Dreóhlæcan Mónaþfylen Chapter 4

Ok again I am SO sorry for not updating sooner. After I got back from Europe I found out that my laptop went on the fritz and wouldn't connect to the internet. So I gave it to my Dad to fix. He of course took another 4 days to end up break it even more, and when he gave it back to me it was turning on and off without me touching it and I couldn't get it to stop. So I gave it BACK to him and it took FOREVER for him to realize that he had jammed the power button and he had to take half the computer apart just to get it unstuck. Then he STILL didn't have the internet fixed. So basically I just said forget it, had to type up this chapter again, and then I've got to now hook my laptop up to the main computer with the internet cable which takes forever to load up. So again I hate how this has taken forever to do, but I am truly sorry and trust me…my Father will be given an earful. With that on with the story!

By the time Merlin had stumbled back to his room it had grown rather dark. Kilgharrah's words kept ringing in the back of his mind. I know Uther is guilty for all that he has done, but that doesn't mean that he deserves death himself. Arthur especially doesn't deserve to die at the hands of this man. Why is it that Arthur is always blamed and punished for the sins of his Father? He hasn't done anything to them. Tornwraou was unjustly punished, how Uther could kill his wife and children before turning on one of his closest friends, is unfathomable. But that doesn't mean that he can go around killing others just because of what was done to him. He barely acknowledged Gaius when he knocked on his door to tell him that supper was ready.

"Merlin," Gaius asked in a worried tone, "What is the matter?"

"Hmm? Oh nothing…" Merlin trailed off not knowing what else to say.

"You've been acting strangly ever since you've gotten home," Gaius said responded not looking very happy with the response Merlin had given. "Did something happen?"

"No! Nothing happened, I'm just tired is all," he replied, "Maybe some food will help."

"Yes, maybe," Gaius said watching Merlin trudge past him obviously lost in thought again.

Merlin kept quiet all through dinner, and left saying that he was turning in early. Gaius gazed after the retreating boy wariness creeping through him. Ever since he had returned home after his time in the stocks he had been acting very unMerlin like, and frankly it had the physician concerned. There was hardly ever a day when Merlin didn't come home from work without complaining about Arthur and about how much he had been a prat that day. It was honestly hard to keep the boy quiet about anything, he always had an opinion on everything, and while it got annoying at times, Gaius mostly enjoyed it. The feeling of happiness he brought home, it made everything brighter. Gaius loved Merlin with all his heart and had started referring to him as his own son, only to himself of course. Because of this the old man was usually very intuitive to when there seemed to be something that was bothering the young warlock. With the way that Merlin was acting he knew that there was obviously something wrong, but Gaius would wait for him to confide in him, he wouldn't get anything out of him until he decided he wanted to. With a sigh the man turned to prepare for bed, trying to understand his young ward always wore him out.

Merlin stared up at his ceiling as he lay in bed, positive that he would not be getting much sleep that night. What the dragon had said couldn't stop bothering him, and for good reason too. This man…correction this sorcerer was going to try to kill him and Arthur. This obviously couldn't happen. Merlin had dedicated his life to keeping the future King safe, no matter the cost. I won't let him harm Arthur, I will just have to train and prepare myself to be able to become strong enough to face him. I will stop him, no matter the cost. But I don't know when he will be here, I don't even know what he looks like. He could come into the castle disguised and I wouldn't even know it! He has every seeable advantage, and I have none. It doesn't matter no matter what happens he will not get to Arthur, I will make sure of that.

And with that thought Merlin climbed out of bed, and crouched down to the floorboard where he hid his most prized possession, his magic book. He dropped it onto the desk that stood to the side of his room and quickly flipped it open to the first page, he was going to read everything in this book to prepare himself. The more magic he learned the stronger he would be, and the more likely it would be that he would be able to beat Tornwraou. He would spend every spare moment he had working and training, studying to be able to perform every spell that was in the book. No matter what he would protect Arthur, and try to stay alive in the process. He cleared everything from his mind beside the will to learn, and began to read.

"Merlin if you're late for Prince Arthur again…" Gaius began as he opened the door only to drop off as he noticed Merlin sitting at his desk, head bent over a book. What was left of a candle stood next to him, long since having burned out as the wick was completely spent, and the left over wax dripped allover the candlestick and desk. "Merlin what are you doing?"

"What?" Merlin asked suddenly snapping his neck up and turned round so he could speak to Gaius properly, "Is it morning already?"

"Yes Merlin, it is morning already," Gaius said and as an afterthought suddenly asked, "Have you been up all night?"

"I guess so… I couldn't sleep…so I thought just read a little," Merlin said not quite meeting Gaius' eye, he didn't want to inform his guardian of what the Dragon had told him. There was no need to upset the old man, before the time came. I'll tell him later, he thought to himself.

Gaius stared at him, he knew he was lying, the boy couldn't lie to save his life. Merlin wouldn't look at him instead opting to stare at his made bed. Finally giving up on trying to get the truth out of him Gaius sighed, "Alright Merlin but you need your sleep, you get washed up and ready so you don't keep Arthur waiting."

Merlin nodded, "Alright I'll be done soon."

Merlin had really not noticed how late, and then how early it had become while he was reading. He was so intently focused on the book that everything else had ceased to matter. Oh well, he thought, I'll just go to bed early tonight. He quickly washed his face and hands before changing into new pants, and tunic, putting on his boots before leaving his room. "I'll see you later Gaius," he called as he was just finishing tying his scarf round his neck, running out the door.

Merlin pushed open the door to Arthur's room, walking quickly over to the windows. "Wake up Arthur," Merlin called as he yanked open the curtains, before walking over to the windows on the other side of the bed.

Arthur groaned and shoved his face into his pillows. "Common, Arthur, I've got your breakfast all ready for you!" Merlin called cheerfully as he yanked another set of curtains open.

"Why are you even here," Arthur's voice came muffled from his pillow.

"What am I late?" Merlin asked as he walked over to the big wardrobe, starting to select the clothes that Arthur would wear for that day.

"No, you're early," Arthur replied throwing the covers over his head, trying to block out the sunlight coming through his now open windows.

"I was under the impression that this is the time I'm supposed to show up for work," Merlin threw back with a cheeky grin.

"It's early for you I meant," Arthur growled out.

"Well early for me or not it's time for you to get up Merlin said whipping the covers off of the Prince's still sleep ridden form.

"Hey!" Arthur yelped as the cold air suddenly hit him, scrambling to try and grab the covers back from the grinning boy.

"Well, now that you're up," Merlin laughed, "I've got your clothes out and your breakfast ready."

Arthur flipped his feet over the side of the bed, giving Merlin a dirty look before he snatched the clothes off the side of his changing screen, and disappearing behind it. He reappeared minutes later fully clothed, heading straight for the food laid out on his table, immediately starting to eat his fill.

"So why are you here this early?" Arthur asked between mouthfuls of food.

"What is it bad that I'm actually on time?" Merlin asked with an innocent expression.

"No, it's just you're never on time, so why the sudden change?"

"You should be happy not upset," the raven haired boy replied.

"I suppose so," Arthur said as he looked at his manservant suspiciously, "I hope you know just because you're on time, this doesn't mean that you can slack off the rest of the day."

"I wouldn't dream of it sire," Merlin said in a sarcastic voice.

"Mmhm," Arthur said still looking slightly suspicious, "There must be something wrong, you're on time, and you're in a relatively pleasant. Do you have bad news for me, did you do something?" Arthur demanded.

"No! Why would you think that just because I'm on time and ready to work that I've obviously done something wrong?" Merlin asked slightly offended.

"I suppose you can be a good manservant…every once in a while…" Arthur said hesitatingly, "I'm not saying I don't like the change…it's just unexpected."

"Well you should be grateful, now what's the list of chores today?" he inquired.

Giving one last strange look at the boy, Arthur started to recite the long list off. Even though Merlin hadn't had one wink of sleep the night before he was strangely not tired in the least, he was actually bursting with energy ready to work.

That energy would not last long.

OK I got kind of stuck on this chapter a bit, so any advice on where to go from here what you all want to read and such would be helpful. Also I REALLY need a beta so any advice on how to get one or if one of you would be kind enough to take on this great challenge! Also Europe was AMAZING! I loved it and I can't wait to go live over there…as soon as I graduate ^_^! I loved Ireland it was so green and beautiful, Scotland's people were amazing and I absolutely adored Edinburgh Castle, I didn't get to see much of Wales, but I did go to London and the shopping was great! Me and my friends all took the tubes by ourselves and we actually figured them all out on our own, we were quite proud! I just wish I could have gone to Liverpool, but oh well next trip :) Anyways I was inspired by so many castles and landscapes that we saw, so I actually have a LOT of new Merlin stories that I started while over there. So look sharp because I think they're going to be good! Anyways Review please! Oh and just to make things interesting I won't update until I get at LEAST 10 reviews! So a little incentive!