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CHARACTERS: merlin & gwen
LOCATION: the gardens
WARNINGS: n/a
SUMMARY: gwen comes to keep merlin company; learns something unexpected as a result.

[It's a bit ironic that he willingly spends so much time in the gardens these days. He was never quite so fond of the hunting trips and patrols that he got dragged along on. Eating weird animals, the lack of a proper bed or bath - what's to love?]

[Merlin feels like he sort of has his answer now. It was familiar. It was home. And Merlin's been on board the Tranquility long enough to feel a real longing for it. So after a night or two of not sleeping, he grabbed a blanket and a pillow and headed in the garden's direction.]

[Two days later, Gwen comes to join him. And despite the reasons she gives for it, Merlin knows the truth - she's worried about him, because that's what Gwen does, and he loves her for it. Oh, Merlin fully intends on convincing her to go back to the comforts of her room, even if he needs to go back to his. But it was nice having someone to talk to as he falls asleep, someone who wakes up as early as he does.]

Breakfast!

[Merlin returns from the kitchen with a plate in each hand, stops and takes a look at the things hanging around.]

Did you do my laundry?

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I only tidied up a little. [ Honestly, for a manservant he could be a bit messy. But that's why she loved him too, honestly. It was nice to have his company and actually, to be in the gardens. It isn't as though she liked making camp, it did remind her more of home than her the stark modern-ness of her room on the Tranquility did.

As lonely as she can be and as nice as it is to have his company, she isn't doing this for her own benefit, she's doing it for Merlin. She's concerned about him, a bit. So she smiles gratefully at him as she spies the breakfast.] See? Now we're even. [ Not that she was about settling scores or anything like, she'd do anything for him just like he'd do the same for her.] Thank you for breakfast.

Welcome.

[Merlin smiles sheepishly. His bedding probably was in quite a state by now. He offers a plate to her; a simple porridge and some fruit to sweeten it. It's the kind of breakfast that Arthur would complain about with every bite.]

[Merlin sits down, stirring it with his spoon as he looks across at her.]

Do you think this ship's actually going anywhere?

[ And it's the kind of breakfast that Gwen is grateful for. Not that she was ill-fed in Camelot (she was probably better fed because she worked in the castle) but she knows what to be thankful for and what not to take for granted.

She smiles softly and sits down with him, stirring her own.]

Hmm? Oh, erm... I suppose every ship must have a destination, doesn't it? [ She doesn't understand the concept of spaceships or space stations, really.]

I thought so.

[Or at least he did before. Now he's not so sure, just like he's not so sure that he should be burdening her with all of this. Merlin takes a breath before looking up again.]

It just seems more and more possible that we're expected to live our lives aboard this ship. Like we'll never have ground beneath our feet again.

[And that possibility makes the bottom drop out of his stomach. He tries to eat, though. Because Merlin without his appetite is a sign that something's really wrong.]

At least the ground in here's convincing enough, don't you think?

[ It bothers him, she can tell that much. But what bothers her is that she can't offer any real reassurance, that she can't give him any answers. She reaches over to touch his arm.] Don't give up hope, Merlin. [ Gwen wasn't so confident in that fact herself, she knows how lost he must feel because she feels the same way. Everything seems foreign to her even the things that should be familiar.]

Isn't exactly like the forest by the castle, the sounds are different but... it's better than how quiet our rooms can be. Or the way the ship seems to... hum.

I can't stand the quiet. Neither can Arthur. Sometimes I swear he tries to make me talk instead of telling me to shut up.

[Merlin grins at her before taking a deep breath and exhaling his worries out. As much as he can, anyway. He always holds on to a few, but that was true even before the Tranquility. But at least his appetite has returned. Merlin eats a few quick spoonfuls before remembering something.]

Mm, forgot to feed the horse.

[He doesn't have as many chores here, but that one's pretty important. Merlin puts his plate down.]

I won't be long.

[He hurries over to where Llamrei waits, and Merlin can tell that he's restless. The servant rubs his hand down its neck and whispers a few soothing words. It normally works - but not this morning. Llamrei snorts and rears, breaking free despite Merlin's best efforts.]

Oh no...

[Merlin watches the stallion race off before he starts running after it, calling out a warning as he goes.]

Gwen!

[ A part of Gwen wants to remind Merlin that the horse can wait to be fed until after he eats, himself. But it's also ingrained in her to do her chores and duties first before she takes care of herself.

So she merely nods and moves to cover his plate with a napkin so that it will stay warm and bug free.] Alright. [ There's not need for her to tell him to be careful or anything like that, at least she thought as much.

However, she hears the horse, and it's obvious frustration a moment later, her head turning towards the sound, moving to put her spoon down when she hears--] Merlin? [ He'd cried her name first and she immediately stands up trying to see what's happened. It's clear very quickly that the horse has gotten free and she stands up immediately, moving to try to help wrangle him.]

[There's a moment where he thinks it's going to be alright; that she's seen and will get out of harm's way. But she's actually moving closer to the horse, trying to catch him before he runs deeper into the gardens.]

Gwen-!

[Merlin stumbles, falls to his hands and knees. All that he sees when he looks up is Llamrei rearing again, his hooves kicking the air dangerously close to Gwen.]

[Gaius has warned him that he doesn't think enough before acting, and this would be one of those times. But there's no time to think when she might be hurt, so he just acts, holding out his hand and pushing at her with his magic until she's out of the way. She's okay - he hopes she's okay. But then Merlin sees her staring at him, and he knows she's seen.]

[ She realizes her mistake immediately when the horse charges him, letting out a startled sound, a half-cry as she scrambles backward. But she doesn't move fast enough and just as the horse is about to kick her, to knock her to the ground and trample her, she's thrown out of the way, by some force.

Her eyes move immediately to Merlin, whose hand is out, as if.... it can't be. Her eyes look at him, widened because she cannot deny what she saw, what she felt. The pain she feels in her limbs from colliding with the ground is nothing compared to the way her stomach twists with uncertainty and nerves.]

Merlin?

[He just stares at her for a few seconds, panting heavier than just lying there on the ground calls for. A few more pounds of his heart and he forces himself to snap out of it. Merlin gets to his feet and finishes running over to her.]

Are you alright? Does it hurt anywhere?

[Merlin can't bring his eyes up to meet hers. And when he reaches out, he suddenly pulls back, like he isn't sure she'll want him touching her.]

[ She's not even thinking of how she feels, the shock numbing whatever aches she may have.] How...? [ Her brow furrows as she looks at him, her own heart pounding. Had he done that? It was him, was it not?

Did Merlin, her dearest friend in the world, have magic?] Merlin... [ She reaches out to touch his arm.] Do you have... Was that... magic?

[He swallows hard and looks down at the hand on his arm. He knows the fact that he didn't instantly deny it has damned him. Keeping it secret from her was one thing, but could he outright lie to her?]

[Merlin looks up at her, something pleading in his eyes and voice.]

Please don't tell Arthur.

[ Gwen wasn't new to magic, not anymore. Sirius had shown her the entertaining side to it, shown her that magic wasn't always used for bad things (not that she truly believed that).

And as the shock settles, she starts to realize that it makes sense that Merlin has magic, that there are things she cannot explain, that no one could, that happened that could be explained--]

Merlin... [ She sits up, looking at him, seeing how unsure he is. And as much as she doesn't like to lie (and especially not to the man who has her heart), she responds breathlessly--] I promise I will not tell Arthur. How long... all this time you had it?

[Merlin exhales, as close to relief as he can feel given the circumstances.]

Always. I was born with magic.

[He spots a bruise on Gwen's arm, hesitantly reaches for it.]

I can heal that if you'd like. I can show you, that it can be used for good.

[ She blinks. Born with magic. And he'd lived in Camelot as long as he had with magic. He must have been fearful for his life, he must have had to lie so many times. A part of her hurts at the idea of him lying to her but the wiser, more patient part of her understands.

She doesn't pull away but look at him with a bit of wonder.] It was you. [ Things start to click.] Merlin, how many times have you saved Camelot? How many times have you saved the life of someone? [ It's not accusatory, no, it's a realization as she says it breathlessly with a tiny smile--] You have magic.

[She doesn't ask Merlin if he's hurt people, if he's bewitched. Gwen instantly believes that he's used it for good. He smiles softly, whispers a few words over her bruises until they fade. He tries not to hide his eyes from her this time, but old habits die hard.]

It's my destiny. Nothing more, nothing less.

What is? [ She asks breathlessly, looking at her skin and the way the bruises fade away like... well, it is magic. She sees the way his eyes glow and her brow knits together for a moment before it shifts into a look of wonder twinged with a bit of sadness.] And you've had to keep it secret all this time.

To protect Arthur, so that one day he can become the King that Camelot needs.

[He knows that he doesn't need to tell Gwen much about that though. She believes in Arthur too, without any dragon's encouraging words.]

One day I won't have to.

He is lucky to have you. [ she says it truthfully and kindly. Honestly, Arthur would be Camelot's greatest king, she had no doubts about that. And she smiled softly at Merlin's hopeful words.]

I hope that is true. [ She opens her mouth to say more, to ask him if he has heard what's to become of herself, of Arthur. Although, she does not know of his final fate or how his death will come far sooner than they ever expected.

But she closes her mouth, offering Merlin a supportive smile.] I wish I had known sooner. It must be hard, keeping it to yourself.

He really is, the prat.

[Merlin's laughing with it though. Merlin's figured out by now that his destiny's important, that Arthur's worth it.]

I wish I could've told you. But anyone who knows could be in danger. It's bad enough that I've put Gaius at risk.

[If he was found out, he wouldn't have Gwen sharing his fate for anything.]

I understand why you didn't, I am only sorry that I didn't know, so that I could help you. [ She offers him a soft smile, touching his arm, gently.]

Oh, it's not too late for that.

[Merlin grins, a little of his normal mischief shining through.]

I'm sure you'll have plenty of chances to help me now.

[ Giving his arm a squeeze, she nods.] You have my word, your secret is safe with me even if I think that maybe you should think about telling Arthur.

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I THOUGHT I TAGGED THIS

i would wait! <3

<333

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k thanks gmail