"Are you alright, Prince Garrick?" King Uther asked the next day as they and the Camelot court stood over the peace treaty.

"Just a bit tired." Garrick replied with a weary smile. "It seems I stayed up too late."

"You already look like a king." Uther laughed. "Well, even though our business is now finished, feel free to rest here. We don't want you falling off your horse."

"Another night should be sufficient." Garrick nodded to the king. "Thank you for your cordiality."

A few flights down in the physician's chambers, Merlin was explaining the situation to his mentor.

"Surely you understand how dangerous this is." Gaius said after hearing that Prince Garrick had learned of Merlin's abilities. "Even if the prince means no harm, he has obligations to the people that have made peace with his kingdom. You know him well enough to be sure he won't say anything?"

"I feel like I should trust him." Merlin answered. "He may be a royal but he's different. He treats me like his equal and even considers me his friend. I consider him mine as well."

"Even friends are not supposed to know. Have you told Guinevere?" Gaius asked.

"…no." Merlin murmured. "But this just happened. It was an accident and there isn't a way to make him forget. Isn't it best that we become close?"

Gaius gave Merlin a questioning look that the young sorcerer didn't understand.

"…just be wary of him." Gaius told him. "Don't forget to eat and get enough rest while you're gone."

"Ah, thank you Gaius!" Merlin grinned and hugged the old man.

"Alright, alright." Gaius sighed and patted his back.

After that, Merlin left to tell Guinevere that he'd be leaving. She was surprised but nodded understandingly, if a little sadly, and Merlin headed back to the castle for the really hard part. How would Arthur take the sudden decision?

At the same time, Arthur was sitting at his desk with a wide map in front of him. He scanned it several times, memorizing every location. Despite having the authority to, he couldn't take the map with him. Inventory was tonight and he had to sneak it back in before someone realized Sythian's map was missing. Arthur made a note on a separate parchment of directions and key points in case he got lost. He'd only ever been in Sythian once and even then, only a few hundred feet in.

Every few minutes, Arthur sighed in aggravation at the thoughts flying around in his head. Even when he tried to concentrate, he could still hear Garrick's malicious tone. Was he trying to threaten Arthur with the safety of his manservant? But something like that wouldn't work…if Arthur was not Arthur. Prince Garrick must have known that Arthur was protective to begin with, not even mentioning Merlin who received an even greater amount of concern. Even with all of that in mind, one question in particular was burning him. Why?

Why was Garrick so interested in Merlin? He'd only known him for two days now and to most people, Merlin was just a flimsy servant who tagged along just to hide during battle. What could have appealed to Prince Garrick that would make him say something so dangerous?

Arthur could admit that despite Merlin's quirkiness, he could be considered attractive, just not near as attractive as himself, of course. There were those ridiculous ears and that ratty red scarf he wore around his neck that ruined it…still, he did have very fair skin for a young man. His dark onyx hair contrasted well from the porcelain peach of his complexion. His lips were sort of pouty.

Even a man could be enticed, Arthur thought to himself.

He tightened his lips together and shook the thought away. Whatever the reason, Garrick was definitely interested in more than friendship. Unless the Sythian Prince bluntly admitted his intentions to Merlin, the young servant wouldn't know what to do.

He's too kind…

Just as Arthur was thinking that, there was a knock at his door. Merlin let himself in without permission and Arthur scrambled to cover up the map on his desk with blank parchment. Merlin didn't notice the flittering on the desk as he walked in because his mind was busy thinking of ways to tell Arthur about the plans to travel to Sythian with Prince Garrick.

"You honestly have no sense of privacy, do you?" Arthur asked him offensively.

"Uh, sorry. I just came to tell you something." Merlin replied distractedly.

"You're apologizing?" the prince questioned with a raised brow.

He got a strange sense of something wrong and didn't know what for until Merlin took another step in Arthur's direction past the bed post. He looked down at Merlin's ankle.

"You're walking." Arthur pointed out as he rose from his chair and circleed the desk.

Merlin glanced down at his leg. He quickly recalled how much pain he'd been in just the day before.

"I said it wasn't that bad and I heal quickly." Merlin nodded to the prince. "However, I won't be around the castle for the next week or so. I can find someone to take my place while I'm gone."

"You're a servant, Merlin." Arthur reminded him. "You can't just drop your chores and leave to do whatever it is you're doing."

"Even if that's true, your father might disagree."

"…is that backlash?"

Arthur showed this disbelieving expression but he only felt anxious and surprised. He thought he'd have more time.

"Garrick has asked me to join him in his travel back to Sythian." Merlin explained, hoping that he didn't have to take any fresh injuries with him. "I'll be staying for a few days."

"You don't know how long you'll be gone?" Arthur asked while pretending to seem less interested.

"Garrick didn't tell me but we're leaving tomorrow. It shouldn't be too dangerous since we're moving in a large group."

"It doesn't matter to me. I just need to know how long I'll have a servant that actually finishes his chores on time." Arthur sighed.

Merlin felt his heart twitch uncomfortably. Even if he was lying, Arthur really was an ass for saying that.

Maybe I'm being too sensitive, Merlin decided.

It was true that Merlin had been rather battered and confused lately. Arthur might just have been continuing their usual back and forth on his own. It wasn't even the first time this had happened. Prince Arthur had a funny way of showing his concern sometimes.

"Then I guess I'll be leaving now since that's all I came to say." Merlin said and turned to the chamber door.

"Merlin," Arthur said, stopping the young servant.

Merlin looked back and Arthur appeared slightly concerned, both to Merlin's confusion and relief.

"Are you referring to Prince Garrick by his first name alone?" the prince asked.

"Why not? I call you by your first name." Merlin shrugged, perhaps trying to get back at Arthur. "Besides, he asked me to."

Arthur didn't say anything after that but thought to himself. Merlin continued on toward the door and exited the room, leaving it closed behind him. Arthur was left to fret over the situation. Merlin and Garrick were on a first name basis already. Did that mean Merlin was close to him? Was he aware of the Sythian Prince's objectives?

"It seems I have no choice." Prince Arthur huffed in frustration.

He walked back to his desk and rolled up the map of Sythian. After sneakily returning it to its place under the castle with the other maps, Arthur went about making preparations to follow the group of Sythians through their territory. Come morning, he'd be following them and keeping a watchful eye on his manservant and the prince. Not once did he question why.