Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin nor any of its characters. Those are the property of the BBC. Enjoy! And please review!

The last year had passed by rather peacefully. No new monsters had attacked Camelot for a long while, which was of great relief to its inhabitants. The kingdom was prospering better than it ever had before. It was perfect. Too perfect, in fact. Some were afraid that it would not last, and they did not realize how right they were.

But for now, things were going well. Starvation had ceased to be a problem and everyone was happy. Well, as happy as they could possibly be after losing their beloved prince. He was missed more than anyone knew.

But now there was news that the king was planning on hosting a banquet in honor of his memory. This delighted the people. Although very few of them would actually be invited, Uther Pendragon had made sure that his people would be able to have festivities of their own.

Camelot was so busy with preparations that no one seemed to notice a lone traveler making his way through the city towards the castle. If they had, perhaps they would have thought nothing of it, but anyone with a keen sense of observation might have noted that he was no stranger to these parts. He asked directions of no one and seemed to know exactly where he was going and who he was looking for. They would have been correct.

It had been almost three years since he was last in Camelot, but he could not easily forget the ways of the city nor did he struggle to recall which direction to take. The city had changed little since he had last seen it, except that it was doing much better than even he could have hoped. How he loved this place! Not because he had grown up there, but because it held the greatest treasure that his heart desired.

As he approached the castle, the man hesitated. He had no idea how he would be received. He did not doubt that the king would have him thrown in the stocks or in prison or kick him out of the city without a second thought. Their last meeting had not been a pleasant one. But it was not the king, he had come to see.

After a full minute of second guessing his decision to come, he gathered up the courage and entered. The guards paid him little attention. They cast him a brief glance and decided that he was no threat, as he seemed to be weaponless. They were wrong. He carried a word, hidden under this cloak, but he had no intention of using it unless it was absolutely necessary, which he hoped it would not be. He had not come here to fight, merely to talk.

As he approached the Great Hall, he could hear voices. He could not tell what they were saying, but he recognized them easily. There were three of them: the king, Merlin, and...and Gwen. He felt as if he could fly just listening to her voice. He hesitated then went into the hall. No one seemed to notice his arrival.

Sure enough, there she was, chatting amiably with Merlin and the king. The man was surprised. He had heard of course that she was now the king's new ward and his heir, but until this moment, he had not really believed it. It just seemed...so out of character for Uther.

The man just stared at her. She was even more beautiful then he remembered, if that was possible. She was no longer dressed like a simple servant, instead he wore the most beautiful gown he had ever seen. It was of a light purple that went well with her dark skin. Her hair was up and a few ringlets of curls fell about her face.

She turned to Merlin, and the man was surprised by the change in him as well. Merlin was now dressed like a nobleman, wearing a dark blue and pointed hat, which both he and Gwen were obviously making fun of.

"Are you really going to wear that to the banquet, Merlin?" she gave the hat and playful poke. Merlin pretend to look offended.

"Why of course, I am! Every wizard needs a pointy hat, Gwen." Gwen laughed, which brought smiles to both Merlin and the man watching them unobserved.

"Then what about a staff, Merlin?" asked Uther. The king hadn't changed much in appearance, but he smiled more easily then he used to, even if that smile hid some sadness. A sadness, that Gwen and Merlin shared, the man noted.

Merlin pretended to thing about it. "I don't know, but a staff may come in handy. Hello there!" he had spotted the man, and felt as if he knew him, even though he could not see his face, as he wore a hood.

Gwen and Uther turned to see who he was talking to, and they both felt the same. "Do we know you?" asked the Uther, not unkindly.

Without a word, the man put down his hood revealing his face. Uther's eyes widened in surprise, Merlin's jaw dropped, and Gwen gasped. For a moment there was complete silence. Finally Merlin spoke. "Lancelot?"

Lancelot was relieved that the recognized him. He had had many adventures (and misadventures) since he had last seen him and his was much weather beaten. He bowed to the king as was his duty and then met Gwen's eyes. He frowned slightly, for in them was an expression he could not read. She was obviously surprised to see him and happy too, but there was something else...regret?

"I have journeyed for a long time." he began to explain, before they could ask him any questions. "I have only recently learned of the death of Prince Arthur. I am sorry for your loss, your majesty. He was a good man."

At the mention of Arthur, Merlin quickly glanced at Gwen and then looked away. It was hard enough that Arthur was dead, but to be reminded of that fact by the very man Gwen had once hurt Arthur with, that was especially painful to her and Merlin knew it. He suddenly thought he understood why Lancelot had come back and it did not make Merlin pleased to see him. He had come to offer sympathy, but instead to win Arthur's love now that Arthur himself was dead.

Gwen knew that as well and it made her want to cry, but she did her best to remain calm. Uther, on the other hand, knew nothing of this and accepted Lancelot's sympathy. "Why don't you stay for the banquet?" he offered.

Merlin bit his lip. He felt anger boiling up inside him, but it was not his place to say anything. Gwen remained silent as well. Lancelot cast her a brief glance, and then heartily accepted the offer, much to both Merlin and Gwen's dismay.