I wake warm and drowsy. I am still tired and I can't figure out what woke me in the first place until I groan and roll over. Opening my eyes I see Arthur nearby with his back to me. I see his shoulders moving as he puts on his shirt. "Good morning." I murmur.

Arthur glances over his shoulder at me and smiles. "Morning, did I wake you?"

"Not really," Yes I think but I don't say that out loud.

Arthur moves over to me and puts his arm around me. "I have to go down to training but I'll be back in a few hours, will you be alright here?" He asks. The look of concern in his eyes is heartwarming and the fondness that accompanies it is breath taking.

My heart hammers in my chest and I let a wide smile spread on my face. "I think I can manage. Is there anything I can do while you're gone?"

Arthur shakes his head. "You just rest," He replies and kisses me lightly on the cheek.

I listen as he leaves, quietly shutting the door and the silence settles in around me. I smile to myself and snuggle down into the mattress, allowing my mind to drift back to the comforting darkness.

The next time I wake I'm being jerked from the bed violently. I cry out as I fall from the bed to the waiting stone floor. My elbow connects with the unyielding floor and pain floods my body joined shortly by my ribs; that have been jarred during the fall. As my brain is paralyzed by the pain I barely catch words being yelled at me or the warmth spreading down my arm.

"I knew you were warming my son's bed but I didn't suspect you would enchant him as well! You have used magic to control him!"

It takes me a moment to realize that the man screaming at me is Uther and I am mostly naked but the last part barely registers as a well-placed kick targets my ribs. I bite my tongue to keep from screaming. I frantically hone my magic in before it reacts on its own towards the attacker.

"What spell did you use on him? Will it break when I burn you on a pyre? You are not worthy of my son! You can be nothing more than a servant, lower than dirt! Your magic isn't strong enough to make you any better."

Another kick, this one connects with my lungs and I can't draw a breath properly. My eyes are squeezed shut to try and find some form of safety. I can't concentrate on the words being thrown at me. The cool stone under my body presses almost comforting against me. I force myself to listen to the voice above me.

"How long have you been fucking him? How long have you been using him? I can see his traitorous acts have been you're doing. Once I'm rid of you everything will return to how it should be. Arthur will thinking nothing more of you and Camelot will have the heir it deserves, I will have a son who will not question me!" Uther's rant is scorching.

I curl my body in on itself, hissing when my ribs protest. I silently wish for some kind of intervention but know no one would dare. Even as I wish I can't help but feel I deserve this pain, this is the pain that I should be feeling because of my actions and who I am. My thoughts freeze when I become aware of what I'm thinking but the atmosphere in the room had changed drastically, pulling my attention back to the moment, and I know we weren't alone anymore.

"Father!" Arthur's voice explodes through the room and I have never been so relieved to hear him.

I hear Uther turn towards Arthur as I'm still struggling to breathe. "Arthur, what I'm doing is for your own good. This filth has poisoned your mind with his magic. I will burn him and everything will go back to the way it was before him."

Arthur growls a vicious and primal noise. I hear Uther's sharp intake of surprise. "Step away from Merlin." The Prince commands in a threatening tone.

"You will not…" Uther tries but Arthur interrupts.

"Get away from him!" His words leave no room for argument. He sounds every bit the king I know him to be.

I hear the king move. If I weren't withering on the floor in pain I might fear what might happen next. Uther's rage is well known and I have even witnessed it firsthand. Those who have confronted the king usually didn't last long.

"Arthur…" Uther says but Arthur stops him again.

"You will not speak," He snarls quietly, "You have lost that right. Merlin has not enchanted me and he never will." Uther seems to be about to speak but Arthur continues, "He may be a servant, without a drop of royal blood in his body, but he is more worthy of my love than you." The Prince spits the words at the king. "You call him dirt but you are the only one I see as dirt at the moment father."

I am stunned and fight to open my eyes. Uther is standing before me facing Arthur. I can see Arthur's face, he's eyes are on me. I see nothing in them and I am frightened by them for a moment. Arthur has never spoken to his father this way with me present.

"If you leave now…" Uther makes a protesting sound but Arthur snaps his eyes to him as he ignores his father noise. "If you leave now I will forget this ever took place and continue as crowned prince but if you do not I will step down leaving you without an heir and take Merlin from Camelot." The silence that follows the ultimatum is so thick I almost find it hard to breathe again.

Uther is frozen to the spot, his whole body tense and unmoving. Arthur's eyes are on mine ignoring the war the king seems to be fighting. The two men before me are similarly posed both are ridged but pouring with emotion. Arthur is flooded with rage that is barely contained and his eyes on mine seem to be the only anchor keeping him from ending Uther's life. The King's emotions are jumping between anger and fear; anger towards Arthur's defiance and his discovery, and fear for the ultimatum put before him.

"Arthur." Uther's voice is a pleading whine. I look at the man's back wishing I could see his face.

Arthur doesn't respond to the call, keeping his eyes on me.

A few more minutes go by with the intense battle of wills before Uther finally gives up and heads for the door. Pausing briefly the king glances back; he doesn't look at Arthur but at me. I expect anger or something murderous in his gaze, all I see is guilt. I stare back at him managing to hide any surprise I feel. Uther is a violent king but he wants Camelot to prosper and he loves Arthur so I hold no ill will towards him. Arthur will be a far superior king when he takes the throne.

The long moments with our eyes locked I feel as if Uther is debating on saying something but when he pulls his gaze from mine the feeling goes and he's gone instantly.

Arthur listens to his father's fading footsteps before hurrying to my side. He hits the ground next to me and pulls me close, "Oh gods! For a second I thought I was going to lose you!" Arthur says tightening around me.

His embrace is comforting but my battered body can't take it just yet. I hiss and cry out with pain when I can't stand it anymore. Arthur jerks away without releasing his hold on me. "I'm sorry." He breathes but looks relieved.

"Its alright." I whisper coughing slightly as my injured lungs protest, "You shouldn't have done that."

"Your arm is bleeding," Arthur says ignoring me, "We need to get you to Gaius."

Arthur slowly slips his arms around me, pulling me to his chest. At an agonizing speed he lifts me from the floor even then pain rolls through me and I grit my teeth. He whispers apologies pulling me tightly to his chest and heads out of the room.

I tuck my head against Arthur's shoulder and cling to his shirt that is still damp with sweat. I take deep breathes and fighting the agony, I close my eyes hoping it will help. As we hurry down the halls I hear the sharp murmurs of those we pass and I can only imagine what they see when we go by them, Arthur ignores them.

Every movement Arthur does jars my injuries somehow I manage to hold back a majority of the cries that my body causes but the pain is searing. In the back of my mind I am vaguely aware that I am mostly naked in the arms of the Prince.

"Gaius!" Arthur calls and I open my eyes.

The old physician is at his work table when we enter. His kind face makes me smile through the pain. "What has happened?" He asks gesturing to the cot for patients.

Arthur sets me down on it and I grunt with pain. "Does it matter just help him." The rough tone that comes with the words is harsh but Gaius ignored them as he goes to work.

His cool fingers prod my ribs slowly and it isn't easy not to sob with pain as it burns my veins. "Nothing is broken but you'll definitely have new bruises and your ribs will be sore. No more fights for you." Gaius says with a twinge of humor.

"I'll try to resist the urge." I mutter through my teeth.

Gaius smiles at the little remark. "I'm glad to hear your voice." He says quietly.

I look at him and realize that I haven't spoken to Gaius since my first night and those were a few expressionless words. I feel guilt, "I'm sorry Gaius." The man has become more of a father and I have ignored him. He took me in and helped me with my magic and I shut him out.

Gaius shakes his head with a warm smile. "No need for an apology, just stop getting hurt." It does little to lessen my guilt.

I chuckle and immediately regret it when my ribs sting and my lungs seize. "I'm Prince Arthur's manservant, I think that's impossible." I cough.

Gaius looks at me with concern and his fingers prob my chest again, "It's just your ribs restricting your air way. It will hurt but try breathing normally."

Closing my eyes I tentatively take a normal breathe. The pain is so intense it makes me dizzy and I gasp for air and from pain.

"Merlin!" Arthur sounds alarmed.

"Easy Arthur he'll be fine, he just needs rest." Gaius assures patting my shoulder.

As I struggle back to being able to draw breath Gaius bandages my elbow after a thorough cleaning. I open my eyes and the room around me is spinning. I take several shallow breaths supplying my brain with enough oxygen to steady the world. I give Arthur a reassuring smile as the world stills.

"I have some deliveries I need to make will you be alright with him?" Gaius asks Arthur. The Prince nods keeping his eyes on me. The old physician gathers his things and departs, patting Arthur's shoulder on the way by and throwing me a smile.

Slowly Arthur draws closer kneeling beside me. "How's the pain?" He asks looking helpless.

I grit my teeth when the pain spikes. "Manageable." I answer, "Definitely not the worse I've had." I add.

"Are you alright here?" He asks looking around the room that is my home.

"I miss your bed." I tell him, hearing a chuckle. I look his face over, "I don't want to stay here." I nervously eye the shelves I know hole the multitude of poisons Gaius experiments with.

Arthur bites his lip. "I shouldn't pick you up." He says eyeing my body.

I nod and sit up slowly. I feel better when no new pain comes. "I can walk." I say and push myself up just to prove it.

Arthur is up on his feet, hovering at my elbow, watching to see if I need him.

"Grab that." I tell him gesturing at a jar on the table.

Grabbing it Arthur opens it, "For your ribs?" He guesses.

I nod in response. "Could I bother you to get me some clothes?" I ask realizing I am in nothing but my small clothes.

Arthur seems to notice this as well and bushes before heading for my room. With his help I dress and start the long journey back to Arthur's room. I take it slow and use the wall as often as I can. I'm glad my feet are bare, the natural temperature of the stone is very soothing against my bare flesh, anchoring me.

"I'm sorry." I say after several minutes of quiet.

Arthur blinks at me in confusion, "For what?"

I sigh, "For coming between you and your father." Uther isn't the best person but he raised Arthur so he can't be all bad. The king is misguided and fouled by hate but Arthur is he's redeeming quality.

Arthur frowns and glares. "You didn't, my father did this to himself when he threatened you."

I pause to look at him. "Arthur he is just afraid. You are his only son and he doesn't want to lose you. His hatred has blinded him and he sees danger when there is none."

Arthur's face goes back to looking confused. "You aren't angry at him?"

I shake my head. "No, Uther has his faults and many that are unforgivable but I can't hate him, not when he brought you into the world."

Arthur seems surprised by my answer. "You are one strange person Merlin, you know that?"

I bark out a laugh and grip my ribs when they spark with pain. "Don't make me laugh clotpoll." I gasp out, using the wall for support.

Arthur grins after looking slightly guilty, "Fine."

It takes several minutes for me to get moving again. I make my way steadily towards Arthur's room, watching the passing people throwing my sympathetic looks. Arthur helps me up the flights of stairs. I use both the wall and his arm to try to make each step less painful, it doesn't work.

"Finally," I breathe opening the door.

Someone had come in and cleaned up. The sheets from the bed have been striped and replaced with fresh liens. Even the blood left from my arm has been erased.

I hobble over to the bed and sit down with a sigh of relief. Arthur follows, hovering nearby. He's radiating with nervous energy and I can't help but feel he wants to be somewhere else.

"Will you be alright here?" Arthur asks glancing towards the door.

I wave at him. "I'm fine, go speak with your father, tell him everything if you must."

Arthur seems surprised that I know where he's eager to get to.

"Go Arthur I'll be good here." I urge lowering myself slowly onto the mattress.

He smiles, leaning over to kiss my cheek. Lingering a moment longer, he seems assured by my words and leaves, locking the door behind him.

I carefully spend a few minutes adjusting until I am lying comfortably without pain. I'm not tired but I don't want to leave the soft bed. I lay there dozing and lose track of time. The warmth and plush of the mattress rob me of total consciousness.