Arthur awoke when Gwaine was grabbing the bags from their tent. There was a faint gray over everything that meant dawn was coming. He was thinking of going back to sleep when he heard a low hushed voice coming through the ten, "… So Uther turned his inner hatred outward to magic. I pity him more than anything else." That was Merlin. Pitied his father? How could Merlin pity him?

"I can't believe you lied to him. Why would you-?" The queen seemed at a loss for words.

"Uther is just a sad mourning man with a lot of power but… He loves his son, more than anything. Killing Uther would have broken Arthur's heart. He must never find out the truth about his mother."

His… Mother?

"So he was born from magic. That explains it all. It's so deeply enrooted in him-"

"That he reacts quite strongly to it. I think it was easier to take me being a sorcerer because he sensed it on one level or another."

"Magic is drawn to magic after all. It finds it, even in the darkest of places." Arthur understood; it was true. His father had forced his birth with magic. Merlin told him it was a lie to protect him. It set anger in him despite it. "Is it painful, carrying all these burdens on your own?"

"Painful? Well, it isn't easy. But yeah, I guess it is a little painful."

"But you stay with him."

"It makes more sense from my side, believe me."

"No, I mean. I envy you. To love him so much. It takes a lot of strength."

"Well, I certainly wasn't keeping him alive all this time because I had nothing better to do with my time."

Arthur smiled, as the anger vanished as quickly as it came. "Keep your chin up, Merlin. He'll figure it out soon enough."

"What?.. I don't understand."

"Go wake him. It's time you were all heading out anyway."

Arthur immediately closed his eyes as there was a shuffling around to the front of the tent. He heard the tent flap fall back into place. "Arthur." It was a whisper he pretended not to hear. "Arthur, it's time to wake up." He grunted and turned over simply to be difficult. "Arthur." Merlin reached out and shook his shoulder. The place where he touched his arm grew warm under his fingers and he couldn't help it. He turned back over and looked him in the eyes. Merlin smiled gently, "Our horses are ready."

He groaned, "Alright." He sat up and the tent spun. "Whoa."

Merlin steadied his shoulder, looking him over, "You alright to ride?"

He nodded and stood, using Merlin's shoulder to steady him. "You don't have to nursemaid me, Merlin."

Merlin shook his head. "I can't help being concerned. Normal people aren't supposed to have powerful visions of the future."

"I am aware of that."

Merlin was studying him. He never realized how much Merlin worried about him before. Not really. Arthur walked out of the tent with Merlin close behind to make sure he was steady on his feet. When they didn't give out from under the prince, he visibly relaxed and helped him on his horse. The queen patted the neck of his horse as she stood among them. "I hope you count us among your friends Arthur Pendragon. If you should need us, all you have to do is call." She held up a small wooden flute. "Just a whistle." Arthur nodded and turned his horse to follow their guide out of the forest.

They arrived at the gates of Camelot at Dawn. Arthur could only just keep his eyes open, and stumbled as he dismounted. The ride had drained what little energy he had from his nap in the tent. Merlin caught him just as his father exited the castle and he pulled away quickly. Merlin looked a bit hurt until he noticed Uther. "SON! I take it the beast has been slain!"

"The beast will not cause any more harm."

Uther gave Merlin a side long glance, "And you've retrieved Merlin." He turned to Merlin with a appraising eye. "Has your mother's health been restored?"

Merlin nodded, "Yes, sire. She once again in good health. I would have come home sooner but Arthur insisted I not return until she was." Uther nodded. Arthur rolled his eyes but Merlin looked appreciative.

The king clapped Merlin on the shoulder, suddenly, "You look after my son well, boy! Even if you're sometimes… Unmanageable." Arthur stared at his father. "What?"

"Father, are you not well?"

"I'm fine, Arthur."

"Are you-?"

"Sire!"

But as Arthur moved to his father from the horse he nearly fell forward. Merlin just barely caught him. Uther looked from Merlin to Arthur, and then just stared at Merlin. "Sire. I know that Arthur needs to write out his report to you on this mission, but perhaps… The report could wait."

"Let go, Merlin… I'm not a child. I don't need a nursemaid." He yawned.

Uther shook his head, "I'll help you take him to his chamber. He is my son, and he has done well for our kingdom." Merlin bit back a grin and Arthur sighed. His legs never use to be this heavy.

By the time they got back to his room he was nearly asleep. Merlin took off his armor and tucked him into bed. Arthur tried to keep a hold of his sleeve to keep him there. However his father beckoned him to the door and his servant disappeared behind it. There whispers however still echoed faintly through his room. "He hasn't slept, you know."

"Sire?"

"His… Reports have been sloppy. He's been clumsy. Then this business with the beast. He's just acting… You're close to him, what would have caused such a change?"

Arthur snorted, sleepily. His father could be perceptive sometimes.

"No, sire. He was fine before I left."

There was a longer pause then Arthur liked. He knew he should sleep but he wanted to know what they were talking about. He was quite the eavesdropper today.

"You?" What a dangerous question that was. The huge change in his son's patterns was due to Merlin? He was probably fighting to keep his heart from stopping.

"I-… I don't understand."

Another long pause. "I know you care for my son. I'm…Glad. He will need someone like that when he is king. He never used to smile so much. I'm grateful; even if it's only because you're-" Arthur snorted softly. His father had been about to call him an idiot. "Don't glare at me. You're not exactly thrilled about me, now are you? If I were to die-"

"If anything were to happen to you it would break Arthur's heart." The firmness in Merlin's voice scared him a little.

"So now my boy's heart is you're concern?"

More silence. Then, "Yes. It is."

"Give it up. All boys go through this phase. Arthur is to be King. He will need an heir, and a queen to produce one." He heard the king sigh, disgruntled. With that he heard his father's boots click on the stone down the hall before the door reopened and he pretended to be asleep. Merlin didn't move from his spot though. Uther knew how Merlin felt; it hadn't helped that he'd practically declared it.

Merlin's footstep came closer an Arthur forced his eyes open, "Merlin?" He sighed out. His friend's face was shadowed but his outline grew closer.

"You should get to bed."

"I know. But the attack Merlin-"

"I would never let anything happen to Uther. I promise you that."

"That's what worries me. How are you going to protect him without using magic?"

"I've gotten better with a sword, you know. And I've got a extra set of eyes now with Gwaine hanging around."

"It's his eyes that worry me." Merlin shook his head, "Have you seen the way he looks at you?"

That got him a laugh, "Am I detecting jealous?"

"I can't promise you anything. He could give everything I can't and steal you away. And you heard my father… Heirs and… Queens." His eyes drifted shut and a cool hand stroked his hair.

"I only ask that I stay by your side."Arthur nodded as he drifted off to sleep.