So admittedly I'm a little disappointed that none of you guys deigned to comment on my last chapter. But nonethelss the obsessive fanfiction writer most continue to write, as they say (Oh wait, it's the show most go on...oh). Anyway I'm uber excited because this chapter the quote ISN'T FROM DOCTOR WHO! I'm branching out! It's actually from How To Train Your Dragon, which is fitting because it's my all time favorite movie of all time, at the moment. Or at least my favorite dreamworks movie. The characters are a little OOC. But I think they're still well done over all. But what do I know, that's up to you guys!

Disclaimer: IDOM or HTTYD

Arthur stared in shock at his servant.

He had just seen Merlin heating his bathwater with magic.

Merlin had magic. Merlin, his manservant, had magic. Arthur had no clue what he should do. He couldn't kill, or banish him (no doubt on his own Merlin would find some exquisitely awkward to get killed.). He probably couldn't even fire him, who knows how much trouble the idiot could get himself into now…

Arthur let out a groan as he realized exactly what this meant for his future. He could never let Merlin out of his sight again. A normal Merlin on his own found about a thousand ways to get in trouble just by breathing. A Merlin with magic…there was a million more ways that idiot could find a way to kill himself. A part of Arthur acknowledged, that with the ease that Merlin had used magic to get his bathwater to a boil (Merlin never could understand proper bath temperature), that he probably didn't need any protection. But he somehow couldn't disassociate the friendly bumbling hapless servant, from a sorcerer who could protect himself. To him, Merlin would always need help.

A thought occurred to Arthur: What was he doing here, in Camelot as kingdom renowned for its magic slaying. Did he just have this brilliant plan one day? Was he just like: "Oh I think I'll travel the world! Where's the first place a young magician like me should go? I know how about Camelot! That's sounds safe. After that I think I'll take a trip over to the Perilous Lands and have a chat with the Fisher King!" What a complete and utter idiot! It's a wonder he'd lived this long. Arthur made a promise then and there that he would never abandon this idiot who obviously had no sense of survival whatsoever.

He made this life altering decision just in time to hear Merlin start talking. While Arthur was having in-depth revelations about Merlin's need of protection from himself, Merlin had begun to hyperventilate. He had waited, head bowed and eyes scrunched closed, for Arthur to yell to scream. That never happened. There was just a deafening silence, interrupted occasionally by some noise from Arthur. It was eerie. As the silence dragged on, Merlin began to get more and more anxious until the barrier that prevented his mouth from saying what he was thinking in his head broke, and words spilled out, at frighteningly quick speed.

"I'm sorry, Arthur really, truly I am…Well, sort of-not really sorry." It was here that Arthur finally started listening. "You see I was born this way, with magic and such. I've been floating things around since before I could talk. There was even this one time where I set Mother's skirt on fir-I'm getting off topic. The point is I've had magic all my life and it doesn't make me evil or anything. It just makes me more powerful-er-ish than other people. See, Gauis always said that magic is sort of like a sword. It's how the wielder chooses to use it that makes it good or bad. I've always thought was a bit of a rubbish comparison myself." At this point Arthur was beginning to think that one of the properties that those born with magic possess was the ability to never have to draw a breath.

"Because it implies that magic can only be used for offense and defense, but that's not true at all! It's so more useful than that it can be used for healing things and growing things, and changing things and making light-but that's not the point or points, really. The points are is that I've had magic all my life, I'm not evil, magic is not evil, and that since I've arrived I've been using it to protect you." It was at this point that Merlin finally took a breath, much to the relief of Arthur, who was worried for Merlin's health as well as his mental state if Merlin didn't give him time to absorb all this information.

This state of relief was very brief. "So that's me in nutshell, yours and Camelot's secret magical protector of …protectiviness, so now will you please, please, just say something already!"

Unfortunately for Merlin's mental well being this speech had led Arthur to epiphany #2 of the day. Which meant he was about as responsive as a wall.

Surprising himself, Arthur was able to comprehend and agree with three out of four points that Merlin made. It was the last concept that really confused him. Thinking that Merlin was a somewhat capable sorcerer was difficult enough, but understanding the concept that it was Merlin who was protecting him. That hurt his pride on so many different levels. So it was a rather surely Arthur that said. "Prove it."

At first Merlin was so relieved that Arthur had finally responded, that he didn't comprehend what he was saying until several moments later. "What do you mean prove it?" He asked cocking his head slightly.

"I mean Merlin." Arthur said, "Prove it. How much simpler can it get? You say you're my magical protector, well prove it to me."

Merlin scratched his head looking at the ceiling, trying to think of a way he could show Arthur what he'd done. After a while he whispered something quietly his eyes flashing, and there in his hand was the globe that had guided Arthur through the cave so very long ago.

Arthur eyes widened. "That was you?"

Merlin nodded solemnly. "Yeah Arthur, that was me. It was also me who defeated Sigan, Nimueh, Morgause, the Sidhe formally known as Sophia, and both immortal armies. I'm kind of the most powerful Warlock that ever was or will be." He then took on more of a pleading tone, rather than the informative one he'd had before. "But please, Arthur don't treat me differently because of that. I'm powerful, yes, but I'm still first and foremost your friend."

Arthur was gob smacked. All this time he had thought he had done these things alone, but it had been Merlin. It'd always been Merlin, always would be Merlin he supposed. And to think that he had done all this without thanks or praise, the only gifts he received was more chores and a job well done, it was incredible. Merlin was incredible. Time and time again he must have watched Arthur get the praise for what he did. He'd never begrudged him, or resented him. The only thing Merlin had done was serve him with a smile and wait for the next danger to come. To think he'd had the most powerful human alive scrubbing his floors! Not to mention all the times he'd thrown objects at Merlin's head. It was humbling for Arthur to realize just how much he unknowingly relied on the man before him. It also awed him slightly that Merlin's biggest concern at the moment wasn't his life, but rather reassuring Arthur that he was the same man as before, his friend.

This is why it was unfortunate that Arthur could never treat Merlin the same again. Merlin was the same man, true. But suddenly there was so much more of him. Later on Arthur would choose to describe his feelings at the time like this:

It's like seeing a uniquely wonderful masterpiece that you're quite fond of, only to realize that most of the painting's been covered up. And at first it's so confusing to think that something you've thought to be perfect the way it is, is suddenly so much more than you imagined. You're disoriented, but then you look. You look at the masterpiece and you see it for all its worth, for the first time you see this painting in its entirety. And it's so different from what you had before, but yet it's just the same. You can see it's the same painting that you loved just…more. But can't ever appreciate it like you had before, because it's so much more amazing, wonderful, and awe-inspiring than you ever could of dreamed in a million years. To treat it the same would be lessening it in a way. And after all that you then proceed to get really angry because you've been cheated out seeing the whole masterpiece ever since you got it. (Even if you do understand that you might not have appreciated the rest of the painting at the time you got it, you're still pretty upset about being duped.)

So this is what Arthur felt as he stared at the tall, gangly man who was awkwardly fiddling with his hemline, waiting for his verdict. It was then Arthur decided something crucial: That it didn't really matter. Sure Merlin was suddenly this all-powerful wizard, and Arthur's personal guardian. But as far as Arthur could see he was still an awkward clumsy idiot who needed protecting, even if it was just from himself. And at the end of the day, Merlin was only one thing: his friend. And that's exactly how Arthur was going to treat him, no matter how powerful he was. This was particularly comforting because it means he could do this.

"This" happened to punching Merlin in the face. Because Arthur may have understood and accepted Merlin for what he was, but that by no means diminished any of the anger that he had gathered because of it.

Merlin was looking up at him from the floor, which he had fallen to due to Arthur's strong right hook, with a confused and hurt look on his face. He was also apparently irritated, having being lured into a false sense of security by Arthur's copious amounts of silence . "Ow! Why would you do that?!"

Arthur looked down at him. "That's for the lies."

Suddenly, Merlin wasn't on the floor anymore but rather being enveloped in a brief hug by none other then Arthur Pendragon himself. Then he was gone and almost out the door before he turned to look at Merlin, a fond, if not oddly hesitant, look in his eyes. "That's…for everything else."

Then Arthur left, and a very confused, but rather touched, Merlin stood alone in Arthur's chambers, with nothing but a bathtub full of long cold water for company.

Of course, Merlin wasn't left alone very long. Nary a minute had passed before Arthur was lingering in the doorway once more a condescending look on his face. "Oh, and Merlin?"

"Yes, Sire?"

"Finish your chores." a pointed glance. "Without magic. If you don't I'll have you on stable duty for a mon- never mind. You're already on stable duty for a month for lying to me. Do your chore's with magic and I'll have you in the stocks all week."

And then Arthur left, again leaving a slightly more irritated Merlin alone once more with the bathtub. He glared at it. "For the record, this is entirely you're fault."

Then he started cleaning, muttering under his breath about idiotic ill-timed glances from idiotic prat-like princes.

I hope I didn't make that hug scene too gay. I really try to keep a distinctive line there.

Also did anyone else find it funny that the first quote Arthur does is a girl? He and Astrid are actually really alike...
So are Merlin and Hiccup for that matter (SPECIAL DRAGON CONNECTION!)

Hope you enjoyed!

-Windy Conqueror of Stuffed Seals and Atlantis