A/N – Huge thanks to all those who reviewed, you guys really make my day. Reviews feed the plot bunnies! Also this is the last chapter of Arthur having his little pity party, after this he starts to actually think about why certain people didn't tell him about their magic.

AMAM

Chapter 3

Uther Pendragon's Son

AMAM

Through the whole discussion with his father, Arthur couldn't concentrate, his thoughts drifting to the little boy he'd left with Morgana. He trusted Morgana to a certain point, but he wasn't sure what Merlin would reveal to her and Gwen.

He was still angry, part of him itching for Merlin to return to normal so that he could give his manservant a piece of his mind, but he didn't want anyone else to know. The more people that knew, the more danger Merlin was in.

"… need you to go check it out tomorrow, Arthur."

Head snapping up, Arthur nodded, smile crossing his face.

"Yes, Father," he replied, quickly rising from his seat and making his way to the door, ignoring the 'Arthur' he heard Uther call, knowing that his father would let him be for now.

Making his way quickly to Morgana's rooms, Arthur's chest got tighter, his heart racing that little bit faster, as he pushed through the door, relaxing when he saw Merlin sitting on the floor with Morgana and Gwen, watching with a smile as they read him something. Merlin smiling at them, though Arthur felt some what relieved when he saw it wasn't the same smile that he got.

He must have made some kind of noise, as the little boy turned and launched himself off the floor, latching onto his legs, Arthur having to steady himself from the impact, his hand falling to pat Merlin's head, as the little boy squeezed his legs.

Looking down at the little boy, he didn't miss the relief or happiness that crossed over Merlin's face, smiling a little as he beamed up at him.

"He was a little worried that you didn't like him anymore," Gwen murmured quietly, big smile on her face as she looked at the two of them, clearly finding it amusing that Merlin seemed to have no intention of letting go. "Even when we tried to explain it to him."

"So," Morgana said, standing up, her eyebrow raised in question, as she moved over towards them. "Care to explain what's going on, Arthur?"

"Nothing," Arthur replied immediately.

"Really?" Morgana asked, disbelief in her tone. "So you let little boys latch themselves onto you all the time do you, Arthur?"

"It's complicated," Arthur said, making his way back to the door, Merlin still latched onto him, hoping to get there before Morgana started asking questions that he didn't want to answer.

"So 'un-complicate' it," Morgana replied.

"Merlin asked for my help keeping the boy safe, that's all," Arthur answered, still making his way to the door.

Morgana rolled her eyes, her hand moving, the door slamming shut behind them, her eyes flecked with gold.

Staring at the door, Arthur felt the anger he'd been feeling come back to the surface, pushing Merlin away gently, while glaring at Morgana and ignoring the pout on Merlin's face.

"You," he said, something tearing through him as he realized that not only had Merlin lied to him, Morgana had too.

"Arthur," Morgana murmured, worry and fear crossing her face. "I think it's time we all stop lying and bring everything out into the light. We know that that's Merlin, he told us his name-"

"Do you have magic too?" he snarled at Gwen, feeling a little bad when the woman looked at him with shocked wide eyes.

"Arthur," Morgana said, her voice low, trying to calm him.

"No," he growled, his hand on the door knob. "You … and Merlin …"

Shaking his head, he tried to swallow, finding it difficult and hating that he was affected by the lies so much. He was a Prince, he was better then this, better then feeling like he'd just been torn to pieces, lied to by the two people in the world that he'd felt the closest to.

"I need you to stay here, Merlin," he said, surprised at how calm his voice sounded, even as he felt his hands shaking.

"Arthur," Morgana said again, this time something more in her voice.

Glaring at her, he opened the door, leaving through it and slamming it shut behind him, quickly striding down the hall way.

AMAM

"So you haven't told your father yet."

Stiffening, Arthur pushed off the ledge he'd been leaning against, turning and staring at Morgana, the anger he'd felt gone, numbness and hurt filling the space it had left.

His heart ached as he heard Morgana's statement.

"What do you want, Morgana?" he asked, not surprised when his voice came out flat.

She stared at him for a moment longer, something like regret flashing across her face, before she moved forward, face back to the perfect mask it always was, stopping a few feet in front of him.

"Why haven't you?" she replied, eyes searching his face. "Told Uther, I mean."

Turning away, he felt the anger that had been fading away flare again, gritting his teeth as he stared out the window he'd been looking out.

"Maybe I'm biding my time," he snarled, turning back to her, not feeling any satisfaction at the hurt he saw in her eyes. "You know, waiting until it'll really make me look like a hero to turn in my manservant and the woman who's like a sister to me."

Morgana's eyes widened at the last part of his statement, he'd never said it before, but it was something that he'd always felt, even when he was stewing in his room, hating Morgana for some infraction.

"Arthur," Morgana said, hand reaching out. He ducked it and moved away, weariness filling him again.

"What do you want, Morgana?" he asked, running a hand through his hair.

"It's Merlin," she said, looking away from him for a moment, before looking back at him. "He won't eat anything, he won't play … he … he's just sitting there, staring out the window. He stopped crying awhile ago."

Arthur tried to ignore the guilt and hurt that ran through him, trying not to let it sway him.

"We've tried everything, Arthur," Morgana continued. "But I don't think he'll listen to anyone but you, and … and his magic is starting to become obvious."

Swallowing hard, Arthur shrugged, trying to tell himself that he didn't care about Merlin or his magic.

"Arthur," Morgana said, her voice almost pleading.

Straightening, he turned and stared at her, his face the perfect mask that he'd practiced over the years.

"Fine," Morgana said, giving him a glare before turning and leaving, her gown sweeping out behind her.

Watching her go, Arthur turned and stared out the window again, watching the sun as it set, his room getting darker and colder. Sitting on the sill, he felt the chill through to his bones, but couldn't find it in himself to care, his heart heavy, as he realized that no one saw him as anything more then Uther Pendragon's son.

AMAM

A/N – So a few people asked about what Uther wanted to talk to Arthur about; it's revealed more in the next couple of chapters. More Merlin in the next chapter as well, I promise! As always, let me know what you thought.