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"Good" he replied back challengingly and appearing uncaring about the whole thing now. Perhaps if he acted like he wasn't really bothered, she would hopefully forget the whole thing and let him leave in peace. She could run and blab to Arthur for all he cared, but Merlin wasn't about to let her have an upper hand in this game of wit.

“Court life has its advantages.”

Merlin smirked at this, oh yes sooooooooooo many advantages - he knew by the look on Cait's face, what she was getting at - but also decided to play a little dumb as well. "So which is it? the boring conversation, the food or the fact that you can drink as much wine as you want?" he joked, knowing full well that Caitrin would probably knock off a whole long list of others things that she liked at court. Men? More Men? Knights? Wait...they were men too. Apart from that, Merlin really couldn't think from a noble's point of view about how advantageous court was - as a servant he only experianced being told what to do and that was it.

It appeared that the subject of arranged marriages was quite an awkward one. Apparently it was a relief to Caitrin so that was good to hear. "You seem like the type to go against the rules and marry who you wish." he smiled, "Is your Uncle now giving you greif about the whole thing?". By the sounds of her Uncle, he seemed like the type of man with many morals - and Caitrin had hardly said that many things about him.

Merlin felt his cheeks become hotter when she kissed him in return for the flowers. Still after everything he was still a little embarassed and unsure when it came to girls and what they liked. Flowers seemed to appeal to Freya, and if Freya liked them, then that meant that Merlin was actually doing something right for once. "Well..." he shrugged shyly, "I saw them and thought of you." They were red, just like strawberries, and Freya liked strawberries.

As he went on to explain about the situations that had arisen since their last meeting, he caught a small smile out of the corner of his eye. She'd been expecting it of course. Just like the time she'd been expecting him to come and retreive the sword from her. The sword that now belonged to the true King. That alone made him smile, and still he felt rather pleased about the little story he'd made up to go along with it. At least Arthur had brought that! Usually he didn't believe any kind of 'bedtime story' that Merlin would go on about. The came the big question. Morgana.

Merlin hugged his knees into his chest, "I don't know..." The last he'd seen of her had been in the castle, when he'd tried to stop her by making the rubble fall onto her. In all truth, he hadn't been surprised when she was gone after the dust had cleared. She was still out there though, he could feel it - her just watching, and waiting. Should the time ever come when they would meet again then he would be ready.
"I tried to stop her again... but I don't know where she is now." he carried on and looked to Freya. "Anyway, let's not talk about her. I came here to see you - how have you been?" he asked. He hoped that she was truly ok and not putting so much pressure on herself to try and stay on land for too many hours on end. Freya was determind, and he admired her for that, but he didn't want to her to overstep the mark when it wasn't necessary

Merlin was glad to see Elyan joking around with him - at least he was doing something right, and hopefully now the mood had lightened a little. It was a difficult subject to approach, but Merlin had made sure to do it with such care that it would not affect Elyan badly. After all - he didn't want to make it worse.

Elyan's next words made Merlin smile broadly, the idiotic grin that he used when he was right. But in this case it was because Elyan had just happened to hit the nail on the head, and Merlin couldn't have put the statement any better himself. "Arthur represents more than hope - he represents what is to come. The greatness, the future...everything that binds Camelot together" Merlin shrugged, "It's his destiny." That it was, and Merlin had helped him with that a little, as had Gwen (despite the circumstances). Everyone had. It had all shaped Arthur for a reason, and there was no doubt that there was more obstacles for him to come up against. There always was when you were a King. No matter what, Merlin would be there every step of the way.

"Things could have been a lot worse I guess, I mean I could have killed the king!" Merlin chuckled at this,trying to make Elyan see a lighter side of it. "We all want to kill Arthur sometimes, but it's over now, you didn't" he smiled at Elyan weakly."I wish Gwen was here, for as long as I can remember she always managed to make everything better," Gwen always made everything better. She had the attitude as well as the right words to say in even the most complicated of situations. "Gwen always makes everything better, sometimes I don't feel like I deserve a friend like her." He didn't - not really. He spoke of her as though she wasn't gone - because she wasn't, not to him anyway. Merlin missed her too, wishing he could've at least done something - but this was something that Arthur and Gwen had to figure them out themselves. Not even magic could correct it.

Merlin looked down into his lap, "At least you know you have someone to talk to - I didn't want you thinking that just because Gwen's gone, that you now had no one."

Find the person that Arthur truly loves...that shouldn't be too hard. Well - he knew who to find, but where to find her was the problem, especially when time was running out. Gwen wasn't in the castle, Merlin knew she hadn't gone to the tournament and she wasn't in any of her usual places that her duties took her - the only other option was her home.

Merlin hoped that Gwen would listen to him and see that this was all one big mistake. That Arthur was enchanted and that she could be the only one to help before it was too late. Of course he'd have to admit to her that he knew of the feelings that they held for one another, but this only made him more determind that the dragon's words were right. He'd already watched Arthur go through two rounds with Olaf, and if he carried on fighting the way he was (which was incrediably terrible, and Merlin would indeed remind Arthur of that later) then he would surely lose. Sadly, Merlin knew that so would Gwen.

He hurried down the street to Gwen's house, and not even caring whether she was bothered about him not knocking (he had a tendancy to do this, but then again it was an emergancy!) he flung the door open and walked in. However much it would take, he would need to convince Gwen that this was the only way to save Arthur.

The day had been like any other. Long and busy - but Merlin found that as soon as he was on his feet, he wasn't able to sit down for the rest of the day given the huge list of duties to complete. Not that he minded, he'd found that they were keeping him occupied and taking his mind ofd the recent events that had happend. Tonight he'd finished his work, gone straight back to the physician's quarters and practically inhaled the soup that he'd made earlier on. He'd only had time to take one bite of an apple earlier on during the day before he'd had to go and collect the washing and launder it.

Merlin was currently sat at the table hunched over his magic book. He hadn't really looked at it lately, and should anyone come in, there was a big pile of books next to him to hide it as well as to give off the fact that he was actually looking through some very 'exciting' books about various remedies made from wild mushrooms. In all truth, he had absolutely no idea on what kind of remedies were made from it, should anyone happen to question him. He'd cross that bridge when he'd come to it.

Merlin let out a small yawn - it was probable that he should really get an early night, but a few more pages to read wouldn't hurt. Besides, a bit of bedtime reading was good for the mind, especially when there was a lot on it. Thankfully his own was clear tonight, and that was a first.

Would it be good never to be forgotton? Had Merlin had a massive ego then he would've thrived on the statement - but thankfully he didn't have anything of the sort and was more modest when it came down to the whole 'emrys' stories and such. "I'll only believe that when I see it." he smiled. People could be remembered for all sorts. Good and bad.

Merlin shifted slightly in the water, his hand still entwined with Freya's. It wouldn't be long before he would have to leave. He had no idea as to when he would be back again but he would try to visit as regularly as he could. "I didn't know I was that much of a 'legend' with the druids' he smiled.

He looked around. "I'll have to go soon." he turned back to her with a sorrowful look, "But I promise to come back often, even if it means swimming to the middle of the lake to see you." Questions would certainly be raised when he returned, so he'd have to come up with something believeable rather than the whole 'I just happened to fall in the lake' thing that was currently going through his mind.

Merlin chuckled slightly as Elyan mentioned about not poisoning him. "It will come in handy for when I want to though". It was certainly useful to know that kind of stuff, especially when it came down to learning for Gauis.

Him? Beat Arthur. Yes Merlin could do it with his hands tied behind his back. But he wouldn't - because he knew the danger that would be. He remembered Arthur saying that he could take him down with one blow, Merlin had said that he could take him down with less. Back then he'd been so sure of himself, and everything had been going smoothly until he saw Gauis watching and then had a broom smacked round his head. Merlin still had things thrown at him, only that had got less as the years went on - that and he'd become a professional in the art of ducking when objects were launched his way. "He has" he agreed with Elyan, "certainly from when I first met him anyway. I think it's because now he's grown up and recognised just how much responsibility he has to have - then again, I think even back then he knew. He cares for his people a great deal, but I guess he liked to put on a front."

"I'm afraid it may be one of those experiences that change you forever. Have you ever had that?"

Merlin couldn't exactly say that he'd had a druid boy haunting his dreams. Well, there had been Mordred but he hadn't exactly had nightmares over him. However Merlin had seen things that he would never forget. He nodded at this. "Too many to count..." Everyone had skeletons, everyone had done something that they regretted and never forgot. It was only human, and he said exactly this to Elyan. "You're only human. I'm sure worse things have happened to others though, and when you think about the situation that you were in, it could have got out of control but thankfully it didn't." He really didn't know where this was going or if it was even helping matters.

"I guess what i'm trying to say is that you were lucky...that it wasn't as bad as it could've been" he added.

Merlin smirked at Gwaine's answer. It was typical Gwaine and he wouldn't change. Merlin liked him like that though. "Then perhaps it's time to stop?" he chuckled and nudged on the horse to speed up a little. They were never going to get to Arthur in time if they were just going on a gentle trot.

Gwaine was now asking the question of what Arthur had got himself into this time. "He's on a quest to bring back the trident of the Fisher King, unfortunatly it happens to be in the Perilous lands, so you can guess why I asked your for help." He couldn't do this alone, especially when Arthur's life was in danger. It would take two for something as big as this. Whether Arthur thanked them or not, at least Merlin would be safe in the knowledge that he would hopefully get him out of there alive. "Then again, I knew you wouldn't turn down an opportunity like this."

Gwaine seemed to thrive on danger and so Merlin knew that this would be right up his street.

At least he didn't have to worry. Sure Elyan would need some time but he was holding up well, and that was all that mattered. Then again he was a Knight and Knights did have to be strong both physically and emotionally. "Are you sleeping alright? If not I could ask Gauis to make you a sleeping potion?" he offered, not knowing whether Elyan was losing sleep over it. He most likely wasn't but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

"Since when is Arthur not someone's target?" Good point. All these years Merlin had spent trying to keep the King out of danger when it was really inevidable that he would be a target for many reasons. Merlin smiled at him, "Ever since I came to Camelot, something to someone has been out to get him. Then again when I first met him I could see why." A small smirk formed across his lips, remembering the first run in with Arthur.

He shook his head at Elyan's question. "No" thankfully. Had no one had got there in time then Elyan may have suceeded. "You were thrown in the dungeons though, do you remember that?" he asked. Merlin could - he had been the one to get him out so as he could 'exorcise' the spirit. That hadn't gone well at all, resulting in Elyan knocking him out in the middle of the forest. He wouldn't tell him that part though.