Hi, I'm back! I have to admit the last chapter even surprised me cause I started of saying 'right I gotta do this, this and this to make the story work' and then suddenly I'm typing Merlin being punched – it was really weird, but oh well, I ran with it.

I may not be able to update this for a few days because I'm going to London twice and Portsmouth once in the next three days, so I may have it up for the weekend or Monday.

I very pleased you liked the last chapter, and THANK YOU for all the reviews! This is now officially my most popular story!

Again, thank you to the supremely awesome Susie666 for editing this chapter and giving me a few ideas of what to do! She also wishes I had sent this yesterday because she was going out of her mind with boredom and ended changing names on her contact list to really weird names. She also really hopes I check the story carefully because she is very bored right now, well when she was checking it, and has had a lot of sugar which isn't a good combination. She also reminds me that if I change the supremely awesome bit to something rude she will retaliate in her own story which she really needs to write.

...yeah... she kind of edited my authors note too, sorry for the extremely long drabble she wrote – she must have forgotten her daily medication...please review for both our sakes! :P

Enjoy!

As she folded away the linen she couldn't help but think 'Are my best friends evil?' Gwen quickly shook her head to clear the thoughts. This was getting ridiculous!

She nearly jumped out of her skin when the door suddenly opened; when she spun around she had expected Arthur to be there, telling her good or bad news, but it was Morgana and then fear swiftly replaced shock. She was terrified of her own friend and she didn't even know why – except, maybe, that she wanted everyone dead.

"Good morning, Gwen" she said with a smile.

"Good morning, my lady" Gwen quickly replied, unable to look her mistress in the eye.

"Are you alright?" Morgana asked, sickly sweet as she looked down at her maid.

"Mmm" she was not really listening as she continued with her chores, wanting to get out of here as quickly as she could.

"Gwen, I asked if you were alright." Morgana said more forcefully, making Gwen's head snap up.

How could I have been so stupid? For it was clear that, as their eyes met, it was all fake. Her lips were curled in a soft, comforting smile, but her eyes were hard and unforgiving, a swirl of hate and disgust.

"I'm fine, my lady" Gwen mentally cursed herself at the shakiness of her voice and quickly changed subject "Where have you been? I was starting to worry, my lady." She had to stop saying 'my lady', although she couldn't help it - it was a barrier she put up when she suddenly felt nervous, one that she had used may times with Arthur.

"Oh, I only went for a walk, nothing special. I just had to clear my head" Morgana then moved to her to her dressing table and Gwen could have sworn that she saw her expression completely change, her smile disappearing entirely.

Enough was enough, she had to get away.

"Well, I better get these washed" and with that, she took her leave, feeling Morgana's eyes watching her.

Gwen moved quickly though the corridors to Arthur's chambers, she had left the laundry at the launderette and needed to know what was going on and she could wait no longer.

She stopped at the large wooden doors, knocking before she entered at the "come in".

Slipping herself through the door and quickly closing it behind her, she turned toward the prince.

"Guinevere, I...um...don't worry, Merlin's not here" He said as he saw her anxiously search the room with her eyes.

Arthur was leaning against the window, his eyes locked with hers and she could see the apprehension they held.

"Have you talked to him?"

He only nodded in response, biting his lip as if he didn't know what to say.

"Well?" Gwen breathed, not knowing if she wanted to hear what he had to say.

"We have been blind...I, a lot more than most" Arthur sighed making Gwen even more uneasy. He looked back out at the window, not able to meet her eye to eye.

"Morgana's evil, Merlin's not...I'm almost certain"

"Almost?" Gwen whispered, a tear falling down her cheek. So Morgana really was evil, there was no more denying it, all she could hope for was that Merlin really wasn't.

"I'm going hunting with Merlin later; I'll be more convinced then. It's a very complicated situation."

Gwen nodded, before asking "Why didn't he come to us?"

Arthur just laughed, reminding her of the laugh Merlin had given Morgana in that damn corridor. "Like I said, it's a very complicated situation. And anyway, would we have believed him...I'm not sure I would have."

Gwen just pierced her lips, trying unsuccessfully to stop more tears. She must have made a sound for Arthur turned around; he walked over to her, cupping her face as his thumb cleared away the tears, before pulling her into a soft embrace. She clung to him for dear life, burying her face in his shirt.

They stood there for a few seconds before they finally pulled apart.

"Are you going to explain this complicated situation?"

Arthur just shook his head, "Not for the moment, I want to make sure I have all the facts lined up first...Just remember, Morgana is dangerous, she has already tried to kill Merlin – Be careful."

"Ok" and with that she watched him walk out, leaving her trying to compose herself before she too left.

They travelled in silence as Arthur hunted for his pray. Merlin had stumbled once or twice – or maybe more round eight, but who was counting. So far he had scared all the game away and Arthur was a very annoyed prince. It wasn't just Merlin's incompetence that was winding him up, oh no, it was the infuriating silence that had replaced their usual banter.

Neither of them were sure of what to say, or too scared to say it. Finally, when they started to walk back to the horses, carrying only two rabbits, Arthur decided to start interrogating his manservant.

"So Morgana doesn't know of your magic?" Arthur asked, as if they were talking about the weather. Merlin's head shoot up, not expecting the sudden break in silence. He quickly recovered to answer.

"No, nor does her sister" He bowed his head down again, taking care where he walked. It was a while till Arthur asked his next question.

"Have you ever used magic on or against me?" There was curiosity, hesitation and fear in the prince's voice, he was indeed afraid of the answer. Merlin wished he could have said no, but he knew that that was not true, however small it may be. His friend's silence was enough as an answer, so Arthur asked "When?"

There was silence for a few moments as Merlin chose his words carefully, "Do you remember when we first met?"

Arthur turned to him, eye brows knitted in confusion, however he still answered, "You called me a royal arse."

"Yeah and you called me stupid" Giving him a huge smile.

Arthur just chuckled as he replied "Merlin, you are stupid."

"And you're an arse" The smile just brightening, making them both laugh. When they recovered Merlin continued, "Well, when we had that fight with the maces in the market, I kept moving things to get in your way"

Arthur just glared at him, open mouthed, as he said loudly, "I knew it! I knew there was something weird with that fight! I've never fallen over so much in my life!"

The warlock just smirked.

"I also removed your...donkey ears." Merlin said, while unsuccessfully tried to stifle a laugh, but he was quickly silenced by the prat's glare.

"Yeah but I still had the laugh for a few days so you didn't exactly do it well!" It was when Merlin gave a guilty look will still trying to not laugh that Arthur realised, "Oh my god! You left that on purpose?"

"It was too good" and now unable to hold it back, started howling in laughter until he felt Arthur smack him round the head.

They were nearing the clearing where the horses were tied when Arthur enquired in a deadly serious tone, "Have you ever hesitated about saving me? Thought that it would be better for me to die?"

Merlin answered bluntly without hesitation or thought, "No."

"Not even for a second?" Arthur whispered, afraid of the response, as he looked down at the floor.

Merlin took a deep breath, replying truthfully, "When I first meet the dragon, it was right after our fight in the market, he told me of the prophecy and that you would united all of Albion, he said that I had to protect you so that you'd live to become King...I laughed and said that I didn't care, and would probably help them actually. I said you were a prat, and he replied that it may be my job to change that. Then that impersonator of Lady Helen came to kill you, and I didn't even hesitate to save you."

Arthur nodded, consumed in his thoughts as they reached the horses.

"Have I changed?"

Merlin turned to him, that look of wisdom on his face, "You have become my best friend, and a man I would be proud to call my king!"

He was speechless, had Merlin seriously just said that?

"Thanks" and he really meant it.

"Um...what are we telling Gwen?" asked Merlin, slightly scared of the answer, as he stared to prepare the horses.

"So far she knows that Morgana's no longer on our side, I didn't know how to tell her the rest" Arthur admitted.

"But we are telling her?" Merlin enquired, unsure of what he wanted – half of him wanted her to know, so that there were no longer any secrets, but the other half was afraid of her reaction.

"I think we'll have to, it's not like we can hide it from her, and she'll want answers."

They quickly mounted the animals when Merlin had finished, Arthur going home much more convinced that he had made the right decision in not telling his father of Merlin's gifts.

Morgana watched from her window as the two men returned from their day of hunting. She could tell the difference in their demeanour, especially Merlin, who seemed to be much more relaxed, as if a huge secret had been lifted from his chest.

Gwen had seemed scared of her, she was sure of it. But did that mean Merlin had told her, had he told Arthur too?

She laughed, quickly shaking the ridiculous thought away, no one would believe Merlin! Not over her!

...But what if they did? Morgana's smile left as quickly as it came.

She had 'informed' Merlin if he told anyone she would kill him, so would he really risk death when she had magic and he couldn't even handle a sword. The boy was an idiot but he had a brain, a small brain but a brain none the less, didn't he?

I guess it's about time to find out...

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