This is sort of a continuation of Chapter 3. Obviously something has to happen while they're on a hunting trip or else it just wouldn't be Merlin. Thanks to everybody who is following and reviewing. I hope I don't disappoint too much, and if you have any suggestions please review! Also I feel like I should warn you, there is a teensy-weensy bit of Merlin whump in this chapter.

Merlin shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. They had broken camp earlier this morning without much fuss; if Merlin had been paying attention to anything other than his aching limbs he might have noticed the sympathetic glances he received from the knights as they helped pack up, each of them taking one of Merlin's responsibilities to lighten his load. It was not, however, the stiffness that was causing Merlin to fidget. He had a bad feeling about this place, he just couldn't tell what, and that was making him jumpy. He shifted again and peered closely into the shadows. They were riding through the Valley of the Ancient Kings and to Merlin's young mind every shadow was a ghost or bandit ready to attack their party.

Arthur sighed with irritation as Merlin jumped once more, glancing nervously around the valley. "Merlin!" Arthur gritted his teeth as the servant jumped. " Why are you jumping out of your skin every time a tree rustles?"

Looking slightly abashed Merlin said, "I don't like it here, Arthur. I've got a very bad feeling about this place."

Trying to ease the younger man's fears, Arthur reigned in his horse. "There is nothing here to be afraid of, Merlin. Now stop being such a little girl! We are completely safe …" WHACK!

Just as the prince said those words a crossbow bolt thudded into a tree where Arthur's head would have been had he not reigned in. Bandits began pouring out of the surrounding trees, and in an instant the knights were dismounted with swords out. Though they were outnumbered, the knights easily outmatched the bandits, who seemed to have trouble holding on to their swords and kept tripping on roots. Sparing a glance behind him, Arthur saw Merlin determinedly gripping a dagger as he dodged the sloppy blows of a large bandit. By this point nearly all the bandits had fallen or fled, having had no chance against the highly trained knights. Dispatching his last opponent quickly, Arthur turned to come to Merlin's aid just in time to see the large bandit overbalance himself and fall forward onto the boy in front of him. Time seemed to slow and Arthur saw in clear detail the terrified look in the boy's bright blue eyes as he flung his dagger out in front of himself just a moment before he disappeared under the bulk of the larger man with a frightened squeak.

Without even remembering moving, Arthur found himself lugging the form of the large man off Merlin, his sword still at the ready. Surprisingly the man made no movement and, looking down, Arthur saw the dagger Merlin had been holding buried up to the hilt in the man's chest. Discounting the man as a threat, Arthur turned to Merlin. The poor boy was standing up from where he had been sprawled on the ground looking pale and shaken. Arthur knelt in front of him, looking earnestly up at him. "Are you hurt, Merlin?" He patted the boy's torso, trying to discern any wounds, when he found none he sat back with a small sight of relief.

It was at this moment that several things happened. First of all Arthur felt a movement behind his back; at the same time he saw Merlin's eyes go wide as he suddenly pushed Arthur, causing him to lose his balance and fall to the side. The push made Merlin step forward; just in time for him to catch the pommel of the large bandit's sword in his face. Merlin let out a small cry and fell limply to the ground. The bandit, who had apparently not yet gotten the memo that he was mortally wounded and had spent the last of his energy on the failed assassination attempt, fell forward, once again landing on Merlin. By this point all the knights were at Arthur's side, having seen what had happened. While Leon helped Arthur to his feet, Gwaine rolled the bandit's body off of Merlin, again, giving it a vicious kick before ensuring that he was well and truly dead this time. Then he turned back to Merlin. The boy was unnaturally still and pale and Gwaine let out a sigh of relief when he realized that he was uninjured apart from the large bruise now present on his temple.

"Merlin, come on buddy, time to wake up," Gwaine called, shaking Merlin gently.

"Ugh…don' wann' g't'p."

Shaking him a little more forcefully, concern evident on his face, Gwaine said, "Merlin, you've got to wake up now; princess is going to start throwing a tantrum if his servant isn't there to hold his hand." Merlin's eyelids fluttered and then opened to reveal his bright, blue eyes; Gwaine smiled, relieved.

"Gently now, Gwaine," Leon warned, " he may have a concussion and he has to take it slowly."

Nodding his understanding, Gwaine put his arm under the boy's shoulders and began to help him rise. Once he was in a sitting position, Merlin took one glance at the dead man (the man he had killed) and tried to rise to his feet, only to be pushed gently back down by Sir Gwaine.

"Easy mate, you have to take it slowly. That was a nasty knock you took to the head and you probably have a concussion."

Merlin shook his head, regretting the action instantly as it caused the world to spin momentarily and his head to throb mercilessly. Managing to keep the pain off his face he looked to Gwaine and said in a small voice: "please don't make me sit here by…by him…please, Gwaine. I'm fine, honestly, just a little bit of a headache."

Gwaine just stared at him for a moment before nodding and readjusting his grip on Merlin's shoulder; slowly helping the youth to his feet. After assuring the rest of the party that he was ok, Merlin strode towards where his horse stood chomping on a patch of grass. Arthur followed Merlin closely, not quite convinced that he was as well as he claimed to be; he was still paler than usual and wobbly on his feet. Sure enough Merlin got halfway to the horses before falling to his knees and losing the contents of his stomach. Arthur was at his side in an instant, rubbing small, soothing circles on the young boy's back as he lost his breakfast. When his stomach was emptied, Merlin slumped forward, unconscious once again.

Arthur caught the boy before he landed in his mess and stood up, cradling the small form against his chest. He frowned to himself, Merlin was ridiculously light, even for someone his age, and Arthur resolved to have words with Gaius about Merlin's eating habits. Glancing around he saw that Leon and Elyan had rounded up all the horses and were already mounted, ready to leave this place. Arthur handed Merlin's still from to Percival and then walked over to horse. Seeing that Gwaine had already taken the reigns of the servant's horse and attached them to his saddle, Arthur mounted and then bent over to receive the boy from Percival, settling him gently in front of him on the saddle. It was in this way that they returned to Camelot; Prince Arthur clutching his unconscious manservant to his chest with the rest of the knights following behind.

It was later that evening that Arthur found himself staring at his manservant, slightly worried (though he'd never admit it…good servants were just so hard to come by). Merlin was clearing the table of dishes; he'd gone back to work that afternoon after downing a headache potion and assuring Gaius that he would take it easy. He had been strangely quiet the rest of the day, a slight frown on his lips that would immediately be replaced by his normally chipper smile any time he noticed somebody watching him. Arthur sighed; he actually missed the boy's endless prattling and sarcasm.

"Merlin, sit down for a moment," he said, pulling out a chair at the table and seating himself in one across from it. Hesitantly Merlin sat down, not quite sure what was happening. "As much as I hate to admit it, I find your silence even more annoying than your endless prattling"

Merlin gave a small smile and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "clotpole".

Receiving no other response, Arthur continued. "What's bothering you? Has it anything to do with this morning?" He could see that he'd hit the proverbial nail on the head by the manservant's sudden change in demeanor.

"It's nothing, Arthur, really," Merlin muttered refusing to make eye contact.

" Merlin, nothing that happened this morning was your fault; in fact the knights and I are extremely impressed with the way you handled yourself."

Still keeping his eyes firmly on the table, Merlin said in a voice so quiet Arthur had to strain to hear him, "I killed that man, Arthur. He was just a normal man and I killed him; I'm a monster." He quickly glanced up and Arthur could see the tears in his eyes before he returned to staring at the table.

He was floored. This was clumsy, innocent Merlin who was friends with just about everybody; the kindest, most generous person Arthur had ever met and he thought that he was a monster. Just because he had acted in self-defense against a man three times his size who was trying to kill him. He couldn't believe it. "Look at me, Merlin. What you did today does not make you a monster; in fact today you are a hero. You defended yourself against a bandit and you saved my life. On top of that you are one of the purest, kindest souls I have ever met. There is no way that you could ever even come close to being a monster. Do you understand me?"

Tears were sliding down Merlin's cheeks as Arthur spoke and when he finished Merlin began to sob, all the horrors of the day finally catching up with him. Moving to his side, Arthur pulled the child (for that was what he still was, Arthur realized, despite his maturity) into an embrace and held him as he sobbed. After what seemed like ages and Arthur's tunic was thoroughly soaked, the sobbing ceased.

"Did you r-really mean what you said? *Sniff* You don't think I'm a *sniff* m-m-monster *sniff*?" Merlin looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

" Of course not, you idiot." He smiled fondly at the boy. "Besides I think a requirement for being a monster is that you have to be a semi-decent servant, and we all know you aren't that."

"Prat," Merlin said with a grin as he rubbed his puffy eyes. Then he picked up the stack of dishes from table and headed for the door. Before he left, Merlin turned back to Arthur. "Thank you," he said and then he scurried out the door before anything else could be said. Arthur smiled to himself and quietly said, "You're welcome."