A/N: Wow! Thanks so much to everyone! Sorry that this chapter is so long, but I promise it will be shorter next time. I just couldn't find a good place to stop. Now I shall stop babbling… ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

~(o)~

Merlin's heart beat faster as he wondered if the king was going to arrest him. He had been accused of sorcery more times than he wished to remember and weren't partial to the cells. The guards weren't exactly the friendliest either, but they were easy to slip past. Merlin would have to talk to Arthur about getting better security later on.

Uther dismissed everyone from the room, and almost immediately Leon grabbed at Merlin, shoving him in a corner.

"We have got to stop meeting like this," Merlin joked dryly.

The knight ignored him. "Do you or do you not know who Emrys is?" When Merlin didn't answer him, Leon shook him by the shoulders. "Come on, Merlin. Innocent people are going to die, and if you are trying to prove to me that you're not evil then answer the question! I'm already committing treason for you, boy."

The warlock sighed, shutting his eyes. "I will contact him, okay?"

Unfortunately, that didn't work for Leon. "Listen here, if Emrys doesn't sho-"

"Leon," came a flabbergasted Gaius. "Merlin, what's going on?"

After flashing an evil glance – though it paled in comparison to Morgana's smirks – at Merlin, Leon bowed his head curtly at the physician before taking off down the narrow hallway. Gaius turned his attention to Merlin who shrugged his shoulders.

"Don't know what that was about," he lied horribly and took off in the direction of his chambers, hoping he could just crawl into bed without any accusatory questions from his mentor. But, of course, he knew better and sat down at the wooden table once he got back to the room, waiting for Gaius to catch up to him.

Finally, the door slammed shut. "What was going on?" he demanded, not bothering to sit down.

Merlin put his head in his hands. After a moment, he looked up. "I don't know what to do, Gaius." He ran a hand through his hair. "If, if Emrys doesn't come to Uther with a confession, then all of these innocent people will die because of me, and I don't know if I could live with that."

I'm not evil.

I can't be evil, could I?

"Don't be absurd," Gaius snapped as if he were reading Merlin's thoughts. "You can't go up in front of the king, in front of Arthur, and tell everyone you're a sorcerer. That's suicide!"

Merlin, the evil warlock.

Merlin, the evil sorcerer.

Did that really suit him?

"Merlin," Arthur suddenly burst into the room, sheer panic on his face. "It's Gwen. She's locked up. My father has…" but he was at a loss for words. "This can't happen again. I can't almost lose her again!" he banged the table and collapsed in a chair.

The warlock walked right up to his friend. "I promise, just like last time, we will get her out, Arthur. You just need to trust me."

Arthur remained still.

Gaius walked over to the prince and handed him a potion bottle. "Here, sire, this will help to calm your nerves."

He sighed and took the liquid, standing up. "Thank you, Gaius." He was about to walk out the door when he suddenly stopped. "Both of you, or at least Merlin, should try and not draw attention. Gaius, my father trusts you, but you and Merlin have been accused of sorcery. Try not to trigger his memory."

The prince closed the door, leaving the two alone.

"Merlin," Gaius started. "You're planning something. Don't be stupid! You can't be practicing magic while the king is ready to lock away anyone!"

"But, Gaius," he protested. "If I don't do anything, then Gwen will die!"

The physician paced over to his workbench. "I never said to do nothing, Merlin." But his voice portrayed no hope for the young warlock. "Whatever you end up doing, be careful. We don't want you getting yourself killed in the process."

Merlin sighed. "I'm off to bed."

"Without supper?"

"I'm not hungry."

His door shut and Merlin collapsed on the tiny bed head first, groaning loudly. Merlin knew he had to save those people. They were innocent, like Leon had said. This is all because he just had to be the prophesied Emrys!

In his mind, Merlin reflected on the past conversation he had with Arthur in the woods.

"If only we could just talk to him!"

Arthur had said that so fiercely that Merlin wondered for a second if the prince was really up for discussion, that he wouldn't simply come running at Merlin with a sharp sword when he discovered his magic. That would be good. He really didn't care to die at the hands of his best friend who liked to give orders that never were obeyed.

That's when it hit him like a goblet to the head. Scrambling out of bed, he opened the cupboard and grabbed a quill and parchment. Standing above the paper, Merlin grinned happily. Setting the parchment down on a table, he began to scribble down a message that would surely stir up the kingdom's gossip.

Once done, he reread his handy work:

Uther Pendragon,

I promise to meet with you in the Great Hall tomorrow at noon, but only if you give me your word that you will let the others go. They have not harmed you. It's me you wish to speak with, it is me you have a quarrel with, sire.

Until tomorrow,

Emrys

Merlin had half a notion to add that Dragoon the Great was doing well just for Arthur, but decided that his letter was fine the way it was. He could save the theatrics for if Emrys got some time alone with the Prince of Camelot.

~(o)~

Arthur walked down to his father's chambers, wondering why the king had sent a guard to fetch him immediately. The sun had barely even come up, and Merlin was late to work – as usual, so nothing out of the ordinary there – so he was still in his night wear.

"Yes, father, you wished to see me?" he approached the man who was sitting timidly on his bed.

Uther nodded sternly and handed his son the piece of paper. "I found this on my table when I got up. It's from Emrys." He motioned for Arthur to read the letter.

"Will you meet with him, My Lord?" Arthur asked, hoping desperately for his father to say yes.

~(o)~

"But I'll need to speak with Arthur first," Merlin said exasperated.

"You need him to know Emrys isn't a threat to the king or to Camelot," Gaius reasoned, setting down a green tinted potion. "However, you can't talk to him personally. He'll know it's you."

Merlin continued his rapid pacing. "How am I supposed to talk to him without talking to him?" Then Gaius got quiet as the old man blinked a few times. "Gaius… what is it?"

He walked up to Merlin. "Back when you were deathly ill and Arthur had to go retrieve the flower that was the antidote, you kept muttering in your sleep; spells of all sorts. It got so dangerous that I had to make excuses for Gwen to get out of the room, but one spell in particular got my attention." He paused, looking down at Merlin's hands. "You made a glowing, blue orb in your hand while telling Arthur to follow the light. I assumed that Arthur could see the orb you had conjured."

The young warlock cocked his head to the side, thinking hard about the orb. "So, I could use the orb to communicate with him, and he wouldn't attack because he'd know it was good." That trademark smile appeared on Merlin's lips as he ran out the door. "Gaius, you're a genius!" he called over his shoulder.

Quickly, he ran down the halls and up the many flights of stairs. Merlin half expected to run into Morgana, and she would stop to say to him, "Where do you think you're going?" and he would answer out of breath, "I'm going to ruin another one of your plans!" then continue on his run to Arthur's room, ignoring the devilish glare she would be making at his retreating back.

Things had really been quiet since Morgana left. Merlin was actually able to get a decent night's sleep without being concerned about her sneaking out to talk to Morgause or try and kill Uther at midnight.

Making haste, Merlin practically ran into Arthur's chamber door, which he opened ever so much. Inside, the prince was sitting up on the edge of his bed looking stressed. His red shirt was hanging lazily over his shoulders as the prince stayed as still as a statue.

Whispering the words of the Old Religion, Merlin's eyes went bright gold. He held out his hand and the blue orb appeared out of thin air. Merlin grinned and sent the ball of light into Arthur's room, and he really wished that he were able to capture moments in time and be able to see them over and over again.

~(o)~

After returning to his chambers, Arthur hoped to come back to a nice hot breakfast, but no. Merlin was late. Where was that pathetic excuse of a servant? However, the question didn't linger long in his mind. Arthur was too focused on Gwen and her dark, soft curls that bounced every time she smiled or walked…

He pinched the bridge of his nose. The prince had already come too close to losing his love once, and thankfully he had caught the sorcerer, yet now he wondered if Morgana had coordinated with that Dragoon the Great. It was entirely possible.

Sighing out another thought, he jumped as a strangely familiar ball of flouting blue light illuminated the room. His warrior instincts told him to grab for his sword, but he went against them. Instead, he stared intent at the thing. Arthur then realized that he should probably be on his feet, in a fighting stance, calling the guards, but he felt like doing none of those things. He remained calm and seated on his comfy bed.

"You again," he commented. "Long time no see."

Then the thought occurred to him. "Are you Emrys? Or, are you conjured by Emrys?" Arthur could just picture Emrys laughing at him and his ignorance to magic. But, nevertheless, the orb bounced up and down as if nodding a 'yes' to him.

"I guess I never got to thank you for saving me in the cave all those years ago," Arthur said, no longer looking at the orb. He knew it wasn't a threat. How he knew that sort of scared him. He was always taught if it had magic, kill and ask questions later, but this time, questions came first, and killing later.

The ball orbed around his head a couple times making Arthur smile slightly. "Why can't I know who you are, if you live in Camelot?" The ball stopped moving, and he sighed heavily. "Right, I'm the Prince of Camelot and Uther is my father." He ran a hand through his blond head of his hair. "Are you really going to meet with my father later on?"

Once again, it bounced up and down.

"I'm no coward, Arthur," a muffled voice came from the ball, making Arthur jump back.

"You can talk!" he exclaimed, and Arthur could picture Emrys rolling his eyes. "Of course you can talk. You're a person using a ball as a messenger. Are you hiding?"

"Yes."

Arthur nodded his head to the side. "That explains the whispering."

"Focus, Pendragon."

The prince glowered at the thing. It reminded him slightly of… No, that's silly. Dragoon couldn't be Emrys. That was ridiculous! Dragoon was no more of an Emrys than Merlin! Where was that useless servant, anyway…?

"Right, sorry," the prince apologized, though he didn't know why he was. He was the prince after all, but then again, being near the presents of an extremely powerful sorcerer tended to be intimidating, prince or not. "Why are you here, talking to me now?" Arthur asked a little harsher than he originally intended.

The orb soared up near the ceiling. "I wished to come tell you that I am no threat to you, or to Camelot," it added quickly. "Trust me, Arthur, I won't let Gwen die."

Emrys' words took Arthur aback. "How do you even know about Guinevere?" His voice got louder in rage. This man was the reason the love of his life was locked up in a dingy cell, looking death in the face. "How do I know I can trust you? You're a bloody sorcerer!" The blue light lowered and began to dim. Arthur's last hope was leaving. "No, wait," he stood up, reaching out to the ball. "I'm sorry, Emrys, really. I need your help, and I doubt that my father will listen much, but I'm willing. Please," he begged.

Slowly, the light got stronger and Arthur could almost picture Emrys grinning. "Even if you were being a prat, I still wasn't going to let anyone be burned, Arthur."

Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Emrys."

~(o)~

"You again," Arthur said, a hint of shock and surprise in his eyes. "Long time no see." Merlin had to try his hardest not to snort a laugh, but resisted the tempting urge. "Are you Emrys? Or, are you conjured by Emrys?" he asked, shaking his head at the confusing question. Merlin now had to cover his mouth. He really needed to teach Arthur about magic once he finds out.

Concentrating, Merlin made the ball float up and down, not knowing how else to answer his friend.

"I guess I never got to thank you for saving me in the cave all those years ago," Arthur continued. He was now staring at the floor, eyebrows pulled forward in deep thought. It was then when Merlin wished he could read minds. As if responding to the warlock's thought, the orb bobbed around Arthur's head, making the prince smile a bit. "Why can't I know who you are, if you live in Camelot?" When Merlin froze, so did the ball of light. In the back of his mind, he regretted not telling his friend in the woods about his magic. Arthur sighed deeply. "Right, I'm the Prince of Camelot and Uther is my father." Merlin shut his eyes. He trusted Arthur, but his actions said otherwise. "Are you really going to meet with my father later on?"

His eyes shot open and made the orb do the 'yes' motion again. Then, Merlin had an idea and moved his lips close to the miniature blue light in his hand. "I'm no coward, Arthur," he spoke, and was blissfully surprised to see that his voice echoed through the bigger orb in Arthur's chambers.

"You can talk!" Arthur stammered, and Merlin rolled his blue eyes. "Of course you can talk. You're a person using a ball as a messenger. Are you hiding?"

The warlock sighed. "Yes," he answered simply.

"That explains the whispering."

Maybe Arthur was becoming less oblivious to some things. Despite that, Merlin snapped, "Focus, Pendragon."

Arthur seemed to be thinking something humorous – which scared Merlin ever so slightly – before he turned his attention back to the light. "Right, sorry." But his eyes got dark. "Why are you here talking to me now?"

Manipulating the ball, it flew up to the ceiling. Once again, Merlin spoke to Arthur. "I wished to come tell you that I am no threat to you… or to Camelot." Please, "trust me, Arthur, I won't let Gwen die." Merlin slapped his forehead with his free hand. Why didn't he say Guinevere instead? That would have made more sense, but Arthur didn't seem to notice.

"How do you even know about Guinevere?" the prince irrupted, now on his feet. "How do I know I can trust you?" Merlin cringed. "You're a bloody sorcerer!"

At that moment, the warlock heard footsteps coming down the hallway towards him. Quickly, he stood up fully, losing his concentration, and put his hands behind his back as the guard walked by. When the man disappeared around the corner, Merlin turned back to the light that was fading in his hand.

"No, wait!" Arthur exclaimed, putting a hand up as if trying to grab the ball. "I'm sorry, Emrys, really." Was Arthur begged? "I need your help, and I doubt that my father will listen much, but I'm willing. Please."

Merlin's eyes flashed gold and the light became brighter. He began smiling at his friend. "Even if you were being a prat, I still wasn't going to let anyone be burned, Arthur," he assured the prince who sighed.

"Thank you, Emrys," Arthur said, smiling halfheartedly and sitting back down on the edge of his giant bed. Merlin grimaced at the kind thanks from the prince. He almost hoped for Arthur to say 'thank you, Merlin' instead.

One day, he reminded himself.

Upon hearing the clock tower chime, Merlin panicked. He was late, again. Before making the orb disappear entirely, he added, "And, Arthur," The prince looked up. "Don't punish Merlin. I… enchanted him," yeah, that worked, "so that he would sleep longer that way he wouldn't walk in on our conversation."

Arthur snorted, getting to his feet. "You didn't need to worry about that. The lazy idiot is always late." The prince paused for a moment. "Y-you aren't by any chance… Dragoon the Great, are you?" And this time, Merlin did laugh… a lot. "Come on, it's not that ridiculous of a question!"

"Yes, yes, Arthur, it is," Merlin continued to laugh. "No, I'm not Dragoon. He's just a harmless old sorcerer." His laughter was reduced to a chuckle as Arthur rolled his eyes. "I'll see you at noon, sire." And the orb vanished from Merlin's hand. He balled that hand into a fist and marched right into Arthur's chambers, wanting to be able to tease the prince for having such an odd expression on his face.

"Morning, sire," Merlin chimed happily. When Arthur just glared, he asked, "What is it? You look like you've seen a ghost."

The prince shook his head and took off his shirt, tossing the worn cloth in Merlin's face. "Just… wash my clothes and polish my armor. There's an important meeting being held this afternoon and I don't want to look dingy in front of our… special guest."

Merlin dragged the rag off his head, frowning at Arthur's retreating back. "And who is the guest, sire?" he said Arthur's title with sarcasm, which the prince caught.

"Not that it's any of your business, Merlin, but Emrys has sent the king a letter saying he will be in the citadel at noon today, so you have less than four hours to get all your chores done," Arthur scolded, going back behind the screen. "And I expect you to be there!" he called.

Perhaps Merlin didn't really think this through…

Handing the prince his shirt, he stuttered. "A-Arthur,"

"What is it, Merlin?" he responded, pulling on the new cloth.

He bit his lower lip, hoping Arthur wouldn't be a prat. Oh, please don't be a prat! "Gaius actually wants me to pick herbs for him today, so I was hoping I'll get relieved of my duties."

Arthur stepped out from behind the changing screen, eying his servant suspiciously. "Merlin," he said slowly. "Why do I think that Gaius hasn't said a word to you about picking herbs?" Not knowing what to say, he stood there with his mouth opening and closing. The prince rolled his eyes and faced Merlin straight on. "Look, Merlin, I know your views on magic, but you need to go. Emrys is giving himself up to my father. It was his choice."

Trying to give his usual smile, Merlin nodded towards Arthur, but failed. "I'll have it all done before noon."

Great. Now how was he going to get out of his chores?

A/N: Oh, so I heard that Dragoon is going to make another appearance in Season 4, so I had to mention that guy a few times! Review? Merlin better have granted those wishes… if not… MY COUSIN IS A LAWYER! Don't sue me!