"What happened? Who did this to you?"

Hunith ducked her head. "It's why I'm here. Ealdor needs help."

Merlin linked his arm with hers and grabbed his bucket before leading her towards the castle. "What happened?"

"Raiders, led by a man named Kanen. They attacked the village and are demanding most of our harvest. You know how Cenred is. I hoped Uther might spare us."

"Is he the one who did that to you?" Merlin asked, voice dark.

"You mustn't get involved," she said softly and he knew immediately he'd been right.

"I'll speak to Arthur. He'll be able to get you an audience with Uther, hopefully."

Hunith's eyes darted about as they stepped through the gates into the citadel. The guards eyed her curiously, but didn't give Merlin a second glance. One even gave him a smile. "You mentioned the prince in your letters. How is he?"

"Same as always, a bit of a prat but still a good man."

Hunith tutted, smacking his arm lightly and glancing at the guards. "Talking like that in your letters is one thing, but you need to be careful who might hear you."

"It's fine, mother," he said, patting her hand. "I don't do it in front of the lords or Uther and the knights and guards think it's funny. And Arthur gives as good as he gets."

Her face paled. "You do it in front of the prince?"

"Someone has to keep him in line."

"Merlin!"

"Glad I'm not the only one that yells at this idiot."

The two turned to see a young man walking up.

Merlin perked up. "Arthur, good timing!"

Hunith's eyes widened as she realized who was in front of her. She dropped into a curtsy and lowered her eyes as she had learned to do years before. "Your Highness."

Merlin tugged her up. "Don't do that, you'll make his head even bigger and then his helmet won't fit."

She shot her son a look before turning back to the prince with fear. It was unfounded as the prince merely snorted.

"Speaking of helmets, I thought you couldn't polish my armor because Gaius needed you for errands, not because you needed to show women around."

Merlin lifted up the bucket, spilling a little of the water inside. "For your information, I was fetching water for him when I spotted my mother in the market."

"Your mother?" The prince turned his full attention to Hunith for the first time. He stepped forward and took her hand. She blushed as he pressed a kiss to it. "Ma'am, you must be a saint, having to watch after this fool for so many years."

"Prat," Merlin huffed.

Prince Arthur pulled back, giving Hunith a smile. "I'll leave you to it. I suppose you can finish my armor tomorrow so you can spend time with your mother. Just be sure to bring my dinner on time for once."

"Wait, Arthur," Merlin called before he could walk off. "I need a favor."

Arthur's incredulous look shifted into a frown as Merlin explained. "I can't make any promises, but I will speak to my father."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Hunith said, giving him another quick curtsy.

"It's fine, I owe Merlin one."

"I'd say you owe me more than one," Merlin muttered.

"Shut up, Merlin," Arthur snorted, knocking Merlin's shoulder with his own as he passed the two.

Hunith glanced between the prince and her son with astonishment. She knew Merlin had said the two were close, but she'd never expected this. That Arthur would act so fondly towards her son, who as far as he could know was nothing but a lowborn peasant from a small village, was unthinkable. And yet there they were, joking as if they were brothers.

"Come on, we can wait in Gaius's chambers."

Hunith watched Merlin scrub the floor with a smile on his face. "You look well. Camelot has done you better than I could have hoped."

"There's been good days and bad days, but overall it's nice," he answered, focused on his scrubbing.

"And Gaius, how has he treated you?"

"He's been great, when he's not running me into the ground with Arthur's help," he joked. "I told you he's started to teach me how to be a physician, right?"

"You did, and I'm glad. You've always had a kind soul, healing suits you." Hunith frowned. "Is that all he's been teaching you?"

"What else would he teach me? I already know how to read and write and I know my languages," he said, narrowing his eyes at a stubborn spot.

Worry set into her gut. "Merlin, did you remember to give Gaius that letter I gave you?"

"Letter?" He looked up and blinked at her. His eyes widened. "Oh, no. I mean, yes, I remembered, but I might have, um, accidentally ruined it by not capping my waterskin tight enough."

"Oh Merlin," she said, shaking her head, and he blushed.

"Sorry. Was there something important in there?"

"Not exactly." She slid off the bench to sit next to him on the floor. Her eyes darted to the door and she whispered, "How has your magic been since coming?"

Merlin smiled and took her hand with his dry one. "Much better, more focused. I haven't had an accident in ages."

"You're sure? Merlin, I know I sent you here, but -"

"I swear, mother. I'm fine." He gave her hand a squeeze. "Safer than I've felt in a long time. I think Camelot is where I was meant to be."

She searched his face before kissing his brow. "I just worry about you."

"I know, but I'm alright. Everything's under control."

"If anything happens -"

"Nothing's going to happen."

"If anything happens, you come straight to me. We'll find someplace new."

He frowned. "I won't make you uproot your life for me."

"I'm your mother, it's my job to do whatever I have to to keep you safe."

He sighed and leaned his head on her shoulder. "I've missed you."

"And I've missed you. Ealdor is far too quiet without you and Will causing trouble."

"Will isn't causing trouble anymore?"

"Of course he is, just quieter trouble."

Merlin pulled back with a laugh and returned to his scrubbing.

Hunith watched him with sad eyes. She had sent him here so Gaius could help him, but if he was figuring things out on his own, then perhaps that was for the better. The fewer people that knew, the safer he would be.

"If it was the other way around, you'd help us. You already have. You saved my life." And my father's, Gwen thought, though she didn't dare say it in front of Morgana.

"And you listened to me about my dreams of Sophia. We owe it to you. Both of us," said lady agreed.

"She's asleep," Gwen said, coming over to sit next to Hunith. She gave the woman a smile. "It's nice to meet you. I just wish it was under better circumstances."

"You as well. Merlin's told me so much about you all. I'm glad to see he's made such good friends in Camelot."

"It's hard not to make friends with Merlin. He must have been a delight to raise."

"At least someone doesn't think my mother's a saint for putting up with me," Merlin huffed with a fake pout.

"Did Arthur really say that?" she giggled and he nodded.

Hunith chuckled. "He has always had a habit of getting himself into trouble."

Merlin's pout became a bit more genuine.

"I'm sure. Especially considering his gifts."

Merlin immediately went pale and started shaking his head behind his mother's back.

"Gifts?" Hunith asked warily. She turned to her son, who immediately froze before giving her a nervous smile. "What is she talking about?"

"I, um, she just means, you know, I mean…"

Gwen's eyes widened. "You didn't tell her?"

Merlin's shoulders crept up to his ears.

"Merlin?" Hunith's asked in her Mom Voice.

"You know how you worry, mother."

"You said -"

"I know. And I meant it. I'm fine. Gwen would never tell anyone."

"I wouldn't," Gwen agreed immediately. "Merlin is my friend. I would never betray him."

"She's even helped me keep it a secret. I don't know what I would have done without her." Merlin shifted over to kneel in front of his mother. "It's alright, mother. Truly."

Hunith looked between the two.

"Trust in me, please."

"I just want you to be safe."

"I am safe."

She didn't look entirely convinced, but she nodded.

He smiled and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Thank you."

"I'm going to rest."

"Of course. Goodnight, mother."

"Goodnight, Hunith."

"Goodnight, you two."

They watched her walk over to the bedrolls and lie down before Merlin collapsed back onto the log with a groan.

"I'm sorry. I thought she knew," Gwen whispered.

"Mother sent me away because my lifelong best friend found out," he whispered back. "I didn't dare tell her a girl I barely knew had found out, let alone you-know-who. She'd probably have shipped me off to Bernicia."

"Well, at least she doesn't know about him yet."

"Let's hope she never finds out."

"How many men does Kanen have?"

"Erm, I'm not sure. I think, from what my mother said, maybe as many as forty."

"Do people in Ealdor know of your abilities?"

"No. Before you, only my mother and my friend Will ever knew."

"So we won't be able to rely on you using it unless we want everyone from Cenred to my father hearing about it."

"No, sorry. And please, don't let my mother know you know. She worries."

"So you get it from her then?"

"Arthur!"

"Calm down, I'm not going to tell on you, you big baby. Now, you should get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow."

"I trust Arthur with my life."

"Is that so? So he knows your secret, then?"

Merlin raised his chin. "Yes."

Will's eyes widened and he took a step back. "You told him? You told him when you wouldn't even tell me?"

"I didn't tell him, Will," Merlin sighed. "He found out, same as you. And he kept it, same as you. He hid it from his father, protected me. He's a good man."

Will's fists clenched and he stomped up to Merlin. "So he's keeping you as his little secret."

"He -"

"He'll use you as long as he thinks he can get away with it and then he'll hand you over to the executioner's block!"

"That's not true!"

"Face it, Merlin, you're living a lie, just like you were here," Will snapped before stomping out.

"He must care for you a great deal."

"Arthur'd do the same for any village," Merlin said, pulling on his jacket. "That's just the way he is."

Hunith shook her head. "It's more than that. He's here for you."

"I'm just his servant," he scoffed.

"Give him more credit than that. He likes you."

"I don't know," Merlin sighed, Will's words echoing in his head. "Maybe he just likes what I do for him."

"You don't really believe that, do you?"

Merlin's head fell. He saw his mother about to speak so he kissed her cheek and darted out the door. "Arthur needs wood."

"You'd be able to defeat Kanen on your own, wouldn't you?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe."

"Well, so what's stopping you? Arthur already knows."

"I don't expect you to understand."

"Try me."

"One day Arthur will be a great king, but he needs my help. And if anyone ever found out about my powers, I'd have to leave Camelot for good."

"Are you telling me you'd rather keep your magic a secret for Arthur's sake than use it to protect your friends and family?"

"Merlin!"

Will and Merlin turned at Morgana's call and Arthur looked away from Kanen.

"I saw that tornado form right in front of you. Are you okay?" she asked, running up. "Both of you?" she added, looking at Will.

Merlin's back stiffened and Will took half a step in front of him.

"Morgana, leave them be," Arthur said, coming up to them.

"Come now, Arthur. Didn't you see that wind?"

Will turned to Arthur with a fierce look, which morphed into surprise. "Look out!" he shouted, then Arthur was falling to the side.

"Will!"

Arthur looked up to see Merlin cradling his friend, a bolt rising out of the fallen boy's chest.

"You just saved my life," Arthur said, surprised.

"Yeah. Don't know what I was thinking."

Arthur's eyes narrowed at his weakened voice. "Come on! Get him inside!"

A few men stepped forwards to help Merlin and Arthur lift him up and carry him into one of the houses.

"That's twice I've saved you."

"Twice?" Arthur asked.

"Yeah, that wind? It was me. I summoned it, with magic."

Arthur sent a shocked look to Merlin, but his eyes were focused on his friend.

"Will, don't."

"It's alright, Merlin. I won't be alive long enough for anyone to do anything to me. I did it. I saw how desperate things were becoming and I had to do something."

Arthur looked up to see Morgana, Hunith, and Gwen watching them from the end of the table while a few of the villagers peaked in through the door and he realized what the boy was doing. "You're a sorcerer?"

"Yeah. What are you gonna do? Kill me?"

"No. Of course not." He waved the lot off. "Give the two some privacy!"

The villagers quickly bowed out and the women gave Merlin sad looks before following. Arthur went to do the same, but Will grabbed his arm.

"I was right about you," Will joked. "I told Merlin you were going to get me killed."

"You're not going to die," Merlin said.

"I'm warning you, Pendragon," Will said, the joking tone leaving his voice as he glared up at the prince. "You better do right by Merlin. He's a good man - a great man. If you turn him over to your father, I will come back and kill you myself, you hear."

Arthur grabbed his arm and squeezed it as he would a knight's. "I swear to you, that will never happen."

Will searched his eyes before lying back.

Arthur shared a look with Merlin before leaving the room so the two friends could share their final moments together alone.

"When were you planning on telling me Arthur knew your secret?"

Merlin flinched and turned to his mother. "What? Arthur?"

She crossed her arms. "You know you can't hide anything from me."

Merlin sighed. "How long have you known?"

"When Morgana brought up the wind, he came to your defense and he was shocked when Will said it was him."

Merlin ducked his head.

"You promised to be more careful."

"I know, Mother. It was an accident. Arthur isn't his father, though. It really is okay."

"I know. I've seen the way he looks at you, looks to you." She glanced over her shoulder at where Morgana, Gwen, and Arthur were talking. "Seen how much you need each other. You two belong together. You're like two sides of the same coin."

Merlin chuckled. "I've heard someone say that about us before."

She wrapped him in a hug and he held her tight.

"I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you, too. When you left, you were just a boy. Now look at you. I'm so proud of you."

"Merlin, get armored up and get over here."

The warlock pouted at the prince. "Shield practice, again?"

"Now, Merlin!"

Merlin shuffled his way into the armory, suited up, then shuffled his way back out.

"Can you move any slower?"

"Can you be any less of a prat?" Merlin mumbled, grabbing a shield.

"You won't need that," Arthur called and Merlin looked up just as he tossed a training sword at him.

He clumsily caught it, dropping the shield in the process. Thankfully the blade was blunt or else he would have sliced his hand off. "Oi!"

"Focus, Merlin! The first rule in sword fighting, be aware of your surroundings."

"Good thing I'm not a swordsman then."

"Not yet, you're not."

"What?"

Arthur grabbed his own training sword and gave it a few swings. "I saw how you fought in Ealdor, it was terrible. The farmers who had never picked up a sword fought better than you."

Merlin scowled at the prince, but he carried on before he could interject.

"I figure if you're going to insist on following me out on dangerous missions and patrols I might as well teach you some basics so I'm not having to save you all the time."

Merlin was about to point out that he was the one doing the saving before Arthur's words really hit him. Arthur wanted to teach him how to fight, how to protect himself in a way that wasn't illegal and therefore wouldn't get him in trouble.

He gave the prince a wide smile. "Thank you, Sire."

"Get that stupid grin off your face and get over here. We'll start with some basic positions."

I just realized I keep having Arthur swear to protect Merlin to the men in his life while they're on their deathbeds like Merlin's some damsel Arthur's courting.