*peers around corner cautiously* *ducks tomato* he he sorry for being gone so long guys I- *ducks knife* OH COME ON! aaaaannnnnyyyywwwwaaayyyyyy Im soooo sorry for not updating I've been so busy lately I want to scream, I will try to updat quicker but no promises I have a lot going on right now. To Guest who gave me my first death threat on this fic THANK YOU ive been wondering when I would get them, anyway please read and review

Disclaimer: yep I own Merlin

Merlin: No you don't!

Me: shhh my precious shh *hugs Merlin to self while slowly petting his hair*

Merlin: *Uncomfortable* uuuuhhhh, can you let go?

Me: shhhhh

Merlin: right um, well I'm leaving now *pushes me away and runs for his life*

Me: damn, so close... maybe I should set a trap? hmmmm...

Merlin woke up to Gaius coming in the door. "Come on my boy, time to get up."

"Noooo," Merlin groaned, rolling over and pulling his pillow over his face "The prat can go one day without breakfast" he heard Gaius chuckle softly to himself.

"It's time to go Merlin, time to go back to Aria." Merlin sat up quickly as Gaius finished talking. His hair was askew and his clothes wrinkled, he had just woken up after all.

"Aria?" he asked brightly, his face lighting up with his signature grin. "Aria!" a few minutes later and he was stumbling down the short stair case and into the physicians chambers, the physician just looked up from the sandwich he was making for Merlin and chuckled.

His ward stood before him clothed rumbled and hair disheveled his bag that he had brought with him to Camelot on his back and though he couldn't see it Gaius knew Merlin's shih staff was strapped to the bag, it was spelled to be invisible so know one would see it.

Looking at the young man before him he was suddenly reminded of how much Merlin had been through since he came to Camelot. The boy that had lumbered into his chambers all those years ago was gone, in his place was a wise young man who had seen far too much for his age. From the outside he looked much the boy that Gaius had first met, his hair was longer, he was slightly taller and a bit more built though. Other than that you couldn't tell the difference, unless you looked him in the eye at the right moment. Most of the time you couldn't see it and it was hidden but if you looked at him when his guard was down you would see it. Wisdom far beyond his years, and the look of someone who had lost far too much and seen too much death and pain, the look of someone who has seen things never meant for human eyes done things that haunted him everynight and every day. But you could only see it for a second otherwise he was just a happy young man who was naïve to the cruelties of this world when in reality he knew them better than any.

Gaius watched his ward proudly as he came into the chambers and when the yound man reached him Gaius pulled him into a strong hug. "you can do this my boy." He whispered softly into his ear "I know you can." He then let a teary-eyed Merlin pull away and look at him.

"Thank you Gaius. I mean it thank you." Merlin said, his voice shaky. The old physician simply nodded and stepped back before shoving the sandwich he had made for the boy into his hands.

"Now go." He said pushing his ward gently toward the door "The knights are waiting for you." At this Merlin perked up slightly and ran out the door but not before yelling one last goodbye to Gaius over his shoulder. Once Merlin was out of sight the old physician made his way to a window in the corridor that looked over the courtyard to watch his son in all but name, leave.

Merlin flew down the stairs, bag on his back and sandwich in hand, when he reached the courtyard he found his horse already saddled and ready to go. He rolled his eyes, he would have to talk to his knights about doing stuff like that for him because while it was nice they were knights and to everyone in Camelot he was a servant. He then saw Gwaine looking at him with a large grin and knew it wasn't a knight of Aria who had readied his horse. Merlin just sighed and rolled his eyes fondly before fastening his bag on the back of his horse and swinging himself into the saddle. A few minutes later and the large group was ready to set of to Aria but before they could they had to bid a formal farewell to Arthur.

Arthur stood at the bottom of the steps leading into the courtyard in his formal attire with his crown on his head.

"Knights of Aria" he began, drawing all attention to himself "I sincerely apologize for not being able to assist your kingdom as much as I wish but I am welcoming Queen Annis into my kingdom this afternoon and naturally I must be here." He said and Sir Richard nodded in acknowledgment as his horse stepped back slightly, "however," he began again "Sirs Gwaine, Leon, Percival, and Elyan wish to accompany you and help you win your kingdom back. So without further ado I wish you all the best of luck and wait anxiously for my Knights safe return." Arthur finished, emphasizing the word safe. The group then turned and rode out of the city.

As the large group rode away from Camelot Percival turned around in his saddle, a knowing expression on his face.

"You're not really visiting your mother, are you Merlin?" he asked, grinning.

"Nope" Merlin said, grinning and popping the 'p' the knights laughed and Leon scowled.

"You shouldn't come to Aria Merlin, it isn't safe for you." Leon couldn't see the Knights of Aria stifling their laughter and a smirk on Sir Richard's face. he did, however, notice when Gwaine burst out in laughter.

"Leon mate, Merlin can take care of himself." Gwaine said, sobering up "he has ridden into many battles with us and come out unshaved." Merlin winced slightly at this, it wasn't completely true but he wasn't going to tell them that.

"He has a point." Percival continued "plus, he never wears armor or even has a sword, which in retrospect is a really horrible idea." He finished, non- chalantly and shrugged. The Knights or Aria scowled.

"You took him into battle unarmed and unprotected?!" Sir Owen exclaimed angrily, the knight of Camelot looked at him in surprise. Owen looked like he was ready to destroy the knights of Camelot singlehandedly but Merlin approached him on his horse and placed a comforting hand on Owen's shoulder. Much to the surprise of the Camelot knights he, instead of shaking the hand away, relaxed slightly. The surprise grew as Merlin spoke.

"Calm, Sir Owen, Im alive." The knights of Camelot gaped at Merlin and he blushed but said nothing else.

They soon continued on and as they rode Gwaine watches as the Knights of Aria subtly surrounded their prince protectively, luckily the other nights of Camelot failed to notice.

Finally on the way to Aria! there will be a lot of overprotectiveness of Merlin btw, anyway hope ypu enjoyed and pleeeaaaaassseeeee review.