(Chapter contains some violence)

The third time, Merlin never even knew about.

Arthur only decided to be chivalrous for a reason. He knew Morgana was over at Gwen's again, he could stop by and offer her a lift. Merlin might be there, but he was being quite evasive. Arthur had tried going in the book shop a couple of times but had managed to miss Merlin, once by only minutes. Arthur didn't want to seem like he was chasing Merlin about. If nothing else, Merlin might freak out about it, all things considered. If Merlin wasn't there when he arrived, he could ask Gwen about it. She'd give him some good, and honest, advice on the subject.

As he slowly pulled up, a little way down the road, Arthur frowned as he looked at the person outside the house, looking like they were yelling abuse at Gwen's bright yellow front door. He turned off the car's engine and watched. It was clear who it was outside Gwen's house. Arthur looked Cain up and down for a moment before opening his car door, and when he gently pushed it closed, he locked with the key, so the alarm didn't beep and alert anyone to his presence.

From inside the house Morgana, Gwen and Elyan, Gwen's brother, watched Cain. He had come over to Gwen's demanding to know where Merlin was. She was not about to tell him that Merlin was currently living with her, nor was she about to tell Cain Merlin's current location. He had in fact gone to spend a week with his mother. Gwen had no intention of giving Cain any hint of that.

"Perhaps I should call the police," Morgana said. It seemed the most sensible option.

"No, they'll insist on talking to Merlin then, and he won't want that."

"He's not an arch-criminal on the run is he?" Morgana asked.

"No, he's just very private."

Morgana snorted. "There is private and private. He'll have to do something or this will keep happening."

All three of them jumped at the sound of a bang. Morgana stepped to the window and peered through the blinds, while trying to stay out of sight. Looking down she noted that Norman was doing a little better now he was living on Gwen's window sill.

"What's he doing?" Elyan asked.

"Throwing rocks at the front door, no doubt he'll hit a window at some point." Morgana fiddled with her mobile phone, wondering if she should just overrule Gwen, and then take the blame for her when Merlin found out.

"Maybe I should go out and talk to him," Elyan said.

"No!" Morgana and Gwen snapped at the same time. He looked at them in surprise.

"He can't be that unreasonable," he said. By the look on both girls' faces it was clear they considered Cain to be as such. If he was honest with himself, Elyan didn't particularly fancy going out to confront the angry man on the doorstep. "Someone might have already called the police by now," he added. There was another thud, and Gwen winced, biting her lip a little. Morgana peered out of the window and raised her eyebrows at the sight that she was now presented with.

"Oh, that's handy, no need to worry, Arthur's just shipped up. It's unlike him to have any sense of timing. He must be having a good day."

"What's he doing?" Gwen asked. Morgana peered through the blinds.

"Half-nelsoned him and now appears to be dragging him across the road to have a quiet word," Morgana said calmly, for once sounding approving of Arthur's actions. Gwen and Elyan rushed over to find other parts of the blinds to peer through. They shifted about, all trying to look. Elyan crouched on the floor, peering through the gap at the bottom. Morgana tutted as Gwen shifted the blind to look and obscured her view. She ducked a little to peer through where the material had kinked slightly.

"Wow," Elyan said as Arthur got Cain across the street and none to gently pushed him face first against the wall. As Cain spun round on him Arthur grabbed him around the throat and shoved him back against the wall. Cain tried kicking at him but by the set of Arthur's shoulders Morgana guessed Arthur had just increased the pressure on Cain's neck. Arthur's shoulders and the colour that Cain's face was currently turning gave it away. Arthur leant in and looked to be talking intently into the man's ear.

"What's he saying?" Elyan asked.

"How are we supposed to know?" Gwen asked.

"Something suitably threatening knowing Arthur, he is rather good at that sort of thing."

"Is it working?" Gwen asked.

"It's a bit hard to tell when his face is so red," Morgana commented.

Arthur was finding it a little hard to tell, for the very same reason. Cain's eyes remained angry but that could be because Arthur was choking him, putting his bodyweight into the arm he had him pinned by. He relaxed his grip and then let Cain down. It wasn't the colour of Cain's face that backed him off but the random thought that Merlin might be in the house watching.

Cain coughed as the pressure released and he glared up at Arthur.

"You think you're scary, tough guy."

Arthur's eyes widened a little, he stayed close to Cain and gave a very humourless smirk.

"Yes, I think I am as a matter of fact," Arthur said calmly. "Because you are nothing more than a bully."

"This has got nothing to do with you, that bitch is gonna tell me where he is!" Cain lurched forward but Arthur's hand on his chest pushed him back.

Arthur's face remained stony, giving nothing away. He hadn't really gone beyond demanding what the hell Cain thought he was doing and warning him about what he had been saying about Gwen, and Morgana. The fact that Merlin's name hadn't been mentioned in Cain's tirade caused him to be cautious. Now he had it confirmed. Cain had no idea that Merlin was living with Gwen, or at least that he had come to stay here. It was past two weeks, Merlin could have moved by now.

"Do you mean Gwen by what you just said?" Arthur asked. His voice, in that one breath, could have frozen small countries. It was enough to make Cain pause.

"She doesn't look like your type," Cain snarled.

"That, I think, is none of your business. I am not going to allow her to be harassed like this. You stay away from her, you stay the hell away from my sister, and most especially you are going to leave Merlin alone."

"You at him yet? He gets very grateful, trust me, I know."

Arthur exhaled, his nostrils flaring. He would have breathed fire if he was capable of it.

"I never thought I would ever justifiably say this to someone, but don't you judge me by your low view. Now I don't doubt that if you have moved in Morgana's circles, you know exactly what she says about me. Let me tell you, if I see you again, if I even sniff you out on the periphery of Merlin's life, I will demonstrate to you, just how direct and truthful Morgana is about me. She might call me a bully," Arthur said, moving closer, eyes locked with Cain's, and unblinking as he stared.

"But I do limit myself to picking on people that fucking ask for it. Am I making myself utterly clear?"

Cain lunged forward but Arthur was ready, he got both hands up and pushed his thumbs into Cain's neck, finding the place he could inflict most pain almost by instinct. Arthur let him struggle for a moment, enjoying it and he felt the adrenaline rise, pushing his rush of anger ever higher. The only thing that held him back was that thought at the back of his mind, that Merlin still might be in the house, and that even if he wasn't he would probably still hear of it. Arthur needn't have worried.

"Get the hint, you are going to get nowhere, and if you hurt anyone involved in this, I will come after you."

Arthur let him go. Cain sagged down onto the floor. Arthur looked around. People were passing along the road, crossing over as they saw them. No one wanted to get involved. People didn't. Arthur exhaled, stepped back and turned away, walking across the road.

As he hit the steps the door opened for him. He couldn't see who was behind it and he didn't go to find out for a moment. Instead he turned and looked at Cain. Short of attacking him there was nothing Cain could do, and he was never going to do that. If he picked on people like Merlin, then Arthur knew for certain this man wasn't going to touch him. He felt confident of that fact and he wasn't wrong. Cain picked himself up and walked away.

He paused at Arthur's car, eyeing it carefully. Arthur tensed but didn't move. He wasn't going to panic over something like that. He could afford to replace a machine. Cain however moved on and Arthur stepped through the door. It was shut behind him and he faced Gwen and Morgana, both of whom had eyes like saucers.

"Well?" Morgana demanded.

"Is Merlin here?"

Gwen shook her head. "No, he's at his mother's, thank God."

Arthur nodded, looking reassured and disappointed all in the same expression. The pounding of his heart was still slamming through his ears. He felt a little bit distant as he stood there looking at them. They seemed to be stood miles away from him.

"So what did you say?" Morgana asked. Arthur looked at her.

"That if he went anywhere near Merlin, or Gwen, or you and anyone relevant to this, then he would find out just how right you are about me. Now, I came by to see if you wanted a lift home. Do you want one or not?"