It had taken way longer for Arthur to get back to Camelot but for good reason. He had had to send a letter over to Merlin's mother and make sure there had been time for her to get it for his plan to work. Now that over a week had passed Merlin had become more him and most of his physical wounds were healing nicely. However, the mental ones would take much more time.

Merlin still flinched when touched and there were plenty of nights where he either woke up covered in sweat, screaming, or both. Sometimes he wouldn't wake up, at least not fully, until Arthur was able to hold him tight, showing Merlin that he was safe now.

When they arrived at Camelot, it wasn't really surprising that guards immediately surrounded them and that it took some convincing from Arthur so that they didn't kill Merlin then and there. Finally, they were taken to his father. On their way, Arthur carried a large bundle that reeked of something fowl.

Upon arriving in his father's court, Arthur was thankful that besides a few guards, Gaius, and Morgana they were completely alone. Arthur dropped the bundle on to the ground and Uther looked at it, curiosity and anger mixed in his eyes.

"Where have you been Arthur and why is that blasted sorcerer with you?" the king asked.

"I am sorry for my absence, sire, but the one you name sorcerer is not a sorcerer at all. However, this man is," replied Arthur as he moved away part of the cloth that covered the bundle in front of everyone.

It revealed the corpse of the man that had kidnapped Merlin, the medallion that had originally been around Merlin's neck now around his. Arthur knew what the medallion did, Merlin had told him, but his father didn't. All he saw was something that looked like magic.

"I can see this man being a sorcerer but that doesn't mean your servant isn't one. You'll have to explain where you were and what happened," replied Uther.

"Yes sir," said Arthur as he went into his (made-up) tale. "You see, the man before you went to the village where Merlin used to live with his mother. He tried to bewitch the villagers but at best, he could only come up with illusions. Merlin was one of the few who could see through the illusions and with the help of his mother and the rest of the village, he eventually drove the man out.

"The man obviously ended up wanting revenge. He decided he would get Merlin killed seeing as he was the one who first saw through his illusions and also because it would cause some of the villagers much pain, especially Merlin's mother." Merlin nodded for emphasis at this moment. Arthur had already told him his plan.

"The man then figured that if he killed Merlin, an investigation was likely to occur seeing as he is my servant after all and some people might think I was the intended target. So, he decided to do one of his little illusions, realizing that he could just have Merlin executed, and for something he never actually did.

"Guinevere, Morgana's maid, believed Merlin's story and when they escaped, just to confirm it, they visited Merlin's village. Later, when this man found out Merlin had escaped, he decided to finish off the job himself. He captured Merlin and Guinevere believed I could help since she knew that I thought Merlin was innocent as well."

"Why did neither servant speak up the?" asked his father.

"Because they had no physical evidence and their word against a knight is very little," replied Arthur.

Silence enveloped the court for quite a while but eventually Uther said, "I believe you for you have no reason to lie but if what you speak of is true then you would also be fine if I had someone visit the village to check out your story."

"I have nothing against it sire. By all means go ahead," replied Arthur and the moment he spoke these words, he knew he had the king believing the lie.

Uther looked towards Merlin and then turned to Gaius to say, "He needs medical attention. I will trust you will look after him. As for Morgana's maid, if she is found, she will of course be punished for breaking a prisoner out of his cell by being put in the stocks. However, afterwards, she may resume her position as Morgana's maid. This court is dismissed."

As Gaius began to leave with Merlin, Morgan following behind so she could tell Gwen (who was of course, still in the castle) of the good news, Arthur also began to follow when the king said, "Arthur, I would like to speak to you. Alone," he added, meaning that the guards better leave as well. The guards that left took the body with them, going to dispose of it somewhere or burn.

When they were gone, Arthur asked, "What is it you'd like to speak to me of?"

"I believe your story but I must know if you still care for this servant."

"I do but before you say anything let me speak," countered Arthur. "I understand I have a duty to this kingdom. Marriage sometimes is part of that duty because it can form new bonds with neighboring countries and it can also give me an heir. If need be, I will eventually marry but I will never stop loving Merlin. Besides, I do not plan to make a relationship between me and a servant public."

"But people would eventually find out and rumors would circulate."

"I am willing to take that chance. Besides, once I am king, if the people would not follow me simply because of who I care about, then they are not the people that I thought I was going to govern."

Uther sighed at his sons words. He hated this but what his son said was right. If he wanted to though, he could always still throw the servant out of Camelot or at least fire him from his position (Uther certainly had enough reason to). However, doing so would only create a rift even greater than what had happened these past few months and the king did not want that.

"Whether you marry or not you will need an heir somehow. I do not approve of this, I absolutely despise of it, but you are not a child anymore. You can make your own decisions and deal with any consequences yourself. You are dismissed now."

"Thank you," replied Arthur softly as he left to go see how Merlin was. In truth, he thought that a big part of why his father had originally been so against it was because he thought Merlin was a sorcerer (even though he really was).

I'd need to change that law someday, thought Arthur, someday, when I am king. He then continued on his way towards Merlin.

AN: One more chapter and then it's the end. I might update tonight or tomorrow, who knows. I hope Arthur's little story was satisfactory and that you thought Uther would probably believe something like that as well.