You know, I'd have preferred to see more of Gwen knowing about Merlin, apart from that very short Gwen/Gaius scene! :( Anyway, I enjoyed writing this chapter :D

aimee:Oh right haha, no it's okay, it made me write that chapter quicker :P You will have to wait and see ;) Thanks for your review!

Luigia:Oh Luigia what can I say...a mega thank you for your reviews! They are amazing and make me happy and I'm so glad you're loving this story so far, it means a lot to me! xD

Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven (Merlin's POV):

Merlin let the crowd pass by him as he entered the side hall into the royal chambers.

He caught sight of Gwen by her dressing table, brushing her hair.

Upon seeing him, she brightened. "Merlin! Welcome back!" She got up and hugged him.

Merlin smiled, warmed by the greeting and rested his chin on her shoulder.

He suddenly pulled back though, when he heard crying. "Gwen, what's wrong? Is it Arthur?"

She shook her head, rubbing furiously at her face. "No...it's not about him."

"Then what is it?" Merlin anxiously rubbed her shoulders while a strange expression crossed her face.

"It's about you...when were you going to tell me?"

Merlin frowned. "Tell you what?"

Gwen smiled slightly, while tears still leaked across her cheeks. "It's okay Merlin, after so long, I know."

"Kn - know?"

Gwen breathed in deeply and retained her composure, nodding and firmly stating "Yes."

Merlin stood still and assessed the situation. Arthur had told him not to tell anyone his secret, but then he'd probably gone and told Gwen! No one else could have, because Gaius surely wouldn't have.

Gwen must have interpreted his silence for fear, because she quickly tried placating him. "Don't be afraid, I'm not going to condemn you! You are my best friend, and nothing you are will change that. Besides, I'm sure it helped in saving Arthur's life. Please tell me everything."

Merlin opened his mouth, then closed it abruptly.

He realised he didn't know where to begin.

Her reaction was in complete contrast to Arthur's, it unnerved him. If Arthur didn't feel this way now...would he ever?

As they sat down, Merlin decided to begin from his arrival in Camelot and recount his adventures, all use of magic included.

Gwen was the perfect listener, her eyes widening with gratefulness when he told her of how he saved her father from Nimueh's plague, with nostalgia when he told her that Lancelot had known from his first visit, with wonder every time he saved Arthur's life, and the journey of his own.

But by the end, Gwen's tears seemed to increase again. "I'm so sorry. So sorry."

Merlin snapped back to the present. "What - Why?"

"Because you felt you couldn't tell me! Because you've kept it a secret from a place - and old king - that would have had you killed in a blink of an eye, for so long! I'm so sorry."

Merlin held on to her hands, squeezing them gently. "It's not your fault."

"It's all of Camelot's fault. We should have fought back for those innocent people, yourself included. Arthur will make this right."

Merlin looked around, only now noticing that the king wasn't there. "Where is he?"

"We decided that it would be better if he slept in his prince's chambers to not be interrupted. He needs his rest."

"Mhmm." Merlin quickly stood up and began backing away. "I just need to see him, err you know, check the bed covers are clean, the pillows puffed up, you know how he gets when his bed isn't perfect."

Gwen laughed and wiped her eyes, waving him off. "Go, I'll be fine here."

Merlin was at the door when he instantaneously spun round, gave her a massive grin and thumbs up, before hurrying out.

Entering the king's old chambers, Merlin took one look at the scene and laughed.

Arthur had managed to entangle himself in the bed covers, the sheets and the pillowcases, while flipping from one side to the other, trying to find a comfortable spot.

Upon hearing the laugh, Arthur raised his head and glared before getting out of the bed and waving his hand nonchalantly at the bed.

"Finally, you're here. Can you sort this out, it was like that when I got here."

"Sure it was." Merlin muttered under his breath.

Walking forward, he was about to make sure Arthur wasn't looking before stopping himself.

Who cares if Arthur was watching? He knew about his magic now!

Whisking his hand and glinting his eyes, the bed was made in a second.

By the look on Arthur's face, Merlin guessed that he'd just had a 'jump out of your skin' moment.

"What the hell are you DOING?" Arthur whispered furiously, eyes darting to the door.

"Making your bed..."

"With MAGIC! What if a knight walked in? What if GWEN walked in?"

Merlin raised his eyebrows. "Oh well, thanks to you, it doesn't matter if Gwen walks in, does it?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Uhh...she knows?"

Arthur's head whipped from the bed to him so fast, Merlin was surprised his neck didn't crack. "She...knows...about..."

He sounded like he was choking so Merlin graciously finished the sentence for him "Yes Arthur, Gwen knows. About my magic. But you already knew that."

Arthur gaped. Merlin took an instinctive step back.

"You told her."

What?

Merlin frowned. "No, you told her."

"You told her!"

"I didn't tell her!" As an after thought "Well, I did, but that was after you'd already told her!"

"I didn't tell her!"

"But...she knew...well then who did tell her?!"

The king and the sorcerer stood staring at each other, before simultaneously turning to the door and, reaching it at the same moment - but Arthur pushing past Merlin and going through first - they raced to the queen.

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