I have been struggling to get down to writing anything. I expect to get as much of my stories out as possible before school goes back, but no promises. This is a short chapter, but it is important to complete the main conflict in the story. I may have mentioned it before, but this is not a long story. At the same time, I do hope to get at least one or two more Arthur/Merlin scenes before its over.

In the last chapter, the potion that the witchfinder had given to Uther was drank by Merlin. Merlin and Arthur were alone together when the effects of the potion sent his magic spiraling out of control. They are the only two who know what really happened that night. Hope you like this little chapter. I'll try to write the next one sooner. :)

Aer

Merlin's eyes traveled over Arthur's backside, pausing momentarily on the perfect ass that his breeches clung to mercilessly. How did I get this lucky? he thought.

All those years, he had been looking for a pretty girl to fall in love with and marry, but it wasn't until he had come to Camelot and discovered Arthur. Everything changed after that. Arthur had become the center of his focus. It wasn't entirely his fault though. He had no interest in someone who could be such a prat, but then he saved his life and was positioned as his servant. Now, the dragon insisted that he step up to protect him, and somewhere between being with him all the time and continuously saving his life, Merlin had fallen for the prince.

He had been content just taking care of him and watching from a far, but some force in the world gave him the chance for things to go farther with the future King of Camelot. They spent all their time together, joining their two powers, the power of royalty and Merlin's magic, to protect and save Camelot from everything that threatened to destroy it.

Now, he was the threat.

It was his responsibility to protect Camelot, including from himself.

Arthur could feel Merlin's gaze trailing over him from behind. He knew that if he turned around he would see Merlin with a dark, smoldering look in his eyes. He wheeled around and had only a moment to see that Merlin's eyes where not smoldering but thoughtful, determined on something that captured his mind, before there was a knock on the door. He left Merlin standing were he was to answer their unexpected guest. The guest in question was Uther.

Uther searched the room behind Arthur with his eyes. He considered Merlin then motioned with his hand to have Arthur join him out in the corridor.

He squeezed around Uther, who was hesitated to remove his lock on Merlin until his had shut the door, blocking him from the conversation.

"The other day, I asked you to keep an eye on your servant."

"Yes sir, " Arthur replied immediately.

"So, has there been an odd behavior? Any unexplained occurrences?" Uther chose his words carefully. He didn't want his son suspecting that he might have a hand in whatever effect the potion could have caused.

Arthur thought back on the explosion of magic that had come from Merlin the previous night. Uther knew that something had happened, but how could he have? Unless he might have had something to do with it, which would explain why Merlin's magic had been completely uncontrolled. But, how had he done it? He would have to find out somehow. He had to keep Uther in the dark about what had happened. If he didn't say anything, maybe he would stop suspecting Merlin.

"No, nothing of the sort. Merlin took care of his duties, then went home. Nothing different than any other night."

Uther's hands clenched at his sides. At first Arthur was worried that he knew he had been lying, but then he took a deep breath in and simply said, "So, Merlin is not a danger."

It wasn't a question, but Arthur answered anyway. "No, Merlin is just Merlin."

"That's good." Then without another word, Uther turned on his heel and left Arthur alone in the corridor with his thoughts.

Uther was fuming from the moment Arthur told him that the servant boy had not exploded in a flurry of uncontrolled magic and still as his knocked loudly on the door of the witchfinder's home. There was a frustratingly long wait before the door was answered.

Uther took one look at the scarred face of the witchfinder before bursting from his anger. "You! You tried to cheat me out of my money! Merlin isn't the sorcerer! You had me give some ridiculously expensive vial probably just filled with water to some servant boy! I want to be compensated for the troubles you have caused me!"

"There are no refunds. Merlin is a sorcerer and the most dangerous of sorts. Just because he can keep it secret, does not make me a liar. It makes you blind, Uther. You have always been blind. There are more secrets than just the one, which I revealed to you. If you knew what I discovered about the servant, you would not doubt me."

"Is this some scam to get me to waste more of my gold? There is likely no other secret. Do not take me for a fool. Perhaps, I had fallen for your first trick, but no more. I demand you return what I have paid you."

"I will not return the money. Unless, you would like your foolishness to become public knowledge."

Uther was stumped with that. The dirty snake was blackmailing him! He turned and left unbelievably more angry than he had arrived.

The witchfinder closed the door after the King left. If he had told him about Arthur and Merlin's secret affairs, he would have understood the seriousness of the situation, but as things were, it was no longer his problem.