A/N: I have been a victim of the blue screen of death! I have decided I do not like this screen. And now, after several takings apart and puttings back together, my computer and I are once again on speaking terms. -_-

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

-)-(-

"Come."

Arthur's voice broke through his thoughts and Merlin finally lifted his heavy head. He had no idea how long he had been mourning, but from the ache in his knees, he knew it could not have been any short amount of time. His gaze flickered over to where Arthur was still sitting, surprised by the lack of impatience on his face.

"Thank you," he called hoarsely.

A tense smile was sent his way. "You've done the same for me."

"But you are the king," Merlin reminded him, a lightness returning to his voice. "A king doting on his servant."

"I was hardly doting," Arthur countered, face screwed in disgust. "You're having fanciful ideas again."

A tiny laugh escaped Merlin – the first one in days. Arthur inwardly beamed at his victory, pushing himself to his feet and steadying his servant when he stumbled. Merlin nodded his thanks before pushing away, turning his back to Arthur and rubbing his face on his sleeve. When he turned back it was noticeably cleaner though Arthur could not help but notice how drawn it was. His eyes narrowed in a frown.

"When was the last time you ate?"

Merlin looked startled by the question. After some delay he shrugged breezily. "I don't remember."

"Merlin!" Arthur sighed, exasperated. "You were missing for days. Tell me you ate during that time."

"And if I didn't want to lie to you, I'd say…?"

The king growled and grabbed Merlin by his upper arm, proceeding to drag him down the corridor. The symphony of 'ow! Ow! Arthur!'s that followed him were promptly ignored.

"Merlin, you can stop you whinging; it won't get you anywhere. I'm going to go talk to my uncle. You, on the other hand, are going to eat. And if you don't, I'll tell the cook you hate her food."

Merlin's head cocked to one side. "But I do hate her food."

A sadistic smile was sent his way. "But do you want her to know that?"

The horrified expression that appeared was answer enough. Merlin could only shudder to think what the cook might do to him. Burn him. Stab him with a knife. Throw him in with the dirty dishes. Breathe on him. Or, worse still, force him to eat more of the slop she made for the servants. No matter how many claims she made that it was porridge, no one quite believed her. It didn't help that the other cooks were forbidden to mention just what went in it.

Let's just say there was a reason so many of the servants preferred to take their breakfast from their masters' leftovers.

"You wouldn't!" Merlin stammered. "Surely even you're not that cruel."

"Try me," Arthur challenged, reaching a door and rapping his knuckles on it firmly.

"Alright, alright!" came the call from inside. "I'm coming already. And if that's you Ely-…Merlin!"

Merlin nearly fell over from the force of Gwaine's hug. He only just managed to keep on his feet, scowling at the snicker Arthur was rather badly trying to hide behind his hand. Leaving his hands on his shoulders, Gwaine pulled away to observe Merlin more closely.

"The princess finally let you out of that dungeon, did he?"

"Gwaine," Merlin sighed, the softness of the tone surprising all present. "Arthur's the king. He did what the law dictates." He sent his friend a light smile. "He's saved my life, and allowed me to live."

"True enough." Gwaine did have to agree to that. His eyes were sombre when they turned to Arthur. "What do you want me to do with him?"

Arthur appreciated the seriousness and nodded in approval. "There's something I need to discuss with my uncle-" Merlin's sudden rigidness went unmissed. "-but Merlin, the idiot, hasn't eaten since…well…"

Gwaine laughed, slapping Merlin on the back heartily. "That, my friend, I can certainly remedy."

He went to lead Merlin into his chambers, still chuckling, when Arthur stopped him with a sharp calling of his name. "No one knows why Merlin was in the dungeons," Arthur's voice was low, leaving no chance for it to be overhead. "And it's going to stay that way. Do you understand?"

The knight nodded, grasping Merlin's arm and leading him into the room. Arthur waited until the door was shut before striding down the hallway purposefully. It was time to see if his uncle had any answers.

-)-(-

"So…"

If the moment hadn't been awkward, Gwaine's elongated statement made it so. Merlin shifted in his shoes uncomfortably. He liked Gwaine – in fact, after Lancelot, he was one of his favourite knights, one of the ones he had met for himself rather than through Arthur. But with everything that had happened this past week, how could things be anything but awkward between them? So much had happened, so much had changed. Nothing could be as it had been before.

"So, my words of wisdom finally got through to him," Gwaine teased lightly, crouching by the fire and stoking it a little. "I told Arthur he had to let you out."

"You know he would have done it anyway. Arthur is not like his father."

"No," Gwaine mused, voice uncharacteristically serious. "He's more of a man than his father will ever be. We've got a good king over as Merlin. We're lucky."

Merlin managed a wide smile. "I know."

The smile was returned. "Of course you do. Now," Gwaine announced, flopping into the chair by the fire dramatically. "Come, sit, and tell me of your adventures."

Merlin bowed his head, scratching his neck in embarrassment. "Aren't you supposed to be bringing me supper?"

"Oh, don't worry about that," he was assured. "That'll handle itself. Now…"

Realising he wasn't going to get out of this, Merlin huffed before dropping down by the fire. Gwaine raised an eyebrow, pointing out the empty chair that sat opposite him. "You're allowed to sit there mate, you know."

Merlin simply shrugged him away, distracted when the door opened and Percival walked in. When Merlin saw what was in his hands, he smothered a giggle behind his hand. Yes, he saw why Gwaine hadn't bothered with the food. The whole turkey on Percival's plate had obviously been stolen from the palace kitchens.

Percival froze at the site of Merlin sitting there, nearly dropping his plate. "Merlin!" he exclaimed joyfully, passing the plate to Gwaine precariously so he could grasp his friend's shoulder. "Good to see you out."

Merlin blushed under the attention, waving Percival towards the chair. "Arthur's got us play nurse maid," Gwaine explained, tearing off some turkey and passing it to Merlin, the servant eyeing it for a moment before gratefully eating it.

"I'd hardly call it that," Merlin shot back through a mouthful of food. "You couldn't keep me here if I wanted to leave. You don't have locks strong enough."

The boldness of the implications in that sentence had even Merlin pausing in surprise, only allowing himself to smile when both knights chuckled under their breaths in agreement. Percival helped himself to a rather significant amount of meat before leaning back in his chair, an intrigued look on his face.

"Well then," he urged, staring at Merlin pointedly. "Tell us…about your magic. Because this, I want to hear."

Wiping his hands clean on his trousers and assuring Gwaine he would have more in a minute, Merlin took a deep breath and then began to tell his tale; right from his first day in Camelot.

-)-(-

"Uncle."

Arthur remained in the doorway, watching as his uncle Agravaine ceased in the documents he was writing on, frowning in confusion at the sight of his nephew.

"Is there something I can help you with my Lord?"

The young king shook his head before stepping further into the room. "That I'm unsure of. You recall the villager who came to you a few days ago? The man you called Amyas?"

Agravaine's face contorted into an even deeper frown before recollection came. "Oh yes, of course. He survived the attack on the pass through the Mountains of Isgard."

"Do you remember anything specific about this Amyas?"

"Should I have? Is something the matter Arthur?"

Arthur hesitated for a long moment, something niggling in his chest before he pushed it aside. "We have reason to believe that he was behind the attack on the castle three days ago…Evidence has come that he was behind Gaius' murder."

"And the attempt on your own life?" Agravaine asked, looking horrified.

"It would seem so," Arthur murmured. "Was there anything strange about him?"

His uncle thought for a moment before shaking his head sadly. "I'm afraid there was not. He struck me as awfully plain if I must confess."

"And you know nothing of his present whereabouts?"

"No. But with his village destroyed, surely he would still be in Camelot? He must be trying to make a living here, re-establish himself. I can send out the guards and have him brought here?"

Arthur nodded absently. "Thank you Uncle. Once again your council has proved to be wise." He was almost out the door when he was summoned.

"Arthur! Forgive me, but there is another matter…" Agravaine gestured for him to come closer before lowering his voice. "In which I must speak to you about."

Arthur raised his eyebrows incredulously. "I don't think so."

He was met with a stern look. "And what about the rumours that your manservant has been locked in the dungeons?" His voice lowered even further. "It has been said that he has been charged with treason."

Without thought his mouth opened to rebuff such claims. The next minute, on a whim, he slammed his mouth shut. "What happens to my manservant is my business and mine alone. Am I clear, Uncle?"

"Of course Arthur. You know I only wish to help."

Arthur eyed him up for a long moment before smiling lightly. "Yes, I know."

-)-(-

The hearty laughter could be heard long before Arthur was anywhere near Gwaine's chamber. In amongst all the raucous noise he could discern Merlin's voice, something that comforted him. He didn't want to find his knights having a wonderful time and that Merlin had disappeared sometime throughout the night or was sitting sullenly in a corner.

Not bothering to knock, he simply swung the door open. The instant he did, he was pinned against the wall. As soon as he eyes met those of Leon though, he was released.

"I'm sorry Sire!" Leon hastily apologised, voice hushed. "I did not know it was you."

Arthur went to ask why the hell it mattered who he was when he heard Merlin's voice from across the room; somewhere, he suddenly noticed, all the other Brotherhood knights were gathered.

"Draca."

The knights all clapped appreciatively when they saw a dragon made of sparks about out of the embers of the fire. Arthur gave a tiny laugh when he recognised it as the dragon from Camelot's crest.

"Merlin's been showing off his magic?" Arthur guessed.

Leon nodded. "He is…quite talented."

Arthur folded his arms, leaning back against the door and studying Leon carefully. "Do you think my decision is the right one? Do you believe I made the right choice in letting Merlin go, in allowing this sorcerer to live amongst us?"

"He already has been for near seven years," Leon pointed out before taking a moment to think about his answer. "I believe that Merlin has shown his loyalty to you at every juncture, perhaps even more than some of your knights. He had these powers before he met you and will have them til the end. If they have not changed him already, I cannot see them ever doing so."

"So you think I have made the right choice?"

"It is the choice you have made. I'm not entirely comfortable with it Arthur, but I've seen what Morgana can do."

"As have I!" Arthur defended.

"And that," Leon agreed. "Is why I accept this decision without question. You have seen more of Morgana's powers than I and if you are willing to trust Merlin and keep him in your counsel, than he retains my trust."

Arthur smiled. "Thank you Leon. You are a good and wise friend. I am lucky to have you."

If Leon had a response, he never had time to say it as Merlin took that moment to use his magic to pull the rug out from underneath Gwaine, sending the knight sprawling. From the roars of approval that followed, the action had been wholly deserved. Unfortunately it made something else click in Arthur's mind and his voice made the room become deathly quiet, no one besides Leon having even noticed him until that point.

"Hang on! You did that spell without saying anything! And…that looks suspiciously like what happened that time my bed curtains fell on me…"

Merlin didn't bother hiding his wide grin, something that had Gwaine laughing from his spot on the floor. "What can he say Arthur? He had both the motives and the means!"

Arthur glared at Merlin, noting with displeasure that his manservant wasn't cowed at all, the younger somehow knowing the glare was not entirely serious. "And how many times have you used magic to make me look like a fool?"

"Uhh…"

Even Leon was snickering at this point so Arthur could only guess the number of times was quite extensive. Elyan and Percival excused themselves from the hearth and took up residence beside Leon, clearing Arthur's path to his servant. Merlin didn't seem too keen to answer but Arthur was thankfully spared having to actually order him to tell him – not that that would work anyway probably – when Gwaine decided to answer.

"Shall I start at the start princess, eh? With Merlin tripping you over in the market place while you attacked him with a mace?"

Arthur's jaw dropped. From even back then…?

"Merlin!"

-)-(-

A/N: a happier chapter, but I'm afraid to say it probably won't last. Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and all the well wishes for my mum. Comments on this chapter would be much loved! :)

~DeathGod777