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[Merlin Myrddin]

Having finally finished in the armoury, polishing and sharpening swords so long that his hands were stiff, almost so much so that they had nearly stuck themselves in a grasp. His knuckles were red raw with grazes for each time he had accidentally managed to nick himself on the sharp metal. Still, it was all a means to an end and it was done with now. Besides, he'd done it without magical aid and it still shone bright and looked like it could cut throw a tree as though it were butter. That was something to be proud of, injured hands or not.

With his hands fisting in the sleeves of his red jacket and his hair hanging low over his eyes, in desperate need of a cut, Merlin skipped, no... He was manfully walking toward Arthur’s chambers. His eyes fixated on the end of the corridor and brow furrowed in thought. Now that he had two whole minutes to himself, he allowed himself to think of the Dragon below them and Nimueh, somewhere not quite far enough away. Was he truly like them? Would he, like them, grow evil with anger? Let his emotions turn him to dark deeds and plotting murder? It scared him somewhat, what if all magic was the same and he was wrong? What if he couldn’t be who he is, kind and hopeful and be this powerful sorcerer at the same time? It was a cruel world that made him think that one day, maybe, he’d be the reason others died... Just like Nimueh, for now he realised why Uther despised magic so much it was hard not to understand it, hard not to realise that perhaps magic was evil anyway, whether you intended it or not. Igraine, Queen Igraine, Arthur’s mother and Uther’s wife. Had she not been the innocent victim and then taken to the afterlife just because she had desired a son?

He sighed, he didn’t want to doubt himself or his magic but the more he thought about it, the more it dawned on him. He’d already single headedly signed Arthur’s death certificate. He’d allowed Mordred’s escape because he had been too cowardly to ignore desperate pleas. That was what Nimueh had done, wasn’t it? Granted the wish of one person at the expense of another.
So lost in thought he wasn’t really seeing and it was only when he felt himself bang into solid wall and subsequently collapse to the floor, did he look up.

He was one flight of stairs away from Arthur’s chambers and he’d missed the turning for the stairs by a few inches at best and instead had turned into brick wall. He rubbed his face and knew a bruise would form by morning lest he get that strange mixture from Gaius. However, he’d be late if he turned back now, he’d dwindled too long on his walk and Arthur would have him in the stocks, again, if he did get to him sharply.

Even with that knowledge, he couldn’t quite stand up. The cold winter air whipping his stinging face and making him shiver. He’d been stunned, anyone else would have been used to all the falling over by now if they did it as frequently as Merlin did, yet he seemed incapable of getting over it.

[Guinevere James]

Gwen closed Arthur's door behind her, brushing her hair back. She had managed to get help to clear up the water and get rid of the water in his bath tub. Once that had been finished with she knew she had to get back to Morgana. After all, she hadn't meant to be gone this long. Originally it was just a few moments away to give Arthur the sword then leave. And then they had started talking and, well, things escalated and soon she was spending longer in his room than she ever had before.

Sighing, she brushed her hair away from her face. It was rather warm in the castle, especially when doing chores, and she just hoped that her hair wouldnt' start sticking to her face. Her gown was a little wet from when she was clearing up, a splash of water having fallen onto her dress. It would dry soon she hoped. At least it wasn't somewehre that would annoy her, she could forget that her dress was wet.

She just stepped from the last step that led away from the corridor where his room was so she could head to Morgana's room when she spotted a form on the floor. Frowning, she soon realised it was Merlin and her stomach flipped a little. How could she face him after what Arthur had told her? Then again, perhaps she should tell him she knew. Though that would only embarrass the both of them. But would it be worse to have Merlin being told by Arthur about her situation? Besides, Merlin knew Lancelot and knew Lancelot was back, surely she could talk to him.

"Merlin, are you okay?" she asked as she rushed to his side, kneeling beside him.

[Merlin Myrddin]

He wasn't sure how long he'd been sat in his own little daze but the cold concrete floor seemed to have seeped through his clothes enough that he almost didn't feel that cold. He shuffled a little at the sound of feet and looked up in time to see Gwen; kindly, sweet Gwen, there above him and asking after him. He managed a goofy smile and nodded his head before standing up, albeit a little awkwardly but he'd stood none-the-less. His grid widened and he proceeded to dust himself off, lest Arthur notice he'd not only arrived late but filthy too.

"Oh, I'm fine... Wasn't looking where I was going... But fine. I'm fine. Hi." It sounded to him like a long rambled list of nonsense words and if asked he'd claim the cold had ravaged his brains or that he'd hit his head too hard and too many times.

"Where did you come from?" He asked suddenly and looked up from the stairs he'd seen her come from, surely she hadn't just been with Arthur? He wasn't that late, was he? Trying not to look to panicked at the thought of the Prince murdering him he managed to find a calm but curious expression; probably succeeding in making him look even dafter than usual.

[Guinevere James]

She watched him with a grin to match when he grinned up at her. He seemed to have an infectious grin sometimes, and she found herself standing and reaching out in case she had to steady him as he stood. After all, she didn't know what had happened to him to make him end up on the floor. He could end up a little light on his feet as he stood and she wanted to make sure she could help if he lost his footing again.

"Oh, I'm fine... Wasn't looking where I was going... But fine. I'm fine. Hi."

She nodded when he said he was okay but still found herself checking him out for any bruises or anything. She hated the thought of him getting hurt, he was a close friend. Yes a friend that, for a while, she wanted to be something more with but she never thought it would happen. Now after Arthur's words, she didn't know if she wished she knew before now. She was happy with Lancelot but there was something about Merlin that made her smile and feel better about everything. If she had known of his feelings before Lancelot arrived, well things would have been different.

"Where did you come from?"

She followed Merlin's gaze up the stairs and flushed a little at the memory before looking at him again. The look on his face made it hard for her not to giggle but she tried to compose herself.

"I had to deliver a sword to Arthur. But with how warm it is, and him still in his armour for training, I removed it for him and got a bath and things sorted for him and I ended up staying and talking with him until he was finished. In the other room, of couse! I didn't know when you would arrive, so I've left the armour out but the clothing has already been taken to wash," she said with a small smile. "I hope you don't mind! I mean I hoped you wouldn't mind me taking them to the laundry maid, I thought it would give you more time to do whatever else Arthur gives you to do."

She took a deep breath after her words, blushing and looking to the floor. She had told him more than she intended to say and she felt that feeling of embarrassment she was so use to settling within herself.

[Merlin Myrddin]

He could feel her eyes on him and felt the heat rising up his face and turning his cheeks scarlet. How was it he always managed to look the idiot? No one ever seemed to notice Arthur's occasional slip ups. Though it seemed Prince Charming would forever, at least to every woman swooning at the sight of him, would be always the faultless Knight whilst his 'idiot' manservant couldn't even appear to stand on his own, let alone fight on someone else’s behalf. Sometimes he very much hated his gangly limbs and awkwardness. He had one thing over Arthur though; it wasn't like Arthur could conjure the wind! A little smugly he looked down at himself and continued to dust himself off.

His eyebrows raised in alarm when she explained all she had done. He'd choked on a low shout of surprise at the idea of her staying with Arthur whilst he bathed, even he didn't do that! Though it subsided when he realised she'd at least left the room. One thing was for certain though, he'd be in trouble for not getting there sooner. "Sorry I took so long then. You could have just said no, I do." He replied with a slight stutter and a forced smile. "To be honest, I've been avoiding him since he lost the fight against Taran." He chuckled and eyed the stairs nervously, almost as though expecting the newly washed prat to emerge and start with the yelling.

Noticing she looked just as awkward as he did, but managing to look a hell of a lot prettier in doing so he smiled again and laughed softly. Trying to ease the tension set was harder than it looked. "Have you got to go back to Morgana now?"

[Guinevere James]

She flushed a little at Merlin's reaction. She really should not have told him about everything that had happened, should have just said that she had helped Arthur and left it at that. She quickly looked to the floor, willing her blush to disappear. Why did she always make a fool in front of him? She seemed to do not bad in front of Arthur and Lancelot, but when it came to Merlin she was always stuttering over her words.

"Sorry I took so long then. You could have just said no, I do."

"Oh I offered! I mean...I didn't want him to be uncomfortable and he'd just came from training and it's warm enough without all his armour never mind with it."

She quickly closed her mouth, her eyes staying on the ground. She really had to control herself when it came to how much she spoke. It was ridiculous how hard it was to keep quiet.

"To be honest, I've been avoiding him since he lost the fight against Taran."

She laughed along with him, following his gaze to the stairs. She frowned for a moment, glancing back at him, then she realised what was wrong. He probably was waiting for Arthur to come for him.

"Oh he's gone for a walk, he's not in his chambers," she said with a small smile.

"Have you got to go back to Morgana now?"

"I should get to her soon, yes. But I can stay and talk to you for a moment. That's if you want me to, you must want to get on to whatever else you need to do. You probably have a lot of important things to do."

She kind of hoped he would stay and talk to her for a moment. After all, she really had to speak to him about what Arthur had told her.