A fog rolled in from the hills as the citizens of Camelot were preparing for King Uther's celebrations: perhaps it was an omen of bad news arriving with it, but for the moment the castle workers were in full swing and attending their duties with more fevour than ever. Handmaidens dressed their mistresses in their finery, manservants attended to their lords - only Merlin was an exception to his rule, leaving Arthur to grow highly impatient as he watched the man fiddling aimlessly with the Prince's dressrobes. It didn't matter how many times he told Merlin he was doing it the wrong way - Merlin was insisting he would get it right eventually without any help.

At seven that evening the court assembled in the grand ballroom awaiting His Royal Highness. Once the door opened and Uther entered the room everyone erupted in applause and the celebrations could officially begin. Merlin was quite pleased to see Gaius in attendance and that Théa had lived up to her promise by going with him. The warlock did not have the chance to mingle and talk to them just yet however - Arthur was due to make the special birthday speech and, for some reason, had requested Merlin to stay with him until it was over. The Prince took to the stage not long after the party began, the room instantly hushing as he got up infront of them.

"Thank you for your attention. I believe I speak on behalf of everyone here when I congratulate the King - my father - on his fiftieth birthday. I believe I also lie on behalf of everyone when I say you do not look your age." Uther and the court laughed heartily at his son's jest but Arthur knew he was to keep this speech short and respectful throughout. "In truth, though, my Lord, I wish you many happy returns, a wonderful year and a wonderful celebration to mark this incredible milestone. You are a just and fair ruler, and may we be blessed to see you rule for many more birthdays to come. Camelot would not be as strong today without you. To the King!"

"To the King!"

Those in attendance raised their glasses in respect and cheered for Uther, who nodded graciously and raised his own glass in reply. With Arthur's speech now over, the applause began to die down and the music resumed. So did the chatter, friends beginning to engage each other in conversation. Once his father had patted his shoulder in thanks for his thoughts, Arthur stepped down and walked to the centre of the room, greeting those he had not yet seen. Merlin chose to go and get himself a drink from the table on the other side, seeing that the Prince was mingling nicely before doing so.

"What are you doing?"

Morgana's voice sounded at Arthur's side, causing him to turn and face her. He recognised that expression and gave a small groan, shaking his head and facing the dancing infront of him. "Please do not start this again..."

"You have a nerve, Arthur Pendragon. Giving your father such a speech after all he has done..."

Arthur tried to bite his tongue. "And what do you expect me to do, Morgana?

"Have you not forgotten what he did to that boy? What he has done to his own people?"

"Of course I haven't," Arthur snapped quietly, trying to cut off her tirade, "but if I continued to bring up the subject and dwell on his bloodshed I would not even be able to look at him in the same way again... I can only stand up to him so much, it is something I must forget for the good of Camelot. He is the King, I am the Prince... unlike you I know my place."

The look of disbelief which crossed Morgana's face was fleeting, replaced by that of anger. With a flick of her dress the King's ward spun on her heel and stalked off to the sides of the ballroom leaving Arthur to battle with his conflicting thoughts.

Around forty minutes passed by without much incident. Uther was content with the turnout of his event as was those he spoke to. The music encouraged both dancing and merryment, despite the frosty atmosphere between the Prince and ward. Arthur was the flavour of the evening with many of the guests, most women to be precise, where Merlin was frequently called upon to either fetch a drink for a nice lady who had taken Arthur's eye or get another plate of food for the hungry royal. It was remarkable that Merlin finally had a moment to himself, and even when he had set his eyes on the table for himself....

"Merlin?"

The wizard turned to find Gwen standing behind him holding a plate full of finger food, obviously having had a few sniffs of the wine on display as her cheeks were rather flushed. "Having a nice time?"

Merlin answered with a smile, a little jealous that she had managed to have so much to drink already. "Can't complain! Food, music, alcohol, always a pleasure. How are you?"

Gwen paused before she answered him, alerting Merlin that all was not particularly good. "I'm well. I had to convince Morgana to come here tonight - she was adamant she was going to stay away."

Merlin nodded in understanding, glancing to where the brunette was casting her steely eyes on the proceedings. "Her relationship with Uther isn't on the best of terms lately is it?"

"Hardly. Things would only have worsened if she had spent the night in her room. I can't imagine how Uther would have reacted."

"I think it's best not to..."

"My Lord!"

The party was disrupted by the entrance of a guard, red cloak billowing behind him as the draft from the grand doors flooded through the room. Annoyed to be disturbed, Uther turned from talking to his guests to eyeing the man with a frosty glare whilst everyone else looked to the two of them in a puzzlement. "What is it, Gerain? I am in the middle of my celebrations...."

"My apologies, sire, but I bring unfortunate news. Several guards have been attacked on the west border and require immediate aid..."

Merlin's stomach sank immediately and it was evident that Uther's did too. "The west...? Who attacked them?"

"It is unclear... all we know is there are casualties we cannot contain..."

Uther's brow furrowed intensely. "It is true that the west holds most of our defenses... but this is not foreign to us. You can handle it without my help..."

"With all due respect we haven't the men, my Lord."

Seeing Uther's distress it was up to Arthur to step forward. "I can attend to them, sire."

"Nonsense. I won't hear of it...."

"Your men need help - the west might fall without them. With the right team I will be back before dusk tomorrow."

Looking to Gaius Uther lapsed into further thought before he spoke once more. Merlin and Gwen exchanged a nervous look as he did so. "If the men need urgent attention they require a physician. I am not prepared to risk Gaius' safety in such hard conditions..."

"I will go, my Lord...." Théa stepped forward from the main crowds of Uther's party, making herself known to the court for the first time since she had arrived. Despite obviously being nervous about speaking out of turn, Théa was able to hold her own. "I have not yet completed my one week trial with Gaius, but I know basic wound treatment... I believe I can give your men the urgent care they require... if you would allow it..."

Uther shook his head and began to pace the floor. With hands on his hips he looked upwards to Arthur and then to Théa. "Very well. As much as I disagree heartily with this whole decision you will go with Arthur and his men." He turned to his son once again. "If you do not arrive back by tomorrow I will send out a party to bring you home. Secure the west and return at once."

Without a word Arthur bowed in acknowledgement, turned on his heel and went to exit the ballroom. For a moment Théa was unsure as to what to do but took the Prince's lead and followed him out of the hall. Refusing to be left behind Merlin gave an apologetic look to Gwen then followed the two out of the room. Gerain waited until they had left before he followed them out, closing the doors behind them leaving Uther and his guests to resume the albeit deflated festivity.

______________________________________________________________________________

"I don't need you with me, Merlin..."

"I'd like to argue that..."

"I don't need a bodyguard. I have my men."

"But you don't have me."

Arthur looked at Merlin with wide eyes and a half-amused expression which was dangerously close to either laughter or readying to kill. Rather than look like the embarrassed fool he felt, Merlin snapped his mouth shut and put on a disinterested face, but it didn't really diguise what he'd said. Standing in the middle of the stables Arthur had been preparing his horse to leave but found himself being berated by the young man. Having chosen to ignore the little quip Arthur threw a fur coat to Merlin who managed to catch it at the last minute. "Put that on. I don't want you freezing to death, there'd be too many questions."

"Are we ready?"

There was absolutely no doubt that the two men standing near the horses were surprised by Théa's appearance as she approached: in the dim light of the lanterns and in such fine attire the girl looked more like a queen than a court apprentice. Théa noticed but misread their stares and in a response she offered an explanation. "I... feel more comfortable in traveller's clothes."

"You look it too-ow..."

"Thank you for offering to help us, Théa," said Arthur, covering Merlin's cry of pain (not that it could really distract from the fact he had slapped him on the back of his head with a fluid motion of his flask). "It was an honourable thing to do."

Théa apparently had missed their exchange. "It is nothing much, my lord. I would not want those men to suffer knowing I could be out there helping them."

"And help them we shall. Merlin tell the men we are ready to depart. Théa will ride with me."

Merlin nodded and followed his instructions, walking out of the stables to alert the men already waiting for the Prince on horseback. The fog seemed to have dissipated since the hour before the King's party but with the wind having changed yet again since they had moved outdoors, the only thing they could be sure of was an unpredictable night.