Merlin was doing his best to understand his master, but he was confused, some of the things he said and did when they were on their own showed he had a good heart, but other times the blond was nasty and bitter sounding. Merlin realised that the Prince had to make it look good but it still confused him. But of all the things that had happened since he was under the Princes control that made him the happiest was seeing his mother and being able to pass messages to her sometimes. He just wished he could hug her once more. He had vague memories of before, of laughing and being hugs and comforted.

Later that day when he was chained in his corner and lying on his blanket, dozing. The Lady Morgana came to see her step brother and with her was Hunith. As neither of them was supposed to know that the pair were mother and child Morgana felt that there was no reason for her not to visit Arthur and as propriety dictated, as they were not related, take her maidservant with her. Hunith was worried but Morgana told her that if Uther got to hear she would tell him she had ordered it. Arthur looked up as Morgana came in, he smiled at her before demanding "And what do I owe this honour?"

"I want to go to visit father's grave and wondered if you would escort me in the morning as you usually do" Morgana closed the door as she spoke then looked at Hunith and pushed her towards her son.

Arthur noticed the gesture and chose to ignore it. He wished he could tell Morgana that Hunith was his Aunt, but feared her temper and that she would confront Uther if he did so. "I will provided father has no other plans for me."

"He hasn't I have already asked" Morgana sat by her step brother and continued to talk about the next day.

Hunith went towards Merlin and held out her arms to him, first looking at the royals at the table. Merlin rushed forward and hugged his mother. Hunith ran her hands through her son's hair "Oh my darling how I miss you"

Merlin looked up at his mother tears in his eyes and whispered "I love you mother, are you alright, is she good to you?"

"She is my son, very good and you, does your new master treat you well? I see you have new clothes"

Merlin nodded "He feeds me better as well" but then Merlin looked at the floor ashamed "I killed again, I used my magic for bad things" If nothing else he could remember his mother always telling him magic was for good not evil.

"Son when you don't have a choice it is not your fault, but the one that makes you is guilty. Always be careful my boy and keep yourself safe" Hunith kissed her sons forehead. "I pray to the gods that one day you will be free"

Merlin looked across at the table to make sure they couldn't hear him "Arthur says he will free me one day, when he can, I won't go without you"

"Son if you get the chance to be free go, don't risk your freedom for me" Hunith implored him. "Or you Uncle Gaius, we both want you to be free, you are young"

"I will never leave without you!" Merlin told her. Then he noticed Morgana standing up so he pulled his mother into a hug once more.

Morgana arrived by the door and looked at the pair "I am sorry but we must go. I will try and bring you again." She told Hunith, then looking at Merlin she said "Look after Arthur for me please, he is a good man"

Merlin nodded and held onto his mother for a few more seconds before the door was open and she was gone. As the door closed once more Merlin threw himself onto his blanket and let the tears fall. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I am sorry Merlin, but you did get to see her, I never met my mother she died when I was born" Arthur's face looked very sad.

Merlin looked at the Prince "You have your father. Mine died before I was born so I only have my mother, you can see your father every day!" he said bitterly.

Arthur looked at Merlin and frowned "Yes Merlin that is true, but he has never hugged me as your mother does you. I will try and make sure you see each other again. I doubt you will be able to come tomorrow, or if you do your mother won't"

"But I have to go, I have to protect you!" Merlin told him "it's my job."

"So it is" Arthur ruffled Merlin's head. Then he stepped back at George can in with his supper "George tomorrow I am taking the Lady Morgana to her father's grave make sure our horses are ready. And go to the kitchen now and ask cook for suitable food to be provided"

George bowed and after putting the tray down left the room. Arthur smiled "He has brought me to much again." He looked at Merlin who was eating his bowl of rather disgusting looking gruel. "Here have some of this." Arthur handed Merlin a lump of meat and bread and well as an apple.

Merlin smiled and hid the apple in his blanket for later and ate the bread and meat, he then finished his gruel. He was a growing boy and had already learnt to eat what he could when he had the opportunity. In the cells with the others sometimes they missed meals if the guards were feeling mean. His apple he would eat in the night. As he took off his clothes for the night and led down in his shirt he had a smile on his face. Life for him was looking up, he had a full belly and had seen his mother and hugged her. He promised himself that he would do all he could to protect and help his master for his kindness, even if he did confuse him.

That night Morgana dreamt again, with Gaius's and Hunith's help her dreams had decreased but she still had them. This one was of dragons, golden eyes and of a woman with blonde hair, it didn't make sense so she decided not to mention it to Hunith.

The next day when Morgana went to meet her step brother she had a different maid servant with her, Uther had forbade Hunith from leaving the castle, telling his ward that the physician had need of her services to collect herbs. Instead Morgana had Gwen the seamstress with her. Merlin of course went with Arthur and three nights to the grave. All went well until they were on their way back to Camelot when Morgana's horse was spooked by snake and she fell hitting her head on a rock, knocking her unconscious. Arthur gathered her up and they returned at full gallop to Camelot. Rushing Morgana up to Gaius the physician diagnosed a bleed within the scull, and did not expect her to life the night.

The King was distraught and wouldn't leave his wards side. Hunith was also very upset, she had come to love her mistress, and she crept down to the cavern to ask the dragon if there was anything she could do. When Kilgarrah settled on hid rock Hunith looked up at him

"The Lady Morgana is dying, is there any way we can save her, Gaius says she is bleeding in the scull"

Kilgarrah nodded his head "You wish to save your captor"

"She is not my captor that is Uther, Morgana and Arthur are allowing me to speak to my son, against the Kings permission, she is good to me" Hunith pleaded once more "There must be something we can do"

"There is, but it risks both yourself and your son." The dragon paused "Bring me the young warlock for only he can save her"

"And how can I do that!" Hunith protested.

"Speak to the young Pendragon, if he wants the witch saved he will find a way, don't delay she hasn't long for this world."

Hunith ran back up the stairs and to the Princes chamber, she walked in past the guard carrying sheets and blankets. Arthur looked up as she entered and frowned. "Hunith you should not be here, Merlin is not here he is at the midden"

Hunith looked at the Prince and took a deep breath "Sire, we can save the Lady Morgana but I need your help"

Arthur looked at Hunith "How? I will do anything"

"I have been to the great dragon. I know you have already spoken to him in the past. If you take Merlin to him he says my son can save her, but Kilgarrah needs to give the spell needed to Merlin, The Great Dragon says we don't have much time. Please Sire I beg you, you must trust me!"

Arthur took a step forward and made a discussion there and then. "I do trust you Aunt Hunith"

Hunith looked at Arthur in shock "You know!"

"I do, but it is important to keep this a secret, I only tell you now so you know you can trust me. I have not told Merlin we are cousins, it is too dangerous. Go now, as soon as he is back we will go to the cavern I promise you"

"Thank you my Lord"

"Please Aunt, call me Arthur if ever we are alone. Now go before you are caught." Arthur ushered Hunith out.

As soon as Merlin was back Arthur took his chain and led the boy down the tunnels. When he got to the bend where the guards were sitting he told Merlin to hide in the alcove. Then he went forward. Going round the corner he found the guards as expected lounging at the table half asleep. "So this is what you think guard duty is!" he demanded making them all jump to their feet. "I will wait here while you all run round the castle twice. And make sure you do it at full run. That should wake you up"

The three guards glared at Arthur before doing as they were told. As they ran up the stairs Arthur grabbed Merlin from the alcove, "Come on we should just have time."

Merlin wondered where they were going until he reached the cavern and the Great Dragon appeared, then he looked at wonder at the beast in front of him "A Dragon!" then his face became one of wonder "You are Kilgarrah, the one my mother told me about when I was small."

Kilgarrah laughed "You are still so small for one with such a destiny, it is good to see you at long last young Warlock. Much as I would like to talk we have little time." Kilgarrah looked from Arthur to Merlin and back "Two sides of the same coin together"

Arthur looked at Kilgarrah "We don't have long the guards will be back soon"

"Promise you will bring the boy back soon young Pendragon"

"I will when it is safe" Arthur promised

"Then we will proceed" Kilgarrah looked at Merlin "I will give you the power to heal the witch, you will need to ne alone with her and then take her hands and repeat the spell I will give you, but first young Pendragon release the control of the collar as you do when the warlock uses his power"

Arthur did as requested as he did Kilgarrah released a cloud of golden mist over Merlin, as it dissipated Merlin smiled "That is easy!"

"Go now and do what you have to, but Young Pendragon I expect you to keep your promise and return soon."

Arthur and Merlin ran up the steps and Merlin hid as they waited for the guards to return. It wasn't long before they came puffing down the stairs to find Arthur sat waiting. "Next time I do a check I don't expect you to be nearly asleep" Arthur stood up and walked up the stairs leaving some very disgruntled guards behind him.