NO SLASH

Disclaimer : this is fanfiction, guys. FANfiction. Which means I own virtually nothing, since Fethryn, the Floofs, and Keeperman don't exist ;_;
Warning : Set after season four, Reveal fic
May Contain : A band of Floofs, UNICORNS, Terribly written spells, Cliffhangers to annoy the heck out of you, Aithusaaaaa (and Kilgharrah), Catboy!Merlin, King Arthur Pratdragon, the Knights of Camelot, GWAINE, EEEEVIL, Morgana, FLUFFINESS, and a whole lot of MAGIC~
I'm really sorry if anything hinders your headcanons!

Yes, yes, I know... I took forever, and for what? A midgey chapter. I'm really sorry! I have this major blockage in this story... and I hate it! I can't do ANYTHING about it and... it sucks -_-

Gilli raised his hood, showing his face. He gaped at his grinning friend, frowning as he looked him up and down.

Gilli looked hard into Merlin's eyes. He took in the intense blue, tiny flecks of magical gold, and... slitted pupils. He stared shamelessly up at the twitching triangular ears at the top of his head, and then down at the long, smooth black tail.

Merlin was starting to get a little worried when Gilli seemed to forget to blink. "Erm, Gilli?" he questioned anxiously.

And then, without warning, Gilli burst out laughing, doubling over and clutching his stomach.

Merlin frowned, utterly befuddled. "Gilli?"

Gilli fell over, smacking the ground as he fought to breathe.

Merlin was getting a little concerned for his friend. "Why... are you laughing?"

The other sorcerer panted slightly, a grin still splitting his face. "You're... you're a..." Gilli couldn't continue as he collapsed into a new fit of giggles.

The cat's tail twitched in annoyance. "Gilli!" he sighed, upon realization that he was being mocked.

Arthur watched the pair in confusion. Gilli didn't seem the threatening type, but hadn't Merlin called him a battle axe or something...? And why was he laughing? Merlin's condition was not funny, or cute, or anything! It was disturbing, if anything at all!

Gilli seemed to finally compose himself after having rolled in the dirt for a good ten minutes, a few stray chuckles still managing to escape. Merlin glared at him, not happy at all. His angered features quickly softened when the cloaked man stepped forwards, scratching up between his ears. Merlin purred, leaning into the touch.

Arthur smacked his forehead. "Really, Merlin? Really?"

Merlin huffed, crossing his arms. He made no move to step away from his magical friend, settling for sticking his tongue out at the King.

Arthur rolled his eyes, looking at the other sorcerer. "So, um, Gilli," he said, involuntarily wincing around the name. "Will you help us?"

Gilli raised an eyebrow. "Why would I be here if I weren't?"

Merlin smirked as Arthur's mouth hung open, processing the information. The royal frowned, shifting uncomfortably. "... Right. So, can we leave, or...?"

His manservant frowned at his obliviousness. "Arthur, we can't defeat Morgana with just me and Gilli! Erm... no offense, Gilli."

"What about my army?" Arthur demanded indignantly.

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Arthur, this is Morgana. Your army will be wielding daisies with a flick of her hand."

"So, why are we still here?"

"Well, we've got to wait for the others, yeah?" Gilli stated as if it were obvious. "Sire," he quickly added, realizing that the clueless blond before him was the King.

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "Others—"

He was interrupted as a whirlwind of dust erupted between them, fading out to show who was inside: Alator had arrived. The first thing he did, shocking the King, was bow to Merlin. Merlin. Of all people, he bowed to Merlin?

Merlin seemed only marginally fazed by the attention, and his face broke into an ear-splitting grin. "Alator!" he greeted.

The older warlock gave a tiny smile. "Emrys."

Merlin smirked. "I told you to call me 'Merlin'."

Gilli was smiling cautiously at the newcomer, sticking out a hand to shake. "I'm Gilli. Practitioner of battle magic."

Alator's face lit up. "Yes, of course! Master Gilli; Merlin has said much about you."

Gilli grinned. After spending over a year practising his magic alone in the woods, and acting as dull as possible everywhere else, it was a relief to be appreciated.

How did Merlin survive for all that time, Gilli wondered?

A good number of minutes later, Arthur was still standing in the same spot, completely ignored, watching bemusedly as the three sorcerers huddled together, discussing things in hushed voices.

"So," the King called when there was a fluctuation in their speech patterns. "Are we heading back to Camelot, or...?"

"Ah, right." Merlin separated himself from the group to face his master. He looked sheepish, and maybe a little guilty as he continued to speak. "Arthur, we can't defeat Morgana with just us three."

Arthur frowned. "So... there are more sorcerers?"

The cat cringed. "Not exactly."

"Merlin, what is going on?"

"We're..." Merlin faltered to a stop.

"'We're' what?"

"We're near a Druid camp. But, Arthur—"

"We're what? Merlin, do you realize how many Druids I've made my enemies? We're going back to Camelot. They won't help us."

Merlin huffed, shifting impatiently from foot to foot. "Arthur, we have no other choice."

"No. Please, Merlin, not this."

"Arthur, the Druids don't hate you! It's sort of like Kilgharrah; they understand why you did what you did, and only hold a grudge against Uther."

"But I wasn't acting on my father's orders when I attacked them!"

"Arthur, they believe in Albion; in the future you will bring them. They will follow you, if you prove yourself worthy."

"And how do I do that?"

"You're a good king, Arthur. Better than your father could ever be." Arthur felt a shock go through him at those words. This was the first time Merlin had so openly expressed his distaste in Uther. Arthur had grown up thinking his father, while not as fatherly as most fathers, was the best man in the whole of the world. He never realized just how many people thought otherwise.

"Merlin—"

"Arthur," Merlin interrupted shamelessly, looking his master right in the azure eyes. "You can do this. It's the only way we can defeat Morgana, once and for all. We need as much help as we can get."

"So is that why you went to the Keeper of the Forest?"

Merlin gaped at the King. "No. You... you can't..."

"Merlin, are you all right?"

Merlin continued to stare at him in fear. "Please tell me you're joking."

"There is nothing funny about this situation, Merlin; unless you think otherwise?"

Merlin shook his head in incredulity. "No. You can't be that thick. Please don't tell me you're just realizing this now!"

"Merlin!"

"How am I supposed to help such a dollop head?"

"Merlin! I am your King!"

"Are all Kings this thick?"

Arthur picked up a small twig, and slapped Merlin across the head with it. "Shut up, Merlin."

"Oi!" Gilli called impatiently. "The Druids are waiting!"

Alator smiled at the bickering pair.

Arthur, not wanting to anger his maybe-future allies, ran up to the hooded figures in the shadows. Merlin followed at a much slower pace.

Whether he believed it or not, Arthur would be the greatest King Albion had ever known.

There really was very little point to this chapter... but I had to fill in the hole.

I really hope things can happen now.

Buuuuuuuuh I'm dying guys... I really am. And not in the good way.

Please review!