A/N : Hey guys! So thank you thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, it's really -more than words can say-wonderful that you still care about this story, and still like it. Zillions of cookies are being spread around. Here's the next chapter, and it deals mostly with the people in Merlin's life, how they see the "threat" that Garreth poses. Arthur thinks in terms of war, Gwen is concerned and always always all heart, and Gaius worries about losing Merlin.

I really hope you like it, please let me know? It means the world to me!

XO, as always
Mae'side.

Arthur

He saw the figure advancing on him over the rim of his soup bowl, and braced himself for what was to come. It wouldn't be pretty, no doubt. There'd be confusion, and he'd have to play hard to get what he wanted to happen. Blood would be shed. Inwardly, he took a deep breath, readying himself for the confrontation.

"What is it, Merlin?"

Merlin fiddled with his hands, keeping them in front of his body, like a nervous toddler who'd stolen a cookie from the jar. He cleared his throat nervously before daring to take the leap. "I was wondering if I might be excused from dinner this evening."

A quick glance. A razor sharp decision. "No."

"See," His hands were freed from their position as if they had been waiting for this, and he motioned all around him, swinging his arms to add to his reasoning. "I knew you were going to say that, but tonight is an exception, because Garreth might be serving dinner. I'd very much like not to see that."

Arthur leaned back in his chair, studying his young servant, and a devilish grin played around his lips. "I'm aware of that particular fact, Merlin. The answer's still no."

Merlin's arms flew up in desperation, and he touched his temples. "There's just no point talking to you." He rounded on his master, an incredulous look on his face. "Why do you enjoy torturing me this much?"

The prince sighed. He'd known even before Merlin posed the question, that his answer would be misunderstood. That being said, he did enjoy torturing Merlin. To deny that would be lying. But this time, there was more to it then that. "I'm not saying that I do not enjoy winding you up every once in a while," he leaned forward in his chair, closer to Merlin, capturing his attention, "but this isn't about that. I'm actually trying to teach you something, and if you'd just listen to me for once, you might actually see that."

His servant sighed exasperated."I'm doing fine on my own. "

"When it comes to war, Merlin, you need some help."

Merlin

War. The word resounded in his head, echoing from the walls, and it was right then that it finally sunk in. Arthur was right, he was really engaged in battle, with no strategy whatsoever. Stupid Merlin. Stupid, STUPID Merlin.

With a wave of his hand and a pained expression, he motioned for Arthur to continue. Let's have it, then.

"When the enemy arrives at your gates, Merlin, threatens YOUR kingdom, you don't just run into your room and hide, waiting for him to go away." Arthur knitted his eyebrows together, showing that even thinking of doing something like it was pure madness. "You face him, head on. Show him you're not going anywhere."

Merlin groaned. "Can't you just run him out of Camelot, instead?"

Arthur shook his head. "According to the law, Garreth has done nothing wrong since his arrival in Camelot. I can't just kick him out of the kingdom for no reason."

"So you're really going to make me do this?"

Arthur stood up and walked around to Merlin. Touching his hand to the boy's shoulder, he spoke again, mischief apparent in his voice. "I'm not making you do anything, Merlin. Apart from the doing the dishes, of course." He frowned, thinking. "Well, that and mucking out my horses, cleaning my armour, sweeping my fireplace,.."

Merlin held up his hand to silence him. "I get it, Arthur."

-

Gwen

"I'd heard your father would be serving the meals tonight," Gwen came to stand next to him, touching his arm for the briefest of moment, before continuing in a whisper, "thought you could use a friend. What are you going to do?"

Merlin turned to her, smiling. "Do you think staring him down might help?"

The maiden chuckled. "It doesn't hurt to try." Her eyes sought out Gaius, who was obliged to be there at every meal, should someone try to poison a member of the royal household. He looked tired and worn, and never kept his eyes away from the newly arrived Garreth. "Gaius looks worried," she added, and Merlin's attention shifted to his foster father. His expression softened.

"I think he's worried about me."

"Of course he is." Gwen laughed. "We all are, even the crown prince himself."

"Reaaally…" Merlin drawled, watching Arthur munching down his food, looking as disinterested in everything that was going on around him as ever. He rolled his eyes. " I wouldn't bet my money on that particular horse."

Gwen sighed at his obliviance."You don't give him enough credit. Remember, Merlin, I've been around Arthur longer than you have, and I see the way he is when he's around you."

"Behaving like a prat?"

She nudged him, hard. "You know that's not true, Merlin. Arthur cares for you, he's just too proud to admit it." Really, she didn't know when the time would come that these to would just face that fact, but it had better be soon, because she couldn't stand it. It hurt her to think about it, really.

"Maybe you should let Gaius know you're still here, with him." She could tell the words didn't quite register when he turned to her, his mouth already opening to question her advice.

"Where else would I be?"

"Come on, Merlin," she lightly scolded. "Surely you've taken the time to think about what this means to him?" He had not. "Gaius think of you as the son he never had, Merlin. And now that your real father has come along… do you see where this is going?"

Merlin

"Yeah." He croaked out silently, a hint of embarrasment and shame in his voice. He should have thought about what this meant to Gaius instead of going off at him for not saying Garreth was in town. But he didn't think Gaius would ever doubt his loyalty..or his love, the kind that passed between foster father and son.

Gaius meant more to him than Garreth ever had. "Will you excuse me, Gwen?"

"Sure." She smiled. "Say hi to him for me."

Merlin came to a stop next to the older man's restive body, that was tense in a way Merlin had rarely seen before. "Slow night, isn't it? No one is being poisoned, no magic tricks. Really, before I came here, I thought life at Camelot was much more exciting than this."

Gaius turned to him, smiling. "There can't always be dragons and sorcerers around, Merlin. Life would be all too easy. However, never forget that secrets can be found at any table."

"Secrets.." Merlin whispered to him, making it sound hush hush as if they were conspiring as well. "Well, that's certainly intriguing. It's enough to make me stick around for… I don't know… forty years or so. Maybe more. Depends on how juicy they are."

Arthur glanced at him from across the table, and Merlin chuckled before adding. "And how much of a prat my master remains."

Gaius laughed quietly. "I think your master's moving in the right direction. Maybe you're a good influence."

"Why does everyone think that?" Merlin questioned. The truth was that if Arthur really had changed, the chance it had something to do with him were probably minimal. He was reminded of the first day he had met Arthur, and how their relationship had slowly changed for the better. But could his presence in Camelot really have changed Arthur? Truly?

"You may not wish to see it, Merlin, but everyone knows how you care for each other."

"Right." Merlin said. "Until he discovers who I really am."

Gaius shook his head sadly. "Merlin. When the time is right…"

"Garreth knows." He blurted out, needing to know how to handle that particular fact. It all added to the danger Merlin faced in Camelot, and that wasn't good.

"Oh." Gaius fell silent and glanced over at Garreth, who stood behind the table, observing them like a hawk. "Well, that's just what we needed."

-

There was a letter on his bed when he returned from dinner that night, and it puzzled him. No one apart from Gaius and the occasionally Arthur ever came in here – they respected him too much to invade his privacy like that, and he knew it wasn't Arthur's handwriting.

His fingers trembled as he picked up the envelope and turned it around in his hands, taking in every detail before opening it. His eyes skid over the sloppily written words until coming to a halt at the signature. Garreth, it said.

The enemy had requested a truce.

Pleaaaase tell me what you think? It would mean the world to me AND you'd get another batch of a zillion cookies - and they're yummy! Really, though, it means the world to me.

XO, as always