A/N: Thanks again for reading! Still having the same issue with reading reviews, but thank you for those as well! Some more action this chapter...

CHAPTER 5

Arthur and the other Kings rode out before breakfast, so he didn't have the chance make peace with Merlin before they left. However he was at least fortunate enough to pass Guinevere on the way to the courtyard, and pulled her in for a swift kiss.

"You're late," she chastised, but her smile belied her words. "Hunting today? Merlin must be miserable."

"Lucky for him he's not coming." Arthur leant in for another kiss, but Guinevere pulled back.

"Is he alright?"

"He's fine! It's just what we spoke about before, he's... not quite settled into diplomacy." Arthur released her regretfully. "I had best go."

"Wait, Arthur." Gwen caught his wrist to stop him. "This isn't to do with Morgana is it? The way she charmed them all yesterday?"

Arthur huffed. "Why does everyone assume I'm so easily taken in? Morgana is a completely separate issue. Once this Summit is over I will deal with her, but until then-"

"You let her come to breakfast, Arthur. She should be in the dungeons! She killed your father!"

"You think I don't know that?" He snarled, and instantly regretted it when Guinevere's expression hardened. "Guinevere, I know better than anyone what she's done. How could I not? But we have to use every resource to ensure this Summit is a success."

"And that's the only reason you let her eat with you all?" Guinevere challenged. "Because she's a useful resource?"

"I let her eat with us because the kings asked for her, and I wished to be an accommodating host. It was a mistake, I admit it, and yes sometimes..." Arthur faltered. "Sometimes I can't help thinking that- that if we had only accepted her, shown her some kindness, perhaps things would be different."

"But do you really think she can change?" Gwen pushed. "Because that's what it comes down to Arthur. Not how charming she is, not how much she looks like her old self. She is not the same woman we used to know. And if she can't change, then you're letting your worst enemy sleep just a few corridors away. Are you certain of what you're doing?"

George appeared at that moment to chivvy Arthur along, which was just as well because he didn't have an answer to Gwen's question.

The hunt passed pleasantly enough, but Arthur's thoughts were elsewhere. Everything had just happened so quickly. From the return of magic, to Olaf's early arrival, to the Summit itself and now to Morgana. He owed her a fair trial; things couldn't operate as they had when his father reigned, that much Arthur knew. But was he putting his Kingdom at risk? Was it worth that risk to be sure that magic would return not just to Camelot, but across all the Kingdoms?

Bayard brought his horse to join Arthur at the back of the party on the return journey, having realised the King was more withdrawn than usual. "I notice your Court Sorcerer isn't here. Is all well?"

Arthur smiled thinly. "Of course. He simply despises hunting."

"And someone had to watch Lady Morgana?" Bayard guessed. "You're juggling a lot here Arthur, I don't envy you. But if it is any help at all, know that Mercia will back you on the changes to the treaty no matter what."

"Thank you, Bayard," Arthur said sincerely. "I only wish Godwyn were here. I could use another clear ally. Olaf's support hinges entirely on Morgana's promise to lift his daughter's enchantment and as for Alined? I wouldn't trust him further than I could throw him."

Bayard laughed. "Very well put. But I have faith in you Arthur. I respected your father, but there is something else in you. You inspire confidence and faith in a way few rulers do. Try not to forget that during these negotiations."

Bayard spurred his horse ahead to fall into conversation with Olaf and Alined, leaving Arthur with even more to consider. He did not have much chance, however, as a deafening screech from above sent the parties' horses rearing up in fear. Arthur clung onto his steed with sheer determination, but he saw both Alined and Bayard flung from theirs, along with the majority of the knights who accompanied them.

"Wyverns!" Olaf bellowed, from his position toward the front of their crowd where he too had managed to keep his horse.

There were five of the beasts, and sunshine glinted from sharp talons as one of them swooped upon a fallen Mercian knight. Arthur pulled his crossbow free and shot at it, but the sudden impact served only to distract the monster; its fiery gaze locked on him instead.

It flew forward and Arthur considered loading another bolt, but in a split second knew he had no time and went for his sword instead. The split second's thought cost him, and his back was turned as the wyvern ripped him from his saddle with one swipe of its powerful claws. He rolled onto his back as he fell, but had dropped his crossbow. As the wyvern came in for a second, fatal blow a voice rang out.

"ARTHUR!"

There was a whoosh, a sudden burst of heat and a light so bright that Arthur had to shield his eyes. When he uncovered them, the wyvern was gone, and Merlin hovered anxiously above him. When had he gotten here?

"Arthur? Arthur are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Arthur swatted him away and stood. The other wyverns circled warily above, but came no closer. Arthur glanced to his left and saw why; the wyvern that had been about to dispatch him was now only a smoking carcass of burnt flesh and scales.

"S'enthend' apokhorein nun epello-o-o." Merlin's voice was deep and guttural, different to when he cast a spell. The wyverns winced and flapped away. This must be his Dragonlord power.

Arthur didn't have a chance to ask for clarification, however, as Merlin was already striding away toward- Arthur blinked for he had only just spotted her - Morgana?

"What was that?"

She had been helping pull Alined to his feet and, before she could answer, the snakeish King responded on her behalf.

"Saving King Arthur's life! What you should have been doing as Court Sorcerer, surely?"

Merlin had been remarkably proper for the entirety of the Summit but, Arthur thought regretfully to himself as his former manservant's hands clenched into fists, every man had his breaking point.

"She swore to us she wouldn't use magic until her trial!"

Olaf turned from where he had been helping some of his knights back to their horses. "Well thank heaven she did! If not, King Arthur might be dead. Should she have stood by and done nothing?"

"She-"

"Merlin." Arthur's voice, though quiet, cut across the distance between them. There was a warning there, different from his usual fond exasperation. "Now is not the time. Let's see to our men and return to Camelot. We can discuss this further in the citadel."

It took all of Merlin's willpower to duck his head and stiffly agree, "Yes, Sire."

It was explained en route how Merlin and Morgana had come to be in the forest. Merlin had received another message from Iseldir, this one requesting his presence at the Druid base in The Darkling Woods, and Morgana had begged to join him. As Merlin was better equipped to guard her than the guards themselves, he obliged.

"So it was only luck we were here at all," Morgana finished her story modestly and, even through all of Alined and Olaf's praise, she kept her head down and mouth shut until they were back in Camelot.

"Arthur," she said quietly to him on their way into the castle. "I really didn't mean anything by breaking our agreement. It won't happen again. It was pure instinct, I swear."

He wanted to believe her. Wanted it more than anything. But he remembered the very first time he had seen a wyvern, on his quest for the Fisher King's trident, when she had sent him on his way with a smile, her best wishes, and a bracelet that would sap his life away.

"I'm not saying you have to trust me." Clearly she had seen something of those memories stirring behind his eyes. "But I used to think you were just like Uther. I hated our father, Arthur, I won't deny it. I'm not unhappy he's dead. But you... you're different. I didn't realise before. You're really nothing like him at all."

Arthur gestured at Gwaine and Leon to escort her back to her chambers. Once they were out of sight he went to his own room, where he knew Merlin would be waiting.

George and Merlin were having an argument when Arthur arrived.

"It was only the floor-"

"Lord Merlin I have a system-"

"I was helping you George, making your life easier-"

"And I am grateful my Lord-"

"Don't call me my Lord-"

"George."

The poor servant was so startled he nearly dropped his water bucket and mop. "Oh, Sire! My apologies, I hadn't realised- Lord Merlin and I were just-"

"Lord Merlin and I need to have a conversation in private."

As George bowed deeply and departed, Merlin strode to the window. His shoulders were rigid and tense; he was furious.

"She saved my life."

"She nearly cost you your life!" Merlin whirled around, blue cloak whipping around him as he did so, and for an instant Arthur was struck by just how powerful his friend looked. When he saw him like this, Arthur could well believe that Merlin was the all-powerful Emrys. "Her spell triggered the enchantment I had cast and distracted me. If she had meant you ill-"

"But she didn't, Merlin. She could have let me die easily, but she saved me instead."

There was a hesitant tap on the door.

"Come in!"

It was George again. "Apologies Sire, but the servants want to know if you will still require lunch for the Summit?"

"Of course. Be sure the Kings get there on time." Arthur attempted a grin as George bowed again and left. "Strike while the iron's hot. They can't deny the advantages of magic after today."

But Merlin was not to be swayed. "I don't give a damn what the other Kingdoms think. They love Morgana because she's a noble and they hate me because I'm not."

"You are a noble-"

"I'm not." Merlin didn't yell, but his voice carried all the resonance it had when he ordered the wyverns away, and Arthur flinched much as they had done. "You can give me new chambers or clothes and I can act as proper as you please, but nothing I say matters to them."

"It would matter," Arthur insisted. "If you would just... just..."

"If I would just change?" It was strange. As a rule a servant's job was to fade into the background, appear when useful, then fade away again. Merlin may not have been the model servant, but he was an expert at that part of the job - Arthur had never seen him stand as he did now, taking up every inch of himself. "The night you gave me this cloak, you told me never to change. To always be me."

Arthur was getting impatient now. "This has nothing to do with any insecurity you have in your new station. Morgana saved my life and she is helping persuade the other Kings that magic should return. What else matters?"

"She must have an ulterior motive," Merlin muttered darkly. "She can't have changed."

"I've changed, haven't I? From when you first knew me?"

"Yes," Merlin agreed begrudgingly. "I suppose you are... slightly... less of a dollophead."

"Well then," Arthur said, triumphant. "Do you want magic to come back to the Five Kingdoms?"

"Yes, but-"

"Then we need Morgana." Arthur braced himself for Merlin's reaction. "I think we should bring her into the Summit negotiations."

Merlin's wounded expression made Arthur feel like he'd just kicked a puppy.

"She will still have her guard, you'll still know if she does any magic," he hastened to reassure. "But she can give us an edge. There's no way we can convince Olaf without her, and I think she even has Alined on side."

And even stranger than seeing Merlin take up space was seeing how easy it was for him to fade back into the background. He nodded, subdued, and made for the door.

"Merlin, it's really not as bad as you think," Arthur said to his friend's retreating back. "I'm doing this for you as much as anybody."

Merlin's voice was so soft that Arthur barely heard it over the door closing. "I hope so, Sire."

The negotiations that afternoon were a huge success. Morgana was charming, persuasive, eloquent... In stark contrast to Merlin, who barely said two words throughout the three hours they were lodged in the council chamber. When he slipped out early with a mumbled excuse, it was only Arthur and Bayard who noticed, and the two Kings shared a look before returning to the talks.

Merlin knew he was being unreasonable. It was like Arthur had said, what did it matter so long as they got the treaty signed? Magic was going to return to the Five Kingdoms. He should be ecstatic. No, he didn't trust Morgana, but she was just a means to a very important end.

"Merlin!" Gwen intercepted him as he left the Council Chamber. "How was it?"

He pasted on an unconvincing smile. "All fine. Everything's agreed, and Lord Godwyn should be here in the next day or two to agree to the changes and for the final signing."

"I heard Morgana was there."

"She was."

Gwen sighed. "I know she saved Arthur's life today, but I can't imagine myself trusting her again. "

"No. Me neither."

But that wasn't entirely true. He could imagine it; he imagined it all the time. Only that morning he had imagined it, when her eyes lit up at his mention of visiting Iseldir and the Druids. And then again when he saw the look on her face as she watched children learning to harness their magic for good, the same look he knew he wore whenever he watched the same. It was all too easy to imagine a life where he trusted Morgana, where she had never turned against him, or he against her.

It was the wyvern attack that had brought him back to reality. When they had stumbled across the hunting party and seen the winged reptiles attacking, that had frightened him enough. But when he felt Morgana releasing her magic... that was something else. The sensation of her magic took him back to the Fomorroh, to Uther's death, to being left to die amidst a swarm of serkets. He could imagine trusting her, yes. But the trust went no further than imagination.

"Merlin?" Gwen drew him gently from his thoughts. "I'm sure it will all be fine. Arthur hasn't decided on anything yet."

"It's just something Alined said in the meeting."

The crooked King had laughed over loudly at some comment from Morgana and reiterated his belief that she would have been a better choice for Court Sorcerer. Merlin had remained silent as Arthur awkwardly moved the conversation on.

"Do you think he regrets making me a noble?"

Gwen considered this for only a few seconds, but Merlin marked the pause. "Sometimes I think we forget how radical Arthur has been. He broke the First Law of Camelot when he created the Round Table Knights and he's repealed the ban on magic, all having grown up with Uther's tyrannical teachings. Try and have some patience, Merlin. He'll remember what he truly believes."

"Is that what you're doing?" Merlin questioned shrewdly. "Trying to have patience until he realises he should just do what he wants and marry you?"

Gwen glanced down, embarrassed. "I don't want to rush him into anything. I'm proud of who I am and where I'm from, but it can be difficult not to feel inadequate because of my background." She looked back up to him with an understanding smile. "So trust me, Merlin, I understand at least a little of what you feel."

The two hugged and Merlin felt some of the day's tension roll off him. "Thank you Gwen. I know you'll make a great queen some day."

"Perhaps." Gwen looked doubtful. "But until then, we had best both keep a close watch on Morgana, even if Arthur won't."