Christmas

Merlin was counting the days to the end of term. He had three essays, including one on the kenning which he was struggling with, two translations, a History project and Tristan et Iseut in Medieval French to read and he still had to get Arthur's dinner to him and clean up the coffee he had spilled earlier. Everyone around him was full of their plans for Christmas and the depression was setting in fast. Even Gaius had decorated his sitting room and had made plans to go and stay with Alice when term ended on 10th December. Merlin still didn't know if he could bear to serve at the Christmas dinner when he would see everyone behaving badly, having fun and anticipating the relaxation and joy of Christmas. The University had a month off and everyone would be gone, except him. In some ways he was actually lucky because Gaius wouldn't throw him out – the student rooms had to be vacated during the holidays.

He was reading the French book because it was easiest to do in Arthur's room, curled up by the fire. The weather had gone mild again, but that didn't stop the fire being a very welcome sight even if he did end up watching the fire more than the words on the page.

"I'll need you to pack all my casual clothes and you can pick out three suits and six shirts," Arthur announced apropos of nothing. "I'll need one of my dinner jackets and shoes and all the usual stuff."

"Um… what?" Merlin asked intelligently.

"Packing!" Arthur mocked, knocking Merlin on the forehead with his knuckles. "You know, so I can have clothes to wear at Christmas?"

"Ow… right. When are you leaving?" Merlin asked, rubbing his head.

"Thursday morning. I'll also need my laptop and all the usual clobber. I'll need two coats, one lighter and my thicker one. I'll wear the puffer. And don't forget the gifts."

"Yes, sir," Merlin agreed sadly.

"You'll only have a couple of days and there's the Master's Reception tomorrow night, so you'll need your formal wear for service."

"Right…" Merlin nodded.

"Are you alright? You look like a wet blanket! Aren't you excited to go home and see your Mummy?"

Why did Arthur always find the wrong way to insult him? He didn't know that he was twisting a knife in a wound that was already tender.

"I'm not going home," Merlin replied quietly.

"Why not? I'd have thought you'd be glad of the break."

He would. He really would… "Can't afford it," he admitted softly.

"What do you mean?" Arthur was pulling on one of his millions of jumpers and Merlin thought bitterly that the cost of just one of them would have been enough to get him home. He ruthlessly stamped down on the thought and tried to answer.

"Oh, you know, flight, bus… all that."

"Where are you going then?" Arthur flung himself down on his sofa and did what he always did – he picked up the remote and started flicking around the various TV options.

"Nowhere," Merlin said and stood up. "Shall I get you a coffee?"

"No. Why would you stay here? I mean this place will be empty and everyone will be going home. I think that the kitchens close during most of the Christmas period."

Merlin hadn't known that, so he'd have to sort out some food before then. Somehow. And now he was standing up and he had blown the unobtrusive place he had been in before. "I'll be able to get some of my reading done," he offered, plastering a fake grin onto his face. He had been hoping that Gaius would be around, but his rekindled relationship with Alice was taking him away from home a lot and he felt odd staying in Gaius' rooms when the doctor wasn't there.

"Where is home?" Arthur asked eventually.

"Armagh," Merlin answered.

"Northern Ireland?" Arthur asked in surprise. "Are you Irish then?"

"Northern Irish, yes."

"You don't sound it," Arthur frowned, re-evaluating his servant again.

Merlin shrugged, "My mum made me learn to speak as she does."

It had been just another thing to separate him from the other kids in the class. He didn't sound Irish, even if he actually spoke the native language better than anyone else around him. They called him posh and stuck-up and added that to their list of reasons to pick on him.

Arthur pulled up a page on the TV and Merlin realised that it was a list of flights to Belfast. "They generally only cost about £200 return… that's probably more expensive because it's Christmas."

"Yes, I know." Merlin sighed and waited.

"And there's a bus…"

'Yes,' Merlin thought, 'and I can't even afford to buy my Mum a Christmas present'. He had, with Gaius' help, magically made a dragon figurine like his own and posted it to her with the Pendragon mail account, hoping that no one would notice. He went back to the fireside place and picked up his laptop. He still had those essays to do.

"The whole thing, with maybe a taxi fare there and at the other end won't cost more than about £250 as far as I can see," Arthur announced eventually.

"Right… so where do I get that kind of money from, Arthur?" Merlin ground out. Just because Arthur spent more than that on shoes every week…

"Well… where do you usually get your cash from?"

"I don't," Merlin answered, concentrating hard on his laptop.

"You get paid though, what do you spend it on? You don't spend it on clothes, I know that!"

"Please, Arthur, I'm depressed enough already. Just stop."

"Do you… I don't know, do you send your wages home or something?"

"Drop it Arthur!" Merlin spat, in a voice he would never usually dare to use to him, slamming the lid of his laptop down. "I'm not rich like you, I don't have a private fortune… I don't even have savings. My mum uses every spare penny on her rent and food and prescription costs and council tax and all those things, and I don't get paid. So I'm not going home. I'm not going anywhere." Merlin started gathering his school stuff and decided to go and finish his essays in Gaius' room.

"I'll lend you the money if you like," Arthur suggested.

"I can't pay you back," Merlin retorted crossly.

"You don't have to."

"No, no way… no!" Merlin narrowly avoided dropping his precious laptop as he stood up and stuffed everything in the satchel Gaius had given him.

"But…"

"No, Christmas is crap at home anyway. And I'm not a charity case."

Merlin did the satchel up and went to the door.

"Where are you going?" Arthur demanded.

"Back to Gaius' rooms. Unless my master has more crap for me to do," he spat.

Arthur shook his head and Merlin stormed out, his head screaming at him for his own stupidity. Of course, Arthur would have offered to pay so he could go and see his Mum and his Mum would have to put him up… she had been hit with a huge hike in the rent bill because the housing association were right bastards, the Brexit fiasco was making everything incredibly volatile in Northern Ireland, she couldn't work as much anymore since her back injury and the Library Service was shrinking, threatening her job.

Merlin had even been contemplating reapplying for that student loan just to get through and be able to survive, although the cut-off date was long past. The Pendragons made sure that he had no spare time for actually earning anything and he was already burning the midnight oil just to be able to get his classwork done. He was almost regretting not going to Ulster University after all. He would never have met Arthur, or Gaius, or Gwen, or Gwaine, or Lance…

Lance was going home to the South of France for the first time since the summer and Gwaine was back in Ireland and kept sending him photos of barmaids and waiters in various pubs. He had started taking photos of cracker pulling with various beautiful people, mostly his fellow models, and Merlin laughed every time he saw them and sent back a photo of Arthur's socks, or rugby boots, or, one time, one of Arthur sleeping on his desk and drooling.

He stormed into Gaius' rooms, past a surprised Gaius, and went into the office, pulling out his camp bed so he could curl up on it and not think about Christmas, or essays, or translations, or Arthur Bloody Pendragon.

It was only when Gaius was laying a gentle hand on his shoulder that he realised that he was sobbing. Gaius was wonderful though and he pulled him into a gentle hug and handed him a tissue.

"I can't afford to go home and my Mum can't afford to have me even if did go," Merlin explained quietly when he was still again, cuffing the tears away. "And Arthur offered to lend me the money."

"How dreadful of him," Gaius said only slightly sarcastically.

"I know…" Merlin nodded, pulling away. "Don't be reasonable at me Gaius!"

"My apologies," Gaius smiled.

"But… I'm not a charity case. I just don't have time to earn anything."

"Doesn't Uther pay you?"

Merlin shook his head. "Accommodation, food and fees."

"You mean he just expects you to work non-stop for nothing but your food?" Gaius asked genuinely shocked.

"And the fees," Merlin nodded.

"What are you doing for money?"

"I'm not," Merlin sniffed. "I don't have any. I'm going to apply for a student loan next year. I'll just have to get a normal loan for this year."

There was a knock on the door and Merlin groaned. "Arthur," he guessed.

Gaius went and let him in and Merlin heard him telling Arthur that Merlin was upset.

"I kind of knew that, Gaius. Can I speak to him? Please?"

There was a knock on the office door and Merlin sat up and curled up on himself, pulling his knees up to his chin as Arthur came in.

"Merlin… I'm sorry, I was insensitive," Arthur said directly.

"No… I'm sorry… I am miserable and I took it out on you," Merlin apologised, realising that actually it wasn't Arthur's fault, Merlin was just jealous. He had always known that by coming to Cambridge University he would be mixing with people from a completely different income bracket to his own. It was the kind of place that bred privilege, even from those who hadn't been brought up to it. There was a certain arrogance necessary to anyone who even applied to a place like this.

Arthur nodded. "I think I may have a solution, if you'll allow it." Arthur sat on Gaius' office chair and Merlin could see his brain working. "I would like to employ you."

"You do already, Arthur," Merlin pointed out.

"No, my father does and he only employs you for the term times. I don't know if you have even signed a contract, but when I asked him about it, he agreed that those were the terms." Merlin waited. "I would like to employ your services during the holidays."

Merlin sat back in surprise. He wasn't quite sure what to think about this. "I thought I was a totally crap servant?"

"Oh you are," Arthur agreed with a smile, "but I kind of enjoy it. I don't know how Father puts up with George on a daily basis. I'll enquire about the daily rate that is usual and, of course, I will pay for all lodgings and, you know, food and all that."

"What would you want me to do?"

"Well, you'd have to come back to the Castle with me and we'd work it out from there. More of the same, I expect, without the classes," Arthur shrugged. "It's a bit more primitive at the castle, but you're pretty handy with lighting fires."

"Was that a compliment?" Merlin smiled wanly.

"No, you're pretty crap at everything else. And I'm getting George to do the ironing."

"Probably a good idea," Merlin agreed, blushing.

"So, will you?"

"Castle?"

"Calibourne Castle. It's our home. I am going to buy a house in London at some point, but while I'm allegedly doing my MPhil, I'm hanging out here."

"Do you have internet?" Merlin asked the most important question.

"Yes, in certain areas, why?"

"So I can talk to my Mum," Merlin explained.

"So, will you come back to the Castle with me?"

"Yes, please," Merlin answered quietly.

Arthur beamed. "I look forward to it. Don't forget to do those essays before you go."

"Yes, I'll do them. Thank you, Arthur," Merlin added.

By staying up till 2am and actually missing a lecture the next day, Merlin got his classwork done (not very well, but done at least), attended a supervision with Kilgharrah and another with his Old English supervisor, and managed to iron his own white shirt before turning up at the Pendragon Christmas do. George handed him a tray of champagne, then took it away from him and handed him a much more manageable tray of canapés instead. He even showed Merlin how to hold the tray so that he always had it balanced and handed him a pair of white gloves that were way too big for him.

He met up with Gwen as many times as he could during the evening and they had a mini sweepstake, eventually with Arthur as well, about the number of politicians vs actors were there. Gwen won, but mostly because Merlin maintained that she counted David Cameron twice and they weren't sure if one of the actors was actually an actor. Arthur wanted to go and ask him, but Gwen blushed and begged him not to. They were both highly entertained by watching Arthur having a perfectly awful night, but having to pretend to enjoy himself. Morgana was very engaging and wore a deep green, velvet medieval dress with her black hair cascading elegantly down her neck. The pianist was pretty mediocre, and Merlin said that he could have done it better, which led to a conversation about how he was holding out on them.

Leon and Owain were on the door and they had to help Merlin and George round up some of the guests who decided to explore, and then by Midnight Uther was politely telling people to get lost. All they had to do then was to collect up all the debris, scrape up as much of the food that had been mashed into the cream carpet as they could and then retire to eat themselves. Audrey made fresh Fish and Chips for them and they finished off all the left over alcohol. It was actually a fun evening in the end, even if it was way past 3am by the time they all got to bed, and Merlin felt a bit better about his life afterwards.

On the last day of term, Merlin handed in his last translation, had a quick phone conversation with Kilgharrah, ate with Gaius at lunchtime after helping him to pack for going away, and then he packed his whole world into his rucksack, including the black and white, guessing that they would be needed.

He spent the afternoon packing for Arthur, filling a huge suitcase with all the things the Viscount felt were necessary for a month away at his own home. He was much more careful with packing Arthur's stuff than he had been with his own, on the basis that he would have to iron it all at the other end otherwise.

Then at about 3pm, George knocked and informed Arthur that 'the Master' wanted to speak with Merlin. Merlin gulped and looked at Arthur, who nodded, so Merlin put the trousers down that he had been folding and followed George down to Uther's office, where Gwen, Audrey and Morris's Dad, Jim, were already waiting.

"Finally," Uther said on seeing Merlin, as though Merlin should have known he was needed. None of them were offered seats, of course. "I would like to thank all of you for your hard work this year. My family can be hard to please on occasion, but you have all… tried your best."

Merlin felt the man's eyes dwell on himself and mentally translated the expression to 'except you, you're an idiot.'

"George, your care of myself and my life are, as always, exemplary, so please accept this token of my appreciation."

George accepted the buff envelope, bowed professionally and replied, "Thank you, Master."

"Audrey, your culinary skills are very much appreciated and I am always receiving compliments on your food. Please accept my thanks," he handed her another envelope.

"Jim, our gardens look especially festive this year, so please accept this from the Lodge," Uther smiled in his patronising way and handed over another envelope.

"Thank you, Master," Jim replied and Merlin was impressed with their easy acceptance of this embarrassing situation.

"Guinevere, your mistress has expressed her immense satisfaction and delight with your work and she has asked me to pass this on to you, along with a small token of my thanks," Uther smiled again and yet another envelope was passed over.

"Thank you, my lord," Gwen said with a curtsey.

Merlin blushed as the terrifying man turned his attention onto himself.

"To my surprise, Arthur has told me that you are learning your job and that he is satisfied with your service," Uther no longer wore a smile. "I do concede that you have shown loyalty to my son, so I am pleased to offer you this from your master and a small token from myself."

"Thank you, my lord," Merlin responded faintly, copying Gwen and bowing awkwardly.

"Well, I wish you all the joy of the season and I will expect to see you back here in the new year."

They all bowed again and said variations of 'thank you', and then they followed George out. Merlin had been told when he first arrived that there was a distinct pecking order in the house and that he was at the bottom of it.

Inside the envelope there was an official Camelot College Christmas card from Uther with £50 and then a smaller Christmas card with a cartoon of a knight with a scarf over his mouth and a speech balloon coming out of his mouth reading 'gmph!' and the caption at the bottom proclaiming that this was a 'silent knight'. Merlin chuckled and then found £100 in £20 notes and a note that said

'From your Lord and Master, Arthur!'.

"Uther does that every year," Gwen told him and showed him her card with a plush green Christmas tree made up as exquisitely as Morgana herself. "I think he misses the Victorian times."

"You might have warned me," Merlin admonished mildly. "I bet he wanted to leave me out altogether."

"He wouldn't do that. He wouldn't miss out on an opportunity to play the Lord of the Manor. Well done on picking up the 'my lord' thing. We work for his children, not the college."

"I just copied you, Gwen. Are you going to the Castle for Christmas?"

"No way! Morgana can sort herself out!" Gwen frowned and smiled at the same time. "I'll see you at the New Year's Eve party at the Castle."

"Sounds fun!" Merlin smiled. "Gwen, thank you so much for being a good friend to me. I wouldn't have survived any of this without your help."

She hugged him. "Enjoy your posh student party tonight!" Merlin didn't bother to tell her that he wasn't going. "Oh, and don't thank Lord Arthur for your bonus. That's why his father gives it out."

"Thanks again, Gwen." She set off up to her room to tidy up.

George held out his hand. "Thank you, George for all your help," Merlin said genuinely, shaking hands. "I wish I could do what you do."

"You will learn, Merlin. I will be joining you at the Castle on Boxing Day, so I wish you good tidings."

"Thank you. Merry Christmas."

Merlin went back up to Arthur's room and carried on packing.

Merlin ended up serving at the top table for the Formal Christmas dinner because Arthur decided that he wanted to go, which meant that Merlin had to quickly iron a dress shirt for him and pull out and brush his second best dinner jacket.

As was traditional at Camelot, as soon as Uther had left the dinner, everyone removed their academic gowns and the food fight began and Arthur decided that it was up to him to defend Merlin's honour as his own damsel in distress, so they both ended up rather messy and Arthur had trifle in his hair, but both were laughing, especially when Pellinor and Bedivere decided that they were on Arthur's side. Merlin's silver serving tray worked quite well as a shield, but eventually time was called and everyone began clearing up and going home. It was also traditional that everyone should clear their own place and the tables were cleared far sooner than after a normal Formal.

Arthur 'knighted' Bedivere and Pellinor with one of the silver dinner knives and Merlin was told that he didn't need to stay to clear up.

"I don't mind," he told Kate, the college catering manager.

"No, you're a student so you don't have to. I'll see you back here for the first Formal Halls on the 10th January."

"Thanks, Kate," Merlin grinned.

"So, feeling better?" Arthur asked as they headed out into the cold night.

"Yes, thank you Arthur… thank you."

Arthur grinned and pulled him along by a possessive hand on the back of his neck, which Merlin found quite affectionate really.

So, in no time at all, all Arthur's things and Merlin's rucksack were piled into the Volvo and they set off. Arthur was clearly happy, so his driving wasn't too scary, even if his speed on the motorway was rather faster than the speed limit allowed. They stopped for lunch in a pub off the M4 and then sped on towards Somerset down the M5.

Merlin's first view of the Castle shocked him. He had expected it to be grand, and maybe something like Gosford Castle, but it was a lot more like Belfast Castle. It looked kind of French too. It gleamed white with terraces and turrets all over, little fancy towers and gates, a dry moat and high walls.

"It looks like Camelot!" Merlin cried out and Arthur laughed.

"That's kind of the point! There was a medieval castle and then in the 1850s the Earl came back from France and decided that what his castle really needed was a hundred little turrets. He kept peppering all the plans and notes with desire for more walkways and slate roofs and a grand twisty staircase like the ones at Blois and Chambord."

"It's very impressive."

"It costs a bloody fortune to keep up and Father says that all his spare income goes on rebuilding all the walls every other year." Arthur drove up to a huge wooden gate and it opened automatically so they could drive into what used to be stables.

"Did you grow up here?"

"Yes, apart from Boarding School."

"I can't imagine being a child here…" Merlin murmured, doing just that. "Was it lonely?"

Arthur glanced at him and then pulled into the garage.

"Yes," he answered flatly and left it at that.

Merlin loaded himself up with as much as he could carry and Arthur helpfully took his own laptop bag. They walked on through the towers, over the drawbridge, which didn't draw, along the main road and into the courtyard. Merlin couldn't help stopping and turning all the way around to take in the ludicrously French castle.

Arthur grinned at Merlin's impressed face. "Inside it's completely Pre-Raphaelite. It's like someone said 'I want a Medieval Castle, but not one that is in any way Medieval'!"

"It's an odd shape," Merlin commented noting the quadrilateral shape of the courtyard.

"There was an actual castle underneath all this lot. There used to be an outer section and more walls, but a lot of them have been knocked down over the years, and every now and again we lose a tower. Three of them are completely empty."

Arthur jogged up the grand staircase and opened the doors at the top. Merlin struggled to follow and decided that he wasn't looking forward to dragging the huge suitcase up here.

There was another staircase inside and Merlin followed Arthur up, shrugging his load every now and again. The corridor at the top led to several wooden doors and Arthur stopped in front of the largest.

"My rooms," he announced and pushed them open.

It was vast. There was a full dining table, several windows looking out onto the courtyard, some arches leading to the inevitable four poster bed, a bathroom, several large old-looking cabinets and one more door on the far side. Arthur went to that and opened it.

"I think you should probably go in here. There are other rooms around, but this one will be warmer."

It was a small room with a single bed, a cupboard and a desk, but it would be fine: he'd never had his own room before. Merlin put his rucksack and laptop bag down on the bed and then took the rest of the bags into Arthur's room. It was fairly warm, but the fire would need to be lit and Merlin could already see things that he would need to do.

Arthur was pulling dust sheets off things like his bed and a large TV, a desk to the left of the bed and several chairs, throwing out clouds of dust that made both of them sneeze. It was a very nice room, but Merlin thought it looked rather impersonal, as though someone had gone through the place and taken anything out that wasn't decorative… apart from the TV of course, and the desktop computer.

"I'll… um… go and get the rest of your things," Merlin announced and headed off.

As he was descending the steps, a tall, stern, noble-looking man with hair that had once been red, called out to him.

"You! What are you doing here? You are trespassing on private property!"

"Um… sorry? I er…" Merlin stepped back as the large man advanced on him.

"What is your name? I will call the police," he started producing his mobile phone.

"No! I'm Lord Arthur's valet!" Merlin cried out as the man grabbed his left arm.

"No you aren't. I've met all the servants and you are not one of them."

"No, really, sir, Lord Uther employed me at the start of term! I saved Lord Arthur's life!" Merlin argued desperately. "You can ask Lord Arthur! I came with him."

The man was actually shaking him now, bunching up his coat and lifting him up and Merlin thought that he would be pushed down the steps.

"You thought there was no one here and decided to see what there was to steal!" the madman accused.

"No, really! I'm at Camelot College!" Merlin tried again, flailing and wishing that just once he could avoid being bullied. "I was just going back to Lord Ar…"

"What the hell is going on?" Came Arthur's patrician voice from the window overlooking the courtyard.

"Oh thank god!" Merlin breathed. "Arthur! Help!"

"Charles! Leave him alone! That's my servant!" Arthur yelled.

'Charles' peered at Merlin, his hand still bunching up Merlin's jumper and coat. "What's your name Boy?"

Merlin cleared his throat. "Merlin… could you put me down now please?"

Charles pushed him away roughly. "I'm Mr Aredian to you, Boy."

"Right… Mr Aredian…" Merlin agreed, out of breath. He then looked up at Arthur who was actually laughing at him. Stupid Git. Merlin pulled himself back together and forced himself not to run back to the car to get the super-maxi-sized suitcase.

Arthur was still laughing at him when he finally managed to drag the stupid suitcase into his room.

"No, it's no bother, I've got it!" Merlin muttered sarcastically. "Three flights of stone steps, spiral staircase and a long winding corridor, doors all over the bloody place and more crap than I have ever owned in my whole life in one case…" he raised his voice. "And I'm not ironing those shirts if they've got creased!"

"So you've met Father's friend Charles Aredian then?" Arthur sniggered and it really wasn't at all attractive. He was doing something at his desktop that involved his laptop and a number of wires.

"He's a nutter! He was practically strangling me!"

"He's doing some kind of research in our library."

"Library?" Merlin perked up.

"Yes, library. It even has books in it," Arthur smirked. "And if you're a good boy and unpack all my stuff without ruining it, I will take you there."

The trouble with Arthur, Merlin reflected, was that even when he said stupid stuff like that, he still meant it. He dragged the humungous suitcase over to the large wardrobe and opened it.

It was while he was trying to fit more clothes into the already stuffed wardrobe that Arthur dropped the real bombshell.

"Apart from the groundsmen, the housekeeper and a cleaning service, we won't have any more staff until Father arrives, and then he hires caterers. So… how well do you cook?"

"Cook?" Merlin clarified.

"Yes. Do you, in fact, know how to produce a meal?"

"I'm not… terrible at it."

"Have we finally found the one thing you can do?" Arthur teased.

"Don't get your hopes up -you haven't tasted my cooking yet," Merlin warned. "Can't you cook?"

"Nope. I have never actually cooked anything."

"Not even at school?" Merlin asked, surprised.

"No! I went to a boys boarding school. We may have made flapjacks once in about year 5."

Merlin sniggered. "How hot do you like your curry?"

Apparently he liked it fairly hot, and he also liked it veggie style.

"I never knew you could curry cauliflower!" Arthur said, scooping up every last scrap with the flat-bread Merlin had provided.

"It was all there was in the freezer," Merlin shrugged, staring at Mr Aredian who was still prodding his food with disgust. "I'm just glad the spice rack had every spice and herb I've ever heard of and more."

"Gaius," Arthur explained.

"Gaius has been here?" Merlin asked in surprise.

"He and my father go way back. I think he was one of my Father's supervisors when he was at Camelot."

"That's…"

"You, Boy!" Aredian interrupted rudely. "Fill my glass!"

Merlin didn't like the amused expression on Arthur's face, so he glared at Arthur and turned to obey the nutter.

"And what the hell is this muck?" Aredian carried on prodding at the curry with his fork.

The table was a large formal one with a… well, it looked very much like a throne at one end, then a sort of smaller throne at the other end, which was where Arthur had positioned himself. Aredian had headed for the big throne, but Arthur had coughed and he had moved to a seat by Arthur's side. Merlin hadn't realised that Aredian would be there and had hoped that he had made enough for two nights, but it looked like that wouldn't happen now.

"I think it's good, although it could be hotter," Arthur opined.

"Was that a compliment?" Merlin asked, feeling his mouth turn up in a smile.

"No, it was constructive criticism," Arthur smirked back at him.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Merlin bowed sarcastically.

"Take it away and get me something edible," Aredian commanded.

"What do you usually do for meals, Charles?" Arthur asked tersely.

"Either make my own or order in," he replied with a smile for Lord Albion.

"Well, Merlin has about a million things to do before I can allow him to rest, so you had better order in." Arthur waved with a gesture that Merlin took to mean 'you may take it all away now', so he grabbed Arthur's plate.

"Would you accept ice cream as a dessert, my lord?" Merlin asked politely, rewarding Arthur for being nice.

Arthur's mouth betrayed a quick smile, but he pushed it away and answered seriously.

"Ice cream would be acceptable, but only if there are chocolate sprinkles or something."

"You want sprinkles on your ice cream?" Merlin repeated, bemused. "OK… I'll see what I can find."

As Merlin left the room he heard Aredian ask if he allowed his servants to speak to him with such disregard, and he grinned because he had actually been much more polite than usual.

He was thrilled when he found some pretty, girly, pink, purple and white sugar sprinkles in the pantry and he liberally spread them all over the ice cream for both men and resisted the urge to drop Aredian's on the floor first, mostly because the floor looked rather dirty and he wasn't keen on going to prison for murder.

Two security guards turned up and introduced themselves (Tom and Geoff) to Merlin as he was washing up, telling him that there were actually a number of ready-made meals that could be defrosted and that they often ordered in from the town as well. They handed him the well-thumbed menus for pizza, kebabs, fish and chips, Chinese and curry, although they said that the Chinese in the next village was better. Merlin offered them some of his curry and they accepted with some microwavable rice, complimenting him and making him feel quite pleased with himself.

Arthur wasn't kidding about the 'million things' that he needed to do. First off was the dusting of Arthur's room because there was a layer of grime and spiders webs around everything. Then there was hauling wood and coal up from the 'wood room', cleaning the grate (which actually had been left in a good state) and changing the bedclothes.

Then he vacuumed everywhere, wishing that he had the handheld Dyson he used in Arthur's room at the Lodge, and cleaned the bathroom, by which time it was late enough for bed. It didn't help that Arthur asked for coffee and wine and biscuits through the evening while he lounged on the sofa with the TV, or did whatever it was he did on the laptop.

Merlin took one break as he went to find some bedclothes for his own bed. He ducked into a very blue room where the internet was strong enough, and rang his mum. She seemed to be very upbeat, which she hadn't been for a long time, and Merlin was relieved as she always sounded so lonely. He also sent a photo he had taken of the castle to Gwaine and Lance and both of them had replied with suitably scathing replies about Arthur and 'these moneyed types'. He also texted Gwen who replied to say that she would look out for him… which he didn't understand at all.

Arthur took a long time to settle, but eventually Merlin found his weary way to his own room and tried to sleep. It was really cold in the room because there was no radiator and the wind whistled through the badly fitting windows. It had started raining and so the raindrops battering against the panes were also stopping Merlin from dropping off. In the end he was shivering so much that he decided that he would go and chuck another couple of logs onto the fire in Arthur's room and warm up there. He grabbed his blanket, pillow and his folder of magic and traipsed quietly over to the enormous fireplace, knocking a chair over, but stopping it from falling with instinctive magic and feeling just a bit smug.

The fire had died down, so he added coal and a log and then settled down on the thick rug, with the folder in front of him. He learned a couple of useful looking spells, including one that would warm water. He wondered if it could be adapted to warm food and then discovered a note in his own hand writing telling him how to do that exactly. It also told him that the first time he had used it he had ended up boiling the water, which made Arthur throw a jug of cold water all over him. Merlin had no difficulty imagining that.

He woke up at O-still-dark o'clock in the morning when his phone alarm buzzed at him (and he had forgotten to charge it) and he discovered that he had actually fallen asleep in front of the fire. He felt warm and surprisingly comfortable on the fluffy rug, which was weird because the floor was hard.

Still, it was time to wake up and he quickly sorted out washing and preparing and dressing himself before heading off to the kitchen to sort out some kind of breakfast.

Luckily there was a lot preserved in the large walk-in freezer, and digging around got him some cinnamon buns which he stuffed into the massive catering oven. There was ground coffee in there too, so he spent the time that the buns were cooking working out how to use the coffee machine. There was no milk, so he went with a strong Americano, grabbing a green tea for himself as he went.

It was nearly nine o'clock before Arthur was woken by light, noise and obnoxious cheer.

"Morning, my lord!" Merlin yelled in his ear before going over to the curtains and dragging them open. They didn't open as cleanly as the ones in Cambridge and made a kind of rusty sound as they scraped along the curtain pole.

Arthur told him to go away very rudely, which made Merlin chuckle.

"I found some cinnamon buns for breakfast. I'm going to have to go shopping later."

"Cinnamon buns?" Arthur sat up quickly and enthusiastically. "What, like Martin's?"

"I don't know who Martin is, but they were in the freezer," Merlin told him, handing him a tray. "There is no milk, so it's black coffee, I'm afraid."

"S'OK," Arthur allowed, biting into cinnamon bliss.

Merlin grinned at Arthur's pleasure and wondered if he should do one for himself as well.

"I didn't know what you have planned for today, so I just assumed week-end timings."

"What time is it?" Arthur was so enjoying his bun that he hadn't even reached for his phone.

"9 am," Merlin told him, waiting.

"Why are you hovering?"

"I'm waiting for you to tell me what to do!" Merlin shrugged. "Usually at this point you tell me some huge pile of crap to do, smirk or throw something at me and then head off to the bathroom."

"Why are there blankets and a pillow down there?" Arthur asked, moving onto his second bun.

"Oh… uh…" Merlin blushed. "It was really cold in my room, so I…"

"You slept on my floor?" Arthur laughed.

"In front of the fire," Merlin insisted. "It was warmer."

"Lame!" Arthur chuckled.

"Do you mind?" Merlin asked quietly, averting his eyes.

"No, help yourself, Cinderella. You can pretend that you are my devoted medieval servant, sleeping on my floor!"

"No pretence necessary," Merlin chuffed. "How far away is the village?"

"Not far. It's a small town and the best way down is out of the tunnel and down the steps. Get me some jeans ready and a warm jumper and we'll head off when you've done everything."

"Yes Stepmother," Merlin curtseyed badly.

After cleaning the bathroom and making the bed, Merlin was ready to set off. He pulled on his coat and then tucked the money he had received as a bonus into his part of his wallet. He was quite keen to explore the castle a bit, but they needed milk and bread at the very least, so he followed Arthur down to the courtyard, along to a gate in the wall, which Arthur unlocked, and down a tunnel with steps, which was thankfully lit with electric lamps.

The tunnel came out at another locked gate which led straight onto a terrace. They went over the bridge over the non-existent moat and were in a residential street. Merlin followed Arthur's confident pace along the modern road filled with well-kept bungalows and finally came out onto a high street.

"There's a Spar over there and at the end of the road there's a big Sainsbury's. There are lots of smallish shops along the road."

"Do you have any requests for dinner tonight?" Merlin asked.

"Are you going to cook again?"

"Yes… I thought maybe spaghetti bolognaise?"

"OK," Arthur grinned. "And more of those buns."

Merlin smiled. "Shall I meet you back here then?"

"I'll come with you. I don't have anything in particular to do."

Merlin tried to imagine Arthur, Viscount Albion in Sainsbury's, but then shook his head to clear the vision.

One of the reasons he had wanted to come out to the village was to buy some Christmas presents. He actually had some money for the first time in six weeks and he had people that he liked. He found a pink scarf for Gwen and a green one for Morgana and then had to suffer Arthur first of all teasing him for liking girly scarves and then, once he had found out who they were for, teasing him about getting a girlfriend.

"Not girlfriends," Merlin chuntered. "Just friends who happen to be girls. Besides, your father would kill me if I expressed any interest in Morgana."

"True," Arthur agreed cheerfully. Merlin shot him a dirty glare and went to pay.

Arthur then dragged him into a men's shop called Charter's and bought two more shirts, while Merlin found a leather belt in the sale that he decided to get for Gwaine. It was weird. He had never had anyone he wanted to buy a present for before, other than his Mum and Will. He also found a pair of silver cufflinks for Lancelot.

He also found a lovely soft blue robe for Gaius. It cost a fair bit, but he didn't care – Gaius was worth it.

He also popped into the post office and bought some post bags and some cheap wrapping paper, and left feeling like a real person who did Christmassy things like buying presents for people.

In Sainsbury's Arthur followed him around like a whiny child, picking things up and frowning at them and disappearing into the DVD aisle for ages, which gave Merlin enough time to pick up a pack of Christmas Cards and a book called 'The Carrot Principle' which might help Arthur understand how to treat his staff. He also bought a box of chocolates to give him something nice as well.

On the way home he decided to go into a charity shop and was astounded when Arthur actually followed him in.

"What is this place?" he hissed, scrunching his nose up at the smell of steaming.

"It's a charity shop, Arthur."

"And why are we here?"

"I don't know why you are here, Arthur, but I'm here to see if they have any decent clothes."

"But… these are second hand."

Merlin just looked at him askance, and then pulled out a jumper that looked pretty good. It was a nice blue that was dark enough to not look girly, but light enough to not look too old on him. It was lambswool and looked like it had never been worn, so Merlin decided to get it.

"You're actually going to buy something in here?"

Merlin sighed. "Yes, I'm going to buy it because it's my size, the right colour and the money will go to help people with heart problems. I also need a jumper because it's bloody freezing up in your castle."

Arthur looked like he wanted to run outside and set the place on fire or something, but Merlin spotted a coat. It was grey and thick and it looked so warm, but they wanted £15 for it and that was nearly all he had left. He hesitated, but decided that he had a coat already and he really needed a jumper… and he would need more toothpaste soon… so he reluctantly put it back and went to pay for the jumper.

"Why didn't you get the coat?" Arthur asked, but Merlin just shrugged and carried all the bags back up the High Street.

Arthur had to let him back into the grounds, although he did helpfully point out that it was possible to walk all the way around and up the drive, and Merlin climbed the steps feeling glad that he had been doing a lot of running around this term.

Weirdly, Arthur even followed him into the kitchen, where Merlin offloaded the milk and butter, parmesan, mince and all the other things he had bought for the meal. Arthur peered weirdly at the veggie mince that Merlin had bought as well, but didn't say anything, while Merlin made him a coffee.

By this point, Merlin was beginning to feel a bit crowded as Arthur seemed to want to just follow him around. He carried his final bag with his own purchases upstairs and finally shook Arthur off when he got to his own little room. He realised that he had no tape or scissors and so he had to go back and find some in the kitchen, which meant that he almost bumped into Mr Aredian.

"What are you doing skulking around Boy?"

"I'm just running errands," Merlin replied blankly, using the usual defence of standing with arms held in front, showing the tape and scissors, and eyes down. It always worked a treat on Uther.

"Then you have time to come to my room and clean it," Aredian told him snidely.

"Er… I'll have to check with Arthur," Merlin prevaricated.

"I don't think that will be necessary. After all, Uther is a good friend of mine and will be very interested in my report of your behaviour."

Merlin's inner alarm was going off, telling him to get out of this as quickly as possible. "I'll take…" he began holding up the items again, but Aredian interrupted.

"You have five minutes."

Aredian then grinned nastily at him and walked away with a kind of evil villain swish.

Merlin jogged back to Arthur's rooms, but Arthur wasn't there, so he dumped his tape and scissors on his desk and went to find Aredian's room.

He had to guess as he had barely explored the castle, but he assumed that his room would be in the guest wing. Of course, this meant that he had to try every door in the wing until he found the right one, and then the horrid man was waiting, tapping his foot and pointing out his watch.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't know where your room was," Merlin explained.

"Tardiness is not acceptable. You should have enquired when I encountered you. That is one misdemeanour."

Merlin swallowed and looked away so that the man didn't see his anger. He guessed that Aredian was the type of bully who liked to subdue his victims.

"What would you like me to do?" he eventually asked when he felt that he could address the man politely.

"You will tidy the room, wash the floor, clean the bathroom, make the bed and have my shoes cleaned by the time I arrive back here."

"Is that all?" Merlin asked incredulously.

"For now, yes," he grinned nastily, then he swept out of the room.

Merlin was left looking around the room at the mess he was sure Aredian had made specially for him, and decided to clear up the clothes first.

The floor washing was the worst task as he had to sweep first, then get the mop and finally wash by hand and the floor really needed it. The bathroom was disgusting with toothpaste and scale sticking to the taps and mould all around the shower, and he understood why Arthur had insisted that he clean his bathroom every day. Aredian arrived back just as Merlin was picking up the shoes to clean and he surveyed the room with a disgusted sneer, carefully dragging muddy shoes over the clean floor.

"This will need to be done every day, of course, and where are you going with my shoes?"

"I need to get back to Arthur," Merlin explained, "So I thought I'd take these…"

"No, I don't think so," he drawled. "You will not be taking my things out of my room."

Merlin decided that this meant that he would not have to do any clothes washing for him then.

"May I go and fetch the shoe polish?" he asked as politely as he could from between clenched teeth.

"You may," Aredian nodded, and Merlin thought that the man should have a moustache to twirl evilly.

Merlin ran off to Arthur's room, where he had left the shoe polish and this time found Arthur there watching a film of some kind on his enormous TV.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Can you order me not to help Mr Aredian?" Merlin requested.

"What? Why?"

"He's creepy. I don't feel… safe. And he made me wash his floor and bathroom."

"That's a point. You haven't washed the floor in here either." Merlin looked at the wooden floor and the scattered rugs and sighed. "Your job is to serve around here and if Charles needs you to do something then you should do it."

"But…"

"Go on," Arthur made a little shooing gesture and Merlin sighed again and let his shoulders droop.

Aredian looked thrilled to see him arrive back and even more so when Merlin sat down in a corner to start cleaning his shoes.

"You'll need to do these too," he commanded and threw the muddy shoes at Merlin. Merlin glared at him, but Aredian just smiled. "Shall I inform Uther of your rudeness?"

Merlin dropped his gaze back to the shoes and carried on cleaning.

"I need to…" he announced when they were done, but Aredian, who was reading while sitting on his bed interrupted again.

"You will bring me some lunch before you go back to your master."

"What would you like?" Merlin thought he might break a tooth through clenching too tightly.

"I think toasted sandwiches. Cheese and ham, with some chips on the side."

Merlin's mouth dropped open.

"Quickly," Aredian encouraged.

Merlin left the room and then paused outside to lean against the wall and think some filthy curses at the old git. Then he made his way down to the kitchen to see what he could find. Of course the tosser had chosen the messiest meal he could come up with.

As he heated the oil, his phone went off and he picked up to Gaius.

"Do you know Charles Aredian?" he asked after all the pleasantries were done.

"Odious man," Gaius retorted. "Is he still there? He is a friend of Uther's and he's supposed to be researching something, but mostly I think he likes giving the castle as his address."

"He made me wash his floors and bathroom and now he wants cheese toasties and chips for lunch! Why me? I'm not his servant!"

"He's just a petty man. You're just lucky that Arthur is so good to you."

"Arthur? My Arthur? Arthur Pendragon?" Merlin asked, shocked. "You think this is funny."

"I'm sorry, Merlin, but it is a little funny. I have to find amusement where I can you know."

"Glad to be of service," Merlin replied sarcastically, which also made Gaius laugh.

"Just be good, Merlin and do whatever he says. He will tell Uther if you don't work properly."

"I'm working for Arthur. He's the one paying me."

"Then take your grievance to him. And don't burn the chip oil and set it on fire."

Merlin rang off so he could put the fire out, wondering how Gaius had known.

By bedtime, Merlin was worn out. Scrubbing two large chamber floors was no fun and he reflected that it must have been even worse back in the days when there wasn't a convenient bathroom to change the water in. Annoyingly, both floors had really needed it too. Merlin dragged his mattress from his bed and threw it in front of the fire, not caring when Arthur laughed at him – it was just too bloody cold in his room.

The next day saw an uplift in the weather and Merlin asked Arthur to show him around, which Arthur agreed to as he was bored and restless. He had some work to do, but he just couldn't settle to it, so they started at the top and worked down.

The castle had lots of turrets and towers, but, as Arthur had told him, three were empty (they checked), two were unsafe and the others had old furniture stored in them. One tower had a huge round room with loads of very old fashioned scientific equipment – flasks and tubes and brass thingies that whirled around. There was also a large telescope which Arthur got quite excited about. He claimed never to have been in this place.

There was a huge hall on the opposite side to the bedrooms with wooden floors and Celtic-style paintings. There were statues of past Pendragons and huge windows that would never have been possible in Medieval times. There was the formal dining room and an informal dining room and a breakfast room, which, as Arthur explained to Merlin, they would be using it as soon as Uther arrived. There was a chapel, with a beautiful rose window copied from one in Chartres, and a few sitting rooms which didn't look at all Medieval, just comfortable.

There was also a school room, but Arthur said that he had used it as a playroom when he was a boy. There were no toys left there now.

Uther had a large study which they poked their noses into and retreated quickly.

"If I was ever called to this room, I was always afraid," Arthur confided. "He is damned scary when he wants to be."

"Hmm," Merlin agreed.

That left the dungeons (store rooms now), kitchens and laundry rooms. All around the outside of the courtyard there was a walkway with white marble pillars and there were more, smaller, guest rooms in the grand tower.

Finally, there were two very high towers and Arthur told Merlin that he was never allowed to climb them, so, of course, he did as often as he could get away with it. One was unsafe, but the second, further off from the courtyard, was safe to climb and they puffed their way to the top.

As Merlin had expected, the view from the top was breath-taking and he felt like he was flying. He wanted to stay, but Arthur was cold and demanded that they descend, so Merlin promised himself that he would come back on his own.

"Just one more room then," Arthur smirked and he led Merlin back down to the guest room level, then down yet another set of spiral stairs, until they arrived at a pair of huge wooden doors. Arthur pushed them open and Merlin found himself in a suite of rooms devoted entirely to books.

"Oh my God!" He exclaimed in wonder. Arthur chuckled. "Are they a proper collection?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, back when people were building libraries like this, they used to just buy books by weight and then they employed someone to catalogue them all. Some libraries you can even see that they have been arranged by height and colour!" he explained because there was almost nothing worse than an unsorted library.

"These represent a collection that goes back to the times when they used to chain books down to stop them flying away," Arthur assured him, amused.

The shelves were of a dark wood that looked as though it had been stained during Victorian times. The books were all bound in leather and organised by theme, although Merlin could see at a glance that the Dewey Decimal system had never been used. He started flitting towards the collections, running a light hand over some of the spines, stopping at the occasional book that would need to be investigated.

Arthur sat at the great desk and waited, grinning.

"Arthur!" Merlin yelled from the third room.

"You found them?" he enquired laughing.

"There's a whole section on Arthurian Legend!"

"Is there now?" Arthur drawled sarcastically.

The whole of the third room was covered, floor to ceiling, in books, from very early manuscripts, to some of the children's books. Merlin was drawn immediately to the oldest and, with reverent hands, he picked up a volume he had never heard of.

The label attached to the clasps read The Lament of GuinevereLatin /early version Norse? Poss Brittonic? .

"I've never heard of this," he said and he wondered where the key could be found to unlock the binding.

"As far as I know, it is the only copy and we have never allowed it to be copied."

"We?"

"The Pendragon family. I don't think that I really believe that we are actually descended from King Arthur, mostly because I'm not sure he ever really existed, but this is incredibly old."

"Do you have the key?"

"No, Father has it and he has never allowed anyone to read it. Not even me."

"What about Mr Aredian?"

"I don't know. He has never spoken to me about it. He's doing some research and cataloguing. For some reason the book is sometimes moved so it can't be found, but Father must have put it back. Maybe he put it there for Charles," Arthur mused.

"This is the most valuable item in your whole castle…" Merlin breathed. "I can't believe… I can't believe I'm even holding it."

"I've seen the inside. It is a number of old parchments bound with tissue paper of some kind and more parchment between each page. It is all written in a clear script, but it isn't a clerk's handwriting."

"Not written by monks or scribes," Merlin whispered in awe. "Kilgharrah has two pages of a manuscript written in the 5th century and that is only a… a fiftieth of this… If only your father didn't hate me…" he sighed and then he resigned himself to putting it back. "May I come back here and look at some of these books?"

"Of course," Arthur allowed with a smile. "It is a pleasure to see your enthusiasm."

Unfortunately, Aredian turned up at this point and Merlin dropped his eyes and linked his hands as though he were in the presence of Uther. Maybe Arthur saw this as he suggested that they go back to his chamber.

It had been great fun listening to Arthur as he told tales about the various rooms, memories and historical, but eventually Arthur decided that he had bunked off enough and he retreated to his room to do some work. Merlin decided that he would head off into town and get some more groceries.

It was as he was waiting in the queue at Sainsbury's that he heard the gossip from the town. The cashier and the lady in front of him were talking about the village hall and the arson the night before that had made the place unusable and there had been a Christmas Dance planned.

"Excuse me…" Merlin dared to butt in. "Do you just need a place for the party?"

"Yes," the cashier wearing a name tag that told him she was called Jen, replied. "We are going to have to repay everyone and cancel the caterers."

"I work up at the Castle for Lord Arthur. Shall I ask him if there is anything suitable up there?"

Blinding hope was directed at him from both ladies.

"Do you think Lord Uther would mind?" the customer asked.

"You're probably best off asking Lord Arthur. Uther would probably say no because he wants to be spiteful," Merlin chuckled.

"You could get in touch with Mandy," Jen offered. "I've got her number on my mobile."

Merlin looked at the long queue behind him and said, "I'll write my number down and you can text me her number, then that gives me time to get back and ask my… m… boss."

"That would be so cool!" the customer enthused. "Having it at the actual castle! It's a Medieval Ball," she explained.

"Well, the castle's almost Medieval," Merlin replied. "It's not up to me though, I only work there."

He paid for his food and then started noticing the 'CANCELLED' notices all over the posters advertising the party.

Back at the castle, after stowing the groceries, he knocked on Arthur's door.

"That can't be Merlin!" Arthur called out as he entered. "You never knock."

"I don't want to be predictable," Merlin retorted.

"You're not that," Arthur agreed.

"I brought you a coffee," Merlin offered.

"OK, what do you want?" Arthur asked suspiciously as he drank some of the froth.

Merlin tried to remember the words he had formulated as he climbed the stairs, but they failed him, so he stood, with his arms in front of him and just began.

"Um… when I was in Sainsbury's… they were talking about their Christmas party."

"They?"

"The village is holding one, but… they had to cancel." Arthur was looking blankly at him. "The village hall got burnt down."

"Oh… and…" Arthur prompted.

"I wondered if… maybe… um…."

"We could host the party here?" Arthur guessed.

"Hmm" Merlin nodded.

Arthur gave that some thought.

"It's on Saturday. It's a Medieval party," Merlin added hopefully.

Arthur swung around on his swivel chair.

"Father would be furious if he were to find out."

"That's true," Merlin agreed.

"It would mean you doing a lot of work to clean up in time for his arrival," Arthur added.

"I don't mind," Merlin replied promptly, his face morphing to thrilled in seconds. "Can they? I mean…. Would you….?"

"I don't see why not. Who is in charge?"

Merlin whooped excitedly and Arthur rolled his eyes.

"I've got a phone number for a lady named Mandy."

Arthur made grabby hands, so Merlin got his phone out and showed Arthur, who then just rang the number and made the arrangements.

Merlin was almost giddy with excitement, not just because of the party, but also because Arthur was showing signs of greatness again and it just made his heart swell. It was always wonderful to watch Arthur when he took charge, but this was such a good cause and Arthur, of course, added to the plans. He rang their caterers and told them of the new plans and asked them to provide some Medieval treats on top of the ordered food. He then phoned a florist, then the cleaning service and then he asked Merlin about appropriate clothes and music. Merlin did some research and found the answers Arthur wanted and then found some 'minstrels' who were persuaded to come and play for double their normal fee. He also told Merlin to find some costumes for themselves.

"I will be King Arthur, so I need some chain mail."

"Where the hell am I going to find that?" Merlin asked, exasperatedly.

"I don't know and I don't care how much it costs. Find it. And you will be my page."

"I thought pages were young nobles… you know, 10 year olds."

"Oh right. You'll just be my servant then… or court jester!"

Merlin almost growled at that and promised to find something. He had managed to avoid having anything to do with the Yule play at college, but he did wonder if anyone had some costumes he could borrow.

The next day was a whirlwind of arrangements and Merlin could see that Arthur was in his element. He asked the committee to come and meet with him at the castle and Merlin greeted the two ladies who drove up and parked in the courtyard.

"I've never actually been up here before," the one who introduced herself as Mandy commented.

"I came up here once when they were filming something here," Sue, the other lady told him.

"Lord Arthur asked me to show you the hall first, so you can see if it will be OK," Merlin explained. "The caterers are going to be here this evening and some of the other people will be here on Saturday morning."

"Is he really going to get some minstrels?" Sue asked. "We were going to just use some medieval music CDs."

"When Arthur gets involved, all sorts of things can happen," Merlin grinned. "Of course, you're going to have to live with him playing King Arthur. I've found him some chain mail and a crown to wear!"

Merlin opened the large wooden doors to the hall and the ladies gasped.

"It's fabulous!" Mandy said, actually putting her hands up to her cheeks in joy.

"There are some large wooden tables in storage that we can bring out for the two long tables. How many guests are there?"

"We had to limit the numbers because of the small size of the hall," Mandy said, "but those on the waiting list can all come!"

"Anyone who wants to can come!" Arthur suddenly said, appearing like magic at the other end of the hall.

"My lord, this is Mrs Mandy Ellington and this is Ms Sue Charter," Merlin introduced formally. "Mandy, Sue, this is Lord Albion."

"Or Arthur, as I prefer to be called," Arthur grinned.

"Except for your surfs, my lord?" Merlin asked cheekily.

"Exactly," Arthur agreed. "Merlin loves hard work, so I place him entirely at your beck and call!" Arthur smirked at him, but Merlin just shrugged. He would do anything to make this happen now.

They talked about the tables and where the minstrels would go, and Arthur told them about the flowers and the extras he was arranging, including extra costumes for those that didn't have any.

Then Arthur sent Merlin to bring up some tea and he took the ladies to the green sitting room. Merlin found some chocolate digestive biscuits in the pantry and made up a tray with Darjeeling tea in a silver teapot, which made Arthur laugh.

"I'm going to have to get you a butler's uniform!" he suggested and Merlin just glared at him.

"My lady, do you take milk or sugar in your tea?" Merlin asked Sue who laughed and took both. Mandy took hers black. "I'm sorry I could only find biscuits. It kind of lets the silver service thing down," Merlin added with a grin.

"Don't I get tea in a pretty tea cup?" Arthur asked.

"No, sir, you get coffee… a latte," Merlin handed him his tall cup and offered him the biscuits.

They talked about the party and it turned out to be an annual thing.

"We raise money as a village and then we put it into projects like the skateboard park and the tree planting programme," Sue explained. "We also fund things for the children at the school, like the travel scholarships and the hardship fund which pays for disadvantaged children to go on school trips."

"School trips?" Arthur questioned. "What, like visits to the museum?"

"Yes, but also their annual overnight trips. The school takes them to an outdoor centre for three days in the summer and this year they went to France, but some children can't afford those trips, so we have money available for that."

"That's brilliant!" Arthur enthused. "And do you make enough from this Christmas party?"

"We have a gala in the summer and a Village Fayre," Mandy told him. "We also hold one off events like cinema screenings and Christmas Fairs. We had a sports day two years ago that was great fun, but the party in the park is the big one when all the local firms and societies have stalls, we get local bands to play, we have a carnival and the dance and judo schools do performances."

"Have you ever had a vintage car rally?"

"No, I don't think we have," Mandy answered.

"I can arrange that in the spring if that would be of interest to you. They would all do it for free because we all love our cars."

"Even Lord Uther might come to that, sir," Merlin suggested.

"You're right," Arthur grinned. "Ladies, I love what you are doing. Please let me know if I can do anything to help."

"Thank you, my lord," Mandy said, blushing.

"No, really, just Arthur. He's paid to call me that," Arthur pointed a thumb at Merlin. "Liaise with Merlin. I'm supposed to be at work at the moment, so please excuse me, but send Merlin to fetch me if you can come up with an excuse to rescue me." He stood and held out a hand to each lady, then left them to it.

"You almost feel like you should curtsey to him," Sue commented, finishing off her tea.

"Oh please, don't!" Merlin laughed. "His head's already too big to fit through his bedroom door."

The ladies left an hour later with loads of notes and a lot of phoning to do. Merlin asked the security guards if they would be willing to help him move tables the next day and they agreed and asked if they could have soldier uniforms to be more medieval. Merlin rang the nearest costume hire company and they managed to find him two more sets of chainmail, with scarlet cloaks and prop swords.

The next day saw Merlin and Arthur working very hard. Tom and Geoff helped with the tables and Mandy's husband, Don, also appeared to do some heavy lifting. Arthur had arranged for some actual trenchers to be delivered, but they had to use some paper cloths over the tables, even though that would be less authentic, just for hygiene purposes. Arthur and Merlin also went down to the store rooms in the dungeons and found some daggers in presentation boxes which Merlin cleaned, some pewter plates which could be used as platters and lots and lots of candelabras. They also found four braziers which Merlin set up outside on the bottom and top of the steps up to the hall.

In the middle of the afternoon a crew turned up and started decorating the place for Christmas with a huge tree in the middle of the courtyard and another inside the hall. They also put up tinsel and mistletoe, holly and baubles everywhere. They even decorated the two dining halls and Merlin wondered if you could just mail-order Christmas. He had a sudden longing to see his Mum and help her put up their plastic tree, but he fought and pushed the homesickness down, promising to himself that he would ring his mum later.

The costumes arrived in a van and Merlin set them up in one of the antechambers and Arthur found a cloak and a feathery hat which Merlin refused, point blank, to wear.

"It's not even close to authentic!" Merlin complained. "I'll just wear one of the tabards that the caterers are wearing."

"With this underneath?" Arthur suggested, showing him a blue shirt that looked like it was made of linen, a belt, trousers and boots.

"I'll wear that, yes," Merlin agreed. "With my jacket for warmth."

"Not sure how authentic that would be, but OK. That armour is dull though, you had better polish it. And the sword."

Merlin rolled his eyes and reached for the Silvo.

Saturday morning rolled in with a million more tasks to perform and vans and people kept arriving all day. At one point a news crew arrived and demanded an interview with the Earl, but had to make do with the real hero, Lord Albion. Arthur wore his shiny armour, which he and Merlin had struggled to get him into and the crown turned out to be more of a circlet with large paste jewels and Merlin thought it looked really regal, especially when they worked out how to drape his fringe over it.

Aredian invited himself for free, and arrived wearing a leather waistcoat and trousers and a long black leather coat and hat which Merlin thought made him look more like a wild west sheriff than a medieval nobleman.

At 7.30 the minstrels started playing and the people started arriving, some in very authentic Medieval clothes, some in Tudor and some in a vaguely olde worlde outfit. A few latecomers needed the costumes available in the antechamber and some just wanted to swap for something better.

The greatest surprise, however, was when Gwen appeared. She was wearing a beautiful pink corseted gown and with a cream blouse thing underneath and Merlin, who was on the door, was astounded.

"Gwen! What are you doing here?" He dropped his tray and hugged her.

"I live in the village!" She answered with a knowing grin. "When I heard this party was moved to the castle I had to come and see you. How are you?"

"I'm fine! All the better for seeing you! You look amazing!"

"My brother should be turning up at some point. He actually surfaced for once," Gwen told him.

"Brother?"

"Elyan. He flits around the world doing odd jobs here and there… sort of a bum really. But he just happened to be in the UK for Christmas… first time in about five years."

"Is Tom coming?"

"No, Dad isn't feeling well. Where's Arthur?"

"He's going to make a grand entrance as the King. Ooh! You should go and be his Queen! Arthur and Guinevere!"

"That's a splendid idea!" Arthur said suddenly appearing behind Merlin and laughing when he jumped.

"Lord Arthur!" Gwen smiled.

"Come and be my Queen, Gwen. I have a crown you can wear!"

"Really, my lord?"

"Gwen, you are the Queen, you can call me Arthur!" Arthur smirked, "Unlike my servant here."

"I just call him a Prat," Merlin confided and Arthur laughed and cuffed his head lightly.

"I'll send you to the stocks if you don't behave," Arthur warned, then he took Gwen's hand and led her up the back way to the costume room to find her a cloak and a crown.

Merlin went and grabbed Geoff and they managed to take the other throne from the dining room to sit next to Arthur's.

At 8pm the doors opened and Mandy's husband welcomed everyone and then announced 'King Arthur and Queen Guinevere', everyone made a path and bowed or curtseyed as the royal couple walked to the thrones. Merlin thought that Gwen looked even more amazing in the purple taffeta dress with long sleeves falling from her elbows and a very inauthentic jewelled crown on her head, but it didn't matter as everyone sat down and Merlin took himself up to the top table where he made sure that he was the only one to serve Arthur and Gwen.

"It's going well, isn't it?" Arthur said, but Merlin was astonished to hear a note of insecurity in his voice.

"It's amazing, my lord," he said and meant it. "I am so proud of what you have achieved here."

Arthur looked up at him, checking him for signs of mocking, but Merlin was completely sincere. Arthur smiled. "Thank you, Merlin."

Food kept coming and Arthur had provided wine (originally people were expected to bring their own), then, when the meat stopped coming and the desserts began to make their appearance, a troupe of acrobats and magicians arrived, delighting everyone. At one point the chief acrobat brought forward a large wheel and asked Arthur to volunteer to be spun around on it while he threw knives at him.

Merlin felt a huge shiver of fear and watched all three knives, ready to magically move them if they flew wrong, but all three landed where they should and everyone clapped and cheered, while Arthur lapped up the praise.

By the time the dancing was done and people were beginning to talk about going home, Arthur stood from his throne (he had danced with Gwen every time she didn't dance with her brother, but each time he returned to his throne) and called for silence.

"My Lords, Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you all for attending this evening to celebrate Yule at Camelot. I thank our minstrels for their wonderful music, and the Saltimbanques for the magical entertainment," cheering and clapping, "I thank Lady Jennifer for her instructions on how to dance," more clapping, "I thank Sir Don and Sue, Lady Ellington for organising this celebration and I thank all those who have worked so hard to make this a success. The caterers did an incredible job [clapping], thank you to all those who lifted tables around [yeah!], to Doddington Florists for the flowers [clapping] and to Lady Susan Charter [great applause] for leading the village's fundraising. Merlin, my squire, will be standing at the doors with a vase so if anyone feels that they can add to the funds to help with village projects and the hardship fund, please do so. I also thank my lady Guinevere for being a lovely Queen tonight!"

There was a lot of clapping and cheering, but then Sue went to the dais and asked for quiet again.

"Thank you all so much for coming and making such a wonderful effort. There are some beautiful costumes around and I learned such a lot about medieval dancing! Thank you to everyone who has made this evening so wonderful. The committee have worked their socks off to get this off the ground. Our funds, as Lord Arthur said, go to helping the village. We fund community projects and the hardship funds are available to anyone in need, so please do give if you can. I must thank two more people who have not been mentioned yet. First, this evening would never have happened if it hadn't been for our new friend Merlin…" She pointed down the hall at Merlin who was standing by the door with the big vase and blushing furiously, eyes down as though Uther were in the room. "he has worked so hard to prepare the hall, and if he hadn't suggested that we come here then the whole evening would have been cancelled." There was a lot of clapping again, "and, of course, Arthur, Lord Albion, who not only provided his own castle free of charge, but also found a lot of the entertainments, costumes and even the food and flowers. Your generosity is amazing, Lord Arthur, and we are very grateful for your assistance. We have got together and, though it is not much, we would like you to accept this small gift from the village."

Mandy brought forward a blue box and inside was a tankard, engraved with the date and the event, with immense thanks and gratitude from the people of Calibourn.

"Thank you," Arthur said quietly and Merlin was astonished to see that Arthur was really moved by this gift.

It was well past midnight when Arthur finally told Elyan to escort Gwen home and then told all the cleaners and helpers to get to bed too. He had handed out a lot of cheques to various performers, so eventually only Merlin and Arthur were left. Arthur sat on his throne and looked out at the empty, clean banqueting hall and tiredly contemplated the evening, turning the tankard over in his hands.

Merlin came over and sat on the dais next to him, tiredly leaning back on the legs of the chair.

"Arthur?" Arthur looked at him. "It probably doesn't mean anything, coming from me, but… I am so proud of what you achieved here. I know that you are going to be someone who will change the world, and this is just the first step. I'm… I'm actually proud to be your servant," Merlin blushed.

Arthur smiled. "That does mean a lot, thank you. I actually enjoyed myself!"

"Of course you did, you got to play King Arthur and boss everyone about." Merlin chuckled, "What's not to like?" Arthur lightly cuffed Merlin's head and Merlin laughed. "Gwen made a very good Queen."

"Arthur and Guinevere?" Arthur laughed, "I've known her for years, and yet I don't think I have ever had a proper conversation with her. She is very keen to raise money to restore the village hall. Do you think they could use this room as a stage for the village panto?"

Merlin didn't think his grin could get any wider. "I'm sure it could be done. You are a hero to the town, you know that?"

Arthur turned the tankard around in his hands.

"But of course, I know better."

"I'm not a hero to you?" Arthur asked.

"Nope… more of a… cabbage-head."

"Hey!" Arthur kicked him and they both sniggered. "Bed?"

"I keep telling you, you're not my type!" Merlin laughed.

"You don't go for tall, blond, rich and devilishly handsome?" Arthur preened.

"Tall? Yes, rich? Meh, maybe. Handsome? Goes without saying, but I think I like dark…" unbidden, a picture of Lance formed in his head.

They both contemplated what Merlin had just said, the entertainment of the evening and the things they would have to do tomorrow morning.

"Will your father be OK about this?" Merlin asked.

Arthur shrugged. "Too late now. Come on Squire, help me out of this bloody chain mail!"

Merlin allowed Arthur to sleep in the next day, leaving a tray of 'continental' breakfast out for him, while he went back to tidying. The costumes were being picked up that morning and he made sure that they were all bagged up and hung on the rail. He also checked the inventory and made sure that all the props were back as well.

The daggers and pewter had to be cleaned, so Merlin took them back up to Arthur's chamber with some lunch, then he re-laid and lit the fire and settled in front of it to clean the daggers and the silver that had been used by the top table.

Arthur's phone rang at about 3pm and Merlin listened to Arthur's side of the conversation as he tried to justify the party the night before, although Uther was yelling so loudly that Merlin could mostly hear his side too. In the end, Arthur just switched the phone off.

"I will own this heap one day!" he told Merlin angrily, "So why shouldn't I allow something that helps the village and sows good will?"

"You know my views," Merlin commented, "and anyway, it has happened now. Better to ask forgiveness and all that."

"Come on, we're going riding."

"What?" Merlin asked, shocked.

"You, me two horses," Arthur explained and then he dragged Merlin up by the jumper.

"I've got…"

"They can wait."

"But I've never ridden a horse!" Merlin protested.

"Then you can try today. Just stay on it."

Merlin complained the whole time. It was bitterly cold, the horse kept trying to eat grass instead of going forward, there were no brakes, the hard hat was too loose and very uncomfortable and when he dismounted eventually, he discovered completely new muscles on the inside of his legs and under his bottom. And Arthur just laughed at him – git. Still, it was nice to be outside and seeing the forest that formed a part of the estate. Afterwards, Merlin was instructed to muck out the stables, brush the horses down and pick the hooves, which he did while glaring at Arthur, who was sitting watching with a hot chocolate.

Back at the castle, after a relieving shower, Merlin collected up his and Arthur's laundry and the sheets and creaked his way down to the laundry room. The castle had industrial washers and dryers just like the ones in the laundrette at home, so he felt confident as he loaded up and added powder.

"You didn't collect mine," Aredian's voice suddenly cut into Merlin's concentration and he spun around, breathing hard.

"I didn't know…"

Aredian slapped his face.

Shocked beyond belief, Merlin stepped backwards. It was one thing for Arthur to cuff him or thump his arm, but firstly it didn't really hurt and secondly he worked for Arthur. Aredian was just being a nasty bully.

"You hit me!" Merlin accused angrily.

"No I didn't," Aredian grinned spitefully. "And you shouldn't have to guess my orders, I am quite happy to explain them to you." He shoved a bag of clothes at Merlin. "Washed, dried and ironed by dinnertime, and none of your foreign muck at dinner. We are English."

He stepped forward again. "You will obey me, Boy," he threatened and then twirled around and left the room.

Merlin leaned back against the dryer and felt stupid. He didn't need this, and he hated bullies. He wondered if there was a spell that could turn the evil man into a donkey or something, or maybe paint him blue for a day…

He picked up the laundry and started sorting it along with his own and Arthur's stuff.

He made a roast dinner for the evening meal, roasting a large chicken and adding everything he could think of that would go with it and reminding himself that he had planned the meal before Aredian had made his demands. There would be plenty for the security guards as well and he could just eat the non-chicken bits himself. He served the meal as usual, standing behind Aredian so that he could just glare at him, then he went below and texted Geoff to let him know that he had food out.

"Have you ever had any problems with Mr Aredian?" he asked the guys when they were seated around the kitchen table.

"He's a creep. Just ignore him," Geoff, who was built like a brick privy, advised.

Tom, who was smaller, but still muscled, a bit like Arthur, offered, "The guy who had Geoff's job before said that he used to get him to do menial stuff like cleaning and cooking, and once he actually shoved him to the floor, so he resigned."

"Has he tried anything with you?" Geoff asked.

"He slapped my cheek today and threw his laundry at me," Merlin confessed.

"You should tell Lord Arthur," Geoff suggested.

"I told him, but he thinks that Aredian will just tell his father and…. Uther has a lot of power over me. He could ruin my academic reputation and… I would never be able to get a degree."

The guys looked horrified. "You've got our phone numbers, you ring us if he tries anything else."

Merlin smiled, "Thanks, that's really reassuring."

He spent a long time ironing Aredian's stuff, trying to remember George's lessons. Luckily Arthur hadn't been wearing shirts, just t-shirts, so his was easier and quicker, but all too soon he had three neat piles of clothes and sheets, so he picked up the stuff for himself and Arthur and headed up to the chamber.

Arthur was watching a film with lots of violence and loud bangs, so Merlin just changed the sheets and stowed the clothes, still marvelling at how much there was in Arthur's wardrobe.

"Arthur?"

"What?" Arthur asked grudgingly.

"I'm… going to take stuff to Mr Aredian. Shall I bring you a coffee afterwards?"

"You don't need to ask," Arthur reminded him and his attention went back to his film.

{optional skip}

In Aredian's room, the vile man was reading, but he smiled cruelly when he saw Merlin enter. He watched the servant like a hawk as he hung up the shirts and refolded the trousers and so on, and Merlin hated that he had his hands in Aredian's sock and pants drawer.

Suddenly a hand touched him on the neck and he spun around to find that Aredian had crept up close and was staring down at him with… ew… interest.

"C… could you step back please, sir?" Merlin tried, even though he knew it wouldn't work.

"I have another, much more important task for you. Kneel down," Aredian ordered in a smooth, silky tone.

"No," Merlin refused backing up into the wardrobe.

"You have no choice. You have to obey or I shall talk to my friend Uther," Aredian smirked.

"No… that's assault! Let me go!"

Aredian had taken hold of his arm and was applying pressure downwards. Merlin pushed outwards and slipped under the man's arm, ran to the door and found that it was locked and he was trapped. He turned to look in panic at Aredian who was holding up a large key and smiling nastily.

"Let me out! Let me out of here! I'll call the police!" Merlin fumbled for his phone, but Aredian grabbed it out of Merlin's hand and threw it on the bed.

"Go and fetch your phone then, Boy," he commanded and Merlin saw it for the trap it was. He didn't want to go anywhere near that bed.

Merlin tried to remember an unlocking spell – he was sure he had seen one, and he didn't think that 'alohomora' would work, but Aredian was stalking him again and he backed away. "Lord Arthur is expecting me to bring a coffee to him! He knows I came here… he'll come looking…"

"Really, you think that he will come looking for his servant? So do you serve him the way I want you to serve me? I'd like to see that."

Merlin felt sick. "No, stay away… stay.."

Aredian was back on him again and this time he was dragging him with both hands towards that bed, then he flung Merlin onto the bed face down and pressed down on his back with one hand. Merlin didn't want to even think about what he was doing with his other hand, although he could hear jangling and… Oh Gods, that was a zip! Merlin struggled and rolled over while Aredian was busy and off balance, he ducked under the man's arm again and ran to the door, yelling for help. Aredian grabbed him around the waist and strong arms forced him back to the bed, but Merlin's magic had had enough and it flared out of him, knocking the evil man over. It also pulled at the large iron key and Merlin grabbed it.

Aredian got back to his feet, bellowing and he punched Merlin on the left side of his face. Merlin staggered, and kicked out at Aredian's knees, then ran for the door. Power left him again and the door was open, but he locked it behind him with the key and then ran, sobbing and deeply frightened towards Arthur's chamber.

{safe, but some discussion as to what happened}

"Merlin! What…" Arthur started angrily as Merlin burst through the door, but he registered the boy's face, and the 18 year old really did look like a boy – a boy with a bruise forming on his face. "Merlin?"

"Aredian…" Merlin sobbed.

Arthur stood and grabbed the lad into a hug and Merlin clung to him, feeling so stupid.

"What did he do?" Arthur asked pushing Merlin back so he could look at him properly.

"He… he was going to…but I shoved him away and he came after me… and he threw me onto the bed and … he punched me and I… got the key and got out…" Merlin gabbled.

"Are you saying… that he was going to… to rape you!" Arthur sounded murderous.

"No!... yes…he… yes!" Merlin thrust the key at Arthur. "I locked him in!"

"I'll phone the police," Arthur said, turning the TV off and fishing his phone out of his pocket.

"I don't… I…"

"Go and lie down on my bed and I will lock this door so you'll be safe."

"But you're my safe place!" Merlin wailed, hating how weak he sounded.

"Well, " Arthur frowned, "we'll… sit down for a while until you feel safe again," he decided, taking charge and sitting back down.

Merlin wanted to sit down, but he wanted to be touching Arthur… Although Arthur would never allow it. He was still trembling, partly from the shock of the near assault and partly from having used magic to get away from the awful man. He sidled up closer and then Arthur grabbed him and let him lie on the sofa with his head on Arthur's knees. Arthur's hand smoothing his hair really helped, so Merlin let tears fall and he started pulling himself together. At the end of the day, he was hurting from the thump, but he had actually survived the encounter and he felt really stupid.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Arthur asked after a few minutes. "I can ring the police and have him charged with assault, or I can just tell him to get out of the castle. Either way my father has to know."

Merlin shivered. "Do we have to tell him?" he asked in a small voice, knowing that Uther would probably just say that he had an over-active imagination or something.

"That bruise on your face is the proof we need to show my father that his friend is a nasty piece of work."

"He hit me… but Lord Uther will just…."

"Merlin?" Arthur guided Merlin up to sit facing him and Merlin brought his knees up to rest under his chin, curled up tightly. "May I hold your arm?" Merlin nodded and Arthur placed his left hand on Merlin's right arm, making Merlin feel grounded. "I think that we should photograph your face, and maybe get you some medical treatment…."

"Gaius?" Merlin asked hopefully. Arthur didn't quite commit to that, but his face softened.

"Then I will confront Aredian and tell him that if he comes anywhere near the castle again, I will press charges against him."

Merlin nodded. He couldn't face having to tell anyone else what had just happened.

Arthur pulled him closer and let him rest his head on Arthur's shoulder. He then found a number on his phone and let it connect.

"Guinevere? Yes, it's Arthur. Do you think you could come up to the castle? Merlin needs a friend." Arthur looked over at Merlin who nodded. "Thank you. I'll let him tell you himself…. That's perfect. Yes, thank you… Goodbye." He turned to his friend and smiled, "She will be here soon and when she arrives I will go and speak to Aredian. Merlin?" Merlin just looked up. "I'm sorry. You told me that you were afraid of him and I didn't listen. I… you told me that you feel safe around me, and I let you down."

"No… it's the same… I can't tell the police because I'm a boy… they won't believe me. No one would believe me. And nothing actually happened."

"I'm still going to photograph your face. That's just wrong."

Merlin found himself slipping down so that his head was on Arthur's knee. Arthur's hand made its way into his hair, not quite stroking. It was comfortable and intimate and it calmed Merlin down, made him feel secure again. By the time Gwen and Elyan arrived, Merlin was practically purring.

Gwen seemed a bit awkward at seeing them like this, but Merlin got up and hugged her and thanked her for coming to sit with him.

"I feel so stupid," he told her as Elyan and Arthur left to deal with Aredian. Gwen was washing his bruised face and adding Germylene. "I should have just refused to go near him, but he kept threatening me with Uther."

They were sitting together on Merlin's mattress in front of the fire by this point.

"What was that with Arthur?" Gwen couldn't help asking.

"Arthur… he makes me feel safe…" he confessed.

"I didn't realise he was gay," Gwen frowned.

Merlin laughed, "He isn't! What gave you that idea?"

"You're not seeing him?"

"No! Gods, no! He prefers you… big time!" Merlin chuckled. "You know what it's like. You see Morgana like that all the time, spending more time with her than any of her friends or conquests, don't you?"

"I suppose so," Gwen agreed.

"Is she your friend?"

"Yes, in a way. She's also a bloody Pendragon," Gwen added with a tone that only employees of that family could understand.

"Exactly," Merlin nodded. "Arthur is like a friend who is allowed to boss me around!" he smiled. It was still a lopsided smile that looked odd on his face with the red eyes. "But he's also strong and when he takes over… I feel safe."

"There's really something about him taking charge isn't there? Like he's a prince."

Merlin smiled properly. "You like him," he told her gently. "You liked being his queen."

"He was so sweet all night, and really funny, and… there's a vulnerability there too," Gwen sighed. "I've got a really stupid crush on him and he doesn't really know I exist."

"I know all about stupid crushes," Merlin commiserated.

"And who are… Morgana?"

"What? No!" Merlin wrinkled his nose. "I like tall, dark and handsome!"

"Not blond then?"

"He's way out of my league and he definitely prefers girls!" Merlin snorted. "All yours!"

Merlin then told her about what had happened with Aredian and they went to sit by the fire to talk until Elyan and Arthur got back. Both Gwen and Merlin found themselves standing properly, and then they caught each other's eye and giggled.

"You're feeling better then?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, my lord, thank you," Merlin agreed. "Thank you for asking Gwen to come here."

"We helped him to pack," Elyan told them, flushed with success. "Arthur found a load of books that belong in the library as well."

"I think he's been stealing," Arthur agreed. "And if he hasn't, well, I'll just say he has!" Arthur flung himself on his sofa. "Thanks Elyan, your help was very much appreciated. You're good in a fight."

"I've trained. I decided that I needed to be able to defend myself before I went travelling and then I picked up a bit here and there."

Elyan and Gwen ended up staying in the castle overnight. Merlin made up the chambers next to Arthur's and, after staying up with wine till gone midnight, they all separated.

"Are you OK?" Arthur asked when the others had gone.

"A bit weirded out, but… yes," Merlin answered.

"Weirded out?"

"We just spent an evening drinking wine and chatting… with friends… I haven't done that… in a long time, if ever."

Arthur smiled fondly. "Elyan's a cool guy and you and Gwen can go and braid your hair anytime."

Merlin gave Arthur a disgusted look and then sniggered because he wasn't used to wine. "Gwen's cool too."

"Yeah," Arthur agreed. "Bedtime, I think."

They both got ready, the routine seeming more and more familiar, and then Merlin turned down the sheets and covered Arthur with the duvet.

"Thank you, Arthur," Merlin said again and Arthur just smiled and if Merlin felt better for sleeping by the fire that night on the bed which he had now dragged into Arthur's room, well, no one remarked on it.

The next day was a day of running around cleaning, arranging and generally panicking as Uther and his 'court' were arriving mid-afternoon for Christmas. Merlin spent extra time preparing his chambers (and with the quasi medieval thing going on, they really couldn't be referred to as bedrooms) and washed the floor and bathroom, aired the place and removed all the dust sheets. He also made sure that George's chamber (which was bigger than his own) was warm enough and also clean.

If Merlin was feeling nervous about the man arriving, then Arthur was a wreck. He knew that his father was going to have a go at him again about the Village party and he dragged Merlin on a tour of the place to make sure that there were no signs that it had ever happened. The cleaning crew had done a great job though and the behaviour of the guests had been really good.

Uther arrived at 3.30pm and Arthur was waiting on the steps, with Merlin standing respectfully behind him, as the limousine pulled up. After stepping forward and opening the car door as though for royalty, Merlin found himself lugging Uther's suitcases up to his rooms and then, horror of all horrors, unpacking as well. George wouldn't be arriving until the day after Christmas, but Merlin prayed that he wouldn't be expected to attend Uther in the meantime.

There was some discord as Uther wanted to know where Charles was, but Arthur fobbed him off with telling him that he had to go away.

The caterers moved in as well and Merlin finally got to meet Martin, the housekeeper, who had been visiting his parents in Wales. Merlin introduced himself and then happily stood back and allowed the more experienced man to take over.

Arthur disappeared, heading into town to play squash with some mates, and using the gym in the village, so Merlin actually found that he had some free time for the first time in what felt like months. He immediately went to the library and started picking out books and making notes. He even got a couple of essays mostly done and found a version of the Mabinogion, with the extra Taliesin bits, in Welsh to read.

On Christmas Eve Arthur and Merlin attended the service in the church and it was incredibly weird to have all these near strangers come up to them and enthuse about the Christmas Party. Sue was in the choir and she made a beeline for Merlin, wide robe sleeves flaring around her, thanking him again for all his help. The vicar then nabbed Arthur and asked if he would read one of the readings as someone was ill, so Arthur agreed and was taken to a seat where he would be able to get to the lectern easily. Merlin found it very uplifting to take part in the traditional service and couldn't help comparing it to the break-neck speed of the delivery of the priests at home. The church of England service seemed to venerate the word and the tradition and there weren't any pop songs at all.

It took even longer to get away from the church afterwards as everyone want to talk to Arthur again, so Merlin just stood back and waited.

"He's made himself more popular than any Pendragon ever did," said a voice behind him and he turned to find Mandy standing behind him.

"He's special," Merlin agreed.

"He has a very inspiring presence and he seems to really understand what people want from him."

"I think he was proud to be able to do something other than just fling money at something," Merlin told her confidentially. "And he really enjoyed playing the king!"

"You also worked very hard, though Merlin," Mandy said sincerely.

"Well, he pays me to work for him, so it wasn't really that special. I'm just glad he agreed."

"Did you know that he has offered to help pay for the hall to be rebuilt?" Mandy's husband asked.

"I didn't, but it doesn't surprise me," Merlin smiled. "He has got very involved in the local shelters in Cambridge and he has been reading up about homelessness. I think he likes to get his hands a bit dirty."

"You admire him?" Mandy asked and Merlin blushed.

"I do. He's going to be a great man."

As they walked back to the castle, Arthur's phone went off and he was very cagey as he answered it, turning away from Merlin and giving cryptic answers, then, as he rang off, he turned to Merlin and grinned.

"Your Christmas present has arrived."

"My… what?" Merlin asked.

"Come on, get a move on before it goes away again." Arthur was excited and jogged up the steps, forcing Merlin to follow.

The steps led to the courtyard and there Arthur swept his arm towards the huge Christmas tree and announced, "Merry Christmas Merlin."

Merlin looked over and saw his mum standing there with a huge grin on her face. Merlin looked back at Arthur in disbelief, and then ran to his mother, picking her up and hugging her, hardly daring to believe that she was actually there.

Arthur came over to see them and Merlin was almost crying as he introduced them.

"It's lovely to meet you in the flesh Mrs Emrys," he said, holding out his hand, but she swooped on him and pulled him into a hug as well.

"Hunith, Lord Arthur, and thank you so much," she choked.

"Then call me Arthur, Hunith. I'll leave you too together. Merlin, put her up in the room that Guinevere used and if you want to sleep in your mother's room then sort that out."

"Thank you so much, my lord!" Merlin thanked him, tears threatening. Arthur patted him on the shoulder and went into the castle.

Merlin kept looking at his mother as though looking away would make her disappear. It was true that he had spoken to her a lot and seen her via Skype, but actually being able to hug her and touch her was amazing. That Arthur had put aside one of the main guest rooms for her was so kind that he almost wanted to cry again. She was just next door and Arthur told Merlin that he didn't want to see him again until breakfast.

They ate together in her room and he unpacked for her and got her phone set up on the castle Wi-Fi. She asked him all about the attack and his bruised face, Arthur and his friends, and wanted to meet Gwen and Lancelot and Gwaine.

"And how is your man?"

"Arthur?" Merlin asked.

"No, Lancelot."

"Mum!" Merlin blushed and looked away. "I don't know what you mean."

"I suspected from the way that you talked about him, but every time you say his name, you grin. Just a little, but enough for me to be able to tell."

Merlin looked down. "He's well out of my league, Mum. He's so… gorgeous and kind, but I don't think he'd be interested in me. He likes Gwen."

"He's Lancelot and he knows the stories," Hunith suggested.

"Maybe, but he's never expressed anything like interest in me." Merlin got his phone out and showed his mother some photos, and some others of Gwaine. "Now Gwaine flirts with anything that moves or breathes!"

Hunith smiled and let Merlin chatter about his friends and his new life. She had missed him so much and that night they shared her large bed in her huge room so that they were together when Christmas Day dawned.

Hunith kissed her son awake and was treated to one of his extra special huge grins that seemed to fill his whole being.

"So, what happens today?" she asked.

"I don't know. What's the time?"

"8.30am," Hunith answered looking at her watch.

"Well, then I'll go and fetch you some breakfast at the same time as I fetch Arthur's. What would my lady like?"

Hunith chuckled. "Whatever you wish to fetch for me."

Merlin got up and changed into the clothes he had picked out for the morning, then he jogged down to the kitchens where there was organised chaos. He found Martin and begged for breakfast for Lord Arthur and his mum.

"We are having a Christmas banquet at midday," Martin told him, "All the guests will be there and Lord Tintagel is arriving at about 11am. The family will assemble in the blue sitting room after lunch and you will be required to serve then."

"And for lunch?" Merlin asked. "Is my mum a guest or will she sit with the staff?"

"Your mum?"

"Hunith Emrys," Merlin explained.

"Ah, Mrs Emrys is a guest of Lord Arthur's, so there is a place set for her at the Christmas table. I believe she is placed next to Lord Arthur."

Merlin beamed. "Thank you!"

He took Arthur's breakfast up and actually knocked for once, but Arthur was asleep and missed it. Merlin pulled the curtains aside gently and then went and gently shook Arthur awake.

"Merry Christmas, my lord," he said.

"Oh… it's you!" Arthur sounded surprised and Merlin grinned. "You were polite!"

"And I knocked, but you were too asleep to appreciate it!" Merlin chuckled.

"Damn!" Arthur returned and smiled. "You like your present then?"

"You know I do. This is the best Christmas ever!" Merlin enthused like a child. "And there's breakfast for you. I'm not completely sure what is happening today, but lunch is at midday."

"Yes, it always is."

"I… um… I got you this. It's not much, but…" Merlin shrugged. "Nothing like what you have done for me." He offered the presents.

"You didn't have to get me anything," Arthur sat up, surprised.

"It really isn't much," Merlin blushed.

Arthur looked thrilled though and laughed at the book and opened the chocolates straight away.

"Do you mind if I take my mum some breakfast?"

"Go ahead, I've got some reading to do about how I am supposed to treat my servants. You realise it won't make any difference?"

"It was just a joke, sir," Merlin snorted.

"Sir? It must be Christmas!" Arthur laughed.

Merlin kept catching his mother's eye as he served at the lunch table along with some of the caterers. Lord Tintagel turned out to be Uther's brother-in-law Agravaine and Merlin didn't like him at all. He kept giving his mother disapproving looks, but Arthur asked her for some embarrassing stories about Merlin from childhood, which she provided happily.

"More wine, my lady?" Merlin asked his mother and she chuckled.

"They allowed you to pour wine?" she asked knowingly.

"It's white, Mum, so I can't cause too much damage," Merlin admitted and Arthur laughed freely.

"I do like your son, Hunith, but he is very clumsy and he's the worst servant I've ever met."

"His limbs are all too long and his body hasn't quite worked it out," Hunith explained. "He'll grow into them eventually."

"I look forward to it," Arthur chuckled and enjoyed Merlin's embarrassed face.

Both Lance and Gwaine phoned him during the day. Gwaine was having a rowdy drunken party with some people he didn't know, while Lance was having a quiet Christmas with his Maman. Lance spoke to Hunith as well and promised that he would be back soon and would make time to meet her, and Merlin spoke to Lance's Maman and promised that he would go and visit her at some point. He also spoke to Gaius and teased him about his wild love affair with the mysterious Alice.

Boxing Day was quiet. George arrived and the caterers left along with many of Uther's guests and everyone tried to settle into a new normal. Merlin showed his mum around the castle and Arthur gave him as much time with her as possible. She was staying until the new year, so Merlin was able to spend quality time with her.

She asked him all about his magic and asked to see some, so he showed her his blossom trick and his ball of light, and they talked about Arthur. Hunith thought that he should tell Arthur everything.

"The first time everything went wrong, but this time there are no reasons for keeping it all a secret."

"I'm scared, though," Merlin explained. "What if he thinks I'm some kind of freak?"

"Well, you are some kind of freak!"

"Mum!"

"No one else can do what you can do. I got rid of the crystal at home. Gaius said that he has worked with you on control."

"He gave me some exercises to do and… I told Lance," Merlin admitted. "I haven't done anything here… well, other than blasting Aredian off me and opening the door. I have lit the fire a couple of times."

"Gaius thinks that you will be able to do some impressive magic when you come into your gifts," Hunith told him.

"Kilgharrah thinks that I need to go and find some cave and it will all come back to me. He wants Arthur to go too."

"Do you trust him? Dr Kilgharrah."

Merlin considered that. "I do. He isn't like all the others, he came the long way round."

"The long way?"

"He never died. He hibernated and then came back to help me. He remembers the First Time and he knows that his advice then wasn't the best."

"It still feels odd," Hunith admitted, "knowing that you lived a life before this."

"You did too, Mum," Merlin insisted.

"That wasn't me. That was another woman…"

"No, it was you. Same name, same face, everything. Like Arthur and Gwaine and Lance and Gwen, we are all back again to right the wrongs and create Albion!"

Hunith touched the unharmed side of his face and smiled. "You have such a great burden to carry and it seems odd that you will be someone… important."

Merlin chuffed in amusement. "Sorry, Mum, no greatness for me. I'm just here to support Arthur and help him to make the right choices."

"Do you think he will?"

"I have to believe it," Merlin responded brightly. "He has already done so much and I've only known him for three months! And he brought you here. He didn't have to do that."

"You're right."

"This is the kind of thing that makes me proud of him. I can see the great King that is hiding in there."

"And when he teases you? Are you happy just being his servant?"

"You have asked me that loads of times and… yes… I trust him."

"Then trust him with the truth. You told me that the First Time you were always having to hide yourself and your strength, you were living a lie."

"But how? Do I just blurt out that I have magic?"

"No, but you can show him how you can protect him."

"He doesn't need any protection," Merlin admitted quietly. "My magic doesn't really have a purpose now."

"You will find a way, Merlin, but make sure that you tell him. Don't let him just find out."

Merlin checked the watch his mum had given him for Christmas and grimaced. "We need to get down to dinner. Uther will just shout at me if I'm not there."

Lady Morgana arrived on the 27th and Uther lost his bitter angry side and became the doting father, while Lord Agravaine seemed particularly interested in his not-niece. Merlin was disturbed by the way he looked at her and seemed to hang on her every word, but Morgana just smiled and told another story about her Christmas with her friends. It seemed to Merlin that Agravaine was a bit too helpful, eager to seem useful and yet manipulative. With Uther, he just flattered him by agreeing with everything he said and showing admiration for his strength. With Arthur he would flatter, but also persuade, and he was as cross with Arthur over the village party as Uther was.

Agravaine was worried (and he kept repeating) that the village would start expecting the party to be held in the castle every year now and he offered to go and talk to the committee to explain things to them, but Arthur held firm and explained, several times, that what they had done had been great for the community and the only decent action possible.

Uther still wanted to know where Mr Aredian was, but Arthur remained cagey. His father seemed to be more worried about the cataloguing than about his old friend, but his name kept coming up.

Arthur's uncle was rather scathing towards Hunith as well, asking why she was there, and suggesting that she should eat with the servants instead of with the family, but again, Arthur told Agravaine that she was his guest and that it would be rude to ask a guest to accept inferior treatment. Apparently, she was in the suite that Agravaine usually used and he wasn't happy, but Arthur thought it was funny and didn't ask Hunith to move. Merlin heard the whole thing because he was on duty, but luckily Hunith wasn't present for that conversation.

On the 28th December, Arthur went off to play golf in Hereford and Merlin took a deep breath and decided to go and pay Morgana a visit.

"Who is it?" Morgana called in answer to his knock.

"It's Merlin, my lady," he answered.

"Come on in, it's not locked."

"Would you like me to fetch you a drink?" Merlin offered.

Morgana smiled with dimples. "No thank you. I bring my own coffee machine as it's such a hassle to get coffee from the kitchens and Gwen isn't around for me to bully."

"It's not bullying, my lady," Merlin grinned. "It's our jobs!"

"Cut that out and sit down!" Morgana commanded and Merlin sat, grinning.

"I didn't think we serfs were allowed to sit down!"

"I hereby free you and give you permission to be seated in my presence!"

"Thank you your ladyship!" Merlin adopted a terrible 'country' accent, grinning as he tugged at his too long fringe. "How are you?" he asked sincerely.

"I'm good. I had a good Christmas away from all the Pendragon nonsense. I like your mum, she's a real lady."

Merlin blushed happily. "I love her to bits. I'm so grateful to Arthur… best Christmas present ever."

"He seems to be learning… and that's down to you. You've shown him that there is more to life than cricket."

Merlin laughed. "I would never dare to say that in front of him! Denigrating cricket is a capital offence. He'd have me flogged or something! But… Morgana, have you had any more dreams?"

She looked down and sobered a bit. "I have had one or two, but nothing horrible. The Druids told me that I didn't have to be afraid of them and that I could find my way through them. They also pointed out that it doesn't always have to be negative, that I may be able to see some positives."

"Did… I don't mean to be impertinent… but… did they speak to you about magic?" Merlin asked, half expecting to be ordered out of the room.

"They asked me if I had ever used magic," Morgana confided in a quiet voice, her eyes darting around as if expecting assassins.

"Have you?"

"Why?"

Merlin breathed in deeply and then held his hand out. "Forbærnen" he said and a flame appeared on his hand.

Morgana gasped. "You… you have magic!"

Green eyes met intense blue ones. "Well… I am Merlin."

Morgana just gaped for over a minute, her eyes flicking from his hand and up to his face and then back to the flame in his hand again. "How are you doing that?"

"Magic," Merlin replied simply. "You can do it too."

"No, I can't!"

Merlin extinguished the flame and took hold of her hand. She began to tug it away, and Merlin let go, but just held his hand out for her to hold, all the while looking directly at her eyes.

"You must not be afraid of it."

Morgana put her hand in his and said, "But… but I've read the stories… we all have…"

"They are just stories, and you are you," Merlin insisted. "Magic isn't good or evil, it is just magic and your choices are your own. If you fear it, then it will become twisted, but if you learn to love it and embrace it, it can be a force for great good."

"What can you do with it though? I mean, I can't go on the stage and use it for magic tricks."

Merlin chuckled. "No, definitely not! But you can use it to protect and repair. I have had magic since I was born, but my mother was given a crystal that hid my abilities, so I am just relearning. But a lot of it is instinctive. I… Mr Aredian attacked me…"

"I heard. I don't think that Arthur has told Uther yet."

"I got him off me by using magic. It saved me," Merlin insisted and he could see that Morgana was listening. "Morgana, in the Arthurian legends, was betrayed by magic. She was turned against it because of fear and then she met someone who taught her to treat it as a power so that people would fear her. She turned evil and caused the fall of Albion, but you don't have to do that. You don't have to do anything. You can nurture it and learn to help people…"

Morgana looked conflicted. She was scared, and Merlin understood that very well, and she was hopeful. He didn't say anything else, leaving it to her to decide how she wanted to move forward.

The buzzing of a phone startled them both and Merlin dug into his pocket to find that his phone was registering a text from 'Lord and Master'. He read it.

"Lord Arthur wants me," he apologised.

"Does Arthur know?"

"No, my lady." Merlin stood.

"Back to that?" she asked with an attempt at a smile.

Merlin shrugged. "Lord Uther is around and he hates it when I behave like you and Arthur are my friends, but I can step out of my role if you want me to."

"Come and visit me tomorrow. I'll think about it tonight and…"

"Try this one –Forbærnen."

"Forbærnen" she tried and nothing happened.

"You have to… " his phone buzzed again and he looked at it, shrugging apologetically. "You have to say it from your gut – not your heart – it's deeper than that and… " this time his phone started ringing.

Morgana laughed. "Go, your master awaits!"

Merlin gave her a sketchy, sort of pantomimey bow and then answered the phone. "Yes, Oh Great One, I'm on my way!"

So Merlin spent a lot of the evening with his mum cleaning the golf clubs, but it was so wonderful to be with his mother and he showed her a few more tricks that he could do.

Then, after the evening dinner, which Merlin and his mum had in her room, Arthur knocked on the door.

"I don't want to intrude," he told Hunith politely, "but Merlin needs to do his job. So, tomorrow, would you come and have breakfast with me and allow Merlin to get my room in order?"

Of course she agreed and Arthur left, leaving Merlin looking stupefied.

"What the hell was that?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"He was really nice! He usually just flings things at me and reminds me of everything I should be doing!" Merlin explained.

"Maybe he's growing up?" Hunith suggested.

"Nah!" Merlin differed, "Not Lord Arthur!"

"Then why do you stay? Why not give this up and get the loans?" his mother asked.

Merlin stowed the last golf club and went to sit next to his mum on the bed. "It's partly the destiny thing. I know in the deepest part of my soul that we are supposed to be together."

"Are you in love with him?"

"No… ew! I can't explain it because I don't know how to, but… when he takes charge, everything falls into place. He can be a total prat and a bully, but that is partly because he desperately wants to please his father, and his father is a complete bastard."

"Merlin…"

"I know I shouldn't use that word, but he is a control freak of the first order and he wants Arthur to be ruthless and powerful as well. But Arthur will do the right thing, and if he does the wrong thing, then he makes it right again. I think… I think that I would probably give up my studies at Cambridge before I would leave him."

Hunith smiled and pulled him into a hug. "I know. I have spoken with Gaius and he put me in touch with Dr Kilgharrah."

"You've spoken to Kilgharrah?" Merlin repeated in shock.

"He told me who you are and what is going on."

"But he didn't tell you that you are you as well? You came to the future with us. You have always been my mother."

Hunith grinned. "I believe you, my little falcon."

"Mum!" Merlin protested and they both chuckled. "I left myself a note."

"You left yourself a note?" Hunith questioned.

"In my magic book. It told me that… I once told him… Arthur, that I was happy to be his servant until the day I died… and then I told myself that… I haven't died."

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Hunith pulled him close again, "but if your master is calling…"

"Don't you start!" Merlin sighed.

Merlin had to clean and lay the fire before Arthur went to bed and he readied the bed and set out pyjamas before retiring, mostly to show that he was paying attention.

The next day began weirdly. While Hunith was dressing for the day, Merlin headed off to the, now much calmer, kitchen and made a scrambled egg breakfast for both his mum and Arthur, which he then took back to Arthur's room. He even had a go at warming the food magically, so it was the perfect heat.

Arthur was up already and dressed, and Merlin complained that it wasn't fair of him to steal his favourite chore.

"You should have got here earlier then!" Arthur retorted with a smile. "Where's your mother?"

There was a knock at the door and Merlin grinned. "No idea!" he opened the door and added, "Oh look, there she is!"

"Idiot!" Arthur teased. "Come and join me Hunith please?"

Hunith went over to Arthur and kissed his cheek, which made Arthur smile and blush a little. "Good morning, Arthur."

They sat and began to eat while Merlin set about clearing the room of discarded clothes and putting them in the linen basket, all the while pointing out to Arthur that the linen basket was there for a reason. He swept the floor and then cleaned the bathroom and made the bed, then when that was all done, he hovered behind Arthur's chair, listening to their innocuous conversation.

"Merlin, my car needs to be cleaned, so I will show Hunith around the castle while you do that."

"OK," Merlin agreed with a huff and set off to do that.

It was nearly lunchtime by the time he had finished and he set off to join Arthur, but was stopped by Uther.

"Boy?"

"Yes my lord?" Merlin asked, eyes lowered.

"Where is your master?"

Merlin didn't sigh. "He's showing my mother around the castle, my lord."

Uther didn't look pleased at that, but he issued his orders anyway. "Tell my son that he is to have lunch with me today. You will attend."

"Yes, my lord."

Merlin waited until Uther was back in his office and then phoned Arthur and gave him the good news.

The lunch was horrible – not the food which was exquisite as Martin's food always was – but the conversation.

"So, explain to me please why Charles is protesting at being ejected from my castle," Uther started with.

"It's quite simple, Father. He assaulted Merlin and his choice was to leave or to have the police involved."

"He did not assault your servant," Uther stated, as though his judgment was final.

"I'm afraid he did, Sir. If you would care to look at Merlin's face, you will see that the bruise is still visible. He also attempted rape."

"That is a vicious lie made up by your idiot of a servant."

Merlin listened to this and tried to control his shaking. He couldn't bear it if that man were to come back and he had been healing from the experience nicely.

"Merlin did not lie. He came straight to me distraught and shaking and I could see the bruise on his face and how he was roughed up. Aredian didn't even deny it, but accused me of… sleeping with Merlin as well. I am not, of course. He isn't my type," Arthur gave Merlin a slight grin and Merlin managed something similar back.

"Charles is doing a valuable piece of work in the library and he is under my protection," Uther informed his son.

"Merlin is an expert in Arthurian history and his mother is a librarian and both have told me that the collection is not ordered, so much as stuffed vaguely in the correct section. I also found a pile of books in parcels ready for posting – they were books with our library bookplates in them. I'm sorry, Father, but Aredian has been playing you for a fool."

"I do not appreciate your disrespect, Arthur. You are my son, but the castle belongs to me."

"Yes, Sir," Arthur replied, showing respect but not actually agreeing to anything. Merlin appreciated the tone and response.

They all ate in silence for a while, then, as the plates were being withdrawn, Uther began again.

"Arthur, you will never allow our castle to be used by the villagers again."

"What?" Arthur argued. "But they had nowhere else to go!"

"Then they should have cancelled or organised better. Our castle is our home and we do not want people just traipsing around willy-nilly."

"There was no traipsing! In fact the behaviour was much better than any of your receptions at the Lodge."

"Arthur, this is my castle and I make the rules." Uther repeated firmly, glaring scathingly at his son and Merlin was just glad that Arthur hadn't told him who was really to blame. Agravaine beckoned rudely for Merlin to refill his wine glass.

"But surely it is good to have the goodwill of the…" Arthur tried, but was shouted down.

"They are just people who live near our castle. I am your father and I demand your respect."

Arthur glared back and then backed down again, his tone just short of sullen. "Yes, Sir."

"But surely it is good to help people?" Morgana offered. "Nothing was broken and you weren't even here to see it."

"It is the principle of the thing," Uther explained carefully to his adopted daughter as though she were soft and delicate. "If we give in now, then they may try to do it again and may even expect us to give them our home."

"Would it have been better if they had paid for the privilege?" Morgana pressed.

"It would have mitigated things, especially as a tin pot village party could never hope to afford our hall."

"We never hire our hall out though, Father," Arthur reminded him.

"Exactly and that is not going to change now."

"I will go and talk to the leaders of this party committee and explain to them that they owe us money for hiring the castle and that they are not welcome to come back," Agravaine offered with a helpful, open smile. "Arthur, you are too close to them and it would be a very hard conversation for you."

"No thank you, Uncle. I will go myself."

"No Arthur," Uther barked, "I forbid you to have anything more to do with this. Agravaine, if you would, that would be a great weight off my mind."

"You are being unfair," Morgana said angrily and Arthur smiled a bit at her.

"This is business, my dear," Uther told her. "It is cutthroat and nasty and Arthur needs to learn that he can't just go around being altruistic. We are in the business of making money, not friends."

Arthur put his napkin down and stood. "I am going out, Father, Uncle," he announced with an almost respectful nod. "Merlin, heel!"

Merlin put his bottle down and followed his master, but Uther growled, "Boy, you have not completed your service here."

"He is my servant, Father and he obeys me." Arthur swept from the room and Merlin followed, feeling brave.

"Arthur?" Morgana called, clearly following them. "You did the right thing and Uther has to remember that he is not the King. He has no authority over your actions."

"Yes, I know, but…" Arthur bumped against the corridor wall, next to a subdued Merlin, "well, he does actually own the castle, so it was out of line for me to offer it up, but I didn't know that he would be this bad about it."

"Uther has no charity." Morgana grimaced. "He throws money at big causes to enhance his own name and fortune, but he doesn't care for people. If Agravaine does insist on money from them, let me know and I will pay. "

"I know," Arthur sighed. "Merlin, I'm sorry I put you in that position. I'm sorry about the Aredian thing too, Father was out of line."

Merlin just gave him his brightest (fake) grin. "No problem, my lord!"

"'My lord' now? I must have done something right then!" Arthur smiled. "Go and get my warm coat and meet me by the town tunnel."

"I.. er… what?" Arthur gave him one of his looks and Merlin held up his hands in surrender, "Yes Master."

Morgana giggled.

They travelled down the tunnel and out into the town and Merlin badgered Arthur over where they were going and what they were doing until Arthur snapped at him to shut up.

It wasn't long before they were standing in front of the burnt down hall and Arthur looked at his phone which had several photos and a couple of documents on it. Merlin followed as Arthur moved around, seeing as much as he could of the wreckage and taking his own photos. He was baffled, but every time he opened his mouth to question Arthur, he was told to shut up.

Eventually Arthur had seen enough and he phoned someone.

"Is that Peter Boyne?... Yes, Arthur Pendragon… definitely arson then?... Right, can anything be done about that?... And how much needs to be done to make it safe?... No, I agree, but it's a shame…. I'll see what I can find. I may know some people who can apply some pressure… No, thank you Peter… Yes, of course. Goodbye."

Merlin waited with his questioning face on and Arthur saw it and deliberately didn't explain, so Merlin sighed and followed Arthur as he crossed the road, looking around in the air for something.

"Merlin, shut up!"

"I didn't say anything!" Merlin protested.

"Only you could be so loud about being quiet!" Arthur complained. "Look around for security cameras."

Merlin searched and then he wondered if he could use his magic. Gaius said it was instinctive, so he thought inwards to the place where his magic seemed to reside and asked it to look for lenses. He felt the tendril of power climb up his body to his eyes and then he looked. There were two patches of gold, one on the roof of the shop they were standing in front of and one pointing downwards, hidden in the door frame.

"One up there and one here on the frame." Merlin pointed to the tiny hole in the frame.

Arthur looked impressed, but didn't say anything as he opened the door to the jewellery shop and asked to talk to the manager.

A middle-aged woman in a business suit came to the counter and looked surprised when she saw who it was.

"Lord Pendragon?"

"Ah, no, that's my father, I'm Viscount Albion, but I prefer Arthur," he told her charmingly.

"I'm Liz, how can I help you?"

"I'm afraid it's not a jewellery question, it's more of a request for help. Do you have an office?"

"Yes, of course. Come this way." She pressed a release button and lifted the counter top allowing him to pass through. She hesitated with Merlin though.

"This is my valet, Merlin. He has my confidence and you probably wouldn't want him lurking around your store."

"No, of course not," Liz agreed and allowed Merlin to follow.

The office was behind the next door on the right and the three of them entered to find a room with nothing out of place and some very nice chairs around a round table. There was also a one way mirror that gave them a clear view of the shop.

Liz offered chairs and Arthur sat down, while Merlin interpreted Arthur's expression to mean that he should remain standing.

"How can I help you, my lord?"

"Arthur!" Arthur insisted. "You have security cameras on your shop, do you not?"

"Yes, we do."

"I'm not trying to find out your secrets, but… I'm investigating the arson in the village hall. The police have decided that they can do no more, but the insurance won't pay up unless the police give a full report. There's something odd going on and I want to see if I can get to the bottom of it."

Liz was as surprised as Merlin was, although he was grinning again.

"So, you want to see our security videos?"

"If that is possible," Arthur agreed.

"Our security is managed by a firm, so I can probably get them to send us a digital copy of anything relevant."

Arthur grinned. "That would be amazing! I just want to know how much I will need to do to help. Did you attend the feast the other night?"

"I did and I had a great time. It was very generous of you to offer the castle."

"Well, it was the least we could do, but my father isn't keen for it to become a regular thing, so I am looking into ways to rebuild the hall."

"Can you give me an email address to send the digital copy to?"

"I can, it's a cantab one so very secure." Arthur wrote it down.

They exchanged pleasantries and then left the shop. They tried at another couple of shops and had one success and one failure, but Arthur was pleased with the results and Merlin's approval.

"Right then, pub!" Arthur announced.

"What?" Merlin asked, bewildered.

"Tavern, drinking house, bar?"

"So I can stand around while you get drunk?" Merlin asked petulantly.

"Be nice and I may allow you to sit down," Arthur smirked.

"I can do nice," Merlin chuntered.

The Red Dragon in the centre of the village was a typical old house that had been added to and refashioned into a sort of Medieval looking building, although it was probably more likely Victorian. The other pub in the village was the old coaching inn.

Arthur chose a booth by the window on its own and then sent Merlin to the bar for drinks. Merlin was happy to be out of the cold, so he carried the drinks back and sat down opposite Arthur.

"Tea? Really?"

"I don't drink much," Merlin shrugged.

"I know, you're a total light weight. You should be practising drinking during your student years."

"I don't have time," Merlin complained. "My boss keeps me working till late."

"You should get a new boss then," Arthur chuckled.

"No, I've got this one where I want him!" Merlin scoffed and Arthur just gave him a raised eyebrow. "Gaius does that eyebrow thing better."

"You're lucky I find you amusing," Arthur responded.

"So we're investigating the arson attack."

"The insurance company won't pay up until there is a full police report and the police have stopped investigating. The Fire Station says that it is definitely arson, a petrol-soaked rag was chucked in through the letterbox and another fire was started, again with petrol, around the back. The security cameras were disabled and there are no other leads, so they have just handed it on to the police, who don't want to know. There's a plot here."

"Are you sure it wasn't just kids messing around?"

"Yes – kids wouldn't have attacked in two places and what sort of childhood did you have if you think that setting fire to buildings is normal 'messing around'?"

"I grew up in Northern Ireland," Merlin reminded him, "Even after the Peace Agreement, the tensions are still high, and since the Brexit thing… well, it's not fun."

Arthur nodded in understanding.

"So, what's the plan?" Merlin asked.

"Well, until I get the security tapes, we do nothing. But they may show us some faces."

"And then?"

"I was going to ask your friends if they recognised them."

"My friends?"

"Your committee friends."

"I think they're your friends really," Merlin argued.

"Doesn't matter. We will ask and see if we can work out who is behind all of this. I can't believe I'm sitting in a pub with someone who is drinking tea!"

"Sorry, I just really wanted a cup of tea. You should show the footage to Gwen and Elyan, they grew up here."

Arthur looked surprised. "That's actually not a bad idea!" Merlin beamed, so Arthur scowled. "Don't look so pleased." But Merlin still felt a thrill go through him. "Drink your tea. We're heading home."

Back at the castle Arthur made one more phone call to Sue, the chair of the committee. She told him that she had had a rather abusive phone call from Agravaine who had demanded a £3000 fee for the use of the castle. Arthur reassured her that it was a bad call from his father and that he would donate the money to the committee so that they could pay the bill.

"I'm sorry about my father's attitude, he just doesn't like to share his home with people. I probably shouldn't have done it, but I had a great time. Please keep this to yourself and the treasurer, I don't want anyone else to have their evening ruined."

Merlin was serving his dinner in Arthur's room, so he heard the conversation and decided that he would keep an eye on Agravaine.

The next day was quiet and Arthur managed to avoid having anything to do with Uther, who was occupied with some of his remaining guests and his brother-in-law, Agravaine.

At midday, Merlin was sent out to the town to fetch a parcel from the jewellery store, so he and his mother went out and had a small lunch together, wandering around the town before heading back up to meet with Arthur, Gwen and Elyan.

They watched the tapes and clearly saw some kids setting fire to the hall, passing by the jewellery store and showing faces. Elyan thought that he recognised one face as a boy who lived on his street, so he and Arthur went out to 'talk' to him, while Merlin and Gwen stayed with Hunith and they went to the library to see if they could do anything about the cataloguing.

That evening Arthur gathered them all up in his room with the evening meal and told them that he had evidence that a man, whom the kid called Mr Odin, had paid one of his gang to do it and they had all been swept along. He claimed that he had tried to stop them, but he was willing to give names and Arthur had escalated the issue further up the chain of command in the Police, using his name and telling them that he had been investigating and pointing out that they had not.

He also informed them that there had been an investigation into the suitability of the ground and the Rec for house building and there was a lucrative contract involved, all leading back to a company owned by… William Odin.

Preparations for a grand New Year's Eve party were under way when Merlin received a phone call.

"Lance!" he grinned. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. How are you?"

"Better for hearing from you! Are you back in the UK?"

"I am. What are you up to?"

"Oh, you know, scrubbing. I have been ordered to scrub the hall floor since all those filthy peasants used it before Christmas," Merlin grinned, leaning on his mop.

"Would you like to meet up?" Lance asked.

"I would love to," Merlin answered wistfully. "Unfortunately I am working at the moment and I don't have any transport."

"Well… turn around…"

Merlin turned around and saw Lancelot standing there, his face sparkling with mirth, grin wide and looking so cool in his black leather jacket. Merlin dropped the mop and ran to him, giving him a huge hug before his brain caught up.

"Lancelot!" he yelled.

Lance laughed loudly and hugged him back. "You seem glad to see me!"

"I am, I really am!" Merlin laughed. "When did you get here? How did you get here?"

"Arthur invited me to the party tomorrow night and he may have smuggled me in a day early!"

"He did? That's… that's actually really amazing!"

"Don't I get a huge hug and cuddle?" came an Irish voice and Merlin looked over Lance's shoulder to see Gwaine standing there with his arms open. Merlin went to hug him too and couldn't help laughing.

"Did Lord Arthur invite you too? Does Uther know?" Merlin asked.

"Don't know, don't care!" Gwaine laughed. "Where is his royal highness?"

"Up in his room I think. He had to actually do some work today… and so do I. You don't realise how bloody enormous this hall is until you have to clean it."

"Do you have any spare mops?" Lance asked grinning.

"No… look, I'll take you up to Arthur's room and… you can meet my mum!"

Arthur waved hello at the two friends, but he really was busy with a skype call, so Merlin took them to the blue room where his mum was reading happily. Suddenly the hall seemed smaller as Merlin went back to it and mopped through it as fast as he could. Then he took coffee and tea up to Arthur's room (gaining permission to stop for now) and then to his mum's room, where Gwaine was already entertaining the group with one of his less wild tales. Merlin was able to hand out his gifts and Lance told him that he would wear the cufflinks to the party, gifting Merlin with a huge grin and a rather nice Waterman pen in return.

When Arthur finally arrived Gwaine was hugely entertained when Merlin stood up.

"You've gone all feudal on us, Merlin!" Merlin blushed, but gave his seat to Arthur. There was only the bed and a sofa which they had pulled over to face the bed.

"We will all eat together in my room this evening," Arthur announced. "Merlin, go and organise that will you?"

"Should I invite Lady Morgana?" Merlin asked and Arthur nodded so Merlin headed out.

Dinner was a very pleasant occasion. Hunith sat opposite Gwaine and Lance and Arthur had the head of the table with Morgana at the other end. Conversation was easy and Arthur had asked for a few decent bottles of wine to go with the chicken cacciatore that the kitchen sent up.

"Why don't you sit with us, Merlin?" Lance asked as Merlin finished the rounds with wine and water.

"I'm fine, Lance, really. It's not up to me and Martin will have a veggie option for me later, and Leon is supposed to be arriving today to help with security tomorrow."

"And besides, we need a place set for another person, but they haven't arrived yet. I gather there was a crash on the M5 today, so he'll be late," Arthur explained.

Merlin busied himself with setting another place up so that when Arthur's phone buzzed, he could go and fetch the last guest.

"Who am I looking for?" he asked.

"You'll know when you see him," Arthur grinned.

Gaius was waiting for him in the courtyard next to a taxi. Merlin couldn't quite believe that his whole family seemed to be here, and that Gwen would be in the castle the next day as well. He ran to Gaius and hugged him and then took his suitcase. Then he took him straight up to Arthur's rooms and showed him his seat, although Gaius had to hug Hunith hard before sitting.

"It must be almost ten years, Hunith," Gaius grinned, holding her tight.

"At least. Thank you for looking after my son," she responded.

Merlin thought that Arthur was looking rather proud of himself. He had gathered a group of people together who seemed to get along incredibly well. Lance and Gwaine were like polar opposites, but they both shared a delight in life and Lance laughed and blushed at Gwaine's jokes, which made him Gwaine's friend for life. Gaius and Hunith had a lot of catching up to do and Gaius told them about Alice and how she was planning to come and stay in Cambridge to see if they could make it as a couple.

Morgana was in her element, facilitating the conversation and keeping it light and fun, teasing Arthur and Merlin and finding out everything she could about Gwaine and Lance. Merlin kept the wine flowing and then disappeared for a bit to meet with Leon who had finished eating with the other staff.

"Lord Arthur has invited you to join him in his chambers," Merlin told his friend, nabbing a platter while he was there.

"What? Why?" Leon asked, bemused.

"Because he likes you. He said that you often play squash together."

Leon nodded. "We do, but I thought it was just… you know, anyone would do."

"Well, when I told him that you were coming this evening, he invited you to join him and his friends." Merlin gave Leon a rundown of who was there already and then he collected the tubs of ice cream that Martin had provided as dessert and Leon carried a huge silver coffee pot and cups.

It was in danger of turning into a party up in Arthur's rooms and they adjourned to the sofa and armchairs in front of the fire, dragging some of the dining chairs over to make up the extra seats.

"Merlin, you can sit and join us," Arthur invited to Merlin's astonishment, so he went and sat on the floor, next to the fire, leaning against Lance's chair and joining in with the laughing and teasing whilst keeping cups and glasses full and the fire roaring.

When everyone had finally left and Lance and Gwaine had been settled in a shared room, Arthur was left sitting and staring into the fire. Merlin filled his wine glass once more whilst setting the room back to order, then he approached and asked if Arthur needed anything.

"Sit down," Arthur offered, indicating the armchair. "Tomorrow you will be working hard, I'm sure. I wanted to make sure that you got to see your friends this evening."

"Thank you for inviting them, sir," Merlin grinned. "It was fun."

"I'm not sure I can trust Gwaine around my sister!" Arthur smirked.

"I'm more worried about Gwaine's honour to be honest! Lady Morgana is wicked!" Merlin chuckled. "Anyway, I thought she was more intrigued by Leon."

"Leon?" Arthur repeated. "Really?"

"He was quite surprised to be invited. I think he sees himself as staff rather than a friend."

"Leon and I were in the CCF together many years ago."

"CCF?"

"Cadet force. Children pretending to be soldiers. He was a couple of years older than me and he was promoted before me, but we got on well and then he did a stint in the Army, but came out after an injury. I persuaded my father to give him a job at the Lodge and we play squash or tennis every now and again."

"I didn't know that. How well do you know Gaius?"

"He was pretty much my family doctor growing up. He's always been there."

"He's been so good to me, he practically adopted me," Merlin smiled. "Do you need anything?"

"No, just bed. Are you going to sleep in here tonight?"

"I think my mum's probably asleep, so…"

Arthur made a 'that's ok' gesture, so Merlin got up and started the night routine, turning down the bed and warming pyjamas and generally doing what he usually did.

Arthur wasn't kidding about the busyness of the 31st December. Cleaning, polishing, preparing, decorating and generally getting everything ready. The kitchen was in turmoil and breakfast and lunch were served buffet style, which worked well for the friends as they could take food away and not have to deal with Uther. Gwaine wasn't sure if the ban from the college would carry over to the castle, so he was quite keen to hide from him, just in case.

Lance decided at lunchtime that he would go and find his friend, so he gathered together all the veggie items he could find and went off on a tour around the castle, starting with the hall. He eventually caught up with him in the laundry room fighting the steam iron.

"I thought you weren't going to do ironing anymore!" Lance said into Merlin's concentration, making him jump.

"Lancelot!" Merlin grinned. "I've swapped with George. Arthur had a go at me this morning because I hadn't pressed his suit trousers or his shirt, but I'm so crap at ironing, so George is doing those while I do the tablecloths for him. I hate this bloody steam iron!"

"Well, I brought you some lunch, even though it's 3 o'clock."

"It is?" Merlin gasped. "Give me a moment. Last time I did any ironing I ended up ruining a really expensive shirt. It was not fun." He quickly finished off the last tablecloth, turned the iron off and placed it properly in its cradle before folding the tablecloth and flattening it by hand. He put it on a pile of at least ten other tablecloths and then hopped up next to Lance on the counter.

"It's all veggie," Lance told him, handing over the napkin covered plate.

"Thank you, I haven't eaten all day! It's manic and the kitchens are not a fun place at the moment. Audrey has arrived and she's scary when she's under pressure."

"You work so hard," Lancelot sympathised. "Don't you ever get any time off?"

"Sometimes. The library here is amazing and they have a wonderful collection of Arthurian legend books including a piece I have never heard of before."

"I love your enthusiasm for such things. You seem to light up somehow," Lance grinned and Merlin blushed. He hid his reaction in his eating.

"I do really enjoy old manuscripts. I love the authenticity of it all and… they have lasted so long. I always wonder about where things go – over the millennia, jewellery and books and things that don't biodegrade have been dropped or lost and then we find them again and slot them into their place in history. I prefer books to items, so I didn't really want to do archaeology, but I may do one course as a part of my Tripos."

"I have to start thinking about what I am going to do next year. I have a place to do teacher training, but I'm not sure if that's what I want to do."

"You'd be an amazing teacher. You're really patient and kind."

"I think you have to be quite tough to teach. Especially PE."

"I really hated PE," Merlin admitted. "I'm not really athletic and… well, I'm clumsy too, so team sports were always a bad idea."

"We obviously haven't found your sport then."

"I have since discovered that I also hate golf, riding and cricket. I don't think I'm cut out for sports!" Merlin chuckled.

Suddenly Merlin's mobile dinged at him. "Oh now what?" he groaned and pulled out the offending item. "It's himself," Merlin rolled his eyes.

"I think that's the first time I've ever heard any Irish in your accent," Lance smiled. "It's cute."

"Well, I could get a lot more Irish, maybe a bit Anglo-Saxon!" Merlin growled. "I have to go, his majesty wants me. Thank you so much for lunch. After the party, maybe we will have more time?"

Lance grinned and Merlin escaped before he got lost in that smile and those dark, sparkling eyes.

The party was beautiful. There were at least a million lights in the courtyard where cars arrived and deposited people in beautiful gowns and suits. Others were walking up the drive where more lights guided them and from the top of the large tower a huge red flag few showing its golden dragon, lit up by flood lights. A blue carpet led the arrivals up the covered stairway to be greeted at the door by Arthur and Morgana.

Arthur had monopolised Merlin after he had finished his tablecloths. He and George had swapped their loads and Merlin had headed back to Arthur where he was being shaved by a barber who promised to give Merlin some lessons. Merlin didn't think that would be a good idea, given his legendary clumsiness, but Arthur was enthusiastic. Merlin also took the opportunity to finally have his own hair cut, to his great relief as it went especially 'bird's nest' when it got too long.

So Merlin had dressed Arthur carefully and placed every crease where it should be, tied his tie in a perfect bow, added the cufflinks and combed Arthur's newly cut hair. He had also shined Arthur's shoes and done everything possible to make him look like the Crown Prince of the castle.

Then he had shoved on his own black and white and headed off to the party to stand around again. There were specially hired waiters and caterers, but Arthur wanted Merlin to attend him personally, which meant that he had to follow Arthur around and wait. Not that Merlin had ever wondered, but now he knew why waiters were called waiters; there was a lot of waiting around.

It did mean that he was there to see Gwen arrive in a gorgeous navy blue velvet gown, hair done to perfection and a diamante comb in her hair that she said had been a present from Arthur. Arthur had been very attentive to her, kissing her hand and making sure that she was taken care of. She went and stood next to Merlin and looked like she was hiding.

"I feel like Cinderella," she told Merlin. "All dressed up and pretending to be a princess."

"You look beautiful, Gwen and Arthur really noticed you!" Merlin grinned when Gwen blushed.

"How come you aren't attending as a guest?" Gwen asked him.

"I guess because I am working for Arthur during the holidays. I prefer it this way to be honest… oh my god…!"

Gwen giggled because Lancelot, the bold and brave had arrived, wearing a very smart dinner jacket with a navy blue bow tie and his hair artfully styled.

"He looks lovely," Gwen commented, reading the truth on Merlin's face.

"He really does…" Merlin sighed. "He's dressed to match you. Something you're not telling me?"

"Coincidence, I promise," Gwen chuckled.

"He's coming over here!" Merlin whimpered and Gwen snorted in amusement.

"Gwen, Merlin, don't you both look lovely," Lance smiled. "Who can I coerce into the first dance then?"

Gwen stepped forward with a bashful smile.

"I'm working, I'm afraid, and I really don't think that Lord Uther would countenance two guys dancing together," Merlin opined.

"I'll stand in for you," Gwen offered.

Lance bowed, "I'd be honoured, my lady. And you, my lord, can imagine that I have you in my arms."

Merlin watched them head out to the dance floor and wondered if Lance was being silly, or if there really could be a chance for him. He imagined being in Lancelot's arms, hugging and twirling. He was a great dancer, so Merlin would be wasted on him with his two left feet.

"Ow!" A flick on his ear brought him back to earth.

"I asked you three times, Merlin," Arthur growled at him.

"I'm sorry, my lord. Do you need something?" Merlin blushed.

"I need wine. Anything to get me through this hell. Why is Lancelot dancing with Guinevere?"

"He asked her?" Merlin suggested and then trotted off to get the required wine before he got cuffed again.

Hunith arrived with Gaius, both looking lovely if a little old fashioned. Gaius cut a nice figure in his dinner jacket and Hunith wore a long burgundy dress that Merlin had seen in the wardrobe, but had never seen his mum wear. He took a photo of them and then fetched them both some wine, before heading back to Arthur's side.

Uther made a grand entrance, attended by Agravaine. Both men looked very imposing in their formal wear and many people actually bowed to Uther as he made his way to the throne that Arthur had used at the Medieval party. He really did love being the Lord of the Manor.

Arthur and Morgana followed him, with long-suffering expressions, as though they had done this a million times before, and then sat on lesser thrones on the dais, so Merlin went around the outside and took up a place behind Arthur's chair.

Uther gave a speech of welcome and then the food was brought out and the live band started to play.

Arthur danced with Gwen a number of times and sent Merlin to fetch food and drinks for them both. Gwaine spent a large chunk of the evening trying to get Merlin to dance with him, making Merlin laugh, and then he hit the bar and started chatting up anything in a skirt, including a couple of nice young Scotsmen.

Just before 11pm, Lance approached Arthur and whispered something in his ear. Arthur guffawed and nodded, then Lancelot came over to Merlin and bowed.

"Arthur says that I can steal you away for a few moments," he told him.

Merlin smiled and placed the jug he had been clutching on one of the tables, then he followed Lance out of the hall and into the courtyard. It was cold, but the lights made the place look magical and it was a lot less crowded than in the hall. Lance led Merlin over to the centre of the courtyard, next to the huge Christmas tree and then stopped and got his phone out.

"In France, the new year is about to begin. I know that you will be busy at midnight here, but I wanted a moment with you to myself."

"To yourself?" Merlin asked, part mesmerised by the dancing lights and partly by the gorgeous man standing next to him.

"To wish you a very happy new year… une très bonne année."

Merlin looked away from the lights and noticed that Lance was still holding his hand. He looked up at his friend and marvelled in his beautiful eyes. "Bonne année à vous aussi," he replied.

Lance grinned even more. "A toi," he insisted. "Look… dix, neuf, huit…"

They counted down together and at 'zéro', Lance kissed Merlin and Merlin felt it down to his toes. They pulled back and Lance looked up in delight at the little lights that danced magically around them.

"That's beautiful," he gasped and Merlin noticed them too.

"I didn't… I wasn't expecting…" Lance kissed him again and the lights danced again, like bubbles, drifting around. "I hoped…" Merlin admitted.

"You are amazing, Merlin. Would you consider becoming my partner?"

"Yes… you mean, like a boyfriend?"

"Exactly like a boyfriend, if you'll have me."

"Gods yes!" Merlin laughed. "Although, I'm sorry, but you'll probably have to share me with my Lord and Master."

"I'll take anything I can get," Lance grinned and kissed him again.

The light show dimmed and Merlin just looked at their linked hands and felt happier than he had ever felt.

"Oh…" Lance added "Happy birthday!"

"Not for another hour," Merlin grinned. "How did you know? I haven't told anyone."

"Your mum let it slip earlier. And in France it is now your birthday."

They kissed again and then Merlin, reluctantly, realised that he would have to go back. "I'm supposed to be working."

"I know. Arthur gave me ten minutes."

"Does he know… that you were going to…?" Merlin asked with some trepidation.

"It's not really any of his business, but I may have mentioned something."

"You asked him for permission?" Merlin teased, but Lance was serious.

"I understand, Merlin. I understand how he fits into your life and you already explained, but I'll take any part of you that I can get and if it means that I have to live with his involvement… well, we'll work that out too."

Merlin hugged Lance with joy and then asked him to accompany him back inside. They linked hands, Merlin feeling as though he was floating, and re-entered the hall where Gwaine took a surprise photo of them and hugged them both.

Merlin accepted hugs from Gwaine, who told him he was jealous, and he looked around for Arthur. "Do you know where Arthur is?" he asked.

"I saw him disappear off in that direction," Elyan said pointing towards the chapel. "He was with this blond bombshell."

"I'm supposed to be with him… Lance, I really, really want to be with you…but….l need to check on Arthur…"

"Is there a problem?" Lance asked quietly.

"Funny, horrid feeling," Merlin confided.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Lance asked and was rewarded with a blinding smile.

"I think it'll be OK, but thank you for believing me." Lance kissed him again quickly and then let him go.

Merlin set off in the direction of the chapel, which was next to the great hall. There were people there too, chatting and kissing, but when Merlin looked up to the gallery, he saw Arthur and the blond lady. He had no idea why that worried him, but it did. He headed for the spiral stairs that would lead up there and tried to ask his magic to help.

His magic extended his hearing – he could almost see it as it followed a path towards Arthur – and he started listening, although it sounded like they were underwater or something.

"You knew my mother?" Arthur asked and Merlin knew that there was something wrong. Information about his mother was like catnip to Arthur.

"I did."

"Tell me what you know!" Arthur commanded, but the lady laughed at him.

"There is a price," she explained.

"A price?!" Arthur demanded, scandalised. "How much?"

"Not that sort of price," the lady in the red dress carried on. "You must come to a place that I will guide you to and you will fulfil a challenge."

"A challenge? What are you on about?" Arthur asked angrily.

"You will come alone and you will do whatever I ask of you, and I will tell you the truth about your mother."

"But how will I know where to go?"

"I will text you directions. Now, I am going to leave and you will not see me go."

The red lady turned around and left Arthur standing still as though frozen.

"My lord?" Merlin said, approaching now that she had gone.

Arthur shook his head and gasped. "Where is she?"

Merlin frowned. "She went over there and down the stairs."

"What? No, she was here and then she… disappeared and you appeared."

Merlin frowned. "No, really, she ran over there and down the other stairs. But who is she?"

Arthur just looked and sounded dazed. "She didn't tell me her name, she just said that she was going to tell me something about my mother."

"Your mother?" Merlin asked as though he didn't know.

"Yes, she said that she would text me directions and that I had to do a challenge."

"You're not going to go though, are you?"

"Of course I am!"

"You don't know anything about her! She could be leading you into danger!" Merlin argued.

"No one will tell me anything about my mother. Father won't talk about her and I can't get anything out of Uncle Agravaine other than she was wonderful and beautiful and all that. Nothing personal. I only have one photo of her."

"Then you have more than I have of my father," Merlin told him. "How did she know your mother?"

"I don't know. I don't know anything, but I do know that I have to go. I have to learn what she can tell me."

"Arthur? Promise me something?"

Arthur looked at him weirdly. "What?"

"Promise me that… you'll take me with you?"

"No, she said to go alone," Arthur refused.

"I'm just your servant, I'm no one. Please?"

"Why?"

"To watch your back. To phone the police if something goes wrong. To be… backup."

"What can you do?" Arthur asked scathingly.

"Maybe nothing, but… please?"

"I'll think about it." Arthur looked at his watch. "Ten minutes to the new year. Go and fetch me champagne and meet me on the dais in the hall."

Merlin hesitated, but then nodded. "Yes, my lord."

He pilfered a whole tray, remembering George's tutorial on how not to drop and spill, and gathered up all the important people, who weren't the same group as the VIPs buzzing around Uther, and made sure that they all had champagne. By this time they were starting the countdown, so he went and stood behind Arthur's chair and Lance stood next to him as they got to zero and the balloons and streamers fell from their nets in the ceiling. The band was playing Auld Lang Syne and Lance gave Merlin a sneaky kiss hidden by Arthur's throne, while Gwen was kissed quickly by Arthur, a kiss which turned into something a bit longer and stronger, leaving them both a bit breathless and surprised.

Several people then went out to the battlements to watch the fireworks displays, both domestic and organised and Lance stood next to Merlin, watching him as he was entranced by the colours and noises.

People began to leave the party at about 2am, although there were plenty of revellers who wanted to just keep going till the morning. Merlin was kept busy with fetching coats and picking up glasses and plates from all over the castle. Unlike the village guests, these 'right sort' of people had wandered all over the castle, breaking things, dislodging things and generally making a mountain of work for the cleaners and staff in the morning. It was unbelievable where some of the 'No-my-guests-will-eat-from-china' plates had ended up, the ones balancing precariously on the balustrade around the chapel were saved, the ones in the ornamental fish pond annoyed Merlin greatly and the broken glasses in the toilets were intensely irritating.

It was as Merlin was sweeping up in the great hall, yawning like mad, that Lance caught up with him and gently took the broom from him.

"I've got to…" Merlin yawned.

"I'm sure that a man of your talents can come up with a better way to sweep the room?" Lance hinted.

Merlin frowned sleepily at him, then realised what he meant. "You mean…?"

Lance grinned and nodded, so Merlin looked around the room and let his eyes flash.

"I should check…" Merlin yawned.

"No, Gorgeous, you have to go to bed," Lance insisted.

"Gorgeous?"

"Hm," Lance smiled.

"Shouldn't that be my name for you?"

Lance chuckled at the seriousness of his question. "No. You are beautiful, but you need your beauty sleep."

"Arthur…"

"Arthur says you can go."

"Really?" Merlin asked, yawning again.

Lance looked around the deserted hall and asked, "May I have this dance?"

"No music," Merlin answered.

"We don't need any." Lance put his arms around Merlin and waltzed him towards the doors. Merlin put his forehead on Lance's shoulder and let him lead, just enjoying the closeness.

"I've never danced before," he told Lance sleepily.

"You should do it more often."

"Only with you," Merlin sighed and then he realised where they were. "I'm supposed to sweep the hall," he protested half-heartedly.

"You've already done it! Come on sleepy head. Let's get you back to your prince."

"You're my prince!" Merlin argued and Lance beamed at him.

All too soon they were at Arthur's chambers.

"Do you have to sleep here?" Lance asked.

"Yeah, I do," Merlin answered and he leaned forward for a kiss which made Lance light up again. "What? What did I do?"

"You kissed me… till now it was the other way around."

"I've never done this before. You may have to guide me a lot."

Lance pulled Merlin towards him for a strong hug, feeling sorry and glad at the same time. "Go on, go and check on Arthur. I'll see you in the morning."

They kissed one more time and Merlin pushed the doors open and went inside, feeling lighter than he had ever felt before.

Arthur was watching the fire when Merlin went in and he looked up surprised.

"I half expected you to be in a broom cupboard somewhere," he said, leaning back.

"Broom cupboard? Because I was sweeping?" Merlin asked puzzled.

"No, with your tongue down Lancelot's neck," Arthur grinned.

"Ew, no! He's a gentleman. No broom cupboards." Merlin frowned. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Arthur answered unconvincingly. "You're not… going to resign?"

"Resign? Why?"

"To head off into the sunset with your boyfriend."

"Oh," Merlin realised. "He really did ask you then?"

"I know how a father of a daughter feels," Arthur grinned. "Yes, he asked me if he could ask you out."

"That's because he knows that I won't leave you."

Arthur frowned. "Why? I mean, you have a whole life ahead of you."

Merlin shrugged, "and Lance knows that you are a part of that. He knows that I will be here, by your side as long as you will allow it."

"I think I must have drunk too much. It sounded like you were swearing undying loyalty or something."

"Yeah, doesn't sound like me," Merlin shrugged smirking. "Do you need help getting undressed?" he eyed the three champagne bottles on the floor next to the sofa.

"It's possible that I may fall over if I stand up," Arthur conceded.

Merlin helped him up and started removing his jacket and tie. "I saw you kiss Gwen," he commented, stashing the jacket on the valet stand.

Arthur grinned and looked drugged out, trying to waggle a finger threateningly which made Merlin laugh. "Don't you laugh at Gwen, she's special."

"Yes, my lord, I know," Merlin grinned, it seemed that the alcohol was finally hitting Arthur and making him loopy. He unbuttoned Arthur's shirt and put that on the valet stand too, then he pushed him back on the bed and knelt down to start undoing his shoes. "Where did you go? These are filthy!" Merlin frowned at the mud on the shoes he had polished.

"Um… garden, I think. She looks lovely in the garden."

Merlin sniggered at his master's dopey expression and then removed Arthur's socks, putting them directly in the linen basket. "Right, up you get, time for the trousers."

He had had some difficulty getting the trousers on him earlier as they did up with some complicated button/hook combination, and getting them off an inebriated Arthur was not the easiest thing either, but eventually they were down to pants, which Merlin whipped off quickly, knowing the routine already. He didn't often have to do this, but it wasn't the first time.

Getting him into his pyjamas was a bit like trying to dress an octopus, but eventually he guided Arthur into them and pushed him into the bed. He then fetched some water and tablets.

"Come on Arthur, don't go to sleep yet. Drink this." Arthur couldn't hold the cup steady enough, so Merlin fed it to him and wondered how this was his life. As soon as the water was mostly gone, Arthur slipped under the covers and fell asleep. Merlin chuckled again and went to bed himself, stoking the fire first and then laying back and replaying his evening with Lancelot.

It was confusing because everything he had ever read said that Lancelot and Guinevere were supposed to break Arthur's heart, but here was Merlin accepting Lance as his boyfriend. He smiled and fell asleep.

Breakfast was a brunch buffet. No one was particularly interested in getting up early, but Merlin's phone woke him up at stupid o'clock anyway. He didn't bother waking Arthur yet, knowing that he was going to be a total bear all day after all that champagne. He guessed that Arthur was going to be brooding about the lady in red again and whatever it was that she wanted.

He picked up food for his mum and Gaius who were both early risers and took the tray first to Gaius, who seemed very happy and wished him a happy birthday, then to his mum.

Hunith accepted her tray and then hugged him.

"Happy birthday my little falcon. Here, I brought this for you."

Merlin took the card and gift and opened them. His mum had bought him a pair of leather gloves, which he knew would be incredibly warm and useful. The card was, as always, homemade; a watercolour painting of a merlin in flight in his mum's exquisite style. Merlin couldn't paint for toffee, but he loved his mum's paintings.

There was a knock on the door and Lancelot peered in. Merlin beamed at him and ran to drag him into the room.

"Mum? We er…"

Lancelot took over. "I asked your son to go out with me last night and he accepted."

Merlin breathed in relief. He had been half afraid that it would turn out that Lance hadn't meant it or that he had dreamed the whole thing, but here he was, holding his boyfriend's hand and admitting it to his mum.

Hunith stood and hugged Lancelot. "I had guessed already after last night. Thank you. He's had a crush on you for a while now," she told him and Merlin blushed.

"I've got to go and fetch Arthur's breakfast," Merlin told Lance. "Do you want to come down and get some?"

"With you?" Lance asked.

"With me?" Merlin responded, confused, "You want breakfast with me?"

"Seems appropriate."

Merlin smiled and nodded shyly. He wasn't used to being of any interest to anyone except his Mum.

They headed down to the breakfast room and found a couple of people there already, but no one that Merlin really knew. He selected some eggs and toast and watched Lance do the same and then they went to the seats around the large table.

"Is this how this usually works here?" Lance asked digging in.

"Oh, no, usually there's only my master and the staff like Martin and me. I take him breakfast in bed and then eat with the staff if I have time."

Lance sniggered delightedly and then ate some more.

"What?" Merlin asked. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, not at all. So why is it this way today?"

"I assume it's because nearly every room in the castle has someone staying in it. The caterers said that this is normal and they do it every year. It'll be a bit like this for Twelfth Night as well."

"Twelfth Night? The play?"

"No, the party. Lord Uther invites his business associates and they have an Epiphany party."

"Ah, la Fête des Rois," Lance nodded.

"We have to take all the decorations down before that and tidy up after this party."

"Merlin, if I hadn't dragged you down to get breakfast, would you have bothered?"

"I… um…. I don't know. Maybe?" he hedged.

Lance held Merlin's arm and turned him to face him. "You need to eat. You work hard and you need to replace your energy. I'm a PE student, so I know about these things."

Merlin melted. "I'll try to remember. Sometimes there just isn't time."

They finished off their food and then Merlin collected a full English breakfast with beans, sausages and mushrooms for Arthur. He also collected a carafe of coffee and a small jug of milk, some sugar packets and a bottle of paracetamol.

"He eats that every day?" Lance asked, scandalised.

"No, but it's New Year's Day and he does enjoy a full breakfast. I don't always need to take him the pills either."

"Won't it be cold when you get there?"

Merlin's eyes twinkled. "Nope!" and Lance grinned back at him.

They walked up together and just outside the door, Merlin's eyes flashed and Lance saw the steam rise.

"Does anyone else know?" Lancelot asked.

"No, only you."

Lance opened the door for him and watched as Merlin crossed over and put the tray on the table. Merlin grinned cheekily back at Lance and then yelled, "Wakey, wakey!" and dragged the noisy curtains aside, flooding the room with light.

"MERLIN!"

Lance grinned and closed the door.

Merlin managed not to cry when his mum went home. It would have been easier if she hadn't looked so miserable at the very idea.

"You should move," Merlin said yet again. "Come and live back in England."

"I will consider it. Now, Lancelot, you look after my little falcon won't you?"

"I promise, Hunith, and with great pleasure."

Even Arthur waved, although he was shading his sunglass-covered eyes from the weak sunlight, as the taxi pulled away and Merlin was grateful that Lance was holding his hand.

Lots of the guests were leaving and Merlin found himself doing more lifting and carrying than anything else that day. Lance and Gwaine both helped once they spotted him almost falling down the spiral steps trying to deal with a particularly heavy case. Lance asked why he didn't magic it lighter, but he explained that he wasn't sure if the cases would float to the ceiling if he got the spell wrong, and he couldn't explain it if anyone were to see it.

Then Arthur shouted at him because he hadn't cleaned the bathroom, or changed the towels, or even removed the champagne bottles from his room. He also directed him, with a hand on Merlin's neck, to empty all the rubbish bins because his was horribly full and he didn't want to think about all the other guest rooms.

Lance couldn't help watching Merlin running around all day and wondering if this was normal. Was it usual for him to be busy the whole time and expected to do more? When did he fit in lunch? In fact, Lance and Gwaine ate with Arthur, served as usual by Merlin, who then dashed off to see if the washing machine had finished so he could put everything in the dryers. Arthur and Gwaine then went off to play squash at the local sports centre, so Lance chased around the castle trying to catch up with Merlin, finally finding him ironing the sheets.

At least he could talk with his boyfriend while he ironed sheets, but when Merlin got a text message from Arthur announcing their return, he shot off again with tea and coffee and dragged Lance with him, exchanging the drinks for the sweaty clothes which he then took back down to wash along with Arthur's other dirty clothes.

"Arthur?" Lance asked as they all sat with their tea. "Do you know how hard Merlin works?"

"Merlin?" Arthur chuckled. "He complains a lot, but he rarely gets everything done unless I chivvy him."

"Do you ever see him resting?" Lance asked mildly.

"He sits around in my room with a book, one of those squiggly writing books quite a lot and I have no idea what he does on that laptop of his."

"Ah," Lance nodded. "That'll be when he does his class work then."

"I don't know, he's got into trouble a couple of times over his classwork not being completed in time." Arthur selected a pastry and offered the others to his friends.

"Do you know where he is at the moment?" Lance insisted.

"Where is he?" Gwaine asked. "I haven't seen him since lunchtime."

"He's in the laundry room washing your sports clothes," Lance told them. "He has another six sets of bedclothes to iron and then he has to wash and clean Hunith's room so that Agravaine can move in, not that your uncle will do any of the moving himself. Then he has to clean the room Agravaine has been staying in."

"He sounds quite busy then," Gwaine commented neutrally, realising where Lance was going with this.

"It's not usually this busy," Arthur waved it off. "How long are you able to stay?"

"Term starts again on 10th January, so I need to be back in Cambridge for that, but I'm at a bit of a loose end. I was hoping to see something of Merlin," Lance told them and then he glared at Arthur. "And it's his birthday today."

"Really?" Arthur and Gwaine asked at the same time.

"Yes. I'm going to take him out to dinner tonight." Lance announced defiantly.

"He didn't tell me," Arthur said softly. "I'm sorry Lance. Take him out."

"Thank you Arthur, but I think that he will probably only agree to come with me if you allow it."

"He's very loyal," Gwaine chuckled, shaking his head. "If it wasn't your first date I'd tag along. I'll make it up to him though."

Arthur had his phone out and tapped a couple of times.

"Yes, what are you doing?" Arthur asked into the phone. "Well , stop doing that, you can ask George to take over…. No, this is an order. Hand it over to George and be in my room in the next five minutes. Yes five minutes… possibly, but I still want you here." He rang off.

"That's not quite what I expected," Lance commented.

Eight minutes later Merlin crashed through the door and screeched to a halt. "Sorry, I couldn't find George, so Martin started it and said he'd pass the message on."

"Hm, have you finished everything?"

Merlin looked a bit flustered as he replied, "Um… nearly? I haven't finished the washing yet and I haven't even done your room yet… I'm sorry, sir, I've been a bit busy…"

Gwaine was looking around Arthur's room as though trying to find whatever it was he hadn't done yet.

"Well I have an extra task for you." Lance was watching carefully, but he nearly missed the infinitesimal wince on Merlin's face. Arthur was drawing it out, but he eventually smiled. "I want you to take Lancelot out and entertain him. Use the credit card and take him out for dinner somewhere nice."

Merlin's jaw dropped open. "I… er… what?"

Gwaine guffawed and Arthur looked very pleased with himself. "Well, it is your birthday, isn't it?"

Merlin just looked shocked and beyond words and he looked from Lance, to Gwaine and back to Arthur.

"Um… yes?"

"Well? You had better get changed. You too Lance, I expect you to go somewhere nice for my servant's first date."

"I'll go and get changed and come back for you, Merlin, OK?" Lance asked.

Merlin was fine until Lance left the room, then he began to panic.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Gwaine asked and Arthur was frowning too.

"I… I don't know what to wear… I don't have anything nice… where is he going to take me? I've only got the black and white and I think I got chocolate on the shirt…"

"Hey, calm down," Gwaine caught hold of him. "Let's go and see what you've got. I'm a model, I do clothes! And you, Contessa, leave him alone." Arthur was snorting with laughter at the show.

It took some time, but in the end Merlin was wearing his suit trousers a t-shirt and the jacket with his grey coat over the top and a scarf.

"What the hell is that thing around your neck?" Arthur asked.

"Scarf?" Merlin replied, unsure.

"It looks like it was a scarf once, about thirty years ago! Where's your college scarf?"

"I don't have one…" Merlin admitted.

Arthur went to his wardrobe and dug around until he found his own and replaced the ratty old one. "Much better. You need to advertise your brains, you know. And brush your hair!"

Gwaine took charge of the finishing touches, so that by the time Lancelot returned, Merlin had almost-styled hair and clean shoes.

"I can't believe you're making me fuss like this! I'm not a girl!" Merlin growled.

"Might as well be!" Arthur laughed and Merlin stuck out his tongue at him.

"You look amazing," Lance decided, taking it in and feeling glad that he had gone with his black outfit, including the cufflinks from Merlin.

"Don't stay out too long and if you have sex, don't forget condoms!" Arthur warned, wagging his finger like an authoritarian parent.

"Yes, my lord," Lancelot said mock obsequiously, "He'll be back by midnight and I'll keep one of his shoes in case he turns into a pumpkin."

It was the best birthday Merlin could ever remember. Spent in the company of this wonderful charming man who was treating him like… well, actually kind of like a princess, but Merlin really didn't care. No one had ever spent time with him like this and the fact that it was the most handsome man he had ever seen just made him want to weep… just like a princess. They went to a real restaurant where there was a genuine vegetarian option, they shared a bottle of wine and they even got desserts. Lance told him all about his life and Merlin did the same and, when he was sure that no one was looking, he called a red rose into existence and handed it to Lance who put it in his button hole.

"When are you going to tell Arthur about… you know…?" Lance asked, wiggling his fingers.

"I don't know. I don't know how to tell him. I want him to know, but I can't just blurt it out. I don't really know why I have it. Originally it was so I could protect him, but he doesn't need protection."

"Maybe there will come a time when it will be the only thing that can save him?" Lance suggested.

"Maybe…" They were walking back to the castle the long way round. "Why are you OK with me doing my job with Arthur?" Merlin asked. "I mean, he takes up all of my time and… I was sent back for him."

"Maybe you were sent back for me too?" Lance offered. "Originally he… I… he…"

"Think of him as an alternate universe kind of thing," Merlin advised.

"Right, so he got between Gwen and Arthur, and eventually he gave up his life just because Gwen had chosen Arthur." Merlin nodded, agreeing. "Maybe I came back to make sure that Arthur and Gwen can be happy together and… maybe I came back for you?"

"For me? I'm no one. I just hang around in the background and try to make everything work out." Merlin sighed.

"Well, maybe this is your reward, because I have to say that if you are my reward for saving the world, then it was totally worth it."

They were on the castle grounds now, so Lance put his arms around Merlin and kissed him.

"Thank you Sir Lancelot," Merlin smiled. "You make me feel special and… I've never felt special."

"Gwen!" Merlin cried as he (literally) bumped into her in the kitchen the next morning.

"Merlin!" Gwen hugged him.

"Not the queen now?" Merlin asked and she blushed.

"No, I haven't seen Arthur since the party. How is he?"

"Good," Merlin grinned and couldn't help the happiness bubbling out of him.

"What?" Gwen asked.

"Lance… he asked me out! And last night we went out to the Excalibur and had a meal together, and Arthur paid for it!"

"Lancelot? He asked you out?"

"He's officially my boyfriend!" Merlin giggled. "I've never had a boyfriend before and now… tall, dark and handsome… blimey!"

Gwen hugged him. "I'm so pleased for you! You really deserve it."

They both carried on preparing breakfast for their employers and Merlin told Gwen a bit more about his date, while Gwen told him about kissing Arthur and how she was rather bewildered by the whole thing.

"Do you think he wants to go out with you?" Merlin asked as they ambled towards the family chambers.

"I don't know. I can't think that his father would allow him to go out with me."

"Surely that's up to Arthur, isn't it? I mean we aren't at the court of Camelot now."

"Merlin, I've known the Pendragons for a long time and Uther will be looking out for alliances with other big firms. Morgana and Arthur will be forced to marry for gain, not love."

"Uther is pretty terrifying, but surely Arthur and Morgana should be able to choose for themselves."

Gwen managed to shrug and not drop her tray, which impressed Merlin. "My mistress' room," she grinned.

"Oh, not just me then?" Merlin smiled a bit relieved, but he saw Gwen's questioning expression. "You called her your mistress…"

"Pendragon thing," Gwen shrugged again. "Although I love the way you make it sound like an insult! I've got to learn how to do that!"

They parted and Merlin went to wake Arthur up.

Now that the guests had mostly left, the chore list was a little lighter. Merlin still had to clean Agravaine's rooms, but when he finished and got back to clean Arthur's, Gwaine and Lance were there. He did a coffee run and then got down to cleaning the bathroom and sweeping and vacuuming.

As he was taking the vacuum cleaner back to the kitchen, Uther stepped out of his office and Merlin narrowly avoided yelping.

"Boy!" Merlin hated that. "Your master and his guests are required to share our lunch at 12.30."

"Yes, right, er… I mean, yes, my lord," Merlin bowed awkwardly with the cleaner in his hands.

"Lady Morgana will be there as well." It was an order.

"Yes, my lord," Merlin said again and then breathed when Uther went back into his office.

He passed the message on to Gwen and then went back to Arthur's chambers, slipping in while he chatted with Gwaine and Lance. He went to hover next to Lance, looking at Arthur.

"Merlin?"

"Your father sent a message, my lord. He wants you and your guests to have lunch with him at 12.30."

"Why?"

"I don't know, he just made it clear that you should be there. I guess I'm serving again," he shrugged.

"Do you ever stop?" Gwaine asked.

"I've stopped now," Merlin offered with a smile.

"Sit down," Arthur commanded, nodding at the sofa, which was rather full of Lance and Gwaine. No one missed Merlin's brief look of surprise. Merlin looked around and opted to fetch a dining chair and then sat down not too far away from Lance, suddenly feeling tired. "Explain something to me," Arthur added.

"Um… OK," Merlin agreed.

"What's with all the 'my lord's? I've never heard so many from you."

"I don't know… you told me not to call you Arthur anymore," Merlin offered.

"That's never stopped you before," Arthur smiled.

"If it helps, I call you much worse names in my head." Merlin beamed, especially when he saw Arthur trying not to look amused. "Do you need me to fetch anything?"

"No, you look like you need a rest," Arthur said. "Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday yesterday?"

"I didn't think you would be interested," Merlin replied bluntly. "I've never really celebrated it with anyone but my Mum."

Lancelot reached out and took his hand. "What about your friends?"

Merlin looked rather uncomfortable having everyone's attention on himself. "Well, um there was Will, but he moved back to Yorkshire and… it's not a good day really, everyone is too hungover." He turned to Lance and smiled. "But yesterday was brilliant, thank you, Arthur."

Arthur smiled proudly. "No problem. So, tennis this afternoon?"

"Tennis?" Lance asked, wrong-footed.

"There's an indoor court in Doddington and I know you play Lance."

"Yes, I do. It's one of my degree sports. What about you Gwaine?"

"I have played, but I'm not great at it. I don't mind watching you two get sweaty though!"

"Gwaine!" three voices chorused, and then laughed, which had been Gwaine's intention.

"So doubles?" Arthur asked hopefully, looking at Merlin.

"No… sorry… I don't do sports…" Merlin replied not particularly regretfully. "I wish I did, but I spent more PE lessons being banned from the lesson than playing. It's not safe; me and sports don't mix."

"You can be the ball boy then!" Arthur replied gleefully.

"Can't be worse than being a caddy," Merlin shrugged. "Or cricket nets."

"Ah yes, you are great at both of those things," Arthur beamed. "When this heap is mine I'm definitely building a tennis court and a pool."

"Now you're talking!" Gwaine laughed, lounging back on the sofa. "A nice, balmy, indoor swimming pool and floaty thing with the type of drink that needs an umbrella. That's my kind of sport!"

"It's just gone twelve, sir," Merlin pointed out. "Your father may want you to change for lunch."

Arthur grimaced. "Ugh! Another thing I'm banning when I inherit the throne! You two had better go and make yourselves look presentable. No jeans. I dread to think what he's going to say."

As Merlin had assumed, it took Arthur twenty minutes to get ready for lunch. He changed shirts three times and chose two different jumpers and pairs of trousers, then he chucked his shoes at Merlin and told him to polish them. It took Merlin pulling, tugging and smoothing all Arthur's clothes to make him feel in any way ready for the ordeal.

They all met outside the small dining hall at 12.25 where Morgana was loitering in a cream dress with beads, and they all entered together to find Uther sitting on his throne with Agravaine at his right. Morgana did a kind of nod and sat at his left, and Arthur took his own throne at the other end of the table inviting Lance and Gwaine to take seats on his right and left and there was a space for Gaius and another lady called Catrina who seemed to know Uther and was flirting with him embarrassingly.

Martin and Merlin were serving and Merlin could feel Lance's eyes watching him as Martin coached Merlin in how to present the food. Lance had told him how much enjoyed watching Merlin doing anything, but it felt to Merlin as though he had silent support from Lance. He was sent to Arthur's end of the table, while Martin did the Earl's end. Merlin tried to ignore his boyfriend's attention, but every now and again their eyes met and Merlin felt a little thrill go through him.

The point of the lunch became apparent when everyone had been served the main course and Merlin and Martin were standing behind their respective masters with water and wine jugs.

"Arthur, I wish to speak with you about propriety."

"Propriety?" Arthur looked baffled.

"There are standards that I expect and they are being flouted."

"I'm sorry you think so, Father. May I ask what in particular?"

"First there is the appalling misuse of the castle for the misguided.. party."

"Yes, Father, we have spoken about that at length." Arthur actually rolled his eyes.

Morgana hid her snort behind her napkin.

"Then there is the lack of respect that your servant shows."

"Father, has Merlin been disrespectful?" Merlin felt his insides clench. "And if so, in what way?"

Uther looked at Merlin who stood very still with his eyes lowered. He was dressed in his black and white and had even combed his hair, so he wasn't sure what he had done.

"I have spoken to Charles Aredian and he has told me the whole story, about the advances that your servant made to…"

Merlin felt as though his blood had turned to ice.

"That is a complete lie, Father." Arthur's voice was cold and very firm. "You did not see Merlin when he came to find me, terrified and hurt. You will not accuse him again and I will never allow Aredian anywhere near Merlin. As far as I am concerned, if he attempts to come back here, then I will be charging him with attempted rape. Do not push me on this, Father."

"That is not the only complaint against him," Uther continued, unbothered by the argument.

"He is constantly running around. This morning he ran from the kitchen to your chambers," Agravaine complained "and the mother of your servant… not only was she housed in my room, but she was sitting at the table with your father's guests on Christmas Day."

"I invited her, Uncle. She is a lovely lady and I enjoyed meeting her."

"She should have been housed with the servants!" Agravaine whined.

"Maybe next time I invite her I shall rethink her housing, but I did not want for her to be far away from her son."

"Your concern for your servant is touching, but inappropriate," Uther declared.

Merlin thought he could hear Arthur grinding his teeth.

"I apologise, Father, Uncle," Arthur said formally, as sincerely as he could pull off and carried on eating.

Merlin avoided looking at Lance, knowing that he was probably getting angry on his behalf as well. Instead he stepped forward and filled Arthur's silver goblet with a little more wine and a dollop of water as he preferred. He was impressed that his hands didn't shake.

"There is also a request I have to make of you."

"A request, Father?"

"At our Twelfth Night celebration I am inviting a few special guests. One of them is Catrina, Lady Tregor," Uther smiled at the lady sitting opposite Gaius. "Another is my old friend Lord Godwin and his daughter Elena. You will pay special attention to the Honourable Elena and accompany her during her stay."

Arthur did a quick impression of a gaping fish, and then quickly drank some of his wine, before composing himself. "Yes, sir, of course."

Uther looked pleased with himself and signalled for the main course to be removed whether anyone had finished or not.

"Now, explain to me who these two people are who are occupying space at our table."

Gwaine was clearly enjoying himself, trying not to laugh at how unbearable Uther was being. Lance, on the other hand, was glowering and had barely touched his food.

"Gwaine Knightson is a professional model and he came to my rescue at a recent incident in Cambridge. There was a brawl, during which he aided me. Lancelot Du Lac is a good friend who is considering applying to Camelot College to do his graduate conversion degree."

"We do not accept applications from universities other than our own," Uther declared flatly.

"Well, Father, we have a sports appointment to get to, so my friends and I will take leave. Merlin, you will bring our desserts to us when we arrive back home."

"Yes, my lord," Merlin replied as civilly as he could manage.

"You are no longer on duty here, you may bring us coffee in my chambers," Arthur added.

"Yes, my lord."

"Boy!" Uther snapped. Merlin paused and looked at Arthur.

"You have said all you need to my servant and he will come with me, Father. And from this term, I shall be paying him for his services, so you no longer need to worry about him. Come Merlin!"

"Yes, my lord," Merlin said putting the jugs down and bowing to Arthur, then he held the door for Arthur, Lance and Gwaine and followed them out.

Outside, in the corridor, Arthur grasped Merlin by the neck and said, "Well done and forget him. You work for me now, and my rules are the only ones that count."

"Yes, sir… thank you," Merlin replied, breathing hard.

The door opened again and no one missed Merlin's flinch, but it was Morgana exiting with flair.

"Your father is an odious control freak!" she declared. "Merlin, if he ever dares to get you back, then come to me."

"Yes, my lady," Merlin whispered and then he felt welcome arms around him. "I'm so sorry for what he said to you Lance," he apologised quietly.

"M'en fous, I didn't want to be a member of Camelot College anyway. I'll pick one of the good ones instead," Lance grinned.

"Hey, we can both be banned together!" Gwaine enthused, grasping Lance's arm, "it's an exclusive club you know."

"Lance, Gwaine, do you want to go and get ready to play?" Merlin asked, seeing Arthur move away. They both saw where he was looking and agreed to go. Morgana left to do her own thing and Merlin caught up with his furious master.

Arthur kept it in until he got to his own chambers and then he let rip, kicking walls and tables and punching into the pillow.

"I love my father," he yelled, "but sometimes I really hate him!"

Merlin held up a pillow so that Arthur could thump it, but kept quiet. Arthur did thump the pillow, sending Merlin back onto the bed, but he bravely stood back up again.

"How dare he talk to my guests like that? How dare he treat you like that? And then practically ordering me to marry that daughter of a friend of his! No way! Not a chance!"

He swung at the pillow again and sent Merlin back onto the bed, but this time Arthur picked up all the pillows on the bed and flung them around the room.

Eventually he flung himself on the bed and Merlin stood and waited, quietly.

"I need to get changed. I wish I was playing squash."

Merlin said nothing, but he fished out the tennis clothes and laid them out ready, then he found the tennis shoes (because of course Arthur would have specific shoes for tennis).

"Thank you, Merlin," Arthur suddenly said into the silence.

"What for?" Merlin asked.

"For being exactly what I needed. I didn't know you could be silent."

Merlin smiled a small, slightly mocking smile. "Do you want me to dress you, or would you rather sort yourself out?"

"I can manage," Arthur allowed a small smile on his own face. "I only get you to dress me so I can see you on your knees."

"I figured," Merlin acknowledged.

Tennis was another sport that Merlin hated. He was sent around collecting tennis balls, and then Arthur teased him mercilessly when Merlin was unable to throw the balls back with any accuracy. Lance started by being angry on Merlin's behalf, but then he realised that, after a glimpse of gold, Merlin's throwing wasn't quite as hopeless as it looked and that Arthur was having to duck, run, avoid or make a graceless catch each time, after which he just laughed.

Arthur wasn't actually great at tennis, so Lance beat him hollow, but Gwaine was equal with Arthur, so they played 2 sets each and Lance was declared the victor.

On the way back, Merlin and Lance sat in the back together and Lance was able to whisper in Merlin's ear that he had seen everything, which left a knowing grin on Merlin's face, especially as Merlin suspected that Arthur hadn't twigged.

That evening, as Merlin was clearing up the remains of the light dinner and handing out the delayed desserts from lunch, Arthur got a text, which he read and then looked at Merlin.

"Lady in Red?" He asked.

"Yes," Arthur replied. "She wants us to start following the trail tomorrow."

"You're not… you're not really going are you?" Merlin asked, getting a really bad feeling about the whole endeavour.

"Yes, I am going."

"Where and why?" Gwaine asked.

"I'm sorry, but this is something that is intensely private. Merlin only knows because he heard some of it, following me when he really shouldn't."

"Is it dangerous?"

Merlin said 'Yes!" and Arthur said "No," at the same time.

"Do you need back-up?" Lance asked hopefully.

"No," Arthur refused. "I'd ditch Merlin if I could, but he will probably come with me anyway."

Lance smiled, "You'll find that Merlin can look after himself as well."

Merlin rewarded him with a big smile.

"Well, I'm hoping that it won't be dangerous," Arthur admitted, "but I am also hoping to get hold of some information that I cannot get from anywhere else. It's very personal, so I am going to have to ask you two to amuse yourselves tomorrow."

Arthur waited until both men had nodded their agreement, then he sent Merlin for coffee.

The next morning saw Arthur waking up to the sound of Merlin's alarm. They both sat up and looked at each other, not needing to speak about what was going to happen today. Then Merlin got up and took his clothes to the bathroom, emerging a shower later fully dressed.

"What would you like for breakfast, my lord?"

"You're cross with me," Arthur surmised.

"Not cross- worried, anxious," Merlin corrected.

"Scrambled eggs and bring yours up here too."

"Tea?"

"Yes, and ask Audrey to pack a picnic."

"And you don't think that that's going to look suspicious? It's midwinter, not classic picnic weather!"

"Merlin, shut up and do as I say," Arthur commanded.

"Yes, my lord," Merlin responded again, shrugging, and he headed out, leaving Arthur to get himself up.

While Audrey was preparing everything, Merlin went to Lance and Gwaine's room and knocked, entering when he heard the sound of rustling.

"Sorry… Lance, can I speak to you?"

Lancelot exited just a few moments later, wearing pyjama trousers and a t-shirt. The sight was lost on Merlin who hung his head.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let him go on his own."

Lance pulled Merlin in for a hug. "I know." He waited till Merlin looked up. "Is it really dangerous?"

"I don't know. That's what is making me nervous I think, I just don't know what she wants."

"She?"

"No idea who she is, but she wants to show Arthur something and I'm afraid that… it won't be good."

"I'm going to track you with your mobile phone," Lance told him and Merlin smiled.

"Thank you," he offered and Lance kissed him.

"I've got to go. Avoid Uther if you can, but Morgana and Gwen are here, and Leon is a good guy too. The kitchen is safe and George is boring, but a really good man."

"We are both thinking that we will be leaving soon. We have to be gone by the 6th, so…"

Merlin's heart twisted, but he nodded, resigned. "You have things to do. Gwaine hasn't visited every pub in England yet," they both chuckled. "But… don't leave until we get back?"

Lance pulled him into a hug. "I would come with you if Arthur would allow it," he told his boyfriend. "I will have my phone switched on and charged, so phone me if anything awful happens. Where are you going?"

"I have no idea. She is sending us text messages to tell us where to go. She's evil, Lance. She has magic and she's using it for evil."

"There's no such thing as good and evil, Gorgeous. Just choices and intent."

"Well, she intends evil," Merlin smiled through his worry. "I'll use my magic if it will save his life."

"And yours. Save yourself too. I love you."

Merlin couldn't help smiling like an idiot. "I love you too. I'll see you very soon."

Lance kissed him and then Merlin went back to the kitchen to get their food. Audrey shouted at him for leaving it to get cold, but he took it anyway and refreshed the heat before going into Arthur's chambers.

"You need to clean the car," Arthur decided as they approached, Merlin carrying the picnic basket which was extra heavy because of the cooling lid.

"I'll do it when we get back," Merlin assured him, rolling his eyes. "where are we going first?"

"Somewhere near Birmingham," Arthur answered, climbing into the Volvo. Merlin stowed the ice box and then clambered into the passenger seat.

Neither spoke at all until they were half way up the M5 and even then it was innocuous rubbish. Merlin started chattering about nothing at all and Arthur swiped at him verbally about anything he could think of. They arrived at the location given and Arthur's phone binged. Merlin took it and read the message.

"She says… you were supposed to go alone. I've got to turn my phone off."

Arthur glared at him. "I told you!"

"I can continue as long as I turn it off," Merlin argued, pulling the phone out and sending Lance a reassuring message. He then turned it off and showed Arthur.

They waited a few minutes and Arthur's phone binged again.

"I didn't know that you could make texts unanswerable," Merlin commented, then he read out the next set of co-ordinates. Arthur punched them into the sat-nav and they set off towards Warwick.

They went to Cheltenham, then Hereford, where they stopped to eat a small part of the picnic, and finally she rang and Arthur answered the phone via the Bluetooth.

"You still have your companion with you," she said pointedly.

"He's my servant and I tell him everything," Arthur answered gruffly.

"No matter. Drive towards Abergavenny. I will contact you again."

They drove onward. "This is still a bad idea," Merlin ventured. "You don't even know her name. She could be setting us both up for a horrible death and no one knows where we are."

"Merlin, shut up," Arthur commanded.

"Still think it's a bad idea…" Merlin murmured. Arthur didn't take his eyes off the road, but his left hand shot out and cuffed the back of Merlin's head. "Ow!" Merlin complained loudly, whilst privately a bit impressed that they hadn't even swerved.

They received five more text messages that took them to a rundown farm yard where they were instructed to leave the car and carry on by foot. Arthur checked his pockets and found his penknife, a small first aid kit and, to Merlin's astonishment, a dagger. A real one.

"Stay behind me and keep your mouth shut," Arthur warned. He turned and wagged his finger at Merlin. "I mean it, no talking at all."

"Yes, sir," Merlin agreed and fell into step behind Arthur.

They were sent through a couple of fields, then down a very over-grown footpath to nowhere until finally they arrived at an over-grown ruin. It might once have been an outpost for one of the Marcher castles, but now it was just a mess… until they went around to the far side of the tower, where they found a cleared section leading to a door. The door was new and Arthur pushed it open and led them both inside, up some crumbly steps and out onto a floor which was cleared, but open to the elements.

The lady in red was waiting, wearing a thick red coat and waiting with a smirk on her face along with too much glossy lipstick.

"You found me then," she said.

"We did. Now tell me who you are," Arthur demanded through clenched teeth.

"I'm not sure that I should. I told you to come alone. Who is your friend?"

Arthur glanced back at Merlin who was looking scared. "He's my servant. He overheard us talking the other night and asked to come with me."

She looked at Merlin and then dismissed him, which Merlin was perfectly happy about. He didn't stop watching though. She had magic and he would not let her use it against his master without a fight.

"You promised to complete a challenge," she reminded him.

"I did."

The Lady in Red pointed at the remains of what had once been a wall and there was a gun placed there.

"Arthur…" Merlin warned, not liking this, but Arthur ignored him.

"Pick it up…" the Lady instructed and then when he had she carried on. "Put it to your head and pull the trigger. You said that you would do anything I asked."

"Arthur… don't do it…my lord… please…" Merlin pleaded, but of course Arthur did as he was told and picked the gun up. He looked at Merlin, put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

For Merlin it was as though the gun had exploded in his own head and cried out "NO!". His magic was useless and all he could do was watch.

The gun clicked and Arthur let his hand fall, his relief palpable. Merlin barely registered that Arthur was still alive and he dived towards the gun, grasped it and threw it away, then he grabbed Arthur by the arms and just told himself that he was alive, he was OK.

The Lady in Red was highly amused by the whole spectacle as Merlin wiped his face of tears and stood back and Arthur laid his hand on Merlin's shoulder.

"You passed my test Arthur Pendragon."

"Now, will you tell me who you are?" Arthur demanded.

"My name is Morgause," she told him with a smile that Merlin hated. He tried to keep his groan in, but surely Arthur knew… surely he could work it out… "You came to me for information about your mother. Would you like to meet her?"

"Meet her? How?"

This was not what Merlin had expected. Morgause from the legends was supposed to be the wife of King Lot, often interchangeable with Morgana or Morgan, and the mother of Mordred… and Gwaine actually, but she couldn't be any of that. She was supposed to be raising Mordred to hate Arthur.

"Have you heard of the Old Religion?" She asked with that infernal smile that showed that she knew too much.

"No… is that like pagans? Druids?" Arthur asked.

"Not really. I am a priestess of the Old Religion and I have studied magic. I can grant you your heart's desire."

"I don't believe in magic," Arthur told her flatly, but she merely smiled.

"You may change your mind. Follow me," she turned and glided deeper into the ruined tower. Merlin stood and watched, full of fear as Arthur followed the lady towards what looked like a stone font. As she approached flames rose up around it and she waved her hands over the flames, speaking in an old tongue. Merlin was still rather surprised that he understood it as she called this boy's mother to walk on the earth again and speak to him… but there was something wrong with it. It didn't quite mean that Arthur's mother would really appear… as though the shade would appear to be as Morgause wanted.

All around them a wind was raised. "Close your eyes Arthur Pendragon," the witch instructed and as he did so, the wind rose a bit more. It felt wrong to Merlin. This was magic that shouldn't be messed with and he shivered, then suddenly everything slowed and stopped. The ivy on the walls stopped still and the flames stopped dancing, there were no more sounds and only the three of them in that space were able to move.

"Arthur?" a new voice spoke and Merlin saw the face of a lady, wearing fine clothes and beautifully made up… which was not the way that a ghost of someone who had died in childbirth should look. She was pale and skinny, but her eyes shone blue just like Arthur's. "Arthur!"

Arthur opened his eyes and breathed, "Mother!"

"Arthur!"

"Mother?" his mother ran forward and they embraced.

"When I last held you, you were a tiny baby," she told him, pushing him back so she could look at him. She told him how precious those moments were when she held him and he looked at her. Merlin hated this. It wasn't right.

"It was my birth that caused you to die," Arthur stammered.

"You are not to blame!" his mother insisted, holding him again. "It was your father's fault. Your father chose to let me die. When I was in labour they told him that he could only save you, or me. He chose you and I died. I'm sorry, my son, your father betrayed me. He let me die so that he could have a son to carry on his name!"

"No…"

"Yes, my son. He let me die… but now that I see you, I would have given up my life willingly. I am so proud of you."

Suddenly the wind started up again and the shade was gone. Merlin felt physically ill and the air of wrong, wrong, wrong was not helping.

"No! Bring her back!" Arthur cried. "Bring her back!"

"I'm sorry," Morgause told him, all sorrow and pity. "the magic will only work once. I am truly sorry that you had to learn of your father's treachery in this way, that you had to hear it from your own mother…"

Merlin could only think rude words for the witch.

"I am truly sorry for your mother's betrayal at the hands of your father," she said again, repeating the words she wanted him to remember, then she glided straight past him and walked off up the stairs.

"Where has she gone?" Arthur asked and Merlin rolled his eyes. She had stopped Arthur's passage through time again so she could pull off a cheap trick.

"She has gone… Arthur… Arthur?" Merlin stepped forward, his heart hammering.

Arthur swayed and seemed to be trying to get his bearings, then Merlin saw the moment he pulled himself together. A furious expression covered his face and Merlin became truly worried.

"My Lord?"

Arthur didn't speak but strode off, back in the direction of the farm, stomping his way back to the car, while Merlin ran to keep up, fearing for what Arthur would do.

Back in the car, Arthur punched the castle's coordinates to get them home and then he drove off, determination on his face. Merlin tried to get him to speak, but Arthur didn't say a word. When the car needed petrol he made Merlin go and see to it while he brooded angrily and Merlin was relieved to see that at least he hadn't driven off while Merlin was paying.

Arthur didn't say a word throughout the journey and even when they eventually did arrive at the castle in the dark, he just climbed out of the car and slammed the door.

Merlin tried again, even grasping Arthur's arm, but Arthur shoved him off and into the wall of the corridor they were in.

"Arthur… don't do this… please…"

Arthur strode up to Uther's bedroom where Leon was standing guard.

"No one is to join us," Arthur snapped at Leon who held Merlin back. Then he strode into his father's bedroom and started shouting.

Merlin fought against Leon, but Leon was easily able to hold him back, so he pulled back and explained.

"Leon, please, he's going to kill him! He's going to kill Uther!"

"Don't be ridiculous Merlin," Leon scoffed.

"Please, believe me! He's going to kill him! Leon! Let me go!" Merlin fought again and then added a bit of magic and fought free, barging into Uther's bedroom where Arthur was challenging his father to fight. As Merlin and Leon made it into the room, Arthur threw his first punch, which Uther blocked, but Arthur threw his left hand into Uther's midriff and followed it up with a smash to the face.

"You killed her! You betrayed her!" Arthur raged. He pushed his father down onto a chair and then drew his dagger and held it to Uther's neck.

"Arthur! No!" Merlin shouted. "Don't! She lied! Morgause lied! That wasn't your mother! It was a trick!" He ran to Arthur and grabbed his hand holding the dagger. Arthur elbowed him away and pushed his father back down again, repositioning the dagger.

"My mother is dead because of him!" Arthur yelled, his fury making him shake.

"Don't! You'll never forgive yourself!" Merlin cried, "Please Arthur! Morgause hates your father… she lied!"

"Listen to him, Arthur!" Uther begged.

"You betrayed her!" Arthur yelled.

"Arthur… please… you've already lost one parent… don't lose your father too! Please, my lord!"

"You heard what my mother said! You heard her!" Arthur appealed to Merlin, teeth clenched and arm shaking in rage.

"That… that wasn't your mother," Merlin cried. "Morgause tricked you… she knew that you wanted to see her, and she gave you a vision… but it was… it was false…"

"You don't know that," Arthur spat.

"She hates your father and she wanted you to hate him too…" Merlin told him, wishing that he could have better words for him. "Don't ruin your life, Arthur… please… don't do it!"

"Listen to him…" Uther said again.

"You'll ruin everything if you do this. Your life will be over, the college disgraced…. Please, Arthur…" Merlin begged again.

Arthur pressed the dagger against Uther's throat. "Swear to me! Swear to me that you didn't cause her death!"

"I swear on my life that I loved your mother and not a day passes that I don't wish that she were still alive," Uther swore, a tear falling from his eye.

Father and son stared deeply at each other and finally Arthur dropped the dagger and collapsed, kneeling, sobbing on the hard floor while Uther grabbed his son's head and kissed his hair.

Leon grabbed Merlin's arm and drew him outside, closing the door on the scene.

"It's OK, Merlin, it's OK."

Merlin hadn't realised that he was weeping. "I thought he was going to kill him!"

"You saved them both. I have no idea what was going on there, but Arthur didn't kill his father."

Merlin slid down the wall and brought up his knees. Leon crouched down and asked, "Shall I get Gaius?"

"Lancelot…" Merlin stammered.

"Where shall I tell him you are?" Leon asked, his hand on Merlin's shoulder.

"I'm staying here until Arthur comes out. I'm not leaving him!" Merlin declared.

It didn't feel like too long before strong arms gathered him in and Merlin clung to Lance and tried to tell him what had happened. Lance held him, hugged him and kissed the top of his head.

"We should go to your room," he suggested.

"I'm not leaving him… sorry, Lance, I can't leave him…"

Lancelot grinned at him and hugged him again. "Of course not. We will stay here until you can see that Arthur is OK."

It was about an hour later when Uther's bedroom door opened and Arthur exited to find Merlin and Lance waiting. Lancelot stood quickly and helped Merlin up.

"Lancelot, would you allow me some time with Merlin, please?"

"Of course, Arthur," Lance agreed.

Then Arthur beckoned to Merlin and, after a quick kiss with Lance, Merlin followed Arthur to his bedroom, where Arthur threw himself onto his armchair.

"Thank you, Merlin."

Merlin folded himself down onto the sofa, perched on the edge, offering silent support.

"You stopped me. I… I might have killed him."

"Thank you for listening to me," Merlin said quietly.

"Do you believe in magic?"

Merlin looked down at his fingers and tried to think. "Yes, I do," he said eventually.

"So was that… what Morgause did… was that magic?"

"Yes."

"Not some kind of projection?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Why what?" Merlin asked, a bit baffled.

"Why do you believe in magic? Who believes in magic these days?"

A thousand possibilities ran through Merlin's mind. Would it mean an end to their friendship if he were to reveal his powers? Would Arthur see him as some kind of freak? Would he accept it as real?

Shaking, Merlin held out his right and said, "Forbærnen," and the little flame appeared in his hand.

Arthur pushed backwards into his chair, astonished. "What the hell is that?"

"Magic," Merlin told him. "I am Merlin."

"No…. that's not possible!"

"It's possible. I… I have had magic since I was born."

"How is it not burning your hand? Is it a trick?"

"No, It's a flame that I created to show light, but not heat." He extinguished the flame.

"That's not possible," Arthur insisted again.

"There's probably a scientific explanation," Merlin shrugged, "but… well, what you saw this evening… Morgause has magic too and she used it to create an illusion."

"That wasn't my mother?"

"I don't know for sure…. I've only been studying magic since I came to Camelot College, but… it felt all wrong. There was something dark going on there."

More tears fell down Arthur's cheek as he remembered the events of the day. "I wanted it to be real. I wanted it to be my mother."

"She was your mother, but she was manipulated to say Morgause's words," Merlin tried to explain.

"That… that was her?" Arthur asked like a lost child.

Merlin knelt in front of his master and took his hand, projecting friendship and comfort as strongly as he could. "It was your mother, but she was a shade, brought back to talk to you. Morgause wants you and your father to be ruined. If you had killed your father, then you would have been sent to prison and everything that you have worked for would be undone. I don't know why she hates you both, but she does."

Arthur bent forward, tears falling freely and Merlin took him and held him, comforting him as well as he could. He understood the longing. He would have done the same to meet his father, to know who he was and why he had abandoned his son and Merlin's mother, and he put all the healing comfort he could into holding Arthur.

Eventually Arthur calmed, so Merlin pulled back, resting on his heels.

"Do you want to change? Get ready for bed?" he offered. Arthur nodded, so Merlin pushed Arthur back into his chair and started to remove his shoes and socks. He then went to fetch pyjamas and pulled Arthur's jumper and shirt off. Arthur was strangely pliant throughout the whole thing and soon Merlin had him changed and ready, before settling Arthur in his bed. "Do you want a drink? Food?"

Arthur shook his head, still gazing into nothing. Merlin decided that water would help, so he filled a cup and brought it over, sitting on Arthur's bed.

"Thank you," Arthur murmured. "I can't believe it…" he carried on, still quiet and brooding. His eyes looked bright with tears and unfocussed.

"It's hard, but… it really was your mother. Magic is wonderous and can do so much, but it can also be used for great harm. There's a reason why they used to hold witch burnings, but too many innocent people died along with the guilty."

"Why would she do this to us?" Arthur asked. "She… she made me nearly kill my father!"

"You were pretty much enchanted, manipulated. And, Arthur, you didn't kill him."

"You stopped me, Merlin. You stopped me from making the greatest mistake ever." He moved his suffering gaze onto Merlin at last.

"You listened to me. Arthur… try to sleep? Your sleeping mind can help you to make sense of all this."

"You… you actually sound.. wise," Arthur said with a slight hint of a smile. "Don't go… don't leave me alone."

"Never, my lord." Merlin took the cup back and placed it on the bedside table, then he lit the fire magically – revelling in being able to do it openly, not that Arthur noticed. He slipped his own shoes off and then settled Arthur under the covers, making sure that he was comfortable and covered. Arthur turned over and Merlin sat cross legged on the large bed and settled in to wait until Arthur was properly asleep.

Merlin awoke the next morning in the middle of a dream where he was being attacked by man-eating butterflies. It took surfacing properly to realise that a) it was Arthur poking him and not vicious insects and b) that he was lying on Arthur's bed, curled up in the corner.

"What?" he asked stupidly.

"You're doing that ultra-loyal servant thing again," Arthur chuckled. "Sleeping at the foot of your master's bed."

"Oh… I must have dropped off…" Merlin frowned, yawning. "Sorry."

"Thank you… for your support last night. I… I was overreacting."

"No, you weren't. It was hard for me and… well, they're not even my parents," Merlin shrugged.

"Did I dream that you said… that you can do magic?" Arthur asked, ready to be laughed at.

"You didn't dream it," Merlin confirmed.

"You really can do magic?"

"Yes," Merlin responded firmly.

"Go on then."

Merlin looked a bit surprised and then thought about it. "Pick an object, anything you like, and I'll make it float."

Arthur looked around and then picked up a book from his bedside table. Merlin's eyes flashed gold, causing Arthur to make a slight yelp of surprise, and the book rose into the air. Arthur did what Lance had done and moved his hands all the way around, looking for strings or hydraulics or even a camera beam, but the book stayed stubbornly in the air. Merlin made it shift around a bit, going through the exercises that he had been working on.

"The first time I tried this I got Gaius' remote control stuck in his ceiling," Merlin admitted.

"How are you doing it?"

"Magic," Merlin snorted.

"But magic doesn't exist."

"Hm, clearly it does," Merlin pointed out.

"How did you learn? Can anyone do it?"

"I have always had magic and… I don't know. You'd have to ask Gaius."

"Gaius knows?" Arthur exclaimed.

"Yes. He can do magic too. And Lady Morgana."

"My sister can do that?" Arthur asked, his voice raising in register with each question.

"Not yet. She has only just discovered her magic and I haven't had time to teach her."

"This is… this is ridiculous…" Arthur breathed, slightly panicked. "Who knows?"

"About my magic? You, Gaius, my mum, Morgana and Lance."

"You told Lancelot?" Arthur frowned.

"He is my boyfriend, and I trust him."

"But not me?"

"Of course I trust you, I just showed you my magic!"

Arthur nodded, conceding the point, still looking a bit wild eyed. "What else can you do?"

"It has helped me in a fight, I managed to escape Mr Aredian because of it, and I could probably make suitcases lighter, but I didn't dare to with so many people around. I only rediscovered it a couple of months ago because my mum had a crystal in the flat which sort of turned it off."

"Show me the fire again." Arthur commanded, so Merlin held out his hand a called the flame into existence. "That's amazing…"

Merlin then made a ball of light and sent it floating up, then another and another with different colours in them so that they looked like fairy lights.

"That's beautiful, but… why?"

"Why"? Merlin asked, puzzled.

"What is it for? Why do you have magic? What can you do with it?"

Merlin tried to decide what Arthur was ready for, but wasn't sure that he could explain without sounding like a nutter… any more of a nutter.

"I… I will be able to do much more when I have regained my magical strength, but… it's all for you."

"What do you mean?"

"My magic… it's there for you. It…. I… I am meant to be your servant and… my magic… I was born to serve you."

"What? Why the hell would you say something like that?" Arthur asked, looking a bit wild again.

"This is really hard." Merlin ran his hand through his hair in agitation and, though he didn't know it, his eyes switched in focus from one to the other, making it look as though there was some kind of computer in there working. "I… you should probably talk with Kilgharrah."

"Who?"

"My supervisor. He's the real expert on this stuff and.. what you are asking me now is… it's huge, Arthur," Merlin tried to explain.

"Tell me a quick version," Arthur commanded.

"I am Merlin. The real Merlin."

"That's ridiculous."

"I know," Merlin agreed. "It really is, but I can do magic and… you asked why, and it's because I was created to serve the Once and Future King… and that's you."

"I am not a king."

"I know… you don't have to actually be a king to… be a king. It's more about creating Albion." Merlin tried to explain. "I'm only just picking up the pieces myself, so…" he shrugged. "It sounds so much better when my Supervisor says it."

"Why do you have to be my servant?"

"Because that's what I am. I'm not entirely sure why washing your underwear is a part of it, but…" he shrugged again. "You saw magic last night and it was the other, dark side of magic. Mine is light and I can't imagine wanting to kill anyone, while Morgause's is destructive."

Arthur gave that some thought. "Did you mean it when you said that… that was my mother?"

"Yes, she was your mother, but she was being controlled by Morgause."

Arthur sat back to think. "You were right."

"Really?" Merlin beamed. "About what?"

"When you said that sleeping would help me reflect on what we saw. I'm not so keen to kill my father anymore… I'm not going to talk to him for a while, but…"

"If I go and get dressed, shall I bring your breakfast up? You didn't eat last night."

Arthur nodded distractedly and Merlin grabbed some clothes and headed into the bathroom.

It was while Merlin was cleaning the bathroom that Gwen arrived, knocking on the door and letting herself in.

"Guinevere!" he heard Arthur enthusing.

"My lady sent me to fetch Merlin," she explained.

"Merlin!" Arthur yelled, so he flushed the loo and went back into the bedroom. "Why does my sister want to talk to you?"

"I expect it's to do with what I told you about this morning."

Arthur made an 'oh' face and nodded, so Merlin happily left Gwen to entertain him and set off for Morgana's room, remembering to knock for once.

"Merlin! Look!" She greeted him as soon he opened the door and he found her holding a flame in her hand.

"That's brilliant!" Merlin laughed. "How long can you hold it?"

"I think I'm at my limit now," she admitted, letting the flame die away. "What else can I learn?"

So Merlin gave her another magic lesson and they discussed who they should tell. "Gaius has been helping me," Merlin explained. "And my master knows."

"You told Arthur?"

"Yes, I had to after we met Morgause."

Morgana tensed suddenly. "Morgause?" Merlin nodded. "She was at the party. She told me that she could help me with my dreams and she gave me this."

'This' turned out to be a silver wrist cuff and Merlin found that he didn't want to touch it. "I don't trust her. She... did something scary to Lord Arthur. She... you'll have to ask him."

"What? What did she do."

"She showed him some magic and... I'm really sorry, I can't tell you anymore without betraying his trust."

"No... No, I'll ask him myself," she reassured him.

"I showed him my magic."

She nodded thoughtfully.

"I'm going to go and speak to Gaius. Shall I tell him about you?" Merlin offered.

"No... can you let me tell him? Thank you," she said as he nodded.

Gaius was interested in the bracelet and promised to look at it if Morgana asked. He also flinched when he heard the name Morgause.

"You've heard of her?" Merlin asked.

"Yes, although I can't remember why or when."

They went through a few more exercises with Merlin making more things float or fly. Gaius also wanted to teach him some healing spells and work on some new ideas. He was shocked that Merlin had told Arthur, but acknowledged that it would make things easier.

"How did he take it?"

"Much better than I thought he would, actually," Merlin said thoughtfully. "I have a painful memory of him telling me that all magic users are evil, but… well, it was different then."

"Alice has said that she will come and do some work with you too."

"You told her?" Merlin found that he wasn't upset, in fact it told him that Alice was special.

"She's much better than I am at magic. She was the other person I told you about at College."

"I'm glad you told her. It's really hard to just blurt it out. Alice is really special to you, isn't she?"

Gaius smiled and Merlin felt the comfort he always enjoyed around the older man. "She is very special."

When Lance, Gaius and Gwaine left in Lance's crappy old Ford Fiesta on the 5th, Merlin was unable to hold back tears, even though Lance would be in Cambridge when he and Arthur got back. He felt ridiculous, but it just felt wrong to be anywhere but where Lance was. They left as the castle was going through another clean-up, getting rid of the Christmas finery and putting up Twelfth Night, which was kind of Shakespearean/Medieval with lots of greenery and flowers, lights and candles everywhere.

Merlin was introduced to the buffer and had to polish the whole of the Great Hall, which was tedious in the extreme. Arthur came and watched him (and teased him, of course) for about ten minutes and then went off to the gym instead.

Uther and Catrina were joined at the hip, it seemed, and her creepy servant Jonas would appear suddenly where Merlin least expected him. He seemed to crouch or sit and watch with his feet tucked under him like some kind of…bird. But Uther was besotted with Catrina, and Arthur began to struggle with trying to like her.

"I don't think they are talking marriage or anything, but… Father's happy, that has to count for something," he told Merlin, frowning.

"Maybe she's just horrible and you don't like her?" Merlin suggested.

"My father is happy," Arthur reaffirmed and Merlin nodded and didn't say anything else.

Elena, on the other hand, was hilarious. She was awkward, tomboyish, more likely to beat Arthur up than dance with him. She had a horrible yellow dress to wear at the party and her weird, tubby maid was hopeless at making her look presentable, which Merlin thought was brilliant.

"She is lovely," Arthur told him through clenched teeth, as they watched her plodding around the dance floor with her father. She clearly knew the steps, but danced as though wearing wellies.

"I think she's cute," Merlin decided, watering Arthur's wine a bit more than he would like. "And I have no idea how anyone gets away with hair like that, but I admire it greatly."

"You just wish you could do so well," Arthur teased.

"I'm afraid I'd get lost in that haystack and have to resort to magic to get out again," Merlin sniggered. "But you did say that you didn't want to marry a wallflower."

"You marry her," Arthur suggested tersely.

"She's even less my type than you, and anyway I'm pretty sure that you're the one with the riches and the top position in a fancy company."

"You've cheered up," Arthur commented, but then he was called upon by his father to dance with Elena. "You did remember the protective steel caps in my shoes?" He murmured to Merlin.

Merlin gave a sly grin and got his phone out to video it in excruciating detail, although he noticed that Morgana was doing the same. She captured the moment when the dance was over and Elena grabbed Arthur in an awkward hug while Arthur stood stiffly, trying not to run away.

"Stop laughing or I will send you to serve Agravaine for the rest of the week." Arthur threatened.

"You wouldn't!" Merlin replied horrified,

"I'm pretty sure I would," Arthur smirked, so Merlin tried really hard to behave. Really hard. It didn't stop him from sending Lance and Gwaine a photo of Arthur being swirled around by Elena though.

After their third dance, Uther approached his son and told him that Elena had accepted to go riding Arthur the next day, with lunch booked at a pub a couple of hours away. Merlin was highly entertained by this until he was reminded of the stable duties that would be waiting for him when they got back. He decided to take his own hot chocolate and a good book to read.

There was no chemistry whatsoever between Arthur and Elena and the ride didn't improve anything. It wasn't that Elena was horrible, it was just that she was too boyish, too independent and…

"Not Gwen," Merlin suggested as Arthur drove them back to the castle.

"Not Gwen? What's that supposed to mean?" Arthur argued too loudly.

"Pretty damned obvious," Merlin murmured. "Ow!" He hated it when Arthur cuffed him like that when he was driving.

By the time Godwin and Elena left, it was utterly obvious that they were never going to be alliance material. Thankfully, Godwin was fine with that, even if Uther wasn't. So Arthur decided that he absolutely needed to be at the London office physically and dragged Merlin with him. This left Merlin with little to do while Arthur moaned at him for 'making a noise', 'interrupting' and 'turning pages annoyingly'. When he started throwing wadded up balls of paper at Merlin for 'clicking his laptop too loudly', Merlin decided that he had to go out.

"Go and buy yourself a new coat," Arthur commanded.

"What?" Merlin questioned as he was about to leave.

"Use your pay to buy yourself a new coat. And a proper suit because that one from Tesco's just isn't cutting it."

"It was from Marks and Spencer's," Merlin argued. "And, what pay?"

Arthur glared at him. "The pay you got for serving me, you idiot."

"I don't…"

"I have paid you for the Christmas holidays! Don't you ever listen? Now go and buy some clothes that don't look as though you stole them from a scarecrow."

Nonplussed, Merlin found a bank and checked, and found actual money in there. More money than he had ever had at one time. He could buy… a bike, and some shoes… and a suit and… possibilities crowded into his brain until he had virtually spent the amount three times over.

He didn't care what Arthur said, but Marks and Spencer's would always be a sensible place to buy clothes, so he found one and tried on a few suits until he found a black one in the sale that he could live with, so he bought it and almost immediately wanted to take it back. He also bought two white shirts and a pair of shoes, after which he had to ring Lance to check that he wasn't being stupid and wasteful.

"Send me a photo," Lance suggested, not berating him for either spending too much money or for being worried about the money. "I'm sure you didn't just buy the cheapest or the most expensive."

"No, you're right. I chose one I liked. Lance, there was more than £2000 in my account!"

"You work, so you get paid. Mon Faucon, you earned every single penny and you deserve to have nice things."

"Thank you Lance… aingeal " he added, trying out a nickname.

"What does that mean?"

"Angel," Merlin blushed.

"I like it, but I don't deserve it," Lance laughed. "Go and buy some books."

"Books?"

"Yes, those flappy paper things you love so much."

Merlin laughed and went to Blackwells and then Boots for essentials.

Arthur threw the keys at him and told him to stow his purchases in the car and then come back. While Merlin was dumping his (totally ridiculous, he had the receipt still, so he could easily take it back) suit and books in the car, Arthur booked a restaurant and then shepherded Merlin out with dire threats to walk there.

"I don't care how expensive it is or how little work you have done today, I'm hungry!" Arthur argued.

"And if you don't want to stand outside while I eat, you are coming with me."

It was only a chain restaurant that mostly sold steak, but did have a vegetarian dish that Merlin could live with, so they ordered, ate and drank and Merlin forbade Arthur from drinking beer or wine before driving.

"You enjoyed ordering me around didn't you?" Arthur asked as the waiter turned away.

"It wasn't horrible," Merlin grinned. "Thank you. I was about to look up the worst accidents caused by drunk drivers to persuade you."

"I'm glad you didn't."

"There are some really gruesome photos…"

"Merlin, shut up!"

Just over an hour later they left and headed back to the office in the dark. It was a business district, so pretty much deserted at this late hour, so neither were prepared for the gang of four that pounced on Merlin first. Before Merlin could even process the events, there was a knife at his throat and he was being told to empty his pockets.

"I… I don't have anything!" he told the hooded boy shakily.

"He's right," Arthur confirmed confidently. "He's totally poor. I'm the one with the money."

"Arthur? What are you doing?" Merlin asked shakily.

"Also he's a big girl's blouse and I don't really care what happens to him," Arthur added pleasantly.

"Thanks, I love you too," Merlin responded.

One of the other lads, who had been watching up till then, took a step towards Arthur and Arthur turned into a kick-ass superhero. Merlin watched as the boys ganged up and tried to take him down and Arthur just twisted one's arm up behind him and then pushed him to the ground, then ducked and tripped the second one so he landed on top of the first. By this time Merlin had a handle on his own fight and he banished the knife, making it reappear about twenty feet away. His attacker was too astonished to fight back, so Merlin pushed his head backwards and heard the crunch and howl of the kid's nose breaking.

"Oh… sorry…!" Merlin gasped.

For about ten seconds Arthur and Merlin just looked at the pile of defeated warriors and then Arthur suggested that maybe they should get back to the car. Merlin agreed and they walked away, barely registering that the hoodies were running off in the other direction.

Of course, once they were ensconced in Arthur's Volvo, which Merlin still hadn't cleaned, Merlin started panicking about security cameras and police investigations, until Arthur thwacked him harder than usual on the back of his head.

"Thanks, I guess," Merlin said as his brain started to work again.

"Those kids were looking for an easy target; steal some cash and buy their drugs of choice. They're hardly going to lodge a complaint."

"Are you sure? 'cos there are security cameras all around London and…"

"They will see two men being set upon by hoodies. They will see that the hoodies were disarmed without harm."

"Except for the broken nose…"

"Except for the kid whose nose you broke. But he's hardly going to complain. What happened to the knife?"

"I… um… told it go about twenty yards behind us," Merlin tried to explain.

"Told a knife to go?"

"Yes…?"

Arthur just laughed and pulled out of the garage.

Lance loved the new suit and told Merlin that his fashion sense was fine. Arthur thought it looked cheap, but Merlin honestly didn't care. He was even happier when Arthur announced that they were going back to Cambridge as Merlin had really had enough of the castle, with Uther and Uther's lady love and her creepy attendant. Leon decided that he would come back with them as he felt that he should really guard the Lodge and he wanted to run some interviews to employ a new guard. Arthur backed him up and Uther allowed it, so they (Merlin and Leon) packed and it wasn't too long before they were speeding (literally) back to Cambridge.

It was weird being back in Gaius' office again, Merlin reflected. The camp bed was not particularly comfortable, especially when compared to the bed he'd had at the Castle, and he felt a long way away from… whatever it was he was a long way away from. It couldn't be Arthur, because the git was really annoying and anyway Merlin was in love with Lance, but… he kind of missed being in the same room as Arthur. He supposed that, should it be possible one day, he would be happy in the same actual bed as Lancelot, but he wasn't quite there yet. He was only 19 years old and… he wanted to be in love, he thought that he probably was in love, he knew that he was definitely in lust, but how would he know? But if he did move back to the little cupboard next to Arthur's bedroom at the Lodge, he would miss Gaius.

They had two more days until term began, but when Merlin phoned Kilgharrah, the dragon told him to get to his office immediately.

"What have you done?" Kilgharrah roared at him as he entered through the door.

"Done, sir?" Merlin asked, trying to work out what the old man was asking.

"You've changed something significant."

"Changed something, sir?" Merlin asked, baffled.

"The events of this future are not the same anymore. Something has changed. What did you do?"

"I told Arthur about my magic…" Merlin offered timidly. The dragon could be a real… er… dragon.

"Arthur knows?" There was silence while the dragon pondered that, then he spoke and made Merlin jump. "No, there's more. You've done something else."

"I started seeing Lancelot," Merlin suggested.

"No. Your love life is definitely not of any interest to me."

"Oh…" Merlin realised. "I spoke to Morgana about her magic."

"You did what?" The dragon roared and Merlin thought that something was about to get roasted and it was probably him.

"She was frightened and I told her that there was nothing wrong with her magic and so I showed her how to do some fire tricks…" Merlin gabbled.

"Shut up!" Kilgharrah snapped and Merlin was immediately quiet. The dragon stood and paced, thinking things through, Merlin guessed.

"Sir? Do you know who Morgause is?" he asked timidly.

"Morgause! Keep away from her! She is pure evil!"

"She turned up and got Arthur to meet with her… she showed him a shade of his mother." Merlin told the dragon.

"You should have stopped him! You idiot! She could bring about the end of the world!"

"I couldn't stop him!" Merlin argued.

"You should have kept them away from each other! She may well cause it all to wrong again!"

"HOW?" Merlin shouted, making the dragon sit down suddenly. "How exactly was I supposed to keep them apart when I had no idea who she was! How was I supposed to stop Arthur from following her stupid instructions? As everyone is so keen to remind me at all times, Arthur is my master! If he decides that he doesn't want me around anymore how in the name of all the hells am I supposed to guide him? He can get me thrown out of the college and ruin me! He's a sodding Viscount! I pretty much have to do what he says, unless he tells me to do something really stupid, but I don't get to tell him what to do! He'd have gone without me and then how am I supposed to protect him?"

"I see your point," the dragon conceded mildly.

Merlin discovered that he was standing and pacing around the dragon's office now, so he sat down.

"What did she show him?"

"She showed him a vision of his mother who told him that his father had caused her death."

Kilgharrah sighed. "I don't suppose he killed Uther did he?" he asked sounding far too hopeful.

"No, I stopped him."

"Why?"

Merlin looked at the old man in astonishment. "Why did I stop Arthur from murdering his father? Why did I prevent him ruining his life?"

"All we need is for Uther to die and Arthur can start being the king of Albion."

"I'm not sure he could do much from prison," Merlin pointed out. "Things have changed since the Middle Ages and Arthur can't get away with sticking a dagger into his father now."

"A dagger… not a sword," the dragon mused. Merlin waited, but his supervisor didn't elaborate.

Five minutes passed and Merlin wasn't sure if he should speak or not. Then the dragon suddenly stood and cackled.

"I think it's time for you to visit the Crystal Cave. Go and attend your master."

"Um… sorry?"

"Go and be with him. Go on, go away!"

Merlin decided to obey that order and he went away.

Merlin finally got around to cleaning the cars, then spent the evening sitting in Arthur's room next to the fire cleaning rugby boots again after Arthur's training session. He only had half the team to do this time, but it was still annoying and pointless given that they would all get messy again as soon as they stepped out onto the pitch. He decided to learn a cleaning spell as a matter of urgency.

He still went back to Gaius' rooms to eat and sleep as he missed talking to the older man and there was something comforting about the smells of the dried herbs and the potions he made.

The next morning he got a surprise.

"You're up!" Merlin exclaimed. It was a shame as he really enjoyed waking Arthur up as violently and shockingly as possible. It felt like revenge for the bullying, even if it was a part of his job.

"Nothing gets past you, does it!" Arthur mocked, sitting at his table so Merlin could place his breakfast in front of him. "I got a phone call from someone called Dr Kilgharrah?"

"My supervisor," Merlin explained, settling into his normal 'standing-around-while-Arthur-sits' pose.

"Yes, he said that he wanted to send us… and I quote – 'on a quest'," Arthur mocked with eyebrow raised.

Merlin grinned knowingly. "He specialises in Arthurian Legend. He really wants to meet you."

"I have nothing to do with King Arthur," Arthur drawled, "it's just a stupid tradition in my family. Half my family is called Arthur, or Kay, or Vivian, or whatever."

"I think he is amused that I am serving you, he always refers to you as my master or my lord," Merlin chuckled. He knew Arthur would enjoy that.

"That's what I am," Arthur smirked. "But what is this quest and why does it have to happen next Saturday?"

"Did he give you any more details?" Merlin asked innocently.

"He said something about us going to find a Crystal Cave. What is he on about? He sounded like an old hammy actor."

"He kind of looks like one too," Merlin agreed. "He has been showing me these manuscripts, the original ones, and they tell a completely different story to the standard Arthurian legends."

Arthur waved his fork at the chair opposite his own and Merlin realised that he was supposed to sit down. That was very unusual and contrary to the Master/slave thing the Pendragons seemed to enjoy. He sat.

"Go on, what is this cave?"

Merlin thought about it. "I think it is one of the few places that has a genuine link to the old legends. Taliesin is supposed to be the guardian and there are links to Merlin and Nimueh."

"Didn't you say that you were Merlin?" Arthur scoffed. "I assume you had the same kind of childhood as I did with the teasing about King Arthur and all that?"

"Yes," Merlin agreed, managing to sound upbeat about what had been a horrible time of his life. He knew that he had a problem with bullies and that he was generally seen as a victim and easy prey. Having a stupid name had always been an open invitation.

"I learned fencing just so I could fight when kids attacked me with sticks," Arthur confided. "But I just turned it on them, beat them up and then pretended to knight them so they had to do what I told them!" he recounted smugly. "Being King Arthur isn't so bad!"

Merlin just hid his amused, and maybe a bit annoyed, expression. Arthur had never been the scrawny, skinny, pacifist kid and could never understand what it was like to be weaker and picked on.

"So, can we go?" Merlin asked.

"Go?"

"To find the Crystal Cave?"