Ok, so I'm aware some of you guys thought the last chapter was a bit OOC for both Merlin and Arthur because they were being so mean to each other so I'm sorry.

Thanks to Paula545HogaboomLady Clark-Weasley of Bookslnicol1990xXStephRheaXx Siany-T and Glittery-excuse-for-a Fae

"What does it eat?"

"According to the book: larks, pipits, sandpipers and house sparrows. Though it says it can also eat small mammals, reptiles and insects."

"So really it can eat anything?" Gwen asked, cradling the tiny animal in one hand. He was just so small and adorable if a little vicious; she'd had her fingers nipped more than she could remember.

"I guess so," Merlin nodded, scanning the rest of the page of the large volume. When he could find nothing more he slammed the heavy book shut and turned to watch Gwen and the baby falcon. His heart warmed just looking at the two of them. The handmaiden was perfectly at ease with the wild bird, coddling and playing with him. He would be one spoilt creature if the girl could get away with it. However, Merlin would not allow it. After all he didn't want the merlin turning into a bird version of Arthur.

That was a little mean, he supposed, the two boys had pretty much resolved their differences and were now back on good terms after the incident about a week ago. Arthur had very reluctantly sidled up to him one day in the Great Hall and apologised in the most low-key fashion possible. Merlin was impressed by his discretion. Still, that was Arthur and Merlin would just have to accept him like that. Besides, Gwen wasn't the only one enraptured by the newest member of the castle; Arthur seemed to have a soft spot for the animal having been present at his birth.

"So…what have you named him?"

"I haven't named him, Gwen, he's not a pet," Merlin chuckled as if she had said something ridiculously idiotic. The handmaiden's eyes hardened irritated by his superior attitude.

"Well," she said slowly, pronouncing every word with carefully hidden anger, "I think that such a cute little fellow should deserve a name, pet or not."

"What do you name a bird of prey? Thomas? Jevan? Flash-the-fastest-bird-ever?"

"Elsu," Gwen murmured.

"Why don't we just go the whole hog and call him Merlin…wait, what?" The young sorcerer had been working himself up into a rant and had to stop suddenly to catch what his friend had said.

"Elsu," Gwen repeated, seriously. Merlin considered it, rolling the sound on his tongue.

"Elsu," he paused again, "You know what, I like it."

"Me too."

"What does it mean?"

"I have no idea, I just read it somewhere," the girl shrugged, trying to hide her smile as she looked down at the little merlin she had just christened. He surveyed her with his striking eyes, so sharp they looked as if they could spear you with one gaze.

"Well, I better go in search of Elsu's breakfast, are you alright with him?"

"Yes, we'll be fine."

On his search out for food Merlin ran straight into Morgana who was hurrying in the other direction; they collided painful. The young servant was quick to apologise, his voice fast and anxious, as he watched the woman take a surprised step back and rub her head. She offered him a bemused smile as he fussed over her and assured him she was fine.

"Merlin, leave me be, it is nothing but a bump…"

"Arthur will kill me, you know that?" The warlock muttered more to himself than the Lady.

"He won't have to know. I doubt he will even notice for the King has returned from his business and we are all to celebrate. I suspect you will have a lot of jobs to do in the next few hours."
"Great, that means I won't be able to get anything for Elsu," the young man frowned, his brow knotting with contemplation.

"Who is Elsu?" Morgana asked, intrigued.

"My falcon," Merlin replied.

"Oh, Gwen has been telling me all about him. He is apparently a sweetie?"

"I guess. Look, anyway, I'm so sorry Lady Morgana for running into you but I must go. I have a lot to do before Arthur finds me." And with that, the youth bid goodbye to his mistress and set off at a fast pace down the corridor, only just avoiding another crash with a messenger boy. Morgana chuckled to herself.

Arthur ran one long finger down the smooth back of the baby bird, feeling the downiness of his feathers. It was as if he was touching air it was so soft and supple. The animal shuddered at his touch, shaking all the way from his head to the tip of his tail in a sort of crazy, wiggling dance move. The prince smiled.

He had come to the physician's chambers to find Merlin so that he could help him prepare for his father's arrival back at Camelot but he had discovered that the boy was not there and Gwen was in his place. He told her of the King's imminent return and suggested she go help the other servants whilst he waited here for Merlin's return. This then led to his bird-sitting the falcon, not that he was complaining.

Elsu – for that was the name Gwen had just informed him of - had grown massively in the last few days. He'd lost the majority of his infantile fluff and was gaining sleek fine feathers the colour of copper. Speckled white under parts were also forming. He was turning into a very fine specimen of a merlin. In all honesty, to start with, Arthur had not believed Merlin when he told him that the immature bird was called a merlin, it seemed to unlikely and he wasn't even aware there was a bird called that. However, his manservant showed him the page of a huge book that did indeed have a merlin falcon in. It was a spooky coincidence.

Bang. The door crashed open, almost shaking the frame from its hinges. A blurred ball of energy cannoned into the room and almost tripped over a careless discarded chair. Once he'd stopped the dark haired boy looked sharply round the room and caught sight of Arthur, his eyes widening.

"Oh no, you found me," he sagged.

"I wasn't aware we were playing hide and seek. Though I'm glad to hear I won," Arthur smirked, turning back into his usually cheeky self. There was something about the bird that let his guard down but he couldn't let that happen in front of Merlin.

"The King has returned and I thought you would want me to, I dunno, do stuff…" The servant tailed off as he caught sight of his master's hand on Elsu, stroking his silky feathers. "Where's Gwen?"

"The bird ate her, unfortunately I was just too late to save her," the prince raised his eye brows mockingly.

"I-what…" Merlin paused, confused, shaking his head and then ruffling his hair with his hand to demonstrate his bemusement. Why was Arthur making such bad jokes? Why, in fact, was he in such a good mood?

"Merlin, what is up with you today?"

"What is up with me? What is up with you? I haven't seen you this happy since I fell off my horse and landed in a pile of manure."

Arthur grinned at the memory. It had been hilarious, a moment he wished he could record forever. The comical expression of astonishment on his servant's face had been priceless; that and the dung he had in his mouth.

"It's a good day," the blonde boy shrugged.

"All right then, I'm not complaining," Merlin shrugged, still looking somewhat perplexed. "Now, before I do anything for you, how do you fancy coming mouse hunting?"

Trivia: On a random note, I came up with the name Elsu on a whim and then when I researched it on the internet I found out it meant flying falcon, how creepy is that?

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