So sorry for the long wait! I had exams then crashed completely afterwards. Hope you like this new chapter (it'll be getting to the main drama soon, I promise!) and thanks for reading/following. Enjoy :-)

Chapter 6

"How do you know Gwen?" Arthur demanded and Rose figured that she had once again put her foot in it.

"Doctor!" she yelled before turning back to face the King with a hesitant smile. "Would you believe me if I said lucky guess?"

Not amused by Rose's sense of humour Arthur opened his mouth to continue his questioning when suddenly her horse reared up. Caught by surprise the King merely watched as the horse began thrashing around while a terrified Rose hung on for dear life.

"Doctor!" She bellowed again, frantically clutching the reins that were quickly slipping from her grip. So out of breath and scared by her experience Rose couldn't even muster a small smile as the Doctor, Merlin and Jack appeared from round the bend. Stopping for a moment to observe the frankly quite amusing scene the boys soon burst into action at a glare from the feisty blonde.

Jack was the first to approach the beast and with a soft touch calmed the horse enough for the Doctor to relieve Rose of her seat. Squashing the Doctor into a breath stealing hug the pair embraced for a while until they were interrupted by a clearing of a throat. Separating the pair wore sheepish looks but the Doctor quickly recovered. Pinning the King with a raised eyebrow the Doctor started his own questioning.

"What exactly happened here?"

Looking at the people who surrounded him, Arthur found that he had no way to answer that question and so settled for the aggressive approach. Dismounting from his horse he spoke.

"I am the one who should be asking the questions! First you appear from out of nowhere in the forest, then this women speaks of Gwen as if she knows her," at his pause in breath the Doctor glanced at Rose who mouthed 'my bad' while Jack stood grinning. "Then she causes a perfectly healthy horse to go mad. What kind of sorcery is going on here?"

Arthur's eyes went hard as he uttered the last question and the foreign trio realised that they had to think of something believable and fast. But before they could utter a word the young warlock rose to their defence.

"That's because she has met Gwen before. In Ealdor. When Gwen lived there for a while."

Arthur still looked unconvinced but Merlin could see a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

"And the horse!" Merlin practically yelled as Arthur's attention started to drift back to the blonde. Thinking quickly the warlock muttered under his breath as his eyes glinted gold, a sight missed by the King who had turned his attention to the beast, and bent down to pick up a small snake. "He was merely spooked by this snake. See?"

Looking at the people around him who all wore open and hopeful expressions the King gave in.

"Seems plausible I suppose, but I will be keeping an eye on you. All three of you." With that stern warning the King remounted and took off at a gallop towards the castle walls.

"Well, I think could have gone worse." At Rose's muttered comment Jack let out a laugh and the Doctor couldn't help but offer one of his own.

"Gwen? Really?" The Doctor lectured as the group set off at a walk.

"I know. I know." Rose butt in. "I didn't know what to say though. It's not every day you meet a King!"

"He's not your first though." Jack spoke up as he led the horse along beside him. "You even married that one last week!"

"Yeah but he was alien, that's different." Rose mused.

Merlin thought that they must have forgotten he was still there and kept silent as he trailed along behind them. All the things they were saying were nonsense but it was quite nice not to be the strangest person around for once.

"How'd you calm the horse anyway?" Rose asked looking sideways at Jack who was gently stroking his new companion. Before he could reply the Doctor interjected.

"Do you really want to know?" he spoke on a long suffering sigh and Jack grinned that cheeky grin of his in return.

At Rose's nod Jack finally spoke.

"I dated a horse once, nice fella, quite demanding though."

Rose looked horrified, the Doctor resigned and Merlin just looked bewildered.

"It was a different planet, in one of the Vagas galaxies I think. I learnt to keep him in-line but it didn't last; he just wouldn't stop talking!"

It wasn't long into Jack's explanation that Rose's look of distaste broke into one of mirth, and as he finished his speech the trio burst into raucous laughter, clutching onto each other for support. So overcome with their hilarity they didn't notice that Merlin had come to stand in front of them, suddenly looking up as the warlock spoke.

"Who are you people?"