Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin :)

Night had long since fallen by the time Merlin left the palace that night. Although his hand still ached and he was tired beyond belief, he felt grimly satisfied with how the rest of the day had gone. He had managed to completely avoid the Prince. Not only that, but the signing of the treaty had been brought forward to the following evening. And as soon as it was done, the Prince and his men would be taking their leave from Camelot. Apparently Cador had been easier to satisfy than was expected of him. Indeed, it had been him who had suggested moving the signing date forward in the first place.

The town was eerily silent and Merlin was sure this meant he was technically breaking curfew. But being Arthur's servant did actually have its perks; generally it meant people didn't question where he was going, even at such a late hour. Instead assuming he was running an errand for the King.

As he passed the Rising Sun Tavern, the silence was suddenly interrupted as the door swung open and three men stepped out, laughing rowdily. Merlin squinted through the darkness and his heart sank. It was the Prince, accompanied by two of his biggest, ugliest cronies. Merlin ducked his head and quickened his pace. But sure enough….

"Hey, you!"

He played deaf, thrusting his hands into his pockets and continuing on his way. But suddenly there was a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, I was talking to you-!"

Merlin turned sharply and found himself face to face with Prince Cador. The Prince's expression of irritation quickly morphed into one of delight.

"Well, well," he said taking a step forward so Merlin could smell the nauseating scent of stale mead on his breath. "If it isn't Arthur's little lackey? Martin wasn't it...?"

"Merlin, sire," the servant said through gritted teeth. "If you don't mind…" He began to turn away, determined to avoid any provocation from the Prince. He could feel magic bubbling under his skin, desperate to escape and serve Cador justice. He thought longing of how easy it would be to send Cador back to East Anglia in humiliation; perhaps with his hair completely gone…or with the voice of a girl…

Cador's hand once again prevented him from leaving. He was forced to turn around again.

"Merlin," he sneered unpleasantly. "I've been trying to find you all day actually… after our little run in this morning…"

Merlin kept his face impassive, but this only seemed to irritate Cador more.

"Speak! You idiot boy-!" His fist swung up to make contact with Merlin's face. The warlock's instincts kicked in immediately. His hand met Cador's before it reached his face and he forced it down again. Cador's two comrades drew their swords from their sheaths.

"Leave me alone!" he whispered.

Cador's eyes widened and he motioned from his men to lower their weapons. He turned his red face back to Merlin.

"Do you have any idea who you're dealing with boy?" he spat, wrenching his hand from Merlin's grip.

Merlin stared back at him, not trusting himself to speak.

"ANSWER ME YOU-!" The Prince gasped and staggered backwards, clutching his face in disbelief. Dazed, Merlin stared down at his clenched fist, unable to comprehend what he'd done. He dimly heard a yell from behind the Prince and without even considering another option, took off running in the opposite direction.

He ran until his lungs felt as if they could take in no more air. Gasping for breath, he realised he had run into the normally busy market place. He ducked under a counter and sat. He exhaled sharply and stared at his hands, both of which were now bruised. He groaned and banged his head against the table leg he was leaning against, then glanced around him. There was nobody in sight. Perhaps the Prince hadn't come after him; perhaps he'd instead gone straight to Arthur to demand his execution. He wouldn't have put it passed any noble to make such a demand after what he had done, let alone Cador. He groaned again and ran his hands through his hair. How could he have been so stupid?! He had encountered many nobles like Cador during his time in Camelot. Suddenly he wrenched his hands from his hair and raised them toward his face.

"Gehælan!" he whispered, his eyes glinting gold briefly as the healing spell took effect.

He looked behind him sharply, certain he'd heard a voice. Sure enough, a group of Camelot guards were marching towards his hiding place, led by…

"He came this way, I'm sure of it!" the prince was saying furiously.

One of the guards mumbled something that Merlin struggled to make out.

"I don't care whose servant he is!" Cador snarled, "He assaulted me! Just find him!"

There was a general murmur of assent from the guards who immediately split up and began searching the market place. Merlin closed his eyes in a silent prayer as he heard one come closer and closer to his hiding place. He began to shake silently. The guard's footsteps were right behind him…

"Guards!" a shout came from a few metres to the right of Merlin. His eyes snapped open.

"I think I saw something!" the voice said again, "Over there!"

The footsteps near Merlin began to retreat and he exhaled in deep relief. Crouching on his knees, and peered out into the market place and watched the last of the guards disappear. He stood straight and looked around him, desperately wondering what to do next.

"There!"

Merlin cursed, within seconds he was surrounded by guards of Camelot and knights of East Anglia, all of whom had their weapons trained directly on him.

Cador pushed his way through the barrier they created. The side of his face that Merlin's fist had made contact with was swelling up, and he sported a small cut on his lip. But Merlin had never seen him look more delighted. Before he could defend himself, the Prince grabbed a handful of his hair and forced his head downward towards the mud. Merlin cried out but Cador's hold on him was too strong.

"Do you really think that was wise, boy?" he whispered softly, menacingly. "I'm going to make sure justice is served. By the time I've finished with you, you'll be lucky if you can still walk."

Then to Merlin's surprise as much as anyone else's, the Prince released him and took a step back.

"What are you going to do?" Merlin asked, his eyes watering from Cador's hold on his hair.

Slowly and deliberately, the Prince unsheathed his sword.

"Oh," he hissed, "I thought I'd make it interesting this time; a fair fight between the two of us. After all," he laughed unpleasantly, "You didn't have a chance to fight back this morning, did you?" Cador's knights jeered loudly. The guards of Camelot however, familiar with Merlin, glanced at each other uneasily. "Give this man a sword!" Cador barked at no one in particular.

One of Cador's knights thrust a weapon at Merlin, who took it without hesitation. He examined it briefly; it was a crudely constructed, almost blunt in fact. Cador's sword glinted wicked and sharp in the dim light the moon provided.

Merlin looked at him with loathing and the Prince's grin widened.

"Are you ready, boy?"

Merlin squared his shoulders; a sudden rush of adrenaline and excited had seized him. He refused to quail under the Prince's ugly stare. He raised his pitiful weapon." Are you?" he spat.

A huge thank you to EVERYONE who reviewed the last update. And also, a huge apology for the ridiculously long wait; A levels really do suck :(

Please keep your lovely reviews coming!

LaelaRose xxx