Merlin approached the door to Arthur's room hesitantly. He turned around mid stride and came face to face with a grumpy, but still amused, looking Gwen.

"You're not chickening out now. Get your butt in that room before I kick it in." Gwen declared.

"I'm not sure it's a good idea." Gwen tried not to snigger at his thick Irish accent.

"What are you talking about? It's a great idea."

"You're just saying that because you came up with it."

"And?" Gwen gave him a very straight look.

"Fine. I'll go along with your madcap plan but let the record show that I mostly don't want to." He slurred a little and swayed where he stood. "Gimme a drink." He grabbed the bottle from her and took a large swig before handing it back.

"Now, go get your prince not-so charming." She pushed him towards the door.

With some difficulty he managed to open it and almost stumbled inside, shutting it absently behind him. Gwen snorted and put her ear to the door.

Half an hour later the scene hadn't changed when Morgana came round the corner and saw Gwen.

"What are you doing Gwen?"

"Sh, my lady! Merlin and Arthur may just be hooking up in there."

"At last. So Merlin's moved on from me then?"

"Not really. You're the dream, I'm convenient, and Arthur's his destiny."

"That's so sweet."

Gwen shrugged, raised the bottle to her lips, discovered it was empty and lowered it again. "Bastard," she murmured.

"He's drunk isn't he?" Morgana asked, deeply amused.

"Just a little bit. Enough to have him using the accent but not enough to get him singing. Don't look at me like that. We both know he wouldn't be able to do it without mead in him."

"It's a fair point. So how's it going in there?"

"There's no yelling or breaking furniture so it's kinda hard to tell." Gwen sniggered.

"Any other sounds? Any… moaning? Or anything of that sort?"

"Not so far as I can tell. Maybe Arthur knocked him out the second he entered the room and is letting him sleep off his drunkenness."

"I doubt it, Gwen. Arthur would have fun with him first, you know that."

They both crouched at the door and listened carefully, stifling each others giggles. After ten minutes however they were both growing bored.

"We'll quiz them in the morning. Join me for a drink?" Gwen asked, waving her empty bottle.

"I had something else in mind."

"I need another drink."

Gwen emerged from her mistresses chambers early the next morning, blinking painfully against the sunlight, trying to get her eyes to stay open and her head from falling off. A dull throbbing was pounding in her temples which worsened as Merlin bounced along the corridor, a jug of water and some goblets in his hands.

"Looks like you had a worse night than I did." He grinned, stopping as she leant against the cold wall.

Gwen merely groaned. Merlin snorted.

"Shut up, you prat."

"Its funny you should call me that, Gwen, considering what happened last night. Nice one, mate, your plan worked."

"Plan?" she sounded as though she couldn't remember anything.

Again Merlin snorted. "So what happened to you after you shoved me into my prince's room?"

"Couldn't tell you. Can I just ask, why the hell are you so damn cheerful this morning? It's too bright to be happy, and you seem like you're on something. You haven't been eating those weird mushrooms Gaius has stashed away again have you?"

"Not this time. I'm just happy 'cos I got sunshine all night." he grinned at her.

Before Gwen could retaliate, Morgana came out of her room and kissed her gently, tenderly and also passionately before bidding Merlin good morning and walking off.

"Looks like I wasn't the only one." Merlin said, suggestively.

"Looks like. I just wish I could remember it."

Merlin left chuckling. Before going down the stairs he turned and looked at Gwen, who had sunk down in despair on the floor. "By the way, Gaius has a hangover potion which works miracles. I would bring you some but I've just left my boss in bed and I'm anxious to get back to him as soon as possible."

"You're as much of a prat as he is, do you know that Merlin?" she snapped.