Merlin took a glass of champagne for something to hold, noticing that the liquid rippled slightly as he trembled. Hunith reached for a second glass, taking a delicate sip as she looked around. Will, lurking protectively on Merlin's other side, took one as well, so as not to feel left out, taking a gulp which almost drained the little plastic glass.

"There are a lot of people," Hunith observed.

"Yes," Merlin said nervously, trying not to feel self-conscious as a few people looked at him. It was probably nothing more to do with Merlin other than the fact his portrait hung at the end of the room. Two of him, as Dragoon took pride of place next to Arthur's portrait.

"I mean for a little art show," Hunith said. "I wouldn't have expected so many people."

"Hello!" a bright voice announced and Gwaine bounded into view.

"Hello Gwaine, what are you doing here?" Merlin asked.

"I got invited," Gwaine said, looking immensely pleased. "I never get invited anywhere."

"Are we to now make jokes about why?" Will asked. Gwaine frowned.

"You could," Arthur said, appearing next to the small group. "But I think most of them have been done."

Gwaine beamed. "Indeed they have, thank you!" he added as he took a glass of champagne and lifting it up staring at it intently.

"I invited him," Arthur said, taking another glass. "And Morgana."

"And Percival and Elena," Merlin commented as they walked into the room, Elena's arm linked through Percival's.

"And a few others," Arthur said. "I thought you might want the moral support."

"What about you?" Will asked.

"I never invite anyone to this things, except my mum, and my dad always knows to turn up. I don't like people looking at my pictures."

"What's the point of them then?" Merlin asked.

Arthur shrugged.

"Maybe he's hoping they will become valuable when he dies," Gwaine said. "That happened to... someone... probably everyone... who's famous now."

"No, I just get a bit self-conscious."

"I don't, about the pictures," Merlin said. "Will brought the comic books to go with it."

"Cool, where?" Gwaine announced bounding off in the direction Merlin pointed. Arthur smiled.

"You ought to do one of Gwaine fixing Kilgharrah's wing."

Merlin nodded. "I could do. Shall we look at..."

"Sure," Arthur said. "Hello."

"Hi," Elena said, beaming brightly, looking immensely pleased with herself. Percival looked down at her, hardly seeming to believe that she was holding onto his arm. Arthur had noticed that Percival seemed to occasionally look in Elena's direction and look amazed by her presence. Merlin has said it was cute, Arthur just knew he hadn't felt the same when he had been out with Elena, but it was starting to occur to him he sometimes did it when he was with Merlin.

"Is that it?" Elena added excitedly as she looked to the far end and looked at the two pictures.

In what seemed like mutual agreement they started to drift to the end of the room to look at the two pictures. Dragoon looked very dramatic, his blue eyes twinkling with knowledge, his red robe seeming to swirl around him. The one Arthur had drawn of Merlin had a different tone, it somehow looked more sedate compared to the activity of Merlin's picture.

"This is great Merlin!" Gwaine said, his nose buried in one of the comics that Merlin had drawn a few years ago, and Will had carefully laminated, taking the stapled pages apart, cutting them down the middle to laminate each one and then he had re-bound them, keeping them safely in his room, almost as a totem, believing that if he kept them safe, then somehow he was keeping Merlin safe. Will wasn't quite sure it worked but Merlin stood next to him, staring at the portrait that Arthur had done of him.

"It's not too bad," Merlin mused.

"Thanks, Merlin," Arthur said.

"That's not what I meant!" Merlin told him crossly. Arthur raised his eyebrows. "The drawing part is good, I didn't know if the me part would turn out all right."

"That makes sense," Arthur said. "I think."

"I get it," Will said.

"Ah just the two people I wanted," Katrina said, pausing by the group, looking at Arthur and Merlin. She glanced at the two portraits that she had put in pride of place. "I was hoping to get people to say a few words about their pictures. Not everyone but I thought, you two, or one of you."

Arthur felt conscious of the fact that Merlin had drawn closer to him.

"I can, I don't mind," Arthur said, throwing himself on the sword.

"I could as well, I think," Merlin said. "About Dragoon."

"If you're happy to," Katrina said.

"Well, I can go first and then if Merlin's feels all right he can."

"If not I'll just wind up the presentation," Katrina said easily. "Most of the art speaks for itself."

"No, I'll do it," Merlin said suddenly. He glanced at Arthur, then at Katrina. "I mean, my one's more... No offence,"

"None taken, I think."

"You know what I mean," Merlin told him crossly, making Arthur smile.

"I do. Shall we have a look at some of the other exhibits."

"Yes," Merlin said.

As he and Arthur moved away everyone seemed to take some sort of hint. Will and Hunith continued to stand in front of Arthur and Merlin's work, eyeing the pictures carefully, and talking between themselves. Gwaine stayed absorbed in the comic books. Elena and Percival were circulating the room the other way, and had met Leon and Vivian heading in the other. The only one who clearly didn't take the hint was Uther as he came through the door, spotted Arthur and Merlin and headed straight over.

"Hi Dad."

"Son," Uther said, leaning over to hug Arthur. Merlin watched it with interest. He wouldn't have expected Uther to be so demonstrative, but the exchange seemed utterly natural.

"Hello, Merlin," Uther said.

"Mr Pendragon," Merlin said politely. Uther looked around, glanced at Merlin and Arthur and then Arthur raised his eyebrows as Igraine entered the gallery and headed towards them.

"Hi Mum," Arthur said kissing her cheek.

"Arthur. Hello Merlin,"

There was a round of greetings as Igraine leant over to kiss Merlin, and Merlin moved closer to Arthur, taking his wrist as Igraine turned to Uther.

"Uther."

"Igraine. Shall we...?" Uther indicated to the end of the room, offering to take his ex-wife's arm.

"You're not subtle," Arthur informed them.

Uther turned to him. "You are a grown up Arthur, we aren't required to be."

Merlin watched them walk away before leaning towards Arthur. "Are they back together?"

"I didn't think so, until now."

"Are you bothered?"

"Like my dad said, I'm a grown up, I guess whatever they do is none of my concern."

Merlin shrugged. "At least everyone came."

"Did you think they wouldn't?" Arthur asked. Merlin stared at him.

"You just said you don't invite people to these things."

"I don't... usually. However, I though you might like them to come. It's nice to have familiar faces."

"Or so I think," Merlin said. "You didn't need empathic powers for that one."

"No, I probably didn't," Arthur said. "Come on, Katrina's starting up."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Well, I think I've got more to say," Merlin said, picking up from the point where Arthur seemed to tail off.

"On the night that Arthur started the portrait of me, I did my one of Dragoon. That's what he caught me doing," Merlin said. "The story behind Dragoon the Great, as I call him, started when I was about five and I was given a toy dragon for Christmas, which I still have, and Gwaine once had to fix."

Gwaine bowed his head and raised his champagne glass, beaming happily at being a hero.

"I wrote comic books, most of which Will has, and he bought some for tonight. Dragoon used to be a sort of signature, I'd pop him in a dark corner, so he didn't have a face, until I gave him mine," Merlin mused. "I supposed you could wonder why I did that, but I don't, so there."

That flat statement caused a ripple of laughter.

"And that's it really. I've been through a lot and I think, this has come through, or this is me coming through it. I think?" Merlin looked to Arthur for that.

"I think so."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

They left Hunith talking to Igraine and Uther. Arthur could sense Merlin's vibrating need, so he took charge and they decided to walk to the pub down the road. It was well known to Arthur, and more of a wine bar than a pub, but it would be congenial enough for them both to cope with.

Igraine had invited them to eat with them, and Arthur got the feeling that the invite for Hunith and Merlin to sleep over would have been the next step for her. However, Arthur, with foresight, shut that idea down. His mother had been confused, and slightly displeased, by his order not to extend the invitation.

"It's only polite."

"I know it is. But this time, don't do it. Merlin won't cope with it."

As he had watched Igraine's eyes widen it occurred to Arthur that he had never really challenged her before. He did his father, quite easily. But something about his mother made him stop. Until now.

"He won't. He's fine at my place, and at home. Don't give him the worry of having to decline."

Arthur felt oddly empowered by standing up to his mother. Who looked hurt and couldn't understand the breach of etiquette. However, she did as Arthur asked and didn't mention it. It probably would have been fine, Merlin would have happily stayed over, if he could sleep in Arthur's bed; naked. Which brought up too many explanations which no one wanted to give. Hunith and Uther could have probably coped with Merlin's quirks.

"Are you all right?" Merlin asked, as they turned the corner and they were caught by the lights of the pub.

"I think I offended my mother. She was going to ask if you and your mother wanted to stay over. I told her not to, and I couldn't really explain why."

"Without sounding utterly weird," Merlin said.

"I don't mean it quite like that."

"I know you don't. I understand what you mean. I don't think any of our parents can work out what's... between us," Merlin said. Arthur pushed open the door to the pub and herded Merlin in. There were some quiet spots, Arthur clocked one area, and decided to take that, unless someone beat him to it. Merlin tailed him to the bar, fumbling around in his pockets for the ten pound note that he had somewhere.

"I'll get these," Merlin said. Arthur raised his eyebrows and said nothing, sensing, easily, that Merlin wouldn't take no for an answer. Merlin scowled at him.

"What?" Arthur asked.

"Sorry, I thought you were going to argue."

"And I didn't. Not worth the effort, although you seem to think it's some kind of obligation to... pay for something. Thank you for the pastels by the way."

"You already said that," Merlin said, then he frowned and looked baffled as he stared at the drinks behind the bar.

"I'm saying it again. Are you coming to art class again this week?"

"Yes, I like it. I might start my new cartoon. It's got a knight in it."

"What can I get you?" a voice announced. Arthur turned and ordered two pints. Merlin had drunk beer before, and Arthur couldn't think of anything else at the time. It would be relatively harmless. And Uther was picking them up in a while, so he wouldn't have to worry about driving.

Once Merlin had paid and Arthur took command of the drinks, they settled in a quiet corner, saying nothing for a moment. Merlin stared at his pint and then took a sip. Arthur did the same.

"So what does this knight do? Rescue helpless maidens?"

"Not telling."

"OK," Arthur said, leaving it at that. "You did well tonight, speaking. I was rubbish, I never know what to say."

"You did, it was in your head, it just wasn't translating to your mouth."

"Thanks," Arthur said.

"That's why I did it for you," Merlin said.

"So you knew what I was thinking," Arthur said.

"Not in words, just that sense. It's got stronger over time."

"I don't think I'm getting better at it," Arthur said taking a sip of lager.

"That's my fault," Merlin said. "I locked you out, when you kissed me."

"I said I was sorry about that."

"Don't be sorry about the kissing bit. Just the trying to get into my mind bit. I didn't mind the kissing."

"Didn't you?" Arthur asked, putting his pint down with more force than he probably meant to, but he didn't notice, because he was staring at Merlin in amazement.

"No, I mean, you know I'm gay right?"

"Yes," Arthur said, wondering how he knew that. It wasn't the first time he just knew things about Merlin, throughout the entire time he was catatonic, he just knew things about Merlin. Why not that fundamental fact?

"So, the kissing was fine, it was just..." Merlin tailed off and shrugged.

"You've been in my head."

"I never sort of pushed in, except when you let that twat Mordred into your head."

"Sorry about that."

"The crisp aisle in Tesco was rather sorry too."

Arthur smirked. "So kissing you is fine, not probing your head."

"No, actually, we're sort of mutually connected, but that was me, when I met you."

"Was it?"

"Yes," Merlin said, looking embarrassed. Arthur smiled, he presumed at this point he could pull Merlin up about that. But then again, it was Merlin's only means at that point, to communicate. Arthur decided he was just being an ignorant prat about it.

"That's a bit strong," Merlin said.

"You actually get the words? The actual words... sometimes."

"From you, yes. Morgause was like... a hissing noise in the back of my head, something insidious worming it's way in."

"Which you were fighting?"

"Yes, I didn't fight you. Before you even walked into the room I could feel you... you blocked her out, almost completely."

"Seriously?"

"The others around me got a sense of me, you I sort of connected into your brain."

"On purpose?" Arthur asked.

"Yes."

"Oh."

They looked at each other for a moment, then Arthur glanced out of the window.

"My dad's here. Do you want to stay at mine again tonight?"