AN: Not a lot to say except I really enjoy writing Gwaine interacting with others. :-) If you like (or dislike) something, please comment!

CHAPTER 14: Prevarication

Merlin's mouth formed words but no sound came out. His brain misfired a few times, then he said, "Um, Gwaine, I um forgot you were...your wound feeling better then?" Merlin's heart was pounding, an unreasonable amount of panic zinging through his body. He'd gone all this time

"Merlin." Gwaine took down two mugs without breaking eye contact. "What was that about visions?"

"Visi...tors," prevaricated Merlin. "Visitors for Mina, that's what I was saying."

"Merlin." Gwaine filled the mugs, then set the kettle back over the fire.

Merlin kept talking, his mind thinking up and discarding options for changing the subject, distracting the knight, anything. "And a...doctor is one of them."

"Merlin. Drink some tea."

Merlin took a big gulp, glad to have some excuse to stop talking. He sputtered and choked in shock. Gwaine smacked him on the back a few times. "Wh-what did you put in that tea?!" he demanded when he could talk again.

"You looked like you needed something stronger than just tea." Gwaine picked up a jug and wiggled it back and forth. "So I added a little somethin'." He poured more into Merlin's cup. "Take another drink."

"No," Merlin choked out. "Nope, no thank you. The sun isn't even up!"

"One more," insisted Gwaine, so Merlin took the smallest sip he could, eyes watering.

"That's better. Now sit down." When Merlin obeyed, Gwaine roughly messed up his hair. "Merlin, I'm not from Camelot. In Caerleon's kingdom, magic doesn't have the same reputation it does here."

"Um...?" Merlin was confused.

"Merlin, my mother was a healer. Not a physician, a healer. Understand?" Merlin mutely shook his head. "Merlin, I don't care if you deal in magic. In fact, it explains a lot about you. Like how you protected Arthur from wyverns for one."

"I – I don't know what you're talking – "

"Does Arthur know?"

"NO! I mean, does Arthur know what?" Merlin cursed himself for his wayward tongue. He looked at Gwaine, really looked. There was no stress on his face, no fear, but no doubt either. "You really...don't care?"

"I really don't. Look, Merlin, my mother did her small magics almost every day. The money she made from her healings is the only reason we didn't starve to death. I'm not afraid of magic like Uther was. If you ask me, killin' everyone with magic because some of 'em are evil is like killin' all your horses because one of 'em kicked you." He smiled and drank his own tea in one gulp. "You know how I judge men – by how they act. You think I don't know you're loyal to Arthur, to Camelot, to all of us? C'mon, Merlin."

Relief poured over Merlin. "Nobody knows but Gaius," he sighed. "It's kind of a relief to have someone else know." Forgetting Gwaine's special addition, Merlin sipped his tea again, and choked again, making Gwaine laugh.

Just then, there was a knock on the door and a servant poked his head in. "Merlin, you are needed in the king's chambers immediately. Gaius too."

Merlin nodded. "I'm on my way. Not sure where Gaius' gone to, though. He got called away."

Predictably, Gwaine followed Merlin. The physician's assistant in Merlin noted that his friend was moving well despite his injuries and that the swelling and bruising on his face were greatly reduced. Really, the man healed extraordinarily fast.

Arthur was looking grim when they arrived. He gave Gwaine a glance but didn't protest his presence. Percival was already there, and Elyan walked in right after they did. "Good. You're here. I've sent for Gaius and Agravaine as well, but we'll begin," said Arthur, closing the doors himself. "Everything I share here is completely confidential and not to be shared with anyone. I just finished taking a report from a soldier who traveled up north with Leon. He reports that they were all captured by an army of creatures he called kobolds, that are working for an evil, magical creature that is seeking a specific person in Camelot. He did not know who it is seeking, only that they have some kind of magic. He claims that the creature is taking over the men's minds and forcing them to join the search. I know the claims are fantastical, but he was very consistent in the telling, and has a reputation of having a good head on his shoulders. Leon chose him personally to be part of their trip." Arthur rested his elbows on the table and turned a piercing gaze on Percival and Elyan. "I want the two of you to see if you can locate Leon's party. It's dangerous, obviously, but with just the two of you, you can travel quickly and not be noticed. Leave as soon as you can." He stood and clasped each man's forearm in turn.

"We'll bring 'em back," promised Percival darkly. "Magic creatures or no."

When they'd gone, Merlin asked, "And where are we going?"

Arthur couldn't help but give a little half smile, not surprised Merlin knew him that well. "Sealgaire got out. Someone got him out. I have reports that he's heading east. I'm going to find him and make sure he doesn't have another chance to escape. No more surrender, no more chances."

"And I'm going with you." Arthur nodded.

"I'm going too," butt in Gwaine.

"I don't think that's a good idea," said Arthur at the same time Merlin said,

"But you're injured."

"I'm fine. When do we leave?"

Arthur stood. "Not an option, Gwaine. We have to go fast. We have to get to that coward before he gets to reinforcements. He may be running to Morgana, who is holed up with a small army at Antioch."

"Sounds like you need me to watch your back, then. Unless you think Merlin can do that somehow?" Gwaine turned for the door, ignoring the what the heck? look Merlin was giving him behind Arthur's back. "Leaving immediately then?"

"For some reason, I thought more people would listen to me when I became king," grumbled Arthur.

"Maybe you should chop off a few heads," suggested Gwaine with a cocky grin. "Might get a bit more obedience."

"That doesn't sound like such a bad idea." Arthur scowled and stood. "Get what you need and meet me at the stables. I'll get word to Agravaine and Gaius about our true purpose and destination, and have them spread the word that we are making a pilgrimage to honor Geraint."

"Uh, why don't you let me inform them?" asked Merlin, seeing an opportunity to mislead Agravaine. "Then you can let Gwen know maybe."

Arthur considered, then nodded. "Hurry. It will be light soon, and I'd prefer to leave before so as few people as possible see us." Arthur sniffed. "And, Merlin, why do you smell like a tavern?"

Merlin gave Gwaine a dirty look, but when he opened his mouth to explain, Arthur held up a hand. "Actually, that was answer enough." Merlin giving an irritated huff and Gwaine a cheerful grin, they split off.

Arthur nearly collided with Gwen in the hallway a moment later. "I need to talk to you," they both said at the same time. Checking that no one was there to see, Arthur pulled Gwen into his chambers.

"Mina is missing," rushed Gwen, stumbling over her words in her haste. "Her guards are missing and her room is empty. She's in danger and I need to sound the alarm – "

"Wait," interrupted Arthur, putting a restraining hand on Gwen's arm. "We can't know if she's done this on her own. We still don't know if she is for or against us. She may be in league with Sealgaire. If they're allies, he probably broke her free."

"She's not." Gwen was certain. "She doesn't know who she really is, but she's loyal and kind. She's not working against you. She's not."

"You see the best in people, Gwen," said Arthur, not unkindly. "But either way, I'm going to find out. I'm going after Sealgaire right now, with Merlin and Gwaine. If he took Mina by force, we'll rescue her." He ducked his head to look into Gwen's troubled eyes. "You can't tell anyone where we've gone, though. We don't want his allies to know."

"I understand." Gwen stared at him for a long moment. "Please be careful, Arthur. I wish you were taking more men."

"I'll be careful. But I need to make Sealgaire pay for what he's done. Can you wait until I've gone to sound the alarm?" Slowly, Gwen nodded and Arthur dropped his hand. Gwen gave him one more charge look, then left without looking back. She was afraid of what she might do if she stayed another second.

When Gwaine and Merlin reached Gaius', the physician had returned. Merlin explained in as few words as possible while he and Gwaine packed. Gaius insisted on taking a quick look at Gwaine's healing wound. "It's healing well, but I still must advise against a hard ride, much less a fight."

"Well, maybe Merlin can do something to speed the healing," suggested Gwaine slyly.

"I'm not sure what you mean," said Gaius smoothly, not looking up from where he was washing his hands. "He only knows the remedies I've taught him.

"I think you do. Maybe he knows some little trick – "

Gaius took a careful step back. "Gwaine, what are you suggesting?"

"Stop figuring out ways to murder me, Gaius," responded the knight breezily. "I figured Merlin out. I suspected the first time I met him. After all, my mother was trained by disciples of William of Cambria, so...special people visited all of the time when I was growing up." He scratched his chin. "My mother's gifts did a lot of good, saved a lot of lives. Actually, she gave her life to heal others, literally in the end." He gave Gaius a level look. "And I've no doubt Merlin would do the same. Maybe it's good there's someone going along to make sure he's not too quick to do just that."

There was a very long moment of silence, in which Merlin wondered exactly what Gaius would do. After all, they had worked for years to hide his magic from even his closest friends. Having Gwaine know about it felt reckless somehow, but the cat was truly out of the bag. "You're right," said Gaius finally, looking weary. "It may be for the best that someone is watching out for Merlin in that way." He started to place a new bandage over the stab wound. "How long ago did your mother die?"

Gwaine lifted his eyebrows at the change in topic. "Nearly fifteen years. Why?"

"She must have been a truly gifted healer. I've wondered for a while who placed a protection spell on you, and it must have been her. It is truly impressive that it is still so powerful after fifteen years."

Gwaine was, for once, at a loss for words. "A...a protection spell?"

"Yes, it's tied to your necklace. It probably gives you an extra second to dodge a fatal blow in a fight, a feeling of warning if someone's coming up behind you, that sort of thing. It can't protect you from everything, but it certainly helps. You didn't know?"

"I had no idea." He held out his necklace and stared at it in wonder. He swallowed. "Thank you for telling me, Gaius."

"Thank you for watching out for Merlin."

Merlin rolled his eyes at them both. "I can watch out for myself, thank you. And if Arthur heard all of that, he'd tell you to stop being such girls."

"If Arthur heard all of that, he'd probably throw you in the dungeon," Gaius was pragmatic. "By the way, Merlin, why do you smell like a tavern?"