I was trying to talk some sense into Uther... again. I've lost count of how many times I've come to his office trying to convince him to finally tell Merlin about what she truly is to him. That she is his daughter, even if there is no blood relation between them. However, he is afraid. Not because of the reactions of his kids, as he tells himself and me. But for he is scared of being turned down by her, that Merlin wouldn't want to have him as a father. That of course was hilarious, my niece has never had a father figure until she met Uther. I tried to take that place for her, but I never was able to be anything more than her loving uncle. I am happy now that they had found each other, but they need to snap out of their fear and take the first step. It seems like my friend would never be the one to do it, maybe I should try out with Merlin next. She surely is braver and might want to take the first step.

My train of thoughts and our conversation was cut short by the banging of doors as they hit the walls, revealing a breathless Arthur who seems to have run all the way over here. "Is Merlin your daughter?!" he demanded to know, I could note an undertone of desperation. One that Uther surely missed, as he tensed at his son's question.

"How did you... where did you hear that from?" my friend asked, surprisingly only stuttering once. On the other hand, this is Uther we are talking about. He doesn't show anything but perfection to others.

"I overheard you the other night discussing it" he explained "But that's not important, is she my sister?!" he asked again.

"What in the name of God! How dare you overhear a private conversation of your father?! Show me some respect boy!" Uther growled angrily, but I knew that he was trying to mask how scared he was for not having thing under control as he likes to.

However, what worried me at the moment wasn't him but Arthur. Things had been going so well between them lately, their father-son bond has almost been restored to what once had been in the past. Even Morgana was starting to accept the changes in Uther and trying to form a tentative relationship between them, and even also between her and Merlin. However, if she finds out about this scene all this effort might be in vain. Curiously Arthur didn't flinch at the cold tone in Uther's voice or lower his gaze and ask for forgiveness as he used to do. It seems like the state of desperation I noted earlier was graver than I expected.

"Shut up dad! I need to know if I slept with my blood related sister or just someone you consider family enough to be your daughter!" that froze both of us.

"What did you just say?" I asked, snapping out of my shock enough to ask the question. Uther seems to still be frozen by the bomb Arthur just dropped on us.

"I've been dating Merlin by months now, and I need to know if Merlin is truly my biological half-sister" he said, this time much calmer. No, sadder. It seems that every ounce of fight had left his body.

"No boy, relax. Merlin isn't related by blood to you. You have nothing to worry about" I calmed him down, it broke my heart how he collapsed on the floor. All energy gone and mumbling 'Thank God' over and over again.

"You are dating Merlin..." Uther repeated, finally snapping out of his trance "I won't allow it!" he roared furiously, making both of us jump at the unexpected yell. Arthur rapidly got on his feet and was ready to snap at his father when Uther cut him off by continuing his rant "She doesn't deserve to be treated as a trophy by anyone, or just as a bed warmer to you. If you are not marrying then stop seeing her now!" he demanded.

I had to smile at this new and improved Uther. What he seems to not have noticed, is that with his words he had finally showed Arthur how much he had changed and gained him back. But I did notice this, I noticed the relieved expression in Arthur's face and the one of contemplation that soon followed. However, everything was cleared when he smiled, the same smile he had when he was a little boy, at his father and assured my friend:

"Don't worry father, she is not just another knot in my bed... now that we are all here I might as well take advantage of the situation. Gaius, dad, you both are the only father figures Merlin as ever had and I'm sure she would want to have your blessing if she accepts to take this next step in our relationship with me. What I am trying to say is, will you allow me to take her hand in marriage? I love her, and I know she is the one. The same way mom was yours dad".

That last confession surprised us both. Arthur loves Merlin... the same way Uther loved... loves Ygraine. I never noticed them being that serious. You had to be blind not to notice the clear attraction between them... now that I think about it: whenever one enters the room, they immediately find each other's gaze. Whenever they are in the same room you will always find them glued to each other. They could communicate with each other without talking, they were able to read each other eyes as if they were reading a book.

How did I miss these signs?! I scolded myself in my head. Maybe because it is so natural between them, as if it had always been there that one tends to overlook it.

I was so into my inner thought that I missed Uther giving him permission for both of us. So, when I finally came back from my thoughts I found them hugging each other and was confused to how they could pass from fighting to hugging in matters of seconds. But was grateful that everything was all right between them. However, I should have known better to expect that in our lives anything could be so simple. When we were leaving the building we heard yelling coming from Gwaine's office. It seems like he and Percival were having a fight.

"I already said I was sorry!" we heard Percival's complain as we got closer.

"You had no right!" Gwaine snapped back. We were surprised at this, Gwaine normally is the most laid-back person we know. He only gets like this when someone hurts someone he considers family "You should have trusted me, now because of your stupid insecurities Merlin was forced to tell you something she wanted to keep a secret. You don't have an idea of how hard was telling you for her... I can't believe you hurt her like that!".

"Gwaine please... listen to me... How was I suppose to know that she had suicidal tendencies?!" Percival finally screamed in anger and frustration.

We were numb to the rest of the rest of the conversation.

Merlin is... she has... how didn't I notice it?!