Once Again I am so sorry for the wait. Life is just complicated as hell. I promise I won't give up on finishing this fic, and as always feedback is much appreciated!

Gwen awoke feeling very excited and very nervous for the day ahead. She had barely been sleeping at, rather lying in bed thinking about meeting her admirer. She had received another note the previous night when she returned home.

Dearest Guinevere, I hope it is but one more day until we meet.
I long to share even a single moment in your grace.
If you truly wish to grant me this kindness
I ask that we meet at noon.
Yours Truly.

She couldn't help but smile for hours and to read and read again the beautiful words. She spent the morning getting ready. Putting her hair in gorgeous curls around her face and adorning herself with a gorgeous mauve silk dress Morgana had given her long ago for just such an occasion. She put on a beautiful silver necklace with a gold ring on it, both of which belonged to her mother. Just before noon she set out heading for the northern garden just outside the north gates of the town. The northern garden was created by Igraine Pendragon and was surrounded by lavender at the edges. Deeper in there were roses, tulips, daisies, orchids and all manner of wildflowers. At the center of the garden there was a simple circular shrubbery maze and at the center of the maze a fountain was placed. The statue in the fountain was the very likeness of Igraine Pendragon placed there after her death. Gwen decided that she would wait there for her suitor.

"Okay, now Artie we are going to have to speak to the council" Morgana addressed the Golem. "I know I told you not to speak to anyone, but for this I will need you to communicate with them."

"And what will you have me say to them?" He answered.

"I'm going to alter your appearance slightly to make you appear very ill. You will then tell them that you are in no way well enough to perform duties as a king, and that you have the utmost confidence that I will make a great Queen to Camelot until you have recovered from your affliction."

"I understand, Sounds easy enough."

"After that Gaius will give them a diagnosis for you so they do not have any reason to become suspicious."

"Sounds good to me."

"Okay, and after all of that life will get pretty easy, if not boring for you. You'll spend most of it in Arthur's room, you won't have any visitors apart from Franklin who will be acting as your servant."

"I do not feel bored, or lonely so these things will not bother me."

"I thought so." Morgana replied and left to get Gaius.

Merlin was very nervous about entering the memories with Arthur because he was afraid of how he would react. He was very sure of some of the key memories they would have to unlock in order for Arthur to awaken, not all of which had Merlin doing agreeable things, not to mention the ones that Merlin wasn't sure he could go through again. However some of them were on the opposite side of the spectrum showing nothing but the good of him.

What's going on?" Arthur asked

"Not sure yet, we'll have to wait and see which memory this is." Merlin quickly replied.

Just then the door opened and another Arthur came inside the room, followed by Merlin. They began speaking about plans the Merlin was to be making, secret and involving a woman.

The present Merlin knew exactly what day this was and he was surprised it stared this way, but he supposed it was good to get some big things out of the way. This was the day Arthur took Gwen on the picnic in the woods. Just as he had the realization the scene shifted around them and they were suddenly in the woods at the picnic itself.

"Oh." Was all Arthur could say as the memory progressed and he suddenly remembered everything that had happened between himself and Gwen. "But, Merlin I don't understand. What do my memories with Gwen have to do with you?"

"What do you mean?

"Well you said your spell only got rid of Memories that had to do with you. You had nothing to do with Gwen and I being together."

"Oh, well it's not so much Gwen as what happens next that has to do with me."

"Wha-" Arthur began but stopped as the knights approached the scene. They arrived and warned Arthur that his father was looking for him and that King Rodor and his daughter Mithian had arrived. "Princess Mithian? Why would she come with her father?"

"You'll see." Merlin proclaimed as the memory shifted around them again. This time they were in the great hall listening to Uther talk to Arthur about an arranged marriage between he and Mithian to unite the kingdoms.

"Oh god, I remember now. Mithian, truly lovely but she wasn't Gwen. Wait, Merlin I still don't see how this involves you." Arthur said with a look of utter confusion on his face. As the memory shifted again to Arthur and Mithian in the woods on horseback at the edge of a river. "What's going on now? I don't remember this."

"This is where I come in. you wouldn't have remembered this even without my spell." They watched as Arthur and Mithian dismounted their horses and set about making a picnic. Merlin hiding nearby unbeknownst to them.

"What do you mean?" Just as Arthur finished the question the picnic became interrupted. Two men running out of the woods past Mithian and ambushing Arthur before he could react. They held him in place as Mithian began laughing. "Oh god, now I remember she tried to kill me." Mithian began chanting, her eyes glowing a dark ember. Then she was thrown back hitting a tree and falling to the ground and the two men were lifted into the air and violently slammed into each other, skulls cracking and bones crunching followed by both bodies falling to the ground. Merlin had intervened, and was rushing toward a shaken and very shocked Arthur. The Memory faded and the two men were back outside of the door.

"Arthur? Are you okay?" Merlin asked looking worried.

"What else happened Merlin? I am starting to remember bits and pieces of it but it's cloudy."

"I fought Mithian, and killed her. She hadn't come to kill you like you thought. She had come to control your mind and have you kill Uther."

"But why?"

"You saw, she was a witch. Her mother too, they were controlling Rodor. Ruling Nemeth through him, There is a lot of Magic in Nemeth, very well hidden and they were trying to rid the world of Uther and spread their rule to Camelot as well. I didn't want to kill her, but she wouldn't give up and she gave me no choice."

"And what of her father, her mother? how was it explained?"

"I made my first Golem that day, and had it call off the marriage. When they left I followed and as they got close to their own kingdom I attacked and kidnapped the false princess. So as not to arise any Camelot related suspicion."

"Kidnap? Why not just let the creature live as her?"

"Because I knew that as a person with magic her mother would recognize a golem in place of her daughter, and she would know that someone in Camelot had done something to the real Mithian."

"So you saved Camelot from a war? Merlin, you really are amazing."

Merlin blushed at this, but had to continue "Well not exactly. You see Her mother figured it out eventually and she lost it. She exposed the magic at her disposal and declared war on Camelot. That's why your father was going to Mercia, that's the impending war that he was preparing for. That's what all of this is about."

"But with father dead won't she be satisfied? Her people can live with their magic in peace."

"No, She is out for more than just blood. She want's the complete destruction of Camelot. She has forces at her disposal far greater and more numerous than we could have imagined. That's why I am looking for the dragons. They used to protect Camelot, We used to live in peace with them. I'm hoping they will be willing to do so again."

"I see, So will I wake up now?"

"No, unfortunately this is just the beginning. We have a bit more to see, Some of it is not going to be pleasant."

"Oh, I cannot wait." And with that they stepped through the next door.

"Hello Guinevere."

Gwen spun around at the sound of her name and was surprised to find Gwaine standing before her holding a beautiful assortment of flowers, and looking almost sick with nervousness. "Hello, Gwaine" She replied with a smile actually pleased at the identity of her suitor. "I don't think I realized that you were so romantic."

At this Gwaine's face grew hot and red. "I- Well-" He looked away embarrassed at his stammering. "It's a lot easier on paper."

Gwen tried hard not to chuckle, but couldn't help it. "Sorry, I've just never see you be at a loss for words."

Gwaine loosened up at this starting to feel a lot more comfortable. "There's a first for everything." He smiled.

They spent the better part of the day sitting at the fountain talking. They talked about her life, and his adventures, and it even came up that they were both experiencing memory issues. Which made Gwen become suspicious that something must be going on. She decided that she would try to talk to Morgana about it. But in the mean time She was going to invite Gwaine to have dinner with her seeing as how he had forgotten to actually bring a picnic with him. No matter she knew how to make a great meal.

"What exactly is it you are going to do now?" Gaius asked Morgana.

"I'm going to alter his appearance slightly to make him appear ill. I just need to know what exactly to change. It won't be difficult, I read it in that spell book. It will be just like molding clay. So you tell me what to do to make him look like he actually has an affliction."

"Ah I see, Well first we will want to take off some of his weight, and make him look a bit more pale, Give him dark rings around his eyes, and make his eyes a bit bloodshot. That ought to be enough to convince everyone that he is suffering from a very real affliction."

"Great, That should all be very easy." With that Morgana focused on Artie and began to chant. As she chanted parts of Artie actually began to melt away, He became much smaller, his skin paling to almost grey. His eyes grew dark and bloodshot, and by the time she finished chanting he looked positively dreadfull.

"You know, I think this may very well work my dear." Gaius said clearly convinced himself that the creature in front of them was very ill.

"Good, because it has to. As for you Artie, look into Arthur's memories of being sick and behave as if you are sick. You must convince the council."

Artie's face went blank for a few moments in thought before he responded. "Sure thing Morgana." He spoke although the words came out weaker, and quieter. He also began to slightly slouch and he even went as far as to start coughing.

"Wow, I didn't expect it to be that convincing. I'm actually worried." Morgana stated.

"Well it's a good thing he's ready, because it is time for us to meet with the council." Gaius reminded her.

"Oh yes, you're right. Artie, it's time to meet with the council let's go." The three made their way to the council room hoping no suspicions would arise.

As Merlin and Arthur explored locked memories, their bodies lay unconscious on the forest floor. Merlin's magic swirling around them in a sphere of emerald green. A couple of goblins approached smelling the humans ready to attack. The magic sensing the danger reacted quickly, flashing bright as the sun and turning the goblins to stone. The now stone goblins crumbled to dust and a short time later a clan of faeries collected the dust in pouches before flying back to their meadow.

Inside the new memory Merlin felt his magic stir and do something powerful. "Well at least I know my magic really is protecting us, I just felt something powerful happen."

"That's great, if only it would give me my memories and wake me up without us having to go through all of this."

"Yeah, we'll get out of here don't worry."

"I know, I'll never worry with you. So Why did you erase my memory of your magic the first time?

"I didn't want to put you in a position of choosing to protect me, or to be loyal to your father. I would never want to do that to you."

"I appreciate that, but next time Merlin. Let me decide for myself what positions I want to be put in. So what memory are we going to go through now?"

"I'll never keep anything from you again." Merlin leaned in and kissed Arthur at this. "I'm not sure, it's really dark."

The memory began to form around them and the were in the great hall, listening to Mary Collins impersonating Lady Helen and using a spell to put the entire hall to sleep. The entire hall that is except Merlin who was unaffected by the spell. Arthur watched as Merlin defeated the witch and saved his life.

"I remember you saving me from her knife but I had no idea you defeated her. You really have been saving my life since the moment we met, and I was so horrible to you in those early days."

"We've been destined to be together since before we even existed. The dragon told me that we are going to bring about a unified, peaceful Albion."

"That's kind of a lot of pressure, but as long as I'm with you I know that we can make anything happen." He returned the kiss Merlin had given him moments ago. "You know we haven't actually been able to do this for real yet? It's just been in dreams and now in my memories."

"Just another thing to look forward to when we finally get you out of this coma."

"Well then let's get through these memories."

Merlin being with Arthur allowed some of the memories to go beyond what Arthur saw during the events. They went through memory after memory of Merlin saving not only Arthur, but Camelot as a whole. He couldn't help but feel horrible for treating Merlin the way he had all this time, although he knew Merlin didn't hold it against him. He promised himself he would make it up to him.

Just when Merlin was getting worried about the lack of bad memories, they appeared in a cave that Arthur would recognize from Merlin's earlier dream. But Merlin knew there wouldn't be anything dreamlike about this memory. They watched as Merlin entered the cave carrying Arthur's sword, Excalibur. Arthur's face grew confused as he watched Merlin descend the stairs and fearful as a dragon appeared out of the darkness. Arthur's memory of this dragon suddenly jogged he wondered if maybe Merlin had known it was going to attack and had tried to stop it before it could.

Merlin watched as Arthur's face went white as the memory progressed and Merlin released the dragon from it's chains. The memory faded and Arthur turned to Merlin.

"Why?" Arthur's face showing the betrayal he was feeling.

"I- I... had to. I didn't know he would attack. He had guided me through things that I never would have been able to accomplish otherwise. He said he would go peacefully and he betrayed me. But I discovered my Dragonlord powers and now dragons have to obey me. We won't have to worry about that ever again."

Arthur was quiet for a while, they went through a few more memories of Arthur and Gwen, which Merlin purposefully ignored. Finally while watching the memory of the night the dragon actually attacked, Arthur saw how hard Merlin fought to stop him and how he sent him away. "I'm sorry. It's just hard things have been so different from how I've perceived them and this is a learning experience. I can see that you never meant any harm and everything you have done has been to help me. We all have to make difficult choices in the name of good." He pulled Merlin into a tight embrace and they both laughed at a memory of Merlin as Emrys. "I can't believe I didn't realize that was you."

"You've always been a bit dim." Merlin teased and the mood slowly lightened again.

Merlin knew they were catching up to the events that led to the spell and he wasn't sure he was ready for Arthur to see it, but he knew they had to get through it and that they would be stronger for it.

Next few chapters should have some action as long as my mind stays on this path, but we'll see I get a lot of last second ideas. Thanks for reading!