A/N: This is the next-to-last chapter, and although it begins with Arthur, Gaius, and Uther, Merlin returns to the story byl the end. (And stays through the final chapter, as well.)

BBC, not me!

Chapter Eight

Arthur began to spend occasional afternoons with Gaius, sharing a pot of tea and talking, or sometimes just sitting together quietly. Gaius knew that something was troubling the young prince greatly, and the elderly physician wanted to be there for him in any way possible. Arthur trusted that what he said would never be repeated. Both men began to look forward to their time together. One day, Arthur was finally able to articulate the grief he had hidden for so long. Gaius listened, helped Arthur work through his demons, and offered his proverbial shoulder. Many talks and pots of tea later, Arthur was finally able to make the decision that had eluded him all those months ago.

Arthur waited a full six weeks before approaching his father. He wanted to be certain he had all his arguments straight, and be ready to counter any objections. He needed to be sure that there was no possibility that King Uther would connect Arthur's request with the events of the fateful banquet. (The assassin had been hanged the next day and had been long forgotten by everyone, it seemed, except Arthur.) Camelot had been quiet of late, the king was in a good mood, and Arthur finally decided that today would be the day. He sent a formal request asking if he might dine alone with the king.

Arthur felt a little nervous, eating alone with his father – this was more Morgana's thing, he thought. Even though they were on better terms now, Arthur wasn't quite sure how to begin discussing what was on his mind. He felt Uther's eyes on him, and raised his own to meet them.

"I have a feeling," said the king, "that you wished to do more than just dine with me this evening. Is something troubling you?"

Arthur swallowed. "I thought we might have a talk," he said. When the king nodded slowly, he amended, "a Gaius sort of talk."

"Ahhh," Uther said, laying down his utensils and wiping his lips with his napkin. "One where we both leave our tempers at the door and listen to each other."

Arthur managed a weak smile. "Yes. I want to talk to you about friendship." Noting his father's look of surprise, he pressed on, "You've always said kings and princes cannot really have true friends."

"Yes, I have said that," affirmed Uther. "Many people will try to be your friend, Arthur. But you have already experienced this, that they want to be friends with the title, not the person." Arthur nodded. He had learned that lesson painfully more than once in his youth. "If you have friends, they can be used against you, held for ransom, they may betray you, all manner of things. And there is always the possibility you will have to send a friend into battle, perhaps even into certain death. It is better not to have close friends, Arthur. It is lonely, sometimes painfully so. But it is the best way."

Arthur took a deep breath. "Yet you have had friends. I know you consider Gaius to be so. And I have heard you say that Morgana's father was your closest friend. That he stood up to you when nobody else would, that he was honest with you, and that he made you a better person for it. You have said you valued his friendship. I know you sent him into battle and he didn't return, and that was very difficult for you. Do you wish you and he had not been such close friends?"

Uther sat quietly for a long time. Arthur thought that perhaps his father would not answer. But finally he said, "No. I would not have traded a minute of our friendship. Gorlois did make me a better man, Arthur. If he had lived longer, I might have made fewer rash decisions. I might have been a better king. I long for his counsel, and I miss him every day." He pinned his eyes to Arthur's. "And I think you are here tonight to tell me that you also have such a friend. Am I right?"

Arthur's jaw dropped. "I…how did you know?"

"I have eyes, Arthur. It's that skinny manservant you used to have, Merlin, I believe." At his son's wide-eyed nod, he continued, "I don't know why he left your service, but I have seen a difference in you since he's been gone. Just as I saw how you changed when he arrived. You grew up, Arthur. You stopped caring just for yourself and began to care about others. You took your responsibilities much more seriously. You developed a conscience and made decisions that made me proud. Even when we fought each other, had our worst battles, even when I felt the need to lock you up for your disobedience, I knew that you were becoming a man that would someday be a great king. I have a feeling that Merlin had a lot to do with that, that he challenged you the way Gorlois used to challenge me. I would not have expected that kind of friendship from a mere servant; believe me, that idea took me a very long time to accept. But then, the loyalty he always showed you was extraordinary." Uther took a sip of wine before continuing. "Merlin once told me that there was a bond between you. I am glad it still exists."

Whatever reaction Arthur had been expecting from his father, it hadn't been this! He had prepared himself for denial, shouting, ultimatums, and worse, but complete acceptance had never even occurred to him. Arthur swallowed and got his bearings. "Our bond is strong, Father," he said solemnly. "We are as brothers, despite the difference in status. Merlin left to go home to take care of his mother for a while. It has been close to a year. She is doing well now, and I would very much like to ask Merlin to come back to Camelot, to resume his duties as my manservant. Do I have your permission to leave for a few days to go to Ealdor? I would prefer to ask him in person." Arthur held his breath while he waited for the king's answer.

Uther studied his son's face. Then he smiled. "Of course, my son. Leave in the morning, if you wish."

"Thank you, Father!" said the delighted prince.

"And while we finish our dinner," Uther continued with a twinkle in his eye, "we will continue to talk about the realities of kings having friends. I don't want you to have to wait until you are king to understand."

The rest of the meal passed quietly, sometimes seriously, sometimes with more levity, but Uther and Arthur both learned a little more about friendship – with each other – that evening.

Merlin and Hunith were moving together in rhythm, working the dough, preparing the loaves for their first rising. Merlin loved baking bread. As a child, he had always felt that there was something miraculous about physically putting his own energy into a loaf of bread, feeling the consistency of the dough change until the texture was just right, waiting for it to rise, kneading it some more, waiting some more (he hated the waiting parts), smelling the baking bread, and practically hopping up and down waiting (again!) until it was ready so he could eat some, hot from the oven. Merlin smiled at the memories as he turned his dough in the other direction and continued kneading.

He heard the children running outside, yelling that a rider was coming, but he paid no attention to them. He was up to his wrists in flour and bread dough; somebody else would handle it. It was probably just someone passing through in any case. But then he heard the knock at the door.

Hunith wiped her hands on her apron and went to answer. She was shocked to see Prince Arthur standing in front of her, a smile on his face. "Good morning, Hunith," he said in the voice she remembered so well. "It is good to see you again. Is Merlin home?"

"Oh, of course, come in, come in, Your Highness," said Hunith, flustered. "Merlin is over there. We're just, um, making bread."

"Please, call me Arthur," said the prince, and Hunith blushed prettily and nodded.

Merlin stopped kneading and looked at Arthur in shock. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"And good morning to you, too, Merlin," answered Arthur. "Nice to see your manners haven't changed."

Merlin felt his ears go a bit pink, but he still spoke with no warmth in his voice. "Good morning. Welcome to my home. What are you doing here?"

"Merlin!" chided Hunith, as she put her dough in a bowl, covered it with a towel, and set it aside to rise. She reached over to do the same to Merlin's, as he wiped his hands clean.

Arthur pulled off his riding gloves and stepped closer to Merlin. "I was hoping we might talk, Merlin, about several things. First, I owe you quite a large apology; second, I want to know if we're still friends; and if so, then third, I would like to ask you to come back to Camelot with me."

Merlin felt a lump in his throat and didn't trust himself to talk, so he just nodded. Arthur smiled. "Would you rather stay here, or take a walk?"

"Walk, please," Merlin managed, and they left the house together, Hunith beaming as she closed the door behind them.

"So, you make bread," Arthur said in an amused tone of voice.

"If you want to eat it, you've got to make it first," replied Merlin reasonably. "Besides, I like making bread. It feels good. I could show you how, if you want," he said hopefully.

"Oh, I doubt I'd be any good at that." Arthur rolled his eyes. "What else do you do around here?"

"Work in the fields mostly, but I also help out with whatever needs to be done. Build houses, mend broken things, make toys for the children, darn socks, milk cows, cure headaches…" Arthur had stopped walking and was looking at Merlin in astonishment. "Well," said Merlin somewhat defensively, "all those chores I did for you gave me a lot of new skills, and everything else, I just figure out as I go. I fit in here now, Arthur. I never did when I was young."

Arthur was silent for a while as they continued walking. He had been so busy thinking of himself that it had never occurred to him to think of Merlin's point of view. Merlin had made a life for himself in Ealdor during this almost-year. Maybe Merlin was comfortable enough here now that he wouldn't even want to return to Camelot. That was a disturbing thought. If Merlin turned him down, Arthur didn't know what he was going to do!

xxxxx

Next up, in the final chapter: questions finally answered, and Merlin's decision.

as always, concrit welcome