What the hell am I doing? No really. I have an exam tomorrow and here I am, after staying up until 2am writing this and editing it earlier this morning, giving you another chapter. It hasn't even been 24 hours yet. Gaaaahhh. What is my life.

*sigh* oh well, I've written it now, might as well post it. It practically wrote itself last night anyway, I seriously just wrote without even noticing the time flying by.

I really hope you like this chapter, cos I seriously enjoyed writing it, Merlin got a bit sassy and it made me happy.

Have fun reading! :)

The silence in the cabin was only disrupted by Arthur's deep breathing and the quiet sounds of the water as Merlin moved within it. An hour or so had passed since the captain fell asleep but Merlin was still awake, waiting in the darkness until he felt it was safe to move without waking the captain. Merlin felt rather drained after their argument earlier on in the evening, but he couldn't rest yet, his curiosity had got the best of him once again, and he had to know what was in that locked drawer.

He let out a breath, staring out the window behind the captain's desk, looking at all the stars in the sky. This was another reason he loved the sky, it was so variable. The day brought so many colours, as well as clouds and rainbows, clear skies or lighting. But night time was the most beautiful. Merlin had never found comfort in the dark depths of the sea, there were dangerous creatures down there and the possibility of getting lost became a real fear. But when it was dark at the surface there were so many stars that hung in the heavens, guiding lights in the darkness, a moon that shone like silver on the waves, and Merlin would feel strangely comforted, he'd feel less lonely. The stars watched over him wherever he was and Merlin was oddly grateful for their presence.

Merlin brought himself back to the present, calmer now that he had taken a moment to stare out at the night sky. He mustered his courage and drew in a breath, holding it as he pulled himself from the water, carefully leaning over the edge of the crate and raising his tail from the water before lowering himself on to the floor of the cabin, water dripping from his tail and splashing in the water within his crate.

When he was finally sitting on the floor he dared a look at Arthur, listening to the rippling water behind him. But Arthur seemed oblivious and after another few seconds Merlin allowed himself to draw breath once again. He sat for a few minutes, trying to keep calm and quiet before he started dragging himself as quietly as he could across the floor, stopping ever few centimetres to check the captain was still asleep. It seemed luck was on his side, Arthur's breath still came deep and heavy, a constant background noise as Merlin moved closer.

As he finally got close enough to touch Arthur, his breathing got faster, too anxious to take in proper breaths. Merlin pulled himself up so that he could lean over Arthur, making sure not to drip water on him. He lifted his hand and brought it to the edge of Arthur's shirt, sweat making his hand clammy. His heart was beating out a fast rhythm in his chest and he bit his lip in worry before he eventually moved the final few centimetres, going under the shirt and taking hold of the keys there.

Carefully, oh so carefully, he pulled them out from underneath the shirt, continuing to pull the chord under the man's head, nearly jumping back with fright as the man groaned in his sleep while Merlin manoeuvred his head. Fortunately the man stayed unconscious and Merlin backed away with wide eyes, his heart racing and his hands shaking.

Once Merlin was what he considered a safe distance away he let out a sigh of relief, before turning and dragging himself to the desk, staying on the floor rather than heaving himself into the chair this time. He looked down at both of the keys. One was extremely intricate, the metal curling around itself in complicated patterns on the handle of the key, the other was plain silver, it seemed old and had scratches from its many uses.

Merlin chose to try the intricate key first, as it matched the elaborate pattern of the keyhole of the drawer. He pushed it in and turned, the lock instantly giving way and Merlin pulled the drawer open. He glanced at the other key, guessing it was for the door, but since he'd already opened the drawer he may as well take a look, Arthur still appeared to be out cold and this wouldn't take very long, he could escape with little effort in just a few minutes. He ignored the small part of him that told him to stay, the part that told him he was making progress with Arthur and that they could still learn much from each other. They were only quiet whispers within him after all.

Looking back down into the drawer he let out a quiet gasp before he reached forwards for the portrait of Arthur with another older man that stood behind him, a stern look on his face and a hand on Arthur's shoulder. Merlin took in the details of the black and white etching, noting the exceptional shading that made the two men seem so life like. Arthur looked a few years younger than he did now, and he was smiling slightly too, which was more than could be said for the man who Merlin assumed was Arthur's father.

He looked back into the drawer, fishing out another etching. This one seemed more faded with age; there were three people in this portrait. The same man as before, Arthur's father, a beautiful lady who had a radiant smile, presumably his mother, and finally a very young boy who sat on her lap, Arthur. Even the father seemed to be smiling slightly in this picture; it seemed a much happier scene.

Merlin was about to place the portraits down and raid the rest of the drawer, when he felt a presence behind him and a hand came down on his shoulder with a bit too much force to be friendly.

"What do you think you are doing? Is it not enough for you to destroy my journal and root through my possessions? Must you do it twice before you are satisfied?" What had started off a dark and dangerous tone had soon melted to become merely exasperated. Something Merlin was grateful for.

"I wasn't... rooting through your possessions, Captain. I was merely...searching for wormwood." Merlin looked up into the captain's eyes, his own wide with faked innocence.

Arthur looked unimpressed. "How thick do you think I am Merlin? I wasn't born yesterday!"

"Do you really want me to answer that question?"

"Merlin!"

"Are you angry?"

"Of course I'm angry, what sort of idiotic question is that?!"

"Well, it's just that I thought you'd be angrier, you just seem rather irritated. I mean you did threaten me with a sword earlier, so this is a bit of a let-down in comparison."

The angry retort Arthur had in mind to stop Merlin's rambling, died on his lips at the mention of him threatening Merlin with the sword earlier. Perhaps it was the late hour affecting his mind, or perhaps this mermaid really had got to him, because he suddenly felt guilty over threatening Merlin. Arthur cleared his throat awkwardly before replying solemnly.

"Yes, well... I was angry. Like you, I let it get the best of me and acted without thinking of the further consequences. So I guess we're even." He wouldn't actually say the word 'sorry', he was too proud and awkward with his emotions for that, but he gave the best he could, and it seemed enough for Merlin, who was now beaming like the cat that got the cream.

"Now, would you please return my belongings to the drawer, if you hadn't already noticed, it is an ungodly hour and I would much prefer being asleep to squabbling with you right now." Arthur had a tone that brooked no argument, but Merlin seemed unaffected by it.

"But my company is so enjoyable; wouldn't you rather bask in my presence a little longer?" Merlin had a cheeky grin on his face as he watched Arthur turn back to him, a look of utter despair and exasperation on his face.

"Merlin! I swear, if you don't get into that crate right now and go to sleep, I will tie you to the prow of the ship as a figurehead!" Merlin looked lazily up at the sleep-deprived man, unconcerned by the threat, watching as Arthur turned back to his own bed before he asked a question, in a much quieter and more serious tone.

"Are they your parents? In the portrait?"

"Yes." Arthur answered stiffly, not turning to face Merlin.

"You're mother is very beautiful, she must worry about you awfully, sailing the seas as a pirate. Where is she now?"

"Dead."

Merlin reeled back in shock and distress. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

Arthur let out a sigh before interrupting; sounding more resigned than stiff now. "No, it's alright. It was a long time ago; she became ill when I was a child. Father was away on business, he was a pirate himself, the healer in town wasn't good enough at his job to save her, and the only more skilled healer, Gaius, was with my Father on the ship at the time. She passed away in her sleep. Father was devastated when he returned."

"I'm sorry. What of your Father? Is he...?"

Arthur's reply was suddenly harsh. "That's none of your concern. Get to sleep. It's late." The captain turned back and grabbed the two keys from the floor beside Merlin, slinging them around his neck before he got back into his bed. "And don't even think of trying to escape again, the crew takes turns watching over the ship. They'd spot you immediately if you left this cabin."

Merlin gave an affirmative reply, ignoring the slight twinge of relief that came when he heard he couldn't leave, before carefully putting the portraits back into the drawer. He dragged himself over to the crate, pulling himself over the edge with enough force to send a wave of water over the edge of the crate. Neither commented.

Eventually they were both asleep and the stars watched over them through the night.

Arthur woke before Merlin again the next morning, although judging from the amount of light streaming in through the window, they had both slept in late. Not that it was surprising when the mermaid had woken him at such an unreasonable hour in the night. He grumbled to himself as he got up and left the cabin to get some breakfast for himself, leaving the food from last night on his desk for Merlin.

As he stepped on deck he rubbed his eyes tiredly and shuffled forward. Obviously his crew could tell he was feeling drained as both and Elyan and Leon came up to ask if he was alright. He waved off their concerns, explaining that he'd been up late last night and that he'd be fine once he'd eaten. They reluctantly moved out of the way and allowed their captain past.

When he returned from their stores, dried bread in hand, he was stopped by Gwaine.

"Captain. You've kept fairly quiet about Merlin... Is he still alive?" The crew all knew his name now, as Arthur had briefed them about the mermaid after he'd stormed out with the pendant yesterday morning.

Arthur scoffed. "Yes, he's alive and kicking," he frowned as he realised the phrase couldn't really apply to someone with a tail, before going on "he kept me up for half the night as well. He's such a burden." He paused as he watched Gwaine frown slightly. "What is it?"

"I just wonder if you're treating him humanely or not. Captain." He added the title on the end as if he'd almost forgotten. Which, knowing Gwaine, he probably had.

Arthur rolled his eyes. It wasn't enough that Merlin had managed to throw all of Arthur's thoughts and beliefs in the air and make him care what the mermaid thought of him, now he had his crew worrying for him too. What was it with the Merlin? He just couldn't keep out of trouble, evidently.

"He's fine Gwaine. I haven't harmed him and he's got food in there. I'm sure he's perfectly alright." Arthur moved to push past Gwaine and move to the helm of the ship, but stopped as a hand grabbed his wrist.

"We have just stolen him from his home. Don't underestimate how much that can upset a person."

Arthur let out a sigh, before turning to face Gwaine and nodding slightly. Gwaine seemed satisfied and gave a small nod in return, releasing Arthur's wrist from his grip, walking off to perform his other duties.

Arthur let his mind drift for a while, staring out to sea as the last preparations were made to the ship before they set off for the day. According to his and Leon's calculations they were only a day or two's sail from Gaius now. But his mind was soon brought back to thinking of Merlin, the mermaid kept distracting him from his other thoughts and it was becoming most irritating.

But he did have a lot to think about. He'd ignored it all last night, refusing to deal with the many new ideas Merlin had brought to light, but he couldn't ignore his thoughts forever.

His whole life he'd been raised to believe that mermaids were monsters, only doing things for their own gain, that they were selfish and vain creatures. That had been proven by the creatures kept in his Father's cages. They lashed out viciously at anyone who approached them, they only cooperated when there was something in it for them and they hardly spoke, mainly they just snarled at people. He remembered he'd once been to see one of the mermaids by himself when he was a child, and found it crying... At least he assumed that was what the creature was doing; it was hard to tell when it was underwater.

But his Father had quickly found him and dragged him away from the creature, lecturing him on how dangerous they were, and when Arthur had asked why the creature was crying, Uther had knelt down to his eye level and explained that the creature was trying to use him, drawing Arthur in with fake tears to make him sympathise with it. At the time he had instantly believed his Father, but now... Maybe the mermaid really had been crying because it had been upset.

Arthur shook his head, remembering all the times several other mermaids had lashed out at him, one had even managed to scratch him from his elbow to his wrist, it wasn't too deep, but it had been painful. And he couldn't ever forget what had happened to his Father. No. Perhaps Merlin was... Not the monster Arthur had originally thought, but he was an anomaly. He had no proof that other mermaids could behave like Merlin; in his eyes the mermaids were still a cruel and worthless species. It would take more than one mermaid to change his views on that.

...but for now, perhaps he could start treating Merlin more as a person, after all, there was just something about him that made him impossible to hate.