Weeks turned like pages of a book, the thought of only three people knowing that he existed a constant sobering thought.
"Falcon. I need to see you," Uther demanded, the weather turning colder.
So he made his way to Uther's office, passing by the now-familiar portraits, knocking as he entered. The small discourtesies to Uther were a petty revenge, but they made him feel better at least. "You asked for me?"
"Yes. As I'm sure you are well aware, Arthur's birthday approaches. The fête is to be a large affair, and there are always entirely too many opportunities for would-be assassins and...others to take a chance on his life. So I want you one step behind him at all times. I would also like you to set up some sort of...alarm system at the door for weapons to be recognised by the security guards, something besides the usual. I want this to be something that security can use without know it is...different."
Merlin almost smiled at the way Uther refused to say the word 'magic.' "Yes, Sire. I'll have to come up with something. I'm not quite sur—"
"You shall figure it out." He waved the concern away. "I would also like you to reinforce the windows if possible against bullet entry. Also, set up alarms for yourself, so that you will know if anyone like yourself enters. I want you to be on the highest alert. Do I make myself clear, Falcon?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"Good. Understand that Arthur's life is your highest priority. If even at the cost of your own. Am I clear?"
"Always, your majesty."
"Good."
The silence entered again. Merlin turned to leave.
"One more thing."
He looked back over his shoulder.
"Good job."
Merlin felt his eyebrows shoot up. "Th-thank you. Sire?"
"I'm sure you have preparations like the rest of us. Be on your way."
And he was. Merlin chewed a thumbnail as he strode back down the hallway. Obviously Arthur was precious to Uther. While it might not be apparent in every glance, exchange, directive, or conversation, it was there in every touch, every act behind the scenes, every plan of action concerning the boy. And that made his life harder. Merlin had no doubt that if Arthur's life were lost, Merlin would merely be shot and dumped aside without even a pang of guilt. So how was he to pull off all of these demands Uther had listed. Passing by the library, he paused. It was doubtful that there would be anything useful, but he double-checked the card catalogue anyway. The old tongue had always come easily to him; sometimes he knew things without really needing to know them. But there were other things that he needed to know—spells. And those were things he had to learn. Surprisingly, the library had two books concerning magic, even though Merlin was quite certain that there wouldn't be any spells in it. But research wouldn't hurt.
He strolled back towards Arthur's room, pausing in front of an empty room. Looking around, he grinned. It was perfect. Casting the same do-not-notice-me spell on it, he barricaded himself in the room for practice.
It was much later that night when Uther ordered him to follow Arthur who was leaving to see a film with his friends. All the same, he shrunk the book to fit in his pocket and took it with.
The next day, Merlin went to Uther with the request of a laptop that he might do research in order to better protect Arthur. Uther's gaze was flinty and he steepled his fingers.
"I'll think on it."
"Okay," Merlin replied, trying hard not to sound disappointed.
Uther sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Falcon, you have surprised me."
"I have?"
"Yes. You have been..." The man massaged his temple, searching for the word. "Faithful. While I know sorcerers are tricky beings, neglecting to mention their true intent or, as it is, the fine print, you have asked for surprisingly little."
"I haven't been given much of a choice," Merlin murmured, looking at his feet. "However, I'm alive. So, for that, I'm thankful. And I have a job. Doubly thankful."
Uther nodded. "Of course. A king cannot govern without some leniency lest he be seen as a tyrant. That has never extended to sorcerers. However." He looked at Merlin until he met his eyes. "However, you are reputedly the best. And you have had no prior offences. So I am confronted with...the issue of protecting my son."
Waiting, Merlin nodded.
"Which you have done. But you have not been put to the test. Of course, you know the consequences. Yet I've heard nothing from Kay or Percival about your negligence."
Guilt niggled Merlin about the time he left him for a visit to the library. He was well-protected, Merlin reasoned.
"However, the idea of giving you access to the internet and a computer has me at a crossroads. I can either trust you to obey my orders of not contacting the outside world or leaving any sort of evidence that you were there. Or I can simply refuse. Which one would be easier."
Chancing to meet Uther's eyes once more, he bit his lip. "Trust?"
Uther arched an eyebrow.
Merlin dropped his eyes again. "Sorry. Humour. Defence mechanism... I understand, Sire. It's fine. It would be more helpful, but I can get by without it."
"You are dismissed," Uther sighed.
And that was the end of that. So Merlin hid in his magic room and practised.
What Merlin expected was Arthur's reluctance to do anything exactly as his father said. What Merlin didn't expect was finding Morgana in his magic room, making out with Gwaine. What Merlin expected was Arthur to be furious about that. What Merlin didn't expect was the gently-loved laptop on his cot.
Approaching it with a sort of reverence, he lifted it and settled in the chair, curling his legs up beneath him. It started up slow, but the connection was good. As he searched through bogus web pages about magic, a morbid sort of curiosity crept over him, leading him to the Guardian homepage. Flicking back some weeks for the main titles, he searched his name with little results. A more general result led to a wide variety of articles, some slandering his name, some heralding Uther as a murderer. His eyes scanned the words quickly. One from the Morning Star said:
"Private execution announced for most feared, and respected underground, alleged sorcerer, Merlin Emrys, Saturday 28 July. Arrested after an altercation outside of a local drug store, Ealdor Med, Emrys, 22, was accused of treason. The reason for the charges is unclear, however, as neither King Uther nor Hunith Emrys, Merlin's mother, are willing to comment. Witnesses can place Emrys at the scene of the robbery at Ealdor Med, eyes apparently glowing gold as he manipulated with ease the robbers' vehicles and weapons.
Hunith, on not seeing her boy home that night, says, "I knew he'd been caught! He was just a boy! He's just trying to help—to make our town safer. To protect people. That's what he does. What he's always done. And now he's dead." She cries into the shoulder of a young girl, Gwen, one of Emrys' best mates. "Merlin had a good heart," Gwen, 21, says. She shakes her head and pats Hunith on the shoulder. "He always tried to help everyone, despite the risk to himself. I'm not really surprised that his magic got him caught." Another close friend of Merlin, Will Cane, 22, was found and asked for comments. He politely declined at first and then changed his mind, saying that Merlin was "only a good-hearted bloke who wanted happiness for everyone. And you took that out of the world." This appeared to be all that he would say, however, when questioned he replied with some bitterness, "You don't know what you've done. I was there when they took him. You don't know what the world will miss without him."
There is no knowledge of whether or not a trial was conducted, but there is video evidence, appearing un-doctored, of Emrys' handiwork. It is frightening to behold and gives the viewer pause to believe that King Uther's edict of banning magic is correct. In respect to his memory, farewell in light of your dubious execution. In response to magic? Protection for the people, hail King Uther."
So that's what they thought of him... It was fair, he supposed. Poor Gwen. Poor mum. His 23rd birthday had been coming up. She had been bothering him about having a big party when all he wanted was her, Gwen, and Will. Now, all of that unwanted, negative attention because of him. He was sure Hunith had more screaming fights about Merlin's morality with the press than she needed. He sighed and dug the heels of his hands into his eyes. Unimportant. What was important was Arthur. And his life.
Two hours later and more fruitless searching, he finally stumbled across a website entitled, simply, The Spellbook. It, apparently, was legitimate, and it wasn't long before he had what he needed. And not only for Uther's requests. There were other things he could learn from this website. Bookmarking it, he wrote the words down on a piece of paper before retreating to his magic room for practice.
By the end of a week and a half, Merlin was able to bring a finished product to Uther. It looked like a regular body-wand scanner, but there was a display that registered any items that could be used as weapons, foreign substances and magic.
Uther was pleased.
They tested it immediately, Kay using it on Merlin who had concealed two small knives, hemlock, and obviously his magic. It binged on all four accounts.
Uther was exceptionally pleased. He even smiled. Clapped Merlin on the back.
So Merlin was pleased. He headed back towards Arthur's room, pausing at his own to change into a t-shirt to monitor Arthur for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Arthur was in the bathroom, showering when he slipped into the prince's room.
Merlin sighed and moved over by the window, cursing when a tall stack of Arthur's papers fell off the opposite side of the table he bumped with his hip. He bent to clean them up, trying to reorder the pages. "Shit. Arthur, can't you use folder or binders like everyone else?"
The bathroom door opened, and Arthur padded into the room. "Who's there?"
Merlin froze and stopped rustling the papers. He mostly behind the table, so Arthur wouldn't be able to see him. Never mind the fact that he was invisible.
"I know you're there. Come out."
Merlin heard the drawer next to the prince's bed open and the click of a gun being cocked.
"If you come out now, I promise I won't shoot you. You'll just be arrested, of course. But you're breaking into the crown prince's bedroom. So you deserve it."
Merlin swallowed and turned himself into a dog, just as Arthur burst into sight. He wuffed at Arthur's particularly befuddled expression, pawing at the papers just to make sure the prince knew what was making the noise. Merlin would be killed if Uther suspected him of turning his son mad.
Arthur heaved a sigh and ran a hand over his face. "Scared me half to death, dog."
Merlin trotted forward, unsteady on his new four legs. Dog. Of course he'd chosen to be a dog. It was a bit disconcerting to see Arthur so high up.
"What are you doing in here?" The boy crouched down and extended a hand.
Merlin sniffed it, this being his first time touching the prince. Well. He was clean. So he licked it.
"You had better not be a gift from Morgana."
Merlin blinked at him.
"That girl gets me in more trouble sometimes..." Looking around, Arthur stood again. "I suppose you're probably hungry. If you're an escapee from the kennel, then I suppose... But you don't look familiar... some sort of retriever?" Arthur moved to his desk, flicking on his laptop and typing away quickly. "A curly coated retriever is what you look like. All soft dark fur." Arthur smiled and Merlin trotted after him, jumping so his front paws were on Arthur's leg. He wanted to see too. "You want to see too?" Arthur all but read his mind, smiling wider. "See? That's you."
Not an unattractive dog. He was alright. Merlin woofed.
"Hungry? Do you want some food?" Arthur ruffled his ears. "Should we go find you some food?"
Merlin backed away and jumped on Arthur's bed.
"Hey! I never said you could be up there. Get off."
Merlin laid down and merely stared.
"Oh. So you think you can do whatever you want?" the prince folded his arms and fixed him with a glare.
It was a lot less intimidating when Merlin was a dog. Even if he was the main focus of it for the first time. He woofed, stood, turned a circle and then plopped down again. He would win this.
"I swear you're laughing at me," Arthur said, but crawled up next to the dog anyway. "Well. As long as you behave, then you can stay. I have work to do. So be sure you're not a bother. Understand?"
Brilliant.
Merlin stirred as he heard the heavy tromp of footsteps coming down the hall to collect Arthur for dinner. Arthur who was currently asleep. Merlin who was currently a dog. He crept off the bed and changed back into a human, throwing his clothes on. Giving Arthur a light shove, he moved to stand over by the window when Kay, Percival, and Bedivere knocked lightly before entering to Arthur's somewhat hoarse "Come!"
"It's time for dinner, sire. Your father requested your presence."
Arthur looked around, feeling the bed beside him. "Did you see..."
"Lose something, your highness?"
Arthur frowned and then shook his head. "No. No, never mind."
Kay arched an eyebrow but said nothing, glancing at Merlin who shrugged with his best expression of innocence.
"Very well. Let's go."
Merlin wandered into the dining room, automatically checking the windows and feeling about for magic. Nothing. As usual. It was fairly boring to expect something and constantly come up with nothing. But, Merlin supposed, it meant that he didn't have to worry. Perching himself on the window-seat, he watched as the servants came out with the plates of food and set them before his royal highness and royal highness jr. Then came the water. Then came the wine. Merlin could have used a glass of wine. He looked at it longingly, moving away from the window as his skin began to goose pimple. It only got worse as he moved closer to the table.
Uther looked at him like he was a moron as Merlin moved around trying to find a warmer spot in the room.
Arthur lifted the glass to take a sip of wine and Merlin froze. The wine. Lashing out with magic, the wine glass exploded away from the king and prince, so an astonished Arthur was left holding only the stem.
"What the hell?" Arthur yelled, jumping to his feet and dropping the stem like it was on fire.
Uther was also on his feet, glancing briefly at Merlin who was panting and quivery, realising the close call.
"What the hell was that!"
"I...I don't know." Uther glared hard at Merlin.
"Poison," Merlin mouthed.
Uther's brows went up and he moved to put a hand on his son's shoulder. "Someone get in here and clean this mess up! Arthur, don't worry about it. I have no idea what happened. Perhaps you just held the glass wrong."
"Held the glass wrong," Arthur echoed flatly. "How the—"
"The wrong pressures. They were old crystal."
"Well it shouldn't bloody well explode in my hand, now, should it!"
"Sit down, Arthur, we'll get you a new glass. Drink the water for now."
He motioned to Bedivere and whispered something in his ear which Merlin caught as 'have the glass and wine tested; use gloves so not to smear fingerprints.'
The calamity over, Merlin sank to the floor, staring. A grin began to spread across his lips. He knew it was poison. Knew it. And he'd just saved Arthur! He'd proven himself! Hopefully. If the glance Uther threw him as they sat again had anything to say.
It wasn't until the next afternoon that Uther called Merlin to him.
"Yes, sire?"
"It seems you were correct. The glass was poisoned."
Merlin smiled. "Good!" Promptly un-smiled. "No, not good! I meant! I meant good that I didn't blow it up for no reason! Good that I saved him!"
The corner of Uther's mouth quirked. "I know what you meant. And I wanted to ask you how you know."
"I didn't."
"You didn't?" The king's brow clouded dangerously.
"Well, I mean—instinct? I didn't know exactly...I more like... had a feeling." He spread his hands as if that explained everything.
Uther made a humming noise and then clasped his fingers in front of him, giving Merlin The Stare. "I wanted to thank you."
"Prove myself then?" He grinned, rather proud of himself.
"Falcon."
His grin faltered and dropped, straightening his stance. "Sorry, sire."
"You've done a good job. Now return to my son."
"Yes, your majesty."
Arthur's birthday came up very suddenly in between guarding him at school, playing at being his dog, and practising magic every spare moment he came upon. The last, Merlin was quite proud of his progress. The former, Merlin was glad to see Arthur pick on others less. Of course, that may have had something to do with the negative reinforcement. When Arthur picked on people, bad things happened to him shortly thereafter.
The second thing, however, Merlin was glad to know. Shortly after the poison debacle, Arthur took up with a girl. Sophie. She was blonde, and she was a bitch. Manipulative, and it was clear to Merlin that Arthur didn't see it. Sitting by the prince's desk after school, the girl had come home with him and it was clear her intentions when she entered the room and undid two buttons at the top of her shirt. Even more painfully obvious when she pushed Arthur back onto his bed. And then proceeded to take his shirt off.
As awkward as it would have been to watch the act, Merlin didn't even want to listen. So he behaved as a dog. And barked. And barked. And ran in circles, pulling at Arthur's socked foot, shaking it like he wanted to play.
"God, your dog is annoying..." Sophie muttered. But she stood up again and Arthur apologised, looking somewhat embarrassed.
The next time Sophie was over with dubious plans, Merlin jumped on the bed, nosing his way into the couple's kisses. Sophie was effectively disgusted.
The third time, he settled himself at her feet and made disgusting licking noises until she was completely turned off. Arthur only glared at him, but looked secretly amused when Sophie stalked out.
The fourth time, Merlin wormed his way between them as they lay on Arthur's bed.
"God! Arthur! This dog of yours is the most effective cock-block I've ever seen! If you don't want to have sex with me, then just say it!" Sophie yelled, jerking her shirt back on.
Merlin cuddled closer to Arthur, the latter obligingly rubbing his belly. "Sorry, Soph. Looks like it's not going to work out.
Mission accomplished, Merlin glared at her on the way out.
The party started at seven. Arthur was turning 20. The large ballroom and the lesser side-rooms of Camelot palace were crammed. Merlin stayed one step behind him, resorting to pushing people aside when his don't-come-near-me spell wasn't strong enough for his worshippers. Uther trusted him with this position. The strongest spells that he could utter were protecting the prince and he'd cast his magic about like a net to sense and alert him to anything magical. The irony hadn't escaped him that he was fighting against his own kind. But any who wanted to kill Arthur were abusing their abilities. And if they were going about making a change by killing, well. That was all wrong.
Merlin couldn't help but smile, however, watching the prince in the midst of all the hullabaloo. The golden child in the limelight. He was smiling and laughing like the prince he was, being gracious with gift, and generous with his time distribution. Times like these, Merlin could almost admire the boy. Gwaine appeared with Morgana, clasping the prince in a manly display of affection before Morgana leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. The couple laughed as Arthur cracked a joke at their expense.
"Falcon. Status?" Uther's voice was taut with stress and worry.
"No problems so far!" Merlin chirped. "Everything is A-ok. I haven't sensed any intruders and no magic."
He heard the king's hiss on the other end. "Watch your tongue."
He winced. "Sorry, sire." And bumped into Arthur.
"Careful, mate," Arthur said without looking.
"Sorry," Merlin muttered.
"And poisons?" the king prompted.
Searching along his net for harmful substances, Merlin shook his head. "Nope. Nothing except for cigarettes. And a couple people have flasks. But that's all."
"Flasks?" Uther's voice was dry with amusement.
"As near as I can tell."
"As if there isn't enough liquor at this function..."
Merlin laughed. "Right, sire."
"Very well. Keep me updated hourly."
"Of course."
Arthur turned, a frown on his face. "Who..." He shook his head and moved passed Gwaine and Morgana.
Circulating the rest of the room took forever as it was regularly shifting and had new additions.
"You know, if you're thirsty," Merlin began, "get something to drink."
Arthur nodded absently, heading over to the long table stocked with enough food to feed Merlin's village for possibly a week. Opulence. Merlin curled a lip. After a drink and more greetings, Arthur returned to his father's side for the speech. Uther thanked the guests for their attendance in honour of his son's 20th year. He thanked them for their good will and faithfulness and support. Then Morgana gave a short speech full of really entertaining anecdotes about Arthur and his childhood. Arthur glowered at her, but Merlin could tell it was full of affection. He would have done the same to her. Arthur stood to take the microphone and thank people himself when Uther intercepted.
"Gaius?" Uther prompted smoothly.
An older man stepped forward, a pillow in his hands with a crown resting atop it.
"I would like everyone here to bear witness as Prince Arthur becomes the Crown Prince."
Arthur's face bespoke shock, though really that only meant that his eyes widened and his lips pressed together. "Father..."
"Prince Arthur of England. Please kneel before your king."
Rooted to the spot a moment, Merlin had to jab him in the back before the prince moved quickly to kneel before Uther on the steps of the raised dias. He bowed his head before his king, leaning over his knee.
"Do you, Arthur Pendragon, solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of this Kingdom and it's dominions according to the statutes, customs and laws laid down by your noble forebears?" Uther asked, voice firm and loud in the silent hall.
"I do, sire."
"Do you promise to exercise mercy and justice in your deeds and judgements?"
"I do, sire."
"And do you swear allegiance to England for now and for as long as you live?"
"I, Arthur Pendragon, do pledge life and limb to your service and to the protection of this kingdom and it's peoples. " Arthur intoned reverently.
"Now being of age and being the heir apparent, you shall hence-forth become Crown Prince of England."
Arthur stood, leaned over his father's hand, kissing it and then Uther lifted the prince's hand as Arthur turned and faced the crowd. Arthur bowed to the people and a cheer of "Arthur! Arthur! Arthur!" rose up among them.
Merlin, hands slipped into his pocket, smiled.
"I present you, the Crown Prince Arthur Pendragon of England," Uther announced, directing his son back to his peers and dignitaries there.
Arthur nodded solemnly and walked down the stairs, the crown still resting upon his head. Morgana came over and teased him immediately, though Merlin could tell, could just tell, that Arthur was pleased as punch. "Morgana, nothing you can say will spoil my mood."
She grinned wickedly. "Oh really? What if I told you that Gwaine and I snogged in your favourite window seat."
"Morgana! Dammit all. I'm glad you're so good at making lives miserable."
"Only yours, dear, only yours." She patted his cheek.
"I hate you."
"Now, you don't meant that."
"Emphatically. I hate you."
"Only until you need something."
"Go away," Arthur ordered, giving his half-sister a push. "Go snog your boyfriend or something. Not somewhere I like to be, please."
Morgana tittered and ignored the prince's teasing, returning to Gwaine, who was playing wallflower. Merlin's attention returned to the prince as the same goose-pimple feeling of the poisoned glass incident returned. He scanned the room quickly. "Sire..."
"Falcon?"
"I think something bad is about to happen..." He said quietly, hoping it didn't alarm the king too much.
"What is it?" Uther demanded immediately, and from the corner of his eye, he noticed Uther standing and scanning the room as well.
Merlin backed up against Arthur who turned with an irritable expression.
"People keep bumping into me..."
"Prince Arthur!" A lady with a microphone happened to get close.
"I'm sorry, miss, but the media was specifically told not to bring equipment inside the building," Arthur ordered.
"Yes, I just wanted to know what your father must be feeling."
The question caught Arthur off guard and someone from behind the media person lunged forward, a knife in hand.
"Arthur!" Merlin shouted, grabbing the prince's shoulders and yanking him backwards and thrusting the person back onto the floor, pinning him there. He stood in the middle of the panic, only the DJ's music for noise.
"Falcon, get out of there. Now."
Merlin looked around, eyes wide and wild.
"Get. Away."
The other guards and security were already muscling through the crowd, Bedivere the closest to the focal point.
"Falcon."
Merlin swallowed and ducked to the side of the room, still close enough to hear.
"Sire! Sire are you alright?"
Arthur groaned, shaking his head as he sat up. "Fine. I'm fine. What the hell happened?"
Kay arrived and helped the prince stand. Percival had reached the attacker and had him on his knees, hands tied up behind his back. "You were attacked."
"Yeah, but then then it all happened so quickly. I was suddenly on my back and he was..." He gestured towards the man. "Over there."
"It's understandable, sire. It's a traumatising experience," Kay diminished.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "I'm hardly traumatised, Kay. I'm fine. I just don't understand what physically happened. Someone saved me. And it wasn't you. That wasn't your voice that yelled," he said more quietly so Merlin had to strain to hear.
"One of the guests, I'm sure."
"Kay, you're hiding something. I want to know what it is," Arthur said as he was led to his father to make sure he was in one piece. The old man was hovering still on the dias, wringing his hands. Merlin skulked along the outside of the room towards the stage. He needed to make sure that Arthur was okay too. Wherever that adrenaline-induced strength came from, it still had his heart pounding.
"Arthur!" Uther grasped his shoulders. "You're alright?"
"I'm fine, father. There's nothing wrong with me, except for perhaps a bruise from landing on my bum," Arthur said drily, sounding all sorts of secret amused.
"Arthur, you shouldn't joke. This was an assassination attempt," Uther's brow furrowed. The man was being led away, presumably to the dark cells in which Merlin found himself on his arrival. He shuddered.
"Well, I'm fine! I really am. I have no idea what happened over there, but everything's fine; I assume you're leading the man away to question and torture while I have the rest of my party. With increased security."
Uther's eyes narrowed. "I'm glad you can treat your life with such levity, Arthur."
The boy sighed. "Father... You know that's not what I mean."
"Never mind," Uther said, waving him away, choosing not to talk about feelings.
"Father..."
"Go have fun, Arthur. This is your party, after all."
Arthur nodded stiffly and returned to mingling and the dancing. It didn't last long, however, and Arthur somehow found a way to sneak out of the room and onto one of the balconies. Merlin followed. Pulling out a cigarette, Arthur lit it up and scowled out into the darkness. "Stupid."
"What's stupid?" Merlin asked before thinking.
The prince swore and the cigarette fell down into the bushes. He turned quickly, looking for the source of the voice. "Hello?"
"Hello," Merlin replied.
"Where the deuce are you, mate?"
"I'm... here." He waffled between disembodied voice or disguise. The latter would most likely get him killed, but the former gave him no identity.
Arthur fixed a look at nothing in particular. "Going to have to be a bit more specific that that. I know I'm not that pissed. And I don't hear voices."
"No, I'm real," Merlin replied, unable to help the despondency leak through.
"Are you..." Arthur hesitated, looking around, out into the hall. "Are you invisible?"
"Why?"
He stood straighter. "Magic's not allowed in Camelot. Hell, magic's not allowed in England. So you must be pretty fucking nutters in order to chance it."
"No. I'm just cursed," Merlin lied.
"That's the same as treason," the prince retorted, leaning back on the balcony rail casually. "And if you're here to kill me, I'll scream."
"How terrifying. A scream. And if they can't see me, then they can't find me."
"True," Arthur admitted.
Silence.
"So what's stupid?"
"My father. He's ridiculously protective. Won't let me do anything that he doesn't deem 'okay.'"
"Isn't that what all fathers are supposed to do?"
"Yes, but there's just a bit more pressure when you're now the Crown Prince of England," he smirked, gesturing at the crown.
"Mm-hm."
"You're a snarky one, aren't you?"
"And you're a royal prat. So I suppose we're even." He laughed at Arthur's disbelieving expression.
"You can't talk to me like that."
"Well you're stuck without a face to blame it on," Merlin needled. "And if you say you were insulted by someone invisible, they'll think their dear golden prince has gone a bit—woo-hoo!—nutters."
"Lovely. Stuck with a haunt." Arthur turned away and leaned out over the landscape, pulling another cigarette from his pocket.
"I thought you didn't smoke?"
"Every so often," the prince muttered.
"It's bad for you."
"Not if I only do it once in a while."
Merlin snorted. "Right. I think that's the line all addicts use."
"You're a charm, invisible man. I'm so glad I have you for company."
"Better than all of your admirers," Merlin quipped, almost enjoying himself.
"At least they don't give me a headache."
"That's probably just the beer and fag, mate."
Arthur snorted and let his head drop back, flicking the cigarette over his shoulder into the bushes. "Well now you've gone and ruined it for me."
"Of course. Because I only care about your health and what-not."
"What do you even know of me?" the prince inquired sharply, returning his gaze towards Merlin's location. "Who are you? What are you even doing here?"
"I've gotten lost," the elder said loftily.
"Great excuse." He rolled his eyes before fixing them somewhere out across London. "This party is invitation only."
"Believe me... I've an invitation."
"Written in invisible ink?" Arthur retorted archly.
"Clever little prince," Merlin teased.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "What do you even want?"
"Nothing. Just some open air," Merlin shrugged despite the fact that the other man couldn't see him.
"Well, I'm going back."
"Go ahead."
"Don't follow me."
"Wouldn't want to."
Arthur snorted and hesitantly walked back into the hallway, Percival seeing him immediately.
"Your highness."
"I'm fine, Percival." He cast a look back in Merlin's direction.
Percival followed it and his brows knit as he saw Merlin. "Yes, sire."
"Well, come on," Arthur called, a sigh in his voice as he brushed passed Percival and back into the ballroom.
"He seen you?"
"No," Merlin said quietly to Percival. "I'm invisible. I don't exist."
"Right... Well, just make sure it stays that way."
Merlin rolled his eyes. "Of course it will. If I show myself, I'm dead. Literally."
Percival's lips quirked into an almost-smile. "Right."
"Plus, I have brownie points. I saved his life!"
"Don't think that'll endear you too much..."