Gwaine stood up at that point and walked and sat in the seat Merlin had vacated. He had a good idea what had been happening at the other end of the table, thanks in part to signals sent to him from the two Gangani knights at their table opposite Merlin, but at Merlin's request he had stayed where he was, but now he felt he was justified in having a word .Looking at Sarrum he gave a sneer and said in a low voice "What you do need to know Sire is that although my sibling has married into the Pendragon family and is now a citizen of Camelot, Gangani still considers the Pure One as one of theirs and always will. Emrys is also my best friend and will remain so. Thus any slight on her honour is a slight on mine, don't forget your Kingdom has a coast line and is vulnerable from the sea." He paused significantly before adding "not to mention the air"

Uther hearing the comment said "Crown Prince Gwaine remember you are here as a guest as is King Sarrum. I expect you to behave as such. Do not make threats"

Gwaine gave an innocent look at Uther as if he had been misunderstood "But Sire you misjudge me, I do not make threats only promises. Perhaps you should request your 'guests' to keep their hands to themselves and visible above the table. You may forget that Emrys is only sixteen and is not used to, shall we say 'men of the world' I may have been sat at the other end of the table but I am not a fool. I will not see Emrys treated with anything but total respect. As I'm sure you would not." He stood and bowed "I bid you goodnight"

Uther was for a moment speechless but by the time he had an answer to the young Prince he was gone. Sarrum's gaze followed Gwaine out of the room. Uther knew he had a fine line to draw between his allies and decided to keep then apart from now on in. Meanwhile Sarrum was no coward, but he knew that the Crown Prince had meant everything he said, he also realised that the man was as ruthless as he himself was, even if he might not be as brutal. Sarrum decided that the Prince would bear watching as would his people. Yet his wish to possess Merlin was no less, he had always fancied strong woman which is why he liked Morgana but there was something else about Merlin, something he wanted to enjoy even if just once or at the very least make her tremble at his touch. A plan began to form in this mind but he would need to make sure that the Gangani believed he was totally innocent, he wouldn't risk his Kingdom for a bit of shirt no matter how much he wanted it.

When Arthur and Merlin were safely in their rooms Arthur looked at Merlin "Did that letch touch you?" he demanded

Merlin grinned "He did but I threatened to castrate him"

"MERLIN! Please leave him to me, if he ever touches you again tell me immediately" Arthur told the raven haired man.

"What was I supposed to do talk across your father and Sarrum and say 'did you know the visiting King has his hands on my thigh'?" Merlin asked with as serious a face as he could. "Don't worry I made it clear not to do it again"

"You shouldn't have too, I will not allow you to sit next to him again no matter what my father says" came the hot reply.

"How can your father call such a man a friend?"

"They are allies against magic, Sarrum hates it more than father if that is possible, and he is certainly crueller. It's bad enough that Uther sends children to the pyre. But Sarrum inflicts many cruelties on any he catches, the women raped and then men are often torn limb from limb between horses after they have watched their children burn. He is not a man to cross" Arthur warns

"So I let him do as he wishes?" Merlin demanded indignantly

"No I do not mean that, but take care you are never alone with him. Keep your knights close when I am not with you" Arthur took Merlin into his arms "Never whatever you do let him know of your powers" he kissed his spouse "Now I want you to rest, you have been through so much recently"

Once Merlin was asleep Arthur led and watched his lover, he was genuinely worried about Sarrum and his attitude to Merlin. He had seen it in the past with Morgana and knew his sister had suffered the Amata's King's attentions in the past. It was one of the reasons she had married Agravaine. Uther had been thinking of marrying his daughter to the older King even though Morgana said she would rather die first. The man seemed to have no moral boundaries, he knew Merlin was married but that had just seemed to have made him more attracted to Merlin. As he looked at his spouse Arthur knew he would protect him no matter what, Merlin was but sixteen summers and had no idea of men of that sort and what they were capable of. It took Arthur several hours before he fell into a restless sleep.

At the knights training the next morning not only was Arthur and Gwaine present but also Sarrum's first knight Albin. The knight had much of his Kings ways and was arrogant and cruel. After he had thrashed several of the younger and more inexperienced knights making them lose face Arthur decided enough was enough and asked him to have a practice session with him. As the fought the others watched. Albin decided to see if he could make Arthur lose his cool, a trick he often used when they were close enough that no one else could hear. "Your wife seemed to like sitting with my king last night real talkative and all that. Bit to thin for my tastes"

"Tell your King to keep his hands to himself in future, if he wants to keep them" Arthur hissed back. "Emrys is off limits" The fighting became fiercer until Arthur disarmed the knight. He had wanted to do more but knew he couldn't risk a diplomatic incident, but he would bide his time.

The atmosphere was strained over the next few days as the treaty renegotiations progressed. But it was something quite separate that finally caused the biggest problem. Gwaine had taken Merlin down to the stables, they were going to take Aithusa for exercise having gained the appropriate permission from the King the evening before. Arthur was ensconced in a council meeting with his father and Camelot's nobles so Merlin had been stuck indoors and was getting bored he hadn't been allowed out since the incident. Percy and Lancelot were walking behind the two royals, the small dragon was by Merlin. They had come down the small stairway to avoid too many people as they normally did. As they neared the stables Merlin stayed with Aithusa and Gwaine outside. As many of the horses were uneasy round the dragon. Percival and Lancelot went in to saddle up the horses. Lancelot called Gwaine as his horse Apples was playing up. The stallion much preferred Gwaine to handle him and often caused others problems. The Prince went to the stable door just as King Sarrum, Albin and several knights came round the corner having just returned from an early morning ride.

Sarrum saw the dragon first and although he had heard of Merlin's pet it was the first time he had seen her. He rode up and drew his sword as if to slay the dragon. Merlin seeing what was about to happen called Aithusa and stood in front of her. "What do you think you are doing?" Merlin demanded

"Killing the beast what else, they are a thing of magic, King Uther may have to accept it you tricked him but I do not." Sarrum stopped as Albin and the knights rode round Merlin. "Get out of the way my dear you wouldn't want to get hurt would you?" He dismounted and grabbed Merlin round the waist pulling him away from the dragon, just as Gwaine and the knights came out to see what was happening.

"UNHAND EMRYS!" Gwaine shouted as he drew his sword. "Take your filthy hands of her" her snarled.

Sarrum looked at Gwaine and the knights who all had their swords out. "I hardly think King Uther would appreciate you threatening a visiting King. If you know what is good for you keep out of the way and let us kill the beast" he snarled tightening his grip on Merlin.

Merlin brought his foot up and tried to kick the King were it would most hurt and had his arm forced up his back for his trouble. The quick movement put strain on his healing shoulder and he gasped in pain. He was annoyed, if he could use his magic the men would all have been on the floor by now.

Gwaine seeing Merlin's pain immediately stepped forward "I hardly think the King would be pleased at you treating Emrys in such a fashion, nor would Prince Arthur" he was hampered as he didn't want to put Merlin in any more risk of harm. Percival and Lancelot had swords drawn and were protecting both Gwaine's back from the other knights and the dragon Percival also had Aithusa's collar to stop the irate dragon from attacking. The last thing they needed was for the dragon to attack and give Uther a reason to kill her.

Merlin seeing the danger spoke to Aithusa with her mind. "Fly little one and don't come back until I call you"

Aithusa hearing the pain and fear in Merlin's voice hesitated so Merlin spoke again to her mind "Please go, I couldn't bare for you to be hurt" he spoke to Percival in Gangani "Let her go"

As the small dragon flew off Sarrum hissed his disappointment. He tightened his grip on Merlin and then looked at Gwaine before dropping his sword. After all the Crown Prince wouldn't kill an unarmed man. Then using his now free hand he placed it on Merlin's chest and left it there. When Merlin realised that the King had hold of him he had quickly closed his eyes and cast a spell to so Sarrum would feel the body parts that he didn't have. So Sarrum was none the wiser that he didn't have a woman in his hands.

Gwaine was enraged beyond belief and flew at Sarrum to try to remove Merlin just as Merlin bent his head and bit into Sarrum's hand. The two things allowed Merlin to pull away and go to her brother's side. Percival and Lancelot moved closer to Merlin to give full protection. Gwaine threw a punch and Sarrum fell to the ground then Gwaine threw his glove at Sarrum "Pick it up you coward, now you don't have my sibling to hide behind. I challenge you to a fight to the death"

Albin bent and picked up the gauntlet "I accept on the King's behalf"

Gwaine glared at the knight "Doing his dirty work are you? Well no matter I can kill the dog just as well as the master."