Synopsis: When Gwaine catches Merlin sneaking out of Camelot in the middle of the night he follows his friend out of concern. He finds Merlin at a lake and a tragic story is revealed.

Gwaine despised night patrol.

For one, he couldn't spend an evening at the tavern and another, night patrol was uneventful. Gwaine considered himself a man whose sustenance was action and night duty provided the opposite. It was boring and dull-wait a second.

Seeing a figure move through the shadows caught Gwaine's attention. He studied the potential threat intently. In a blink or you'll miss it moment, Gwaine managed to spot a familiar neckerchief which briefly shone in the moonlight.

What the devil was Merlin up to at this hour?

But what surprised Gwaine was how stealthy his friend could be. Successfully too. Merlin had to be the clumsiest person he knew, always tripping on his own two feet, but now he was skillfully bypassing trained knights as if it were no challenge.

Merlin was a mystery Gwaine could never solve. There was another side to the servant, a side so well hidden that only the right person could see it.

Quietly, he followed his friend out of the Kingdom's gates and into the forest. He trailed the servant more out of concern rather than curiosity. As of late, Gwaine noticed his best friend seemed more subdued, almost sorrowful.

There was clearly something wrong and Gwaine knew it was pointless to just approach the man and ask outright what was bothering him. Merlin had a hold over people, Gwaine definitely being one of them, and could weasel his way out of anything. Gwaine respected other people's privacy, contrary to what the knights believed. He of all people understood what it was like to keep secrets.

Despite his morals however, he just couldn't let this opportunity go.

~8~

A lake. This was the place Merlin led him to. The lake itself was beautiful in a serene sort of way.

While not out of character for a man like Merlin who simply adored nature to come here, Gwaine's interest was very peaked.

From his position behind some bushes, Gwaine watched his friend practically collapse onto the shore. His heart tugged when he heard quiet sniffles. Merlin's shoulders shook as his sobs grew louder.

That's it. Merlin was hurting and Gwaine was damned if he was just gonna hide while his best friend was in the middle of a breakdown with no support .

He approached cautiously, not wanting to startle Merlin in his fragile state. He lowered himself to his friend's level and softly called his name. To his credit Merlin didn't display any shock at the knight's presence. Instead, he threw himself into Gwaine and Gwaine didn't hesitate to hold his best mate tightly in return.

They stayed like that for some time, with Gwaine soothingly rubbing Merlin's back while the manservant wept. He also kept mumbling some things, but the only words Gwaine could make out were "Freya" "Love" and "It's all my fault."

Gwaine waited patiently for Merlin to settle down before asking his questions. "Who's Freya?" Merlin took a deep breath, "She was the love of my life," he answered heavily. Gwaine was taken aback. The past tense of the sentence did not escape him. "Was?" Gwaine questioned as lightly as he could.

"She died in my arms. I-I couldn't save her Gwaine."

Gwaine froze. He had no idea how to respond to such a statement. Thankfully, Merlin continued on. "I met her in my second year living in Camelot. We locked eyes from the cage she was chained in. She was a druid, caught by a cruel bounty hunter. I freed her and kept her hidden from Uther's pursuits."

Gwaine admired Merlin's courage. "What was she like?" Merlin smiled wistfully, "She was beautiful, kind but very shy. I remember the smile she gave me after I made a fool out of myself trying to impress her." Gwaine couldn't help the little chuckle that passed his lips. "I was going to leave Camelot with her. Build a home beside a lake" At this, Merlin began to choke up once more.

Leave? Merlin would've left Camelot? Left Arthur? Gwaine couldn't wrap his head around the notion. He continued listening to the heartbreaking story.

"But while I left to gather supplies, she ran. She ran because she didn't want me to give up the good life I had. The knights caught her before she reached the gates." Merlin was whispering at this point, his voice hoarse from crying.

"Freya was cursed, Gwaine. To transform into a bastet. She tried to tell me before but I didn't listen." Gwaine took a sharp intake of breath. "She transformed before the knights, and was dealt a mortal blow. When she changed back, I carried her to his lake. I-I held her until her last breath…and…made this lake her final resting place."

"Today's the anniversary…."

Gwaine hugged Merlin tighter. His friend's sobs wracked through his entire body. So that explained Merlin's mood; he was mourning his lost love. "Who was it mate? Who dealt Freya's wound, I swear I'll kill them," Gwaine said fiercely.

Merlin shook his head, burying himself further into Gwaine's chest. "It wasn't his fault." He protested quietly. "Wasn't who's?" When Merlin stayed quiet, Gwaine questioned him again. "Who, Merlin?"

There was a slight pause, "...Arthur."

Rage built up inside Gwaine, his hands curled into fists. How on earth could Merlin even stand being in close proximity, everyday, to his love's murderer. It was so inconceivable. He was about to start spitting insults at the King when Merlin interrupted. Merlin extracted himself out of Gwaine.

"He didn't have a choice. Freya…Freya was a threat, and I much as I loved her…I don't blame Arthur for her death. Maybe I did at first, but not…not anymore." Merlin finished subdued.

"But Merlin-"

"I've made my peace with it, Gwaine." There was no room for argument in his friend's tone.

Gwaine looked out towards the lake. Knowing the true significance behind it, he took a minute to bow his head in prayer. When he finished, looked back at Merlin who was also staring at the body of water mournfully. Gwaine rested a hand onto his shoulder. "I'm so sorry Merlin."

Sorry didn't even feel enough.

"I've never told anyone about Freya. Not Gaius, my mother, even Lancelot. Thank you Gwaine." Merlin was thanking him? For doing the most basic action a friend should provide?

"You're not alone Merlin. I'm here."

He needed Merlin to know that. Merlin had always been his crutch, it was time for Gwaine to return the favour.