A/N: Thanks so much for the responses to this everyone! Am glad people are enjoying it and honestly your reviews make my heart glow. Here's the next chapter! Do let me know if you see any mistakes or something that needs improving.

CHAPTER 2:

The next day Arthur's new manservant, George, was ousted swiftly from the King's chambers.

"But Sire, your breakfast-"

"Put this all away and get me Guinevere." Arthur pushed the overflowing plates of food into the servant's arms. "And prepare a horse!"

The one benefit to George was, of course, his efficiency. He bobbed his head nervously and ran to do what he was instructed straight away; Merlin would have taken at least half a day.

Someone knocked just as Arthur had finished dressing.

"Enter!"

"I want to search for Merlin." It was Gwaine, clad already in full chainmail and red cloak. "I know Leon and Agravaine said they found nothing, but I couldn't live with myself knowing I did anything less than my best to find him. I won't be long and I-"

"Gwaine."

He scowled. "Look Princess, I'm going to go without your permission or not so-"

"Sir Gwaine."

Gwaine fell begrudgingly silent.

"I was planning to search for Merlin myself. You may join me if you wish. Go find George and tell him to get another horse ready."

Gwaine's arms, which had crossed petulantly when he thought his request was being refused, dropped back to his sides. "Oh. Right then. Excellent."

As he turned to leave, Arthur was struck by sudden inspiration.

"Do you often see Merlin in the tavern?"

"The tavern?" Gwaine stopped with an incredulous smile. "Camelot hosts quite a few, and I'm well-acquainted with all of them... but I don't think I've ever seen Merlin in one. Well, not unless he was hauling my sorry behind back home after a night of overindulgence. Why?"

Another lie. Another obvious lie that Arthur could have uncovered oh so easily, but never thought to.

"Doesn't matter." He smiled easily back at Gwaine. "Go get your horse. I just need to tell Guinevere where we're going."

Guinevere had no wish to be left behind, something she made perfectly plain as she followed Arthur down the front steps of the castle.

"I'm just as worried about Merlin as you are! You shouldn't go alone, Arthur."

He stopped so suddenly that she stumbled into his back, and nearly tripped over as he whirled round to face her. "Why? You're worried about what I'll do when I find him? That I'm just going out to execute him myself, like my father would have?"

"Arthur." When she said his name like that, it reminded him of the very first time he had properly noticed her, back in Ealdor when she had called him out for his blatant prattishness. "I only meant that it might still be dangerous."

The fight draining out of him in an instant. "Of course. I'm sorry, I- I didn't sleep well. I'm not myself."

Her small, sad smile was entirely too knowing. "I understand. But please, take me with you."

"Unfortunately, I already have company."

Gwaine, mounted and ready to go, trotted over to them with a wave.

"So I have been consigned to a day of mindless chatter." Arthur leant in and kissed Guinevere's cheek. "We will return."

"You'd better. And Arthur-" Arthur paused in the act of hoisting himself onto his horse. "Please remember what we talked about last night with Gaius. Merlin knows you're not your father. Prove it to him."

Ignoring Gwaine's quizzical look, Arthur settled himself into his saddle with a solemn, "I will."

Mindless chatter was right. The way Gwaine extolled Merlin's virtues, Arthur might have wondered if he also knew about Merlin's secret. But, of course, Gwaine's loose tongue when he'd had a few drinks made that unlikely.

"You know what I like about Merlin? He never expects any praise."

You have no idea.

"All these things he does just for the good of doing them-"

Arthur raised his arm for silence. He had heard something, a rustling in the undergrowth nearby. They dismounted and approached, swords drawn.

"Declare yourself."

And there was Merlin, filthy and stinking and covered in mud.

"Merlin!" Arthur shouted joyously, but then he remembered the magic; it was Gwaine who surged forward and pulled the muddied man in for a hug as Arthur sheathed his sword. Already the two were prattling on about Merlin's apparently miraculous escape from the mercenaries. More lies.

"What about your injury?" Arthur couldn't resist asking Merlin pointedly. "You took a mace to the chest, but you seem fine now."

Merlin beamed, and Arthur knew then for certain that he still thought his magic was a secret. "I stole some medical supplies when I escaped, treated it myself."

Arthur smiled thinly. "We had best get moving. Gaius has been worried."

"He's happy to see you really," Arthur heard Gwaine murmur as they began their journey home. "You should have seen how worried he's been these last few days."

Arthur's grip clenched on his horse's reins, but he said nothing, letting Gwaine take the lead on conversation for the rest of the ride.

Arriving back in Camelot, they were greeted by Gwen and Gaius. Gwen rushed forward to help Merlin down, but Gaius kept a cautious eye on Arthur. Gwaine, ever oblivious, clapped Merlin on the shoulder and loudly declared,

"The Bog Man is rescued!"

"Welcome back Merlin. It's so good to see you safe and sound. I hope you don't mind if I don't hug you, but you're a little uh..." She looked him up and down. "Covered in mud."

"I'll go get washed up," Merlin chirped cheerfully. "Gaius?"

But Gaius had noticed the King's brooding reticence. "Is that alright with you, Sire?"

Arthur's expression remained impassive as he handed his reins to one of the stable boys. "Of course. I have some treaties to look over in my chambers."

He left, unable to bear being in Merlin's presence for a second longer and hoping some time alone might serve to clear his head.

"You still haven't spoken to him then?" It was Guinevere to break the silence first. She had brought lunch with her as a peace offering, but Arthur didn't feel like eating.

"You should have heard him on the way back. Spouting stories about his 'lucky escape'. Thinking I'd believe his wound healed just like that." Arthur shook his head. "How many other cock and bull stories has he told me? And all these years I never even guessed..."

"You just have to talk with him Arthur. It's the only way." Gwen reached out and took a grape, popping it into her mouth before adding, "And soon. Otherwise he might take your silence as a bad sign and run off to Ealdor."

The door swung open with a clatter that made them both jump. It was Merlin, who looked so consternated that for a moment Arthur was certain Gaius had told him everything. But then-

"Oh, I might've known."

Arthur and Gwen shared a confused look.

"What's this?" Merlin gestured to Gwen's plate of food with his own, which was piled high with chicken.

"Erm..." Unsure what else to say, Arthur answered, "Lunch?"

Merlin huffed. "Look, I know you like to take every opportunity to be by his side, but this is just getting ridiculous. You'll be pouring his bath water next!"

Gwen looked again to Arthur, who could only shrug. "I was just trying to help. I thought you needed some rest."

"Rest? No, no, I don't need rest. Do you know how long it took me to prepare this meal? I cooked it myself."

Merlin strode forward and made to switch the plates, but Arthur stopped him.

"Merlin, perhaps there are more important things to discuss right now."

Merlin spoke through gritted teeth. "I just want to resume my normal duties."

"Has Gaius spoken to you?" Gwen enquired tentatively.

"Gaius?" Merlin frowned. "Gaius has nothing to do with this! Is Gaius Arthur's servant?"

"Well, no-"

"Or you? Are you his servant?"

"Of course not, but-"

"Exactly! I'm his servant! Not you, not Gaius, me! So I should bring him his food!" Merlin stood there, chest heaving in the aftermath of his outburst, eyes flitting from Gwen to Arthur. "Well?"

Arthur, who had already been struggling to think of what exactly he would say to Merlin regarding the recent discovery of his magic, was now completely at a loss. "Well... the thing is Merlin, with all that's happened, I find I'm not all that hungry."

"Brilliant." Merlin spun on his heel and marched out of the room, calling back as he went, "I'll be back to get you dressed for the knighting ceremony! So long as Guinevere doesn't have any other helpful ideas!"

The door slammed, leaving the two of them gaping in Merlin's wake.

The morning's council meeting had been rescheduled for that afternoon, but Arthur was distracted the whole time as he reflected on Merlin's peculiar behaviour. He was more relieved than he cared to admit when Gaius poked his head in.

"My Lord, I apologise for the interruption, but might I have a word with you in private?"

Agravaine flashed an annoyed look at the physician, but Arthur was already up on his feet.

"Of course Gaius. Uncle, can you take the meeting from here?"

"Absolutely, Sire." Arthur fancied he could hear a snide resentment in Agravaine's words, but chose to ignore it. He had too many other problems to deal with today, and he hoped Gaius might be able to resolve at least one of them.

"Sire, Merlin has been acting... strangely."

Arthur hmmed in agreement. "So you've noticed it too. He came in here with lunch, and all but screamed at Guinevere when he saw she'd already brought some. I take it you haven't discussed the magic yet?"

"Well that's the thing!" Gaius exclaimed. "I tried to, but every time I did he would speak over me to ask about my poisons."

"Poisons?" Arthur echoed. "Why does he want to know about poisons?"

Gaius shrugged helplessly as a knock sounded at the door.

"Yes?"

It was Guinevere, carrying the same plate of food Merlin had with him earlier that day.

"Leon said you would be here." She held out the plate for Gaius to inspect. "Can you tell me if this is poisoned? It was tossed in a pen in the Lower Town, and some poor farmer's pigs in there had died."

"The food Merlin tried to give me?" Arthur watched Gaius sniff tentatively at the meal. "You said Merlin was interested in your poisons, Gaius. Did he take any?"

Gaius nodded unsteadily. "Yes, Sire. Aconite. And this chicken is drenched in the stuff." He lay the plate aside. "I promise you, he would never do you harm. There must be some explanation."

"Explanation for what?"

"Merlin!" He stood in the doorway that Gwen had left open, clutching a loaded crossbow that Arthur recognised as one of the more powerful models from the armoury. "What are you doing with that?"

"Oh er- Well, Sir Leon was er... showing me and er..." Arthur wondered if his manservant had always been this terrible at lying. If so, Arthur only had himself to blame for not discovering his secret sooner. " I remembered, you had your uh- that thing? Your... hunt, coming up, but um- oh!"

There was a whizz as Merlin tripped and a thud as the crossbow's bolt flew into the wood of the bedpost - only an inch from Arthur's head.

"Merlin!"

Merlin hurried forward and grasped the bolt, grunting as he tried to pull it out. "Sorry!"

"Leave it," Arthur growled. "Stop messing around with crossbows and be serious. I know."

"You know what? Aha!" Merlin had finally pulled the bolt out, holding it up like a prize for half a second before tossing it to one side and veritably skipping to the other end of the room. "Now, knighting ceremony. You'll need your ceremonial sword, won't you?"

"Merlin. I know your secret."

Merlin stopped dead still. "You do?"

"We all do. So just come over here and - gah!"

With no warning, Merlin had turned, ceremonial sword in hand, and flung himself toward the King. Fortunately he tripped mid-charge, allowing Arthur time to duck out of his way and strike at the wrist of Merlin's sword hand. Merlin's expression twisted in pain and he dropped the weapon to the floor with a resounding clang!, which Arthur foolishly assumed would be an end to it - but Merlin barely hesitated before launching himself weaponless onto Arthur instead. This bold move took the King entirely by surprise and he fell hard to the floor, his servant's surprisingly strong hands at his neck. He was just starting to get lightheaded when there was a second clang! and Merlin fell limp.

"Arthur!" Gwen put aside the jug she had used to strike Merlin, and helped Arthur extricate himself from the tangle of limbs so he could stagger back to his feet."Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Arthur rubbed at the tender spot where his head had met the floor, and directed his next question to Gaius. The physician was examining Merlin's prone form intently. "What was that? All of a sudden he went berserk!"

"Because you knew about his magic?" Gwen suggested. "He lashed out?"

"No," Gaius responded from his knelt position on the floor. "If he wanted to kill Arthur he could do it easily with his magic. He wouldn't need poisons or a sword."

That wasn't exactly reassuring, but at least it left Merlin in the clear for the assassinations.

"Look." Gaius pointed to the back of Merlin's neck, just above the knot of his neckerchief, where a dark mass writhed under the skin. "A Fomorroh. Whoever put it there was highly skilled."

Gwen's nose wrinkled in disgust. "What does it do?"

"In the days of the Old Religion, they were used by the High Priestess to enslave the minds of their enemies. Once a thought was planted, the victim would not stop till they'd accomplished it."

"So this thought was to kill me," Arthur concluded. "Yet he didn't use his magic?"

"There must be some part of him, even now, keeping his powers locked away," Gaius mused. "Perhaps that also explains why he was so clumsy and missed with the crossbow. Tripped with the sword. Some part of him is resisting the Formorroh's influence."

"I don't know," Arthur joked half-heartedly. "He is one of the clumsiest men I've ever met, so that could have something to do with it."

Gaius's knees creaked as he stood back up. "Come, let's take him to my chambers and we can put an end to this."

The Fomorroh screamed as Gaius threw it onto the fire, but Merlin remained eerily silent. Arthur had hoped, at last, for a chance to talk. He even briefly considered asking if Merlin could be revived with some potion or other, but then Gaius was stitching the weeping wound the Fomorroh had left in his neck and Arthur decided it could wait after all. Besides, he still had to look into the issue of the traitor.