Synopsis: Gwaine accompanies Merlin on a trip to Ealdor and gets to learn more about his friend

Gwaine was overjoyed when he heard that his best friend was planning a trip to his home village. He was also very pleased that the reason for said trip was so Merlin could visit his mother. Gwaine wanted to learn more about his first true friend, and what better way to do that than meet the woman who was responsible for bringing him into this world.

Unsurprisingly, the princess requested Merlin travel with a knight, so of course Gwaine jumped at the chance to accompany Merlin on his travels. Merlin wasn't upset that Gwaine was joining him, in fact, currently he was sharing some childhood stories to keep them entertained.

"Old man Simmons was angry at Will and I for weeks after the chicken incident. Well, come to think of it, he didn't like us in general," Merlin finished, chuckling a bit. Gwaine laughed with him, "I think I underestimated how mischievous you really are, my friend." Merlin shrugged innocently.

"This Will guy sounds like my type of company. Care to introduce me?" The smile on Merlin's face quickly vanished. And Gwaine felt the air surrounding them turn melancholy. "Merlin?" Gwaine hesitantly prodded.

He watched as his friend took a deep breath before explaining. "A couple years ago, there was a major bandit problem in Ealdor. My mother traveled all the way to Uther and asked for help, which he didn't. Arthur, Gwen and Morgana ended up accompanying me back home. During the big fight, Will took an arrow for Arthur and…..."

Gwaine didn't need to be a genius to understand the outcome. Merlin sighed, closing his eyes from the painful memory.

"I'm sorry Merlin. He sounded like a good friend," Gwaine comforted softly. Merlin nodded, "He was. And he would've liked you too, in fact you remind me of him a lot." "How so?" Gwaine questioned, trying to lighten up the mood.

Merlin's expression became brighter once more. "Well one notable similarity was that he had a strong dislike for Nobility. He wasn't too fond of Arthur in the beginning."

While he listened, Gwaine made a mental note to pay his respects to Will. Any friend of Merlin was a friend of his.

~8~

Now, having travelled all across the land visiting many different villages, Gwaine expected Ealdor to be quite small. But not that small. The little village only comprised maybe about ten households.

But the view of the village was nothing compared to the beautiful nostalgic smile Merlin wore. Of course the people of Ealdor were in awe to see a knight of Camelot riding through their village. But Gwaine couldn't help but notice the strange stares Merlin received, he chalked it up to shock that a mere peasant was with a high ranking noble.

They came upon a tiny house near the end of the village. Merlin jumped off his horse and knocked on the door. The door opened to reveal a mid-aged woman with tied up brown hair. "Hello mother," Merlin greeted, fighting a big smile. His mother gasped and pulled her son to her, "Oh my son!"

Gwaine watched the interaction with a warm expression. A brief painful thought of his own mother came to mind, but he pushed it away.

"And who's this fine young man?" Gwaine snapped out of his thoughts at the question. He climbed off his horse and went over to the duo.

"Gwaine my lady, I'm a friend of your son," Gwaine introduced respectfully. Despite his formal appearance, inside he was full of nerves. What if she didn't approve of him? Would Merlin still be friends with him?

"Please, Hunith is fine. I've heard a lot about you Sir Gwaine through my son's letters." Hunith responded. Gwaine looked to his best mate, who smiled crookedly. "Please just Gwaine, and good things I hope." Hunith nodded earnestly," Very good things. He wrote about how you saved his life from some ruffians and some other adventures."

Gwaine sighed in relief.

"Although, Merlin's told me about some of your hobbies and I hate to inform you that there aren't any taverns near here," Hunith continued, her voice non judgemental.

Gwaine glared at Merlin, who avoided his eyes. Great, now his best friend's mum thought him a drunk, which granted he was but he didn't want Hunith to know that!

Hunith clapped her hands together, "Well you boys must be exhausted from the ride, I was just about to start dinner." They went inside and Gwaine let his eyes roam around. So this was where his friend grew up. The house was even smaller inside than out but Gwaine didn't mind, it felt cozy.

He followed Merlin's lead to where they would be sleeping. It was a bare area with some beaten up pillows. Merlin had already explained their sleeping quarters on the ride, and Gwaine understood the situation perfectly. Hunith rubbed her wrists uncomfortably "I apologize if it's not what you expected-" Gwaine raised his hand to interrupt, "Please, I'm sure Merlin's told you about my life before we met. I'm used to way more unconventional places to rest than this. I'm grateful for your hospitality," he said humbly

Hunith nodded contently. "Well, I was planning to make some dinner and I could use some help."

~8~

"So what exactly did you do for fun around here?" Gwaine huffed, swinging his axe down to split a log. Hunith had been low on firewood, so Gwaine took it upon himself to gather some more. "Well, other than terrorizing old man Simmons, me and Will used to hang by this creek not too far from here." Merlin wiped away the sweat from his forehead before bringing his axe down again.

Gwaine swished the hair out of his face and gave Merlin his full attention. "Oh yeah? And what'd you do there?" "Mostly, we just pretend to be swashbuckling heroes. And there was always an argument about who would need to play the damsel," Merlin chuckled. Gwaine chuckled with him, "Oh Mate I'm sure you were quite the dainty damsel."

Merlin raised a brow and gestured to his axe, "You know I'm not afraid to use this." There was a brief pause before the pair broke into laughter.

"Well if you two are quite finished, I have been waiting for some firewood for the past half hour. So unless you both would like a nice warm meal in your bellies you better get moving. And Merlin dear, do you mind picking some herbs for the stew?"

Merlin and Gwaine both turned red at the chastising.

"Yes mother."

"Yes Hunith."

~8~

When all the chores were finished, Merlin got Gwaine's attention and nodded into the woods behind his home. "There's something I want to show you." Merlin's subdued tone suggested that whatever he wanted to show Gwaine would not be a happy sight. And it was not.

In front of a giant tree were 2 grave markers. Gwaine gave Merlin some space as the man got down on one knee.

"Father, Will, this is my friend Gwaine, you both would've loved him," Merlin stated softly. Gwaine joined his friend, bowed his head and closed his eyes in prayer.

After a couple moments of silence, Merlin broke it, "I miss them."

Merlin's broken confession tugged at Gwaine's heart. He pulled his friend into a warm hug. "They'd be proud of you Merlin, for all you've done and the person you've become. Never doubt that."

Merlin allowed Gwaine to see a part of himself not many people got to see. Words could not express how humbled Gwaine was. It took trust, and until his final breath, Gwaine swore he would forever continue to be worthy of that trust.

~8~

"He did what!?"

"He ran outside naked as a babe and hid in a pile of hay just so he didn't have to take a bath."

Gwaine held his stomach as he hunched over laughing. Tears were threatening to spill from his eyes and his face was red. Merlin groaned, feeling embarrassed, "Mother! Please stop telling Gwaine these stories. Do you know what you've done? With his mouth all of Camelot will hear this!" Gwaine struggled to stop laughing and his friend wasn't making things any easier.

"Oh it's a travesty I am just hearing these things now! Merlin, I should've met your mother months ago!"

Merlin rolled his eyes but cracked a tiny smile. Finally gathering himself, Gwaine stood up from his chair, "Well I best retire, don't want to keep anyone up too late. Good night Hunith." "Good night Gwaine," Hunith replied softly. Mother and son watched the knight leave before having their own quiet conversation.

"He's a good man, son." Merlin looked towards where the knight was resting, "He's a better friend to mum." Hunith hesitated slightly, contemplating whether or not she should ask her son a particular question. "Will you tell him?" As she feared, Merlin's demeanor changed. He always became more guarded whenever the topic of his magic came up.

"I've thought about it." Merlin confessed. "But?" Hunith prompted. Normally she wouldn't encourage her son to share his secret, but she could see how years of lying have treated him. And Hunith did not like what she saw.

"It's too risky, after Morgana and her sister take over-I just don't want to drag him into danger. Gwaine shouldn't have to live with my secret, not when it could cost him his life," Merlin argued. He sighed, "I want to mother….but I can't," he whispered.

Hunith covered her son's hands with her own, "Even though I just met the man, I know one thing: he thinks the world of you. Maybe one day you'll give him the chance to prove it."

And when he finally joined Gwaine later on, Merlin thought about his mother's words. Yes, perhaps not in the near future, but someday, someday he'll show Gwaine the real him.