Hooray for the Geek Squad, BestBuy and working laptops! The wait to get my computer fixed was actually shorter than the guys in the store let on, so I'm happy to celebrate the occasion with new updates all around! Yay! After I post the newest chapter here, you can count on seeing updates in my other two stories fairly soon, as I'll be working on them tonight. I know that Cry Human will have one out right away, as for Cartridge, can't promise because my beta's got school. ^_^ Anyway, thanks for your continued support with this story and those of you who've gone to read some of my other work as well. I hope you're enjoying the story, and I'm glad I can float you a nice, big update. ;)

Now that we've gotten all that boring information out of the way, on with the show! Remember, reviews are love! Thanks lovelies!

Merlin could practically feel the hateful tension oozing of Camelot's ruler as he and Arthur reentered the court room. The knights stood by their king, hand over the hilt of their swords, ready for an attack. Uther glared at the pair and raised his chin with a look of near disgust, "I thought I'd told you and your friend to leave." The king bit, his eyes narrowing.

"I-I'm sorry my lord, but I-I believe there is more to this story... And I have decided to trust in him, and believe that he remembers himself correctly." With nervousness, he turned to Arthur, who nodded assuringy in reply before Merlin continued, "There may be something much more devious at play here my lord."

"More devious than the plan of a fiend tricking his way into my castle by use of magic?" The king spat, "Pretending to be my very son? Taking on another man's appearence? What could be the most foul of these? I gave you a chance to leave, and you trample over my kindness." He huffed dismissively then, "Maybe I should have executed you both the first time we crossed paths."

Arthur, who was doing his best not to growl through clenched teeth at the way his father was doubting him, as well as he way he was treating Merlin, decided to try a new route, "You hate the way vegetable soup slides on your tongue."

The court was silent. What?

"I beg your pardon?" Uther blinked, obviously as lost as the rest of the men in the room.

"You like your sword just a hint dull, because then the enemy feels the sting of your blade." The king's expression had softened, and his mouth parted a few inches, "Your favorite color is the red of Camelot's flag, and you once asked the court physician if he could make an elixer to cure hairloss, so that you could impress the visiting queen, the lady Dalen."

At first, Merlin had questioned Arthur's motives, but watching add the king's face gradually fade into one of shock, he understood. Arthur was proving that he was, in fact, the prince.

"How do you know all of this?" Uther asked, bewildered.

"I told you," he grinned, nearing the king with an open arm, "I am Arthur, the prince of Camelot, and whoever you called home from Cendrid's kingdom, is not who you believe them to be."

The king had been hesitant, but agreed to listen to Arthur's side of the story, thanks to the personal knowledge he had shared. So he started from the beginning; waking up in the forest, where Merlin found him. As he continued with his story, Merlin watched tentatively, drinking in every word he spouted. Whenever Arthur referred to the two of them and the things they did, Merlin would then his glace to the ground or onto a far wall, hoping to hide his blush.

Uther seemed to be passing his gaze between the two, dwindling over Merlin a second longer than Arthur, but listening with his full attention to the boy's story. He asked questions occasionally, but was quiet for the most part. Arthur spoke like the speeding winds as he rushed through his tale, being sure to add the flashback at the end.

"Is Morgana alright?" Arthur pressed, noticing the sour look on Uther's face when he mentioned her.

"There was an incident earlier in the year, Arthur-" the king paused, "Whoever, brought her back in his arms like a champion of days, relaying to the knights how he'd found her lying in the wood with a gnash in her forehead. Gaius, the court physician, didn't have anything to prove the boy's tale wrong." He leaned his head against the palm of an arm that rested over the throne; thinking, "Stay for a meal. I shall treat you both as guests until this matter is settled, since you seem to be uncooperative with the idea of leaving."

Relief settled over Merlin, they were going to be accepted. At least for the time being. The two watched curiously as Uther whispered into the ear of a knight, turning back to the boys with a cautious looking smile, "To be sure our conversation and your presence does not leave the mouths of any court members." he muttered, "It would be bad if the word spread around. In the mean time I suggest you both get comfortable in a set of guest chambers, I shall have a serving girl show you around."

"Thank you." Arthur bowed, not daring to add the title of father to the end of that, knowing well enough that the king was already pushing at the boundaries of his comfort zone with letting them stay. In truth, he hadn't expected Uther to be as accepting as he was, even though the king hadn't been left with much of a choice, seeing as Arthur knew him like the back of his hand.

"You may go."

The girl that met them outside the court room was fair, and looked onto Arthur with a shy, saddened expression that made Merlin nervous as she led them to their respective chambers. Her hair curled out of the tight bun she pulled it back into, and her darkened skin helped the light and feathery colors of her well-fitting dress to truly pop. She wasn't over done, in fact she was a beauty. Merlin held no ill will against her, he just didn't like the way she looked at Arthur.

"H-here you are." she mumbled, holding an arm out to the first set of chambers and raising her eyes to Merlin as if she was hoping that he'd take the first room.

Entering cautiously, Merlin turned to the door, watching the pair leave down the hallway. She seemed to be inching closer as they walked. Merlin decided that staying may not have been in his best interest, but Arthur was so pleased to be accepted back. Maybe he was just overthinking things. He'd only just met the girl after all... he didn't even know her name. What right did he have to think that she liked the prince?

The prince...

That thought marinated in Merlin's brain as he set his bag down onto the floor near the bed, plopping down onto it's mattress to stare up at it's canopy. He had been living, eating, even falling in love with the prince of Camelot. It was a surreal thing for a boy of such a small town to be entangled with royalty. Assuming he was. Merlin didn't doubt him, but there was another blonde Arthur Pendragon wondering the kingdoms as well. IT should have made anyone suspicious, no matter their stance.

However, Arthur had no beef with Camelot, and no reason to lie. Arthur hadn't even wanted to know who he was for the longest of times. With a heavy sigh, Merlin let his eyes close. He focused on his own breathing, and the quiet, calmness that surrounded him. The idea of different rooms seemed absurd, considering the amount of room he had. The chamber itself was bigger than his entire home. He felt uncomfortable. He wanted to go see Arthur. Maybe it would be alright to visit him before dinner.

Pulling himself off the bed, Merlin tossled his hair and headed for the door, surprised to find it opening before he could even lay a finger over it's handle. The person that entered his room however, was not familiar to him. It was another woman, with hair as dark as the night, pale skin, and red lips that held a scowl of sin.