faded into a small smile, as he allowed himself to change be too normal.

"How did you now?" He asked nervously, still sitting on the floor.

"Two reasons." She smiles. "One, the point about you acting too much like Merlin was quite a good point." She stated, making sure to whisper so Arthur couldn't hear them. "Two, the Merlin that was just here the other day had green eye whilst yours are actually blue." She explained. "But why hide it from me Merlin, surly you know me better than that?" She asked with slight sadness in her eyes.

"Because magic isn't accepted here…I was worried of how you would react. It was just easier to keep it a secret." He explained, with truth in every word.

"But it hasn't been the easiest life chose…has it Merlin?" Gwen asked, feeling very sad for her black haired friend.

"It's been the hardest thing ever…especially since I see Arthur as my closes friend…I work for him twenty four seven, and I've saved him more times than he knows…All I want, is too be accepted as me, but I do fear it may never happen. But I could never stop the bond that has grown between me and Arthur, I don't even know how it grow…sometimes I wish it never did, but then I'd miss out on having the best friend I've ever had in my life…the worst part is not being able to tell him for fear I'll lose him forever." Merlin explained softly, but the worst part wasn't just his words but the fact that she could see tears in his eyes and she frowned, wanting to cry slightly herself.

"Well now you have me to come talk to if you ever need to." Gwen reassured him. They got up and Gwen knew that Merlin would have to change again. "You know Merlin, I think it's really sweet, the way you look out for Arthur. I can only hope that one day he will know all you've done for him and how you've done it, and that he does except who you are." She tell him truthfully, he smiles at her and he smiles back. He grabs a leaf that was on the floor and makes a copy of himself, but this time it was Neerg that became the wolf.

"Why not you?" Gwen askes in confusion.

"Because I've used up a lot of my magic, this way I can realise it when we leave for the tournament, so my magic has time to rest for and restore for tonight." Merlin reapplies with a smile.

"Why are you doing that?" Gwen askes, believing she already knew the answer.

"So I can keep an eye on him, and make sure he's not being too hard on you, which is why I growled at him last night for steeling your bed." Merlin stated, Gwen smiled at Merlin.

"I had a feeling that would be why, thank you Merlin. For everything." She said placing a hand on his shoulder, but before Merlin could reply.

"Guinevere, Where's Merlin! I'm going to be late for the tournament." Arthur yells from inside. Gwen opens the door and Neerg follows her in as Merlin quickly run round front. Merlin come in through the front door in a rush. "Whore you actually planning on showing up today?" Arthur asked sarcastically, for the first time out of all the times Gwen has seen the two together throwing friendly insults at each other, she sure hurt glisten across Merlin eye and pain ghost over his face, and this made her feel quite sorry for Merlin, that was quite a harsh thing for Arthur to say to him. Arthur throw's the hooded cape over himself and puts the hood up to cover his face. "Honestly Merlin, can you do anything right?" And with that Arthur opened the front door and walked out, heading to the tournament.

Gwen come over to Merlin and squeezes his arm reassuringly and she gently whispers. "I'm so sorry Merlin, it's going to be ok…everything will turn out right for you one day…I truly do believe that Arthur will appreciate the man you are and all you have done for him." Gwen stated and Merlin truly believed that her words wore right. They left for the tournament and Arthur won all his fights, but really didn't like the fact that someone was getting all the credit for it. The assassin sent to kill Arthur, came over and stated asking Merlin question and Merlin had a sinking feeling that something was up, he may not know the man was an assassin, but he couldn't shake the fact that he was up to know good. When they finally got back to Gwen's at the end of the day Merlin says he hears a notice come from inside, he goes inside and into the kitchen where he grabs the leaf that was on the kitchen floor, turn the leaf into Neerg and turning himself into Shadow.

Neerg came out saying it must have been nothing, and Gwen couldn't help but smile as they enter the house to find Shadow sitting there waiting for them, or at least that's what Arthur thought, but Gwen knew better. Neerg left saying he had to do something for Guise and leaves, turning back into a leaf after going to Guise and explaining what he was doing, and Guise understand Merlin's reasons and praises him for looking out for Gwen like that, with a smile Neerg turns back into a leaf.

It was still early, and Arthur walking into the kitchen to find there wasn't another bed, this confused him a bit. "Where is your bed?" He asks looking around.

"Your sleeping in it Sire." Gwen states softly.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Arthur asked.

"Because Sire, I am a servant. But I did find it extremely rood that you just assume something is yours. I know you are a prince, but that doesn't mean you get to behave in such a spoilt manner! You are a guest in my house and yet you think you can still get your own way! Would it kill you to say please and thank you just once?!" Gwen ranted, but didn't raise her voice, well…at lease not too much.

"Is there anything ease you would like to say?" Arthur asks gently.

"Yes! The way you treat Merlin is appalling! You know, he was here this morning really early and came round the back to ask me if Shadow was behaving himself , and you know what he said when I asked him how he can work for you day in day out with the way you behave?" She stated with upset, tears starting to form in her eyes. Arthur shook his head with slight gilt on his face. "He said that to him, you are his best friend, but he could never tell you for fear he may lose that bond with you! He cares about you so much to the point where he would die for you! He said he has saved your life more times than you know! And you know what Sire? For the first time in my life since I've known Merlin, I sure tears filling up his eyes as he said how much it hurt him to keep how he cares about you a secret!" Gwen moves to the front door in anger and opens it. "You don't deserve the friendship, and loyalty Merlin gives to you, but you have it and not once have you ever appreciated it! I don't know how he can give all he has to someone as blind, arrogant, and spoilt as you!" And with that Gwen left the house with a slam of the door, leaving Arthur and Merlin alone. She regretted not calling Merlin over to follow her, but not only could she not do that in the form he was in, but even if she could she couldn't go back now. So she had to leave Merlin with a shocked Arthur who would more than likely take his anger out on him, but what she didn't know was that maybe in times that he needed it most, Arthur would share his thought with a wolf he didn't know was Merlin.

To Be Continued