A/N

Sorry this took so long. I just couldn't seem to be able to write yesterday and today I was watching the new episode of Merlin! And I LOVED IT! Until ****SPOILER****….. The ending with Lancelot I mean why'd he do that? And I felt everyone wasn't sad enough about it. The sad thing is I predicted that too. That just broke my heart. What about you guys? ***END SPOILER Anyways rather then talk about the new episode enjoys the new chapter. That's why you're here right?

Arthur's mind was whirling from everything that had happened, Arthur preparing Merlin to pretend to be a prince, Merlin getting arrested and nearly beaten to death, and the Uther trying to kill Merlin. It startled Arthur when he realized all of this happened in less then a week. Less then a week ago, his life had been somewhat normal, in less then a week his life had been turned upside down. Arthur watched Merlin's restless form; even in sleep he couldn't find peace.

Arthur closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. If he was honest with himself, Arthur was scared out of his mind. Uther seemed to have lost his mind, and wanted Merlin dead, Arthur wasn't sure how safe he felt in Harding's castle anymore, but they couldn't leave until Gaius felt Merlin was strong enough to travel. But, Merlin hadn't woken up once since the day Arthur had rescued him, Gaius wasn't too worried yet, but it was driving Arthur mad. Arthur only hoped he'd wake up soon.

Merlin wasn't sure where he was, he felt like he was floating though empty space, but at the same time his limbs felt like lead, and the feeling was very unnerving. He couldn't move, couldn't speak, he was completely helpless. He felt pressure on his hand, and tried to move it, but found he couldn't. He heard a voice speaking to him and tried to focus on that,

"Come on Merlin" Arthur whispered, "You've got to wake up now… Uther thinks you've been using magic… And I'm scared right now…" Merlin wanted tot ell Arthur that it would be ok, that he was ok, but he could open his mouth to form the words. Arthur's next words made Merlin's attempts to speak cease.

"Remember after Brandon attacked you the first time and you asked me if I meant what I said to you? About you being my brother? Well I meant it; I meant every word of it…" Arthur's voice drifted away leaving Merlin frantically scrambling to reach it again, but darkness rapidly consumed him, taking him under.

Merlin was drifting in semi-consciousness again. He felt someone's hands on his back, feeling the deep gashes, sending waves of agony through him. Merlin forced himself to wake up again, slowly, as he pulled himself out of the darkness, he realized several things. The bed he was on was soft, as soft as the bed he'd had in Harding's castle. But why was he on such a soft bed? He vaguely remembered being rescued, but then Brandon caught them again. Merlin couldn't remember much of what happened after that, so using all of his willpower, Merlin forced his eyes open.

Merlin was surprised to find himself in the room he'd been given while pretending to be a prince. But they knew he wasn't royalty so why was he still here? He was lying on his side, and when Merlin tried to sit up, but a wave of agony made him freeze.

"Merlin?" A voice Merlin never thought he'd hear asked.

"Gaius?" Merlin asked hoarsely but couldn't see Gaius. Gaius stepped into Merlin's line of site and Merlin grinned weakly. Gaius leaned down and placed a comforting hand on Merlin's shoulder.

"It's so good to see you awake Merlin" Gaius whispered grinning madly. Merlin felt like a stampede of horses ran over him, but he couldn't help but flash a grin at Gaius.

"What happened? Where's Arthur…?" Merlin asked as a coughing fit racked his body.

"Merlin?" A voice asked, excitement evident in there voice.

"He's still very weak Gwaine…" Gaius warned. Gwaine appeared in Merlin's line of site, beaming down at Merlin.

"Glad to see you've joined the land of the living!" Gwaine exclaimed.

"How long was I out?" Merlin asked.

"A couple days" Gwaine admitted.

"That long?" Merlin asked stunned, "what happened?" Gwaine opened his mouth but Gaius cut him off sternly,

"I have to finish checking him… Go get Arthur so he can explain." Grumbling about the unfairness of it all, Gwaine obeyed. Chuckling Gaius continued what he was doing when Merlin woke up. Merlin wasn't sure what Gaius was doing, but every time he touched any part of Merlin's back, pain sneered up it. Gaius apologized profusely every time Merlin tensed up and Merlin assured him he was fine through clenched teeth. Just as Gaius finished re-bandaging Merlin, the other knights appeared.

"Well look's like Gwaine wasn't lying" Lancelot exclaimed. Gaius helped Merlin sit up as the knights and Arthur surrounded the bed. Lancelot leaned over and hugged Merlin tightly, followed by Gwaine and even Percival.

"How're you feeling?" Percival asked.

"Like Arthur just finished using me for target practice" Merlin teased causing the other knights to chuckle and Arthur to grin.

"Still haven't lost your sense of humor I see" Arthur teased. Merlin's smile faded when he noticed the bandage on his shoulder. Arthur noticed Merlin expression and explained,

"I got this when Brandon tried to stab you… But I'm fine really…"

"You got hurt because of me?" Merlin asked.

"It's fine Merlin" Arthur assured, "I would rather have this then you be dead…"

"What happened?" Merlin asked, so Arthur quickly explained everything that had happened from right after Merlin had been taken until shortly after Uther's attempt to kill Merlin. Merlin steadily got paler as Arthur explained, and went stark white when he mentioned Uther trying to kill Merlin.

"Uther wants me… Dead?" Arthur winced and nodded his head sadly.

"Why does everyone want me dead?" Merlin tried to ask jokingly, but it sounded more like a plea to Arthur.

"I don't know" Arthur whispered, "but we won't let anything happen right?"

"Uther will regret it if he tried anything again" Gwaine added, Percival nodding his head in agreement.

"Thank you" Merlin whispered, feeling truly safe for the first time in a long time.

It wasn't until much later that Arthur and Merlin were alone. There was something that was bothering Merlin, but he wanted to be alone with Arthur to talk about it.

"Arthur?" Merlin asked.

"Yes?" Arthur asked. Merlin decided to start with the easier topic to talk about,

"Why am I in here?"

"I don't…"

"I mean… Harding knows I'm not royalty so… Why he is still treating me like it?" Arthur sighed, knowing that it was time to stop the lies, but he didn't like it.

"Remember the ring I gave you?" Arthur asked.

"What about it?" Merlin asked eyeing it wearily.

"It's special" Arthur explained.

"How?" Merlin asked nervously, fearing where this was going.

"It's a ring that only royalty can wear… Since I gave it to you it official makes you a member of the royal family…"

"You did what?" Merlin asked eyes widening. Arthur winced as Merlin realized, "Is that why Uther thinks I've been using magic on you?"

"It certainly didn't help the matter" Arthur admitted. Merlin started to pull the ring off and Arthur grabbed Merlin's hand preventing him from doing so.

"I want you to keep it" Arthur informed him.

"No I can't!" Merlin exclaimed, "I can't be royalty! I'm a servant!"

"You insist that I marry Gwen who is also a servant" Arthur pointed out.

"Her brother is a knight" Merlin argued, "That's different…"

"He only is because I chose to break the rules and do so. So how is this different?" Arthur asked.

"It just is" Merlin replied.

"Enlighten me" Arthur countered locking eyes with Merlin.

"If me giving this back will fix things with your father I'll do it" Merlin replied.

"That won't fix this Merlin" Arthur informed Merlin, "and you know it… There's something else…" Merlin looked away and whispered,

"It just feels wrong; I'm nothing more then a useless servant…"

"Who's done more for Camelot then all of the knights, and myself included, combined" Arthur informed him, "If anyone deserves this, it's you. Remember what I said to Brandon when he was strangling you?"

"Vaguely" Merlin replied eyeing Arthur.

"Well I meant it… I meant every word of it. You are my brother… We may not have the same blood but you are the one who was there for me whenever I needed it. Something not even my own father would do. You're my family Merlin, and I want people to know that and respect you for that." Merlin was rendered speechless at Arthur's words. Nothing could have prepared him for that. He had heard Arthur say the same thing, but Merlin thought he'd imagined it, but now he knew that it really had been Arthur.

"You're like family to me too" Merlin admitted.

"So you'll keep it?" Arthur asked. Merlin bit his lip and nodded his head. A grin erupted on Arthur's face and he did something neither really expected, he leaned over and pulled Merlin into a tight hug, and Arthur didn't feel embarrassed by this display of emotions, family didn't try and pretend not to care, so why should they?

End Notes

If I was in charge of Merlin, Arthur and Merlin would have hugged when Merlin and Lancelot met up with the other knights again in part 2 of the Darkest Hour. Anyways, there are just a couple chapters left then I'll start the story with Merlin becoming Uther's ward. I need a name for that…uhh anyways review and tell me what you thought! This is officially the longest chapter I've done (6 PAGES!)