AN: Sorry about my temper tantrum in the last AN I just wanted to let those who didn't know and who don't like slash get a nasty surprise. Thank you to all my lovely reviewers. It is because of you that I post faster. Sorry there weren't any posts over the weekend. As bad as it sounds I wrote most in class. Anyway, on to what you're really hear for. I don't one BBC's Merlin but here you go! Oh and to likecake I'm Lethy!

Something was bothering Kyle, of that the prince was certain. Since he had awoken this morning he had suddenly begun staring off into space twice. It was usually only for a moment and then he caught himself and got to work once more. The dark haired boy examined his slave as he ate his breakfast. "Is something wrong Kyle?"

The bald boy jumped and turned to face his master, "No sire, this place simply confuses me is all."

The prince nodded, turning back to his breakfast. Kyle finished his tasks with the precision he normally did and curiosity from the prince was dulled.

"You highness?" a servant gently knocked against the door, "I'm here to take you to court." A quick look told the prince that the boy before him was the same one who had taken him to the training grounds the day before.

"Shall my slave stay here?" he asked, rising from his chair.

"Your slave is free to come." The servant's face twitched into a quick smile. "Follow me." With no more the servant spun and began walking down the hallway.

The room that they entered into was large and round. The ceiling was high and light shined down through the skylights. The most dominating part of the room however was a large table that took up the majority of the room. It looked to be made of stone and could easily fit dozens of men. Standing around it already were many of the knights that the prince had seen around over the past few days.

Lancelot caught sight of the entering prince and nodded his head toward him, catching Arthur's attention. King Arthur smiled and beckoned the prince forward. "Come, you can sit beside me today. Men of Camelot, as you know at this table we all are equal. No man is greater than another." In a glorious shink the king revealed a magnificent sword that perfectly caught the light. All around him the knights followed his lead, brandishing their swords with grins. Arthur looked around the room with a proud smile before he lay his sword on the table before him.

Clashing resounded as the knights followed suit. The prince sat down when the others did, he took the moment of settling to let his eyes sweep over the room. On his right sat the king. The majority of the table was taken up by knights, glorious in the colors of Camelot. The only one that stood out was dark haired man in dark blue robes that sat beside the king. He looked to be speaking to Lancelot beside him in low tones before the king called his attention.

"Merlin, report," Arthur's tone was curt but soft.

The boy let out a sigh and rolled his eyes. "It's going better than I ever expected or dreamed it would this soon. There will be ambassadors arriving late tonight."

Arthur nodded, "Leon, what about you? Any news from the borders?"

"I'll be taking a set of knights out in a week to go work with some villages on the outlying borders. Some of them have reported bandits."

"Percival, Elyan?"

"Of course we'll go your majesty," Elyan answered with a grin. "Merlin, you coming too?"

"No," Merlin shocked them, "though I'd love to my duties are going to be keeping me plenty busy without anything added to it."

All the knights stared surprised at the boy sitting beside the king. The prince was glancing around the table trying to read the strange atmosphere.

"Very well," Arthur broke the silence, "Choose your knights you three. I expect good news when you return."

All eyes turned back to Merlin as he drew the king's attention. The dark haired boy had a far away look on his face before he broke out into a grin. He turned to his king. "Sire, I'm sorry but I must leave early." He bowed his head and began to stand, "Lance?" The knight nodded and stood to follow the boy from the room. "I shall be back tomorrow morning sire."

Darren's eyes followed the two exiting backs, 'Had that servant just ordered a knight?'

"Great, now we'll have two pouting royals tonight." The loud grumble was followed by a crash as Gwaine ducked a cup aimed at his head.

Dinner that night was a strange affair. Though nothing was particularly different than the night before, the feel of it was…wrong. It seemed much more somber than it had been before. The din of the hall was quieter and the King and Queen were a bit slower to smile. Atleast, that's how the evening began.

A loud crash rocked the hall. Darren jumped up, looking for attack. Only the sound of the king letting out a snort calmed the prince. His gaze soon found a man sprawled out on a table struggling to get up.

"That's it, I'm chaining Merlin up to keep him here," Arthur was grumbling darkly.

Gwen let out a light laugh, "Yes, because he'd just LOVE that."

"…that or make him take Gwaine when he chooses to leave the castle," the king amended, "Who else keeps Gwaine from drinking himself into a stupor at meals." With a long suffering sigh the king stood and strode to the drunken knight who had now broken out into song. "Elyan?" he called. The black knight immediately jumped forward to help the king haul the drunken knight.

"Why do I always get stuck helping this idiot?" the boy complained aloud.

"I believe that with that we should all call it a night," Guinevere's smile was kind as she stood. The whole of the court stood with its queen and she stepped away from the table.

"Come Kyle," the prince stepped off the dais and walked toward the knights in the back of the room. Leon, Percival, and a few other knights still sat around with tankards and laughing. Leon looked up as the prince approached. The knight nodded a greeting.

"Yes your highness?" he asked curiously.

"Were there not supposed to be ambassadors arriving tonight?" he questioned.

Leon let out a snort, "They wouldn't arrive while Merlin was out of the castle."

"Why would that matter? For that matter how would they even know Merlin was gone?" the prince asked incredulously.

"Oh believe me they would know. They probably tracked him down today."

"Why? Aren't they here to speak with the king?"

Leon stared at the prince, "Who exactly do you think Merlin is?"

Prince Darren blinked, "He's the king's servant," he answered immediately.

All the laughing knights fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter. A large grin spread across Leon's face, "How have the rumors not left Camelot?" he turned to the grinning Percival.

"People outside of Camelot probably found them too farfetched to be true. Or atleast at the beginning."Elyan said with a grin, back from his adventure returning the drunken knight to his rooms. "Now all of Camelot is used to our… unusual ways. No one except travelers even notice anymore."

Leon smiled, "That's true…"

"Would someone care to clue me in?" annoyance was starting to take hold of the prince as he glared at the chuckling knights.

All three men turned to him with large smiles. "How long do you think it'll take him to figure out?" Elyan asked, not removing his eyes from the prince.

"Oh, shouldn't take too long, its not a secret after all. None of it is." Leon's smile was nearly scary it was so sly.

"We'll let you figure it out on your own, its not our place to speak about our kingdom and its ways." Percival finished, a slight smirk crossing his features. With no more the prince was left alone left to stare at the backs of the retreating knights.

TBC

Gwaine: That was one great party! *hiccup*

Merlin: … I'll bring you a hangover draft in the morning.

Lethy: It seems Merlin, that the world falls into chaos if you leave the castle for even a night.

Arthur: Which is why I'm chaining him to the castle so that he can't leave me alone with…. That again.

Gwaine: Hey!

Merlin: You and what army!

….mass shink

Merlin: Oh…