'The Secret Sharer'

Based on the episode 'The Secret Sharer' – after discovering Agravaine in the caves, Gwaine speaks to Arthur about his uncle.

Disclaimer: I don't own 'Merlin'.

…

Gwaine took a deep breath, aware that what he had to say would not be well received by the King. But he had sworn an oath to protect Arthur and Camelot, and he felt it was his duty to warn Arthur of the potential traitor he had uncovered. Bracing himself for the unpleasant conversation he knew would follow, he pushed open the door to the King's chambers and stepped inside.

"Arthur."

At the sound of his name, the King looked up from the paperwork he had been completing.

"Sir Gwaine", he greeted the knight cordially, waving him into the room. Gwaine entered the King's chambers and closed the door carefully behind him.

"I need to talk to you", he said roughly, slowly walking towards the King.

Arthur appeared slightly surprised, but laid down his pen readily enough.

"Alright. But if you expect me to pay for your tavern bill again…"

"It's not about that", Gwaine interrupted. He looked down briefly, then back up into Arthur's face. "It's about Agravaine."

As he had expected, the King's eyes narrowed slightly and his jaw stiffened at the mention of his uncle. He looked up at the knight, cold blue eyes focussed unblinkingly upon Gwaine's face.

"What is it you wish to say?" he asked, his tone warning Gwaine to be cautious about his next words. Gwaine took another step towards the monarch, his expression deadly serious.

"When I went with Merlin to find Gaius, Agravaine was already in the caves. I found him with Gaius, holding a knife to his throat."

Arthur immediately began shaking his head, not wanting to listen to the knight's allegations against his uncle. But what reason would Gwaine have for lying to him about such a thing? The King knew that Merlin had distrusted his uncle for some time, but he had not believed any of it – if he was being truthful, he had not wanted to believe it. After being betrayed by Morgana and having to deal with his father's vegetative state and recent death, he wasn't sure he could cope with losing someone else.

"No, there must be some explanation…" He looked up at his friend, hoping to find some trace of doubt in Gwaine's eyes, but there was none to be seen. Arthur sighed, resting his head in his hands.

"Are you sure of what you saw?" he asked, determined not to admit his uncle was a traitor without undeniable evidence. Gwaine shrugged.

"When I confronted him he said he was trying to help Gaius – according to him, he was using the blade to test if Gaius was breathing. But still, it doesn't explain how he knew where Morgana was holding Gaius. Or how he got there before we did."

"No", the King murmured once more, lost in thought. "It doesn't make sense." He shook his head, gaze remaining on the desk in front of him. "He's my uncle, Gwaine. Surely you don't believe he would betray Camelot or myself? And to Morgana? He has no relation to her; why should he help her to seize the throne?" A part of him wanted Gwaine to agree with him, to tell him that it was absolutely ridiculous to suspect Agravaine of being a traitor, but he knew that the knight would never say something he didn't believe to be true. Gwaine hesitated before answering and despite himself, Arthur felt a tiny seed of hope sprout in his chest.

"I know you don't want it to be true… but I would watch him carefully if I were you." Arthur remained silent, pondering what he had been told. Gwaine had expected the King to blow up in his face over any accusations levelled at his uncle, but he was reacting to the knight's suspicions surprisingly well – he hadn't yelled at him, tried to attack him, called him a traitor or threatened to banish him. Perhaps the young King had already had suspicions regarding his uncle, but had simply not wanted them to be true?

Whatever the reason, Gwaine was glad that Arthur had given him the chance to talk and listened to what he had to say. He genuinely cared for his King and didn't want to cause him pain, but as a Knight of Camelot, he felt it his duty to warn Arthur of any possible threats, even if his instincts turned out to be false – although he highly doubted that they would, in this case.

"Thank you, Sir Gwaine", the King said finally, looking up at the knight. He seemed quite calm outwardly, but Gwaine knew that he must be struggling with a great amount of inner turmoil. "I will… take this information into consideration."

Gwaine nodded solemnly, then turned to exit the King's chambers.

"Gwaine!" Arthur called. The knight looked back. "Do not mention this to anyone", the King ordered. Gwaine nodded once more, then left. Arthur remained at his desk, staring unseeingly at his hands as he tried to reconcile himself to the implications of another betrayal.

….

What did you think? I always thought it was odd that Gwaine so readily accepted Agravaine's excuses about testing to see if Gaius was breathing and having followed them to the caves. I thought he should have followed it up, so I wrote this. I would say it's not strictly canon, as in canon Arthur was much more oblivious to Agravaine's treachery, but I don't think it's too far off. Please send me a review to let me know your opinions!