Despite the fatigues of the day before, they were all up bright and early the next morning. They had a bite to eat, searched out their former campsite, caught the horses, and were off. Gwen rode perched behind Arthur, the two of them laughing and joking the whole time. Gwaine hadn't seen them so giddy since their wedding. It was the relief of knowing that Guinevere's infidelity had been none of her doing: they both looked as if a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. The mood was infectious: they were a merry band as they entered Camelot. The people, seeing their smiles and then spotting Guinevere, began to cheer. Gwen smiled and waved gaily to the crowds that began to gather, lining the streets of the lower town.

Most of the castle staff, having heard the commotion, were in the courtyard when they rode in. Someone began three cheers for the Queen, then the King, and the knights. One wag even shouted, "And three cheers for the manservant!" and a small group gave Merlin a huzzah. Everyone was laughing and shouting with glee. Anna ran over and gave Gwaine a kiss as he dismounted, and Merlin a hug, before directing some of the servants to help Percival up to the infirmary. Elyan, his arm wrapped around a beaming Tirion, followed her up to have his wound seen to.

Gwaine had thought he might finally corner Merlin and apologize to him, but he found himself surrounded by a crowd of servants, congratulating him and all the other knights. When he was finally at liberty again, Merlin had slipped away. He was awfully good at that, Gwaine reflected.

Merlin, as it turned out, took care of it himself. He caught up with Gwaine in the practice field that afternoon, as Gwaine was headed down to the blacksmith to have some chainmail repaired.

"Look, Gwaine, I'm sorry I snapped at you the other day," he said before Gwaine could get a word out. "You were—you were probably right. It would have been a good moment. But I just… couldn't."

"No, I understand. You've been keeping it secret so long, it must be a habit—"

"No, it's more than that," Merlin said, rubbing hand over his face. "I… um… I had a chance to get Arthur to accept magic once before, and I failed. And it made him even more resistant, and I was afraid…"

"That it would happen again," Gwaine finished. "When was this?"

"When Uther died." Merlin wasn't making eye contact, and Gwaine could see that he was close to tears. "I thought I could save him, and Arthur said… that if I saved Uther, he would see to it that magic was legalized. But Morgana had already taken precautions and it backfired—and it killed him." He looked up at Gwaine. "I killed him. I didn't mean to…"

Gwaine took him by the shoulder. "You didn't," he said, giving him a shake. "And just because it didn't work that once doesn't mean it never will. You are closer to Arthur than anyone, except Gwen. I'm sure you can convince him."

"And I need to," Merlin said, nodding. "I need to, soon. Maybe very soon. I just… don't know if I can… have the courage."

"Merlin, you are the bravest man I know," Gwaine said, lowering his head to catch his eyes again. "I know that you're afraid you'll lose Arthur's friendship, and I know how much it means to you."

"I can't lose him Gwaine," Merlin gulped.

"You won't." Gwaine gave him another shake. "But you have lied to him for too long. You need to tell him the truth." Merlin nodded, and Gwaine gave him a heartening slap on the back. "Good. Now, help me convince this mule-headed blacksmith that I need my chainmail mended now, and not in two weeks!" he said, taking Merlin's elbow and dragging him along. "Let's see you practice your persuasion."

000

No fewer than seven people asked Merlin over the course of the next week if it was true that Morgana had admitted to putting a love spell on Guinevere and Lancelot. Of course, they also wanted to know if it was true that Guinevere drew Elyan's sword and threatened Morgana with death if she touched Arthur. And if Guinevere had turned Morgana's own enchantments against her, so that any evil spell she put on her enemies would rebound on her. And if the skies above the Dark Tower had rained frogs, blood, and burning hail. Merlin told them the bit about the love potion was true, but left them to believe what they wanted about the rest. He was sure it would turn into a fantastic legend in time. In any case, Guinevere had never been so popular among the people—and that was saying something. As one of them, a commoner, and a kind and wise woman who clearly had their best interests at heart, Guinevere had (almost) always been well-liked. Now they adored her.

They flocked to the Great Hall the evening after the Queen's return to toast the success of the mission. After all the other toasts had been said, Arthur stood.

"One knight of our number performed most bravely in the rescue of our Queen," he declared. "Single-handedly, he outwitted and defeated an unkillable foe. He is a loyal and doughty knight, and I am proud to call him my brother." The people cheered for Sir Elyan, and Percival, sitting next to him, clapped him on the back. "And I will also be proud to call his wife my sister." Over the murmuring, Arthur continued, "Sir Elyan asked me this morning for the official permission of the Crown to marry, and I gladly granted it." Elyan rose and walked around to where Tirion was sitting, blushing rosily and smiling from ear to ear. He took her hand and raised her from her seat as Arthur raised his cup. "To Sir Elyan and Lady Tirion. To their health and happiness, and their enduring love for one another."

The people broke into cheers, the knights leaping to their feet to applaud. The people came forward to congratulate the happy couple, Gwen giving Tirion a big hug and Arthur laying a fraternal kiss on her cheek.

"Three cheers for the happy couple!" Arthur cried.

000

Arthur and Guinevere's good mood lasted more than a week. Arthur didn't even snap at Merlin when he came into Arthur's room to clear away his breakfast one morning without knocking. He found Gwen perched on Arthur's knee, clearly teasing him about something while combing out his hair.

"Knock, can't you," Arthur grumbled good-naturedly.

"Good morning, Merlin," Gwen said with a smile, not bothering to get down.

"Good morning." He began clearing away the half-eaten food.

"I wasn't done with that!" Arthur exclaimed as Merlin took his plate of eggs.

"I don't think you have time to finish it," Gwen commented as she stood up and shook out her gown. "We have that meeting with the Council in five minutes."

"I have to get my jacket on," Arthur told her. "You go ahead."

"She seems to have recovered well from her ordeal," Merlin commented when Gwen was out of the room.

"Yes." Arthur shrugged on his crimson jacket and placed his crown on his head. "Only…"

"Only what?"

He looked concerned. "Sometimes I find her staring off into space. I ask her what she's thinking about and she jumps and then tells me it's nothing. But I think something may be troubling her."

"I would have said she was delightfully happy," Merlin offered.

Arthur smiled. "She is. We both are. But still, there's something on her mind."

000

Elyan's wedding took place at the end of the week. It was a grand affair, with music, feasting, and flowers. Tirion, as the wife of a knight, was officially styled "Lady Tirion," and was made a ceremonial lady-in-waiting to the Queen. The feast ended in dancing. Merlin, standing at the side of the room with a pitcher of wine, watched Elyan dancing with Tirion and remembered the last wedding he had been to: Arthur and Gwen's. He had asked Sifa to dance, but she hadn't known how. It was just after he had learned that she would be Gwen's personal attendant. He wondered where she was and what she was doing.

Glancing up from his brown study, he found Guinevere's eyes on him. He smiled and she returned it, but her smile seemed a little forced, and she almost looked as though she were measuring him up.

"Merlin!" Gwaine clapped him on the back, causing him to jump. "Oops! Sorry."

"That's alright," Merlin laughed. "Just as long as I haven't spilled the wine!"

"What were you staring at?"

Merlin looked back toward the head table, but Gwen was in laughing conversation with Sir Leon. "Nothing," he said.

000

Over the course of the next week, Merlin began to notice Gwen's eyes on him as he went about his daily tasks. Once she asked him his opinion of an issue that was being debated in the Council.

"You said she seemed impressed by the story of you leading them through the Impenetrable Forest," Gaius said when a puzzled Merlin told him about Gwen's attentions to him. "Perhaps she is considering whether you would make a good royal advisor." Merlin raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Gaius grinned. "Or maybe she's going to ask Arthur to give you a raise."

Merlin laughed. "I think the advisor theory is more likely! Frankly, I'd settle for a day off once in awhile."

000

Two days later, he was cleaning up Arthur's room in the morning while Arthur was training with the knights.

"Always the clothes on the floor," he grumbled as he picked up one of Arthur's shirts.

"I'm afraid he's a hopeless case," Gwen said, coming in through the door that connected her room with Arthur's.

"Oh! Sorry. I didn't know you were there," Merlin said, straightening up.

"No matter. I'm glad to find you here, though," she said, sitting down at the table. "May I speak to you for a moment?"

"Of course," Merlin said, setting down the laundry basket. Gwen gestured him to a seat and he took it, warily. She looked down at her hands for a long moment, then up at his face again. "There is no easy way to begin this conversation," she said calmly, "so I must simply ask. Merlin, do you have magic?"

TBC