Merlin shifted and turned as a voice whispered in his mind. Most of it sounded like jumbled prattle that Merlin couldn't make out in his hazy awareness, but one thing stood out above all.

Protect him… Protect him…Protect him…

His mother had always said that dreams are amazing things. She believed that a dream could warn you against a coming danger or advise you on how to avoid it altogether. The only problem was that Merlin didn't know who "he" was or why "he" needed protecting.

Merlin…Merlin…Merlin…

The voice sounded gruff and almost inhuman. He had never met anyone with such a rough tone and he didn't really want to meet the person who did. The call became louder and louder and louder…

"Merlin! Get up! You will be late for your first day at work!" Merlin bolted up and heard Gaius calling him. His recall of the dream dissipated as he glanced at the cloak with a wry smile.

"Not much happened last night. Just a few murderers and the odd thief," he said casually which earned him an inquisitive eyebrow from his mentor. "What is it?" The old man just chuckled and returned to the larger chamber.

"You are living a double life Merlin. It's very dangerous, especially when your other life is illegal." Gaius began tinkering away with his chemicals and Merlin read one of the bottles. It said 'Sleeping draft.' Merlin frowned in sympathy for that person. He used to have nightmares all the time as a kid because of his fear of being found and burned for his magic. To have them all the time must be horrible. "Merlin, are you listening?" His mentor snapped, making him jump up suddenly.

"Um sorry, I was miles away," he said sheepishly as Gaius rubbed his forehead with his hand and exhaled.

"I said that you have to distance yourself from the vigilante figure that you've become. You can't show anyone your skills with the staff. In fact, you should probably make sure no one sees the staff except when it's in the hands of the vigilante." Merlin looked through the door to his chambers; his eyes glowed gold and the door shut and locked.

"That problem's fixed. Anything else Gaius?" The young sorcerer quirked his eyebrow at Gaius and smirked.

"Yes, your magic is top secret. No one must know. It will endanger them and you. Make sure it stays between me and you, Merlin, like your other life. Now off to work with you." Gaius picked up an apple and made to bite into it when it flew out of his hand and into Merlin's. But before Gaius could reprimand him, the young servant ran out the door.

Merlin walked aimlessly through the castle, eventually realising he had no idea where Arthur's chambers were. The farm boy strolled through the halls looking at the many tapestries across the walls when he bumped into someone, two someone's actually. It was the girl he'd saved, the same one from his trial. Gwen, he had heard the other woman call her.

"Gwen," he instinctively said not really knowing where he wanted to go with that. Both women seemed quite amused by his inability to talk. "Sorry, uh, I wasn't looking where I was going."

"Oh no that is quite alright. You're the boy from the trial, right?" He nodded and looked up and saw a pair of emerald eyes look back at him. She was beautiful, way out of his league and noble women weren't really his type anyway. But still, she was just breathtaking. "I'm Morgana, by the way."

Merlin felt he should bow to her and dipped his head slightly. "I'm Merlin, milady," he muttered.

"Please, Morgana is fine. I hate the title, the attention, ah not so much." He grinned and laughed, noticing that propriety wasn't much of a worry for Morgana and Gwen.

"You must be going to Arthur's chambers, correct?" He nodded again. "Gwen, would you show him the way and maybe you can get to know each other more." Merlin didn't miss the suggestive wink that Morgana threw her maid but he didn't mind spending more time with Gwen.

"Okay then, Merlin, if you'll follow me." Merlin smiled secretly at the blush that crept up her cheeks. He had never been interested in women before but Gwen certainly piqued his interest. "So you're from Ealdor? What is it like?" She asked after a small lapse of silence.

"Oh, well it isn't really much. It is a small village on the outskirts of Essetir. We have a few crop fields, a couple of cows and the odd pig here and there." He started to miss it already but felt he could really build a life here. He already had a job, if you forget the part where it was actually a sentence of manual labour.

"It sounds rather peaceful." Merlin thought about how boring he'd always found it but with the combination of his magic and his best mate, Will, life became less so. They spent the rest of the walk in comfortable silence until Gwen stopped and gestured to a door which he imagined led to Prince Arthur. "Good luck," she said before she walked away.

That wasn't very promising. Merlin thought.

Nevertheless, Merlin plastered on his best grin and strolled into the Prince's chambers. He hadn't expected what met his eyes. The floors were covered in clothes, the table had dishes with decaying food strewn across them and the smell was horrendous. He could already imagine his mother giving the person who made this mess a good talking to. Unfortunately, he wasn't his mother. Instead he walked over to the bed which held the crumpled form of the Prince in the middle of it.

Merlin had never woken a Prince before. Was there some sort of secret way to do it? If there was, Merlin didn't know it. So he simply drew the curtains and allowed the sun to invade the darkness in the chamber.

"Good morning sire!" He yelled cheerily. The sun had just risen and he watched in merriment as the people of Camelot went about their business in the streets. Merlin turned to see a very angry Prince staring back at him.

"Where is my breakfast?" Arthur demanded as he stretched. Would some manners kill him? Merlin pondered.

"Probably in the kitchens." He smiled but it disappeared as the glare from the Prince intensified. "I'll fetch it, sire." Merlin turned on his heel but he stumbled slightly as his foot slipped on a trouser leg. He heard a groan from behind him and Merlin summoned all of his power to keep his mouth closed. "Sorry," he mumbled, and bowed before he left in search of the castle kitchens.

After several minutes of running around the castle in search of kitchens the servant came back with the Prince's breakfast.

"What took you so long?" Arthur barked at him. Strangely, Arthur was still not dressed but maybe he only dressed after breakfast. Merlin had no idea.

"I had to find the kitchens first, sire." Merlin politely replied as he set the tray down in front of the prat. "Why didn't you change whilst I was away, sire," he asked.

"Don't be stupid, Merlin. Who would help me change into my clothes and armour?" Merlin had seen armour before and thought it might need a second pair of hands to put on. But he knew from personal experience that dressing certainly didn't.

"Can you not dress yourself milord? If not, I could teach you," he teased as he began to stack the dishes from previous days to be taken to the kitchens.

"I'll have you know I can dress myself just fine, Merlin. Besides, I doubt you could teach a bird to fly." Arthur then got a horrible glint in his eye which Merlin didn't like. "Now for your chores. You will clean my chambers, make my bed, wash and polish the floor, clean my desk, take these plates back to the kitchens, wash my clothes, make my lunch then you will join me on the training field where you will sharpen my sword and polish my spare armour as well as help me train." That was a very long list and Arthur seemed to want most of it done before midday. Maybe his magic would come in handy whilst the Prince was elsewhere.

With that in mind Merlin nodded and began to clean the Prince's chambers.

It was later that day that an exhausted Merlin slaved away on Arthur's sword whilst he trained his knights in the art of mace combat. As Merlin sharpened the sword to the best of his ability, he watched with a small smile playing on his features, as Arthur took down three of his opponents. The Prince was indeed a very good fighter. Merlin had deduced quickly that the broad sword was his master's favourite because it allowed Arthur to use his overwhelming strength against his opponents. If only Merlin didn't have to hide his skill with a staff then he would ask to fight him.

"Is something on your mind there, Merlin?" The servant stood but knocked over several pieces of weaponry and armour as he turned. He was that Morgana and Gwen were front of him chuckling at his clumsiness. To his surprise, Morgana wore lightweight armour with a sword sheathed at her side.

"No, I was just watching Arthur train, milady." The three of them looked back at Arthur, who now wielded a staff. Arthur fought well, Merlin would give him that, but Merlin reckoned he could take him staff on staff.

"He fights well though I did beat him a lot when we were kids." Merlin snorted and laughed at the idea of Arthur beaten by a girl. "Think you could do better, Merlin?" Merlin shook his head but he turned as she unsheathed her sword.

"Honestly, milady, the sword is not my choice of weapon." Merlin smiled, thinking about how useless he was with a sword. Will used one a lot better than him but when Will tried to train him; Merlin just couldn't get the hang of it.

"So you have a choice of weapon?"

Merlin sighed "No- I was just saying that if I indeed did – I, well, if we spoke metaphorically that is – err what was the question?" The two women chuckled at his stumbling.

"Please, just choose the weapon you feel most comfortable with." She gestured to the table full of swords, daggers, staffs, and crossbows. "I'll be gentle." She smirked and Merlin exhaled, defeated, and trudged over to pick up the quarter staff.

"I should have known since you came to Camelot with a staff." Merlin smiled and took a more casual stance; hopefully he looked more inexperienced than he was.

"I don't feel comfortable fighting the Princess of Camelot." Merlin had asked around about Morgana's identity and they looked at him very strangely before telling him she was the Princess.

"Because you'll lose?" She laughed and Merlin looked over to Gwen who seemed very worried about him. Merlin knew he wouldn't but then he would blow his cover and people might associate him with the vigilante.

Merlin said nothing, instead taking the time to breathe and focus. The staff twirled in his hands as he began to move forward toward Morgana, flourishing it as he did so.

The Princess struck first, coming from above and Merlin blocked before Morgana turned to slice at his chest. He quickly stepped away and turned his staff vertically so it blocked her sword before he attacked from her top left. She expertly blocked that also. Merlin then tried to hit her right side only for her to block once again. He smirked and spun, then he heard a groan from behind his back. He swiftly turned around ready to strike her again but Morgana blocked just in time.

"So you are good. Gwen, didn't you say that cloaked man used a staff?" Gwen nodded and Merlin swallowed the lump in his throat. He had just been telling himself to not blow his cover and here Morgana had already connected him with the vigilante. "Maybe you're him." Now Merlin knew he had to lose.

Morgana struck from the side and he blocked rapidly but as she put more force into the sword he let the staff fall. Morgana turned to point her blade straight at his neck. "Or maybe I'm not," Merlin said as Morgana smiled in triumph.

"I didn't think you were anyway," Morgana teased with a hint of arrogance. She sheathed her sword and walked away. To his surprise, Gwen came up to timidly and Merlin thought she looked rather adorable.

"I thought you were amazing," she quietly complimented. Merlin could only grin. He hesitantly took one of her hands and placed a chaste kiss on her knuckles.

"Thank you, Guinevere." He chuckled as Gwen became red-faced before. She then muttered a "Good bye" and sped off to her smirking mistress.

"So you fight as well Merlin?" He whipped his head around to see Arthur looking rather pleased. The knights around him stared at him, mouths agape. "You can come and spar with me then, can't you?" Arthur picked up his own staff and Merlin inwardly groaned. He would have to lose every single fight to keep his identity hidden.

Later, Merlin rubbed his back and hissed as he brushed the bruise that resulted from being repeatedly hit there. It was his fault. He should have declined Morgana's offer or made himself look completely useless with a weapon. That would've stopped Arthur from deciding to train him with the knights. Luckily, it did mean they all thought he had some skill but wasn't an expert. That suited Merlin just fine.

At the moment, Merlin wasn't really listening to a council meeting that he'd had to attend with Arthur. He didn't see why he had to; Morgana was here without Gwen. Oh wait; he did see why- because Arthur was a total prat.

Suddenly the doors swung open and Agravaine strode into the council chambers with what looked like the King, judging by the crown. The King was an older man who had begun to grey, but his face put Merlin off. It was neither happy nor sad, excited neither angry, neither serious nor silly. Just blank. No one seemed to notice so maybe that was the King's natural expression but he doubted it.

"Good afternoon, father." Both Arthur and Morgana spoke in unison as they stood from their thrones. They retook their seats as the King sat down. Merlin watched as Agravaine stood slightly behind the King his face serious. But the perceptive servant didn't miss the slight smirk on his lips.

"The rate of kidnappings and murders has only gotten higher and we must decide how to protect the people of Camelot." Arthur stated and held eye contact with his father. However, Agravaine spoke in the King's place.

"The King and I have been working hard to think of a solution to this problem. He proposed that we completely surround the lower town with guards to make sure the offenders will be caught." On the surface that seemed like a good idea, but something seemed off to Merlin.

"But Lord Agravaine, we will lose guards in the castle if we do that," Morgana exclaimed, looking worried. Merlin shared a glance with Gaius; he looked just as wary as the Princess.

"May I suggest instead that we station guards at places in which the crimes happen more frequently? We could place three guards at the tavern, black-smith, tailor, and market stalls, and at the end of each main pathway." Merlin smiled. Arthur didn't look it, but when it came to strategy he was pretty damn smart. He conserved soldiers whilst covering the most likely places in which crimes had occurred and would therefore likely reoccur in the future.

"Arthur, you are young and impulsive. The criminals are smart. They have been doing this for a while and our efforts have been useless against them. But if we come out at full force they will have nowhere to run." The young sorcerer felt less trusting of Lord Agravaine as time passed. The King had said nothing the whole time he'd sat in the council chamber and that just seemed wrong.

Once council was over, Arthur bid his sister good evening and gestured for Merlin to follow him. Merlin waved at Morgana before following the prince out.

"Sire, why did you not push your guard placement idea further? I am no expert but it seemed a lot better than what Agravaine had put forward." Arthur turned with a hardened expression and Merlin recoiled slightly.

"Exactly, Merlin, you aren't an expert and Agravaine has years more experience than I. If he and the King think that they should encompass the lower town then that is what I shall order." The Prince marched through the halls and Merlin scurried behind, trying to keep up.

"I couldn't help but notice the King was rather quiet during council." Arthur stopped abruptly and Merlin was fortunate he didn't run straight into his back.

"Yes, he has been like that for a while but my uncle has helped in that respect." His voice sounded small, and vulnerable. Merlin couldn't help but prod him a little further.

"You don't think that maybe Agravaine has a hidden agenda?" Merlin spoke gently but it seemed that he may have gone a little too far.

"I don't know what you are suggesting, Merlin, but I strongly advise you to back down before I throw in the dungeons," Arthur said with a tone of warning.

"But-"

"I said, back down, Merlin!" Arthur shouted in his face and Merlin bowed his head and muttered an apology. "Get out of my sight. I will see you on the morrow when you have realised your place."

"Yes, sire." Merlin then left, trying to contain himself from throwing the idiot across the hallway. Arthur acted like a blind fool. Something was up and Merlin knew it.

Irritated, Merlin hastily made his way to the physician's chambers and swiftly opened the door only to slam it behind him and shout at the top of his lungs. "Arthur, you utter prat!"

"Merlin, you almost gave an old man a heart attack." Sheepishly, Merlin glanced up at Gaius who seemed a little shaken up.

"Sorry, Gaius. Arthur cannot see that Agravaine is up to something." Merlin threw himself on the bench in the middle of the room as Gaius brought over broth.

"What do you think he is up to?" Gaius questioned sipping at his own bowl of broth.

"I don't know," Merlin said between mouthfuls. "But whatever it is I reckon it will be a long term thing. No reason to be worried about it now. I just wish I could see what Agravaine was planning." Merlin sighed and grunted. "I need to find a way to hide from all the guards whilst I am out as the vigilante."

"It'll be in your book, my boy." Gaius gestured over to Merlin's room and smiled knowingly. The servant rushed over to his room, unlocked the door without a word and rushed back out with the leather bound spell tome. They began to flick through it until Gaius stopped at the heading "Perception spells".

"There. You need a perception spell. It does not make the person invisible but it forces others around them to look away from what the spell is used on. However abrupt movement and loud noises will break the spell." Merlin smiled to himself. This was perfect. "You must be stealthy, Merlin. No more clumsiness as the vigilante." Merlin nodded before he ran to his room and took his cloak and staff into the main chamber.

The warlock read the spell a few times before he pulled the hood of the cloak over his head and held the staff at his side. "Áwende sé andgiet oþres" Merlin felt the magic course through him. Light radiated from him, his cloak and his staff before it faded.

"I've never seen someone learn a spell as fast as you, Merlin - you really are something else." Merlin grinned in appreciation and thanked him before muttering the teleportation spell and disappearing in a tornado of wind.

Merlin stood on top of the bell tower in the middle of town. A silent protector hidden in plain sight, though the perception spell helped. The vigilante smiled as many looked up in his direction but none stared straight at him. The moonlight shone against him and Merlin took the time to gaze up at the stars which twinkled brightly in the night sky.

All of a sudden, a scream rang out and Merlin's head snapped up in the direction it came from. The sorcerer waited for the guards that now encompassed the lower town to mobilise on the scream, however, none moved. Not one even turned in the direction of the cry for help, they must've heard it. Somehow Merlin knew Agravaine was behind this.

Merlin jumped off the bell tower. His cloak opened wide and he glided down to the nearest hut. He ran and jumped across the small homes toward the yells of fear that only got louder. Merlin stared down from the roof of the blacksmith's forge and saw that three men surrounding a family across the street.

What could they want with them?

"Give us the child!" The child? Merlin had no idea what good a child would do them. He focussed on the family and saw the boy could only be ten or twelve at the most. "The boss wants lots of children so he can make plenty of money on the slave trade," one of them sniggered out and the three laughed evilly.

"Not if I have anything to do about it!" Merlin looked surprised as Gwen's father came out of the forge holding a sword. He limped, still clearly in pain, and Merlin knew he wouldn't make it out of this fight.

"You want a piece, old Tom? Because I know the boss has had an eye on your daughter. She should be dead." Merlin gripped his staff tighter and jumped from the roof to stand in front of Tom.

"Get back inside, Tom," Merlin ordered whilst he glared angrily at the three low lifes in front of him.

"You saved my little Gwennie's life." Merlin inwardly smirked at the nickname that he definitely would not be teasing her with tomorrow. No… definitely not.

"Now I'm saving yours. Get back inside!" He shouted as the three charged at him forgetting the family they had threatened moments ago.

The first tried to strike Merlin from above and he blocked but before he could strike again the second man swung his sword and sliced Merlin's arm. He jumped back in haste and reached for his injured arm. He hardened his jaw his eyes glowed gold and sent the man flying. The last two looked shocked for a moment before charging with renewed vigour. Merlin kept on the constant defensive as he blocked strike after strike.

It'd be great if some soldiers turned up right about now Merlin thought sarcastically.

Merlin stood against a wall now and had nowhere to run. He quickly took in his surroundings but saw he was trapped. He couldn't teleport away because that would take too long. Magic wasn't an option because he was too weak from blood loss. He saw no way out.

The two goons smirked at each other before driving their swords forward. Merlin shut his eyes tight and threw his hands up to wait for the impact… but none came. He opened his eyes slightly to see the swords just millimetres away from his chest - but everything had stopped. The family paused mid-scream and Tom stood peering out of his forge. Time had stopped. No, time had slowed. He watched as the swords moved closer and closer at a snail's pace.

Merlin wasted no time and moved out of the way before he released the spell. The two swords went straight into the wall and Merlin quickly knocked one man out before he realised what had happened. He turned to the other who was desperately trying to release his sword from the stone.

"Who is your boss?" Merlin demanded. The man just grinned, took a vial out of his pocket and popped the cork. He tipped the contents down his throat. He spluttered and coughed until he fell and Merlin cursed aloud.

He still thought it was Agravaine but needed to be sure. He needed proof.

Merlin turned and found the father, mother and boy standing in front of him all smiling gratefully. The sorcerer pulled the hood further over his head to make sure none of them saw his face.

"Thank you for saving us." The mother smiled holding tightly to her little boy. "We don't care that you have magic. We're just happy that you just saved our boy." Merlin nodded and looked down as he felt a tug on his cloak. A little girl around seven looked up at him and he bent down to shake her hand.

"You saved my big brother!" she shouted excitedly and threw herself at him in a hug. Merlin smiled under his hood, happy that he had kept a family together. "Who are you?" He couldn't tell them his name but maybe he could go by another name.

"Who do you think I am?" he asked, thinking he might get inspiration for a name for his alter ego.

"Erm…" She grabbed her tiny chin in thought and Merlin thought she looked cute. Suddenly her eyes lit up as she pulled a little harder on the cape of his cloak. "I know! You're the Cloak - here to save Camelot!"

"The Cloak?" He questioned and the little girl just nodded excitedly. "I like it." Merlin then quickly turned around and ran to the shadows and teleported away with the sound of the little girl's cheers behind him.

The next morning, Merlin quietly ambled into Arthur's chambers only to find that the Prince was awake and changed. So he can dress himself.

"Sire? Who woke you up?" Merlin asked not believing for a second that he got himself up and dressed.

"I woke myself up, Merlin. Unlike you I am not totally incompetent." He joked but Merlin only managed a quick smile in response as he went about making Arthur's bed. "Listen Merlin, um, I'm sorry for shouting at you yesterday. I can see that I hurt you a little and I realise you were only trying to help."

The servant turned to face his master, his brow creased and his mouth slightly open.

"What have you done with the real Arthur?" Merlin teased and Arthur just laughed, amused at the antics of his servant.

"Is it really that difficult to believe that I can apologise?" Merlin raised his eyebrow a lot like Gaius would and Arthur just sighed and threw his arms out.

"Apology accepted, sire. I can already see the great king that you will become." He grinned at the Prince who looked genuinely touched at his comment.

"Thank you for believing in me, Merlin." Arthur replied genuinely. The chamber went quiet and Merlin quickly lightened up the serious moment.

"Remember that because it's the last compliment you're getting out of me for a while." Merlin broke the understanding silence between them and the two shared a laugh and happily strolled out of the chambers side by side.