... previously ...

Faith, Pride and Loyalty

"So quiet, Merlin? How honest have you been? How well does the prince really know you?"

"Stop digging, Morgana, you'll only end up in the hole yourself. Yes, Arthur and Gwen know about the poison now and they know why I did it. Don't believe you have anything more on me that will made any difference."

"Are you quite sure about that, Merlin?" They exchanged intense glares.

"Look are we going to stand here all day trading insults or are you going to give me my castle back?" Arthur asked lightly. Morgana stared at him in disbelief.

"You really believe you stand a chance against all of these soldiers?"

"No. I stand absolutely no chance at all."

"Sorry?" She hadn't been expecting that answer.

Arthur leant against a tree and turned towards Merlin with a small smile.

"Go on then. What are you waiting for? I can't wait to see her face."

Merlin laughed delightedly, spoke several words and raised his hand. There was an amber glow in his eyes, a flash of power and suddenly every one of Morgana's men lay flat on the ground. He turned back to see Arthur still leaning against the tree, arms folded and a look of amusement aimed towards Morgana. Then the prince looked back briefly at Merlin; was that pride he saw in his eyes? The young warlock took a few steps towards the sorceress and was pleased to see her back away.

"You can't be a sorcerer." He had never heard her sound so shocked.

"Do you know, that's exactly what I said," said Arthur lightly.

"I suggest you go, Morgana," said Merlin. "I could do tricks like that years before you even knew you had magic. My power is far greater than yours. Would you care to put it to the test?"

"You knew about this?" she asked Arthur shocked. "but I thought ..."

"As I said, I've promoted Merlin and we now have no secrets from each other. Now, leave my castle and don't ever call yourself a Pendragon again. I'll remember you to the Lady Guinevere when I next see her."

Time For Revenge

"Go on then. What are you waiting for?" Arthur said to Merlin with a smile. "I can't wait to see her face."

How long has he known? Then my darling brother just stands there and laughs as Merlin - The Betrayer - casts a spell of such power, with such annoying ease, that every one of my soldiers is thrown backwards onto the ground.

Power? Merlin?

Then the pair have the audacity to order me out of the castle. How dare they! What gives them the right?

Now they're both in serious trouble. Just wait until I let Uther know about this.

A/N So, the vote was a draw so I've decided to move this one forward - mostly to give me time to get 'The Perils of Parchment' edited to my satisfaction.

This will be the last drabble. All the others are likely to be ... long!

Apologies for not replying to as many reviews recently as I'm doing a lot of writing at the moment. I really do appreciate them all though.