"Honestly Merlin how can you be such a bumbling fool!?" Arthur stormed across from his desk to retrieve a scrap of cloth. "It is a good job those were only old practice speeches and not my real one, or you would be re-writing it for me!"

"I wrote it anyway." Came the almost sarcastic reply.

"Shut up. And do not let my father hear you say that. Now get this cleaned up." He pointed to the goblet of wine that had spilt on his paper when Merlin had decided to dust the desk with the Prince still at it. "Why are you in such a rush anyway?"

Merlin stopped to think for a second, his face almost breaking out into a grin until he schooled it into a clearly sheepish lie. "Nothing, just Gaius wanting my help, and you know what he is like if I am late...sometimes worse than you."

Now, had Merlin told the lie a few months before Arthur would have not even suspected it to be anything but the truth, but after nearly a year of service he had grown closer to the boy and new when he was keeping things. "Well, it is not for me to be snooping into your private life Merlin but whatever you do in your own time had better not spoil my reputation. I would rather not be known as the Prince who has a servant who likes to get drunk in the tavern and sing his heart out or whatever it is you are doing this week."

"Hey! That was one time and you asked me to get to know some of the local tavern regulars."

"I did, yes, but not to get so drunk you forgot everything you learnt."

"That wasn't the drink, that was the knock around the head."

The Prince rolled his eyes, "Yes, the knock that was as a result of your drunken limbs falling into my chambers the next morning."

"You cannot complain too much, it was one heck of a wake up call! You would have been late otherwise."

"YES! Had it not been for your sorry backside making me late!" Arthur was shouting, yes, but when it came to Merlin something inside of him could not make him truly angry at the boy. He would scold him and reprimand his actions, but could not be mad for long (usually) and would usually end up joking at how much of a fool the boy was- as a servant at least.

Merlin seemed to think, to decide something in that moment and sighed. "If you must know my mother is visiting. Though she is not from Camelot's Kingdom and wished to keep it quiet."

Arthur understood. There was no law that villagers could not visit neighbouring kingdoms but they really had no need to, so it was not usually a done thing. "That is no problem. Tell her should anybody question her she is a new servant or someone from the lower town. She has nothing to worry about." His tone was soft, caught halfway between a King calming his people and a friend reassuring his 'brother'.

Merlin nodded his thanks and knew he was free to go, but not before he gave another slightly guilty smile at the mess on Arthur's desk. In return the man laughed and told him to get out of his sight.

Arthur walked the castle later that night, his wrist throbbing as he held it to his chest. It didn't take him long to reach Gaius' chambers and he instinctively let himself in.

"Oh." A female voice exclaimed. And Arthur's eyes shot up to see the woman who clearly must be Merlin's mother stand up, caught halfway between deciding if to curtsy or not- she did, in the end.

"My apologies, I...I usually knock. I am very sorry."

Merlin came from his room then, carrying a folded blanket that he placed on the table he and his mother had obviously been sat at. "Arthur. Are you ok? I thought I had arranged for George to see to you tonight?"

For a moment Arthur did not seem to register what his friend, servant, was saying, for his gaze was solely on the woman stood behind. Her eyes held a small trace of fear, and not just for being in the presence of Royalty. It was almost as if she was thinking back, a distant memory that once again plagued her. But it was not just the look in those eyes that drew him in, but the eyes themselves. And then the face, the hair, the entire frame. Granted it was older than his memories but he knew he should know the woman. Slowly his gaze turned to her son. The most prominent features were obviously his hair and ears. Maybe he'll grow into them. He had thought upon first meeting him- and he was already starting to, though they made him who he was anyway, they weren't bad, but a nice bonus and feature. Maybe he'll grow into them...MAYBE HE'LL GROW INTO THEM. And suddenly it clicked. Everything came rushing back and he knew he had always known those ears, the hair and the face. And he now knew the woman, with her wide eyed gaze, full of worry and then relief.

"Where are you from Merlin?" He had asked one day, trying to make conversation and get to know his servant.

"Ealdor Sire."

"Ealdor? That sounds familiar."

"It does?"

Arthur had nodded, his mind racing through his many years as heir to the throne, but hours of training had lessened the memory of some, less important, bits of information. "It is not in this Kingdom is it?"

"No. Lot's."

Ealdor. The village that had been plagued with the 'curse'. The mother and her ill son. The son who's eyes had glowed gold.

His mind, and possibly sanity, flew back to the presence, once again turning him to Arthur Pendragon, Prince of Camelot. "I truly am sorry to interrupt. I was looking for Gaius. I think I may have hit the training dummy too hard and sprained my wrist." He held up the slightly swollen and darkening limb in proof.

"Come here." Merlin sighed and sat down waiting for Arthur to join him. He did so and gently his servant took the arm in his own nimble fingers. Slowly and with as much care as possible he felt the wrist, poking it in certain places and rubbing in others. After asking a few questions and observing the reactions of his patient he confirmed it was just a sprain and would be fine in a few days. Though he did put a tight bandage on it just for good measure. "Lucky it isn't your writing hand, or you wouldn't be able to finish your speech off." He smirked.

"No, though I am sure I would manage it somehow." He tested the pain and let the limb fall to rest on his leg. "Well, maybe you aren't so much of a bumbling idiot after all Merlin."

Merlin shrugged, smiling a warm and caring smile. "I have my moments." Then, after a pause. "And a good teacher."

It turned out Gaius was attending Morgana, delivering her medication as Merlin spent time with his mother. Arthur too took his leave and wished them a nice night, but just as he passed Hunith (as he had now learnt) she whispered a soft, "thank you." It did not need explanation, or confirmation, for he knew she was referring to his childhood, for the time he had spared her son. As he met her gaze he saw a glimpse of the same worry, of some apprehension that Arthur's years and experiences would have changed him into something more resembling his father. But with one smile and nod from the man the worry vanished and they both knew he was the same boy who had walked away all those years ago.

"Goodnight Merlin, Hunith." And he closed the door behind him.

He was awoken the next morning by an all too cheerful exchange, one that most certainly was not George. "Mmm, what!?" He mumbled from his pillows. "Has your mother gone already?" The Prince asked once he had come to his senses and promptly realised the reason for his rude awakening was the usual reason for every other rude awakening.

"No. She is staying another few nights, but she is spending the morning with Gaius."

"Merlin..." He tutted as he detangled himself from his sheets and stood up. "You do not have to be here, go and be with her. And where's George?"

"It's fine, I think she wants to be with Gaius a bit. And I told him he wasn't needed."

Arthur's mouth opened as if to say 'ahh' and possibly give a rebuttal but when a plate of food was near enough shoved into his hand he quickly decided to turn his attention to that.

An hour later and he was dressed, fed and clean. Merlin was busy bustling around the room when Arthur decided to take the plunge.

"Merlin?"

"Yes?" The servant could sense the apprehension in his master's voice and responded with just as much a sense of worry.

"Have I ever told you about the time I was 8 and met a sorcerer?" He looked up now, meeting the blue eyes. A part of him wondered if Hunith had told Merlin this story but whether she had or not he wanted the boy to hear his own take, his own feelings.

"No."

"I was 8. A Prince is meant to go out on his first proper hunting trip when he is 10 but my father brought it forward, telling me I was wise for my age. On our journey we met a group of villagers, they had run away from their homes because of magic and, naturally, my father went to investigate, even though the village was in Lot's kingdom he wanted the sorcerer dead." Merlin nodded an understanding. "And I was left to help keep the people calm, to learn what I must do as I grew, what I do so easily and naturally now. There I met a woman, she seemed kind and afraid, mainly for her ill son -he was only a few years younger than me, barely 7 I would say- but I felt there was something more to it, something deeper. She had separated herself from the group, and it seemed that she was hiding away from them. And then I saw it...I saw him perform magic. It was quite brilliant and not at all bad."

He stopped, mainly so to think over what he wanted to say but to also give Merlin time to take this all in. As he looked down at the floor a small voice, so very far from Merlin's usual tone, asked. "What did you do?"

"Nothing."

Merlin's head snapped up at the same time Arthur turned to look upon his servant's face.

"I called for Kay but the moment I saw the worry, and fear of the mother I faltered. She was petrified. And I knew that taking people from their families before a true trial was not right or just. I thought back to my own situation, of my mother being taken from me and I knew that I could not take that child from the woman who loved him more than anything in the world." There were a few tears in Merlin's eyes but he quickly rid himself of them. "Not only that but, and this sounds preposterous I know, but I had this sense as a child, I rarely get it now. I could feel if a person's magic was tainted."

"You could?"

Arthur went on as if he hadn't heard the question, or the waver in the voice as it was asked. "I met many in my childhood, what with my father killing so many, and they all had a strange air about them, some good, some very, very bad. And when the good ones burnt, the world seemed to dim a little. I quickly grew out of it, I have only felt it a few times since but forgot what the sensation meant until now."

Merlin shifted on his feet, trying not to show his nerves but clearly looking unsure where all of this was going.

"The mother's gaze was one I will never forget, and it is not a universal gaze at all, but kept especially for her. It was pure, unadulterated love and pride. And I saw that look again very recently. Last night in fact."

Oh gods!It was almost as if he could read Merlin's mind, for that was the exact look that was plastered on his servant's face.

"It was you Merlin. That little boy was you." Arthur all but whispered.

The servant stepped back as if hit in the chest. His eyes were like a cornered animal and his chest heaved as he tried to make himself breath, or possibly even speak. "I...you...Art...Arthur..."

"The first time I met you I said there was something about you, I did think it was probably just the way you stood up to me, mostly I guess it was, but I felt something too, and now I know what it was."

Merlin still continued to shuffle nervously on his feet and he had gone even paler than usual. "I would never hurt you. That. I swear."

The Prince waited a few seconds before walking forward, meeting Merlin when the boy's back hit a bed post. He put a strong hand on his friend's shoulder, and looked him firmly in the eye. "I know."

He hoped the trust and loyalty he was feeling was portrayed in his face, because Merlin was still looking at him with a sliver of fear. "You, you do?"

"Your magic is the brightest I have ever felt Merlin. I cannot explain the feeling, for I don't see anything, but the feeling is so strong it may as well be light. Do you understand what I mean?"

It took a minute but finally Merlin nodded, his fear falling and giving way to a weary guise he had clearly been hiding for a very long time. "I do." His voice shook and he looked away as if summoning the courage he greatly needed right now. Warily he carried on. "I feel it too, or, well I can see it sometimes as well. And yes, people have a glow, not a physical one but...it's almost in the air, you can sense it, either a warmth or an ice cold breeze, and you can feel their pain or their joy. And when they die, like you said, it's almost as if the light goes out, something is suddenly missing and it hurts, it hurts so much."

Arthur glanced at his friend now with a horrified worry. "You feel that? You feel all of that!?"

The boy could only nod. Arthur was suddenly so thankful he was only 'gifted' with a small amount of this ability, for he saw the grief in his friends' eyes, and instantly the weariness he saw made sense.

"Merlin...I'm so sorry you have to feel so much."

It was as if a key was turned and Merlin straightened, his look sobering and a hand quickly glided across his face to wipe away the evidence of his pain. Once the hand had gone the tears had been replaced by his signature grin, though now Arthur could see how it was so obviously a facade. Although the grin was back, the situation had turned awkward, for Arthur wasn't quite sure where to turn next.

Until he did.

"I let you go because I did not agree with my father. His ways were wrong and his judgement was clouded by grief and anger. I was beginning to learn the same ways, seeing nothing but evil until the moment I saw you. I realised there was innocence, and purity, and that not everyone was tainted as badly as those like Nimueh. It was your childish naïveté that made me realise how much of the bad can be taught, just the same as my anger was being taught to me. I was growing to hate, just as sorcerers were growing to hate." He sighed, feeling disgusted with himself. "Somewhere along the line I lost that. I grew into...I became my Father."

It was Merlin's turn to become the strong one, pushing forward and bowing his head so he could look into his Prince's eyes, the same hand on his shoulder as Arthur had supported him with just minutes earlier. "No you did not. You are far greater than he ever was or will be. That greatness you see in people, the light of the sorcerers, you have that too. Uther, his light is dark and cold, like standing in a shadow but when I'm with you I see the sun. And it's warm and it's golden. You are the King of Camelot, the King of the future."

"You've known that for a long time haven't you?"

Merlin chuckled a bit. "Why do you think I stuck with you so long?"

"No. No I mean, when we parted ways all those years ago I heard you. You said something to me but, but it wasn't out loud, I heard you in my head. You said 'you're welcome, my King'."

The smile faded and Merlin looked at him with eyes far older than his years. "I think I have known my entire life." There was a minutes silence before he spoke again. "Though, I only heard of my destiny nearly a year ago. I was told to protect you, and help you grow to become that destined King. Now, now I know you were well on the way anyway, you just needed a bit of a nudge."

"All those times...everything." He couldn't say the words, but deep in his heart he knew that all the times he had needed an angel he'd truly had one, right down to the times when he needed confirmation he was doing the right thing. Arthur's brow did however knot with some of Merlin's words. "Is that the only reason you are here, why you've 'stuck with me' for so long?"

There wasn't even a heartbeat before Merlin answered, and it was a soft, gentle and deeply felt, "No."

"At first, at first yes, but within a month, maybe even less I grew to admire you, to understand what the glow I felt was and I knew. I knew that you were a great man and someone I would devote my life to you, not just in the sense of destiny but of friendship and loyalty. You can be an ass, and such a Clotpole, but I would not have it any other way. And knowing what I know now, that you saved me all those years ago, and that you regret allowing Uther get to you, it makes me value you so much more. You are not Uther Pendragon, you do not have to seek approval because it is not what Uther thinks now it is what you and your Kingdom think now and in future. You are not today's Prince you are tomorrow's King."

The grip around Arthur's heart that had built over time shattered, the walls crumbling, letting the heat of Merlin's light in and melting his father's frost. He didn't cry, but he let his eyes pool and his throat close as he tried to find the right words. For a moment the pair just stood close, their eyes locked and full of pure, unsullied allegiance.

It was Merlin who broke the-for once comfortable- silence. "You really remembered the way my mum looked at me?"

"Yes." He smiled with an equal share of fondness and sadness, the undercurrent of longing for the same look from his own mother. "It's still the same, if not a little older."

"Ha! Don't let her hear you say that!"

Arthur laughed again, the cheekiness of his servant. "Besides, I could never forget those ears! Though, I think you're finally growing into them."

Red, not too different from his current neckerchief, crept up his cheeks and said ears, but he still smiled sheepishly. "Gee thank you my Lord."

The Prince shrugged and scrunched up his nose. "Well, what can I say..."

"No but. I do mean it. Not about my ears obviously, but...thank you. For what you have done, for everything."

"I think I should be thanking you."

After some more 'manly' hand shakes and claps on the back they decided to join Hunith and Gaius, mainly so Arthur could get to know the woman more and hear her own thanks at the situation. She was profoundly gratified that he was not going to hang her son and wouldn't stop holding his hand for nearly 5 whole minutes. Arthur had blushed and tried at every opportunity to shake her off when she finally caught his eye (after much embarrassed avoidance of eye contact from the Prince). He froze then, because the look she was giving him was that same proud fondness she had given Merlin and that had provoked Arthur's mind. But now she was looking at him like that, in the way he had wished he could be looked at by his own Mother, even, to some degree, his Father. His throat closed again and his heart skipped a beat.

"You truly are a wonderful, glorious man Arthur." Hunith astonished, tears once again adorning her eyes like jewels. "You and my son's paths were always meant to cross and I am so glad they did."

He thought for a second, trying to think of something to say in return but deep in his soul he knew there was nothing else to say but, "As am I."

They sat for a long time just talking about everything and nothing, with the day passing by where Arthur had no duties and Uther did not sought after him to do something, Gaius did nip off every so often to see to somebody but otherwise the small group bonded. They bonded so strongly that all divisions in money, or power were forgotten, and Arthur was just like Hunith and Merlin and Gaius, and he knew quite well that this would be a family he could fit in with nicely.

When the day was coming to a close Arthur turned. "I guess it is only a small quandary but, what exactly was wrong with Merlin when I met you?"

Hunith giggled whilst her son went bright red once again, a common occurrence over the day, especially when his mother and master teamed up to embarrass him for the fun of it. "I tried to tell him, but would he listen...?"

"Muuuum." Merlin whined, hiding his head on Gaius' shoulder.

"Merlin had found a new bush on the edge of the forest with some pretty berries on it, I told him not to eat them until they had been washed and boiled but they were obviously far too appealing to his little chubby fingers. So he snuck a handful every few days until one day his body could not take the muck that was on them, or their sourness pre-cooking, and, well, you saw the results."

"So...wait, let me get this straight? He had made himself sick eating too many dirty, uncooked berries?"

Hunith nodded. "For an adult, the berries would have been fine to eat raw, a little sour yes but otherwise fine. Though for a young, under developed stomach, well, they did not mix well. And the area it grew was known for our horse and cow to...relieve themselves, as well as some of our farmers."

Arthur tried his hardest not to laugh, not to absolutely burst out and slap his leg as Merlin's head fell further down Gaius' chest in shame, but alas, after a few goblets of wine it was a little too much.

"You were lucky you saw the fever stage sire and not anything else."

"Ok! Ok, I think that is enough. Nobody needs to know that...EVER!" Finally Merlin sprung from Gaius' frame flapping his hands, absolutely, and appallingly embarrassed.

Arthur managed to slow his laughter down enough to look around, to take in the faces of those around him. Hunith was wiping tears from her own eyes, but finding as she laughed fresh ones fell anyway, Merlin was downing an entire goblet of fresh wine and Gaius was looking at his adoptive son with such fondness, and nothing like the serious physician you usually saw. In his heart, he knew that this was what happiness was, this was a life, with friends and family who loved you and teased you, and who you could just completely let go and forget yourself with. There were hard times, there always would be and life would not be life without them, but what really mattered was these people, the people you let into your circle, who you surrounded yourself with and who supported you through all of it. Family was not always blood, and over his many years Arthur had just wanted his mother back and a father that was maybe a little less tyrannical and Kingly, but now he realised it did not have to be blood at all. For this family, the one that consisted of Merlin and Gaius and Hunith, and his extended thoughts of Gwen, Morgana, Leon, was far more important, far more special, and in some ways, far better than the one he had.

In the next two days Hunith returned to Ealdor and Arthur was there, along with Gaius, Merlin and Gwen- who had somewhere along the line also been introduced- to say goodbye. Merlin was a little teary but knew he would see his mother again soon, and she, in turn, was teary not only at leaving him again but at how proud she was of his achievements and the man he was becoming. Gaius promised to look after her son and delicately kissed her on the cheek, standing back and letting Gwen say how much of a pleasure it was to meet her. Once those were over it was Arthur's turn and he stepped forward, his head bowed as he looked down at the woman he felt could so easily be his own mother.

"Thank you, Arthur Pendragon. I am so proud of who you are, and I know there are many more who feel the same as me." She slightly looked to the group of well-wishers but he also got the feeling she was talking about a far wider community. Her soft voice dropped even lower, and held so much of the adoration he saw in her features. "Never forget that."

Nodding was all he could manage, because he feared if he tried to say 'thank you' or 'goodbye' he may not be able to keep his Princely composure. Though, after another look into her eyes, he realised that he did not need to, there was no need to worry here and now, and having a royal composure did not have to be stern and expressionless. So, after another second, he allowed a few tears to fall at the close hitting pride and meaning and said, "Thank you, Hunith."

Their foreheads came together in a familial farewell, like a mother and son's, and one that said they would indeed meet again.

Merlin let his mother go after another few minutes of asking her to relocate to Camelot and joined his friends in waving her off. As her figure grew smaller and smaller, and closer to the forest's beginning, Gwen and Gaius excused themselves, leaving the two boys, Servant and Master, Warlock and Prince, Brother and Brother, alone.

Arthur bowed his head, his arms crossed but absolutely no anger or arrogance present. "Merlin, I wish to thank you, for the things you said. I may not show it but the things expected of me sometimes truly get to me, and I worry between being my father and making him proud and being me, and making the people respect me."

The fact he used 'respect' instead of admire or love was the most important thing, it meant that he wasn't a ruler who wanted his people's love because he made them do so, or because he did everything to make them happy yet not quite safe and secure as they should be. It meant he wanted to be Great. He wanted to be his People's King, a commoner in all but headwear. He knew that they needed a King who listened, who made them both safe and happy. He would be, from now on and as Merlin had said, not Arthur, Prince of Camelot, trying to make Uther proud, doing as told, he would be Arthur, Future King of Camelot, who would do right by his people, make his own choices. And that was what truly made him great.

Merlin grinned and stretched out his arm to allow Arthur to grasp it in a promise, a vow, a show of their friendship. "And thank you, My King. Truly."

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. Take Care. x

*edit* I have had mentioned to me 'how come Hunith didn't tell Merlin' and...honestly!? I clearly didn't put any thought into that, I just wrote it out quick without thinking of that. I guess though my 'excuse' now is, initially, she let him go to Camelot knowing Arthur would not recognize Merlin/remember the event. However, the part where Arthur walks into Gaius' chambers I would like to think that she saw the same trust in him she did before, and she did not feel threatened by Arthur recognizing them. A mother's intuition? Or/as well as, being scared to tell Merlin and worry him. It may be a poor afterthought and excuse but I felt I should mention it. :)