Hello! It's me again, sorry again for updating so late. I was away for a couple of months. But I'm back now and here is the next chapter!

There is a bit in this chapter that is a little important to the story... I think you'll know when you read it…

Chapter 8...Everyone Have Got Their Own Plans

The third day that Merlin had to work for the king, he was more prepared for his odd behaviour. He accepted that Uther was not as everyone said, a heartless tyrant, but a king that misjudged and took his own decisions very seriously, no room for doubt, but as a man he was very kind indeed. Merlin did his job, while chatting away to the king about Ealdor. Of course it was not as easy as chatting away to Arthur, but Merlin had relaxed considerably in the king's presence. But all this did not mean that he hadn't missed Arthur. While Uther was kind he did not provide the easy banter that came with been with Arthur, and at the end of the day he was still the king and Merlin a servant, some respect was demanded.

By the end of the third day Merlin's opinion of Uther Pendragon had changed. And he was willing for everything to back to the way it was before but with a bit less fear from Uther. Morgana on the other hand was still a problem. She gave Merlin the evil eye all through the meal Merlin had to serve for her and the king. And she had that secretive smile when she thought no one was looking, which put Merlin on the edge. This meant she was up to something again. Probably off to see her sister again tonight, in the forest. Merlin had to watch out and perhaps follow her, but more stealthy this time. He did not wish for a repeat of last time.

Once dinner was over Merlin followed the king back to his chambers and helped him prepare for bed. He was about to blow out the candles and leave when the king stopped him by the use of his name.

"Sire?" Merlin said. "Did you need something?"

"Do you know what is wrong with Morgana?" Uther asked. Merlin tensed. What would he say; he couldn't exactly accuse the king's ward, no matter how much Uther had changed and was kind to him. Yet here was a chance to warn the king about Morgana's true allegiance. But it seemed he had paused for too long. "You do know something!" Uther sat up in his bed, his full attention on Merlin now. "Tell me now!"

"I-well-I" Merlin really didn't know how to say this, but looking at the king he had to make something up or say part of the truth. He had used these techniques on Arthur before. "I think that the Lady Morgana... feels lonely sometimes, and it shows in her actions."

"Lonely? Why would she feel lonely?" Uther said "She has us"

"I don't think it's the same sire" Uther gave Merlin a look, and Merlin quickly went on to explain himself. "yes she has you, but she needs a family, her family, no matter how close she is to you, it would never be the same, you are not her father, and she sees that she wouldn't be as ...close to you as you are with the prince. She envies that relationship." Uther looked at Merlin thoughtfully and maybe a bit sadly.

"Do you really think that's how she feels?" Uther asked. He sounded sad, really sad.

"It is how I used to feel, when I saw my best friend with his dad, no matter how much will and his father tried to include me in their activities, the man wasn't my father." Merlin looked away remembering his own father and when the news of will's father's death had come to Ealdor. Merlin had lost a lot of father figures in his time, which was why Gaius was so important to him.

"I see, maybe I could fix that" the king said. He sounded like he was talking to himself, so Merlin didn't respond. "Thank you Merlin that is all for today, you may go back to Arthur tomorrow." Merlin bowed.

"Thank you sire" and with that he left the room. But he had no intention of going back to his room. Instead he headed for Morgana's rooms. He had a suspicion that she had an appointment with her sister. And Merlin wanted to know what they were planning next. He went to wait outside her room till she came out, but she never did.

MAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMA

Morgana paced the room, waiting for her sister. She had every plan to sneak out of Camelot to see her, but before she could do so she had looked through the key hole to make sure she was clear to leave, and what does she see? Well Merlin of course! She was furious. He had checked the area before hiding behind some pillars. But Morgana had already seen him. She had quickly made her way over to the little box Morgause had given her, and took out one of the special parchments. She had written her dilemma and burned the paper in the fire. She had expected an answer soon but when none came she knew that Morgause was coming here. She was worried of what would happen if she got caught. She loved her sister; she really did, after all Morgause had saved her both physically and emotionally. But sometimes she felt like a child the way her sister acted, keeping her in the dark and telling her to just stay put and look pretty. Well she never said those words but she did tell her to pretend to be the same Morgana from before. And frankly Morgana didn't know if she could put up this front for much longer. She just wanted to be taken seriously by both parties. Morgana was lost deep in her thoughts, which is the reason she gave herself for jumping, startled when Morgause appeared in front of her. But she did control herself in time not to make a noise and alert Merlin that what he was waiting for was actually occurring inside her room.

"Sister! Is all well?" was Morgause's greeting. Morgana resisted clenching her fist and arranged her face in to a smile, after all Morgause meant well.

"Yes all is well," Morgana responded taking hold of her sister's hand that was held out to her. "Just problems with Uther and Merlin, nothing unusual."

"Tell me of these problems sister!" Morgause murmured as she sat down on Morgana's bed. Morgana hid her irritation, did Morgause need to use the word sister in her every sentence!

"Well just the usual, it's just when I was about to come and see you I saw Merlin hiding outside my room and well I couldn't come and see you" Morgana explained.

"If the boy is here then we can take him!" Morgause whispered excitedly.

"We can't sister!" Morgana explained exasperatedly. "Arthur's Chambers is within this corridor, all Merlin has to do is make a noise, then we are caught"

"I thought you said Arthur was in the dungeons?" Morgause said looking upset.

"He was released earlier tonight" Morgause looked at Morgana strangely.

"Something about this upset's you, doesn't it sister?"

"It is very strange"

"How so?" Morgause seemed curious.

"Arthur was put in jail because he hurt Merlin" Morgana tried to explain. "And recently Uther seems very friendly with Merlin; he takes him to our picnics, and has him sit with us, like I said Uther had Arthur put in jail for Merlin"

"This servant is starting to really annoy me!" Morgause said angrily. "We have to do something about him."

"What would you have us do?" Morgana said, Barley holding in her frustration. "Merlin seems to be able to flee everything we throw in his way!"

"Well sister, not all of Camelot's knights are un-corruptible." Morgause said with a very wicked smile. "I think we may be able to use one of these resources that are available to us."

MAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMA

The next day Arthur woke up to a very cheerful Merlin. It seemed as if nothing had happened, Merlin was his usual self, all cheery and happy. But it did nothing to ease Arthur's guilt over how he had treated Merlin. Yes Merlin had forgiven Arthur, nothing and yes they had talked about it and Arthur had apologised. But Merlin's ability to bounce back to cheerfulness was its own form of guilt trip. Arthur wanted to make it up to Merlin, but he didn't know how and it scared him, Merlin had been working for Arthur for years and yet Arthur didn't know him like he thought he did. But he wasn't going to let that stop him; he would find a way to repay Merlin for all he had done for them. It was only a matter of finding the right way, and it seemed that Arthur would get a lot of help from the knights and the king, to the servants and the court physician.

End of chapter 8...

I know that it wasn't very good, but I just wanted to give you all something for your patience and understanding. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I promise to do my best to update as quickly as I Can.

R&R please…