gwyn had been spending an extended amount of time in the castle library, poring over tome after tome with any indication of magic or magical practice. the continued cropping up of portals to other worlds unnerved him, and he had an unending need to understand just what the nature of the portals were, and why they might be continuously developing.
he felt he was on the verge of a breakthrough with the latest book, heavy in its leather binding, so much so that he was entirely engrossed in the words, eyes poring over the words on the page until the world around him faded into an inky blackness.
he hadn't heard merlin come up behind him, but the moment the wizard spoke he started, and took all of his willpower not to chuck the book at the wizard as a kneejerk reaction, opting instead to narrow his gaze at the other man over his shoulder.
"is that what they're for?" he asked coolly, "and here i was under the impression that the court magician was little more than a glorified babysitter for the king." a perfectly shaped brow raised at the other as he closed the book, exhausted from reading for nigh on three hours straight.
"i'm not trying to steal your job." he corrected. "i'm just trying to understand. everyone is so busy all the time, i thought i might find my answers here."