So... after I watched "Beginning of the End", the plot bunnies came. This idea occurred to me and so here it is!

SUMMARY: What if Arthur HAD looked behind the screen in "Beginning of the End"? Would he turn Morgana in?

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or any of its characters.


"Why don't you go back to – brushing your hair or whatever it is you do all day?" Arthur asked disdainfully, and turned to leave.

"Bye, Arthur," Morgana said, a hint of a smile crossing her face. "Good luck with the search." The door slammed behind the disgruntled prince.


Arthur didn't know where the druid boy could be. He had searched every single room in the castle but had found no evidence whatsoever that a young boy could be hiding.

He sighed and sat down heavily in the chair. Merlin was nowhere to be found, as usual. Arthur recalled seeing his manservant entering Morgana's chambers, which was unusual.

What was even more unusual was that when Morgana had told him the boy was behind the screen, Arthur could have sworn he had seen Merlin's face there. He also remembered seeing a small pair of boots in her room, but when he had looked more carefully, they were gone.

No, that was impossible. His father's ward would never be so disloyal as to harbor a fugitive. And yet, there was something about the fact that Morgana had been so sure he would never look where she told him to that perhaps she was keeping a secret.

His supper still hadn't arrived. Cursing lazy servants and silly girls, Arthur got up and strode down the hall to Morgana's chambers. He would prove, once and for all, that Morgana was not hiding the boy.

Stopping at her door, he raised his fist and pounded once on the door. From behind the thick wood, the prince heard sounds of scuffling before his father's ward opened the door, Merlin behind her looking nervous.

"Arthur," she said, her surprise clearly showing in her voice. Arthur ignored her, pushing past her and walking into her room. Taking one glance at Merlin, he said sarcastically, "There you are, Merlin. Thank you so much for supper." The boy hit his head with his palm. "How could I have forgotten?" he muttered.

Morgana shut the door behind him and asked, "Why are you here? You've already searched my chambers." He ignored her questions but began walking toward the screen in the back of the room. He heard Merlin utter a small intake of breath before he tore apart the hangings to reveal a small boy.

The boy looked up at him with wide eyes and shrank back into the corner. Arthur spun around, looking at Morgana. "So he was here when I came before?" he asked harshly. She looked close to tears and nodded very slightly before sinking down into a chair.

"Uther is going to kill him, Arthur," she said, "I couldn't let him do that. He's just a boy." Arthur said, "My father will kill you, Morgana. Did you ever think of that? This is treason."

She closed her eyes. "I don't care. He needs to get back to his people." Arthur looked over at Merlin, who had gone over by the boy. They weren't talking, but he had the feeling that his manservant was communicating with the boy.

Before Arthur could tell Merlin to stop, the boy had gotten up and ran toward the door. Arthur strode over to him in two steps and held him by the arm. The boy let out a cry of pain, and Arthur noticed a bandage on his arm.

"Don't move," he said, but Morgana, who ran over to the boy and held him tight, interrupted him. "Please, Arthur, let him go," she said, tears running down her cheeks.

Arthur didn't know what to do. If he turned them in, Morgana might be executed. And yet, if he didn't, he would be betraying his father. Looking down at the boy, Arthur saw huge blue eyes staring at him, but when the boy saw he was looking at him, he looked away.

Did he want to be a king whose people feared him? Abruptly, he released the boy and walked to the door.

"Guards!" he called. He heard Morgana gasp and Merlin say, "No!" "Make sure the Lady Morgana does not leave her chambers tonight," he told the guard.

The guard nodded, and Arthur turned to leave before he remembered his manservant, who other than his recent outburst had remained silent. "Merlin," he called, "Come with me."