Arthur sat at his desk writing a speech, while merlin cleaned his chambers. As merlin was scrubbing the floor he heard Arthur sign, Arthur had been acting weird for a while, so merlin decided to ask him about it. "What's wrong" he asked. "what? Nothing" Arthur said, he sounded distracted. Merlin got up and walked toward him. "What is it Arthur you can trust me" he said. "Can I? Because apparently you don't trust me" he sounded sad. "What are you talking about?" asked merlin. "I know you have magic" too say that merlin was shocked was an understatement. "What? I don't know what you're talking about" he said as he took a step back. Arthur noticed him backing up "I'm not going to do anything to you, you should know that. I'm just confused why you didn't tell me" he was running his hand threw his hair. "I didn't know how you would react, I figured you wouldn't tell anyone but I couldn't be sure" said merlin guiltily. "It's okay merlin, I didn't give you any reason to think that I thought differently than my father" said Arthur with a sigh. "I didn't trust you enough to tell you that I didn't think magic was evil" "I'm sorry sire I should have told you, I knew that you didn't think like the king, but I was still scared" Arthur just nodded "so what were you doing all those time Gaius said you were at the tavern?" he decided to change the subject, seeing that merlin was getting uncomfortable "Saving your ass" merlin replied with a laugh. "I don't even know where the tavern is" Arthur chuckled "surely Gaius could have come up with something better that wouldn't have gotten you in trouble" Arthur was starting to smile. Merlin was relieved that Arthur was starting to joke and wasn't mad at him. "I know I even told him the one time not to tell you I was their but he still did anyway" there was a knock on the door. "Enter" said Arthur. A servant entered and told him that his father wished to see him. When the he left Arthur looked over and saw that Merlin had went back to cleaning the floors. As Arthur was leaving he said, "Would you meet me back here later?" "Of course" said merlin. Merlin was still slightly scared that Arthur was going to have him executed but he would trust him. After merlin finished cleaning Arthur's chambers he went back to see if Gaius had anything for him to do, as he was on his way the warning bells sounded and he saw guards running toward him. He didn't know what to do, so he just started running, as he was rounding a corner he ran into somebody, when he looked up he saw Arthur, he quickly scrambled to his feet getting ready to defend himself, he didn't want to hurt Arthur but he had betrayed him, so he would do what he had to. "Move please I don't want to hurt you just let me pass" Arthur looked confused. "What? What's going on?" "I know you turned me in, just let me go, and I won't come back I promise" "I didn't turn you in" "then what's with the warning bells?" merlin said accusingly "A prisoner escaped. Do you really think I would turn you in?" merlin could see the hurt on his face. "I… I didn't know I was scared, I mean you are the prince and I'm just a servant" "I told you that I didn't agree with my father" "I know but you would still be betraying his trust, even if you don't agree with him he's still your father" "merlin I wouldn't turn you in" "you've turned other sorcerers what makes me different?" "That was before I started realizing that magic could be used for good" merlin started relaxing "I'm sorry Arthur I should've trusted you" "yes you should've, now let's go I want you to show me what your powers can do" they ended up staying up all night talking about all the times Merlin has saved Arthur.