A/N – Huge thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter, you guys really do make my day. Big thanks to those who read, alerted and favourited, you guys also rock

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Chapter 8

Changing Mindset

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Walking back to Morgana's rooms, Arthur rubbed his face tiredly, his mind more conflicted then he could ever remember. His father had wanted to meet him to discuss the rumour that there was a powerful sorcerer in one of the villages on the border of Camelot, his father wanted him to take his knights and see if there was any truth to the rumours in a few days' time, once the spy his father had sent there had returned.

It had been so much easier before, before he'd found out about Merlin and Morgana.

His father had said all people who used magic were evil, and from what Arthur had seen of most of them, he'd had to agree. But now, now he wasn't sure that his father was right, that all those people who had been killed were evil sorcerers and sorceresses.

Because he couldn't see Merlin, Merlin who cried over unicorns and ran around being his manservant, being evil. And if Merlin had been this close to Arthur the whole time and hadn't tried anything, then clearly not all magical people were out to hurt Camelot and its rulers.

So how many of those people that had been killed had just been innocent people, who had been born with magic?

It took a moment for Arthur to notice the way the hairs on the back of his neck were standing on end, the feeling that he was being watched running through him, as he stopped and looked around.

Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, but Arthur had had too much experience out on the battle field to ignore his gut, and right now it was screaming at him that there was someone out there.

Taking one last look at his surroundings, he quickly resumed his path to Morgana's rooms, the feeling of eyes on him not leaving, even as he made it to his sister's door.

"Arthur."

Smiling at Gwen, he pushed gently past her, shutting the door as soon as he made it in the room.

"Arthur?"

Turning, Arthur took in Morgana where she sat, and tried not to think of what would happen if it were to be discovered that she had magic, that she could see things. The thoughts made him shudder. The unease of being watched making him turn and look at the door once more.

"What's wrong?" she asked, eyes searching his face.

"Nothing," he replied, trying to convince himself that he was most likely just being paranoid, even if his gut was hardly ever wrong.

"Arthur," Morgana said, moving closer to him.

"Just felt like someone was watching me," Arthur replied, glaring when Morgana laughed.

"You are the Prince, Arthur," she answered, "people watch you all the time."

"This was different," Arthur replied, scowling at her. "I can tell when someone's looking at me because of who I am and looking at me because they want to hurt me."

"Did you see anyone?" Gwen asked, worry clear on her face and in her tone.

"No," Arthur replied, shaking his head, relaxing as the feeling that he was being watched disappeared.

"Gwen and I will see if we can see anyone," Morgana said, standing up and making her way towards the door.

"No," Arthur replied, standing in front of the door. "I can't let you go out there if there's someone who will hurt you out there."

Morgana rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared at him.

"Really, Arthur," she said. "Chivalry is all well and good, but they're not going to attack us."

"And why won't they attack you?" Arthur asked, even as she pushed past him.

"Because we're not prats," Morgana replied, before closing the door.

Rolling his eyes, Arthur went to follow them, before his eyes settled on the little boy sleeping in Morgana's bed. He couldn't just leave Merlin by himself, especially if there was someone lurking around.

Merlin was even more defenseless than usual, although now that he thought about it, Merlin was never really defenseless, not with his magic there to protect him. He wondered how many times Merlin had used his magic to protect himself, if he had ever used it to protect Arthur.

Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair, grabbing a chair and dragging it over to Morgana's bed, sitting down in it and watching Merlin sleep, while he waited for the girls to return.

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Arthur jolted awake, not realizing he had fallen asleep. He had just been resting his eyes, waiting for Morgana and Gwen to return.

He couldn't help the panic that ran through him, his eyes moving around the room as his body tensed, wondering if something had happened to the girls. He relaxed as soon as he saw the both of them asleep in two of Morgana's chairs.

Leaning back in the chair, he ran a hand over his face, before looking at the bed, surprised to see Merlin lying there, staring at him.

"Merlin," he said, smile crossing his face as he leaned forward. "Good morning."

"Morning," Merlin replied, bouncing on the bed and towards him, grin crossing his face, as if he'd been waiting to see how Arthur responded to him.

Looking at the boy, Arthur couldn't see a difference in him, Merlin still looking the same age that he had the day before.

"Merlin," he said quietly. "How old are you?"

"Six," the boy replied, continuing to bounce on the bed.

Frowning, Arthur crossed off the idea that sleeping helped Merlin to age, trying to think of why the young boy had aged the last time.

Maybe it had something to do with the bath?

"Can we go into the forest today?" Merlin asked, still bouncing around, grin on his face.

"That sounds like a marvelous idea, Merlin."

Turning, Arthur saw Morgana walking over to them, small smile on her face.

"We can have a picnic," she continued, Arthur unable to stop smiling when Merlin's smile got even bigger.

He couldn't stop the pang that ran through him at the sight, reminded of big Merlin's smile, part of him wishing again that Merlin was back to being himself.

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