Merlin hurtled down the staircases, his feet slipping on occasion, and on one occasion going out from under him so he landed on his backside. He did at least manage to get down the stairs in one piece and run towards the hallways set up as the hospital area. Dashing in, he located Arthur immediately. He was slowly easing himself up to sit on a table, wincing as he put pressure on his shoulder. The chain mail on his left arm was slick with blood, part of the metal ripped open. Gwen was helping him sit up while four knights brought in Cenred's body. Two more were helping carry injured soldiers from Cenred's army. The battle had ended, the attack had fallen apart. It had started to disintegrate the moment the dragon had been brought into play, and collapsed completely when Arthur had forced his sword into Cenred's ribs. His army was running anyway, the last stragglers chased away by the news that their leader was dead. Arthur had ordered any stragglers to be rounded up, but those that surrendered were not to be hurt. They had followed the orders of their leader, no man could be blamed for that.

"Arthur!" Merlin fought through the chaos of the triage room to get to him, easing past people and gasping as he saw the blood. Arthur reached up his right hand to take Merlin's shoulder. Gwen stepped back out of the way and then as Gaius called her she ran over to help him, leaving the two of them together.

"I'm all right Merlin," Arthur said. "It's just a cut, help me get my armour off."

Merlin helped unbuckling with shaking fingers, forcing himself to focus on that. Until Arthur stopped him by taking his chin and lifting Merlin's head so he could look him in the eyes. For a second Merlin felt the momentary flash, seeing himself and he realised his eyes were still glowing. It was slowly fading but it was lingering a little. Merlin wondered if Arthur got the opposite effect, for those moments did he see himself, reflected as he was in Merlin's eyes.

"What happened, Merlin?"

"Nothing it's… I just didn't expect what you did."

"Did you pass out?"

Merlin shrugged, "A bit."

"Are you all right?" Arthur asked and then hissed as Merlin tried to get the chain mail up. Arthur couldn't lift his arm. He was entirely used to being cut from armour when it went wrong, so he was content to wait. However, Merlin was not, Arthur felt the rush of warmth that he was used to with Merlin and his chain mail ripped apart. It caused people to turn and look as Merlin somehow translated the technique he had used on Morgana's bonding cuffs and pushed the pieces of metal aside, and let it reform on the table beside Arthur, even fixing the damage. The mail shirt looked just as it always did. Arthur noted that Merlin hadn't bothered to clean it in his little display.

"Merlin," Arthur reproved. Merlin ignored him pulling at the material of Arthur's shirt, exposing the wound. The gash on his arm was deep, running down his arm, from his deltoid muscle and down his bicep. Arthur just thanked whatever gods he could that it was not his sword arm. Gwen came scurrying over with a bowl and clean cloths.

"Merlin will do it," Arthur said. Gwen nodded, left the bowl and ran away, running to meet Morgana and Mordred. They were both leaning on each other heavily, uninjured but exhausted by what they had done. Morgana turned her head and looked at Arthur. Arthur smiled back at her, and then winced as Merlin started to wash his wound down. Morgana and Mordred started to walk slowly towards them. Gwen hurried back over to Gaius as he called her.

"Sorry," Merlin said.

"It's going to hurt Merlin, just wash it out. Don't you know any healing spells?"

"Not really, I don't know any spells at all, I just…"

He tailed off and dipped the cloth in the bowl again, as he brought it back up to the wound he concentrated, letting that warmth ripple out of him. Arthur felt it, like he felt the water running down his arm, washing out his cut. He let Merlin do it, and the wound didn't disappear but the pain eased, the bleeding started to clot at an increased pace and Merlin rinsed the cloth and then just dabbed at it. Arthur reached up his right hand and ran his fingers into Merlin's hair.

"Are you all right? I know I pulled on you really hard."

"I'm all right, I can't seem to manage without passing out though."

"Because you gave an awful lot to it," a deep voice announced. They both turned to look at Balinor, who was staring at them with darkened eyes. Merlin shifted closer to Arthur, sensing the disapproval and not liking it. Arthur wrapped his uninjured arm around Merlin's waist and looked at Balinor carefully. Morgana frowned as she sensed the tension.

"What of the dragon?" Arthur asked.

"I released him, with instructions to not attack Camelot or any of the towns in the kingdom and beyond."

"So he won't hurt anyone."

"No," Balinor said. Whatever else was on his mind was forgotten as Morgana suddenly dropped. Mordred couldn't hold her full weight, and everyone turned as she crumpled. Arthur almost lurched to his feet, but Balinor was quicker. He caught Morgana as she fell, supporting her and sweeping her up into his arms, lifting her as if she weighed nothing.

"My Lady!" Gwen yelped, turning with everyone else as Morgana had dropped. She ran across the room, looking a little afraid to touch her mistress as Balinor cradled her in his arms. Gaius came bustling over. There was no space to really put Morgana down, so Balinor kept hold of her.

"Is she all right?" Arthur asked in concern. He almost got up but putting too much weight on his arm to slide of the table made him think better of it. Merlin pressed against him in an unconscious request for comfort.

"Exhaustion, nothing more, she needs to rest. Gwen, it's probably best if you care for her in her chambers, we're running low on space here."

"I'll carry her there," Balinor said, looking down at Morgana's pale face, the length of her plait fell down over his arm. He moved her so her head rested on his shoulder. Gwen nodded and as she stepped forward Balinor followed, gently carrying Morgana. As Leon appeared Mordred went running over to him, flinging his arms around Leon's waist and holding on tightly.

"She'll be fine Your Majesty," Gaius said to Arthur. "It was an exhausting battle. I need to stitch this," he added as he looked at the now clean, clotted wound.

Arthur nodded, wincing only slightly as the needle slid into his skin. Merlin looked around, leaning on Arthur. He felt tired but not exhausted, but it was, he realised, because Arthur was still pumping with adrenaline from the battle, and Merlin was getting some of that. Morgana, although having some sense of them, wearing the bonding cuff, she was not part of the bond between them. Arthur couldn't help her as well. He took a tighter hold of Merlin with his free arm, and Merlin leant against him.

"At least it's over," Merlin murmured.

"For now," Arthur said.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Despite feeling tired Arthur couldn't sleep, he sat at the table in his chambers with a scattering of papers in front of him. In the bed, Merlin slept, exhaustion eventually catching up with him. He was on his side, facing Arthur, so now and again, Arthur looked up to gaze at Merlin's peaceful face, before he put his head back down to the papers.

He was absorbed in writing as the door slowly opened, and he didn't realise it had until Balinor closed it behind him. Arthur looked up and waited as Balinor took in the scene, especially Merlin in the bed. He was decently covered by the blankets but his upper body was naked. As was his habit, Merlin still had his underwear on, but for the moment that was hidden.

"I came to see if you were well," Balinor said. Arthur raised his eyebrows, realising it meant he was checking up on Merlin. Arthur watched Merlin's father move closer to the table, and he took the seat to the right of Arthur.

"Has the dragon really gone?" Arthur asked.

"I don't believe he will stray too far, I think the mists blanketing the future are concerning him, and I can call him."

Arthur nodded.

"So can Merlin," Balinor added.

That brought Arthur's head back up from what he was writing, he blinked at Balinor in shock.

"That's not possible."

"Kilgharrah said that it was one of Uther's talents to be able to draw sorcerers to their power. It would appear he is not the only one with that ability."

"It happened tonight," Arthur said, laying his quill down and pushing the papers away. He reached for the wine and goblets that were close by, and poured a second drink, passing it to Balinor.

"I presume it was unintentional, and I cannot rule out the possibility that because I was controlling the dragon at the time, the power reacted while Merlin was so open."

The mention of his name made them both look in the youth's direction. Merlin stirred in his sleep, stretching his legs out, but he settled down seconds later.

"Does he know?" Arthur asked.

"I don't think he is entirely aware of what he has done. The dragon was right; my son is not something that Uther could be allowed to wield. I think Merlin even surpasses Morgana's natural ability, and she is strong."

"You don't think I should have him either," Arthur said, his voice managed to sound angry and vulnerable at the same time. Balinor looked at him carefully. Arthur looked tired, his skin was pale and there were dark circles under his eyes. Balinor looked at him for a moment, and stopped seeing the King of Camelot, formerly Uther's First Knight and Prince. Instead Balinor saw the young boy in him. Arthur was not, he realised, that much older than Merlin, but he had been through a lot more, it stood to reason being under Uther's influence for twenty-one years.

"I would request that you do not make use of his power as a Dragon Lord. I can train him, I will train him, it is my responsibility, but he is not ready. He doesn't understand what it will mean for him."

Arthur nodded. "Very well." He gave a heavy sigh. There was a moment's pause and Balinor looked down at some of the discarded sheets that were scattered across the table. Arthur slumped back and let him. For a moment Balinor studied the sheets.

"You're writing to the neighbouring kings."

"I don't want to keep fighting," Arthur sighed. Balinor skimmed through the words that Arthur was clearly struggling through. He was too young to be able to really deal with this. Balinor was starting to understand just how important Merlin was to the equation.

"And Uther never really taught you this part of it."

Arthur gave a huff of laughter. "I don't think he ever planned to give up the throne."

"No, you need to make a council, people you trust that can help you. I don't think you can do everything Arthur."

"Leon thinks I should wait, and let Camelot settle down before I start dealing with the other kingdoms. I'm not so sure."

"I agree with you," Balinor said, with such practicality that Arthur blinked in surprise and leant forward to listen to him. "Rumours will start, and with those in mind you are better to do this now. Uther held the neighbouring kings in thrall, they bowed to his whims; I know that. Cenred was the only one he would never really challenge."

"He was Morgause's consort, Uther was wary of what she might have taught him."

"You have to show the other kings that you are willing to make things different, without seeming weak. And not only that, you have to try and restore the natural order back to the kingdom. Magic has corrupted it beyond measure, but you can't just destroy everything from the old religion. Even I felt it; the waiting seemed to be over."

"What waiting?" Arthur asked.

"For something new. The dragon is right, and no wonder he cannot see beyond the mists, he can get no hint of the pathways. You and Merlin are something entirely new, especially together. It was waiting for Merlin to find you, or you to find him."

"I guess," Arthur said. He looked over at Merlin again, sleeping and unaware of what was happening.

"I have heard some stories about you," Balinor said flatly. "Have you… been with Merlin?"

Arthur blinked, he understood the euphemism, but he shook his head. "No, not him. Just the subterfuge meant I could hide him in plain sight."

"But there were others?"

Arthur nodded.

"Did you force them?" Balinor asked.

"NO!"

Merlin stirred, a frown crossing his face, sensing Arthur's tension. He moved on the bed, turning so he was face down. It shifted the blankets so the material of his underwear came into view.

"I don't know," Arthur said. "I wasn't someone who got refused, ever."

"Except Merlin."

"Yes."

"Yet, he still stays with you," Balinor said. "Even now there is no need."

Arthur looked at him, almost in panic. Balinor again saw that frailty in him. There was that point, Arthur would not function without Merlin. Merlin knew that and wouldn't abandon Arthur. It would mean Camelot's complete collapse. Merlin no doubt knew that.

Balinor reached out and gripped Arthur's shoulder and rose to his feet.

"I think you should leave this for now, and get some rest. This is something that can be dealt with tomorrow."

Balinor walked to the door and left without another word. Arthur watched him go and then looked down at the papers in front of him. He pushed them away and stood up, walking around the bed and stripping as he did so, letting the clothes fall onto the floor. Merlin would pick them up in the morning and make sure they were washed and ready for when he wanted them again. Arthur had to admit, Merlin was faultless at that. The king knew that perhaps those duties should now be left to someone else, not the sorcerer that was bonded to him. But Arthur liked it, there was something settling about Merlin doing it, and Merlin didn't seem to like anyone else being around him, doing that.

Arthur wondered if that was his preference or Merlin's.

Once he was naked, he climbed into his side of the bed, sliding under the sheets and moving into the warmth where Merlin was curled up. By unconscious instinct, as Arthur put his arm around him, Merlin rolled back, tucking himself against Arthur, so the king could spoon against him. As he felt the press of Merlin's warm body Arthur felt his own react. He couldn't help it, having Merlin in his bed for months. Arthur took Merlin's wrist, and as Merlin snuggled into the pillow, Arthur grabbed the other, holding both of Merlin's slim wrists in one hand.

He knew he could do it, he could impose his will and desires on Merlin. He'd end up accepting anything Arthur wanted to do, but he wouldn't be able to hold that in Merlin's mind forever, and he would be hurt by Arthur's actions. Arthur buried his face into the nape of Merlin's neck, inhaling deeply, picking up the scent of his skin, and one he knew so well. Merlin whimpered and squirmed as Arthur's lips and tongue tasted him, and he writhed back against Arthur's body.

Exhaling heavily, Arthur released him, rolling onto his back away from Merlin. Still sensing him in the bed Merlin reacted, turning over and snuggling into Arthur's side, huffing in contentment as he settled down again.

Arthur put an arm around him, closing his eyes. He couldn't do it. The only thing he could do was take comfort from Merlin's warm body and wrapping his arms around him Arthur clung on and settled himself down to drift off to sleep.