Merlin refused to talk to Arthur. He could hear Merlin and Gaius arguing in one corner of the cave all night, could hear raised voices and fury mixed with Gaius's soft reasoning, but to no avail. The next day, bandaged, hurting, Arthur left, calling out a farewell, but there was no reply.

It didn't help that when he finally found his way back to Camelot – Gaius wasn't kidding about how difficult it was to navigate the Valley of the Fallen Kings, Uther was there, waiting.

His father took one look at Arthur's wounds, and ordered him locked up in his rooms for a week, attended only by silent servants and Gaius once he returned. More prisoner than prince, there was no conversation, little in the way of food other than bread and water, and a cloud of Uther's fury hanging over Arthur's head.

Gaius, too, had no good news. Merlin was still upset, but Gaius was sure he would come around in time and send word where he was staying. He certainly expected some communication although he couldn't promise that Merlin would send Arthur any letters. Not that Arthur expected any. Merlin could be as stubborn as a mule when he thought he was right.

Days turned into weeks. Uther, still furious, rarely let Arthur out of his sight, certainly didn't allow him to go out on patrols or go anything outside the castle grounds, and while Arthur's duties were severely curtailed, it left him more time for reflection and training.

He did try to be kinder, although in one way, he reverted back to pre-Merlin prat. Going through servants, sometimes two in a day, he refused to let any get close. A single misstep and they were gone, usually with a sigh of relief on their part as Arthur was being an absolute arse toward them. He would relent later, sending them money, following up to make sure they had work and had not been punished for his mistakes.

But he was unhappy and lonely and friendless. The people accepted him as prince, seemed to welcome his insights and help, but no one saw him as a man, much less a friend. Even Morgana and Gwen seemed to realise that he needed someone to talk to, but Arthur would always just shake his head and walk away.

When things seemed unbearable, he would talk to his horse, combing him down, remembering the good times with Merlin, sometimes arguing with the horse who luckily didn't argue back.

Sometimes he'd be caught out, especially by some ragged-haired boy who was doing errands for Gaius. When he'd first heard that Gaius hired a new apprentice, he'd been suspicious, but Rolf was nothing like Merlin, was brown-haired and brown-eyed and scowling most of the time. No sunny smile, no cheeky greeting, no inventive insults. Arthur soon learned to ignore him.

Until one day when he was there for Morgana's sleeping draught – she'd been plaguing him all day to get it, he overheard Gaius admonishing the boy, "How long can you keep this up?"

The voice was low, not at all like Merlin's, but there was something about him that reminded Arthur of arguments and hunting trips and soft confessions in the dark. "As long as I have to. It's not that hard. Well, it is hard. I want so much to tell him, but you heard him. I wasn't allowed back and he's an idiot for thinking I'd pay attention to anything he'd have to say about it."

And there was relief and fury and such joy that it took a moment for Arthur to think again. He'd told that bloody fool to stay away and now he was back in the thick of things, and it was clear that no matter what Arthur might say, Merlin would ignore him and do what he damn well pleased. As always.

Well, two could play that game.

Pushing open the door, Gaius and Rolf jumped apart, Rolf almost knocking over the flame and flask bubbling away above it. Arthur tried not to roll his eyes. Instead, he closed the door, sauntered over, leaned against the bench, and looking as sternly as he could at Rolf, Arthur said, "Well, Merlin, it's about time you've returned. The stables haven't been cleaned properly since you left."

"You… I… what?"

"Articulate as always, I see." Arthur sniffed, then deliberately turned to Gaius. "Gaius, I appreciate that you had to keep this a secret, but we will be having a talk about trust in the near future. Do I make myself clear?" When Gaius nodded, the old man sending a dark, warning look towards Merlin, Arthur said, "I'd like to speak to Rolf alone if I may."

Merlin was gesturing wildly, almost knocking over the flame again although he did manage to send a few empty vials flying, but Gaius ignored him and said, "Of course, Sire." And with that, Gaius took up Morgana's sleeping potion, bowed slightly to Arthur, shook his head at Merlin, and left.

When the door closed behind him, Arthur wheeled on Merlin. "What the hell are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay away? You are going to get yourself killed, you idiot."

Rolf's face seemed to melt away – an odd thing that Arthur really didn't want to see ever again, and there was Merlin, looking contrite but implacable, as if facing a horde of Saxons and determined not to back down.

"I could say the same for you, clotpoll."

With that, Arthur rushed Merlin, pulled him into a fierce hug. He never wanted to let go. Merlin was hugging back just as hard, and breathing fast against Arthur's neck as if trying to keep from crying. Which Arthur could understand because there were tears clogging his throat as well.

Still hugging him, Arthur said, "You can't stay, you'll die and I can't… I can't let that happen again."

"I'm not leaving you. Never again. And you didn't recognise me so the king won't either." As Merlin pulled back, he whispered a few words, his blue eyes fading into yellow and then brown, and Rolf was standing there.

"I don't want to know how you did that because it's obviously forbidden. Does it hurt to change?"

Merlin gave him another sharp hug and then let him go. His grin was still the same, cheeky with just a touch of wicked mischief. Arthur had missed that grin. "No, not once I got used to it. But I better keep it on while there's people around."

"Merlin…." Arthur wanted to tell him to flee before it was too late but he knew the girl's petticoat would never go.

"Arthur, don't even try. I'll just come back as an old woman or a child or someone else you'd never recognise. You should know by now that you're stuck with me. For good."

Wanting to give Merlin another hug but knowing it was too soppy for now, instead Arthur punched him in the arm, and when Merlin protested, Arthur smiled. "Promise me one thing, though. If you are caught again, I don't want you to wait. I want you to go, far away where you'll be safe."

Merlin thought about it a moment. "Until I can come back again as someone else?"

Arthur nodded, reaching up, ruffling Merlin/Rolf's shaggy hair, then stood back, looking at him critically. "An old woman, really? I bet you'd look ridiculous."

"I've even transformed into a merlin once, although getting back to my normal shape was a bit difficult."

Merlin looked pleased and not a little proud. Arthur couldn't even comprehend how he could do such a thing, but if Merlin said he did, then he did. Of course, the idea that Merlin could go around looking like an old crone was hilarious and that was something he'd like to see. "Can you show me the old woman at some point? I could use a good laugh."

"If you let me stay, I'll show you anything you want." Merlin's voice was low, and definite, and he made it sound like a vow, not something to be laughed off or joked about, but as binding an oath as any Arthur had ever said.

"I should be furious but…," Arthur paused, looking at Merlin, wondering just how much trouble the two of them could get in if Merlin had his way, then said, "Anything?"

When Merlin nodded, then sent him a blinding grin – he really did look like an idiot but Arthur wouldn't have it any other way, Arthur gave up. Not like he had any say in the matter. But at least he had to make it look like it was his decision.

Giving Merlin another punch in the arm, laughing when Merlin fake-scowled in protest, Arthur said, "It would appear that Gaius needs an apprentice and since you haven't blown up the place yet, you can stay for now."

"Well, as long as it's for Gaius's sake, my lord, I would be happy to bow to your judgment." Only Merlin could make a mockery of such servility, but oh, how Arthur had missed it.

Pulling Merlin to him, rubbing knuckles against Merlin's rough-Rolf hair, listening with delight as Merlin protested, enjoying the feel of every squirm and wiggle against his side, he leaned over and whispered into Merlin's ear, "I'm glad you're back."

Merlin stilled, then looked up from underneath Arthur's head-lock grip, "Me, too." He jabbed at Arthur's side, wrestling with him as they both spilled onto the floor.

And there was laughter and joy and idiotic grins and Arthur knew then that he wouldn't have it any other way.

The end.