"GWAINE!"

Gwaine was already across the courtyard, pelting up the stairs two and a time and heading for Gaius's tower. Merlin threw his reins to a stablehand and flew after him.

"What's going on?" Percival asked, jogging over.

"Gwaine just got some bad news," Arthur said worriedly.

Gaius was alone in the surgery when Gwaine threw the door open. They stared at one another for a moment, Gwaine so winded and completely shocked he couldn't say a word. Luckily, Gaius knew immediately what was going on.

"It's alright," he said, stepping forward. "Her fever broke an hour ago. I expect her to make a full recovery."

Merlin came in the door just in time to see Gwaine's knees buckle and to whisk a stool under him. Gaius gave him a stern glance for using magic so indiscreetly, but Gwaine, who had his face buried in his hands, didn't seem to have noticed.

"What happened?" Merlin asked, breathless.

"She came down with a fever the day you left. It didn't seem so bad at first, but her condition worsened rapidly. I won't lie; I worried for her life. But her fever has now broken, and she is resting." He gestured toward Merlin's room.

They both looked down at Gwaine, who was only now beginning to show signs of life. Gaius poured him out a shot of liquor, which he drank wordlessly. "Can I see her?" he asked at last, his voice hoarse.

"She's resting…" Gaius said hesitantly.

"Please, Gaius." Gwaine's face was white. "I won't wake her, I promise. Please."

Gaius nodded at last, and Gwaine climbed to his feet and walked over to Merlin's door, moving like he'd aged thirty years in five minutes.

Anna lay very still, turned a little away from the door. She was so still, stiller than Gwaine had ever seen her. Her face was pale and there were dark circles under her eyes, and if Gaius hadn't told him she was out of danger he would have been terrified. Trying hard not to make any noise and not to let his sword or chainmail clink, he sat down in the chair by her bed.

The shock of what had so nearly happened turned his limbs to water. If she had died, and died believing that he didn't love her or trust her, that he thought her guilty of unfaithfulness… He couldn't bear that. He stared down at her still face, her fingers curled up by her cheek. He wished she would wake up right then, so that he could explain to her, could hold her…

He didn't know how long he had sat there, but at last the door opened and Gaius glanced in. Gwaine rose and followed him back into the surgery.

"Where's Merlin?" he asked. He realized his voice was hoarse, and cleared his throat.

"He had to go and see to Arthur," Gaius answered. "And you should probably go clean up, too."

000

Merlin had jogged back down to Arthur's chambers after promising to look in on Anna later. Arthur was waiting for him impatiently.

"Sorry—" Merlin began.

"How is she?" Arthur interrupted. Merlin realized that Leon and Gwen were with him, and all three of them looked concerned.

"Gaius says her fever's broken, and she's going to be fine."

Leon and Gwen both breathed a sigh of relief.

"Last I knew it was looking grim," Gwen commented. "I'm glad she's pulled through."

"Gaius said you helped when you were able," Merlin said. "Thank you."

"How's Gwaine?" Leon asked.

"Pretty shaken up, but I think he'll be alright."

"Really alright, or as 'alright' as he was for the first week after the tournament?"

Merlin smiled. "Really alright, I think."

000

He checked on Anna as soon as he got back to the surgery in the evening. She was awake, and smiled up at him sleepily.

"Merlin. You're back."

He said down on the edge of the bed and took her hand. "All back and in one piece."

"And everyone else?"

"They're all fine. We had no trouble with the Saxons."

Anna breathed a sigh of relief.

"What about you? How are you feeling?"

"Better. I'm glad you're back."

Merlin wanted very baldy to tell her that Gwaine was now in on the secret, but Gaius had warned him straitly not to say anything that might agitate her. "She's better, but her health is still delicate," he warned.

And in fact, he denied Gwaine access to her the next day. In his concern for her health Gwaine took this meekly, but was practically bursting by the next morning.

Merlin elected to wait until Anna was awake before going down to Arthur's chambers. "I have something I need to tell you," he told her. She tensed up and her eyes, which looked bigger than usual because of the dark lines under them, grew even larger. Merlin suddenly understood why Gaius had been worried about giving her any alarm. "It's alright," he assured her quickly. "It's good news. I told Gwaine. About my magic."

Anna stared at him, frowning. "You told Gwaine."

"Yes. And I explained about Bertilak and the sash."

"Oh, Merlin, you shouldn't have done that!"

"No, I'm glad I did," he insisted. "Gwaine is one of my closest friends. Maybe I should have told him a long time ago." He took a deep breath. "And he's going to come this morning to see you." They both looked up at the sound of the surgery door opened, and Gaius's muffled voice.

Merlin looked down at Anna. She looked worried. "You don't have to see him if you don't want to," he offered.

"No." She shook herself. "I want to."

Merlin went to the door and beckoned to Gwaine, then made himself scarce.

Gwaine's heart was in his throat as he stepped forward into Merlin's room. Anna stared at him apprehensively from the bed, looking far smaller and more delicate than he was used to seeing her. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out: now that he was face-to-face with her, all his carefully-prepared speeches had disappeared.

Anna dropped her gaze to her lap, and suddenly Gwaine was across the room, kneeling beside her bed, apologizing.

"Anna, I'm so sorry. You were right; I should have trusted you. Merlin explained it all, and I understand now—only he shouldn't have had to explain. I should have trusted you from the start. And I do—I mean, I do now. You deserve so much better than the way I treated you." He realized she had begun to cry, and it alarmed him almost more than anything else had done so far. "Oh God, Annie, don't cry, I'm so sorry—please—"

She sobbed once and threw herself into his arms.

000

When Anna had finished crying (to be fair, Gwaine's eyes weren't entirely dry either) and they had both said several times each that they loved each other, Gwaine said, "I take it then that you forgive me?"

Anna laughed through her tears and wiped at her face. Gwaine handed her a rag from the beside table. "Of course," she said. "You had plenty of reason to suspect me: the evidence was pretty damning. And maybe I didn't need to kiss Bertilak—"

"You did what you had to do," he interrupted her. "Though I wouldn't object if you never had to do it again!"

"Me either. Eugh," she agreed, pulling a face. They sat in silence for a moment, and then she looked at him solemnly.

"I want you to promise me something," she said.

"Anything."

"You need to hear what it is, first." She took a deep breath. "I kept a secret from you for a friend, and it drove us apart. So—no more secrets. If we trust each other, we should trust each other. I want us to have an understanding, that we keep secrets together, not from each other." She extended her hand. "Agreed?"

He shook it equally solemnly. "No more secrets," he agreed. "What I know, you will know."

"Good." Anna scrunched down in the bed and blinked sleepily.

"And what I know," Gwaine continued, smiling faintly, "is that Gaius is going to come in that door any moment and tell me that I shouldn't fatigue you any more. And he's right." He pulled her blankets up. "Go to sleep, now."

"Yes, mother," Anna grumbled good-naturedly.

Gwaine laughed and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll come by again tomorrow," he promised, and left her to her rest.

TBC

AN: Mmm, gratuitous H/C. How I love it. :P

I've been trying to beat off the plot bunnies with a stick, but they continue to multiply. (*does best Scottish accent* That's no ordinary rabbit!) Next mini-arc was a last-minute decision; I hope it works out!

Please review!

Edit: Revised to include last scene