First of all, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY! I got so busy, and then I lacked motivation and then I got a dog and one thing after the other so Sorry!

And erm, I need credit for this, sorry… It's a fatal flaw.

But I thought of this BEFORE they killed off Uther. If you don't believe me, well I can't prove it soo…. Oh well

In Camelot….

Uther awoke. He was still sitting at the table in his chambers, he had fallen asleep whilst he tried to eat. He didn't have much on an appetite these days. The plate of food was gone, though. The serving boy must have taken it away. He scanned around the room for any signs of another person. Spotting Arthur's glove sitting on the table, he got up and left to return it to him.

It wasn't until Arthur was lying in his bed half asleep did he think of that poor girl that he had met earlier in the day. He had been busy, looking around the farm used to supply the town's food, it was well kept and had plenty of livestock, but the farmer had said that a little more support during the winter would have been great as many animals died and crops simply wouldn't grow. Arthur had 'accidentally' left out what the farmer had said when he mentioned needing help. He had said, "We needed his help. He would not give it. So you can tell that bloody King of yours that three people died during winter. One of them only five years old. Their blood is on his hands." It wasn't very well received.

"Merlin!" Arthur called. "Get in here." He heard Merlin grumble to himself before walking in with heavy footsteps. Merlin was just as tired as Arthur. "I need you to go on a message for me."

"It's late." Merlin replied, looking out the window into the barley light village. The sun was setting and the only light was faint orange glow from the last of the sun.

"I'm well aware of that Merlin, thank you, I can see." Arthur rolled his eyes, "You need to go into the village, find someone named, Gina? Jen? No, no Geraldine, Gwen, Gwen!" He thought aloud. "Find a girl named Gwen, make sure she's ok. Get her some flowers or something." He tossed a coin to Merlin, who was still protesting.

"You want me to go out in the dark and cold to find a girl without any idea where she lives?" Merlin yawned, the day had worn him out.

"I'm glad you understand." Arthur sighed. "Be quiet when you come back." He threw the sheets over him and blew out the candle, ending the argument.

Merlin first went to the market, which he only knew of because he'd passed it to get to the farm. The last merchants were just packing up. Luckily, one was selling wooden jewelry. Merlin decided this was a fine gift for someone that Arthur had just met. He picked a pretty strung-up pendant with a swirling pattern carved into the wood. It cost him less than half of what Arthur had given him, so he bought a rose as well. He hoped this girl, 'Gwen' would be happy with it.

"Excuse me," He asked a passer-by. "Do you know where I could find a girl named Gwen?" The old lady eyed up the rose in his hand and gave him a questioning look. "Gwen has a man in her life, thank you." She said curtly.

"Wh- Oh, no. No, it's not like that." Merlin put the rose into his pocket. "I'm just seeing if she's ok, I'm on a message for…. a friend." Merlin replied hastily.

"Oh," She said, "My apologies, young man. I live by her, follow me." And he did.

Merlin followed the old woman until they reached a small cluster of cottages, "Gwen lives in there." She pointed to the closest one. "Goodnight." Merlin thanked her and made for the cottage. As he passed her window he heard a cry, when he looked in to see what had happened, he saw a knife hovering right above her bare feet. She sighed and plucked the knife out of the air. Unfortunately, she turned her head a little too far to the left to see Merlin staring into her window.

Merlin didn't know what to do. Run? Go in? Run? Help her? Run? Tell Arthur? No. That was one thing he knew he wouldn't ever do. She was like him, she practiced magic. Gwen had come out of the cottage and made Merlin's choice for him. She dragged him by the arm inside. "Who are you?" She asked, sounding scared.

"I'm Merlin." He replied. She pushed him against the back of the chair he was sitting on, "Don't worry, I won't tell." He added, with a wink. Her expression softened a little. She eyed him for a moment, thinking. "How can I be sure?" Her timid voice did not match the angry face.

"You-" Merlin stopped, he couldn't tell this stranger about his magic, no. He'd just have to wait and see what happened, "You can't." She eased off of his shoulders and turned away biting her lip. The silence was tangible. Merlin laced the string through his fingers and both that and the rose on the table. Suddenly, he just burst out with, "Arthur wants to know if you're ok?" As he does in awkward situations.

Gwen turned to face Merlin again. "What?" Merlin stuttered a little bit before replying to her, he was a little nervous but he was unsure why.

"Arthur says he spoke to you today," He said slowly, "He wanted to make sure you were okay. He sends the necklace and rose." Merlin gestured to the table.

"Oh well, tell him I'll be fine," She replied, "And thank you. Really, thank you."

"I'll pass that on," Merlin smiled.

"The second one was for you." She took his hands between hers and gave them a gentle squeeze added to her grateful smile. My, Merlin thought, She is beatiful.