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Really? Really?! Merlin thought to himself as he headed towards Arthur's chambers. Not only had the Great Dragon betrayed him by attacking Camelot after he had let it out, but the only person who could stop the dragon was a Dragonlord. And, this Dragonlord, as there was only one now thanks to Uther's extermination of all things magic!, was Balinor... His father, according to Gaius. Why hadn't anyone told him that he had a father? Told him that his father was still alive? Because he was a Dragonlord and had magic? That was unfair, he had magic! At least... now he knew that his father was alive and had an actual reason for abandoning him and his mother.

At least, they could hope he was alive! What if he wasn't? What if in the end, this whole situation would turn out for naught and they would find out that Balinor had died or been killed a while back? Merlin surely hoped not. He'd be devastated, and for more than one reason! Camelot would be doomed, and he wouldn't be able to meet his father. Although, the more he thought about it, the more he wasn't sure if he did want to meet his father. What if he was rude? Or didn't care? What if he wouldn't help at all anyway? And no one could find out about this, not even Arthur. If Arthur knew that Balinor was his father, than he might associate Merlin with magic. And while that assessment would be true, Merlin didn't want that at all.

Merlin carefully opened the door to Arthur's chambers when he got to them, and stepped in. "Sire," he spoke, letting the door close behind him as he walked over to the Prince. "The horses are ready, we can leave anytime." Sooner would be better than later, though, as the longer they waited, the more people would wind up dying.

He'd nearly died. According to Gaius, the poison that he had drank had been strong enough that normal remedies wouldn't have been able to save him. A remedy had had to come from a flower he'd called the morteous flower, one that could be found in the caves of the Balor forest. A flower that Arthur had gone off to find. Merlin was amazed that the Prince had gone off to do that, gone off into danger to find the one thing that could save his life. Amazed that the man had cared enough about his servant to do that. He wasn't about to complain, though, for he was still, in fact, quite alive. Not feeling the best, but still alive.

However, he was still glad that he'd been able to stop Arthur from drinking from the poisoned goblet. Glad that Arthur was still alive and that he hadn't been the one to be poisoned. If dying had been the cost of what it would take to save Arthur, than Merlin would have done so gladly, which he proved well enough by not hesitating to drink from it. He couldn't deny, though, that he had felt like he was going to puke, like his heart wanted to come out of his chest, like something was preventing him from breathing, when he had brought the chalice to his lips.

He had been told it was poisoned, he had known it was poisoned, but still he drank from it. All to save Arthur, the man that he had disliked not too long ago, but had become friends with since being named his servant. He had to admit, he was thankful for the King doing that. They didn't always get along, but it wasn't so bad anymore. If he hadn't cared about the Prince like he did, he wouldn't have so readily accused a foreign leader of trying to poison the Prince off of some random woman's claims. Wouldn't have so readily drank from the goblet without a single protest, all to save him.

A small smile crept onto his face as he picked up another goblet, one filled with water -- though, it still cause slight hesitation, even though he knew this one wasn't poisoned. He drank from it, covered in a blanket he'd been using for a while now. Even though not too long ago he'd been burning up from a fever caused by the poison, his body's temperature was low enough to cause him to feel relatively cold.

"Still alive then?"

Merlin turned in his chair to face the familiar voice. He was relieved to see Arthur again, that he was able to see Arthur again. "Um, yeah, just about," he answered, glancing down at himself as he spoke. "I-I understand I... I have you to thank for that." Definitely thank, he thought as he looked back at Arthur.

Merlin nearly breathed in relief when one dog was stopped by the barrier of wood -- ONE?! The second dog had got past just in time to avoid the falling wood! Cursing silently to himself, Merlin turned on his heels and began to run off once more, praying that his pause hadn't cause him too much precious time. Time that he could use to live instead!

He couldn't use magic again to attempt to stop the dog. Not with Arthur so close in witnessing-range. Besides, if he paused to try, and failed, he wouldn't have any more time to run, to escape. Therefore, that was out of the question. He'd have to hope he'd come across something that he could use to distract the dog, or that Arthur would be able to stop it.

He rounded a corner, and than another one shortly after, trying to lose the dog in a complicated patter of different paths. It failed, however, and the dog stayed quickly behind on his heels. It did seem, though, that he had lost the Prince... something he had not wanted! Arthur was the only one who could stop the dog. If he wasn't around, how could he do that?!

"Sirrrrre!" he cried, hoping that Arthur could hear him! He hadn't heard the Prince's calls, or he would have responded, even gone back towards him if he could. Oh, why did he have to let his big mouth get him into these sort of situations? Even if he didn't respect the man himself, he should have at least pretended he did! That way he wasn't punished by having dogs chase him!! Exercise... Well, they were getting plenty to last a week! A month even! And if something didn't happen soon, he was going to climb on a roof or a merchant stand or something!

Merlin knew he should be getting back to Camelot, back inside the castle where he would than spend the rest of the day doing various chores for the Prince Arthur Pendragon... chores he was required to do because he was the man's manservant. Chores that he would prefer not to do, but who was he to complain? In fact, he did enjoy his job, the Prince had become his friend. Something that he had thought had been impossible, and something that had led him to complain less about his work. Not that it would make a difference even if he had.

He'd come here originally with a goal in mind. It hadn't been just a trip out of Camelot for the fun of it. No, instead, he had planned on picking berries to bring home. Berries were useful for numerous things... the majority of them dealing with food, of course. However, he had lost track of his goal and had instead decided to take a break for a while. He only intended to sit down for a moment or two for a short rest. That short rest, though, turned into long one, and he had laid down on a grassy hill in the forest where he could see Camelot. Okay, perhaps he had gone a little further than he had intended to go, but he wasn't afraid of encountering any danger out here, despite how danger could be anywhere.

And so, he laid there, the basket he had brought with him discarded somewhere off to the side, as he rested his arms behind his head. This position he had taken offered a splendid view of Camelot. It was a beautiful town and castle, he couldn't deny that. No one could, or they had to be lying! It stood as many things, and was a source of strength for the Kingdom. And, something that only made it all the more wonderful to Merlin, it had become his home over the past two years. Of course, Ealdor would always remain foremost in his heart as his home. It had been where he had grown up, and there he had made his fair share of friends as well.

But, because of his magic, he had never really fit in there -- the reason that his mother had sent him to Camelot. Whatever made her think that I would fit in at the source of the executions and troubles of magic? he wondered in bewilderment, and not for the first time since he had arrived in the city. Oh well, he'd found his place... perhaps. Of course, no one knew about his magic there, and it had to stay that way. At least, no one of importance did. There were a few people who knew. Only a few. It would stay that way until the time came for it to be otherwise.

A smile found its way across his face and he lifted his hand, pointing it at a puddle that had formed in an indent in the earth. "Fisc, frícian lyftgelác," he mumbled, using magic. He didn't think it would matter out here, he didn't expect anyone to catch him. Of course, he had thought the same thing last time when he had made a horse from smoke. However, of course, that had been over someone's house... wasn't very smart. Perhaps this time it wasn't either.

There weren't any fish in the puddle, of course, but he hadn't meant there to be. Instead, balls of water raised out of it, forming what looked like small little fish as it condensed themselves, floating in the air and spinning in circles as if swimming in midair. He thought it was pleasant, he would never understand why so many people now thought that even the simplest of spells were dangerous and evil...

_{* fisc, frícian lyftgelác = fish, dance through the air}

They were still chasing him! They had far more stamina than he had! Eventually he would tire out and they would catch him! He could only maintain a speed that kept him ahead of them for so long. Eventually that would end and he would be dog food... He didn't want that at all! Oh, how this had turned out terribly! Why, the thanks he got for saving the Prince's life! Show him to think twice about it! No, even in his frantic state at the moment, he knew that he would still do anything to save the man -- he'd just silently complain about it again afterwards when things like this happened again.

He had to stop running at some point, the chase was causing havoc throughout the streets of Camelot. People stared on with shock, others grew angry as their possessions were scattered or their carts toppled over as the trio ran past. As Merlin rounded one corner, he accidently ran into a woman who was carrying a bundle of fabrics. The cloth fell to the ground, and Merlin stumbled to try and not fall over -- or knock her over as well --, and didn't pause to help her. Though, as he ran away, he did call over his shoulder, "I am so sorry!" Though, he thought that she would rather have to pick the fabric up herself rather than have dogs come across and ruin it all!

When Arthur did call "Heel!" he figured that he was probably calling to the dogs. Though there was still that slight doubt, and the surprise of it all shocked him into momentarily skidding to a halt. He spun around, hoping beyond anything that Arthur would call the dogs off now that he realized they didn't appear to be stopping anytime soon! Looking around frantically, Merlin spotted a pile of wood stacked against a building not too far away. If the dogs ran past it, he could create a barricade of it, or at least slow them down! The person who put it there probably wouldn't be too happy, but oh well...

As the dogs came closer, Merlin took a deep breath and whispered, "Færdryre wudufín!" Surely enough, the wood began to fall over, right in the path of the dogs! Success! ... Hopefully.

^{*færdryre wudufín = fall pile of wood}

Merlin was unsure of what to say or do; couldn't think rationally for the life of him. Or, a better excuse was, he didn't want to. Didn't want to admit to himself that in many ways, they were both wrong, but both right. Was there any common, middle ground here? Or was there only the road to anger and more anger? It seemed the latter at the moment, they were both venting their frustrations on each other, not willing to work it out. He didn't care though, if Arthur wanted to come here to yell at him, than Merlin surely wasn't about to just let him go right on ahead. He'd had enough of being yelled at, particularly as of late. It seemed to be some kind of routine. Previously, before all of this had happened, he wouldn't have minded as much -- a more peaceful side would have been welcomed, but would have seemed strange.

Now, he just wanted to heave something at the man. Anything; a rock, a shoe, some random miscellaneous object that just happened to be laying around. Anything. He wouldn't though, not quite yet at least. It was getting to that point, however. Still, even in this irrational state, there was that little voice in the back of his head that was telling him that that would not help anything at all. Also, it said, if it caused a fight, it would be one that Merlin would surely lose. He ignored the voice completely.

He had called Arthur blind and stupid. He had called Uther blind and stupid. He was; he saw sorcerers were there were none, and those that just happened to be allies and were sorcerers, well, they didn't matter, they were still sorcerers. This whole revenge thing was getting just a tad bit old and overused. He could "understand" it to an extent from way back then, but now... Therefore, he claimed that the King was blind and stupid. While he stuck by what he had said, he -- dimly -- wished that he could take it back. What had happened in the next few seconds shocked him.

Merlin didn't move when Arthur came towards him. He didn't know what to do, didn't think quickly enough that he should get out of the way, and therefore he didn't. He just stood there, his thoughts momentarily whirling about his head, as Arthur punched him. Perhaps he could have maintained his balance if he wasn't so weak -- no, he knew, he would not have been able to. Arthur was stronger than him, and a disciplined warrior. He was also Merlin's friend -- how strange the word sounded now! --, and the pure shock would still have caught him by total surprise. No, this would have ended the same way.

He did manage to put himself into a position that didn't land him face first on the ground, though the angle that Arthur had hit him at probably wouldn't have caused that anyway. Landing in an awkward half-turned position, Merlin just sat there, staring at the ground and away from the still-angry Prince. Had his words really caused such a reaction? Had he really managed to anger Arthur that much? It seemed so, and the knowledge that he had been the cause forced Merlin to pause and think.

Hands clenching into fists, digging into the ground below them, Merlin, without looking back up at Arthur, forced his voice to work. "So this... this is why you came, then? Go on, hit me again if it'll make you feel better." The words came out slowly and in a forced controlled voice. In reality, he wanted to scream, though he wasn't sure so much in anger this time.

[ Yes, we dooo lol ]

It had been a faint and small smile, but Merlin had still vaguely caught it anyway. A strong king? Of course Cenred was a strong king, but he ruled by fear in Merlin's book, and to him, that wasn't what made someone a strong king. Physicality had nothing to do with it -- though it certainly helped! "Ah, but he's a terrible one. Doesn't inspire much loyalty." he made a 'tsk'ing noise and shook his head. Still, Arthur was right, and they also couldn't take this situation lightly. In fact, they were in a dire circumstance at the moment. Both Morgause and Cenred were here, and Morgana was a hidden player in it all. Against the three of them, the situation was quite serious.

Yes, even if indirectly because of Morgana, if Morgause hadn't been involved, then sneaking in would have been a lot easier. "She probably put a tracking spell on us, she's powerful enough to do it." Truthfully, Merlin wasn't quite sure how they were caught. He knew it had something to do with Morgana alerting them, but how? He had been watching her as closely as he could, and he hadn't seen anything that he thought could alert Morgause and Cenred. He had to have missed something.

Recently things had been hectic, what with Arthur nearly dying, and then the whole thing eventually being Nimueh's fault. And then of course it got worser still; to save a life, a life had to be taken according to the Old Religion. Merlin had accepted this, but only because he had expected it to take his. Instead, it tried to take his mother's. He couldn't allow that to happen, so he had gone back to the Isle of the Blessed to force Nimueh to take his, but Gaius had gone ahead first, and died himself until Merlin killed her instead.

What a complete pain.

But he hadn't been about to let Arthur die. Even when he had first come to Camelot, he never would have wished the man dead. Well, there were times... But over time, the Prince had become his friend. Now more than ever he would have done anything for him. He decided right then and there that they should pay more heed to Morgana's predictions. She had warned Arthur that he couldn't go, said she had had a dream, and in the end, she had been right. The Questing Beast had nearly killed him.

Everything was back to normal now... for now.

It never seemed to stay that way, though. For some strange reason -- that was not all that strange given life in Camelot -- trouble seemed to stalk Camelot like a plague. Well, not quite like a plague, but it had seen it's fair share of that to be sure.

Gaius was out at the moment, they had returned only just recently, but he always had things to do. Merlin was glad for that, glad that he was out and about because that meant that he was alive, not dead at the Isle of the Blessed because of Nimueh. Merlin however, was still in the Physician's Chambers. He was reading through the spell book that Gaius had given him soon after arriving in the city. So when he heard the knock on the door, he nearly jumped out of his bed, tossing the book to the side.

Well, it definitely couldn't be Arthur, he would have just walked in. This was a good thing though, that the person knocked, it gave him time to hide the spell book. After that, he walked out of his room, down the small set of stairs, and opened the front door to see. . .

"Morgana!" he exclaimed, smiling widely. He opened the door to allow her to enter. "Gaius isn't here at the moment if you needed him."

He had not lied to him every day since he met him! Alright, he had, hadn't he? But Merlin sure as hell wasn't about to admit that to Arthur! Well, he didn't have to, Arthur already knew that he had. Still, he wasn't going to let this be turned back around on him, making him the bad guy! He hadn't done anything that wrong! Sure, he knew that he should have trusted Arthur more, should have told him the trust at least when they became friends, such as around the time that Arthur had come to Ealdor to help save it. Or after the whole incident with Anhora. That would have been a good idea, that whole last test was about trust after all, wasn't it?

No! He wasn't about to start feeling bad! He was still convinced that this was a dream, at least to some extent, and wasn't about to allow Arthur to make him feel guilty! No, Arthur should be the one feeling guilty. Yeah, him, not Merlin! Arthur had been the reason Merlin hadn't told him, he was afraid that he would tell Uther, or kill him. That's why, because Merlin -- ... Because Merlin hadn't trusted him. . .

Yes, he had lied to everyone, hadn't he? But it was nessesary! And he had hoped that it would protect them from harm, too, if they hadn't known his secret! Hadn't had to keep it a secret from others that would report it to the King! He had believed it to be in the best intentions. "Maybe I wouldn't have kept it from you if you weren't such a big idiot to not have seen what was right under your nose! To realize that maybe, just maybe, your 'incompetant' servant wasn't so incompetant as you made it out to be!" he yelled back angrily, using the guilt he was beginning to feel as a fuel for his irritation.

Just as Arthur wasn't about to admit being wrong about anything, neither was Merlin. It would probably get them nowhere, or maybe it would. Only time would be able to tell if the bond they once had could keep them together as friends. "But no, you weren't able to tell! You're just as blind as your father! And just as stupid!" He was too angry -- whether at Arthur or himself he wasn't sure of -- to see sense and not say stupid things. But what should he be afraid of? He wasn't in Camelot or its surrounding Kingdom. He was in Cenred's Kingdom.

[ WOO! PAGE 3!!! ]