Arthur waited nervously in his chambers. Having finally found out Merlin's secret, all that was left was to confront him about it, though he wasn't looking forward to doing so.

Merlin entered, looking nervous for the first time to be doing so. "You called, Sire?" he asked in a polite, un-Merlin manner.

"Um, yes." He indicated for Merlin to sit down and Merlin did so, staring at him in surprise.

"Remeber the other day when I told you I would find out your secret?" Merlin nodded slowly.

"Well, I have."

Merlin's eyes widened. "Sire, I'm sorry, I know I should have told you, but-"

Arthur held up a hand to stop him. "No, Merlin, I can understand why you didn't tell me. No one would want to tell. You were...afraid."

Merlin looked down. "I'm sorry," he repeated.

"Merlin, while I'm not sure how I feel about it, I'm sure I'm not angry. Neither is Guinivere."

"Wha- you told her?" Merlin exclaimed.

"To be honest I couldn't have figured it out without her help." Merlin smiled. "She's smart, Gwen."

Arthur agreed. "But, Merlin...you understand...I can't...this doesn't change anything."

Merlin frowned slightly, but seemed to be afraid of pushing his luck. "But you're not going to have me killed or anything?"

"No! God no! That would be a little extreme, wouldn't it?"

Merlin appeared to be shocked. "Seriously? You're just going to ignore this?" he demanded.

"Well, yeah," Arthur shifted uncomfortably. "I mean, I'm assuming you don't exactly want everyone to know? It's kind of personal."

Merlin frowned slightly. "Sire, with all due respect, it's up to you whether or not I can tell people without consequence."

Arthur shook his head. "Merlin, whatever you decide- whether or not to tell people, please don't let me influence your decision."

Merlin considered this.

"Merlin..." Arthur felt incredibly awkward. "I'm sorry. But I love Guinivere. Nothing will change that." Under normal circumstances he would habe teased Merlin mercilessly, but this was a subject that was not to be taken lightly.

Merlin frowned. "Sire...are you sure we're talking about the same thing?"

Arthur felt even more uncomfortable. "Yeah! We're talking about..you know...how you'reinlovewithme." He mumbled the last few words quickly under his breath, as though willing them not to be true.

Merlin stared at him a moment. Then he threw back his head and began to laugh histerically.

Arthur scowled as Merlin fell onto the floor in a fit of mirth. "I take it you thought I was talking about something else?" he snapped.

"Yeah, just a little," Merlin gasped. "Wow, full of yourself aren't you?!'

This just made Arthur feel like more of an idiot. He was about to snap back, when the door opened and Gwen walked in. She stopped at the sight of Merlin rolling around on the floor, laughing his head off and Arthur standing over him with a sour expresssion.

"Umm, Merlin? You all right?" She looked utterly bewildered. Arthur answered her.

"It seems we were mistaken about Merlin's little secret," he said stiffly.

"Oh," Gwen replied. "Oh." Suddenly, conprehension dawned on her, and she fought to keep a straight face as she realized the situation.

"Get out," Arthur snapped grumpily at Merlin. The servant left, and they heard him howling with laughter until he disappeared down the hall. Arthur turned to Gwen, still clearly annoyed at being made a fool of. Gwen looked at him, a comforting expresssion on her face- but suddenly she couldn't keep it in any longer and she burst out laughing too.