Oh, look, chapter eleven has finally arrived! Again, I'm sorry that this whole story is progressing very slowly(I mean, eleven chapters and only one moment of pure slash? D:), but I'm still trying to get comfortable with writing the slash myself, rather than read someone else's story. I just need to build some confidence in my writing. Don't worry, it will happen! Anyway, sorry for the extremely long wait for which I will make no excuses. Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter. c: Oh, and, I'd also like to thank all of you who have left me such lovely reviews so far! I really, really do appreciate them. c: okok, I'm really done now, sorry!

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Apparently Arthur did not, in fact, know a lost cause when he saw one. Or he didn't see a lost cause. Whatever the case, Arthur was not about to let Merlin go on some perilous journey without him, since Merlin would certainly find a way to get into more trouble than the guards would care to save him from.

So, when Merlin came to Arthur's chambers, they would figure out how to get Arthur out of the castle for the duration of the search without his absence being found unusual. Perhaps he would go hunting for an indefinite amount of time to let off steam? It wouldn't be the first time.

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As Merlin was further instructed on how to go about finding the woman who attempted to kill Arthur, he guessed at why Uther wouldn't allow Arthur to accompany him and the selected knights who were to track down the sorceress. After all, Arthur was almost fully recovered, and he'd be even more determined than any of the other searchers to find this woman. After all, she'd almost killed him, and it wouldn't be the first time Arthur was ordered to find or defeat a formidable enemy, which this woman clearly was.

Merlin, as he wondered about the motives behind Uther's decision, assumed Arthur would obey his father. Or, at the very least, the castle's guards would prove competent for once and would finally prevent the prince from escaping his ordered confinement to the castle. Before he could further explore any of his thoughts, a voice intruded into his mind,

"Well, are you going to stand there all day, or will you answer my question?" the king demanded harshly. Merlin stared blankly at him for a moment before asking in a small voice, "C-could you repeat the question, your Majesty?" Merlin noticed redness forming around the edges of Uther's face.

"I said," he began through clenched teeth, "when will you be ready to leave?" As Uther glared impatiently at him, Merlin pondered the question. He got the feeling Uther wanted him to say, 'Tomorrow morning, at the latest, sire,' so he simply turned to the king and replied, "As soon as everything is prepared, sire."

Slowly, the anger drained from the aged face of the king. Merlin even wondered if he had caught a glimmer of surprise in the king's eye. In fact, if he was not mistaken (though he probably was), Uther seemed slightly impressed by Merlin's answer. "Excellent." The king's reply was tinged with confusion and the same hint of surprise Merlin had detected moments ago. "I'll see that the staff gets started immediately. Now, leave me. Go pack your things and be ready in two hours." Uther turned away from Merlin and the entrance to the throne room in a whirl of scarlet, and Merlin, after bowing, hurried out of the room and to his own chambers to do as he was bade.

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"Just, be safe, Merlin," Gaius said quietly as he prepared packages of herbs for Merlin's trip. Merlin smiled gently at the physician. "Don't worry Gaius. I've always returned in one piece when I've gone off on my own, haven't I?" Gaius nodded and Merlin added, "And, this time, I won't be alone. I'll have some of Camelot's finest knights to accompany me." Gaius still appeared concerned and Merlin asked what else was wrong.

The older man suddenly shook his head and looked at Merlin, saying with a slight smirk, "I can't help but worry that you will somehow get yourself into more trouble than your escort can handle." Merlin laughed and rolled his eyes. "I'm not that much of a danger to myself." There was a brief moment of silence between the two as they thought of the task ahead of Merlin, a pause interrupted by Gaius coughing and saying briskly, "Well, you should go tell Arthur you'll be leaving soon. Once you've done that, tell Uther you have finished packing and are ready to leave."

Merlin nodded, slung his pack over his shoulder, and with a nod to the man who was the closest thing he had to a father, headed out the door and in the direction of Arthur's chambers.

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"Merlin?" Morgana questioned as he passed the king's ward and her maidservant in the corridor, "where are you off to?" Merlin glanced over to see both Gwen and Morgana looking at him questioningly, their eyebrows raised.

"I'm just going to see Arthur," Merlin told them slowly. He couldn't understand why they were so surprised. Surely they had heard of the orders he had received from Uther?

The expressions on both the women's faces remained unchanged as Gwen ask, "Well, what's with the-". Before she could finish her sentence, Merlin said, "I am to go off with a group of knights soon to find the woman who poisoned Arthur. Uther has forbidden him to come, so I'm going to say goodbye before we leave. Now, I don't have much time, so if you will excuse me," he trailed off as he bowed his head to Morgana and Gwen, hurrying down the hall. The pair exchanged confused glances after watching their friend race away from them.

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"Oh, of course, enter," Arthur said exasperatedly as Merlin burst through the doors. Despite…recent developments between the two of them, it still slightly irritated Arthur when Merlin simply walked in without knocking. He didn't even care if his friend waited for permission to come in, so much as showing a little courtesy.

Merlin appeared to have dismissed Arthur's tone as he smiled, sadly, at the prince. "Well, I'm off to find whoever wants to kill you now." Arthur looked up at Merlin, startled. Already? They still had to figure out a way for him to go with Merlin!

Arthur smirked at Merlin. "Yes, well, you may be delayed a few minutes," he said, staring intensely at the other boy, waiting for Merlin to realize what he meant. The warlock seemed momentarily confused, but his expression made it evident that Merlin had figured out what Arthur was really saying.

"So you mean I have to help you pack?" he whined. "Ugh, this is going to take ages! And we have to figure out how to get Uther to even allow you off the palace grounds. Why didn't you tell me this before?" Merlin glared open-mouthed at Arthur, waiting for him to explain himself. However, the crown prince of Camelot was currently at a loss for words.

What was all this? He had expected Merlin to argue, insist he obey his father, but of course, his friend remained as unpredictable as ever in respect to his actions. "I, er, what? You're not going to argue with me about this? At all? You're just going to jump straight into planning around my sudden addition to the search? You truly are a riddle Merlin." Arthur stared incredulously at Merlin, waiting for him to answer.

"No, I'm not going to argue for that would just be a waste of time. Much like this little discussion," he added. "I mean, honestly, I wouldn't have a reason to argue, considering I don't agree with your father's decision. Or, well, I don't really understand it, anyway." He paused, shaking his head. His focus returned to Arthur. "Well, don't just stand there," Merlin commanded. When Arthur failed to stop staring, mouth slightly agape, at his manservant, Merlin rolled his eyes and said forcefully, "Move. Go ask the king if he will allow you to go on a hunt for several days, or something along those lines. I'll begin packing for you." As Merlin gestured for Arthur to leave, and hurry, Arthur turned and bolted out of the room, but not before jerking Merlin to him, though he was careful to be gentle, and kissing him fiercely, trying to convey the gratitude and incredulity and simple, sheer affection he felt for Merlin, and Merlin kissed back in earnest, forgetting for a moment how little time they had to formulate some sort of plan to smuggle Arthur out of the castle under the king's nose. Merlin lost himself in blond hair and unsaid words and smirking lips and sharp teeth and the idea that this was his- somehow, he finally had Arthur, and Arthur wasn't going anywhere. But, Merlin quickly dragged himself away and shoved at Arthur again, who appeared disoriented for a moment at the lack of Merlin attached to his body, but he soon recovered and, grinning at Merlin with elation that sent a tremor up Merlin's spine, Arthur bolted from the room to seek out his father.

"Prat," Merlin grumbled, a small smile crossing his face in spite of the insult, turning back to the pile of Arthur's things he had begun to lay out and nervously awaited the return of his prince.

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Made some tiny changes.

c: