A/N – Huge thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. It was the most reviews I've received for one chapter. So … little!Merlin's for all of you. LOL. You guys rock. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

AMAM

Chapter 5

Aging Sleep

AMAM

The next morning, Arthur woke to a pair of blue eyes staring at him intensely.

Sitting up, he groaned, rubbing his neck. Sleeping on his chair wasn't the smartest idea he'd ever had. He felt disappointed when he saw that Merlin was still a child, part of him had been hoping that whatever had happened would fix itself when they went to sleep.

"Morning," Merlin said, grinning at him.

Looking more closely at little Merlin, Arthur was surprised to see that the kid had gotten taller and that he looked a little bigger, although he was still skinny compared to other kids Arthur had seen running around in the kingdom.

"Good Morning, Merlin," Arthur replied, wondering if it was just his imagination that the boy looked older. "Um, how … how old are you, Merlin?"

"Almost six," Merlin answered proudly, his eyes leaving Arthur's face and looking around the room. "Wow, is this your room?"

"Yes," Arthur replied, getting up and following the boy as he walked around the room. So Merlin was older. Was it the spell wearing off? Or did him sleeping have something to do with him aging?

It was in that moment that he realized that he kind of missed Merlin. He had always been there to listen to him when he needed someone and although he might have weird ideas, they usually worked out right.

"It's really big!" Merlin exclaimed, holding his arms out. "Almost as big as my mom's whole house."

Frowning, Arthur wondered why Merlin wasn't asking more questions about where he was and where his mom was.

"Merlin," he started, watching as the boy picked up the garish red hat he'd picked out for Merlin to wear to one of the feasts, and put it on his head. "Aren't you … worried that you're not home with your mom?"

Merlin shrugged, the hat slipping down on his head so that he had to push it up with one hand, grinning up at Arthur like he didn't have a care in the world.

"Weird stuff happens some times," he replied, running around the room with the hat on his head, before jumping on the bed. "It always works out in the end though. Mom told me as long as I'm with someone who can help me, someone my gut trusts, I shouldn't be scared."

Shaking his head, Arthur wondered how many times Merlin had found himself in unusual situations, obviously enough to have the little boy not worried at such a young age. But he should've been, the world was a dangerous place, and if the wrong person had seen Merlin's magic at a young age, or now, then they could have turned him in, or used him for their own devices.

The thought had Arthur wondering how Merlin went day to day, looking over his shoulder, wondering if today was the day that someone found out about his powers, and tried to use it against him.

He wondered how many, if any, people knew about Merlin and his magic.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door, Arthur striding over and opening it, not missing the way Merlin still followed him, but this time staying out of sight.

"Yes?" he asked, giving a small nod when he saw it was Sir Leon.

"Highness," Leon replied. "The King has asked for a scouting party to be sent out to the forest. He spoke to you about it yesterday? About the reports of people going missing and the belief that sorcery might be at work?"

Hearing the small gasp behind him, Arthur quickly nodded, not missing the suspicious glance Leon gave the door, before looking at Arthur with a raised eyebrow.

"I'll meet you in the court yard … with the horses," Arthur said, nodding again, before closing the door, looking down at Merlin's frowning face.

"What?" he asked, moving to grab his armour, starting to put it on.

"Can I come with you?" Merlin asked, watching Arthur.

"No," Arthur replied, moving to grab his sword.

"Why not?" Merlin asked, following him as he moved around the room and grabbed his things.

"Because," Arthur said, looking down at himself, making sure he had everything, not used to doing this without Merlin, the part of him that missed Merlin raising its head again, reminding him of Merlin's hands moving over him, his brow furrowed as he concentrated on putting on Arthur's armour, beaming up at him when he had thought he was finished …

"Because why?" Merlin replied, interrupting Arthur's thoughts. "I need to be there to protect you. Especially if it's magic!"

Laughing, Arthur looked down at his small shadow, surprised to see the serious look on the boy's face, his arms crossed over his chest, as he looked up at Arthur.

"Oh, well, I'll have knights with me, Merlin," he said. "If I need any protection, which I won't, but if I did need it, they could help."

"But I would help better," Merlin replied, pout on his face, his big blue eyes imploring Arthur to agree, part of Arthur wanting to give into the boy, not wanting to disappoint him, but knowing that the forest was no place for a little Merlin.

"Merlin," Arthur said, running a hand through his hair, before kneeling down in front of the boy. "You need to stay here."

"But-"

"No," Arthur said, holding his hand up, making sure his voice was stern. "You're too young, Merlin, and I don't want you to get hurt."

Frowning, Merlin looked away, before looking back, a determined look on his face.

"So if I could look after myself I could come?" he asked.

"Sure, but you're too young at the moment, so you'll have to stay here," Arthur replied, standing up and getting ready to leave the room.

It wasn't until he got to the door that he realized that he couldn't leave Merlin alone in his room. Someone might come in and try to hurt him, or Merlin might accidentally use his magic which someone could notice.

There were really only two people he could go to for help and they were both in the same place. Which is why he found himself standing outside Morgana's room, looking at the door for a long time before lifting his hand and knocking, smiling a little when he felt Merlin standing just to his left.

"Yes? Oh, your highness."

"Is Morgana in?" he asked, giving Gwen his most charming smile, not missing the small frown that appeared on Merlin's face. He wondered what had Merlin frowning, but pushed the thought aside when Morgana appeared.

"Arthur," she said, a small smile on her face. "Come in."

Following the women into the room, he closed the door once Merlin was in.

"And Merlin," Morgana continued, crouching down. "Don't you look older?"

"I'm almost six," Merlin said, standing up straighter, looking up at Arthur before looking back at the woman.

"Is that right?" Morgana replied, grin crossing her face.

"I was wondering if he could stay with you?" Arthur asked, using all his experiences from court to keep his face and tone polite.

"Of course, Arthur," Morgana answered instantly, a sad look in her eyes. "I hope that we can talk when you get back?"

"Perhaps," Arthur replied, looking away from Morgana's bright eyes, nodding once before turning and walking out of the room.

AMAM

Hours later, Arthur was glad that Merlin hadn't come with them, as he and his knights battled the big, winged creature they'd found in the forest. Whatever it was, it certainly could've been responsible for the people going missing.

Staring, Arthur watched as a huge fire ball went past his knight's heads, the men quickly taking shelter behind a large rock. Arthur knew that they couldn't keep going the way they were. It was only a matter of time before one of his knights was killed instead of hurt. Taking a deep breath, he looked over to where his men were trying to fight the creature while ducking the fire balls.

The creature was distracted, now was the perfect, and probably only, time to try an attack on the beast.

Jumping up from where he had been crouching, Arthur quickly moved towards the beast, swinging his sword as he soon as he was close to the beasts belly, sticking it in with all of his strength, surprised when the beast roared and swung around, knocking him to the ground and advancing on him.

Staring up into the black eyes, Arthur's last thought was of Merlin, not of the adorable little boy, but of his man servant, the one who would smile at him, made him feel like he could be more then what his father and the kingdom wanted him to be, that he could just be himself.

The one who always seemed to be standing by his side.

Closing his eyes, he hoped that it would be quick.

AMAM

A/N – Dun! LOL. Sorry. If it's any help, there's a huge hint in this chapter about what's going to happen in the next (at least I think it's a huge hint, it might not be and I just think that cos I know what's in the next chapter). As always, let me know what you thought .