Merlin jogged towards the council tent where he knew the group going to the Caerleon camp would be congregating, and soon Gwen's voice was clearly audible through the thin wall of the tent, "Gwaine and Percival will escort me."

"Don't you think you will need more protection?" came another Knights voice, Merlin recognized it as belonging to Charles. He didn't like Charles.

"Taking any more will be seen as a threat, and I don't think Jezebel would sink so low as to have us killed when we enter her camp in peace, and with her permission." said Gwen, making him smile. She really was a worthy Queen; clever, with good judgement.

Pushing into the tent Merlin ignored the disapproving looks from some of the Knights, "My lady, please let me come as well."

Rather than looking surprised Gwen smiled, and he could tell she had been expecting him, "Very well, you may come too Merlin."

. . .

The journey through the Caerleon camp was quite stressful for them all, being surrounded by thousands of people who would obviously love to see them dead wasn't a very good feeling. Right before they entered the tent where the meeting was to take place and nobody was looking, Merlin caught hold of Gwen's hand for the briefest moment, giving it a reassuring squeeze. She smiled at him gratefully and squeezed back. It lasted only moments but both felt a little calmer from the brief exchange.

They entered to see Queen Jezebel sitting stiffly in an ornate chair and waiting for them, a little less than a dozen Caerleon Knights positioned around the tent. Merlin's blood boiled when he saw Arthur, Leon, and Elyan, tied and gagged, kneeling beside the throne and unable to stand due to their bonds. They had been stripped of their armor, and were instead wearing just plain trousers and shirts. Although they all looked a little worse for the wear they were defiant and it was clear they had not given up. Merlin was relieved when he could spot no serious injuries on them, but knew that that didn't mean very much. Both Emanuel and Moffat were missing, and Merlin could only assume the worst.

The strangest desire to laugh filled him when he saw the look in Arthur's eyes, although it was an urge born purely from a mixture of fear, anxiety, and a sudden feeling of hopelessness. He could tell that this little display was purely to unnerve and provoke them, and it was working like a charm. Percival and Gwaine both looked as though they were one provocation away from attacking, and only the fierce look that Arthur was giving them were preventing them from doing so.

Gwen wasn't faring much better: her eyes had widened slightly and he could tell she was very disturbed by the fact that Queen Jezebel would do something like this. She did her best to compose herself and managed it quite well. Merlin was sure he and Arthur were the only two in the room who could see what she was really feeling, simply because they had both known her for the longest and by now knew how to read her.

Arthur's gaze met his and Merlin saw a clear question in his eyes- 'are you okay?'

Fighting the urge to roll his eyes Merlin gave the slightest of nods and Arthur turned his attention back to the exchange. Merlin was uncomfortably aware that the only reason they were in this mess was because of him, because Arthur cared.

"Why have you sought out this meeting?" asked Queen Jezebel, completely ignoring the Camelot prisoner's existence.

Wasting no time Gwen got straight to the point, tearing her eyes away from Arthur, "I invoke the right of single combat. Two champions to settle this matter between them".

Merlin thought he might have seen a flash of triumph in Jezebel's face, but didn't understand why.

"And why should I grant you this favor?" asked Jezebel, sounding genuinely curious.

"There is no reason to spill unnecessary blood." said Gwen reasonably.

Leaning back Jezebel steepled her fingers in front of her, "And what would your terms be?"

Gwen's fingers clenched "If my man wins you return Arthur to us and we withdraw our army. I also ask that we would draw up a peace treaty between our two kingdoms."

"And if mine is the victor?"

"Then one fourth of all of Camelot is yours, and we withdraw our armies," there was the briefest of pauses before Gwen continued, "but we take Arthur and the Knights with us."

"I do not agree with these terms." said Jezebel promptly.

"What is it you would change?" asked Gwen coolly, but it was clear she knew what the answer would be.

"What would I change? Well, If my champion is victorious then you do not get Arthur back." she leaned forwards, smiling coldly. "If you lose, then both he and his Knights shall be executed one by one before your entire army. And even after that, you shall withdraw without retaliation."

There was a heavy silence as everybody digested this horrible statement, shocked that even Queen Jezebel could be so ruthless. Merlin saw the slight tensing in Guinevere's shoulders and the way she glanced at Arthur, "And there is nothing I can do to change your mind on this matter?" He was sure she hadn't really expected Jezebel to just give back Arthur and his Knights, but she couldn't not ask.

All traces of a smile; faked or not, vanished from Jezebel's face, "Unless you can bring back my son, then I am afraid there is not."

Merlin glanced at Arthur and saw his look of guilt and shame at her words. He recalled what Gwen had said about Queen Jezebel's son and realized that Arthur blamed himself for everything that was happening.

Pausing Gwen thought the terms over. Merlin could tell she was struggling to think a way to convince Queen Jezebel to change her mind, but finally accepted that it would be impossible. "Then we are agreed."

Jezebel rose from her seat, "You shall announce your champion by noon tomorrow. You should choose carefully, perhaps you can find someone who might last for more than a few minutes."

Gwen raised her eyebrows slightly, taken aback, "You sound confident, I take it you have your champion in mind?"

"Indeed I have."

Tensing, Merlin glanced at Arthur in worry. Something felt wrong about this; he recalled the flash of what could have been triumph he had seen in Queen Jezebel's eyes when Gwen first proposed her idea. His blood seemed to freeze in his veins as he realized what it might mean.

"May I inquire as to who it is?" asked Gwen, and by her tone Merlin could guess she was having the same thought as he was.

A hooded woman pushed into the tent and walked towards the two Queens. Stopping before them she drew back her hood and they all realized that this was exactly what Queen Jezebel wanted.

"That would be me." Morgana smiled coldly, her eyes full of hate. "It's been a long time, Gwen."