A/N: Thanks to all of you that reviewed/alerted/favoured this story and me as an author! Love you all! Hopefully this chapter will also meet your expectations and I really hope you don't get turned off! On with the story!

Spoilers: Up to Season 3 episode 13

Pairings: ArthurXGwen; slight GwenXLancelot; There is no slash in this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own "Merlin".

Chapter 4: Confrontations

When Merlin entered Camelot's gates it was past midnight. The extra boost of energy Andromeda had given him was still holding, but barely. He needed to get to Gaius's chambers so that they could concoct a good story for both Arthur and Uther.

He left his horse in the stable and headed on towards the physician's chambers. He was surprised and relieved to see Gaius awake and tinkering with something quietly at his desk. As soon as Merlin entered the room Gaius looked up shocked and then smiled, "Good to have you back Merlin! How did it go?"

Merlin smiled feeling the spell draining a little more but he needed to stay awake a little longer. So he sat down to quickly relay what occurred at the Isle to Gaius. As Merlin spoke Gaius set down some left-over food from dinner for him.

Merlin ate gratefully while he spoke. Then Gaius went on to tell Merlin that both Uther and Arthur were suspicious. Merlin was also told about Uther wanting to find out about the Isle.

Merlin slightly fearful said, "You didn't tell him right?"

Gaius looked affronted, "Of course not! I'm far more discreet than you Merlin. I said I didn't know where it was and that last time you had figured out the directions on your own. I was pretending to do research while I was helping the wounded. The ruse worked well, neither of them realized anything."

Merlin nodded, "I don't think Arthur is ready yet...actually I don't really know what he'll do if he found out...what did he say to you?"

Gaius was silent for a bit then said, "Merlin he was ready to go after you alone. He told me that no one needed to know anything. I'm not sure what he was thinking but he definitely meant to confront you. After that I really cannot tell what he planned to do. You need to be cautious though! I know you consider Arthur a friend but after everything with Morgana...I don't think now is the right time Merlin."

Merlin sighed sadly, "I know...so what do you think we should tell them?"

Gaius smiled, "Well we'll just say Andromeda was the one who helped out...after all that would answer everything."

Merlin blinked, "That's right!"

They sat for a little longer fixing out the kinks to their idea and then Merlin felt the effects of the spell start to wear off entirely.

"I think I'm going to head off to bed now. I won't be able to get up early for Arthur tomorrow but I'll make sure I'll be there to assist him with training or at least be there in time for his lunch."

Gaius shook his head, "You might need to take the day off. Your body will need the rest."

Merlin shook his head, "No, I'm quite sure I'll be fine Gaius." He stretched and then headed to his room muttering a quiet goodnight to Gaius.

He was sure Arthur would force him to talk tomorrow. He needed to be ready. Although he didn't want to lie to the Prince again, he didn't have a choice. Arthur was definitely not ready to hear about Merlin's magic yet.

Then again this had been Merlin's excuse every time he thought of revealing his magic to Arthur. 'I wonder when he will be ready...'

With that last thought Merlin crashed onto his bed and was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

Arthur made his way towards the physician's chambers. It was the third day since Merlin had left to go after Morgana. He hoped Gaius had some good news.

He pushed open the door to see Gaius in front of some books. For a split second, his gaze shifted to the locked door for the room that Merlin used and returned to Gaius when the old physician spoke.

"Sire, what may I do for you so early in the morning?"

Arthur's eyebrows rose, "You mean to tell me you don't know why I would come here?"

Gaius blinked before saying, "Merlin returned late last night sire. He is in his room sleeping. He was half dead on his feet yesterday."

Arthur felt relief spreading through his body but his facial expression was blank, "Did he tell you what happened?"

Gaius didn't say anything for a second, just stared the Prince down. Arthur felt an uncomfortable feeling of nakedness rise under the man's gaze. Then Gaius softly enquired, "Wouldn't you rather hear that from Merlin himself? If you like, however, I can repeat what he told me last night..."

Arthur turned to eye the locked door again. He could easily ask Gaius what happened, but he wanted to hear it from Merlin himself. He was able to read his servant very well after knowing him for three or so odd years. If Merlin was lying about anything then Arthur would be able to tell and this time he would demand the truth.

So the Prince turned to Gaius shook his head towards the negative and said, "I'll ask Merlin myself. Do you think he'll be fit to work at all today?"

Gaius nodded and said, "He should be fine within a couple of hours. He might come to your chambers with lunch."

Arthur, finding the conversation over, turned towards the doorway and thanked Gaius as he walked out.

'How had Merlin returned? Were his theories correct then? Was Merlin a sorcerer?'

Arthur mentally shook his head, 'No, that can't be true...he wouldn't betray me like that!'

Although Arthur had decided that he would reserve judgement until Merlin had a chance to explain himself, he couldn't stop the spike of anger he felt at the assumed betrayal. When Arthur had made the decision he believed with every fibre of his being that Merlin was not a sorcerer.

But now...Merlin was back and virtually unscathed since Gaius hadn't looked worried. So how was that possible?

As he was making his way towards the council chambers he crashed into Guinevere. He used his hands to steady her, feeling his confusion over Merlin fade as he felt that curious warmth spread through him at the sight of her. They shared a soft smile.

Arthur asked her still smiling, "Guinevere, how are you this morning?"

She replied with a slight blush, "I'm doing well my lord. How are you?"

Arthur frowned slightly, "There is no need to call me that."

She gave a regrettable smile, "We need to be careful...Arthur...your father is probably not ready for this type of news with everything that has occurred."

Arthur sighed, "I know...but at least when we're alone..." His hands hadn't moved from their place on her waist. He seemed to realize this and pulled her a little closer. Gwen looked around quickly and then seemed to give up. She rested one hand on his cheek and leaned closer.

Their lips had almost come into contact when they heard footsteps coming down the hallway. They jumped apart and Gwen giving a quick curtsey ran off. Arthur watched her run off then turned back around to face his intruder in irritation. It turned out to be his temporary servant Evan.

Arthur gave a long-suffering sigh and followed his servant to the council chambers. He needed to assist the King. That was another concern of Arthur's, his father. Uther wasn't himself anymore. The strong and unyielding man that Arthur had known was gone. In its place was a broken man who was desperately grasping at straws to keep his kingdom and family together.

His father hopefully would slowly regain his mental fortitude and Arthur won't have to help around as much. For the last two or three days the Prince had been running around helping his father and keeping his Knights in shape all while trying to guard the castle. He wasn't yet ready to be King and he did not want to be Reagent either. His father was still alive and just needed some time to get back on his feet.

Arthur entered the council room and saw his father staring at a scroll in his hands vacantly. His countenance showed his distraction. Arthur gave another quiet sigh knowing that it would be another tedious meeting where the Prince and King would be walking on egg-shells around each other.

His father had not given up the idea of bringing Morgana back and although Uther hadn't said anything the Prince knew it to be true. Arthur knew Morgana was a lost cause but couldn't bring himself to bluntly point it out to his father, whose emotional state was fragile at the moment. This was also the reason no talk of Morgana's lineage had been made between them.

At least that was Arthur's excuse to himself. In reality, Arthur did not want to hear his father confirm that he had lied.

Arthur was sitting on his desk in his chambers, leafing through some scrolls when the doors opened. He looked up to see Merlin enter the rooms with a tray of lunch balanced in his arms.

Merlin smirked at Arthur and said, "Well, I just saw Evan some time ago. Oddly enough he was in one piece...I'm surprised sire! I would have expected you to accidently kill him out of boredom!"

Arthur despite his doubts and suspicions smiled saying, "I was about to do just that but then instead of him you came into the room. Now I can keep myself entertained for the rest of the day with your stupidity!"

Merlin's smirk widened, "Sire...I'm touched...was that you admitting that you missed me!"

The servant placed his load down in front of Arthur moving aside some scrolls in the process.

Arthur rolled his eyes and said, "Don't flatter yourself! Go polish my boots I've kept them especially dirty for you!"

Now it was Merlin's turn to roll his eyes. As the servant polished Arthur's boots the Prince ate his lunch quietly. He was thinking of ways to broach the topic of magic with Merlin.

"Merlin, what happened at the Isle?"

Merlin looked up and blinked, then said, "Well I saw Morgana there...she was begging for Morgause to be saved...she looked so sad..."

Arthur who had expected lies to sprout out from Merlin's mouth was slightly shocked to see that the words were true.

Merlin continued after a short pause his eyes glazed over in memory, "She looked so broken that I couldn't help but feel pity for her. I tried talking to her then, tried to tell her that there are people in Camelot that love her...but she..."

At this Arthur saw Merlin's face contort slightly in rage. The manservant continued, "She spoke like she didn't care. She's so far gone that she doesn't feel a hint of remorse for what she's done!"

Arthur felt his heart break...maybe somewhere inside he too, like his father, had been hoping for Morgana to return. Had been hoping that she was being manipulated by Morgause, but clearly from what Merlin was saying Morgana was acting out her own wishes.

Arthur brokenly said, "You could have done nothing about that Merlin. If Morgana can't see past her own hatred then there is nothing any of us can do about it. "

Merlin blinked and looked at Arthur in surprise as if just realizing where he was. Then he nodded and said, "I know, but I still hoped there was a little bit of the old Morgana there...well after that Andromeda came."

Arthur looked confused, "Andromeda? Who is that?"

Merlin looked Arthur straight in the eye while saying, "She is a High Priestess. She sent Morgana and Morgause back to their hideout. She said that it was Morgause's time to die, however Morgana could not die yet. Andromeda acts according to destinies or something like that."

Merlin shrugged at that and Arthur assumed it was because Merlin didn't actually understand what the Priestess was talking about.

Arthur than realized something else, "Oh...she was the one who killed Nimueh?"

Merlin nodded and looked down at the boots in his hands, polishing them in earnest. Arthur felt relief spread through him, Merlin hadn't lied. Unbidden Arthur felt a laugh bubble out of his mouth and Merlin turned to him confused.

The servant cautiously said, "Why are you laughing?"

Arthur continued chuckling as he said, "My father and I actually suspected you to be a sorcerer! Well my father didn't say anything but when I said that you had returned he dismissed me from the council chambers and ordered a guard to call Gaius in there. I'm guessing he's going to ask Gaius some questions."

Since Arthur was busy laughing at the absurdity of his suspicions he didn't see Merlin tense and then slowly relax.

Merlin then looked slightly confused and asked Arthur, "Then why am I not in the dungeons right now?"

At that Arthur abruptly stopped laughing and stared at Merlin. That was a good question. In the past even the slightest suspicion would have ended in the perpetrator being thrown into the dungeons.

Arthur spoke confusedly, "I am not sure entirely..."

Merlin then softly asked, "Is it possible..." there Merlin paused and stared at Arthur in 'that' way. It was the look that Merlin occasionally had on his face when he said something wise with unfailing conviction.

Then Merlin determinedly ploughed on, "Is it possible that this whole debacle with Morgana might have affected your father more than we can see...mentally I mean..."

At first Arthur felt a rise of anger but as soon as it had come it was gone. The anger vanished to be replaced by resignation.

"It is possible..." Arthur said nothing more, he did not want to voice his thoughts aloud. He was afraid of them being true.

Merlin it seems didn't have the courage enough to continue the conversation and the two returned to their work in silence.

Gaius walked into the council chambers where Uther was perusing some scrolls. The physician knew what the King wanted to talk about. He wanted to know about Merlin.

Gaius prepared himself for the interrogation that was likely to occur and bowed once the King looked up.

"Gaius, I heard the boy returned last night."

Gaius nodded not speaking. He was planning to only answer the questions directed towards him and nothing more.

Uther continued, "Morgana...?"

Gaius said, "Morgana was at the Isle when Merlin got there, My Lord. She was asking for help to revive Morgause. The priestess Andromeda however did not help her. She returned Morgana and Morgause back to their hideout."

Uther asked, "So Morgause is dead then?"

Gaius nodded. He had caught the look of disappointment when talk of Morgana had come about but wisely choose not to say anything of it.

"What of the Cup?"

Gaius cautiously stated, "The Cup was left back at the Isle at Andromeda's command." He needed to be careful not to implicate Merlin or push Uther into going on an all out search for the Isle.

So Gaius continued to say, "The Cup has caused enough trouble at the hands of mortals therefore, I believe, we should leave it at the Isle with the immortals."

At this Uther looked surprised and asked, "Immortals?"

Gaius nodded saying, "True priestesses of the Old Religion are immortal and do not exist in the same plane as mortals. The Cup is safest with them."

Uther nodded and then asked, "I am guessing then that last time it was Andromeda that helped out with Nimueh?"

At this Gaius once again grew cautious with his words, "Last time, when Merlin went to bargain his life for Arthur's, Nimueh deceived him. She tried to take his mother's life instead. So in anger he went back to the Isle to force Nimueh to take his life, however Nimueh refused saying the bargain had already been struck. Andromeda realizing the injustice that was taking place took Nimueh's life to right the balance, saving Arthur, Merlin, and Merlin's mother."

Uther it seemed had accepted that explanation, but seemed slightly confused and asked, "Why did she not just take Merlin's life when he gave it freely? It's not as if his death would have been anything of consequence. In fact he would have died with honour, seeing as how he was dying in his master's place."

Gaius winced at the callous words but kept his tone light and said, "Merlin had been a thorn on Nimueh's side for a while. As you remember with the Afanc and also the poisoned chalice incident, Merlin had helped keep Arthur alive. Nimueh was just trying to hurt Merlin. You remember her nature, My Lord..."

Uther confusion cleared as he nodded then asked softly with his eyes firmly fixed on a scroll in his hand, "Merlin has no idea of where Morgana was sent?"

Gaius felt a spark of pity for Uther but didn't show it in his face for fear of reprisal. He only softly said, "No, My Lord."

Uther satisfied, dismissed Gaius, while the physician left being glad for Uther's mental state. Uther wouldn't have let the matter of the Isle go before but now with Morgana on the King's mind it seemed the Isle was no longer important.

Merlin was walking along the castle hallways with Arthur's armour held in his hands. He was taking it to Gaius's chambers to polish it, when he suddenly felt the unmistakable emotion of rage course through his body.

The rage was followed by the cold and cutting emotion of hatred. The emotions were so deep-rooted that Merlin couldn't think past it for a moment. It wasn't until he felt someone's hand on his shoulder did he realize that the emotions were not his own.

He had dropped the armour on the floor and was on his knees beside it. The emotions were so strong he had been knocked off his feet. He looked up to see Gwaine and Lancelot standing beside him the later had a hand on his shoulder.

Both Knights however, took a step back and Merlin realized the emotions must have been showing on his face. He forced his eyes closed inhaled and concentrated on pushing the feelings aside. These were Morgana's feelings. Most probably the witch had awakened and realized what had happened.

If the feelings were anything to go by Morgana would definitely try something again. Though without Morgause to help out Merlin hoped the witch would be easier to stop, since Morgause's plans were harder to foil.

Merlin forcefully shoved the emotions to a dark corner of his mind. He would have to work on finding a solution to this problem later, after he had dealt with the two Knights standing in front of him looking at him warily.

Merlin mustered up a tentative smile and said, "Well, what can I do for you both?"

Lancelot blinked and Merlin realized the Knight had figured out that the problem was magical. Merlin wanted to tell Gwaine, but didn't think it was a good idea. The warlock had gotten so paranoid now-a-days that he protected his secret even from people he considered good friends.

Gwaine though had no such realization as Lancelot, "We heard the sound of the armour falling to the floor and came here to investigate. We saw you kneeling down on the floor and came to help out. But you looked...what is wrong? Is everything alright?"

Merlin smiled widely, "Nothing's wrong! Everything is perfectly fine!"

Gwaine looked unconvinced and said, "Merlin you're a terrible liar. Your face looked thunderous...you looked ready to kill someone!"

Merlin winced at that, "I just had a thought about Morgana..." He didn't get a chance to complete his fallacy because Gwaine scoffed loudly and interrupted him.

"Merlin I just told you that you're an awful liar and you still persist with the facade. Lancelot here would agree with me when I say that I've never seen such anger on your face ever before!"

Lancelot shrugged and looked at Merlin earnestly. The warlock understood that Lancelot thought Gwaine should be told the truth. The Knight then, much to Merlin's dismay, proceeded to say just as much.

"Merlin I believe you should trust in Gwaine and tell him everything because clearly this is related to your...talents..."

Gwaine looked between the two friends in confusion, "Tell me what?"

Merlin remained silent hoping against hope that Lancelot would say nothing. However, that was expecting too much.

Lancelot turned around to Gwaine and said, "Merlin is a warlock. He has magic and has been protecting Camelot, its King, and Prince Arthur for over three years now."

A/N: I know you guys hate me don't you? But I'm quite sure that Gwaine's reaction is something everyone already knows. So it shouldn't be that huge of a cliff-hanger. And about Arthur finding out, like I said before I've already got this story planned out. So our loveable Prince cannot know about Merlin's magic...yet ;p

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. See you next-time and please please please review! Your reviews are what push me to sit down and type up the next chapter!