To say Arthur was surprised at his father's attitude would be an understatement, but he wasn't willing to believe the change of heart would be permanent. But for now it was welcome. Uther continued "You are of course free of all your duties, although I do advise you to get a break for your own good. Maybe keep an eye on the training?" Uther looked at his son "I haven't always been the best father to you, I allowed my grief to interfere you look too much like her. But I do love you" Uther looked uncomfortable even talking about emotions. "I would never have replaced you as my heir, you do know that?"

"No I do not. You left me in no doubt that Mordred would become heir if I hadn't married. But that's not why I married. I love Merlin more than you can know" Arthur said angrily, the worry over Merlin making him less cautious than normal.

Uther nodded "I think I realise that now, as to Mordred he is a good boy but I would be a fool to name him, his mother would control him. She may be my daughter but she is not a suitable Queen, she is too greedy for power, thinking of herself and not the Kingdom. No son, I would never have replaced you whatever our difficulties. But try to take Mordred under your wing, he has the makings of a good man if guided and I fear his parents are not a good influence. I should never have allowed Agravaine to stay at court. I always mistrusted him, but he was your mother's brother." Uther paused before saying "Look after your wife my son, it is clear you love one another." With that he left the room.

Arthur sank down by Merlin trying to digest all his father had said when a weak voice asked "What happened to your father? Who was that?"

Arthur looked down at Merlin with a rueful smile "I'm not sure love, but let's make the most of it." He placed a gentle kiss on Merlin's forehead. "But he may be right about Mordred, I should spend more time with him"

Arthur stood up and collected some broth where it was keeping warm near the fire. He went back to the bed and very gently sat Merlin up leaning against him "Drink my love, you and the babe need nourishment. Gaius's orders. Then a drink before you settle down again"

Merlin drank the broth as Arthur held the cup to his lips. Then he drank some water. It hadn't been much but it was a start. Merlin looked at Arthur "Can I rest in your arms? I am fed up of lying down I am getting very stiff"

"Off course" Arthur led Merlin back and collected as many pillows as he could and then sat back on the bed and gently pulled Merlin into his chest with his arm around him. "Better?"

"Ummm" came the mumbled reply and as Arthur watched Merlin's eyes shut and his breathing evened out as he fell asleep once more.

Arthur's own eyes were shutting as Gwaine returned. The other Prince looked at his brother and husband and smiled "I'll leave you two for a while, I want to speak to Gaius. If you need anything send Percy."

Arthur nodded but didn't answer. So Gwaine headed off to the physicians chambers. Uther meanwhile went to the council meeting, as he walked the council rose to their feet, the king waved for them to sit. Agravaine however remained standing "Sire I will get the guard to send for Prince Arthur, as he seems to be absent"

Uther looked at his brother in law "If I want the Prince here I am perfectly willing to do that myself" he glared at the man who didn't take the hint.

"You shouldn't have to Sire. The fact that his wife has had a small tumble shouldn't interfere with his duties, she has an undue influence on him" Agravaine was clearly hoping to increase Uther dislike of Merlin.

Uther slammed his hand down on the table "Cease you prattle!" the room went deadly quiet. "My daughter in law has been badly injured in what you say is a small tumble. What's more she is expecting my grandchild and she is in no position to influence anything. What's more I have informed my son he is to stay by her side for as long as he wants as any loving husband should. I will hear no more"

Uther glared down the table at the other councillors "We will deal with urgent business only then reconvene tomorrow. If I hear anyone make derogatory remarks about Princess Merlin they will find themselves in the cells. Now once we have finished here I want you Agravaine to ensure all is made ready for a royal visit King Balinor and his Queen will be flying in on the dragon with a healer. Now to business"

Agravaine kept quiet but scowled at being given such a job, which was for lesser noble than himself to deal with. But he knew better than to argue. It seemed somehow the Princess Merlin was now in favour. The minute the meeting was finished he handed over his task to someone else and headed to see his wife.

Morgana was also not having everything her own way. She had been walking down to go to the market, with her servant Gwen, to arrange for some new dress material when she bumped into Prince Gwaine. Gwaine hadn't been looking for her but was not about to miss the opportunity.

Approaching the pair he bowed at Morgana "Your highness a private word if I may" he took her arm and took her a short distance away but still in sight of the maidservant. Then lowering his voice and looking at the Princess with concern he said "Your highness, I hope you don't mind me asking but as the eldest son of a dragonlord I sense of certain things. If you don't mind me asking how do you manage living in such a magic hating Kingdom with your powers?" as her face fought to maintain a puzzled air he reassure her "I am not about to tell the King have no fear. But I wouldn't care for your chances and wondered if it was wise for you to be here? I realise your powers are weak but even so… it would be a shame for such a beauty to be sent to the pyre. I saw how he was with a baby dragon" he had emphasised the KING but had been careful not to say he wouldn't tell anyone, he had also failed to tell her he was bluffing and had no way of telling if she had magic, her reaction suggested she did have.

"You are mistaken Prince Gwaine, I have no magic, as you say that would be a stupid thing to learn living in Camelot and only leads to corruption of the soul." Morgana said looking the prince straight in the eye.

"Not true of course one can be born with magic and have it surface later, also magic does not cause corruption no more than carrying a sword makes you a murderer, if a soul is corrupted is up to the individual. I am sure I am not mistaken, but whatever, your secrets are you own, but realise that such powers come with responsibilities as do my own. One day I will be a dragonlord, hopefully not for many years, I will not use dragons for wrong." Gwaine smirked and walked away.

He had wanted Morgana to know he was aware of her powers but not that he knew what she had done. Hopefully the warning would be enough. He intended to speak to his father when he arrived but in the meantime he wanted the Princess to be wary of using her powers. She was weak but would become more powerful of she practiced. His knowledge might just slow her down. Had his brother or his baby suffered he wouldn't have warned her but killed her, but he felt he could afford to wait, but if necessary he would have no problem in killing her. A few years ago he would have struck her down as soon as he saw her, but he had learnt that not all Kilgarrah's words could be taken at face value and there were other political reasons to wait until he was sure.

Agravaine meanwhile was livid with how he had been treated, he went to his chambers to speak to his wife, only to find her not there. He waited all the time his anger building up. By the time Morgana arrived he had built himself up to boiling point. The minute he saw his wife he let rip "Where the hell have you been?" he demanded "We need to do something about that brother of yours, somehow he has turned your father into a milk sop. He defended him in the council meeting when he didn't turn up and made me look a fool!"

Morgana had her own worries and was fed up with her husband's attitude. He never seemed to take responsibility for anything. It was always someone else's fault. "You being an idiot at council is hardly anything new" she sneered. "We have a bigger problem Prince Gwaine knows I have magic! He told me he can sense it in me, and at the same time warned me off, little does he know what I did to his precious sister" she threw herself into her chair "This is all getting out of hand, all because of a chit of a girl. Next time I can't afford to fail, but we need to put the blame on Uther. That way we will get rid of all our problems in one go!"