"Are you sure you're up to this, Guinevere?"

"Yes, Arthur, I want our friends to know why I've been acting so strangely since I was... captured," Guinevere managed with only a slight shudder.

As the pair walked toward the meeting of the original members of the round table that they had called the day after returning from the lake where that strangely familiar sorceress had cured Gwen, Arthur could not shake the worry eating away at him.

"Should you not wait until you have fully rested before we try to explain what happened?"

Gwen smiled as her heart filled with warmth at the concern in Arthur's voice. "I have gotten the best night's sleep I have had in a long while, and, honestly I just want to put this whole matter behind me as quickly as possible."

"Of course," Arthur relaxed slightly at the smile on his Queen's face.

They entered the meeting room to find everyone else ready and waiting for them. As Arthur looked around the room at the faces of the people he trusted most in the world, he felt sure that Guinevere was right, they deserved to know.

Arthur stood at Guinevere's side as she took in a deep breath and made her confession, "Since returning from my captivity, I have been under Morgana's control."

Gasps were heard from most of the mouths in the room at this blunt admission.

"Arthur and I have recently returned from a quest to ensure my release from her spell. I wished to tell you, our most trusted friends and advisors, that my odd behavior of late has been a result of that enchantment. "

"I hope that you can accept what has happened and that you will, in time learn to trust me again."

"I do already," stated Arthur as he squeezed her hand reassuringly. The knights all made similar statements in turn.

She smiled and breathed a sigh of relief, and as she looked around the room she saw nothing but happiness for her in the smiles of her friends.

Then her eyes locked on the smiling face of perhaps her best friend in all the world, Merlin. At seeing him, a wave of memories rushed over her.

"Thank you all for standing by me through this trying time. While we are gathered here I would also like to publicly thank the one man who has fearlessly stood between Morgana and her plans to kill Arthur for these past years."

Arthur glanced at his wife in confusion, he had no idea what she meant.

"While I was with Morgana, she told me of her life since she was driven from Camelot, and her many plans to bring about Arthur's destruction. A common thread running through many of her stories, was one man who always stood against her, no matter the threat, no matter the cost."

Arthur looked at the faces of each of his knights in turn as they turned to look at each other, all wondering of whom Gwen spoke.

"Morgana referred to him as a thorn in her side and an irritant, the one man who has ruined more of her plans than any other."

Gwen smiled at the dawning realization on Merlin's face.

"Morgana told me of her many attempts to kill him, to no avail."

At this, Arthur and the rest of the knights turned questioning eyes to Leon, who always seemed to be escaping death. Leon, however was as confused as the rest of them, and they turned back to Gwen.

"I even aided her plan to kill him while I was under her power. She lured him into the woods and poisoned him so that he would die in the most painful way possible."

Gwen paused, overcome by guilt at the part she had played in Morgana's schemes.

Arthur turned to her and asked, "One man has endured all this in silence, with no reward or gratitude?"

Gwen smiled softly and nodded.

"Who?" Arthur demanded, determined that he be rewarded.

Gwen beamed at the manservant who stood tall at the back of the assembled knights, his face beaming the pride that, until now, had been hidden to keep his secrets.

Gwen lifted her arm and declared, "Merlin!"