The lush canopy provided shelter from the blazing sun as they wound their way through the forest, the only sounds coming from their sniffing horses and the dull thread of their hooves on the damp ground. The horses cantered calmly along the well-worn path towards Camelot. Her hair, teased out of the bun she'd tied them in by the wind, fluttered against her face and Gwen breathed in deeply, enjoying the musky scent of the forest that tickled her nostrils. She'd always found riding relaxing, the rhythmic movement of the horse, the fresh air, the wide open spaces – riding gave her a freedom she didn't experience elsewhere.

Only despite her best attempts, during this ride, Gwen was achingly aware that just a short distance away, rode Arthur and she found herself sneaking glances at him, then turning away flushed when he caught her eye. She really needed to stop acting like a young girl in love again.

"How long till we get to Camelot?" asked Amber for the fifth time.

"It'll be at least another two days," said Arthur, his arms tightening around a sleepy Amber. "Right Merlin?"

Merlin just grunted.

"I would have thought you'd be pleased to be returning to Camelot," said Arthur.

"I'm thrilled," said Merlin flatly before he tugged at his reigns, urging his horse to move faster.

Arthur's horse moved nearer to hers. "He's not very friendly, is he?"

"He's just worried."

"Worried? Are there problems back home?"

Her head knew Arthur was just being curious, asking out of politeness, but her heart wondered if Arthur felt any connection to the land he was born to rule. "Just the usual border disputes," said Gwen, unwilling to give voice to her concerns. Merlin's guardedness around Arthur only served to make her more circumspect in her dealings with him.

"Do you ever stop worrying about your kingdom?"

"Only for the briefest moments," said Gwen. Unsaid was how many of those moments were time spent with Arthur, curled in his arms, ensconced in their bed, discussing the most mundane of things. The last time, they had been arguing over whether it was better to sleep above or below the covers in summer. A lump formed in her throat.

Arthur's quiet voice intruded. "Must be tiring. Being Queen."

"It's not always bad." And it hadn't been when Arthur was alive, when they watched Camelot blossom under their rule. "It's not," she repeated.

"Tell me more about Camelot."

"Camelot is wide, blue skies and lush forests. She withstood wars, protected her people during dark times. She's children playing in the courtyard, people working towards a better future. She's where commoners can aspire to be knights, where a servant can be a queen, where you can be anything you want."

"She's hope," said Arthur.

"She is hope." Gwen smiled, her heart lifting at his words. Arthur may claim to remember nothing but Gwen knew then that Camelot was still a part of him. Merlin was wrong. He was Arthur.

Amber stirred, and Arthur turned his attention to her, adjusting her gently until she settled. He looked up, their eyes locking. A shiver ran through her and she was sure Arthur felt the same when he suddenly looked away.

"There's a clearing ahead. Looks like a great place to stop for the night," called Merlin from the front.

As Gwen knelt in front of the smothering wood, she was acutely aware of Arthur's eyes on her. Her hands became clumsy and it took her more tries than usual to get a fire going.

"Why doesn't Merlin use his magic to light a fire?" He perched on a fallen log having just settled Amber down. "Seems it would be easier."

Gwen's eyes darted to where Merlin stood watering the horses. "Habit? I usually start the fires. You weren't very good at it."

Amusement flared in his eyes. "What was I good at?"

"Besides being a general pain?" Merlin, obviously eavesdropping, yelled over. His attempt at humour was half-hearted and Arthur merely looked slightly confused.

Amber stirred next to them, stuffing her thumb into her mouth before settling into sleep again.

"She so young," Arthur murmured.

"I was her age when I went to work in the castle." The fire had finally sprung to life and Gwen stood, wiping her hands down the brown pants she wore before making her way to the fallen log. Her hands brushed against the rough bark as she sat down.

"Tell me."

Gwen's startled eyes met his.

"I should get to know you, shouldn't I?"

Shifting so she sat more comfortably, Gwen absently picked up a twig. "My father was a blacksmith in the lower town. He sent me to work in the royal kitchens when I was nine. Mum had died -"

Merlin returned, pots in hand. He looked from Arthur to Gwen. "Dinner?" he asked.

"You cooking?" asked Gwen with a smile.

With a roll of his eyes, Merlin sighed. "Of course. Can't expect the King and Queen to."

"Merlin -"

Merlin shot Gwen a smile. "I was just teasing." But when his eyes moved to Arthur, the smile faded. "What were you two talking about?"

"Arthur was just asking about when I started working at the castle. It seems so long ago," Gwen said.

"Bet you never thought you'd be queen," Merlin said lightly as he stirred something in the pot. His voice gentled. "I'm glad you are queen though."

"I did dream of being a princess," she laughed. Her eyes met Arthur's and her laugh faded at the intensity in his expression. The twig broke in her hand and she let it drop.

Merlin cleared his throat.

Arthur was the first to break eye contact. "What about you Merlin? When did you come to Camelot?"

With some reluctance, Merlin told him of how he'd gone to Camelot to learn under Gaius and how they first met.

"So, as a reward, you got to be my manservant?" Amusement and confusion warred in Arthur's voice and Gwen couldn't help her smile. "You must have been an awful servant."

"The worst you've ever had," retorted Merlin.

When Arthur laughed in response, Gwen felt the tension that had built between Arthur and Merlin through the day ease slightly.

"This probably means your cooking is terrible as well," sighed Arthur.

"I wouldn't dare subject you to it," replied Merlin, with far too much innocence in his voice.

"Give it here." Arthur reached for the pot but Merlin deftly put his body between Arthur and the pot.

Arthur scowled before sitting back on the log.

Merlin passed a bowl to Gwen who thanked him, mirth colouring her voice. Then with excruciating slowness, scooped another bowl. Merlin dipped a spoon into the bowl and took a large, loud slurp. "Mmmm."

"Merlin," Arthur said slowly. "Can I please have a bowl?"

"I wouldn't want to subject you to my bad cooking. Better you save your stomach for something better. Perhaps some beetles?"

Gwen laughed. She never knew seeing Arthur and Merlin bicker would fill her with so much affection and love.

"Merlin!"

Amber had woken in the middle of dinner and Arthur had passed her a bowl of Merlin's cooking, which while wasn't quite as good as Muriel's, was decent enough. After her first spoonful, Amber seemed to perk up and peppered Gwen with a million questions about working at the castle.

Gwen and Amber's laughter made Arthur smile and his heart warm.

"Gwen is a special person," said Merlin, settling down on the log next to him.

Arthur nodded.

"I never thought I'd say this to you, but if you hurt her –" Merlin's voice trailed off and he tossed a few more twigs into the fire.

"I don't want to hurt her either," said Arthur. "But it's hard when I don't know anything."

Merlin made a noise but didn't look at him, and for a while they sat in silence. Merlin watched the fire while Arthur watched Gwen and Amber. Occasionally Amber would yell a question at him, but mostly, she was too enthralled by Gwen. Gwen, however, glanced often at him and Arthur found himself smiling at her, feeling his affection for her growing in him.

"I think it's best that you don't get to close to Gwen for now," said Merlin out of the blue.

Tearing his eyes from Gwen, Arthur looked at Merlin in the dim light. A furrow creased Merlin's brow even as he continued to stare into the fire. "Why?"

"Coming back from the dead isn't something that happens regularly," said Merlin. "You may have the best intentions, but whatever it is that brought you back may not. And Gwen has been through enough. She doesn't need you betraying her."

"I –" Then Arthur hesitated as the truth of Merlin's words sunk in. "I said I'd just go to the borders with you. Then I'll be off."

Merlin scoffed, finally turning his head to look at Arthur. "Really?"

"I don't know."

"Many years ago, a knight returned from the dead. But it wasn't really him, just a shade. And he caused a great deal of pain and heartbreak, especially for Gwen."

Arthur heard the warning in Merlin's voice and he nodded. "You think I should just leave."

"I don't know," said Merlin, an unexpected rawness in his tone. "I miss you too, Arthur and I want so much to believe it's you and there's nothing suspicious about this."

"Kay!" Amber got up from Gwen's lap and walked over to him. She yawned and rubbed her eyes. "I'm sleepy. Can you tuck me in?"

Arthur cast a look at Merlin, his warnings and fears playing in his mind. He stood and smiled at Amber who had no idea of the mess they were all in. "Of course."

AN: Thanks for all the lovely comments. :)