I know a lot of people expected Gwaine to just laugh when he found out, but I think he's a deeper character than that. He would laugh, yes, but then see a deeper problem there. He wouldn't get mad at Merlin for not telling him, because he would understand, but he has a lot of personal issues and so does Merlin. Anyway, that's my view. Most of the questions you have will be answered eventually.

Short one this time, but otherwise the rest would have seemed too rushed.

Chapter 14

Lancelot and Oliver returned on foot a good half and hour later. They looked ashamed and avoided looking at each other. Merlin gave a small secret smile to the pair while Gwaine ran up to them and hugged them, relieved they were alright (and not killed by Gwaine's dabble in the druid arts).

Soon after, they entered the Perilous Lands. Gwaine, Arthur and Merlin told the others most of their experiences there, to prepare them for the journey ahead. That said, there was little they could say that would actually prepare them for the dangers that awaited them.

They continued as a group, but regrouped into three pairs. Arthur and Percival took the lead, Oliver and Lancelot followed them and Merlin and Gwaine secured them from the back. It was all to protect Oliver. She knew this and was greatly annoyed by the notion, although she felt slightly better after Arthur informed her that it was because their mission was to ensure her safety, not because she was a woman. Still, she didn't quite care for the special treatment. The logical part of her was grateful nonetheless. The Perilous Lands were a place where one needed all the protection he could get.

Lancelot rode by her side. They hadn't run into trouble quite yet, so his mind started wondering. He noted Oliver's pants. He nearly smiled but stopped himself at the last second. Gwen and Oliver could not have been more different. Even when Gwen wore pants, she was still the epitome of a woman, her hair long and face beautiful and caring. Oliver, however..her hair seemed to be in a constant battle with itself, as it was permanently pointing into different directions. Lancelot just wanted to place his hand on her hair to see if it was real or something Merlin had designed for her. He couldn't, of course. The girl by his side would take it the wrong way if he tried something like that. Especially after last night. He sighed.

Something he had to admit in Oliver's favor was that she was no doubt in better shape than Gwen. Her training with Lancelot had paid off and she was stronger now. She was also agile and could more than hold her own with a sword. Though, now that he thought about it, was probably the wrong thing to appreciate in a woman. The question Then what is the right thing? had just popped into his head when Arthur motioned them to stop as it was time to eat again.

Merlin sat next to Gwaine and handed him a bowl. Gwaine accepted the bowl, but as he took it, his fingers brushed over Merlin's and they stayed that way for a little while longer than it was necessary. Merlin let go first. His cheeks were a bit flushed. Gwaine grunted and started eating to cover his confusion. Despite their amicable breakup, Gwaine couldn't hide his feelings for the young warlock. Not from himself, and most definitely not from Oliver and Lancelot, who looked at each, then realized it was each other and quickly looked away, both blushing.

Once they had eaten, Merlin went to the nearby river to wash the dishes and Lancelot went to protect him, while Arthur and Percival went to see if there was a way to cross the river without building a bridge a bit further along. Gwaine stayed behind to watch over Oliver.

"So. What did you do with Lancelot?" Gwaine, ready to cut to the chase.

Oliver's face reddened, but not in the same attractive way that girls (or Merlin) usually blushed. She just went beetroot in under two seconds. "None of your business. What about you, what exactly happened with Merlin?"

"None of your business", Gwaine replied, irritating Oliver. Gwaine laughed and shook his head, looking suddenly a little sad. "We kind of went our separate ways."

"Why? You both like each other."

"I'm not sure."

"What? Gwaine.."

"I'm different from the people Merlin is used to. Arthur and Lancelot, they are his type of people. Dependable, responsible."

"With a stick up their.." Oliver started, and Gwaine laughed. "Maybe. It's just..I'm used to traveling by myself. Counting on another person for my happiness..it just isn't me, I guess." Gwaine sighed.

"I always thought that if I finally fell for someone, that person would love me back. I guess that was stupid of me."

Oliver laid her arm on his shoulder. Seeing Gwaine so down was awful. She pulled the man in for a semi-hug (as they were both seated, it didn't quite work). "Gwaine, he does love you. I know he does. But, in the off-chance that he doesn't, come with me."

Gwaine flinched a little. "What?"

"Let us both flee. You can come with me. Nobody will know who we are. What do you say?" Oliver offered her hand to Gwaine. Gwaine stared at her for a moment. Then he slunk his shoulders. "Tempting. Really. But I think for the time being, my place is with M-, A-, well, in Camelot anyway."

"Then will you at least let me escape?" Oliver begged him. Gwaine was her last chance.

Gwaine gave her a sympathetic, tired smile. He took his thumb and poked her cheek. "Sorry, Oliver. I can't do that. I hope you manage to escape. I really do. But I can't let you leave."

"What is going on here?" A voice demanded. They turned to look into the direction of its source and saw Lancelot, Arthur, Merlin and Percival all looking at them. Lancelot looked outraged. Arthur looked as if he was praying the situation wasn't what it seemed. Percival seemed worried. The only one of them who was calm over the whole thing was Merlin, but even he had to struggle, given his past with jealousy.

Gwaine and Oliver looked at each other and noticed that, to and outside viewer, they looked like they had been about to do something other than talk. They let each other go. Lancelot yelled at Gwaine a good ten minutes straight about proper conduct when dealing with a lady, then Oliver took over and tried kicking Lancelot to make him stop. Meanwhile, Gwaine simply looked at the remaining trio and told them that it hadn't been what it had looked like. The trio believed him. They turned to watch as Oliver was targeting Lancelot's legs as the knight danced around, trying to avoid her kicks. Merlin laughed along at first, then he slipped away and walked to the horses, pretending to check the saddles. Gwaine followed him.

"Like I told you. Nothing's going to happen with Oliver." Gwaine stepped behind him and laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Merlin didn't turn to face him.

"I know. I'm trying." Merlin covered his hand with his own. "Thank you."

"I still love you. Not being officially together doesn't change that."

They stayed like that for a long time.

Considering they were traveling in the Perilous Lands, it was kind of a miracle that it took them until their second day there to run into trouble. More specifically, wyverns.

They took Arthur and Percival by surprise. They didn't get hurt too badly in the process but they both lost consciousness as they fell from their horses. Oliver jumped to the ground and took cover behind her horse. Lancelot leaped to defend her, but ended up assuming a similar position. Merlin and Gwaine had followed Oliver's example. Merlin glanced at his left, only to realize the man had vanished from his side. He saw the man advance towards the wyvern. "What are you doing?" He shouted at the man. "I'm getting Arthur and Percival out of here!" Gwaine reached the unconscious pair and started dragging them towards the horses, when he spotted the wyvern flying towards him. He let Arthur and Percival drop once more and drew his sword, preparing for impact.

Merlin calculated the situation. Gwaine knew. Lancelot knew. Oliver didn't. Arthur and Percival were down for the count. Oliver was going away, anyway..

Then he saw the wyvern approaching Gwaine and he yelled the words without thinking any further. The wyvern hesitated. It came a bit closer, circling their group. Then it finally obeyed Merlin and left. Gwaine turned around and flashed him a wide grin. Merlin smiled back, but then heard a crack and saw Oliver next to him. He braced himself for whatever the girl would have to say.

Except this. Oliver smacked him hard on the back. "Awesome! It's gone!" Then she ignored him and walked over to their two friends and slapped them a few times on their cheeks to wake them up. Lancelot tried muttering something about treating royals with respect but Oliver ignored him too. She acted as if she hadn't heard Merlin say a thing. They decided to play along. If she hadn't, great, if she had and she wouldn't say anything, great.

Merlin and Gwaine started packing Arthur and Percival on the horses. "So. What did you think?" Merlin asked in a hushed tone, careful not to rouse Arthur in the middle of the conversation.

Gwaine grinned. He was nearly dancing. "Oliver's right, that was pretty awesome. Magic's pretty handy once it's on our side." He patted Merlin on his back and gave out a hearty laughter. Merlin smiled as he looked at the man's enthusiastic rejoicing over the won battle.

Once awake again, Arthur went straight to business. He stared at the maps he had. "I think we'll get there the fastest if we cross the river and then turn left."

Oliver followed his gaze and looked troubled. "I don't think we should go there. That place is..disturbing."

They all turned to look at her.