Just as Gwaine was about to leave Gaius's room, Merlin entered, carrying two trays of lunch. "Aww, you didn't get one for me?" Gwaine said plaintively. Merlin set the trays down, and said, "I didn't know you were coming for lunch."
"True," said Gwaine. "I wasn't planning on it, but I think I'll survive," he said with a smile.
While Gaius and Merlin were eating, Gwaine examined his friend. He had always thought there was something more to Merlin than he let on, and now that he knew...well, it probably explained how someone so superficially useless managed to survive for as long as he had. Merlin certainly didn't look like the most powerful magic-user ever, but then again, Arthur didn't look like the princess he really was either.
When Gaius and Merlin were finished eating, Gwaine said, "So, Merlin, how long have you been using magic?"
Merlin jumped in shock, and Gwaine chuckled. Merlin recovered, and said, "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean I know you have magic, Merlin, and I was wondering how long you've been using it."
Merlin turned to look at Gaius, who was wearing an expression of reassurance. Merlin walked over to where Gwaine was sitting, and said, "Since before I can remember. My mum said that I'd levitate my cradle when I was still in it. Why d'you ask?"
"Because I'm curious about you," replied Gwaine. "I always thought there was something more to you than you were letting on, and I've just had my suspicions confirmed. Is there anything else about you that I should know?"
"Well...what do you know about me?" said Merlin.
"I know you have magic, and I know you're protecting Arthur," replied Gwaine. "But...that's about it."
Merlin smiled. "Well...do you remember a few years ago? You, Elyan, Perceval and Leon confronted an old sorcerer, and he beat you."
"Yeah," Gwaine replied. "Wait...how did you know about that? You weren't there."
Merlin smiled. Gwaine was confused, then a thought hit him. "You?", he asked.
"Yep," replied Merlin.
"But how?", asked Gwaine.
"Ageing spell," Merlin said with a smile. "I needed to create a disguise that would allow me to use magic, and Arthur couldn't tell it was me if I was eighty years old, so I created Dragoon the Great. Anything else you want to know?"