Not many people in Camelot were capable of slamming the castle doors, seeing as they were made of solid oak and ten feet tall, but Arthur managed to do it, and do it well. So well, in fact, that it startled Merlin out of the catnap he was sneaking.

"Snz-wha?" He asked, blinking dazedly.

"Merlin, how old am I?" Arthur demanded.

Merlin squinted at him. "What?"

Arthur continued on. "I am twenty four, Merlin. Twenty four years old! And Agravaine is pressing me to get an heir!"

"Well, tell him to sod off," Merlin suggested.

"He says that 'the question of Camelot's succession must be decided'," Arthur scoffed. "I'm in the prime of my life, I'm not going anywhere! And even if I did, there's you!"

"Oh no you don't!" Merlin jumped out of bed, fully awake now. "First of all, if you die I am going to find the nearest cave and live out the rest of my life as a hermit. Or, perhaps, fall on your sword. Rather poetic, wouldn't you say? I haven't decided which yet."

"Don't be dramatic, Merlin."

"Second of all, I have absolutely no interest in being king. Politics bore me, you know that."

"You would make a fine king, Merlin."

"Our marriage wouldn't even be accepted by the other kingdoms."

"That's just because Gaius married us," Arthur said, waving it off. "We'd just have to do the ceremony over again with Geoffrey presiding."

"Five kingdoms don't accept same-sex relations," Merlin said flatly. "I checked."

"Well what do you expect me to do?" Arthur said, gesturing wildly. "Go find a random woman and knock her up? The political ramifications alone…"

"I'm hopeless at meetings, I always fall asleep…"

"…we'd have to consider the mother an interested party at the very least…"

"…I'm hopeless at being nice to people I don't like…"

"…just take lessons from Guinevere, she's a natural at this sort of thing…"

"…I'm not like Gwen, I can't charm everyone and persuade them to do anything I want…"

There was a knock at the door and Gwen poked her head in. "Sorry to bother you, but we're half an hour into the council session and while they've accepted my proposal concerning the Weavers' Guild they want your seal on it and they're getting a bit impatient. Did you forget the meeting was today?"

Merlin and Arthur looked at each other and said simultaneously, "That's it!"

"It's perfect," Arthur declared.

"I'm not sure I understand…" Gwen said slowly.

"It's simple," Arthur said, clapping his hands together. "I'll name you my successor, we'll have the ceremony—and possibly a tournament, show we mean business—you'll be Crown Princess and heir to the throne and my succession problems will be over!"

"I'm honored by your faith in me," Gwen said. "But I'm not sure that I'm worthy for the role."

"You'll be amazing," Merlin assured her.

"You'll be queen someday," Arthur went on. "And when you get married—"

"Who says I'm getting married anytime soon?" Gwen demanded.

"—your children will inherit your title. The throne of Camelot is secure."

"Arthur…"

"And Merlin and I won't have to hide anymore."

Gwen's eyes lit up. "Oh?"

Merlin didn't like that gleam. "What?"

Gwen smiled. "Oh, nothing." She turned to Arthur. "If you truly think me worthy, Arthur, then I would be honored to accept. I will do my best to learn from you, and to serve and honor Camelot as you have done."

"Excellent! Then it's settled!" Arthur beamed.

"Right." Gwen nodded. "I suppose I'll have to organize this tournament in my honor, then, so I should get going."

Merlin stopped her out in the hallway. "Gwen, wait." He hugged her. "Thank you." He pulled back. "And you will be a great queen."

"I don't care if I'm queen or not," Gwen replied, patting Merlin's cheek. "What I care about is that you're happy."

When Agravaine learned that Guinevere was going to be named Crown Princess of Camelot, heir to the throne and future queen, who's progeny would in turn rule Camelot, he—as Arthur put it—was "displeased".

Merlin preferred the term, "nearly shit a brick".