Second Chapter updated hope you enjoy it better please review.

Chapter 2

Arthur was a little annoyed that Gwaine had stopped him but Gwaine was a good friends and loyal Knight and he need Avith's body taken care of discreetly and Gwaine was good a sneaking around . Arthur leaned closer to Gwaine so that he would only be able to hear him "Sir Avith attacked Merlin just because he was common born and did not believe that Merlin should be hanging around me. I was hunting for my mate at the time and my hunt lead me to Merlin and Avith. Merlin is my mate and I killed Avith. At first I was not going to and I warned him not to touch Merlin again, but then he blamed Merlin of enchanting me to think he was my mate and was going to kill him so I challenged him and won. But now his body is lying in the stables and I need someone to discreetly move it. Can you do that for me Gwaine and keep this quite I don't want any problems or anyone to know just yet." Gwaine looked just as angry as at Avith as Arthur felt but he nodded and said he would then hurried off to complete his task.

Two minutes later Arthur burst into Gaius's chambers cause the old man to jump and knock a few papers off the work table he was at. Gaius was about to reprimand him till he saw that Arthur was carrying Merlin who was clearly injured. "What happened to my nephew?" Gaius asked as Arthur lay Merlin down on that examination table. Arthur explained what had happened to Gaius just like he explained it to Gwaine but also told the physician the extent of the attack on Merlin and his wounds. Once Arthur had finished Gaius started to examine his nephew to make sure nothing was too badly hurt and Merlin was out cold so he did not feel the pain much to Arthur's relief.

"The cuts are not deep so they won't require stitching and will heal quickly as will the bruises. There are no signs of any sexual abuse to him which is a blessing, but his leg is broken in two places and I need to reset it. I could use your help to stabilize him while I reset the breaks and then bind his leg. Once the breaks are reset his magic should have them healed in a few days but he will not be able to walk till then. His mental state we will not know until he wakes up." Gaius paused and got what he need to bind Merlin's leg once the breaks were set and then turned to Arthur "I need you to hold him down and restrain him make sure he does not move he could cause more harm to himself while I do this." Arthur nodded and did as he was told. Gaius waited till Arthur gave to go ahead and then shoved the offending bones back into place which caused Merlin to cry out even though he was unconscious and all Arthur could do was let out comforting growls and soothing words until it was done. Soon Merlin's leg was bound and Arthur released him, hoping he would wake up soon.

"I'll send for my parents and Hunith they should know what happened and that Merlin and I are intended mates there is no doubt about it. My father will want to talk to Merlin after what I have to tell him." Arthur told Gaius who just nodded. Arthur opened the door and saw Gwen another omega of the court she was the mate of one if his best knights Sir Lancelot and the maid to his sister Morgana. "Gwen," when he caught her attention and she was in front of him "Can you please go get my parents and Merlin's mother tell them to come here Merlin was injured and there are some other things we need to tell them and let them know Merlin will be fine we just need to talk to them." "Of course sire. I hope Merlin feels better." Arthur nodded to her and she went to fetch his parents.

As soon as Arthur closed the door Merlin started to cry out and whimper in his sleep Arthur's protective alpha side kicked in. Arthur hurried to Merlin side letting off a calm soothing sent and said soothingly while stoking Merlin hair and ears " "Shh, Merlin it's ok I'm right here. Your safe it's alright." Merlin calmed down and curled into Arthur's side. "Merlin, you need to wake up our families are going to be here soon and I need to know that you're ok. Please wake up." Arthur had his forehead pressed against Merlin's as he pleaded with his friend and mate to wake up.

(Merlin)

Merlin was surrounded in darkness and he was scared all he remembered was the pain that Avith put him through and Arthur saving him and then more pain. Now there was silence and that scared him even more and starting crying out hoping someone would help him. Then he heard something, someone talking to him, it took him a moment but then he recognized the voice it was Arthur he knew Arthur would protect him. After he calmed down Arthur started to plead with him to wake up and saying he needed to know that he was ok. Merlin knew he had fight his way out of this darkness he had to ease Arthur's worries he could not let him suffer. So Merlin fought and clawed his way out trying to break free. It seemed like forever before he finally was at the edge of consciousness and with one final push he was free.

Merlin opened his eyes slowly so if he had to he could pretend he was sleeping but all he saw was Arthur next to him, Smell Arthur's comforting scent surrounding him. "Arthur?" Merlin asked tentatively Arthur jumped at his voice but then let out a sound that was a mixture of a laugh and a sob and pull Merlin into his arms and against his chest. Merlin smiled burying his face in Arthur's neck taking in his scent which helped him calm down as Arthur said "Thank the gods you're alright. I am sorry that he did this but at least he will never harm anyone again. I promise Merlin no one will ever hurt you again." Merlin nuzzled into Arthur neck letting out a submissive whine that was only meant for Arthur to reassure him the he was ok and glad that Arthur was there.

Just then the door to the chambers opened and Hunith, then the king and queen rushed in causing Merlin to cling harder to Arthur in fright.

(Arthur)

Arthur felt how Merlin clung to him even tighter when Arthur's parents and Merlin's mother rushed in he could tell Merlin was a little scared of what would happen Arthur could smell Merlin's fear. He had to calm him down enough that Merlin would let him go so Arthur could talk to his father "Merlin, it's alright, it is just your mother and my parents. I need to talk to my father I won't go far you will be able to see me the entire time but I need you to let me go and just relax." Merlin leaned back enough to look Arthur in the eyes as he begged "Please just don't leave I don't want to be alone I don't want you to leave me." Arthur knew what Merlin was scared of but only Arthur's father would be able to fully lay his doubts to rest "Merlin I won't leave you I Promise. I just be talking to my father in the corner over there. I will explain to him what's going on. Nothing is going to take me from you ok." Merlin nodded and Arthur smiled kindly at him while he rubbed behind Merlin's right ear which helped calm Merlin further.

Once Merlin had finally let go of him Arthur beckoned to his father and led him to the corner of the room and explained the confrontation between him and Sir Avith and finished saying "And Merlin before he left earlier he said that even if we did happen to be mates like we wanted which did happen that you would not approve. He thinks that you will think badly of him and try and split us apart. I know differently because I already asked your opinion on if it did happen but Merlin doesn't know and now he is afraid you are going to tear us apart when he needs me the most. The only person who can put his fears to rest is you father. Please father talk to him tell him what you told me yesterday it will help him greatly." His father spoke calmly "I glad you dealt with Avith because he tried to do the same with your mother right before you were born I should have killed him then but you mother did not let me because she did not want to be the cause of it. I glad he finally got what he deserved. As for Merlin I talk to him, His father was like a brother to me. He is smart boy and good match for you all of us always prayed you two would end up together and it seems that we all got our wish because you both wished it as well. I am happy for you Arthur." Arthur smiled happily then turned and went back to Merlin his father right behind him.

Arthur sat in a chair by Merlin's head running his hand through his hair and the fur on his ears as he said "Merlin my father wants to talk to you." Merlin flinched and looked at him worriedly "No it is not want you think. Everything is alright he just wants to talk to you. I'll be right here with you." Merlin nodded then looked at Uther who sat down on the edge of the bed next to him.

Merlin tried to look calm but Uther could see the fear in his eyes as he looked at the boy he had come to see as another son "Merlin, I don't know where you got the idea the if you and Arthur did in fact become mates that I would not accept you but I can tell you that it is the complete opposite. Your mother, Ygraine, and I all hoped that you and Arthur were meant to be together just as you and Arthur did. I could not be happier that you and my son are mates, you are the only one I would see as worthy of him. After your father died and I took you and your mother in, after a few weeks I started to see you as another son and now that you are Arthur's mate and once you've have bonded completely that will technically make you my son-in-law and I could not be more proud to call you that. So never think I would try and separate the two of you and that I don't accept you ok." Uther put a comforting hand on Merlin's leg as Merlin smiled his idiotic goofy grin as he said "Thank you Sire you have no idea how happy it makes to me to hear that. I promise I will do my best to live up to your expectations." Uther laughed and ruffled Merlin's hair saying "You already do my boy. But from now on you are to call me by my name only people who are not part of my family call me sire. Now get some rest my wife will stay here with you and talk with you about some things that are to come now that you have found each other your mother will probably stay as well. I need to do the same with Arthur alone I promise I will send him back as soon as I can but these are issues we need to speak to you both individually by the one who knows what is going to happen and what to expect ok." Merlin nodded "Yes Uther." Uther smiled and got up and waited for Arthur by the door.

Arthur turned to Merlin and said "I'll be back as soon as I can. I love you." Merlin's cobalt blue eyes sparked with joy at those last three words as he replied "I love you to and I will see you soon." Merlin barred his neck to Arthur in a gesture of submission and Arthur place a kiss on his neck then another on his lips and then turned to go with his father thanking the gods for giving him the mate he wanted.