"Seems you're a hero."

Merlin glanced up to see Gaius coming into his room. "Hard to believe, isn't it?"

"No. I knew there was something special about you from the moment I met you." The warlock flinched, though it went unnoticed by the physician, who was unwrapping a book. "Here, I borrowed this from the royal library for you. Be careful with it. There's no telling what Geoffrey would do to you for damaging one of his books."

"This is a book on armor and tournaments," Merlin said, flicking through the book once it was handed to him.

"Quite. Arthur will want your help with his armor, especially with the tournament coming up. And you'll need to know about tournament etiquette before then. I'm sure you haven't learned much of that in Ealdor."

"Thanks," Merlin said, setting the book aside before sighing. "How am I going to get through this? I don't know the first thing about being a manservant or dealing with nobility, let alone royal prats." Especially royal prats who want me dead.

"My first tip, don't call the prince a prat," Gaius deadpanned before his face softened and he set his hand on Merlin's shoulder. "Don't worry, things will work out."

"You think so?"

"Arthur was the first person you met in Camelot, was he not?" Merlin nodded. "And now this? Something is definitely pushing you two together."

"My destiny," Merlin muttered, remembering the dragon.

"Indeed."

A knock sounded from the door to the physician's chambers. "Merlin, Prince Arthur wants you right away."

"Your destiny's calling. You'd better find out what he wants," Gaius chuckled, tilting his head towards the door.

"Prince Ar-" the guard cut off as Arthur threw open the door.

The prince glared at his new manservant and said, "About time." He grabbed the boy and dragged him into his chambers. He waved off the guard and shut the door before turning to Merlin.

The warlock flinched and backed away. "So… Did you want to -"

"You really are a complete idiot, aren't you Merlin. I tell you not to let me catch you using m-m- that and what do you do? You use it in front of not only me, but the rest of the court, including my father. You know, when I asked you if you wanted to be executed, I didn't actually think you were actually suicidal."

"Hey, I told you next time I'd just let you get impaled," Merlin said, raising his hands in surrender.

"This isn't a joke!"

"Who says I was joking?" Merlin muttered.

"If my father knew what you did -"

"Then why didn't you tell him? I broke your rule, it would have been the perfect opportunity." Merlin questioned. It had been bothering him since the events of the night before. He had been sure Arthur was going to turn him over the moment he could get a word in edgewise, even as Gaius had sent him away from the glaring prince. He had been up past midnight pretending to sleep until he finally realized the guards weren't about to burst in to drag him away.

Arthur groaned and pushed passed Merlin to stand in front of a window. "I can't accuse you without proof or else I'll look ungrateful."

"But… you saw me using magic."

"Everyone in court saw what you did and none of them figured out you used it. Bloody hell, I know you used it and I can't figure out how."

"Well, I just -"

"Don't."

"Um, right. As you said, you know I used magic. You've seen me before. Isn't that your proof?"

"And have to explain to my father that I knew you were a sorcerer and let you go?"

"You're worried about making your father mad?" Merlin joked, moving towards the table.

"Even simply harboring a sorcerer is a crime punishable by death."

The warlock froze. "Your father wouldn't have you executed, would he?"

"My father has made vows to uphold the laws of this kingdom, as have I," he added the second part quietly, more to himself.

"But you're the prince! His heir and son! Surely he wouldn't -"

"If my father did nothing, it would make him look weak. He would sentence me to banishment. Temporary, of course, because I am the heir, but still. If he's extremely lenient, I might only get time in the dungeons, but… well… my father's never been known to be lenient. Especially concerning that. And he did make a spectacle of making you my manservant. That would surely cause him embarrassment if you're discovered and that won't make either of our cases better. So no, he probably wouldn't execute me, but…" Arthur trailed off, back stiff.

"I-I don't know what to say. I didn't realize that - When you let me go -"

"It was supposed to be one time. A repaid debt. We weren't ever supposed to see one another again. This wasn't supposed to happen, not unless I was taking you down for attacking Camelot."

"I-I'm sorry."

The prince snorted. "Everything's gone mad."

Merlin shifted nervously, not knowing what to say.

Merlin was reading through his armor book in Arthur's servant's quarters when the door leading to Arthur's room slammed open alongside the prince's shout of, "Merlin!"

Merlin flinched, snapping the book shut as Arthur's laundry, armor, shield, and sword clattered to the ground.

Arthur glared at him. "Were you using that again?"

"No."

"What's all this, then?"

Merlin glanced at the fallen items and shrugged.

"I should hand you over to my father."

"Maybe if you didn't give me so much stuff to do, I wouldn't need my magic's help," Merlin huffed.

"Maybe if you were doing your job instead of lying around then it wouldn't be a problem," Arthur shot back.

"I'm not just lying around. I'm studying." Merlin gave the book a shake, letting it fall open to show the armor diagram.

"No amount of studying could make you any less of an idiot," Arthur scoffed, earning himself a glare from the warlock. "Now come on, I need to leave for the reception. Help me with my cape."

"Of course, Sire, " Merlin snorted, tossing aside the book.

"And no more using… that."

"Whatever you say."

" Merlin."

"That was much better. Not that it could have got any worse."

"See, my studying paid off. So next time -"

"Next time, you'll do the work the normal way or I'll throw you in the stocks."

Taking a bite of sausage, Arthur narrowed his eyes at the warlock nervously fidgeting with his clothes.

"What did you do?" he asked when he couldn't stand it anymore.

Merlin jumped and turned to him. "What? Me? I didn't do anything."

Arthur stared at him until he started to squirm.

"I'm telling the truth. I didn't do anything."

"Then who did?"

Merlin glanced away.

"Merlin."

"Valiantisusingmagic!"

Arthur blinked. "Was that supposed to make sense?"

Merlin flinched, then repeated himself, slower.

Arthur scoffed. "Valiant may be obnoxious -"

The warlock snorted.

"- but he's a knight. He wouldn't lower himself to that."

"I saw him, Arthur," Merlin started, before going into how he'd felt something was weird with the shield when he'd fetched Arthur's armor, but had put it down to imagination until he and Gaius had been looking over Sir Ewan and realized he'd been bitten by a snake. Then he described what he'd seen in Valiant's room when he'd went to investigate.

"And you didn't feel the need to tell me this?" Arthur growled. Someone was putting his people in danger and this warlock was just going to keep quiet.

"Of course I did, but…"

"But?"

"Gaius said not to say anything," he answered, shoulders up near his ears.

"You told Gaius?"

"About Valiant, not me. I thought it might help him heal Sir Ewan but he said he would need the venom from the snake."

Arthur frowned and stood up. "Why would Gaius want to hide it from us?"

As he slipped behind the changing screen, he heard Merlin begin to clean up his mostly empty breakfast dishes and reply with, "He said it would be my word against Valiant's and your father would never take the word of a servant over a knight. That I'd only get myself in trouble."

Arthur's eyes narrowed, but he conceded the point. He considered the problem as he changed. When he stepped out, he waved off Merlin's attempt to help him with his armor and grabbed his sword. "Where was Ewan bitten?"

"On the neck."

Arthur nodded and strode out of the room. "Bring my armor."

"Hey, wait!" Merlin shouted, but Arthur continued on. A moment later the warlock appeared at his side, arms laden with armor and an affronted look on his face. "Where are you going?"

"I want to get in some light practice while the other knights are breaking fast with my father. You can dress me after."

Merlin grumbled under his breath, but Arthur ignored him. They walked like this for a few moments before Merlin said, "This isn't the way to the fields."

"I'm aware, Merlin. We need to go to the armory. You forgot one of my gauntlets."

"What? No, I didn't! I didn't even take your armor to the armory last night!"

"I think I know more than you, Merlin."

The warlock opened his mouth to object, but Arthur sent him a look that told him to shut up so he instead chose to glare at the floor with a pout and mutter traitorous things under his breath.

When they reached the knights' quarters, Arthur kept an eye and ear out and was assured that the area was predictably empty. As such, Arthur didn't break his stride at Valiant's door, pushing through it with a hissed, "Keep watch."

The boy gave a quiet yelp, but quickly hushed himself and didn't follow Arthur.

Glancing around, Arthur spotted the shield leaning against a chair. He raised his sword and approached.

Nothing happened.

He got close enough to tap his sword against the intertwined serpents and still nothing. He glared at the shield for a moment before huffing and turning to confront his servant.

He made it two steps before a shadow rose up behind him. He spun around, his sword coming up on instinct.

The snake fell to the floor in two pieces.

Releasing a shaky breath and keeping the shield in his line of sight, he grabbed a used towel from next to the washbasin and wrapped the snake in it. He gave the shield one last look then slipped out the door, sheathing his sword as he went.

He dropped the towel onto Merlin's load and gave him a glare. "Did you bring that salve I told you to get from Gaius?"

The warlock looked at him with bemusement.

Idiot.

"No, of course you didn't," Arthur said before he could respond. "We'll have to go fetch it before we head down."

He heard Merlin gasp as he started towards Gaius's chambers.

"Shut up, Merlin."

He glanced over his shoulder to see Merlin giving him a vapid smile that was just a little too proud and… something else to be genuine.

The towel had disappeared into the pile of armor.

Arthur led the way to Gaius's, then pushed through the door without knocking.

He, unlike certain servants, was a prince and was allowed such privileges.

"Your Highness," the court physician called, turning away from his patient. "How can I help you?"

"Merlin forgot to ask you for more muscle relaxing salve."

Gaius gave the boy a look, but he was too busy glaring at Arthur to notice. "I'll get it right away."

"Before that," Arthur started, holding his hand out to Merlin.

The warlock stared at it with a touch of annoyance, but no other recognition.

"The towel, Merlin."

He frowned before giving Arthur another vapid smile, this one cloaking a smirk.

He then proceeded to dump the armor he was carrying to the floor.

"Merlin!" Arthur and Gaius shouted as one.

"Here you are, Sire, " he said, blinking innocently as he passed Arthur the towel.

The prince gave him a look that promised punishment before turning back to Gaius. "Merlin said Sir Ewan ran afoul of a snake. I happened across this one in the knights' quarters and thought to bring it along in case it was the same one and could help with his treatment."

The physician looked between the two and sighed. "What trouble are you two up to?"

Merlin's shoulders crept up to his ears, but Arthur puffed up. "I have no idea what you mean."

Gaius hummed and took the towel from him.

He set it carefully on a table and pulled the head out. He looked it over with a curious eye before shuffling over to the cot and leaning over to hold it up to Ewan's neck.

"The bite's the right size," he confirmed, straightening. "I'll need to make the antivenom."

"I'll leave you to it, then. Merlin can pick up the salve later." Arthur threw his arm around Merlin's shoulders. "I think he'll likely need some as well. I believe I'll do a bit of shield practice before the tournament." The prince laughed at the warlock's scowl and turned to leave. "Grab my armor, Merlin. Hurry up, now."

Arthur didn't hear his response, but he did hear Gaius scoldingly call out Merlin's name.

"Prince Arthur!"

Arthur looked up from watching Merlin adjust his chain mail to see a guard run up to him and drop into a bow. "What is it?"

"The court physician sent me. He said he went to check on Sir Ewan during the break and he has awoken. He is requesting your immediate presence."

Prince and servant shared a look and Arthur nodded at the guard. "Thank you. Return to your post." Once the guard had bowed and left, he turned to Merlin. "Inform my father that I had to see to an urgent matter and will return in time for my match then meet me at Gaius's."

The warlock sent the king's box a nervous glance, but nodded.

Arthur turned to head to the castle, only to catch sight of Valiant glancing away. He narrowed his eyes at the knight and continued on.

Merlin caught up with him when he was halfway to the court physician's chambers. "Your father said to hurry back. He didn't look happy," he panted.

"Neither did Valiant."

"You think he's onto us?"

"He at least knows something's going on. Keep an eye on Ewan. He's our only witness so we can't risk Valiant silencing him."

Merlin nodded then fell silent, staring at the ground. He broke the quiet a few moments later to mumble, "Thank you."

"What?"

"For believing me. Thank you. I know I'm not exactly your favorite person and you don't really trust me."

Arthur waved it off. "I would hope even you are not fool enough to lie about that given your circumstances."

"Still, thank you."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Quit being a girl, Merlin, and get the door."

"Prat," the warlock muttered before jogging forwards to open the door. He gave an exaggerated bow. "Sire."

The prince ignored his antics. "You wanted me?"

It wasn't Gaius that answered, but Ewan.

"Prince Arthur, it's Valiant," he said, attempting to sit up before the physician stopped him.

"What about Valiant?"

"The snake on his shield, it came alive."

Arthur frowned and straightened up, pushing down the victorious feeling. "You're sure?"

"Aye. It was magic, no mistaking it. It was like the snake peeled right off the shield. And it struck me at his command."

Arthur turned to Gaius. "Do you still have the head?"

The physician nodded and grabbed the snake's head off a nearby table.

"Was this the snake that bit you?"

Ewan stiffened when Gaius held up the head for him to see. "Yes, Sire."

Arthur nodded. "I was near Valiant's chambers when I found it. My father needs to be told." Arthur turned to Gaius. "Will he be well enough to appear? My father will want to hear his account."

"He should be fine for a short visit if he has help getting down, but he'll need to rest right after."

"I'll be sure a guard is waiting to help him down." He turned back to Ewan. "Rest up until you're summoned. I won't have you dying to Valiant's treachery. I'll leave Merlin here to help you clean up so you can appear in court with the dignity you deserve."

"Thank you, Sire."

"Where is this witness?"

"On his way."

"My Lord, this is -"

Valiant cut off as the doors opened to allow Ewan to enter, the guard Arthur had sent to help him and Gaius following just behind. Merlin trailed after, a dopey grin on his face and a basket in his arms.

Arthur sent the basket a look and Merlin shrugged. He rolled his eyes at the boy and turned back to his father and Valiant. The latter's face was pinched as he stared at Ewan.

"Sir Ewan, my son claims Sir Valiant is using magic. What do you know of this?"

"I was the one to alert him, My Lord. During our bout, Sir Valiant called forth one of the snakes from his shield and ordered it to attack me. I have been in a haze since and would have died if it were not for your physician."

"A haze?" Valiant said before Uther could speak. "Could your haze not have been the cause of such an idea? Perhaps your mind could not handle your loss."

"Unlike some, I can handle a loss with honor," Ewan said.

Valiant took a step forward, but paused when Gaius cleared his throat. "If I may, Your Majesty?" he asked Uther.

"Speak."

"The reason we were delayed was that another serpent, like the one Prince Arthur faced, found its way into my chambers," the old man said, gesturing Merlin forwards.

Arthur stiffened as he realized the boy's basket was hissing softly.

"An infestation?" Valiant offered.

"I might have believed so, if the creature had not bypassed myself, Merlin, and Rodric here in a desperate attempt to attack Sir Ewan." He nodded towards the guard. "Rodric saw most of it."

The guard bowed when the king turned to him. "It is as Gaius said, Your Majesty. The serpent passed me without my realizing it, but I spotted it just as it passed where Gaius and his ward were working. I drew my sword and called out a warning, but the boy must have spotted it as well because he was already darting over to grab a basket to trap the thing in."

"Thankfully it only just made it onto Sir Ewan's bed before Merlin grabbed it," Gaius continued. "He likely would not have survived another bite, antivenom or not."

"Which would have been beneficial to Valiant, no doubt," Arthur said.

"Sire -"

Valiant cut off as Uther raised his hand and approached Merlin. "Let me see the snake."

Merlin bowed his head and shifted the basket in his arms so he could hold it in one and open it with the other. He carefully opened it just a crack so the king could peek inside.

Uther glared inside before pulling back and waving Merlin off.

The boy quickly shut it and backed away.

The king studied Valiant's shield and nodded. Turning to the knight, he said, "I have to agree with my son. It is quite a coincidence, too much of one. Given the evidence provided, I sentence you guilty of using magic."

"My Lord -"

"Get him out of my sight."

Valiant scowled and drew his blade as Arthur and the guards approached.

"Don't do anything stupid," Arthur said, holding out his own blade.

Valiant met his eyes, then turned to the shield. "Kill -"

Arthur darted forwards before he could finish the command. Valiant swiped at him, but he dodged the blow and sunk his blade into the former knight's gut.

"It's good to see you actually doing your job for once."

Merlin looked up from polishing Arthur's gorget to see the prince in question closing the door to his room. "I figured I'd done enough illegal magic for the day and didn't want to push you."

Arthur frowned. "When did you use that? "

"How do you think I caught the snake?"

"Merlin! Both a guard and Gaius were right there! The guard was watching you! How!?"

Merlin shrugged and turned his gaze to the gorget, shoulders creeping up. "I guess when you freeze time, it makes more sense to people that you just have quick reflexes."

"You-you can freeze time?"

"Sort of. I guess it's more like slowing it. Everything just slows down around me, but I'm the only one who notices. It's how I saved you from the dagger."

"That…" Arthur couldn't think of what that was. It certainly didn't sound like something any old sorcerer could do. He couldn't believe his father ever could have won against sorcerers if it was. Maybe it was a warlock thing?

Or maybe Merlin was just that powerful?

Arthur shook that thought away. Merlin was too much of an idiot to be powerful.

He tossed the book he was carrying onto Merlin's lap, making the warlock jump. "Here."

"What is it?" he asked, setting aside Arthur's armor and pulling off the cloth Arthur had wrapped around it to keep it hidden from prying eyes.

"A book of spells, I think. At least that's what the label said. Most of the books on that were burned during the purge, but my father stored a few deep in the vaults. No one will notice it missing. The only problem is it's written in some weird language I don't recognize. We'll need to figure out some way to translate it."

Merlin's eyes had widened, flipping through the pages and clearly not listening. "You… This… Why… This is amazing!" He slowed down his flipping to read a few of the pages. "Fire spells, wind spells, unlocking spells, and it was just sitting down there?"

Arthur frowned and leaned over to see the book, but it still only showed the unknown runes. "You can read that?"

"Yes," Merlin answered without a thought, still flipping through the book. Then he paused and tilted his head. "Yes," he repeated slowly. "I don't know. I don't recognize it; it's obviously not Brythonic or Latin. I can't really read it, I just… know what it says. I don't know how to explain it."

"Is it because of that maybe?" Arthur asked, frowning at the book. Did it have some sort of magic so that only people with it could read it? Hold on. "Wait, you can read? And you know Latin?"

"Maybe. Wait," the warlock looked up at him with a frown, "you saw me studying before."

"I thought you were just looking at the pictures.

Merlin huffed and turned back to the book. "Yes, I can read. And yes, I know Latin. My mother taught me."

"Your mother? I thought you were some farm boy from an outlying village. How would she know Latin or how to read?"

He scowled at the book. "For your information, we can also write and do math. Just because we're not nobility doesn't mean we can't be learned. My grandfather was a scholar. He taught Gaius and Gaius taught my mother."

"So that's how Gaius and your mother know each other. He was her father's student?" Arthur said.

"No. Well, yes, technically. But Gaius is actually my mother's half-brother. They didn't grow up together - they've got quite a few years between them - but after my grandparents died she lived with him for a short time and he taught her to read and write and some basic herbalism."

"Gaius is your uncle! He hadn't told me that."

Merlin shrugged and turned the page. "My mother moved to Ealdor a few years before I was born and Gaius is too busy here to visit, so I'd never even met him until I came here. And as I said, he and my mother didn't exactly grow up as siblings. It's probably just easier not to explain."

He supposed that made sense, though Arthur still felt like he was missing something.

"Well, I suppose that makes this easier then. I hadn't known how we were going to translate the book."

Merlin nodded, then set the book aside. "Why… Why are you giving me this? Don't get me wrong, it's amazing, but you aren't exactly thrilled about my magic."

Arthur frowned and went over to his desk. "Don't misunderstand, I still would rather you not do any of that, ever. But I also know telling you not to do anything isn't going to work. So the least I can do is make sure you know enough about what you're doing that you don't accidentally burn the castle to the ground."

"I'll have you know that in fourteen years I've never set fire to anything accidentally so I doubt I'll start now!"

Arthur paused and looked back at the warlock. "You're fourteen?"

Merlin blushed and grabbed one of Arthur's gauntlets. "Um, no. sixteen. But what two-year-old doesn't cause trouble while in a tantrum."

"Most two-year-olds can't start fires with their minds."

Merlin grew redder. "It was just a little fire that my mother was able to put out in a second. Everything was fine."

"What did you set on fire in the first place?"

Merlin fidgeted with the armor and muttered something.

"What was that?"

"Oh look, I found a den-"

"Merlin!"

"I set my vegetables on fire because I didn't want to eat them."

Arthur stared at the tips of Merlin's red ears for a moment after the warlock's snapped comment before he burst out laughing.