A/N: Once again I shall thank you kindly for all the reviews and everything! This chapter won't have much of a cliffhanger if it has one at all. Yes I know that cliffhangers are cruel, but they are so much fun to write! At least I think so… Well hope you like this chapter and don't forget to click the little review button at the bottom!

Disclaimer: Merlin isn't mine, nor ever will be. It's the sad truth…

MERLIN

Merlin opened his mouth to say something to this familiar man, but nothing came out. He and Arthur exchanged glances, neither of them knowing what to say. It was so quiet; you could hear the rustle of every leaf.

"Who are you? What's your name, boy?" the man asked skeptically, almost as if he already knew the answer. Merlin looked at Arthur. The prince gave a slight nod.

"M-Merlin." He told the stranger.

"You have yet to tell us who you are." Arthur said, the prince in him showing.

"I am Adam, My Lord." Adam took a bow. His long, blue robes blew in the wind and revealed a knife. By the look on Arthur's face, he had seen it, too. "Merlin knows me, don't you?"

"You're the one who asked for Gaius." The warlock said bemused.

Adam shook his head with a small laugh. "Other than that." He said with his arms folded. Merlin racked his brain for any clues as to who this man was. Nothing came to mind… unless… no that is not possible.

"Sorry, no." was all he could say. Arthur picked his sword up from the dirt and held it firmly in his hands. The tip was pointed at Adam.

"Tell anyone what you just witnessed and you will have to deal with me, personally." Arthur threatened. Just then Merlin remembered that this person had seen him do magic. The poor warlock felt dumb for realizing that threat only now. Morgana's dream came back to his mind.

"I wouldn't dream of it, sire." Adam said with another bow. "The punishment for sorcery in your kingdom is death, correct?" Arthur nodded and Merlin stiffened.

"That's right."

"Don't worry, Merlin. I can't afford to turn in someone that I need help from." He explained. Merlin's eyes narrowed.

"What do you need my help with?"

"Later. First of all, you need to know who I am." Adam paused and glanced at the prince. "Sire, do you mind if I talk to your servant alone?" he asked kindly. Arthur nodded and tapped his temple sending the warlock the gesture.

"Now who are you?" Merlin asked harshly.

"I guess there is no beating around the bush with you is there?" Adam laughed slightly before continuing. "Honestly, I'm surprised to see you don't recognize me. Although you were very young last time I saw you." Merlin was getting impatient with this man. "All right, I'll tell you." He held up his hands in a defensive position at the sight of Merlin's impatience. "I'm your father."

"My what?" he asked with exasperation. A mixture of anger and shock was plastered across Merlin's pale face. This couldn't be happening, could it? His father left him and he never would have imagined that father coming back looking for his son's help.

"I'm your father, Merlin. I know I wasn't the best father in the world, but…" Adam was looking at the ground, not wanting to see the look on his son's face.

"Not the best father in the world? I don't think that even covers it!" Merlin yelled. His voice echoed through the trees causing birds to fly away quickly.

"Merlin, quiet down please. I understand that you would be mad…"

"No, you don't understand. You don't understand anything that I went through!" The warlock usually felt bad about yelling, but this time he did so mercilessly. "You left us and now you have the nerve to come here and ask for my help? Do you really expect I'd give it to you?" Merlin turned his back on his newly found father and headed in the direction Arthur went.

"Perhaps in time," Adam said.

"I'm leaving to go do my job. I'm loyal to my prince. Maybe you should figure out what that means." He shot back at Adam and walked swiftly off, stumbling over a rock as he went.

ARTHUR

Merlin stepped out of the tress quietly. His head was down and he had an evil look. "I'm going to guess that things didn't go very well with your father." Merlin's head shot up. "I heard you yelling. All of Camelot probably heard you." Arthur teased.

"Can we just go home?" the warlock asked desperately.

"Of course we can." Arthur said calmly. They mounted the horses and headed towards the castle. It was dead silent the whole way back which made Arthur feel a bit uncomfortable.

Once back in Camelot, Merlin put the horses away and did all his chores without argument. The thing that shocked the prince the most was that Merlin wasn't using magic. Nowadays he uses his gift freely in front of Arthur, but not today. The work took twice as long because of this and Arthur was getting fed up with the silence.

"Alright, Merlin, tell me what's going through your idiotic head." Arthur ordered.

Merlin gave him a glare before answering. "Nothing, just…" he stopped to look the prince right in the eye. "I don't know how he expects me to trust him."

"Well, if I were you, I wouldn't forgive him easily. Make him work to gain your trust." Arthur offered. Merlin nodded and continued sweeping. The awkward silence returned.

MERLIN

Arthur had dismissed him and Merlin walked sheepishly back towards his chambers. Every thought he could possibly think filled his mind. Morgana's dream still lingered in there, but it was hidden behind his father coming to Camelot in search of his help. Help with what? So many questions and not enough answers.

Gaius served dinner and then he chatted on about how the king has increased his guards in search of magic and something about hiding a book. After a while, Gaius saw that Merlin wasn't paying attention and sent him to bed. The warlock obeyed without a word or a bite to eat and slid under the covers.

Unfortunately, he wasn't tired and even when he tried to sleep, it never came. He was stuck lying there looking at the ceiling wondering what was going to happen tomorrow. Then it occurred to him. The dragon had called him earlier.

Merlin got up and snuck out the door without Gaius waking up. He crossed the courtyard unseen and made his way down the long tunnel until he reached the cave.

"Hello?" he shouted.

The dragon swooped down and sat himself on a rock looking at the young warlock. "You took your time, Merlin."

He ignored the dragon's words. "Why did you call me?"

"I wanted to warn you." The Great Dragon said simply.

"Warn me about what?" Merlin asked exasperated.

"Uther Pendragon is becoming more twisted and engulfed with his beliefs about magic."

"Yeah I know. Keep my head down and all that." He said annoyingly. The dragon looked at him curiously. "Morgana had a dream." He explained.

"Aw yes, her powers are growing."

"Well if that's all then I'd like to go back."

"Very well, but be cautious." With that, the dragon flew out leaving Merlin with a torch in hand. The warlock rolled his eyes and slowly walked back to bed. He'd come all that way for a minute conversation.

He laid his head down on his pillow again. "Keep my head down, as usual…" he said aloud before drifting into a land of dreams.

A/N: Review! It would be appreciated!!!