I know I said it would be a little longer than this before my next update, but I thought I'd give you a nice little gift. I'm not entirely happy with the way this chapter came out, but since it was written in tiny incriments over a two day period i suppose it kinda makes sense. I hope you still like it, and yes, I do plan on having the action coming soon. Thank you to all who reviewed, it's always appreciated. I will have some free time to write over the next two days and I was wondering if all ya'll readers out there want me to focus entirely on this story or start a new one? I could do some nice little oneshots or begin a full-length story. I could do Sherlock, Merlin, Psych, Stargate: SG1, Doctor Who or perhaps something else. What do all you wonderful people who are kind enough to waste your time on my story, (I know, mind-blowing, right?) want? Review and let me know.

And now, the chapter you all haven't been waiting for...

Bright and painfully early the next morning Arthur was up and already at the stables. He couldn't leave yet, however, because a certain manservant was ridiculously late. Again. Honestly, what was wrong with him? Maybe he really did have a mental condition. Yeah, he thought grimly, it's called 'no self-preservation.'

And just then the tardy boy in question appeared racing around a corner with two packs: one on his back and the other in his arms. The pack in his arms was so big that Arthur doubted Merlin could see much over it. And just as he came to realization of what not being able to see where he is going could mean for the abnormally clumsy servant, it happened. Merlin tripped over his own feet and fell in a jumbled mess onto the ground; taking the provisions with him.

Or at least he would've if Leon, who must've realized the same thing that Arthur had, and who was fortunately closer, hadn't lunged forward and grabbed Merlin with two strong arms and kept him from landing in an undignified heap on the ground.

He righted the lazy idiot and took the pack that was partially to blame for the almost-mishap.

Merlin dusted himself off and then held out his arms, seemingly to take back the troublesome parcel, but Leon shook his head. Though Arthur was still a little ways away he could make out the words that came out of the knight's mouth if he tried. And what he heard only served to widen the smile that had been growing bigger and bigger with each passing second.

"Uh-huh, Merlin, if I were to give you this back it would only cause you to fall once again, and I doubt either of us, or Arthur for that matter, want to see what would've happened if I hadn't grabbed you. Your head would be bruised and so would Arthur's things; am I correct in thinking this is his pack?" Leon looked at Merlin like a kind, older brother would; slightly amused and slightly reproachful. And his tone was that of someone who was gently trying to teach a lesson.

Merlin ducked and nodded his head as if he was resigned to his fate of being terminally clumsy. "You're probably right, but you shouldn't carry that; you're a knight. I can come back for it." Merlin looked slightly awkward, something Arthur, personally, found funny. The idiot had no problem mouthing off to the prince and future king of Camelot, but felt weird if a knight carried something for him.

Leon seemed to be thinking the same thing; after all, there wasn't a single knight that hadn't seen the way Merlin behaved around his supposed master. The knight just shook his head as if to say 'I can't believe this boy,' and replied,

"No, it's alright since its Arthur's bag. I have sworn to protect, honor, and serve him after all." They started walking towards Arthur, who wasn't even attempting to hide the fact that he was listening, where he was standing near his horse. Why should he? He's a prince.

"And I'm sure that includes protecting the armor, weapons, and supply of food that he will need for the next few days." Leon smiled.

Much like Merlin, you couldn't help but like Leon. He is kind, loyal, and is nice to everyone until he is given a reason not to be. Out of all the knights he is perhaps the most even-tempered. He doesn't have the cheerful disposition that Merlin has, but neither does he have a horrible temper. All in all, Leon is the most open-minded of all the knights. And in the past Arthur may have gone to him with his questions or doubts. But not anymore; not for something like this. Merlin is the only one who will understand. How sad is that?

By now they had reached Arthur, and as Merlin placed the pack that his shoulders were carrying the brunt of on his own mare Leon handed him the other, which was promptly placed on the prince's horse.

"You're late, Merlin, and don't think I missed your little stunt with my things a few minutes ago. Really, I wonder why I haven't fired you yet." Arthur said; true to form.

Leon just stood back and watched the drama unfold as it usually did.

"Actually, you have," said, smirking a little.

Arthur paused for a moment; feeling a bit guilty. "Yes, well…that was for completely different reasons. Maybe I should have let you stay fired so I wouldn't have to put up with all of your ridiculousness. My life would be a lot easier if I had." The prince raised his head pompously and swung himself into his saddle.

"Maybe your life would be easier, but the last thing your ego needs is a bootlicker. In fact, I bet I'm doing a service to this kingdom by keeping you from being a total prat." And with that he climbed into his own saddle, due to his clumsiness though, it was with far less dignity than Arthur.

Without turning around to look at his servant said prat replied, "Merlin, shut up," he turned towards the noble, "Leon, we shall be gone for a two days, three at the most. If we are gone any longer you shall know something is wrong."

"Yes, sire."

"Wait just a moment," Merlin said, sounding incredulous, "I thought you said we were going to be gone for five days? I packed for five days. You said nothing about only two!"

"Merlin," Arthur said, as if the reason was perfectly clear, "since you have a completely different idea of what is an acceptable amount of food for a prince to eat, I believed it would be in the best interest of not starving to tell you to pack for five days of hunting. Now, we have been delayed by your foolishness long enough, let's go." And with that the future king began trotting away on his horse, albeit; slowly.

Merlin looked like he was going to follow when he was stopped by a hand on his arm. "Merlin," Leon said. The warlock was surprised at the many different emotions he heard in the man's tone. There was the desire to not be overheard by Arthur, a hint of friendship, hesitance, but most of all...confidence. "I want you to know that I trust you."

Though Merlin knew that there was no reason to think that the nobleman knew his secret he still felt uneasy at his words.

"What?" He was also more than a little confused.

The knight looked briefly at Arthur then turned back to look straight into Merlin's eyes, as if he didn't want the boy to miss a word he was going to say.

"You have only been here for a few months and already you have saved Arthur's life several times. You've even drunk poison for him. You may not be a knight, but you have the courage and loyalty of one. You know as well as I that there are many who wish to end the prince's life. He is a skilled fighter and can take care of himself, but even he is not perfect and needs protecting sometimes.

"Even with all of our training you have managed to save him when we cannot. And we all know you have no skill with a sword." Merlin looked slightly affronted at this, but then seemed to realize that it was the truth and once more looked resigned.

"And though I wish that prince Arthur would take some of us knights with him, I have to admit that if I could choose any one person to go with him, other than myself, I would choose you. For I know you will do everything in your power to keep him safe. And that is all any of us can do.

"And therefore; the knights, me included, have decided to place our trust in you to do whatever you can for him." He paused for a moment here; as if he was unsure whether or not he should say the next words. Obviously he had come to some kind of decision for he continued talking, though perhaps a bit quieter.

"And I want you to know that, in my book, you are a knight; for you have proven yourself to be one." He smiled and released Merlin's arm. "Now, you should probably go catch up to prince Arthur." He turned his head to look at the slowly retreating form of the man whose life the knight was placing in merlin's hands.

Merlin followed the noble's gaze and thought about what he had been told. In the last twenty four hours alone he had had two people tell him something that he'd never dared to hope to hear. But instead of being overjoyed at the words, he felt strangely contented. Because he knew that having a knight trust him was not only an honor, but, perhaps more importantly, an acknowledgement of the responsibility that was on his shoulders. And while he would protect Arthur with his life with or without the consent of Camelot's knights, he knew that he was being totally and completely, for the next two days anyway, given the burden of looking out for him.

If Merlin had thought it was too late to back out of his supposed "destiny" before then it was most definitely out of the question now. The knights had put their trust in him. And he had no intention of letting them down. If he did he would be skinned alive.

And so Merlin nodded to Leon and said simply, "Thank you." And then he spurred his horse on and tried to catch up with his master and friend feeling oddly free and yet weighty at the same time.

As Arthur was riding towards the outskirts of Camelot, presumably with his lazy manservant behind him, he thought and wondered about two things, neither of which was particularly pleasant. Which reminded him, since when do I think so freaking much?

The first being: what on earth had Merlin and his most trusted knight been talking about not ten minutes ago?

He had known that there was something on Leon's mind and that it probably concerned Merlin, after all, what didn't these days? But that still didn't answer his question of what Leon would've had to discuss with the lazy oaf that barely passed for a manservant.

The second thought plaguing Arthur's mind was, in fact, a memory of his last conversation with Gaius. The man had been very worried about his ward and had come to ask something of him; a request he couldn't refuse.

"It's just that the boy has no thought for himself if he thinks that a small thing like self-preservation could possibly bring harm or discomfort to anyone. Only when everyone else is happy and content will he think about himself. And while I worry about him normally I think that, after everything that's happened…"—"Arthur, are you thinking? 'Cause I have to admit that if that's the case then I may have lost a bet. I thought that the day when you actually start thinking would never come."

And just like that Merlin's voice cut through Arthur's memory of Gaius and the request that he had made.

"Merlin! I'll have you know that I think probably a lot more than a simple peasant like yourself has in your entire lifetime. A future king has to think in order to run his kingdom." Although a bit disoriented Arthur hadn't missed a beat.

"Well, normally yes, but in your case I'm afraid Camelot's doomed."

"Merlin, shut up, you're annoying."

And for once Merlin did, though Arthur later would come to the conclusion that it was the boy's strange ability to sense when something bad was about to happen. Because just then; they left the safety of Camelot's walls and entered the forest where they were going to hunt. Never before had a trip been so wrongly named.

Well, I hope you're happy with it. I am not a huge fan of Leon myself but I like him well enough. But I thought that all you Leon fans out there might like a bit of him. Anyway, what do you think of my characters so far? I think I did Uther and Gaius pretty well but I'm still a little iffy on Leon since he never says more than ten words at a time in the show. I realize that some of the writing was weird since i kept changing pronouns, but it's hard writing third person while talking about another person in the present tense. Though, I'm sure that other fanfiction writers have to go through the same thing and I'm just the only one having problems with it. Oh, well, I'm still young and have plenty of time to learn. I know that most of you were probably hoping to get to the actual "hunting" by this point, and to be honest with you, so was I. But the next chapter should have that. It will probably be a few more chapters till the whump, but until then you can look forward to more bromance. So...read, review, and please review. I could use some more motivation. Bye for now!