A/N: Thanks for all the wonderful support, guys ^_^
Group hug! (participation is voluntary)

Guest: Well that was sudden! Wait, maybe not... :) Thanks for the review, glad you're enjoying it!

We now return to Gwen's killing spree, already in progress.

Guinevere pulled the dagger from her sleeve and turned it toward her husband's unguarded neck.

Mailed arms appeared, one looping under the queen's armpit to restrain her as the other confiscated the dagger before hooking the opposite arm.

"Mordred!" Arthur gasped, a bit shaky and suddenly out of breath from shock.
"That's- the second time today you- you've appeared with perfect timing."

"You can thank Merlin, Sire." The young knight said, voice strained as he fought to control the viciously struggling queen without harming her.

"What?"

"He was trying to warn you in his sleep- at least, it seemed that way, his voice was such a faint whisper we could really only make out the names 'Arthur' and 'Gwen'. Though I admit I expected it to be her majesty in danger."

The king grunted in response and, seeing that Guinevere was about to start yelling, quickly clamped his hand over her mouth.
Extracting the queen's handkerchief from her sleeve, he used it as a gag- dodging kicks of her dangerously pointy shoes all the while.

"We'll have to- to bind her." He said, not thrilled at the prospect.
We'll have to throw her in the dungeons.. have to...

Jerking his mind from that path he pulled a long silk sash out of the queen's wardrobe and used it to secure her to a chair with Mordred's help.

"I want you to go to Gaius and bring back something to sedate her- tell no one of what has occurred."

Mordred nodded, keeping his questions to himself, and left on his errand.

Arthur sat facing his wife, lacing his fingers and staring at her sadly.
Where had it all gone wrong?

Now that he knew, it was easy to see that Gwen had not been herself for some time now.

He had dismissed her odd comings and goings as needing time to herself to grieve her brother, thinking no further on the matter- but what if they had been something more?
Had she been meeting with Morgana?
Why?

Does she blame me for her brother's death?

He certainly wouldn't fault her for that, he had felt responsible for it himself- but was that the only reason?
Maybe it had been worsened by the death of her father at Uther's hands...

Arthur sighed heavily and scrubbed his face with calloused hands.

He should have seen this- seen the way she had turned from her friends and put on the mask of the perfect Lady in front of him and the court.
She had been acting like her precious Lady Morgana for weeks and he failed to notice.

For goodness' sake, Merlin had nearly died and she hadn't even visited him- that alone should have been a clear sign that something was not right.
Come to think of it, she had even had Merlin thrown in the dungeons for poisoning him!
They had always been the best of friends, to the point that Arthur would have been jealous if Merlin weren't so... Merlin.

Once again he had been too wrapped up in his own concerns to see what was right in front of him.
Merlin was right, he was a dollop head.

Merlin...

Had he known? Was that what he was trying to warn him about?
Is that what almost got the idiot killed- again?

Though that didn't explain why Morgana had tried to kill the servant before the master...

The king growled in frustration, rising to pace angrily, Guinevere glaring at him in utmost hostility.
Nothing made sense anymore.

He was about ready to kick something when Mordred returned, slipping through the door carefully so the guards could not see inside.

"Sire" the young man bowed and offered a vial to his ruler.
"I told Gaius the queen was in need of something to help her sleep off the excitement of the day- this should keep her out for several hours."

"Thank you, Mordred." He took the glass, eying his spouse with regret.

Pulling the stopper, he loosened the handkerchief and forced the liquid between tightly-pressed lips; covering her mouth and nose until she swallowed.
Satisfied the potion had been consumed, he replaced the impromptu gag and waited until the woman's eyes closed and her breathing evened out.

When nothing happened for several moments, Mordred shifted awkwardly.
"What next, Sire?"

"Now..."

If it had been Merlin, Arthur would have admitted that he didn't know and the idiot would probably say exactly what he needed to hear; but this was Mordred, his newest knight, and he needed to be strong.

"You remain here and keep an eye on her. Sir Percival will come to assist you momentarily- be sure to send for me if anything happens."

"Of course Sire."
The youth bowed respectfully as the king withdrew.

Arthur strode down the corridor with new purpose in his step.

First Percival, then he had an unofficial adviser to see.