A/N – As always huge, huge thanks to those who reviewed. You guys really make my day. Also big thanks to those who read, favourited and alerted the story. You guys also rock .

AMAM

Chapter 7

Apologies

AMAM

"Morgana."

Standing in the door way, Arthur watched as his adopted sister jumped, her eyes a little wide as she took him in.

"Arthur," she said, coming over to him, guilt on her face. "I'm so sorry. I don't know how he got away from us. I swear-"

"It's alright," Arthur replied, holding his hand up. "I'm learning that Merlin is quiet … innovative when he wants something."

He watched as a small smile crossed Morgana's face, concern replacing the worry in her eyes when she took in what he looked like.

"What happened?" she asked, reaching out and brushing dirt off his shoulder.

"What always happens in Camelot," he replied, moving further into the room and taking a seat, running a hand through his hair. "Magical creatures hurting people."

"Are you alright?" she asked, coming to sit down next to him. "Is Merlin?"

"I'm fine," Arthur replied. "And so is Merlin, he's sleeping at the moment."

Morgana smiled, a nervous look on her face as she nodded. Arthur had hoped that they could skirt the issue for a little while longer before they talked about the elephant in the room, but he knew that addressing the issue now was the best idea.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, leaning on his knees with his elbows, staring at his hands.

"What?" Morgana asked.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, glancing at her, before looking down at his hands again. "I understand why you didn't tell me, even … even though it hurts, I can understand why you did what you did."

Silence filled the room for a few seconds, before Arthur found himself with Morgana's arms wound around his neck.

"I'm sorry too," she murmured against his neck, before pulling away and pulling herself together. "But … it was, is, just too dangerous to tell anyone."

Arthur nodded, a small smile on his face as he felt more of the weight he'd been feeling lift away.

"So can you … do what Merlin can?" he asked, wondering if Morgana would talk about it. If she chose not to, he'd understand, but part of him was hoping she'd open up to him now that he knew.

"Kind of … it's mainly just dreams that I get," she answered, the rest of her sentence cut off as the door banged open.

Standing up and putting himself between the door and Morgana, ready for an attack, Arthur relaxed as Merlin walked in the door, a pout on his face as he looked at Arthur.

"You left," he said, one of his hands rubbing at his eyes.

"You were supposed to be sleeping," Arthur replied, smile growing as Merlin walked over to them, situating himself between Arthur and Morgana, after Arthur had sat down, leaning against Arthur.

Looking up, Arthur saw Morgana biting her lip, a frown crossing his face as he looked questioningly at the woman.

"It's nothing," Morgana said, shaking her head, the smile she's been trying to stop crossing her face. "I just never knew you were good with kids."

Shifting uncomfortably, Arthur glanced away, cursing the blush he could feel crossing his cheeks.

"So," Morgana said, after a long moment, Arthur clearly hearing her smile at his discomfort in her voice. "Any luck on figuring out how to turn Merlin big again?"

"I am big!" Merlin interrupted, frowning up at Morgana.

"I'm sorry, Merlin," Morgana replied immediately. "Of course you are."

It seemed to placate Merlin, if the big smile on Merlin's face was anything to go on, and the little boy leant his head back onto Arthur's arm.

"Anything?" Morgana asked, eyes flicking down to Merlin before returning to Arthur.

"No idea," Arthur replied, shaking his head and leaning further back into the chair. "Although he's older today then yesterday, so maybe it just wears off?"

Morgana 'hmm'ed under her breath, a thoughtful look on her face before she stood, pacing across the floor, her dressing making a soothing swish sound with every step that she took, Arthur finding it relaxing him a little.

"That doesn't make sense," she replied.

"What doesn't?" Arthur asked.

"That the spell would just wear off," Morgana replied, waving her hand at Arthur, before returning to her pacing. "Something must have happened, something that helped to make him older. This spell, it isn't easy to do, and it wouldn't just wear off like that. The caster would make it so that something had to happen before the spell would allow the person to get older. What did you do last night?"

"Um," Arthur replied, trying to remember what they had done. "Had dinner, then Merlin had a bath and then he went to bed."

"Nothing else?" Morgana asked, stopping and putting her hands on her hips.

"That was it," Arthur replied, the rest of what he was about to say cut off as Leon knocked on Morgana's door.

"Milady," he said, bowing slightly, Arthur noticing the small smile that crossed Morgana's face and storing it away to think about later.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but his majesty wishes to talk to Prince Arthur," Leon continued, curiosity crossing his face as he saw Merlin leaning on Arthur.

Arthur felt Merlin tense next to him, the little boy frowning at Leon as Arthur stood up.

"I'll be there in a moment," Arthur replied, watching as Leon gave another small bow before leaving the room, his eyes looking curiously at Merlin one last time before he left.

"I'm coming with you," Merlin said, crossing his arms and glaring up at Arthur.

"You can't, Merlin," Arthur replied, using the stern voice he used on his knights. "You will stay with Morgana and I'll be back later. But I don't want to see you until I come back, understand? No sneaking away this time, I mean it."

Merlin nodded once, his eyes looking back at Arthur with a light sheen to them, before he looked away.

"Merlin," Arthur said, getting down on his knees, trying not to feel like he was betraying the little boy by leaving him there. "I'll be back, but I need you to stay here, okay?"

Merlin looked up at him from under his fringe, nodding once, before throwing his arms around Arthur's neck.

"Okay," he whispered.

Leaving the room, Arthur tried to stop the feeling that he was abandoning Merlin from growing, his heart breaking a little as he closed the door on Merlin's worried face.

AMAM

A/N – As always let me know what you thought and any theories that you might have on how Merlin ages :).