A/N – Huge apologies for this not having been updated in soooo long. Unfortunately work is kicking my butt at the moment, with all the overtime I've been working, and I haven't had time to write much. That said, I finally have the next couple of chapters ready to go. I hope that you enjoy them.

A/N 2 – So for some reason I can't reply to people's reviews. I'll be going through and answering them, but it might take me a little while. So if I haven't replied yet, you'll be getting one soon .

AMAM

Chapter 6

Little Monster

AMAM

Opening one eye, Arthur was met with the sight of nothing.

The huge beast that had been advancing on him, Arthur sure that he was about to either be fried or eaten, was gone, nothing but a small little lizard sitting in front of him, blinking in confusion.

It wasn't until he looked at it closer that he realized that the little lizard was the creature just … miniaturized.

Looking over at his knights, he was surprised to see that they were all unconscious.

"What?" he asked in confusion, trying to figure out what had happened.

He turned quickly and drew his dagger when he heard a snap of a twig behind him, sighing when he saw a sheepish look on a face he knew so well, even if it was years younger then what he was used to.

"Merlin, I told you to stay at the castle," Arthur said, trying to glare at the boy, but just glad that he hadn't been hurt and that no one had seen him. If they had, Arthur knew that Merlin would've been taken to his father and put to death, regardless of the fact that Merlin was just a kid, regardless of what Arthur said to his father.

It was in that moment that he realized how dangerous it was for Merlin, or Morgana, to tell anyone about their magic. One word to the wrong person and they could lose their life.

"She was trying to hurt you," Merlin said, crossing his arms and staring at Arthur defiantly. "And I'm supposed to protect you."

Laughing to himself, Arthur shook his head, wondering how Merlin knew the creature was a 'she', watching as the boy walked over and picked up the little lizard, grinning as the beast blew a small fire ball that disappeared before it could hit Merlin.

"Can I keep it?" Merlin asked, hopeful look on his face.

"Uh, no, Merlin," Arthur replied, trying to ignore the part of him that wanted to give in, Merlin once again giving him his pleading look.

"You can't kill it!" Merlin exclaimed, pulling the creature closer to his chest, glaring up at the Prince.

"Merlin," Arthur started, crouching down. "It's killed a lot of people and it might not stay small for long. We can't risk it hurting others again."

"It won't!" Merlin exclaimed. "It doesn't belong here; it likes caves, and cattle. Not forests and people."

"Merlin," Arthur said, shaking his head. "We can't risk the beast hurting other people."

"If we take him to a cave, he'd stay there and wouldn't' hurt anyone." Merlin argued, pouting and pulling the creature closer to his chest.

Part of Arthur wanted to give in, the look on Merlin's face once again making him want to give the boy anything, but he had to think of his people, of what might happen if the creature were to grow big again.

"I can't," Arthur replied.

"If he does come out here again, I'll know," Merlin said, looking up at Arthur with wide eyes, begging for him to agree. "And I'll stop him."

"Please?"

It was the please that had him, Arthur feeling his resolve waver and he slowly nodded, finding himself with Merlin latched onto his legs again, the creature giving a growl of surprise.

As if they had been waiting for the end of the conversation, the knights all started to come around, Arthur waiting until they were all awake before ordering them back to the castle, not missing the curious looks his men shot Merlin.

"Alright, Merlin," Arthur said, putting the little boy up onto the horse, before getting up behind him, making sure they were both secure before stirring the horse on.

He couldn't believe that he was actually agreeing to letting a beast go, a magical beast at that, but he wanted to believe Merlin when he said that it wouldn't actually hurt anyone, that it had come here by mistake.

Which raised the issue – how did the beast, if it really was a cave dwelling creature, get to be in the forest outside of Camelot?

The only answer that came to mind was that a sorcerer had somehow magicked or lured it there, which was more worrying then the beast, because if Merlin was right, they wouldn't have to worry about the beast again, but the sorcerer would try again.

He and the other knights had been lucky Merlin had disobeyed Arthur's orders. If the little boy hadn't, Arthur would've been hurt, or even killed, along with a number of his knights.

He wondered how many times Merlin's magic had saved his life and those of his people's. His gut was telling him that the answer was a lot.

AMAM

Riding back towards the castle, Arthur was having a minor panic attack.

He'd just let go a magical creature, who had hurt a number of people, on the word of a six year old.

"It'll be okay, Arfur," Merlin said, and no, Arthur did not find the way he lisped his name adorable, not at all. "He knows not to come near Camelot again."

"If you say so, Merlin," Arthur replied, remembering that Merlin shouldn't have even been out there today, that he'd expressly told the little boy that he had to stay in the castle, that he couldn't come.

"What were you doing out there anyway?" he asked, fear and worry making him angry, as he thought of Merlin getting hurt. "I ordered you to stay in the castle."

"You said I could come if I could look after myself," Merlin replied, turning and grinning up at him.

"I … did not!" Arthur said, frowning, trying to remember exactly what he'd said, because what Merlin had said did sound familiar.

"Yes, you did," Merlin replied, frowning up at him. "You said 'sure', when I asked if I could come if I could look after myself."

"I … it … you … you know that I didn't want you to come, Merlin," Arthur stuttered out, wondering how a six year old had outsmarted him.

"But I'm supposed to protect you!" Merlin replied, turning to look at the streets as they entered Camelot.

"Merlin," Arthur said, shaking his head, knowing that he wasn't about to convince Merlin that he didn't need protecting. "How did you get out there anyway?"

Hopping down off the horse, Arthur turned and saw Merlin looking down at him expectantly, his arms out. Picking the little boy up, he put him down on the ground, raising an eyebrow when Merlin still hadn't answered.

"Um," Merlin said, looking up at Arthur sheepishly.

"Ah, your highness."

Spinning around quickly, and pushing Merlin behind him, Arthur smiled up at Gaius, hoping the physician wouldn't realize how fake it was.

"I was wondering if you'd seen Merlin?" the old man asked, frowning and leaning so that he could see behind Arthur.

"Um, no," Arthur replied, keeping Merlin behind him as he pretended to look confused. "I've been out hunting, and … haven't seen my bumbling manservant since last night."

Trying to keep his face innocent, Arthur stared back at Gaius, trying not to make the gulp he swallowed obvious as Gaius narrowed his eyes at him.

"Really?" Gaius asked, sounding like he didn't believe him for a second.

"I'm afraid so," Arthur said, cursing Merlin when the little boy started trying to pull out of his grip, giggling a little.

"And who, might I ask, is that?" Gaius asked, eyes glinting.

"Just a servant's child," Arthur replied, shaking his head, trying to think of a way to get Gaius to leave.

"Gaius!"

Sighing in relief, he watched as Gwen ran down the steps, the girl's eyes widening as she took in Arthur and the way he was trying to hide a child behind his back, before turning to the old man.

"Morgana needs to speak with you," she said, grabbing onto Gaius's arm and gently pulling him away, a look of relief on her face as she glanced back at Arthur.

Watching them go, Arthur let go of Merlin, not missing the frown the boy sent him.

"You lied," he said, crossing his arms.

"Yes, Merlin, I lied," Arthur replied, running a hand over his face, before crouching down. "It's important that people don't know that you're so … little."

"Why?" Merlin asked, frown falling off his face.

"It's just safer," Arthur replied, gently tapping the boy on the shoulder. "I need you to trust me on this, Merlin."

He didn't realize how much he needed Merlin to trust him until that moment, even if it was a little Merlin.

"Okay," Merlin answered, grinning up at Arthur, the ache in Arthur's chest easing even more. "Can we get some lunch now? I'm starving."

Laughing, Arthur stood up, shaking his head.

"You're always starving, Merlin," he replied.

AMAM

A/N – As always let me know what you thought .