Thanks for the reviews again =] In answer to one; no, magic isn't normal to these people. Merlin's just special that way.

Enjoy and R&R pleaseeeeeeee *cute eyes*

"I wanted to thank you personally for saving my Son that night, I hear you're due to make a full recovery?" Uther asked and all eyes turned to Merlin who was stood in the middle of the hall. Never had he been so nervous compared to now. He'd rather face all those dragons then the King.

"Yes Sire, my arm will be healed in a few days."

"Good … that's good."

Glancing to his side, Merlin saw Arthur staring at him and felt a small blush come to his cheeks. Ever since he'd basically thrown Arthur from his home, he'd become the talk of the town, people said that only someone like Merlin could get away with something like that. He tried not to think about it. Especially since the moment he had shut the door on Arthur's face he'd fallen to his knees and hot tears had run down his cheeks, the relief of being home too overwhelming.

"Is there anything you wish for boy?" When Merlin frowned in confusion, the King got to his feet and almost smiled at him. "A reward of some kind for your actions."

"I wish for nothing Sire, I was doing what anyone would have if they'd seen the Prince in danger." Of course, most of them would be clever enough to get the reward. Except Merlin didn't want any reminders of Arthur lingering in his home.

"Then I shall ask that you attend training to fight off the dragon's with the rest of our people," the King announced and it wasn't just Merlin who tensed up this time. "You clearly have an instinct for it and although your body isn't built for fighting, we could use more people to fight off the smaller, faster dragons. I hear that you're a blacksmith too?"

"Yes Sire."

"You won't have any trouble getting weapons then will you," it wasn't a question. More a statement. "I leave with some of my strongest men tomorrow in search of the dragon's nest, when I return I'll be getting a full report on how you're doing and if I'm not satisfied, I'll let you get back to your normal lifestyle."

"I'll save you the trouble Sire, I do not wish to fight dragons." A loud gasp came from the crowd and Merlin tried to ignore the glare coming from Arthur's direction. Never had anyone refused to attend dragon training, especially when ordered by the King. However Merlin wasn't about to start fighting creatures that reminded him so much of Kilgh. Not all dragons meant harm to the people of Camelot. "If that is all Sire, I must get back to bed, I'm still strictly speaking meant to be on bed rest."

Bowing his head in respect, Merlin walked backwards a few steps before turning, trying to walk as quickly as possible. The King wouldn't ask him again and if he did, Merlin would simply say he wanted his reward to be that he didn't have to do it. There was no way he would fight dragons. Not now. Not ever. Even as he walked down the paths to reach his home he knew his decision was final. He would defend his people happily, stop the dragons from harming them but he would never raise a weapon to harm them. The King would just have to find someone else to do the fighting for him.

"Merlin!"

Looking over his shoulder as he walked, he saw the Prince running from the top of the path, a determined look on his face as he got closer. Merlin knew that look and he definitely didn't want to be on the receiving end. Picking up the pace of his steps, it didn't take long for him to slip through his front door and locked it shut. A smile on his lips at the thought of Arthur banging against it. Not even the Prince could get through a locked door.

Leaning his forehead against the wooden door, he took a deep breath and tried to rid his mind of the Prince. He couldn't afford to think about him. Especially after what had happened. Merlin knew Arthur had been teasing him when he said they could do something else rather than talking when he was stuck in bed, that it hadn't meant anything, except the mere thought of it had sent Merlin's heart racing. It had been enough to make him snap. How dare Arthur treat him like a toy that he could play with whenever he wanted, Merlin had feelings at the end of the day and was growing tired of getting mixed signals from the Prince.

"Thinking about me Merlin?"

Merlin spun around and saw the very man he'd been thinking about standing in the middle of his house, as if he'd been there the entire time. "How did you get in here?"

"You didn't lock your window," Arthur said like it was no big deal and took a seat on Merlin's soft chair. "Why did you refuse my Father's offer? You've always complained to me about not getting the chance to train and now that you get a direct order from the King you just what, decided to turn it down for the fun of it?"

"I have my reasons. Now get out of my house. It's trespassing." Merlin turned and unlocked the door, he didn't want Arthur in his home. He wanted that damn smug Prince on another island if it was possible. However when a warm body pressed against his back he closed his eyes and had to stop himself from shuddering. How could one person effect him so much? It shouldn't be allowed or possible. Mainly because of the status difference. "What are you doing?" Since when did he voice get so quiet?

"You've been avoiding me all week and the only way I can think of to speak to you is to trap you."

"In my own home?"

"Exactly, no one would suspect that I had you in here, trapped and with no escape." Why did that idea appeal to Merlin so much? "Now tell me, why won't you go to dragon training? Is it because I train all the new recruits? Do you hate me so much that you can't even stand to be around me?"

"I don't hate you," Merlin muttered and a small laugh escaped the Prince whose lips were suddenly very close to Merlin's ear.

"If this is how you treat people you don't hate, I'd hate to be on the receiving end when you did actually hate someone," he teased and Merlin tensed as Arthur's fingertips brushed against his waist. "Answer the question Merlin. That's an order."

Merlin turned around and with his back pressed up against the door, his hand pushing against Arthur's solid chest which made little difference. "I'm not your servant Arthur, you can't just order me to answer you. Get out of my house. Get out of my life and leave me alone! I've suffered enough because of you and if you think that I revolve my life around you, think again. I'm not doing dragon training because I don't want too. Simple as. Not because you'd be there to-"

"To watch your every move?" Arthur smiled down at him and Merlin bit his lower lip as the Prince's body pressed against his own, "That every day I could watch you running around, getting out of breath as sweat drips down your body as you fight off the dragons I've sent after you … that it's because of me your body feels the way it is doing now."

"Don't you mean will be doing?" Merlin asked quietly.

"Sure. That's exactly what I meant," Arthur didn't seem focused on the conversation as his gaze dropped to Merlin's lips and Merlin tried to remember why he didn't want Arthur in his home. "Come to dragon training. Let me help you experience the adrenaline rush from defeating one … it's unlike anything you'll ever experience. Well … apart from one thing."

"You're such a prat," he muttered out loud.

"Excuse me?" Arthur pulled back a little now with a frown ruining his normal calm complexion.

"One minute you treat me like anyone else, the next you have me pinned against a door and suggesting things that we both know will get us in a lot of trouble. Last I checked, you were straight and had Gwen in your bed. What's changed since then?" He couldn't help but ask.

"Can a man not change his mind about who he wants?"

"You can't, no." Merlin pushed past him and held his damaged arm at his side as he walked out into the open of his home. "I'll come to your stupid dragon training but I want no special treatment and if I get even the smallest hint you're thinking … things, then I'll leave. Am I clear?"

A smile formed on Arthur's lips and Merlin felt like he'd just been caught in a trap, "Perfectly."

When Merlin felt up to the trip, he finally filled a basket with some fish and dressed in some warm clothes so he could go and visit his dragon. It had been too long since he'd left the beast to fend for itself and the guilt was becoming too much. Tomorrow he would be starting dragon training and it meant harming dragon's that Kilgh could be related too, not that he'd be mentioning that. If he was going to do dragon training then he knew he should find a way to give Kilgh his tail back. It would just take some time.

Making sure he blew out the candles to give off the appearance he was asleep, he slipped out the back door and ran through the forest in no time. He couldn't deny that his arm still ached but Merlin wouldn't let it stop him from doing things. It didn't take him long to reach the cliff edge where he knew his dragon lay below and he unconsciously looked around to make sure no one was there to watch him cast a spell.

"Áfléotan," the words left his lips quietly and his body slowly floated down towards the ground. Only when his feet were set on solid soil did he look around. There was no sign of his dragon. "Kilgh?" Merlin said loudly and set the basket down that had been on his back. "I brought food. Lots of fish," he tried to entice the dragon out of hiding. "I'm sorry I haven't come to visit, I've been stuck in bed, but I'm back now."

Silence followed.

"Look, please come out. It won't happen again. I'm even going to try and fix your tail so you can fly again, won't that be nice?" Walking forward towards the lake, he peered down into the dark water and saw a few fish swimming around. At least there had been some source of food for Kilgh. "Please don't be mad at me … I already have a Prince to deal with, I can't handle dealing with an upset dragon too-" suddenly two gold eyes shone in the water and Merlin only had a second to realise what he was staring at before something large broke the surface.

Falling back onto the ground, he looked up to see his dragon leaping through the air to land on a nearby patch of grass, his eyes thin as he looked at Merlin in anger. Clearly he hadn't enjoyed being left alone. "Hey Kilgh," he said quietly and pushed himself to his feet, brushing off his clothes in the process. "I am sorry that I left you. Look though," running over to the basket of food, Merlin tipped it over so the contents fell out. "Fish!"

This seemed to please Kilgh as his pupils dilated and Merlin laughed as he swallowed some of the fish whole. He certainly was hungry. Covering the distance, Merlin wrapped his arms around Kilgh's neck and held him tightly. Luckily Kilgh didn't seem to mind. "Thank you for saving me Kilgh. I owe you my life and I promise I'll find a way to get you flying again." Kilgh looked at Merlin in the corner of his eye and Merlin smiled happily in return.

"You better."

"Welcome to dragon training. Now, some of you are here because the King has heard your skills aren't up to scratch and some of you are new. Either way I don't expect any slacking or showing off. I expect the best outcome from every one of you and will teach what is needed to keep you alive. Before we begin, are there any questions?"

"Just one," came a low voice and Arthur looked over at Cedric. "What is he doing here? He can barely lift up an axe, how the hell is he meant to fight a dragon?" There was no need to ask who he meant.

"Merlin is here because the King ordered him to be, so unless you fancy telling the King he was wrong, I suggest you be quiet. Any other questions?" When silence followed Arthur carried on. "I'd like everyone to grab a sword and shield, any will do."

He watched as the six pupils ran over to pick up the equipment and then he smirked as Merlin walked slowly behind, not looking all to happy about being here. Arthur didn't know what it was about this boy, everything Merlin did amused him and he couldn't help but want to see more of him. Just to see what he'd do or how he'd react to something Arthur did. Ever since Arthur had pinned Merlin to the door, he had imagined what could have happened if things hadn't been said or done. Their relationship could be so different if he'd found the guts to at least kiss him.

"Sire, are you okay?"

"Yes, sorry." Walking over to one of the main doors surrounding the caged in area, he released the lock and laughed inwardly as the recruits backed up a few steps. At least the new ones did. Gwaine and Leon didn't. "I've always thought the best way of learning is on your feet. Your task is simply to get the dragon back in its cage. Go!"

Walking over to lean back against the wall, he watched the small ground dragon appear from its confinements and look around at the people circling it.

"Find its weak spots!" Arthur yelled as it went to attack one of the younger men and sighed as Gwaine took charge. He ran forward and waved his sword around like he owned the place, but sword skill wasn't everything, you had to be able to anticipate what they did too. When the dragon saw Gwaine approaching, it spat a ball of fire in his direction and his shield received a nice scorch mark. "Your out Gwaine. This dragon has six shots of fire in it, one chance each. Step aside and let the others try."

A few minutes later Leon, Gwaine, Sophie and Morgause were all out. Only Merlin and Cedric remained. Merlin was in simply because he wasn't getting involved, Cedric was still there because he was outmaneuvering the dragon which pleased Arthur, at least one person had some common sense. As the two men ran around, Arthur tried not to keep all his attention on Merlin, however that was extremely hard when he looked so adorable trying to not get hit by the dragon flying around.

"Attack! Stop running around like idiots," Arthur said loudly and Cedric nodded. Merlin on the other hand backed away from the dragon and remained behind his shield. How this man was meant to be the one who jumped onto a dragon was beyond Arthur. If he hadn't seen it with his own two eyes, he'd have never believed it. "Merlin, don't just stand there! Attack! Fight! Do something!"

However the small distraction of Arthur yelling at him made the dragon realise who the weak opponent was and with one shot got rid of Cedric as its attention turned on Merlin. His eyes widened in fear and Arthur sighed as he began to run away, why did he even bother?

"Merlin!" Gwaine's worried voice made Arthur look up from having his head in his hand and he saw Merlin pressed up against the wall, his shield just out of reach as the dragon flew in front of him.

"Get out of there!" Arthur yelled and was already running in his direction. As the dragon opened its mouth to breathe fire, Merlin covered his head and curled into a ball, hoping to lessen the damage. Arthur on the other hand grabbed the dragon by its leg and yanked it away just in time for its shot of fire to hit the wall above Merlin. Tugging the creature back to its cage, Arthur locked it up tight and then stormed back to where Merlin was being surrounded by his fellow recruits. "You are the worst fighter in the history of Camelot. Can you do nothing?"

Merlin met his gaze and gave an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry?"