next chapter! Thanks to all who have favourited, followed and reviewed this story. It means so much, and really brightens my day.

Disclaimer: I need to get into the habit of using these. I own nothing, except for Gwendolyn/Fionnait. If I did own Merlin, it would still be on the tv.

I started, and leaped as far away from her as possible. Though weary, an amused expression played across her face. One eyebrow was raised in question.

"I was just..ah, checking your, ah, stitches." I stumbled through my sentence, feeling a line of heat across my cheeks.

Confusion flooded her face. "My stitches?" She asked, gazing around the room.

"Yeah, there, just on...ah, your midriff." I had thought my face couldn't get any redder. Apparently, I was wrong.

One of her hands reached down cautiously towards her wound. Upon contact, her face was filled with pain.

"Oh, be careful!" I said, worriedly. "It's probably still a bit sore."

"Yeah," She breathed heavily, "It is."

I sat down again. Just that one action alone had seemed to tire her even more.

"Where am I?" She asked, "I recognise this place, but I can't put a name to it."

"You're in Gauis' chambers. Gaius is-"

"The court physician." She finished, as a tension in her that I hadn't noticed, faded away.

"I will be fine then. Gaius is the greatest healer I have ever met, and I have met many."

"Why?" I couldn't help but ask, although it was a bit cheeky. "Are you very clumsy?"

That made her laugh. Before she had seemed pretty enough, but no extraordinary beauty. But when she laughed, and smiled, her face transformed. It was like seeing the first rays of sunlight after a bitter, stormy night.

"I suppose you could say that." She answered, pulling me out of the strange daze I had entered. "I do seem to get hurt quite a lot, whether it's from sparring, or simply from driving a needle through my finger by accident."

That caught me by surprise. "You spar?"

"Yes. Not as much as I used to. But it used to be my favourite past-time, after beating Arthur in a duel."

"You've beaten Arthur. In a duel?!"

A smirk pulled at her lips. "Yes. Not something that happens often, I assume."

I shook my head, intrigued. "No. Definitely not. You must be very good, to be able to beat Arthur."

"Good enough, I suppose." She answered, modestly. "But I just realised. I never asked you for your name."

"Oh, I'm Merlin." Sitting up straighter, I reached over a hand for her to shake.

That made her laugh again. I liked it when she laughed. I liked it a lot. Weird.

But laughing this time caused her to wince and break into a cough. She gripped my hand briefly, but long enough for my hand to burn. Perhaps she had a fever. But her forehead, when I laid a hand against it, felt cool.

"Merlin?" Simply saying my name gave me a strange feeling in my stomach. What was going on?

"Uh, yes?" I took my eyes away from my hand on her forehead, and met her eyes. She had pretty eyes. Green, but not green like emeralds. More like a field of grass, glittering with fresh morning dew.

"Merlin, could you get me a glass of water, please?" She asked, looking concerned. "And maybe one for yourself. You're looking a bit funny."

"Oh, sure! I don't need one though, I always look funny." I assured her, feeling a bit anxious that she had noticed my unknown affliction. What could cause me to feel so different?

I grabbed a cup, and filled it with water from a jug perched on Gaius' workbench. Beside it, I noticed a small, purple bottle, that looked recently uncorked. I was sure I had seen Gaius using it to numb some patient's aches. It must be the potion he had used on...Gwendolyn, that was her name! I grabbed it with my free hand, and carried both the cup and the potion over to her.

"Let me sit you up, so you can drink better." Carefully, I tilted Gwendolyn's torso upwards, going slowly so as not to cause her anymore pain. She took the cup gently, and drained it in one gulp.

"You were thirsty!" I joked, taking the cup and filling it with a small measure of the potion, which was a crystal-clear liquid. "This should help with the pain."

Gwendolyn looked at it slowly. Raising her head to look at him, she looked uncertain. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I've seen Gaius use it before."

She nodded, "Alright." She still seemed cautious.

"How about this?" I offered. "I'll take some too, to show you its perfectly fine."

She took a large sip, then passed it back over. As I drank, I waited to see a change in her pained expression. When there was none after a few minutes, I became slightly anxious.

"Maybe it takes a while to work?" I said.

"Yes, maybe." She agreed, but not assured.

Suddenly, I noticed the sound of echoing steps from outside. I span around, as Gaius walked into the room, arms filled with bags, presumably containing herbs.

"Ah, Gwendolyn," He exclaimed brightly, "You are awake."

He placed his load upon the workbench, and hastened towards us.

"Gaius, it has been too long." Gwendolyn smiled, raising her arms out for a hug.

As they embraced, she flinched. "Ah, still sore I see. I must give you some more of that potion."

"No need, Gaius," I smiled, slightly proud with myself. "I already did."

"You did?" He inquired, "And I thought that there was no hope for you. But, if you have already given it to her, why hasn't it taken effect?"

I blanched slightly, worry coursing through my veins. Uh oh.

"I, uh, thought it was slow acting." I admitted, with a slight grin, to mask my anxiety. I looked at Gwendolyn. She looked as distressed as I did.

"Oh, Merlin, which one did you give to her?" Gaius asked, exasperated.

"This one," I said, holding up the purple bottle. "I took some too, to make sure it was safe."

Once he saw the bottle, Gaius burst into laughter. "Oh, Merlin!" His exasperation was replaced with the fondness he usually had for me. "That's not a painkilling potion. That is called Veritaserum."

Gwendolyn groaned behind me. My apprehension grew. "What does it do?"

"It makes you say naught but the truth."

Well, I hope you enjoyed it. To be honest, I've been feeling rundown lately, and the thing that spurred me on to do this was that my iPod lost the majority of my notes, that consisted of Family trees for characters, and other bits and bobs. So this chapter was me, angry-writing.

Anyways, review etc. if you liked/disliked this chapter. Constructive criticism, or otherwise is much appreciated.

Love,

me.