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"Merlin?"

"Yeah?" Arthur was using that voice, so the young wizard adopted his best innocent tone of voice before even knowing what he was in trouble for.

"I found this in your room. Care to explain?"

Merlin was about to ask why Arthur had been in his room when he realised that was the least of his worries. His throat went dry as he saw that Arthur was holding the book of spells that Gaius had given him when he had first arrived at Camelot.

"It's... uh... nothing, really. Just an old book." He swallowed, hoping against hope that just this once, the Prince might believe his utterly transparent lie. No such luck.

"Is it magic, Merlin?"

"No, it's..." Merlin found himself cut off by Arthur raising an eyebrow. He couldn't see any other way out. "Yeah," he admitted, "it's magic." By this stage, he was unable to look Arthur in the eye. He was fairly sure that the Prince was doing that smouldering glare he reserved for people who had made him really angry.

"I'm fairly sure you're aware, Merlin, that in Camelot, magic is an offence punishable by death?"

"I know." Merlin risked a look at his master, and to his surprise, saw that the Prince's expression had changed to one of pity. Merlin looked at him questioningly and he sighed theatrically.

"No, I'm not going to turn you in. Just... try to keep inconspicuous... and his this in a better spot. Next time the palace is searched, it might not be me who ends up looking through your things."

Arthur thrust the spell book into Merlin's hands and then turned on his heel, leaving his manservant grinning like an idiot.