"Prince Arthur?" Gwen's knuckles rapped against the prince's door, the sound followed by a heavy crash from inside as the girl's hand jerked away, her brows knitting together in concern as she leaned forwards and listened to the sound of quiet muttering on the other side.
"Arthur?" She called again, more wary than before as she opened the door a fraction and peered inside. Drawing in a breath of surprise, the girl stared openly at the mess spread out across the prince's floor. And there, right in the middle of a whirlwind of clothes, boots, armor, and a shattered vase was not the prince, but his servant. "Merlin?" She questioned, glancing back into the hall before she slipped inside and walked closer to the young man who audibly sounded a breath of relief.
"Gwen, you scared me half to death."
"What are you doing?" She asked, reaching out and pulling one of Arthur's tunics off the boy's head as he scrambled to his feet and gestured towards the open, and now empty, wardrobe.
"Cleaning!" He declared a bit out of breath as he waved his hand around.
"Cleaning?"
"Yes, cleaning. I was organizing and the shelf broke and then I slipped and everything tumbled out and, well, then you came in." His words poured out fast and breathy, eyes darting anxiously over the maid's shoulder at the door as he began to kick the pile aside while fumbling with something in his pocket.
Gwen wasn't a stranger to Merlin's odd behavior or the curious things he and the prince got up to, but even so she could not keep the doubt from her mind as she studied the obvious guilt the boy was trying to hide.
"So, uh, what are you doing here?" He asked suddenly, stretching out a hand and bracing it against the wardrobe's door as he leaned forward and attempted a casual pose.
"I was looking for Arthur." She answered slowly, her gaze drifting around the room as if she half expected to find the blond there and acting just as strangely as Merlin. "You haven't seen him around anywhere, have you?"
"Nope, not today. Hardly at all really, too busy you know. Cleaning."
"Merlin, what's going-"
"Where is he?" Arthur's voice, loud and angry, echoed from outside, cutting off the maid's question as all of the boy's nonchalance vanished and he was grabbed hold of her wrist.
"Hide!" He hissed, pulling her with him as Gwen let out a quiet yelp, stumbling over the various items littering the floor as Merlin tugged her behind the prince's heavy drapes and pulled the fabric around the both of them just as the door to the prince's chambers flew open.
"Merlin!" Arthur sounded absolutely livid, his footsteps heavy against the floor as he stopped in front of his wardrobe and sucked in a long breath. "You worthless, good for nothing.." He was muttering, seething with anger as Gwen dared a glance at Merlin and found the boy standing as still as a statue, his lips pressed tightly together and his eyes firm on the floor as if he were putting everything he had into being quiet and listening.
"When I find you, you're going to wish Cedric were still around!" The prince shouted, his footsteps leading off to the other side of the room as Gwen carefully covered her mouth, the tight quarters stuffy and threatening to draw out a sneeze that would be sure to reveal herself and the servant to the irritated royal. "Wait until I get my hands on you.. Out of my way!" Arthur's voice sounded again as he stormed back through the door and out into the hall as Merlin let out a long, slow breath that made the drapes shudder in front of him.
"So, you're cleaning?" She questioned softly, peering up at the boy who displayed a sheepish smile before he shoved the drapes away.
"Something may have happened, and Arthur may be blaming me for it."
"What did you do?" She asked, her hands smoothing back her hair as the boy shook his head vigorously.
"I swear, Gwen, it wasn't me."
"What wasn't?"
"Wait," He paused, hands freezing in midair as he narrowed his gaze at her. "Are you telling me that you don't know?"
"Don't know what?" She pressed, suddenly feeling as if she'd missed something obvious as a grin began to pull at the servant's lips.
"It's.. well, it's.. I can't explain it, it's just sort of something you have to see for yourself." He waved a hand dismissively, though the devious smile remained as he dug into his pocket. "What was it that you wanted him for?"
"Oh, I was just, going to check on something, it wasn't that important. But why are you in here if you're trying to avoid Arthur?" She asked as the boy pulled out a dark tinted jar and held it up for her to see.
"I came looking for this. I've got to figure out who put this in here before Arthur decides to throw me in the stocks. Or the dungeon. Or whatever other punishment he can come up with." Merlin shuddered, slipping the small jar back into his pocket before he was stepping towards the door and pressing his ear against it. "Just before you came in, I remembered that someone else brought Arthur his breakfast because I was up late aiding Gaius, so I just need to talk to them."
"And you need to do that without Arthur finding you?"
"That's the idea." He nodded, deciding it was safe as he pulled open the door. "Sorry to drag you into this just now, I sort of panicked." He apologized, flashing her one of his widened smiles that always brought out one of her own in return.
"Uhm, Merlin?" She called as he started out the door, almost laughing as the boy stumbled and leaned backwards to look at her. "How are you going to talk to whoever was up here?"
"Well, it was one of the dishwashers, so I figured I'd find them in the kitchen."
"Isn't Cook still angry with you?" She asked, getting no response out of the boy except for a blank stare. "For the cake you made her drop?" She pushed, lifting her brows as realization finally struck and boy's shoulders slumped.
"Oh, right. She's sure to call Arthur the moment she sees me." He mumbled, suddenly sounding dejected as Gwen moved closer and urged him out the door before she closed it behind them.
"Why don't I go with you? I can distract her while you find and talk to the boy."
"I don't want to put you out any more than I have, Gwen." He spoke quickly, concern filling his eyes as she smiled again. Despite his own troubles he still didn't want to risk bothering anyone else. She didn't think she'd ever get over how selfless he could be sometimes.
"You're not, I'm offering. Actually, I'm insisting. You need to prove that it wasn't you, and I've got a bit of time to spare. And I really am curious to see what's happened."
The grin that overtook the boy was wide and lit up his whole face. "You're the best, Gwen." He beamed, turning and striding around the corner as she quickly followed, only for the two of them to crash into Morgana.
"Oh, My Lady, I'm so sorry." Gwen quickly apologized, backing a step away as Morgana glanced between the two of them and caught her maid's eye, flashing the girl a coy look that made her cheeks flush.
"It's no problem, Gwen, I'm fine." She said dismissively, her fingers reaching up and carefully readjusting a blue flower pinned behind her ear. "Where are you two off to in such a hurry?" Green eyes flickered back and forth between the two servants as Gwen cut her eyes to Merlin.
"We were, uh, w-well we.." Merlin stuttered, his hands flailing about as if they'd give the answer for him.
"The armory." Gwen blurted out as the boy quickly nodded.
"Yes! The armory, we were headed there. I needed Gwen's help with one of Arthur's swords."
"Yes, it-it's had him at quite a loss."
"Yeah, it's just not very.. swordy.. at all.." He continued as Gwen fought the urge to groan. Had he always been such a terrible liar?
Morgana's face contorted into one of confusion, the boy trapped under her watchful gaze before she was starting. "Oh, Merlin, Arthur's been looking for you."
"I know." He muttered before what he said struck him and he was fumbling to correct himself. "I mean, I know, we're on our way to see him now."
"After the armory." Gwen interrupted as Merlin nodded and caught her arm, starting to lead them both away.
"Right, after the armory. Got to fix the sword and such."
"Merlin?" The girl called, causing the boy to stop abruptly as Gwen's shoulder collided with his chest.
"Yes?"
"Arthur just went down that way, so I'd take the other hall if I were you. You know, to get to the armory."
A small twinkle of mischief danced through emerald hues and Merlin was breaking out into another grin, his hand letting go of Gwen and instead ushering her the other way. "Thanks, Morgana."
"Just be careful, Merlin. Arthur is in quite a state." The woman warned before she turned and walked the other way.
"What sort of state is he in?" Gwen questioned as they hurried through the corridor and down the stairs.
"A furious one I'd imagine. Like I said, you've got to see it for yourself to really understand." He answered distractedly, peering around each corner before they continued in his attempt to avoid the prince.
Gwen didn't want Merlin to get into trouble, and certainly not before he found the proof that he needed, but the maid found herself almost hoping to cross paths with Arthur, desperate to understand what exactly had happened that had led to the events she found herself caught up in.
By the time they reached the kitchens, Cook was nowhere in sight and Merlin heaved a calmer breath, the tension in his shoulders relaxing as he muttered something about how it hadn't been his fault her cake had been in his way. Gwen walked behind him as they ducked between servers and assistants that were busy preparing for lunch until they found themselves in a small nook near the back where two teenagers were working on cleaning the last of the dishes from the morning meal.
"Donovan?" Merlin asked as one of the boy's lifted his head, a mop of blond hair nearly covering his eyes as he stepped towards them.
"If Cook sees you, Merlin, she's gonna start yelling." He warned, a thick accent clinging to his words as the servant merely shrugged.
"I'd rather face her wrath than Arthur's right now. You took him his breakfast, didn't you?"
Nodding his head, the boy brushed aside his hair with the back of a wet hand. "Was something wrong with it?"
"No, nothing was wrong, I was just wondering if you saw this on the table when you took it in?"
Pulling the jar out again the boy leaned closer and stared hard at it. "I do remember seeing something like that in there, but I didn't see who dropped it off."
Frowning, Merlin returned the jar to his pocket. "Did you see anyone else around, in the hall or anywhere?"
"There was a knight talking to Prince Arthur in the corridor when I went in."
"A knight? Do you know which one?"
Biting down on his lip and glancing up at the ceiling in thought, Donovan let out a low hum. "I think it might have been Sir Dominic, but I'm not positive. Sorry Merlin, I wish I could help you more."
"You've helped plenty, thanks." With a hand squeezing the child's shoulder, he returned to his work and Merlin turned to face Gwen. As he opened his mouth to speak his eyes flickered over the girl's shoulder and went wide, the words disappearing.
"What are you doing in my kitchen?" Turning, Gwen caught sight of Cook staring angrily at Merlin, a spoon tight in hand as she strode towards them.
"I was just leaving." He assured her, backing away to the door as the woman scowled.
"You know the prince is looking for you? He thought you might be here shirking your duties."
"I highly doubt that's why he's looking for me." The boy mumbled under his breath, taking another step backwards before speaking louder. "Yes, and I was just on my way to find him. So, I'll be going now."
Backing another step away, the servant's elbow caught a stack of drying dishes on the edge of a table and flailed in a failed effort to catch them. The sound of kitchenware clattering to the ground was loud and halted all chatter from the rest of the busy room as Merlin glanced up apologetically.
The woman's face turned a shade of dark red as she started towards him before Gwen surged forward and caught his arm, beginning to tug him towards the door. "We're so sorry for the mess." She apologized quickly, pulling him over the dishes and out into the hall as Cook's ranting echoed after them while they hurried away.
"We've got to find Sir Dominic." Merlin spoke once they'd put distance between themselves and the kitchen.
"Where do you think he is?"
"Out on the field training maybe, or he might be on a patrol. We can check with one of the other knights if we have trouble finding him."
"Won't Arthur be out on the field too?" She asked, her question causing the boy to pause a moment.
"No, I have a feeling that Arthur won't be doing much of anything until he finds me." And there it was again, an amused smirk pulling at his lips as he continued walking. "We ought to check the armory first, see if any of the knights are there that we can talk to."
"You're really not going to tell me what's happened?"
"Honest, Gwen, even if I did I couldn't do it justice." He shook his head as they walked through the citadel, pausing only long enough to allow the boy to check which paths to take until they were stepping inside the armory. The room was filled with various weaponry, with shields lining the walls and swords carefully kept to one side. Walking further inside, movement on their left had the servant freezing.
"Merlin?"
Swiveling around, the boy relaxed almost immediately at seeing one of the knights staring back at him rather than the prince. "Sir Dominic, I was just looking for you."
"What for?"
Stepping closer behind Merlin, Gwen peered around him at the knight that she'd only seen a few times in the past. Sir Dominic was tall, with broad shoulders and short, darkened hair. His voice was deep, and she knew him as one of the quieter men that Arthur had, one who gave thought to what he said before he spoke.
"You were talking to Arthur this morning, weren't you?" Merlin asked, digging into his pocket once again as the knight stood, sheathing his sword he'd been cleaning and shifting as he stood half a head taller than the boy.
"We were discussing plans for a patrol with one of the new knights." Dominic nodded as Merlin freed the dark jar.
"When you were talking, did you see any-"
"Merlin!" Stopping midsentence, the boy's eyes widened as he glanced behind them, the partially open door making the prince and his shouting clear as day as he drew closer.
"Actually, never mind, I'll-I'll come back later." He said quickly, ushering Gwen to the door as the girl peeked outside and shook her head.
"Too late." She whispered, spotting the blond's shadow rounding the corner as Merlin lunged forward and shut the door.
"Merlin, what's going on?" Dominic questioned, narrowing his eyes as the servant spun around and laughed awkwardly.
"Nothing, nothing important. Uh, we just, well we.."
"Merlin! I know you're down here!" Gwen winced at the closeness of Arthur's voice and Merlin's stuttering fell quiet as the knight looked from them to the door and back again.
"Over there, behind those shields." He finally spoke, gesturing to one corner of the room as Merlin's eyes lit up. As quick as they could the two were crouching and ducking behind a set of shields in need of repair after a session of training, Gwen sliding carefully between two of them while Merlin pushed her skirts back and slid behind them next, bracing his hands against the wall just as the door flew open.
"Merlin!"
"Sire?" Dominic's questioning voice asked as a heavy breath of irritation sounded.
"Where is that useless servant of mine?"
"Sire, what hap-"
"What happened doesn't matter! One of the maids saw that idiot come this way!"
"Oh?" The knight replied smoothly, and in the darkness of their hiding spot Gwen could see Merlin's lips twitching, the whites of his teeth showing as he grinned at the floor.
"You're telling me you haven't seen him at all?" The prince asked carefully, his voice tight and ice cold as Gwen held perfectly still, her fingers pressed against the cool wall next to her.
"If Merlin were indeed here, Sire, would I hide him from you?" Gwen caught her lip between her teeth as the boy's head fell, a barely restrained laugh shaking his shoulders as a heavy silence lingered in the room, no doubt caused by Arthur trying to decide if his knight was lying to him or not.
"If you see that idiot, you bring him straight to me, is that understood?" Without waiting for an answer Arthur stormed back through the door again while Merlin let out a slow breath.
"He's gone." The knight called, walking closer to where they were hiding as Merlin climbed out and offered his hand to Gwen, helping her to stand as she worked to smooth out her wrinkled skirts.
"Thank you, Sir Dominic. But, why didn't you tell him?"
A small smile lit up the knight's face as his hand fell to the pommel of his sword. "Did you do that to him, Merlin?"
"No, of course not." The boy spoke adamantly, shaking his head.
"That's why." He uttered, his gaze settling on the servant. "Besides, it's not unusual to see the prince so worked up or blaming you. Giving you away wouldn't really be fair to you, especially not with a lady in the midst of it all." Tilting his head and offering her a kind smile, Gwen bowed hers and gave one in return.
"We're very grateful, Sir Dominic."
"You made mention of my talking to Prince Arthur?"
"Oh, yes! The boy exclaimed, opening his palm to reveal the jar and holding it up. "That's why I'm avoiding him, I'm trying to prove it wasn't my fault. The boy who delivered Arthur's breakfast said this was already there when he went in, but you were talking to Arthur beforehand; did you see anyone coming or going while you were standing there?"
Considering the question while staring at the jar, Dominic finally nodded. "Before the boy you mentioned, the only other person I saw was the Court Physician. The prince sent him inside, so perhaps he was the one to leave it."
"Gaius?" Merlin stared. "I'd never considered somebody added something to this, I just assumed they'd taken it in." Muttering to himself, the boy slipped the jar back into his pocket distractedly before glancing back up. "Thanks again, Sir Dominic, I owe you one." He grinned, moving to the door as Gwen nodded her own thanks and goodbye before she was following after her friend. "The question now is whether this was tampered with before or after Gaius took it to him."
"Perhaps I could be of more help if you'd tell me what the salve actually did to him?" She began only to receive another teasing smile.
"It will be worth the wait to see it in person, Gwen, I swear. Come on, he's bound to check in with Gaius sooner rather than later and I'd rather not run into him without an exit in sight." Shaking her head with a small smile, the maid walked beside him as whispers began to float up around them in the corridors.
Several pairs of eyes followed after Merlin and a few even pointed, but the boy seemed oblivious to it all, his mind focused on the mission at hand as they began to walk up the stairwell leading to his home. "Gaius?" He called out, pushing open the door and pausing, his body tense in preparation to make a run for it at the first sign of Arthur.
"Merlin! What have you gone and done now?" Gaius' chiding tone was the only voice to greet them as the boy glanced at Gwen with a tilted smile before he was slipping through the door. "Have you seen the state Arthur is in? I knew you were irritated but this is taking things too far." Stepping into the room after him, Gwen stood quietly by the door, her eyes flickering out to the stairs on occasion to see if anyone were on their way up.
"Gaius, it wasn't me."
"Wasn't you? Well who else could have done such a thing, Merlin? What you-"
At the sudden silence caused by the physician's halted words, Guinevere's gaze drifted back to the room and found the elder's quiet stare on her as she smiled at him. "Hello, Gaius." She waved as the man nodded a greeting and eyed his ward again.
"If you added anything, Merlin-"
"Gaius, I swear, I didn't do a thing. That's why I'm here, I'm trying to figure out who did." Slipping the jar from his pocket, he held it out to his guardian who took it carefully. "Someone used the salve you brought to do it, or they switched it out, but no one saw who it might have been. I was hoping maybe you saw someone while you were in there?"
"No one was there at the time, I'm afraid." The man shook his head, carrying the offending jar to his worktable and setting it down. "Arthur and one of his knights were speaking outside his room, so unless whoever did this was cleared by the prince himself, I don't see how anyone would have managed to get inside."
"So I'm done for then, that's what you're telling me." The boy groaned, falling to a stool and slumping down as Gwen stepped forward.
"You ought to be looking for a way to reverse what's been done, rather than trying to find the person who did it. You know Arthur is unlikely to listen to any form of reason in his current condition."
"About that," Gwen spoke up, finding the elder's eyes again. "Will you tell me what happened?"
A beat of silence passed as the two men met each other's gaze. "You didn't tell her?"
"I told her it was something she had to see herself." Merlin explained, fighting back the same grin he got anytime the subject was approached as the physician scoffed and waved a hand at his charge.
"Go, before he returns in his search for you. Just keep in mind you can't keep running from him forever."
"Has he been here already?" Merlin asked, rising from his seat as the physician nodded. "What did you say?"
"What could I? That I hadn't seen you. A fact that he didn't take well I'm afraid."
"We'd better get going then." Gwen encouraged, catching the boy's eye as he nodded.
"Thanks, Gaius."
"Have someone tell me if you're thrown in the stocks again." He called after them as they left the room and started back down the stairwell.
"Where do we go now?"
"I don't know, but I think Gaius was right. I should figure out a way to fix what's happened first, then find the person who it. Arthur's bound to catch up to me sooner or later." As they reached the bottom of the stairs and headed towards the courtyard, he was still speaking, though it had turned more into personal rambling.
"What I don't understand is how someone managed to get into his room without being seen by anyone, and how they even had time to mess with that salve. Did they even mess with it? Or did they trade it with a different one? But then that would mean they prepared it in advance and had been planning all of this. Did they go in later to switch the jars perhaps? But then wouldn't Arthur have been suspicious?"
"Okay, enough." The maid sighed, walking faster and blocking his path as the boy stumbled to a halt, a shocked expression rising to his face. "I can't take it any longer, Merlin please, tell me what happened."
Smiling, the boy's head fell with a short laugh. "Alright, well, you know that I didn't deliver his breakfast to him, and I wasn't even there for a large portion of the morning due to helping Gaius." He began, his hands moving with his words. "The first time I saw him today was when I was drawing his bath. He disappeared behind his screen and used that salve for his injuries. The next thing I know, he's shouting and cursing and he comes back out and he's-"
"Blue." Gwen interrupted, her eyes widening as Merlin frowned.
"Blue, yeah, how did you know I was going to say that?"
"Because you're right, I did need to see it for myself." She stared, barely able to get the words out as she motioned behind him. Standing across the courtyard from them with a furious expression that she could see even in the distance stood the prince with half his face, his neck, and both of his palms stained in bright patches of blue. "How did that happen?" She whispered as Merlin snickered next to her before he was attempting to mask the noise in a cough.
"Dye perhaps? I don't know for sure.." His words faded as he laughed again and Gwen attempted to turn a disapproving look his way, though she doubted it was effective as she herself struggled to keep her own laughter down.
"Merlin, stop."
"What? I didn't do it but it's still funny." He chuckled as the maid looked back to the prince and caught his eye. Irritated blue hues softened when they found her, only to turn to ice when his gaze shifted to the dark haired servant next to her.
"Uhm, Merlin?"
"What?" With his grin still intact, the boy turned and spotted the prince striding towards him, his smile falling in an instant as he cursed under his breath. "Oh, hell."
"Merlin!" Arthur boomed, closing the distance between them quickly as his servant backed a step away and lifted his hands.
"Arthur, it wasn't me." He defended, taking another cautious step back as the blond's anger rolled off of him.
"Where the hell have you been?" He demanded, his jaw tightening as Merlin stumbled back once more, trying to create distance between them.
"I've been looking for the person who did that."
"And did you find them?"
"Well, no, not exactly, but I-"
"I've been looking for you everywhere."
"I know." Merlin spoke quickly before he grimaced and tried to back track. "I mean, w-were you? I-I mean.. blue.. blue suits you?" Gwen winced at his rambling, the prince's face turning a shade of red that stood out against the blue smears lining one side of his forehead and cheek.
"Where are you going?" Arthur questioned, his voice turning low and quiet as Merlin continued to back away.
"Who, me? I'm just, over here, gonna be over here."
"No, you're not. Come here."
"No thanks." The servant shook his head, moving faster as the gap closed between them.
"Merlin!"
"It really doesn't look that bad!" He shouted, breaking out into a dead run as the blond cursed and chased after him.
"Get back here you spineless coward!"
Gwen turned to watch as the two began running through the courtyard, their antics being spectated by everyone around as people stopped to stare.
"I see Arthur finally found Merlin." Morgana spoke up from behind the girl as the maid turned and grimaced.
"Unfortunately."
"Did he find out who was responsible?"
"No," Gwen shook her head, glancing over her shoulder at where Merin barely dodged the prince's outstretched hand before he was scrambling over a stack of hay. "We didn't learn much of anything. Gaius said that Arthur and Sir Dominic were speaking in the hall, so no servant could have passed them without him seeing, so he thinks maybe someone went up later."
"Well, Gwen, I think the answer is really quite simple." Morgana stated, reaching up and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "A servant wasn't the one who did it."
"What do you mean? Who else would have done such a thing?" The girl asked, staring at the king's ward before her eyes fell to Morgana's hand, the same blue flower she'd had in her hair earlier now twirling between her fingers. A blue flower that looked to be the same hue as the color staining Arthur's skin. "You?" She gasped as the pieces connected and she was looking back up as a smile stretched across the other's lips.
"You know, some flowers can create a rather strong dye when mixed properly."
"But Morgana, why?" Gwen questioned as the flower stopped mid twirl while a sigh left the woman.
"Arthur got such a big head after that man was with him, what was his name, Cedric? And look at how he treated poor Merlin during all of that, it wasn't fair! He can't even see how much he does for him." She explained, a small pout lining her face as the maid shook her head.
"I understand, but now poor Merlin is getting the blame for something that you did! You have to tell Arthur it was you."
"Oh please," She scoffed, the flower carefully finding its place back behind the girl's ear. "Arthur wouldn't acknowledge it was me if I smeared the dye across his face myself." A sudden shout had both girls turning as Gwen winced in sympathy at the sight of Arthur pinning Merlin to the ground, the prince half on top of him as the boy flailed against his grasp.
"I will apologize to Merlin later, I really hadn't meant for him to take the blame. I did do it for him after all." Looking to the girl, Morgana's arm looped through Gwen's and pulled her close while the two boys continued to struggle. "He was right though, blue does suit him."
And suddenly Gwen was laughing, loud and long as her free hand lifted to cover her mouth and the noise. "How long will it last?" She asked as Morgana looked away.
"Oh, only a few days." And they're both laughing together, moving away from the scene as Merlin tried to throw a fist full of hay into the prince's face. As much as she hated to see him take the fall for what Morgana did, it wasn't as if the two wouldn't come back from it.
Despite their fighting a triumphant smile had already returned to Arthur's face and even the crowd had begun to lose interest, going about with their routines as if the prince weren't laughing against his manservant's weak attempts to push him off his back. After all, why should they? It was just any other day when it came to the two of them.
A/N
Let's start the year off right with some chaotic Camelot laughs. I have no idea where this one came from, it just sort of appeared when I decided I wanted a fun fic with Gwen and Merlin participating in shenanigans together, but I hope you guys enjoyed!
Leave any comments or reviews if you feel like it, they always make me smile and inspire even more crazy tales. I hope you're all enjoying the year so far, let's try and make this a great one!