The rest of the journey back to Camelot was slow and uneventful. Guinevere met them in the courtyard on their return, greeting her husband and brother joyfully, and courteously leading Rodor and Mithian to their rooms. "But where is Hilda?" she asked fearfully.

"Hilda wasn't Hilda," Arthur answered, and she frowned in confusion. "I'll explain soon," he promised.

Gaius was tired from the journey, so Merlin and Leon saw to Rodor and Leon, neither of whom was in a dangerous condition: they really just needed rest. Merlin had to see to Arthur after and Gwaine had duties around the castle, so Anna couldn't get the story from either of them. Luckily, she fell in with a small group of servants who were gathered around Elyan and his sweetheart, a local girl named Tirion, who had come up to the castle to greet him on his return. He explained how he and the other knights had been captured and then rescued by Gwaine (he winked at Anna when he told this part), and then described their reunion with Arthur and what had happened to him in the tomb and with Odin afterward.

"An earthquake?" one of the maids, Faleiry, said when he was done. "That was lucky."

"Arthur is one of the luckiest men I've ever met," Elyan agreed. "The number of narrow escapes he's had—I think someone must be looking out for him. Isn't that right, Merlin?"

Merlin, who was walking past on an errand, merely gave a tight smile and kept on.

"What's wrong with him?" Faleiry whispered. The castle maids of course knew Merlin well, and his usually cheerful outlook.

"I don't know. He's been awfully quiet since we started back to Camelot. Gwaine too, come to think of it," he added, and the girls all looked at Anna.

They seemed to expect an explanation. "I haven't had a chance to exchange more than two words with him yet," she said.

And in fact, she didn't get a chance to talk to him all day. But when she got back to the tower after her rounds that evening, Gwaine was there. He had his foot up on a chair and was leaning on his knee, apparently in intense conversation with Merlin and Gaius, but he stood up when she came in—almost guiltily, she thought.

"I'm here to walk you home, m'lady," he said with his usual charming smile.

"Let me put away my supplies," she said, setting her bag in its usual corner.

Although he was clearly happy to be with her, Gwaine was indeed unusually silent as he walked her down to the lower town to her cottage near the Rising Sun. He would have kissed her goodnight as usual at the door, but she opened it. "Come in for a moment," she said. He hesitated, then stepped inside.

She closed the door. "Gwaine," she began gently, "when we got back together again, we made each other a promise."

"No more secrets," he agreed.

"Yes. Now tell me what really happened in Nemeth."

Gwaine sat down. "It's not that I've been keeping it secret, exactly," he explained, staring down at the table. Anna noticed that he didn't lean back in his chair in his usual insouciant way. "It's just—it was strange, and it's difficult to talk about."

She sat down across from him. "Let me start you off," she said with a small smile. "Merlin was the first to figure out that Hilda was Morgana. She attacked him. That much I learned from Elyan."

"Yes. And Gaius brought him to—with magic."

Anna stared. "Gaius has magic?"

He grinned. "I was as surprised as you are. Apparently he only keeps it for emergencies."

Anna shook her head. "I suppose it makes sense. He seems to know a lot about the Old Religion. And then—Merlin was the one who caused the earthquake, wasn't he?"

"Yes. And, from what I've gathered, persuaded Arthur to spare Odin's life."

"As usual, the unsung hero. But what was so difficult about any of that?"

"It wasn't that. It was what happened afterward. The first evening." Gwaine described the encounter with the Dís and what she had told them. He looked up at the end to find Anna staring at him.

She sat back in her chair and blew out her cheeks. "Arthur has to legalize magic."

"Yes."

"Well, I sure hope Merlin knows how to make him do that. Because I don't know of much of anything that could change his mind."

"If anyone can find a way to change Arthur's heart, it's Merlin," Gwaine said, with forced cheerfulness. Now I must be going," he added, standing up and kissing her goodnight, "or your neighbors will become suspicious." He shot her a last cheeky grin and left.

000

Rodor and Mithian remained in Camelot for two weeks until word came that Odin had withdrawn all of his troops from Nemeth and Rodor was well enough to travel comfortably.

"The only one of us whose problems aren't solved yet is you," Mithian said to Leon.

"Wise diplomacy can restore a kingdom, good friends can provide rest, but even a court physician can't make broken ribs mend any faster," Leon agreed with a smile. "But he can guarantee that they will mend, and with my friends' problems solved, my own seem lighter."

Mithian smiled at this courteous speech. "My father and I are greatly in your debt, Sir Leon. If there I ever anything we can do to help you, we are at your service." She put her hand in his, and he raised it to his lips.

"My daughter is right," Rodor said, coming up unannounced. Mithian and Leon both jumped, and Leon tried not to look guilty. "You have our gratitude, and our friendship." He shook Leon's hand. "Come, Mithian."

Leon followed them to the courtyard and watched Mithian spring lightly into her saddle—admiring her horsemanship, but still wishing his ribs had been well enough to allow him to toss her up himself. Rodor thanked Arthur and Guinevere, renewing his vows of friendship to Camelot. Mithian smiled down at Leon. "Goodbye, Sir Leon."

"Goodbye, my lady," he answered, and watched her ride away.

TBC


AN: Thanks again to my reviewers, especially grayember13 and Tholey—your encouragement and enthusiasm keep me writing!

Please review!