Merlin wandered through the grand corridors - away from Arthur's chambers - intending to return to Gaius, but in no hurry. He turned a corner - happily oblivious, lost in thoughts of Arthur - and, to his surprise, was faced with the knights - Elyan, Lancelot, Percival, Leon and Gwaine - drifting down the corridor towards him.

"How was the trip?" Merlin asked brightly; it seemed he had startled them, for the group of men raised their heads in unison, each individual face carved with a matching look of wearied defeat.

"Unfortunate." Lancelot confirmed - as though Merlin had not already guessed by their sombre expressions - as he stopped to explain. "No one heard even a whisper of reliable information about Morgana's whereabouts - nothing at all," he repeated at Merlin's blatantly appalled look, "and on the return journey we managed to get stranded in a bog."

Only then did Merlin notice the knight's muddied cloaks and caked boots. He would have found it funny, had Elyan not added; "We lost a horse."

After a second's uncomfortable silence, Leon stepped forward. "How's Arthur? I heard what happened with the bandits." He pressed, his eyes searching Merlin's own as though the watery depths might hold the answers he desired.

"He's in bed, resting," Merlin began to explain, "but-"

"Whose bed?" Gwaine questioned with a sly smirk, bluntly interrupting the servant - much to Merlin's faltering confusion.

"His own bed... In his own chambers." Merlin countered hesitantly with a frown, staring quizzically at Gwaine. "Why? Who else's bed would he be in?"

Gwaine immediately opened his mouth to reply, his eyes glittering with the line he was about to deliver, his mouth curved upwards into a cheeky grin at the knowledge he possessed - before being pushed aside by Leon, whose jaw was clenched and brows furrowed.

"I think Gwaine meant to ask if Arthur was accepting visitors." He corrected hastily, giving his fellow knight a blazing glare which Merlin failed to notice.

Merlin paused and cocked his head, not quite sure what to make of the knight's strange behaviour. Where they were usually so brash, cocky and boisterous, they now seemed unsure and wary of Merlin. Something had changed; but - putting it all down to fatigue after their challenging journey - Merlin continued hastily.

"Arthur said that he didn't want you guys to see him... like he is." Merlin trailed off, his hand gesturing to his leg to demonstrate the wounds inflicted upon the Prince, and the suffering that followed as he lay, bound in bed by the words of the physician.

"Nonsense!" Sir Percival exclaimed heartily, earning a nod of agreement from Elyan.

"Arthur needs to realise that we don't think him weak for having to return to Camelot. It's not his fault he got wounded."

Merlin grimaced and shook his head, wanting to explain that Arthur didn't see it like that. He knew Arthur best, and - though he could barely understand it himself - respected his Prince's wishes of wanting to be left alone, and of not showing weakness in front of his knights.

"Listen," Merlin began resolutely, holding up his hands to prevent the knights from continuing past him and down the corridor, "I know you all wish to see Arthur, and tell him everything, but he really seemed adamant against you guys-"

"It'll be fine." Percival objected stubbornly - giving Merlin a reassuring smile that did anything but reassure him - before pushing past Merlin with ease and sauntering up the corridor. "Come on guys, Arthur's waiting to hear the news," he declared loudly without turning around, "and if he really doesn't want to see us - we'll just tell him that Merlin said it was okay!" Raucous laughter from Percival filled the corridor as Merlin grit his teeth.

Lancelot shot an apologetic look at Merlin, sympathy etched on his face, pity flashing in his eyes. "Percival's right about one thing; Arthur should hear the report and put his worries to rest, even if he doesn't want to see us." He muttered, before following Percival, Elyan hurrying in his wake.

"Wait!" Merlin called frantically, and - with a fleeting, irritated look at Leon and Gwaine - hurried after the three knights, now out of sight as they headed to Arthur's chambers.

Gwaine chuckled heartily to himself as Merlin disappeared around the corner, and stepped forward to pursue the crowd. However, he stopped abruptly at the weight of a heavy hand on his shoulder. Instantly he looked up at Leon, his eyes narrowing as the gloved hand didn't shift.

"Do you have a problem? You and I should probably catch up with the rest of the knights before Merlin calls the guards on them." His voice was smooth and calm but his eyes challenged Leon's.

"We are the guards, Gwaine," Leon reminded without his usual playfulness, before casting a dubious glance up and down the corridor. Gwaine didn't miss the wary look sparking in his eyes and followed suite, making sure that no one was within earshot before leaning in to hear what his comrade had to say. It was obviously going to be important; Leon never acted suspicious or deceptive without good reason.

"Listen," Leon began slowly, evidently choosing his words with great care, "I know you were simply teasing earlier - about Arthur being in a bed that is not his own - but Merlin can't know that we know about his..." Leon didn't need to finish the sentence for Gwaine to catch on.

"Why not?" Gwaine pushed in a low voice, his dark eyes locking onto Leon's own. "If Merlin could act himself around us he might be more comfortable. He shouldn't have to keep secrets; Lord knows he's not very good at it." He jeered, unable to resist the quip.

Leon faltered and chewed his lip. "It's not Merlin I'm particularly worried about. It's Arthur." He hissed, and finally Gwaine felt a glimmer of realisation stir within him. "If Arthur discovers that we know about his relationship with Merlin, he'll never look at us in the same way. He'd be embarrassed beyond words and I know he would never act the same around us. He'd think that we were... bothered by it."

Gwaine nodded glumly, hating to admit that Leon had a point.

"We'd lose our friend." Leon finished softly, finally letting his hand slide off of Gwaine's shoulder.

The two men were silent for a moment, Leon attentively studying Gwaine's face for a response, Gwaine's mind spinning gloomily with this newfound realisation as he stared at the polished stone floor beneath them, now littered with dried clumps of mud from the knight's boots.

"Alright. No more wise-cracks about their love for one another." Gwaine promised finally, his voice but a low, grudging growl.

"Thank you, Gwaine. You're a good man." Leon declared, nodding gratefully as he swept his cloak around himself and started up the corridor towards Arthur's chambers.

"A better man than you are a knight, that's for sure." Gwaine mocked in reply, his usual cheer quickly returning as he fell into step beside Leon, leaving behind them only a wake of mud that someone - no doubt a resentful Merlin - would have to clean up later.

a/n - I really hope you enjoyed this chapter!! It was more of a conversational one, but the plans for a dramatic event happening are underway. Thank you to those that are commenting and voting, it means so much to me! <3