Arthur smiled in relief and before he could fully realize what he was doing, he was hugging Merlin.

"I am glad you are alive" he whispered. Merlin didn't know how to respond to this. He literally didn't. He supposed he had to feel happy as well – when he was happy that he was alive- and surprised and touched by Arthur's hug? Hell, let's go with that, he told to himself. He slowly hugged Arthur back and he tried to show that he cared, as Percival was staring at them. Then Arthur suddenly realized what he was doing and pushed Merlin slightly back and cleared his thought.

"Are you ok?" the king mumbled, finding the ground really interesting.

Merlin nodded and smiled. "I am fine."

"Good. I am going to tell the others." Percival said.

"No!" Arthur snapped. Then he cleared his thought again and added "I am going. You two stay here."

Before he got any response, the young king was gone.

"How did you manage to get out alive?" Percival asked, trying not to giggle with Arthur's behaviour.

"There was a cave and I hid there. And then I move a rock and thankfully that pathway opened." Merlin replied. God, that excuse sounds stupid. I hope he believes it otherwise I have to kill him. Then I have to find an excuse for that. Well, I could kill all of them but I am not sure I can kill them all at once and they are pretty good warriors. Damn it. Let's just hope he'll buy it.

"You are very lucky." The knight said smiling.

"Merlin!" Gwaine shouted and he hugged Merlin as well. Merlin rolled his eyes. How many times did he have to get hugs?

The other knights just putted him on the shoulder saying how glad they were that he was ok. At least, they trust me completely. That will probably help, on finding an alibi later, he thought.

Arthur was strangely silent in their way back, avoiding eye-contact with anyone, like he did the most embarrassing thing in the world.

Merlin wasn't very talkative either. He didn't know what to say and he didn't want to talk to anyone. Why would he? But he had to continue acting the same, like nothing changed.

When they reached Camelot, Merlin went straight to his room. He had to think how he was going to kill Arthur without raising any kind of suspicions. There was a king coming to visit and congratulate Arthur for his coronation, so that was the perfect time. They would pr,obably blame the king, wanting to destroy Camelot.

"Merlin?" Gauis' voice distracted him.

"Yes?" he said trying his best to show that he didn't want any kind of conversation.

Gauis came in. "Is everything ok?"

"Yes, of course. Why not?"

"Well, usually when you're coming back from any kind of trip with Arthur, you are complaining. Unless something is wrong. So what is it?"

"Nothing. I just…I got nearly killed." Merlin decided to leave the most important things out.

"What? How?"

"Some rocks fell and I hid in a cave. I moved the rocks, I came out and here I am!" Merlin explained tiredly. "I think all of the knights are stupid. I mean they believe every story I tell them, no matter how ridiculous it sounds."

Gauis frowned, apparently for Merlin's comment.

"Oh come on! You know it's true. Otherwise I would have been hanged in the first week I came here." He added. Well, it was true. He was such an idiot back then. He risked his life so many times to save Arthur. And for what? A promise that he would allow magic to Camelot one day? So what? He would probably be in the same position he was now. He was such an idiot. He wasn't powerful enough to escape from the dungeons so his death would be certain.

The old man just nodded and left the room silently.

The next morning Merlin decided that he wouldn't use his magic to kill Arthur. He wouldn't take that risk either with Morgana or Arthur. The problem was that the king was a really good warrior, therefore he wouldn't be easy to kill. Well, he would never kill Merlin either, which was a great advantage. Unless he knew about Merlin's magic. I guess, I'll never know, the young warlock thought, but who cares? I am gonna be wealthy.

"…and then I will come back." Arthur said. God, he was so distracted by his own thoughts that he had forgotten the king's presence, let alone that he was talking to him.

"Ok" Merlin simply said.

"Ok? Really?" Arthur gasped.

"Why? Do I have a say on what you do?"

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "No, but…never mind."

"Do you need anything else, Sir?" he asked. Merlin had already cleaned-up the whole room and the armour , in surprisingly fast and good. When Arthur let him go, Merlin decided that he had to improve his skills on fighting. With weapons of course, because his magic fighting skills were in a pretty good level. Luckily, he found Sir Leon a few steps away.

"Hey there" he greeted, trying to seem friendly.

"Hi Merlin." Leon smiled.

"I was wondering if you could…teach me how to fight better." Merlin said as innocently as he could.

"Really?" the knight goggled his eyes "How come?"

"It's about time, don't you think?"

"Of course. So umm…let's start with arrows. Do you know how to aim?" Leon asked.

I don't need arrows to kill someone but since I decided not to use my magic… "I don't think so."

One hour later, Merlin had no success at all on hitting the target.

"Let me show you. Again." Leon muttered tiredly. "You should hold it steadily. You should aim a little lower than the target and then, when you feel ready…" he shot the target.

Merlin gave it another try and this time it was successful. He couldn't help but grin.

Know he could easily kill Arthur tonight. And if he couldn't find a chance this night, he would kill him tomorrow in the hunting trip. One thing was for sure. Arthur will soon be dead.