Arthur and Gwen retreated to the kitchen. Gwen had sighed heavily as she entered to find a chaos of plates, leftovers and mess. Going under the sink she had rooted out a pair of pink rubber gloves and got to work. Arthur had watched her from the counter, where he was allowed to observe, and not get involved.

"It's not that serious you know," he had said.

"They have the plain plates mixed in with the patterned. I have a system, Merlin knows it's not just for the good of my health."

"It's for the good of his?" Arthur asked. Gwen glared at him.

"I'll put coffee on," she announced getting a coffee pot out, and rummaging around for the packet. As she took it out she frowned as he realised it was almost empty. "I'd better make a list."

"Hello," Merlin said as he strolled in. "The suggestion was to set up in the dining room."

"I can make some sandwiches," Gwen said, rummaging further. Her rummaging paused as Lancelot walked in, reading some of the papers from Arthur's research.

"So you two are meant to be married?"

"Previously, I suppose so," Arthur said. "Although, all the information can't be accurate."

"That part of it seems pretty consistent," Lancelot said, looking confused and a mildly angry.

"It's not likely to be this time," Arthur said. "No offence Gwen, but I don't want to marry you."

"None taken since the feeling is mutual," Gwen said, rummaging around for something to put on the sandwiches. Arthur gave Lancelot a glare, Lancelot blinked, Arthur inclined his head at Gwen, frowning as he did so. Lancelot blinked again and looked at Gwen, then at Merlin, then back to Arthur, shaking his head. Arthur rolled his eyes.

"Come on Merlin, we have that thing we need to do."

"Do we?" Merlin asked, he had been watching the silent conversation between Arthur and Lancelot, and sounded startled as Arthur addressed him. Arthur got up and took his arm, guiding him to the door.

"Lancelot can help Gwen with the sandwiches," Arthur said, meaningfully. Gwen turned to look at him and Arthur raised his eyebrows at her, shifting his eyes in Lancelot's direction.

"Yes, he can butter the bread, while I grate some cheese," Gwen said.

Arthur bundled Merlin out of the door and shoved him down the hallway towards the dining room.

"What thing are we meant to be doing?" Merlin asked as Arthur hustled him over the threshold. Gwaine looked up from the book he was reading, sprawled on the window seat. Gaius and Morgana, in conference at the table, also glanced up.

"The 'not getting in the way of Gwen and Lancelot' thing," Arthur said. "I think I can trust Gwen to deal with it."

Morgana smirked. "Perhaps the risk of Gwen running off and marrying you might spring Lancelot into action."

"Actually, she's supposed to marry Arthur and then run off with Lancelot," Gaius mused. "If this is correct."

"Except we are not recreating history, we're just descended from these people. And no offence, what purpose do I actually serve, Merlin seems to be the one that does everything."

"Arthur is meant to unite Britain, although I don't think that's relevant to today. But magic no longer has any power in this realm, but it is seeping through from the dimension it was pushed to."

Arthur pulled out a chair and sat at the table, resting his chin in his hands as he looked at Gaius.

"But Merlin can still do magic, I presume Morgana can, and there's all those escapee serkets and what was the other thing that was loose?"

"Griffins," Gwaine said. Merlin pushed his legs off the seat and sat down next to him.

"So, are we trying to stop the return of magic, or let it happen, or what? And again I don't sound very important to it. Nor I think was King Arthur ever a rent boy."

"No, but part of the history also says that he was taken away from his father and raised with another family, acting as squire for the eldest son. When he pulled Excalibur from the stone, that proved him to be Prince Arthur, and he was declared king."

"Are you suggesting that I was actually meant to be…" Arthur waved his hand, not really wanting to repeat himself.

"I doubt that," Gaius said.

"We need to find out what my mother did it? There has to be something," Arthur said. "Or someone. We're doing all this, isn't there someone else on another side, or anything like that. I presume we're the good guys."

"The world has to be in balance, there are those who would like to see it in chaos," Gaius said.

"We're getting into the realm of superheroes now," Arthur said.

Gaius gave him a long steady look that clearly informed Arthur to not be ridiculous. Arthur shrugged.

"So I again come back to my question, what am I meant to be doing? Or do we have no idea on that?"

"Nothing about this scenario is entirely clear, however this confrontation will happen we can't predict the scenario. This is as new to us as it is you, we've just had more time to adapt."

"I thought you all knew what was going on."

"We don't, not exactly," Morgana said. "All we have is the history to go on, there has never been a point when all the relevant people were together, or you and Merlin. You two are the most important, and until now, we've never had both of you. That has to be significant."

"But everyone plays a part thought?"

"Yes," Gaius said. "As times change some become more significant than others, and in different ways."

Arthur pondered that. "The bracelet is the place to start. Someone tried to use that thing to remove Gwen, that has to have significance."

"It would appear so," Gaius said.

"And how could no one else have realised? I found all the information in a day, and it was all here, a bit scattered about but, I managed to get it all together," Arthur reasoned.

"That is an interesting question," Uther announced strolling in. Arthur glanced up at him and they locked eyes for a moment before looking away from each other. Arthur tugged nervously on the cuffs of his hoodie. The ripple of tension was broken by Gwen and Lancelot coming in. Lancelot was carrying the sandwiches, and Gwen came in with a tray of cups and plates. Arthur smirked as he looked at them. Both of them were a little flushed, Gwen's eyes sparkling with happiness.

"I'll just get the coffee and cake," Gwen said.

"I'll help," Lancelot offered and they both disappeared again. Morgana put her head down and started to snigger. Gaius gave her a disapproving look.

"Ah, young love," Gwaine commented.

Morgana gave a less than ladylike snort. Uther glowered at everyone in disapproval.

"What is going on?"

"Nothing," Arthur said. Gwen and Lancelot came back carrying the rest of the stuff. Lancelot was looking mildly shell-shocked, Gwen looked smug. She started setting out cups and plates. Gwaine and Merlin stopped lounging on the window seat and joined them at the table, and they slowly sat down again.

"Have you noticed anything else, since then, especially recently?" Uther asked Gwen. Gwen shook her head.

"I was almost convinced that the shadow I saw was my imagination. I was only young at the time."

"But if Arthur's right, it was a direct attack, and a life-force was drained by the Eye. Whoever bonded the bracelet to you, might have just assumed that the job was done."

"Which could in it's own way be why we then didn't see the connection between the legend and Gwen now," Morgana said. She had opened her laptop and was now typing.

"I'll go through the database and compile everything else we have that refers to Guinevere, or Arthur's wife," she added.

"And Lancelot's mistress," Gwaine said grinning at the other man, whose cheeks started to flush. Merlin elbowed Gwaine in the ribs, Arthur lobbed a sliver of cucumber at him and Gwen glared.

"I'm nobody's mistress."

"Actually if you were queen, and Lancelot here was a knight, wouldn't that make him the mistress?" Gwaine asked, making Lancelot's cheeks an even deeper colour.

"Enough," Gwen warned him.

Glancing at the disapproving look on Uther's face Arthur decided to change the subject.

"So, this flea market is a place to start, isn't it?"

"We're a little late aren't we?" Merlin said. "They wouldn't still be there."

"It's local though, isn't it?" Arthur asked through a mouthful of sandwich. "I didn't see anything in the village though."

"No, it's in the nearest town, there's only the pub and the little grocery place here."

"Well, they attacked Gwen when they found out that she might have a connection. Especially one close to Arthur. There's bound to be some hints reverberating around that we now have Arthur."

"I might not have helped," Gwen said, looking at Arthur apologetically. "I told Elyan after you'd left who you were. Everyone in the village knows."

"And probably beyond by now," Morgana mused. "You know the way gossip works around here."

"Sorry," Gwen said.

"Don't be, I can't be hidden away forever. If people are now aware that I'm here, maybe we'll get a return visit. It's the only starting point as far as I can see," Arthur said. "And considering what they think they know, would it be that surprising to see me with Gwen there?"

"Neither Gwen nor you are ready for that kind of confrontation," Uther said.

"I'm not frightened," Gwen said. "I want to know who this person is."

"I never said that. You two are untrained to deal with any potential threat. That is a risk we cannot take."

"We can go as a group," Gwaine said. "What would be weird about us all going out, showing Arthur around town? That wouldn't be anything unusual. Merlin and I can be there. So can Lancelot, it could be your first date."

"Shut up!" Lancelot said, still red in the face.

Morgana was the only one who didn't react with a smirk. Instead she was concentrating on her laptop.

"Next time the flea market is open is Thursday, two days time. Some kind of pre-emptive strike might not be a bad idea. Like Arthur said, we can't hide him away."

Uther's face flitted with an expression that said that was exactly what he wanted to do. Arthur glowered, not sure if Uther was being protective or ashamed of him.

"And we'll be with him, between us all, he can't come to any harm," Gwaine said.

"We have to do something," Arthur said. "So let's do it."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Gwen almost ran into Uther as he came through the kitchen doorway. She was returning with some fresh coffee as they started to plan. There wasn't really that much she could add to that part of the discussion. It was so long ago there was no guarantee that the flea market would be the same. Some aspects of it had to be, and the whole operation appeared to be riding on that. She wasn't entirely sure if what she was doing was the right thing.

Her brother and father was worried about her, getting involved again with the people at the Pendragon House, as it was generally referred to by the locals. But the one person that really seemed to want to help her, and Gwen was worried about anyway, was Arthur. Refusing to get involved now seemed stupid, since finding out the truth was what she planned anyway.

She stared at Uther as he looked down at her.

"I feel I should apologise, for what happened."

Gwen stared up at him, feeling oddly emboldened. Not something that usually happened when she was confronted by Uther.

"Because you want to, or because Arthur wants you to."

There was a flicker of irritation in Uther's eyes, realising he had been caught out. He soon regained his equilibrium.

"I should have also realised that you were relevant to the situation. Quite significantly."

"I guess so, since someone tried to kill me."

"Not so much that, although it would affect the situation now," Uther said. Gwen frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Her frown deepened as Uther carefully made sure the door behind him was closed, and that no one could interrupt them without them knowing. When he answered her, he spoke in a low tone, clearly not wanting anyone to accidentally overhear their conversation.

"Arthur trusts you, more than anyone else here."

Gwen blinked, the surprise she felt must have shown because Uther carried on talking, looking strained at having to do so, but he made the effort.

"He's talked to you more than anyone, in such a short space of time. A queen is often her husband's confidant."

"I don't think Arthur and I have any intention of getting married."

Uther looked relieved, and then mildly disapproving. "I expect you and Lancelot to keep your association discreet."

"I'm sure we can manage that," Gwen snapped, and then reverted back to the original conversation topic.

"You're worried about Arthur."

"He isn't the most trusting of people, and he's not exactly proved himself to be emotionally stable."

Despite the remote tone of voice, Uther's eyes were giving him away. He did look worried. None of them had any idea how to deal with Arthur. The suicide attempt had probably rattled them more than anything.

"Has he tried it before?" Gwen asked, not mentioning it directly, but the hint was obvious.

"Twice apparently," Uther said.

"No sign of it being… something else," Gwen said. "I'm not sure how to describe the whole magic thing."

Uther shook his head. "There was no hint of anything this time, although I don't think it was just what happened that morning."

And the other things, no one could probably really get close enough to find out.

"He seems fine now," Uther said.

'Too fine', Gwen interpreted from that. Again it clearly showed on her face as Uther carried on talking.

"He was talking to you before. I don't know what else to do."

"Is that the only reason you are following up this lead about my mother?" Gwen asked.

This time it was Uther's face that gave everything he was thinking away. The answer was yes, it was the reason that Gwen had been allowed to get into the inner circle and get some answers. Gwen was the only person, so far, that Arthur was totally comfortable with. Therefore Uther wanted to keep her around, and now Arthur had found a way to let that happen. Gwen felt her anger rise, but however indignant she felt about it, there wasn't much she could do. She wanted answers, but she mirrored Uther's concern about Arthur, and she wasn't about to abandon him when he quite clearly needed help.

"You might as well know then," Gwen said. "I'm doing this for Arthur, I don't have to like you, or anything else about this."

"No you don't," Uther said.

There wasn't much more that either of them could say to each other.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Thursday morning was very unalarming when it came to finding evil or magic.

Arthur was thankful that Uther and Gaius travelled separately from the others, with Gaius heading to the local library and Uther saying something about catching up at the offices.

"He runs a few local firms," Merlin had said in explanation and Arthur didn't ask any more. Instead he had sat in the back of Gwaine's jeep while he travelled with him, Merlin and Leon. Arthur presumed that Leon was his main bodyguard today. Lancelot, Percival, Morgana and Gwen took the other car.

Arthur got a good look at the area that was now his home. A location that should have been somewhere he was used to. It looked pretty enough, but since he frequented some of the worst, crime ridden areas, he guessed he would probably find any sort of change nice.

"Let's take a walk about first, if we separate we need two of us in close proximity to Arthur and Gwen at all times," Lancelot said to Gwaine, Leon and Percival.

"So it's probably easier if we just stay together," Arthur said.

"That means you and Gwen can't sneak off," Gwaine said grinning at Lancelot. "Not much of a first date is it."

"Besides me and Merlin can act as guards as well, in case you had forgotten," Morgana snapped.

"Sorry," Lancelot said.

"We might actually be able to take care of ourselves," Gwen added, she glanced at Arthur, who said nothing.

"Come on, it's just a scouting mission, everything will be fine," Gwaine said taking Merlin's hand and leading him off. "But everyone remember to hold your partner's hand and don't wander off."

"Oh, for God's sake," Leon said.

"I'm just trying to give Lancelot an opportunity. Or maybe Gwen wants to hold her husband's hand."

"Shut up, Gwaine," Lancelot sniped. Gwen backed him up by sticking her tongue out at Gwaine and linking arms with Lancelot.

"We are never being allowed to forget this, now you have found that information," Lancelot warned Arthur and Gwen.

As they headed across town, through the small, pretty, but busy streets Lancelot decided to get his own back.

"Gwaine, I think you have been a little usurped as the most stared at of the group. Your popularity is flagging in the face of Arthur's blondness."

Merlin was glared at as he sniggered, and Arthur flushed a little.

"I am not being stared at."

Gwen noticed Arthur tug on the cuffs of his tee-shirt. Despite the sun he had still put on something long-sleeved. He couldn't wear anything else while out, unless he wanted to reveal the dressings that were still covering his arms. The shirt was, however, of a very thin material which revealed the shape of his arms and torso. Gwen had to admit, it wasn't an entirely bad look, especially with the sun glinting off his hair.

"And I'm not that blond!" Arthur added.

"Oh, you are," Morgana said cheerily agreeing with Lancelot.

"Yep, you're blond," Leon said at the same time.

"Very," Percival added.

"So he's blond," Gwaine pouted. "That's doesn't mean to say anyone is looking at him."

"Yes, they are," Morgana said gleefully.

"That could just be because he's a new addition," Gwaine said.

"Or it could be that he's better looking than you," Leon said very seriously. Gwaine looked distinctly unimpressed and started to scan the crowds intently. Arthur did the same, feeling self-conscious about the whole thing. It started to feel very obvious as they skirted around the outdoor market. More than a few of the girls were turning their heads to look at Arthur.

"Arthur, don't worry about it," Gwen murmured at him.

"It's not always something I've ever considered to be a good thing," Arthur replied in a low tone. Since Lancelot was close to Gwen on the far side, and Percival was strolling behind them they both heard Arthur's comment.

"Sorry," Lancelot said.

"It's fine mate, don't worry about it. Although, it's driving Gwaine mad!" Percival said sounding amused.

"What's he worried for, he's got Merlin," Arthur said.

"He's also got a monumental ego," Percival said. "Anyway, it's not such a bad thing, we're trying to make sure we get someone's attention, if they are waiting for something, I think the something could be done."

"This is it," Gwen said. The others had paused, waiting for them on the steps of a tall, old and imposing looking building. The windows were high, and leaded with a diamond pattern, giving the building a stately air. Higher up ugly looking gargoyles hung from the stone, staring down at the open space below. Arthur felt a shiver of unease as he looked at them.

"It's the old Town Hall," Gwen said. "They've moved all the offices to a new building, this one is used for functions and exhibitions now."

"And on alternate Mondays and Thursdays an antiques fair and flea market. There are some people just trying to get rid of the junk they find in the attic, and some people sell crafts," Morgana said.

"There's a jam stall that makes lovely green tomato chutney," Percival commented. "Thank God she also delivers."

"The amount you go through, yes," Merlin said.

"It's nice," Percival said innocently. "I might get some while I'm here."

"Percy, we are not here to go shopping," Leon warned him. Percival frowned.

"I thought we were supposed to look like that was what we are doing."

"Oh, just let him buy some," Morgana hissed. Then she paused. Percival and Leon had both paused at the bottom of the steps, while the others made their way slowly up. Then they all realised, why some of them were not moving.

"Arthur?" Gwen asked.

He wasn't paying them any attention. Instead he was looking up, staring at the building with a slight frown on his face. There was a feeling stirring at the back of his mind.

"It's like they're bloody watching," Arthur commented, trying not to sound totally freaked out by the stone statues.

"I guess," said Leon, who wasn't really seeing the same thing as Arthur.

Arthur shook himself out of his trance and took the steps two at a time to get over the threshold and out of the sight of the stone creatures. He couldn't really understand why he was feeling a shiver down his spine over it.

"They are a bit creepy," Merlin said.

"Aren't they supposed to come alive and fly around at night?" Gwaine asked. "There could be something in that. Shall we go to the café first, I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry," Merlin commented. Gwaine grinned and wrapped an arm around Merlin's shoulders.

"And not always necessarily for food."

"Oh, for God's sake," Morgana said, rolling her eyes. "Although, I am in serious need of some caffeine, let's head that way and then have a look round."

Arthur carried on looking around as they headed up the wide, sweeping staircase of the large building. The hum of conversation floated around them as people travelled around the building. The entire building looked old, and elegant, with wood panelled walls and a high ornate ceiling, a large chandelier handing from it. As they reached the top the stairs divided into two balconies. Gwen played guide, pointing to her right.

"The room there is where most of the antiques are displayed, the café is up the next flight of stairs, and the craft lot use a small room up there as well," Gwen said.

"So Percy can get his chutney," Leon said.

As they took the next flight, which was located down a wide corridor, Gwen carried on talking to Arthur, knowing that it was an easy distraction for him, so he wasn't worried about the crowds and who was staring.

"The café is set up like an old style tea room, they do a nice cream tea late afternoon. Depending on how long we take, we could head back up after we've looked around, the scones are great."

"That will depend," Lancelot said from her other side. "On what we find."