A/N: hoping everyone is having a safe and happy Easter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

-)-(-

"So…" Merlin said slowly as he started folding back the covers on Arthur's bed. His master looked at him expectantly as he set about unbuttoning his shirt.

"Yes Merlin? I'm not a mind reader you know. You do actually have to tell me what you want to know."

The servant resisted the urge to pout and instead chuckled, fluffing up a pillow or two. "What did you learn from Agravaine?" He hid the distain in his voice as much as he could.

"What do you have against my uncle?"

Obviously he didn't hide it well enough.

Merlin sighed, ceasing what he was doing and giving Arthur his full attention, finding that the king had done the same. "Nothing," he lied, crinkling his nose. "But I…I just don't know if you should trust him so completely so quickly. I know he's your uncle but Arthur," he insisted, stepping closer and lowering his voice. "You cannot always trust those so close to you."

"What? Like you?" The hurt on Merlin's face made him quickly back-step. "Merlin, forgive me. I didn't mean-..."

"No, no," he replied, waving it off as best as he could. "If that's how you feel…no need to hide it, you know?"

Arthur sighed as he watched his servant scurry back to his tasks, gnawing his lip in response the guilt that was itself gnawing on his stomach. He had not meant for the words to come out. And really, he himself did not trust his uncle as much as he pretended to. As to why he did not, he had no answer. Maybe he was picking up on Merlin's own mistrust and mirroring it unconsciously. But whatever the reason, he too found himself trusting Agravaine less and less.

"I told him that I believed a man named Amyas was responsible for the attack," Arthur finally said, answering Merlin's initial question at long last.

"And what did he say?"

"Nothing," came the frustrated reply. "He seemed as unfamiliar with the name as you or I. He says he will have guards out looking for him…but he could already be gone."

"He could very well not be," Merlin muttered under his breath.

"And why is that?"

Merlin stared at him in very much the same way he did when Merlin asked something stupid. "Because he hasn't gotten what he came for yet!"

Arthur hid his blush behind an awkward cough. Yes, how could he have forgotten that?

"You…you didn't…?" Merlin's voice was quiet and hesitant once more, the gangly young man hovering by the edge of Arthur's bed nervously. "You know…tell him…?"

"Tell him what? That…oh…" It suddenly clicked. Arthur shook his head firmly. "No Merlin, I didn't tell him." The sigh of relief didn't go unnoticed this time. "Merlin," he called seriously, earning his full attention instantly. "No one is to know that…that, well…about…you know. No one except the knights that joined as at the round table can know, do you understand?"

"You don't need to tell me Arthur."

There it was again; that serious side of Merlin that was so foreign to him, so regal, and so exuding a power hidden deep within.

"Of course," Arthur muttered. "I'm sure you already knew this."

"I can still tell Gwen of course, can't I?" he asked cheekily, blue eyes dancing. "I mean, with you and her…"

"Get out!"

Merlin let out a bark of laughter that quickly turned into a yelp as Arthur managed to hit him with a precisely thrown apple. His servant glared at him mock hatefully before scampering from the room. Arthur shook his head. Sometimes his servant was too troublesome for his own good.

-)-(-

After ensuring that the last of the servants' jobs for the day had been completed, Gwen gave a soft, proud smile. Blowing out the candle in the antechamber by the kitchen - a place where all servants retreated for breaks or find if any new tasks had been bestowed upon them, sometimes even to swap jobs with other servants – Gwen shut the door behind her, intending to head home. She'd nearly made it to the end of the corridor when a flickering light drew her eye and she soon found herself face to face with Elyan.

"Sorry Gwen," he apologised, trying not to smile after seeing her jump. The smile could not remain hidden after she glared at him. "Have you seen Merlin?"

Gwen frowned. "No I haven't. Why? Is something wrong?"

Elyan just shrugged. "Don't think so. He's supposed to be coming to the tavern with us…but he hasn't come down yet. I was coming to find him."

"I'm sure he's fine," Gwen stated, lightly kissing her brother's cheek before spinning him around. "Now, back to the tavern with you. I'll find Merlin and bring him past on my way home; it's on the way as it is."

Her brother hesitated a moment before nodding somewhat reluctantly. It made her wonder if perhaps Arthur had ordered the knights to make sure they kept Merlin with them, as opposed to him wallowing somewhere on his own. She wouldn't put it past Arthur…or even Gwaine for that matter. The knight did seem a little closer to Merlin than the others. Probably because he had known him longer, or spent more time alone with him.

Knowing it was highly unlikely he would be there but deciding to check all the same, Gwen swiftly walked to Arthur's chambers. While perhaps more suspicious, she chose to enter his chambers via the servant entrance. If Arthur had asked the knights to keep an eye on his friend, he would undoubtedly worry to find him gone missing. A quick peek in the room told her Merlin was gone. It was far too quiet, Arthur bent over his desk, scribbling down on his parchment with only a candle for company. Smiling endearingly at the sight, Gwen gently shut the door, leaving her king in peace. She pondered her next move before moving towards Gaius' chambers. It would not be so very unusual for Merlin to be there.

"Merlin?" she called, reaching the chambers and rapping her knuckles against the wood lightly. When she received no reply Guinevere allowed herself in. "Merlin?" she repeated, louder this time.

"…Gwen?"

The sniffle came from Merlin's old room and she dashed across the room, stopping when she saw Merlin sitting just inside his door, knees brought up to his chest. She recognised the shirt as being new and a neckerchief was still clamped tightly in his hand.

"Oh Merlin," she sighed sadly, coming to sit next to him, a hand resting on his arm. "What happened?"

"I…I forgot," he choked out, eyes red when they looked up at her. "I promised Gwaine I'd go to the tavern with him…I don't even like the tavern!-" Gwen giggled at this, "-and I came here…I…"

"You were in a hurry?" Gwen guessed, tightening her hold when she saw Merlin give a shaky nod. "You just ran through the room like you always did. Some new clothes and then…" she surveyed the scene again. "You turned around and realised where you were…?"

Merlin nodded, rubbing his eyes with the hand holding his neckerchief. "I…I saw the emptiness…I haven't been here Gwen…not since…"

"I know," she whispered, staring into his sad eyes with understanding before taking the neckerchief from his hands and moving to crouch behind him. "It was the same when my father died. I thought I could never live in that house again."

The young warlock started, having forgotten that Gwen had gone through this. His brow furrowed…As had Arthur…and Gwaine. Even Percival. A grim smile overtook his features.

"You know," Gwen murmured, her voice breaking him out of his thoughts, her hands slipping the neckerchief around his neck, smoothing it down before leaning forward to tie it. "I never did thank you…for saving my father." At Merlin's surprised expression she laughed heartily. "Oh come on Merlin. Once Arthur told me you had magic, I knew it was you who had healed him. You risked so much for me…and you barely even knew me."

"I nearly got you killed though," Merlin pointed out.

"You nearly got yourself killed too," she countered. "You confessed to be a sorcerer to try and save me."

Merlin managed a laugh at that. "Yeah, too bad Arthur thought I was far too much of a simpleton for that to be true!"

"You must cut him some slack," Gwen told him, unable to hide the amusement in her dark eyes. "I'm certain Arthur's feeling very sheepish right now. Thinking of every time you saved him and he mocked you for how useless you were. He now has to come to grips with the fact that you're far braver than he has ever been."

The other servant blushed at those words but shook his head ever so slightly. "I am no braver than Arthur. He has defied his father and risked his life for me, for you, for Camelot, many times. We are no braver than each other."

"Maybe," Gwen hummed in disagreement. "But he did all those things with swords and spears. Wielding a sword is not punishable by death. You used magic to save us, knowing that you could be killed for only doing what was right."

"Is it just me," Merlin asked, turning to give his friend his full attention. "Or do you not seem very surprised that I'm a sorcerer."

"Well," Gwen laughed, "You did tell me you were in disguise."

Merlin laughed and left it at that, pushing himself to his feet and eyeing the main part of his chambers with great foreboding. "I have to walk through there."

"Yes, you do," came the firm statement, Merlin jerking when he felt a hand take his and tug him forward. "So come on then. Elyan already came looking for you. And God forbid you actually make Gwaine leave the tavern to come searching as well."

There was no response, but Gwen felt the hand she was holding grip back just that little bit tighter. She grinned, proud of the young man behind her, even if she would never say it to his face. They actually made it to the doors leading to the courtyard before Merlin's head snapped back into reality. When it did, he was quick to snatch his hand away from Gwen's. Her hurt expression had him flush guiltily.

"Sorry," he mumbled quickly. "But if the guards see you and me…doing that…"

It was Gwen's turn to flush in embarrassment. "Of course!" she gasped, pressing a hand to his chest. "There would be more rumours spread than I would like to imagine. Thank you Merlin."

He flashed her his usual, easy grin before loping out the doors. It made her smile once more. Slowly but surely Merlin was coming back. Which was good, because they needed him.

All of them.

-)-(-

Waiting for the guards to return to the guard house to swap over, Agravaine urged his stallion towards the gates the minute they were clear. Flinging open the gate, he quickly ducked through, pulling it shut behind him hastily and praying no one had heard the iron creaking as it shut. Still, he had not been caught yet, why should tonight be any different. Mounting his horse, Agravaine made for the lesser used roads of the lower town. Arthur had suspicions about a man called Amyas being behind the attack on him. The attack had been by a magical creature. Perhaps…perhaps there was another sorcerer after Arthur's life. He had to tell Morgana. This could be used greatly to their advantage.

-)-(-

It was past midnight when the knights finally left the tavern, Merlin in their midst. A particularly drunk Gwaine was boisterously singing, his tune and key well off, even if the words were recognisable enough. A similarly drunk Elyan was supporting his friend, laughing as they stumbled up the road. Red faced but still clear headed enough to retain their dignity, Leon and Percival followed behind. Percival was gallantly arguing the advantages of sleeveless armour, while Leon just as gallantly argued its faults.

Merlin rolled his eyes at their ridiculous conversations, preferring instead to make sure they all simply made it back to their quarters in one piece. As they passed the main market stalls, a flitting shadow to his right caught his attention. Sneaking a glance ahead to make sure the knights were so immersed in themselves as to not miss him, Merlin ducked away. Letting his magic rise to simmer just under the surface, the warlock slipped into the alley where he had last seen the movement.

"Show yourself," he ordered, tension tightening his frame as his eyes attempted to pierce through the darkness.

"I am not one you can order about, Merlin. A servant with magic but a servant nonetheless."

He recognised the voice the same second the figure stepped into the light and his veins boiled over with magic. "You dare show your face again."

Amyas glared at him, hands clenching and unclenching, a sign that he too was keep his magic ready to be used. "I still have not been given what I came for."

Merlin growled, deep and guttural, the part of him that was a Dragonlord rearing up.

The other man appeared to pause before pushing his doubts aside. "You will bring me this dragon or someone else will die."

The warlock's anger nearly boiled over to point of rage before he suddenly pulled it back, dampening it and forcing it deep inside. "Okay," he agreed, a bright smile on his face. "When and where?"

And somehow, that was even more frightening.

-)-(-

A/N: so, did that go the way you expected? ;)