A/N: To those who asked me to continue, here you are. I must thank you for sending my muse on a tare, it's driving me batty again.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, but sure wish I did.

Ever since he over heard that conversation Arthur remained aloof from both Merlin and Morgana. Everything his father said over the years, what he himself believed, had been thrown into chaos. Over the course of a week he realized he could never tell his father, not only had his belief never been that strong, but the slightest doubt had always lurked in the depths of his mind. Yet how could his father be wrong? His father wasn't a cruel man, Arthur would never believe otherwise. Since his father wasn't cruel, then magic had to be evil. But if magic was evil and Merlin had magic, then that meant Merlin was evil, and if Merlin was evil wouldn't Merlin have killed him years ago? Or let him die during that banquet?

From his desk Arthur looked over at his servant, the clumsy idiot had managed to drop a log for the fire place for the second time that day. He found in near impossible to equate him with an evil sorcerer, unless it was all an act, but then why would a sorcerer accept such degrading tasks? Why would he come to Camelot at all? It could be like Merlin told Morgana, that he needed Gaius' help. Then Gaius must have studied magic, or have practiced it, and both he and his father trusted Gaius. That line of thought always threw another doubt in his father's war against magic.

Just a week ago, he'd considered it his war as well; then that damned conversation threw his twisted his entire world around. It didn't help that when he reviewed the events of the discrepancies from the last year, ones that Merlin having magic explained no less. Which always led him to conclude magic wasn't evil; which meant his father was cruel. But his father wasn't cruel; he knew that, all of Camelot knew that. But all things considered, how could magic be evil? Groaning, Arthur rested his head in his hands. The past week his mind constantly ran through that line of thought, and he had yet to reach a conclusion. He could always ask Merlin, but there was very little chance the boy would tell him the truth.

What did Merlin possessing magic, and being a good person say about their friendship? If Merlin never meant to do evil, then he could trust Arthur and so could Morgana. Of course, considering his father's stance on magic, Merlin might not trust him enough not to turn him in. Which implied Merlin feared how Arthur would react to finding out, that their friendship might not survive the reveal.

"You've had that look for the past week, what's wrong?" Merlin asked, looking up from his work.

"Nothing," Arthur snapped, returning to his pile of paper.

Like always Merlin persisted, "now I'm sure something's bothering you."

"You wouldn't understand." He lied through his teeth, and saw Merlin didn't believe him. Damn, why did he have to know him so well?

"At least you've admitted something's wrong."

"Merlin…"

Holding his hands up in surrender, "right, I'll shut up." With a long suffering sigh, Merlin went back to stacking the wood and lit a small fire. Fall approached slowly this year. As a commoner raised in a small village, Merlin understood how to conserve wood. Some nobles' hearths already blazed, unlike his previous servant Merlin kept the room comfortably warm. It certainly made Arthur's life more pleasant. How could someone so considerate be an evil sorcerer? Stifling the following groan, Arthur forced himself to focus on the paper work.

His chores done, Merlin spoke "Gaius told me to gather more buckbean, alder, comfrey and rosemary, once I finished my chores for you."

"Fine," he kept his tone dismissive, not wanting to let on to his relief. These days he felt unable to trust Merlin as much as before.

"I'll see you at dinner then Sire." Merlin bowed and left.

Once he'd gone, Arthur stared into the fire. In some way he found Merlin's growing formality painful, he deeply missed the playful banter from before. Perhaps he should ask for Merlin to be reassigned. No, he couldn't do that. Then everyone would know something was up, he had to do better at hiding what he knew. If Merlin closed up to him then Arthur would never find out Merlin's intentions, so for the safety of Camelot, Guinevere and his father he had to pretend. Even so it sickened him to have to fake friendship to someone he once considered a friend.

"My life was so much simpler before hand." He sighed, now fully focused on the paper work. With luck it'd give him the distraction he so desperately craved.

As Gaius still didn't know Merlin had gone behind his back, he and Morgana met in the forest when ever possible. On those days they could meet she led her horse around as he gathered herbs for Gaius. More often then not she helped him, primarily she carried his bag, knowing Uther would question dirt stains on her gown. On those trips they discussed magical theory and plans on how to sway Uther. The day after he revealed his power to her, Morgana worked to convince Uther to let the prisoners go, after a few days he acquiesced.

On their first trip Merlin told his hope that Arthur might become a kind king and repeal the laws banning back. The Dragon's words still rang in his mind, so he followed their advice by keeping knowledge of the prophesy from her. Though he trusted her, when she questioned why he kept Uther alive worried him. When he explained that Arthur needed to learn from Uther's example, and he would not believe he was ready for the throne until Uther said so, did sway her. That she had asked caused his concern, not that he showed her his concern.

Today, however, he kept unnaturally silent. The worry must have shown on his face.

"Merlin, what's bugging you?" Morgana spoke kindly, concern written all over her face.

"It's Arthur; he's been incredibly aloof these last two weeks." On days like this, he was thankful for someone his own age to speak freely with. He trusted Gaius like a father, but sometimes he needed someone else to talk to. The previous year he considered speaking with the Dragon, but dismissed the idea. Both creatures of magic they might be, the Dragon wasn't the most conversational, and Merlin still had not forgiven him for what happened during the Questing Beast incident.

She nodded, "I've noticed. He keeps us both at arm's length these days."

"Do you think he over heard us?" He didn't need to mention which conversation he was referring to, she knew.

A sigh, "He might have. But then why hasn't he turned us in?"

"You're the King's Ward. Even if Arthur accused you, Uther'd never believe it. Me, one the other hand…I don't know."

They lapsed into silence. Neither knew what to say. Both worried, but couldn't speak to Arthur without revealing what they were. If Arthur didn't know, then he might turn them in. Though he might know, the risk was just too great.

"Perhaps he over heard, but doesn't know what to do." Morgana suggested as Merlin knelt to gather some more alder. "Merlin, he hasn't turned you in because you're his friend."

He shrugged, "if so, this might just be another bump in the road."

From some reason that made her smile, "then he will overcome it, and accept our magical aid."

"Hopefully, but for the moment we have a bigger problem to deal with."

"Uther?"

"No," Merlin struggled with the latest root, "I can't get this root free." Laughing, Morgana came over with her belt knife. Careful of his fingers, Morgana cut where he instructed. Unfortunately, Merlin was tugging so hard he fell back the moment it snapped. Morgana's peals of laughter did nothing to ease his embarrassment.

"What so funny?" He mock demanded, not bothering to hide his own silly grin.

She smiled at him, "seeing the a warlock struggling with a root."

A/N: Just so you know, I will be working with the show's episodes. Morgana and Morgause's relationship will be interesting to work with when in comes along. Again, please review, I enjoy reading what people think. Feel free to point out spelling and grammatical errors.