A/N : Hey guys! I want to thank every single one of you for reading and reviewing the last chapter -- it really really means the world to me. I really hope you'll like this chapter as well, and please please review again? It makes my day, my week, my year!

Xo, as always

Merlin

"MERLIN!"

Merlin groaned in his sleep, pulling the pillow over his head to drown out the voice that was shouting at him. Five more minutes, he begged. I'll get up in five, I promise. But the intruder wouldn't have any of that – oh no. Suddenly, his blanket was drawn away from him which caused him to curl up into a tight ball and shiver. "Wha-?"

Arthur pulled the pillow from his face and poked him in the side – making his eyes snap open and a small yelp escape his lips. "Arthur – what are you doing?" His eyes darted to the window and noticed the pitch black of night was still reigning the sky. "Do you know it's the middle of the night?"

"There's a voice," Arthur angrily pointed at his head, before continuing, accentuating every word by speaking it slowly, deliberately. "inside – my – head ! If that's you, I swear I'm going to wack you without thinking twice."

Merlin moved slowly, raising himself so he sat on the edge of the bed, and looked at Arthur with an confused expression. "Well, does it sound like me?"

Arthur's mouth twitched. "No."

"Then why do you think I have something to do with it?" Really, people might call him an idiot, but Arthur certainly had his moment of pure idiocy as well. Merlin drew a hand over his face while waiting for his words to sink in.

"Because you're the only one I know who can do - - you know." Arthur explained. The word magic still hadn't been spoken between the two of them – even after a week since his return. They were afraid that when it finally fell, something would shatter – be torn apart. And despite Arthur's anger, he didn't want that.

"Right." Merlin bit his lip. A thought came to him, and he tilted his head in wonder. "Does the voice sound like a … deep, slow drawl… like Aaaarthuuur? And does it sound like it's coming from somewhere inside the castle?"

"Oh, fantastic." Arthur sneered. "You've got friends."

His servant only glared at him. "I wouldn't call him my 'friend', exactly."

"Then what would you call him?"

Merlin bit his lip, knowing the next words he spoke weren't going to be happily received. "the great..dragon?"

-

Arthur

"I can't believe I'm doing this." It was a mantra repeating over and over in his mind, as he thudded down the steps with a torch in his hand. Still, if it made the annoying voice in his head stop – if all it took was to scamper on to the dungeons and yell at some mythical creature to leave him alone, that's what he'd do.

Of course, Merlin had declined his order to join him, claiming that the dragon and he hadn't parted on good terms the last time they had spoken. Probing hadn't gotten anything else out of him and – damn it, he knew he had told Merlin to keep his secrets, it was probably best that way – but sometimes he wished he wouldn't.

How could he trust Merlin when he never told him anything?

"Show yourself." His voice echoed inside the cave, and for a minute he thought merlin had sent him on a fool's errand, that there was no one here. Idiot. But then the clapping of heavy wings filled the entire cave, and he swallowed hard when the dragon landed right in front of him. Christ, he hadn't thought it was this - - large.

"You are as talented at ordering people about as is expected of you, young Pendragon." The dragon looked at him oddly, almost as if he were sizing him up, trying to figure out how best to manipulate him. But still, Arthur figured he had the upper hand, for it was his own father who had caged the animal, and it was in his power to set it free.

"Well, yes." He replied calmly, a sarcastic tone underlying his answer. "It comes with the job."

"It is not the only thing that you carry with you."

Arthur cursed silently. If there was one thing he couldn't deal with, it was riddles – it had been proven at the labyrinth, and it was as clear as day when he stood inside this darkened cave. Frustration reared its head. "I do not have time for riddles, creature – I just came to tell you to stop invading my thoughts." Pause. "It's annoying."

A grin spread on the dragon's face, its mouth opening to flash a great row of teeth. It occurred to the young prince that at any moment, the dragon could snap and attack him, and his hand instinctively went to the sword at his side. "I fear it was the only way to get you to come. It was the same with your servant, yet he didn't need to call for advise before coming to me."

Arthur huffed. Merlin was too naive for his own good. "What is it you want of me?"

"I want to warn you." The dragon unfolded his wings before bringing them back to his side. "Danger is lurking in the near future – and I am not the only one who senses it. It is, after all, the reason Merlin came back for you. You are connected in ways you have yet to discover, young prince."

So that was the reason Merlin had returned. "You want to know why I came back." He remembered his reply, and inwardly cringed. "I'm not sure I want to know anything about you." Merlin had feared for his life, but had apparently thought Arthur's safety more important than his own, and had dared to return to the castle.

".. and when the challenge arrives, it is not only your life that will be threatened."

His head snapped. "Who else is in danger?"

The dragon leaned closer to him, and Arthur instinctively stepped back. The great brown eyes were hidden from him when the animal blinked slowly, and they seemed lighter than before when it spoke again. "I think you know who I'm talking about. An accident will come to pass, and the use of dark magic will make his chances of survival slim."

Arthur sighed impatiently. "And when exactly will this accident come to pass?"

"That, you have to find out on your own." The dragon foretold. He let out a deep rumble of a laugh and moved his head slowly. "I know what you're thinking, young Pendragon."

"I doubt it." Arthur's mouth slid to the right, and he bit the inside of his cheek to keep his temper in check. "I'm actually thinking how crazy Merlin is to have friends like you, who never tell you a bloody thing."

"Ah. But you see, Arthur – I am not Merlin's friend…I am his kin," the low voice explained.

"Some screwed up family." Drawing his sword, he pointed it menacingly at the dragon. "Stay out of my head, or I swear I will have my father destroy you." As he walked away, feeling as if he had made his point, he was stopped by the last thing the dragon told him.

"Remember, sire, that he who holds the blade does not always wield the sword." Arthur shook his head and ran up the pathway.

-

Merlin

He paced his chamber while waiting for Arthur to return. Over the last week or so, he had been doing chores for his master, different than the ones he had the other servant do. It made Merlin wonder how he had ever managed to do all of them on his own, but in the end he realized that it was just Arthur's way to make sure everyone still had a job. Merlin was thankful, for it meant that he was being given a second chance – it meant that Arthur still hadn't made his mind up yet. While he was hanging in limbo, he would have a chance to explain everything properly, and keep his friend safe while he was at it.

Arthur entered the room, a grim look on his face. Merlin supposed it was to be expected : in a way, this encounter had been two alpha males facing off – Arthur didn't like to be thrown in a loop and the dragon did anything but be straight forward. Still, it was unsure exactly how bad it had been.

"So, how was it?"

"Well," Arthur began. "I met your greatuncle."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "He fed you that "I'm his kin" story as well, did he?" He shook his head. "We're not family, even though we're a bit alike."

Arthur frowned, a small smile spreading around his lips. "I might be mistaken, but I haven't noticed any wings or scales yet."

He chuckled. "We both come from…" he fell short, unsure whether Arthur wanted him to go on or not. When the prince raised his eyebrows in a meaningful way, he took a deep breath and continued. "…from the old religion."

Confusion reigned in Arthur's features. "But the old religion died out."

"Apparently, it's still very much alive." Merlin lowered himself to the edge of his bed and looked at Arthur, gladly using this opportunity to explain himself further. "I've been able to move things since before I could speak, Arthur. I can't help it – and it's not bad. Someone once told me that magic isn't one way or the other, it's how you use it."

Arthur stuck out his chest. "Well, I suppose saving my life is a pretty good purpose for it." He walked around the bed until he faced Merlin head on. "Show me."

"Your life's not in danger at this very second, Arthur, showing you how to save it is a little difficult." Arthur gave him a poignant look, and Merlin grinned. "Oh, you mean the moving stuff?"

He looked around for an object and his gaze came to rest on one of his boots. A flash of gold appeared in his eyes and the shoe immediately flew in their direction. "It's how I beat you that first time when we were 'practicing our mace work'."

Had this been any other situation, Arthur would have made sure Merlin understood that he in fact hadn't beaten him in a fight, because the fight hadn't been fair to begin with, but this time, he remained completely still. Not even a nerve twitched.

"I need to think about this," he eventually said, and made move to leave. "in the meantime, you can polish my armour, by hand. " He paused, and turned to Merlin. "The fact that I know is dangerous enough, you can't risk anyone else finding out."

"I won't."

-

Arthur

The next day, the long announced visit of his cousin finally took place. He stood next to his father in the throne room, his eyes trained on the large wooden doors while he waited for his long lost family member to pass through them. Yet something didn't sit right with him. Last night's conversations – both with the dragon and with Merlin – had kept him up the rest of the night, and wondering the entire day's length.

"It is not only your life that will be threatened. … It is, after all, the reason Merlin came back for you."

"I've been able to move things since before I could speak, Arthur. I can't help it – and it's not bad."

The doors opened and his cousin walked in, a large grin on his face. Arthur immediately mirrored the expression - - it had been a long time since he had seen his cousin Grady, and they had been good friends in their childhood. All thoughts of danger momentarily wiped from his mind, he waited patiently for Grady to greet the king in a proper manner before pulling him into a hug. "It's been a long time."

"Too long," Grady replied. "I've missed the pranks we used to pull."

Behind them, someone cleared their throat and though Arthur didn't see – Grady's face clouded momentarily as he remembered whose company he was in. "I apologize for the lack of manners," he explained. "This is lord Ulrich. My guardian."

Lord Ulrich looked every inch the respectable man, and Arthur shook his hand with a tight grip, knowing the gesture and strength would be returned. "My father and I welcome you to Camelot, my lord."

"I thank you. I have heard many tales of the wonders of Camelot…" his gaze swept around the room, taking in every face, every piece of armour and every possible threat. When his eyes found Merlin, they rested there for a while, before grimacing. "…and of those who live there."

Emrys, he thought darkly. This might pose to be a problem.

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XO, as always!