Not an episode in the show, but I figured Arthur needed a bit more time to think than I gave him in the previous chapter. So here we go! Arthur gets to think!

EDIT: Yes I know it is not a new chapter, but I read the reviews I got on this chapter and decided to change things to it. I hope it came out better and in fact I think it is more like what I want for this piece. So if you read the old version, do read this. Things have changed.

I do not own the characters of BBC's Merlin.

Arthur decided on a hunt. He had taken Merlin back as his servant, but that was only to see what the boy would do. Merlin having magic worried Arthur, but not for the reasons he thought it would. He wasn't afraid for his life, in fact he felt safer knowing Merlin had magic. Instead Arthur was more afraid of what would happen if anyone else found out about Merlin's magic, namely his own father.

He didn't know just what it was that made him know Merlin would never hurt him, there was just something that told him Merlin would never hurt him with magic. So he would get some answers from the boy on this hunting trip.

Merlin was looking around the forest a small smile on his face. Arthur had yet to kill anything and it seemed Merlin had never been on a hunt before. "You have to be quiet if I'm to catch anything." Arthur said finally having enough of the noise his only companion was making.

Merlin looked to Arthur slight confusion on his face. "What do you mean?" He asked voicing his question.

"We're hunting." Arthur said. "Silence is needed to sneak up on the animals and kill them." He blinked watching Merlin's face turn to one of slight horror.

"You're here to kill poor, defenseless animals?" He asked. Well, at least Arthur now knew that killing would be the last resort for Merlin when dealing with anything.

"Yes Merlin, where do you think meat comes from?"

Merlin shuffled his feet looking at the ground. He muttered something under his breath making Arthur turn around to face him again. "What was that?" He asked.

"I don't eat much meat…" Merlin said with a shrug. "Just never found the need to kill innocent animals just for food."

Arthur sighed shaking his head. "You're such a girl." He said turning back to his hunting. "Maybe we should get more meat in you, make you build more muscle. Seriously, you look like a gust of wind could knock you over and break a bone or something…."

"I'm stronger than I look." Merlin retorted.

"Sure you are Merlin." Arthur answered putting a mocking tone in his voice. Clearly the boy was a lot stronger than he looked if he could use magic. He might not be very good at it, but maybe the boy was just learning or was already at the full extent of his abilities. "Now be quiet. I would like to catch something before we head back."

Arthur had to be thankful Merlin was at least making an effort of being quiet. Maybe a few more months of hunting trips and Merlin would be able to walk in complete silence in the forest.

Merlin for his part really was trying to stay quiet. Arthur put out an arm stopping Merlin and taking the crossbow. The prince moved further ahead and Merlin leaned against a tree and looked towards the canopy. He smiled at the light filtering through.

For a bit since his arrival it was peaceful. He knew all the spells in his book now. He had taken to reading it and practicing the spells each night after Arthur dismissed him. It hadn't taken him long to have it all learned, but now he had no way of learning new spells. Magic books and anything of the magical variety were not easy to get a hold of in Camelot. Uther's ban saw to that.

Merlin sighed looking around him and finding a small bush filled with flower buds. He glanced over his shoulder to see if Arthur was nearby and crouched down looking at it. They should have opened by now; they were in season after all. One last glance around him to make sure no one was looking and he let a small burst of magic flow over the bush.

Arthur focused on the small trail he had noticed. It was a rabbit trail, but it would do for this trip at least. It also gave him some time to collect his thoughts. The first bit of magic he could peg on Merlin was their fight in the market. He couldn't blame the boy. Arthur had made it out like he was trying to kill him in the fight. Merlin was most likely just trying to keep his head.

The next bit of magic he knew of was when that witch tried killing him by first sending the entire assembly to sleep. It would have worked had the chandelier not fallen on her breaking her concentration. He figured Merlin had something to do with that. Then there was the fact that Merlin had been too far away to be at Arthur's side when he was. Maybe the boy had slowed time in order to get to him? That would mean Merlin had a great deal of power. Altering time had to be quite the feat he guessed.

Then Valiant. Merlin had warned Arthur about the magic shield and when it seemed all hope was lost, Merlin appeared with a spell to force Valiant's hand. Arthur was a bit confused by it all. If magic was evil then why would Merlin protect him with it? Then there was Merlin's reaction to finding out that Arthur was going to kill something just for food. He doubted the boy had an evil bone in his body.

Arthur pushed the thoughts away for a bit seeing the rabbit he had been tracking. He readied the crossbow and aimed. The bolt went flying and landed killing the animal quickly. The animal in hand Arthur was back in his thoughts.

Maybe Merlin was just starting to learn magic and it was something that took time to corrupt one's heart? It seemed to make sense. Arthur would just continue to watch Merlin for any signs of turning evil, and who knows, maybe Merlin's goodness would over ride the evil nature of magic, Merlin could be the one exception to the evil magic rule.

But that witch didn't seem like she would have killed Arthur if her son had lived.

Arthur made his way back with the rabbit when he noticed Merlin's interest in the bush. He ducked behind a tree seeing the servant look around him, clearly making sure no one was watching him. A smile found its way onto Arthur's face as he watched the air shimmer around the bush and the flowers snap open.

He felt himself shaking his head at the small action, but the flowers were in season, it wouldn't do to have them fade before anyone got a chance to see the vibrant colors. It was clearly a plant Gaius needed as Merlin now reached out and picked a few of the blooms and carefully put them in a pouch from his bag. Merlin pulled out a piece of paper and crossed something off a list before tucking everything carefully back in the bag and standing up again.

He watched as Merlin leaned back against the tree again eyes going back up to the canopy. Arthur watched the small dance of gold in Merlin's eyes before making his presence known. He was almost disappointed as the golf flakes died down as Merlin stood up straight again. Arthur held up his prize and Merlin took it with a pout.

"It's just a rabbit." Arthur said as they continued on. "There are hundreds of them in the forest."

"But why kill something so innocent?" Merlin asked.

"It tastes good." Arthur replied with a grin. "Now come on, we need to make it back before nightfall."

Merlin had just finished putting the dishes on the tray. "Need anything else?" He asked looking up at Arthur.

"No." Arthur answered leaning back in his chair. "Just turn down the sheets and you're done for tonight." Merlin nodded as he did as Arthur requested. He took the tray with him as he left.

"Goodnight." Merlin called over his shoulder before the door closed fully. Arthur gave a sigh as he stood from his chair and moved over to the window to watch the courtyard. Half an hour after he saw Merlin leave his room the boy was making his way across the way to Gaius'. He was rubbing a spot on his head clearly having faced the wrath of the cook's spoon. The thought made a small chuckle escape from Arthur before he could stop himself.

No the boy walking down there had magic. Strong enough magic to force an enchantment to reveal itself before it was time. Strong enough to slow time, and even call forth the blooms of plants. He thought back to when Merlin and him first met. Their second encounter Merlin had said he could take Arthur apart with less than one blow. It made him wonder just how strong the boy really was.

"He's a sorcerer..." He muttered. "I should be turning him in."

"The proper term is Warlock."

Arthur turned suddenly and stared at the man with golden eyes leaning on his table. "GAURDS!"

"They can't hear you."

Arthur turned around and tried to open the window. He would shout out to Merlin. He could help in this.

"I mean you no harm Princeling." The man said calling Arthur's attention back to him. "Just to explain things."

"What's there to explain, Merlin's a sorcerer and so are you!" Arthur said looking for his sword.

"Merlin is a Warlock." The man said not moving from his spot and watching Arthur lazily. "And I am not a sorcerer. I'm a god."

"What's the difference?" Arthur said now finding his sword and trying to draw it. It was stuck fast. "And you honestly expect me to believe you are a god?"

"It means he is untrained." The man said now inspecting his fingernails as if Arthur's antics were starting to wear thin. "And no I don't expect you to believe I am a god."

Arthur just looked at the man in confusion. "Untrained?" He said carefully. "How can someone be untrained in magic? It's a choice."

"As much a choice as you being a prince." The man said. "Though in Merlin's case, as you are blond with blue eyes..."

"People are born with magic?" Arthur was now lowering the rather useless sword that was still in his scabbard.

"They are born with the ability to do magic, not with it." The man said. "They can then choose to follow the path of magic or not. Merlin however is a special case."

"How so?"

"He was born with his eyes ablaze with magic." The man answered with a smile as he remembered the night. "Every single being of magic fell silent at his birth. The earth itself settled into a calm peace that night. Clearest night in ages."

"You remember it?"

"I was there." The man said looking at Arthur now. "I'm a god remember?"

"God of what?"

"Magic." He answered simply. "Dragons and their kin are my creations. I am the Lord of Magic. Merlin holds a special interest of mine."

"So just what is a..."

"Warlock?" The man offered up seeing Arthur trying to remember the word.

"Yes, that..." He had never heard the term before.

"A warlock is a being of magic clearly." He began letting a chair pull out for Arthur to sit in. "The show the potential to wield great amounts of magic at a young age, but they are for whatever reason, untrained. How best to explain..." He seemed to think for a bit looking around the room before his eyes settled on the bucket of coal near the fireplace. "Ah!" He called over a few pieces of the coal and held them before Arthur.

"Like this coal, a warlocks magic has great potential." He said setting a piece down on the table and holding one in his palm. "For most their time is short as a Warlock masters their art through combat. Having to learn as they go, some end up never even knowing about it and their magic just consumes them. Whatever the case is for these warlocks, they burn bright, but their lives are short." The piece of coal erupted into flames and fell through the mans fingers as ash.

"Some of them are able to survive though." The god said holding up the other piece. "Their potential becomes hardened, with the right pressure and heat." The piece of coal became incased in the mans hands as he clearly used strength not owned by normal man on the chuck of fuel. "These warlocks then have the potential to be something amazing." He revealed a stone. "These ones sometimes are able to be polished and cut." The stone lifted off the man's hand and spun around bits flicking off and a shine beginning to build when it stopped, a diamond was sparkling over the man's palm. "This is the sort of warlock you have at your side. Merlin has the potential to become something like this diamond."

Arthur took the gem and looked it over. So Merlin had the raw potential to become a great being of magic? Arthur felt himself sink back into his chair. "You said a warlock learns through combat..." He said barely a whisper.

"Yes." The man said. "Magical combat really. Though, a wound from magic or a creature of magic always leaves its mark. Warlocks tend to be heavily scared by the time they can be called true masters of their craft."

"He wouldn't hurt a fly." Arthur said in protest.

"Unless that fly was threatening someone he cared about." The man said a smirk sliding into place. "Oh how I wish to be there the day he looses his temper. See just how close that prophecy is."

"Prophecy?" Arthur asked.

"The Once and Future King will unite the land of Albion. In his reign, peace shall rule the nation and magic will flow free once more. Many battles does he face before he may finally rest, yet users of magic beware. For this man is protected by the strongest being of magic that will ever exist. Emrys. With power so great, only gods can compare."

"Merlin's Emrys?" Arthur asked raising an eyebrow. "Merlin's not even his name?"

"No, Merlin is his true name." The man said taking the diamond from Arthur. "Emrys is just his title. Though there are people very excited about him. You see, sometimes a person is born with magic. It is extremely rare as you can imagine. But the thing about these few people so excited, it that these select few and rare people born with magic can progress even further." The gem seemed to come to life with golden electric current. It seemed alive with magic. "It's the reason for my interest in him. He may be your destined protector, a person with enough magic locked away inside him to become the greatest that will ever live, but if he so chooses it, he can become much, much more."

Arthur looked confused at the god. "What's better than being the strongest being of magic to ever exist?" He asked.

The man smiled giving Arthur back the diamond. "More on that later." He said. "You however have a choice right now. Reveal Merlin to your father and watch as the boy dies, or you could keep this secret and watch him become what he is meant to be."

"Magic is evil-" Arthur began and then looked at the god who looked at him amused. "Isn't it?"

"It can be used for evil yes." The man said. "But just how evil is making a bush burst into bloom?"

Arthur looked at his hands thinking it over. "What if it corrupts him?" He asked looking up.

"He has a good heart." The man said with a small nod. "You saw how he reacted when you killed that rabbit today. While he may have many dark deeds laid out before him in his future, I can tell you now, he would gladly avoid them all."

"He won't tell me will he?"

"No." The man said. "He will want to, so many times over. He will come close to it, you will try prompting him to do so, but he still won't."

"What if I call him out on it?"

"You can do that." The man said with a nod of his head. "But wait for the time to be right. You will know when that is. Don't force the moment though. And remember, he is only just now starting to learn."

Arthur frowned looking at the diamond in his hands. "I'll keep him safe." He said looking up and then around his room. The god was gone clearly done with his goal. He looked down at the diamond again and smiled slightly moving to the drawers next to his bed. He unlocked one and put it inside. He locked the stone up and climbed into bed. Yes, he wouldn't tell about Merlin's magic. If Merlin was going to protect Arthur from magical mishaps, he was going to protect the boy from non-magical ones.

Please R&R.