The next morning, Arthur was called to have breakfast in the council chambers, with the now married couple and Morgana, as a 'celebration,' Arthur was well over celebrating at this point. He found it kind of ridiculous. He tried to eat his food quickly, so he could leave. Not that it mattered if he finished or not, as Catrina hadn't even eaten at all. Uther didn't seem to notice this. He was clearly too focused on other things.

"You left the feast early last night, Arthur," said Uther, and Arthur had been in the middle of drinking, he almost chocked, at being addressed. He and his Father had not spoken much, since the King seemed to think Arthur had let the Dragonlord escape on purpose, and he absolutely had...not, of course. He smirked to himself, and lowered his glass. His eyes landed on Merlin, for a only a second, as he passed by, offering Morgana more wine, who accepted, with a kind smile to him.

"I found I had a few rather important things to take care of," said Arthur, and Uther's eyes traveled to where Arthur's had been, which was Merlin, and Uther nodded, in understanding. Catrina's eyes traveled that way too, clearly have been listening, even if she wasn't involved in the conversation. Apparently, she was now.

"Surely, it could have waited until later," she said, and Arthur shrugged.

"No, I don't think it could have."

Uther let out a small chuckle, because it was painfully obvious what Uther thought, it was what he always thought, and Arthur wasn't going to correct him. Catrina sighed and looked down at her uneaten plate, glaring at it, like it had wronged her in way or another. Merlin walked over then, and went to take the plate from her, but stopped, he stare at it and then her.

"Are you done, My Lady?" he asked, and she looked up and glared at him.

"Yes, of course," she said, and looked away again. Merlin frowned. "Take it away!"

"You haven't eaten any of it," he said then. "Do you want me to get you something else?"

"No," she retorted, darkly. And Arthur found her to be rather rude, he was only being nice. Merlin was always nice, he cared even when he shouldn't. Merlin didn't say anything else and went to pick up the plate, but when he did, Catrina picked up the goblet of wine she had been ignoring until this moment, and the two collided, Merlin was covered in food and Catrina in red wine, all over her white dress. "LOOK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, YOU BUFFOON!" She shouted at him, and grabbed a cloth off the table, to dab at the stain. Merlin did as well, and she jerked away from him. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME!"

Merlin recoiled back, and stare at her. "I can fix it, I'm really good at-"

"Not another word, or I will have you in the stocks!" said Catrina, and looked back at Uther, as if she wished for support, Uther just sat there, blankly. "My Lord?"

It was clear Catrina wanted backing up in this, and Uther frowned now. "I know he is a bit clumsy, but the boy has been in my service for a long time, he doesn't mean anything by it, My Love."

Catrina huffed, so loudly, that it sounded more like a growl, and then she stood up and marched out of the room. Merlin stare after her, clearly confused. Morgana rose then too, and walked over to him. "Come with me, I'll help you clean up," she said, and Merlin nodded and followed her.

This left Uther and Arthur alone. Arthur, though had not said anything, felt a new sort of rage fill him, as soon as the door was shut on Morgana and Merlin, he turned toward his Father.

"Does she know about Merlin?" he asked, keeping his voice level, he didn't want an argument between them, but if it happened, he wasn't sure he cared either. Uther blinked a few times, and looked over at him. "Does she know...?"

Uther looked perplexed for a moment, and then shrugged. "I told her of your...connection," he said then, now noticing how annoyed Arthur was. "I suppose she didn't understand my meaning..."

"Well, tell her again," Arthur shot back, as he stood up and shoved his chair back, forcefully. "Because I held my tongue this time, Father, but I will not do so again. She will not treat him like that, not again. Do you understand?"

That was an order, a direct order to the King of Camelot, and it took a moment for Uther to catch it, before his face turned cold. "You will remember who you are speaking to!"

"I remember perfectly well!" retorted Arthur, before he stormed out. He walked down the hall for a bit, not sure where he was going, he had a Knights training to attend to, but he was too angry. He paused then though, just before he rounded a corner, because he heard something. He listened hard, for a moment, and realized, what he heard; It was a voice whispering.

"Merlin," it was saying, and Arthur strained to listen to it. He took a step forward and peered around the corner, Morgana was standing there and so was Merlin, and she was wiping something off of his tunic. "She did it on purpose, I know she did, I saw the look in her eyes, she wanted you in trouble..."

"It doesn't matter if she did, she's Queen now...I just have to be careful around her," said Merlin, but his face said it wasn't so simple, that he was upset, and it made that rage in Arthur flare up, a little bit, again.

"Arthur was furious, did you see his face?" said Morgana then.

"No, I was too busy covered in potato..."

Morgana laughed. "I hope he's told off his thick headed Father."

"He wouldn't...Arthur isn't that stupid," said Merlin then, and Arthur had to think that he was really that stupid, because he just had done it, and he didn't regret a thing. "He knows how it is, it's just how servants are treated."

"It's not fair," Morgana was saying now. "You are a person like everyone else, why is it that Camelot thinks if you act or are a certain way that you can be treated how ever they see fit?"

"Because they can..."

"I hate it, I hate Uther and I hate Catrina..."

"You don't hate Uther," Merlin said, seriously, and Morgana looked up at him and frowned, troubled. "And I thought you liked the Lady Catrina?"

"I did at first, but she's just as awful and evil as Uther is."

"It figures that's why he likes her so much..."

Arthur didn't feel like it was very appropriate to be standing here, listening to their conversation, so he quickly turned the other way and walked off. It was not just him who disliked Lady Catrina then. Of course he had figured this, Merlin didn't seem to either anymore, and now Arthur understood why. But it was too late, as Uther was already married to her. Arthur decided not to think about it anymore, he dressed himself for training, as Merlin was busy, and headed out. Leon was back today, he had been allowed a small time off, to grieve the death of his brother, Leroy, who died from the Dragon attacks. It was quite sad, honestly, Leroy had been one of the Knights who trained Arthur and was one of their best fighters.

He tapped Leon on the back, when he arrived, and Leon smiled over at him, but continued the story he was telling, to a few other Knights. "Anyway...once my mum died, and my dad had been long dead, Leroy convinced me to try out for the Knights, I had always wanted to, when I was a boy, but then my Mum fell ill, Leroy was already a Knight, so I took up the responsibility...-"

This sounded like a horrible, sad story, so Arthur stopped listening to that, and walked off, to get ready for the training. He wondered if Merlin would show up, to be the water jug holder again, he hadn't yet, even though it was his job, and Arthur thought he was probably still upset from the breakfast. It was a good hour, into the training, before Merlin finally did turn up, wearing a different tunic. Arthur nearly got bested by one of the Knights he was fighting, and even though Arthur held up the sign that meant yield, the man didn't listen and continued beating him in the chest with a mace. Arthur got mad at this point, not only was he not paying attention to orders, but he was stopping Arthur from what he wanted to do, which was to check on Merlin. And so, he kneed him right in the stomach, and the man dropped to his knees.

Arthur walked away then, over to where Merlin was sitting, next to Leon, who was taking a small break. Arthur wished he would go away, but didn't say anything, as he got closer.

"I didn't know you were allowing to fight dirty today," said Merlin, once he got close enough. He used his eyes to point to where the man was being helped up, by another Knight. Arthur didn't honestly feel that bad.

"I made the sign to yield," said Arthur. "It's not my fault he didn't listen."

"Maybe he didn't see," retorted Merlin, and although Arthur had been worried about him, he did seem fine. "And then you go and kick him...hmm, and I thought you loved your men."

Leon laughed next to him, and Arthur glared over at him. He grinned, and then got up and walked off. Arthur took his seat, instead. "Shut up..."

"What if I don't want to?" asked Merlin, and he leaned against Arthur and knocked his shoulder with his own. Arthur had to bite down on his lip, to keep from smiling like a fool. He felt a warm sort of fluttery feeling in his stomach and he wished he didn't feel so utterly love struck by this idiot. Merlin grinned over at him now, and Arthur swore, to God, batted his eyes at him. Clearly, Arthur was in over his head here.

"I suppose I can't stop you," said Arthur, and he was really confused though, honestly. Because he thought Merlin would be upset, offended by Catrina, why wasn't he? Did he just care about her so little that whatever she did, it didn't matter? Or was it something else...?

"Why do you look like that?" asked Merlin then, and some of his playfulness melted away a little bit, into worry.

"I was just thinking..."said Arthur, and Merlin tutted, Arthur chose to ignore that. "You shouldn't be treated the way Catrina treated you this morning."

"Why not?" offered Merlin then.

"Because you deserve better than that..."

"You've done the same thing to me before...called me a buffoon, shouted at me...put me in the stocks," Merlin reminded, and Arthur sighed.

"Yes, but..." he honestly had no excuse for it, and he knew that if things hadn't changed between them, maybe he would have continued, being much ruder to him than he was now. Because now, he didn't want to be rude to Merlin, they said things to each other, yes, Arthur even threw things at him sometimes, but never to hurt him, it was...well...it was confusing what it was, actually. All Arthur knew, is that he didn't like the way she treated him, and he wouldn't let it happen again.

"But what?" asked Merlin, and Arthur had forgotten he had said anything at all.

"I'm allowed..." he said, after a long moment and Merlin laughed in a huff. Arthur stood back up now, and smirked at him, as he walked off, and Merlin watched him go.

Arthur had decided that for the next few days he was going to avoid his Father and his new wife, he couldn't barely stand to be around them, the sight of them made him sick. It had been going well too, until the third day of this, it had started off normal enough, Merlin woke Arthur up in the morning and then told him that he was ordered by King Uther to go help the other servants collect wood, for the up coming cold season. Although it had just began getting warm, this was quite normal, the dryer the wood the longer it would last. Wet wood, no one wanted that. And the Kingdom needed a lot of wood to survive the cold. So, it was not odd he was asked to go, but Arthur didn't like it much, that meant he would have to eat breakfast alone, without Merlin's company, and then dress and go train by himself.

Which is exactly what Arthur did, as Merlin was gone for most of the day. Arthur had just been served dinner, by another servant, when there was a knock on his door and a Guard came bursting in, in a cold sweat. "Sire, you are being called for an emergency council, there was magic in Camelot!" Arthur didn't understand what that meant, what did they mean there was magic in Camelot? Arthur followed the Guard to where his Father was, along with Morgana and the Lady Catrina, and a girl, a resident, a rather poor one, by the looks of her. Arthur walked over to his Father, but didn't ask questions, instead, he went and stood behind Morgana, where she sat, as his chair was taken up by Catrina, as always, there wasn't even a place for him now. Merlin and Gaius walked in after a moment or so of Arthur standing there. Merlin looked worried about something, and Gaius looked rather annoyed.

"You may start," said Uther, once he was sure everyone was in the room. Arthur wondered what this was about, as the girl took some time to open her mouth and start talking.

"There was...an image, in the smoke, My Lord" she said, shaken. Uther became more stern in the way he was sitting suddenly, and stare at her. "It was...it was terrifying, I have never seen anything like it before, I feared for my life."

"And what was this image of?" asked Uther, and the girl sputtered, looking up at the King as if she were totally lost. "It is alright...you are safe now, no harm will come to you, you must tell me what the shape of this smoke was."

"It was..." she said, slowly, still stuttering. "It was...the Pendragon crest, My Lord..."

"A threat!" seethed Uther, and Arthur rolled his eyes at this.

"Maybe it was a show of support?" offered Merlin then, and Uther look over at him with a glare.

"Do not speak out of turn, boy!" shouted Catrina, suddenly, and Merlin frowned, and Arthur dug his nails, into the back of Morgana's chair, to keep himself quiet. Uther shook his head.

"Why would a Sorcerer show Camelot any kindness?" offered Uther. He looked Merlin over for a long moment. "She says you were there as well, you show the shape in the smoke."

"I didn't see anything," commented Merlin, and then his eyes traveled over to Arthur, maybe for help or something else, Arthur wasn't sure what. But he would do the first.

"Father..." said Arthur then, and Uther's head snapped toward him. "We cannot be sure there is any threat there, I will search the area myself..."

"No," said Uther, darkly, turning away from Arthur. "I cannot trust you will find this Sorcerer, I will not let another to escape my wrath. You seem incapable of doing your duty, so I will find someone who can."

"Father!" Arthur retorted, feeling rather offended, and he said this in front of a full court too. Arthur glare at him.

"I will hear no more of this, Arthur," said Uther. "The time for talking is over, it is only time for action."

"What are you planning, My Lord?" breathed out Catrina, acting as if Uther's rudeness to his son turned her on in some way. Arthur felt sick to his stomach again. Uher look over to his Wife and smiled at her.

"I have sent word to the Witchfinder, I believe he will truly be able to rid this kingdom of all it's undesirables, at last."

The court broke up after this, murmuring and muttering to themselves, about who this Witchfinder was. However, Arthur hadn't thought much about who he is, rather what he was there to do. As everyone else left, except Catrina of course, Arthur turned to his Father, feeling rather hurt.

"I can find this Sorcerer, Father," he said, and Uther, who was fixing to leave, along side his Wife, stopped and fixed Arthur with a dark look. "I know I failed with the Dragonlord, but that was once..."

"It has been more than once, Arthur," said Uther, as he took a step nearer. "You were never able to find Tauren-"

"I was attacked by a magical beast, I nearly died..." Arthur glare back at his Father. "It was not I who spent so long murdering the wrong man, you could have focused on finding the Sorcerer instead."

"Do not think you understand how to rule, Arthur!" retorted Uther. Catrina walked between them now, and patted Uther's not fat, but not thin, stomach and turned to Arthur, with the same sort of dark look.

"He might be your father, Arthur, but you are speaking to a king," she told him, with a stern voice. "You may never question his rule, he does know best."

"Do not tell me what to do!" Arthur barked at her then. "You are not my Mother, nor are you truly Queen, you have no say here, you have no rule!"

Catrina gasped, and took a step back. "I was only trying to help..."

"How dare you speak to her like this!" shouted Uther then, and Arthur sighed, trying to calm himself down.

"I'm sorry," he said, through gritted teeth, because he was not sorry at all. "I shouldn't have talked to you like that," he told Catrina, but he could barely look at her. "I understand you only want what is best for my Father."

"And you, Arthur," said Catrina, and Arthur had a hard time not rolling his eyes at this, because he seriously doubted that. "I only wish you would see, your Father is doing this for you, to make it easier for you. Allow someone who knows how to hunt Sorcerers do it, as you cannot."

Arthur felt the jab in there, at the end, but he didn't mention it, he just wanted to leave. He sighed. "I understand," he lied. "I hadn't seen it that way." He turned back to Uther. "Forgive me, Father."

Uther didn't say anything, just gave him one of his looks, the look that said he was on thin ice, and Arthur couldn't careless really, so he nodded to both of them, and fled from the room like it were on fire. He hated having to stay silent, he did all of the time, to keep his Father calm, and now Catrina too. He couldn't stand it, he thought it was completely stupid. How did they know there was any real threat at all? Only one girl had seen it, and if Merlin was there and saw nothing, surely that meant something else was at play here. Perhaps the girl was crazy, or a drunk, it all seemed rather odd. But leave it to Uther to go off, every single thing was a threat to him, and Catrina allowed him to act this way, encouraged him even. Arthur was sure his Mother would not have, but she was dead...so he had little idea of this were true or not.

Arthur returned to his chambers and it were dark now,his cold food lay uneaten on the table. Arthur found he was too angry to eat it now. He wondered where Merlin was, if he would return to his duties tonight, he had left with Gaius, once the court had ended and Arthur was disappointed, because he had hardly seen him all day, and at least he would be something good, some sort of happiness, after all this arguing with his Father. But he never came, Arthur had waited there a good hour, in the dark, and Merlin never showed up, perhaps he was busy or being questioned more, by Uther. Arthur hoped not, because that would be stupid. Perhaps Gaius was telling him off for being in the middle of this mess, even though it was hardly his fault. Arthur went to bed that night, feeling annoyed and now, even though he had tossed his food out side of the door, for someone to pick up, kind of hungry now, but also still mad...still very mad at his Father, and he didn't see that ending any time soon.

(A/N: For a story I started off as trying to make it seem like Uther wasn't the bad guy all of the time...he is truly being a rather big bad guy at the moment. I mean we can just blame Catrina for that honestly, if we want to. And I mean, we need some conflict. This chapter was a little bit shorter than the others have been thus far and the next one will be shorter too, but then they go back to pretty long again. I hope you enjoyed!)