Extra chapter. I update tomorrow the epilogue, if there is no more requests before that. I don't think this chap was anything what you wished RememberTheMuse, but I hope you still like it.
A few days later…
"You promised Arthur!" Gwen was furious. It was rare to see her so angry that Arthur went speechless.
"You promised to him that you will keep your cool! You already killed him once!" Gwen screamed.
"But…" Arthur tried to say something but Gwen didn't listened.
"There can't be anything, anything do you hear me, that can made you hit him again!"
Arthur avoided the flying vase.
"He had lied at me so many times…" Arthur tried again.
"Do you even consider why he had to do so? You selfish prat!"
Arthur bumped into the wall when he tried to avoid very heavy bowl.
"And you can forgive him everything? Without being angry?" Arthur demanded to know and dodged the hairbrush.
"Of course I can't idiot." Gwen hissed. "But do you hear me screaming to him? And I spoke with Hunith because I wanted to really know. In practice, I had to blackmail her to tell the whole story from beginning to end. And then I have to promise that I would never tell that for anyone." Gwen stopped suddenly, tears in her eyes. "You can't ever imagine what she and Merlin had gone through."
"Guine…"
"Hell with you! Go apologize from him you fool!" Gwen's hand looked something to throw.
Arthur fled. Outside their champers waited Leon who tried hide his smile.
"Where he is?" Arthur asked.
"Who?"
"Our damn Court Sorcerer, who else?"
"I don't say anything before you calm down. Why don't we go hunting or something?" Leon suggested. "And may I say that queen Annis is leaving today."
"I know that." Arthur snapped.
"Then I suggest that you really cool down now. She is Merlin's grandmother and she can be our enemy."
Arthur gritted his teeth.
"Is Hunith leaving too?"
"Yes, she goes with her to Caerleon."
"I see, so Merlin will be there too." Arthur looked satisfied.
"Can I ask, what made you so angry to him this time?" Leon asked when they started to walk. Arthur actually couldn't answer for that.
"Everything, I think. Just, everything. All these years, following me, protecting me. And some of the time he had caused so many…" Arthur shut up. He didn't wanted to though those times when Merlin was messed up.
"But things are always settled." Leon noted. Arthur looked him.
"You really are his side?"
"Not really, but I try to be rational." Leon admitted. "And I know him. And you, you know him better than any of us."
"I though that I knew. Now, maybe I don't know."
Leon avoided Arthur's gaze. "Did you ask him about his… death?"
Arthur went silent before he answered quietly.
"No. Didn't get there yet."
"Maybe you should. Something about him has chanced. He is his own charming himself but something is different."
"He had chanced a lot during the last year." Arthur murmured. "But I know what you mean. And I'm afraid to ask."
#
Three hours later Arthur was standing in the yard watching how the delegation of Caerleon packed and prepared to leave minus Sir Andrew plus Lady Hunith.
"Merlin." Arthur nodded to his friend who looked him with indifference. His eye was menacingly blackened. The atmosphere was freezing.
"Your Majesty." Merlin bowed and turned to see his grandmother and smiled widely. Arthur flinched. He reminded himself that Merlin would turn him a toad if he really wanted.
"I come to see you soon. I promise." Merlin promised.
"You better do so, or I will not let Hunith to leave at all." Annis threatened eyes gleaming.
"Mother." Hunith sighed and came to hug Merlin.
"Love you son." She kissed him on the cheek.
"Love you mother." Merlin looked like he didn't wanted to leave her go but then helped her into the carriage.
"And Merlin, if you ever want, in my home is always place to you." Annis glanced over Arthur who watched her angrily. Annis laughed.
"Be careful Merlin. And Andrew, keep him out of trouble if you ever can."
"Yes mother." Andrew nodded obediently and winded at Merlin who grinned back.
"Then, goodbye Arthur Pendragon. And keep my son and grandson alive, if you can."
Arthur bowed and Annis stepped inside the carriage.
They watched how the small procession left.
"Merlin…"
"What?" Merlin turned to watch Arthur.
"Can we speak?"
"No."
"No? Don't be childish!"
"Childish? CHILDISH! You just wait and watch what is childish!" And Merlin turned and left.
"Good work Arthur. Very good work." Gwen snarled to him.
"WHAT? What did I do?" Arthur asked.
#
"I can't believe it. Two days already."
"Then what you estimated?"
"Only one day." Gwaine growled. "What about yourself?"
"Three days." Percival answered. Elyan handed the flagon to Gwaine. "I guessed two days."
"Likewise." Ywain grinned. Andrew shook his head with disappointment. "I can't believe that you bet from something like this."
"You have a lot to learn. This is a general entertainment among the servants." Tristan said.
"And the knights." Gwaine added.
"To place the bets on how long Merlin and Arthur fight?" Andrew was incredulous.
"Or Gwen and Arthur."
"Or Gwaine and Merlin."
"Really?" Gwaine asked with astonishment.
"Or Leon and Gwaine. Or George and Arthur. Or…"
"I got it, thank you." Andrew sighed.
"This time was pretty bad." Gwaine said. "This is just the last nail in the coffin. It may take longer time if something not happen and soon."
"Like what?"
"What make them work together." Gwaine explained. "Even when they are idiots, they can work together pretty well."
"So, you have a plan?" Elyan asked.
"I have a plan."
That day Elyan and Ywain won the bet.
#
"I kill him." Arthur marched forward Merlin right on his heels. Everyone who came across them turned and fled. Merlin thought it was perhaps due to the smell if not the fact that Arthur was literally near to explode.
"No, please, I can do better." Merlin smelled his jacket. "Maybe toad? No, wait, big. That's good, right?"
"Maybe he can be more useful like that." Arthur admitted. "Like being bacon on my plate."
"Oh, you are back." Gwen walked toward them and stopped and sniffed the air. "What happened?"
"Do you know, near the river, there had been some attacks? Some magical creature. We found the nest but it was already dead. "Merlin started.
"And?" Gwen asked.
"It was a trap. We were stuck there."
"The whole night? Isn't Merlin would have only been able to ... " Gwen swung significantly her hand, and Arthur suddenly seemed awkward. Merlin looked the other way. Gwen sighed. Actually, she didn't wanted to know.
"All right. You two marched into the bath. No, you go to the public areas. I do not want that smell near my bed. Chop-chop. "
The men turned and left forming the war scheme against one certain knight.
Gwen looked her maid and grinned. "I think you will find Gwaine in some tavern. Say that I pay this evening."