Author's Note: There are lots of great revelation fanfics out there but the plot bunnies an I were wondering what happens next. This can be read as a sequel to just about any (non-slashy) fic out there where Arthur finds out Merlin's got magic and doesn't arrest him.

Spoilers: None

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin - nor Arthur for that matter -I'm just borrowing them for a bit of non-profit fun.

"Rise and Shine!"

Arthur groaned and mumbled a semi-coherent string of complaints and insults as he buried his face in his pillow to block out the early morning sunlight streaming through the windows his servant had so cheerily thrown open. What was wrong with his deranged manservant that he was always so chipper in the mornings? The sleepy prince wondered briefly if all sorcerers were morning people - maybe magic just made you crazy like that.

Magic. Merlin. All of a sudden it all came rushing back to him and he opened his eyes to glare at the source of his irritation. Just two days ago Merlin was just another bumbling servant. But then yesterday – yesterday everything changed the moment he saw Merlin's eyes turn gold. While he would never turn his friend over to his father to be executed, the thought that Merlin had magic was still new and unsettling. How was one supposed to order a sorcerer to muck out one's stalls? How could he trust someone who'd hid the truth from him for years?

Merlin smiled a little uncertainly as he shuffled around the room tidying up while the prince continued to glare. Judging by thes attention to Merlin was paying to his usually neglected duties and his lack of insistence he haul his royal arse out of bed, Arthur figured he wasn't the only one feeling a little uncertain about how to act.

"I've brought you your favourite breakfast Sire – eggs and ham with fresh bread and butter!"

Arthur noted the polite use of his honorific and judging by the look of the plate, Merlin had neglected to nick the best bits for himself like he usually did. Plus the warm sunlight felt like the early morning rays of dawn – suggesting Merlin was actually on time. Apparently, all it took for Merlin to do a proper job was to witness him committing capital crimes like sorcery and the threat of execution would keep him in line. Although to be honest, he had gotten rather used to Merlin's late arrivals, missing food and impertinent comments. Particularly the late arrivals - it gave him a chance to sleep in when he wanted.

However, as he awake now he figured he should get on with the day. He rubbed his eyes and stretched and decided on eating before dressing. After all, warm eggs were delicious but cold eggs were disgusting. He padded over to the table and sat down. He spread the butter thickly on the bread and ate it while watching Merlin tidy up. He took a bite of the eggs and grimaced. They were cold.

"Merlin! These eggs are cold. I can't eat cold eggs Merlin."

Merlin looked over from where he was actually folding the shirts and putting them away rather than chucking them in (or behind/under/on top of) the nearest cupboard. The frightened look on the young warlock's face suggested that he honestly feared Arthur would turn him over to his father for letting his breakfast get cold.

"I'm so sorry sire. I don't know what I was thinking. I'll fix it straightaway". Arthur was shocked at the distinctly un-Merlin like response, but was even more surprised when instead of hurrying off to the kitchens to fetch him another plate as any other servant would have done, Merlin whispered something and his eyes glowed, after which the aroma of warm eggs wafted up and the prince could see steam coming off his eggs.

"Merlin! What did you do?" The prince looked in shock and alarm at the steaming eggs.

"I just warmed them up a bit." Merlin looked at him like a thief caught with his hand in the money bag. "You said you couldn't eat them cold so I just figured that well – since you know, I'd just…."

"Just what – bewitch my breakfast? "

"They're not bewitched Arthur!" Merlin replied, sounding a little more like himself "It's just a simple heating spell. Really they're fine."

"I am NOT eating magicked eggs Merlin. Who knows what sort of effect could have."

"The only effect they'll have is to fill you up so you're not hungry and grum - errr no grumbling stomach." Merlin tried to look earnest. "Besides, I've been heating your meals magically for over a year now and you've never complained."

"Merlin!" Arthur looked aghast "I thought you said you'd only used your magic to help Camelot? Now I find out you've been lacing my meals with magic. What else have you been doing?"

"Nothing!" Merlin spluttered "I mean nothing really, well, your armour takes so long to polish that I use a cleaning spell on it now and then. And the bathwater – do you know how hard it is to lug all that water up here and then heat it? There's a handy spell I use for that. And of course moving things – but that's not really a spell, just a natural ability…"

Merlin trailed off as Arthur just stared at him eyebrows raised incredulously.

"Yeah I guess I do use magic now and then. But how else am I to practice? Knights don't just pick up a sword when there's trouble – you train your knights every day, unless it's pouring and even then you sometimes make me stand there in the rain while you bash at some poor target or worse me while I get soaking wet and do you know you can get ill staying out in the rain like that - "

"Merlin!" Arthur cut into Merlin's tirade on training in the rain. He'd heard it many times before.

"Sorry sire. I just meant that using magic in my chores is just how I practice so that I can use it properly when I really need to."

Arthur thought that actually made sense but he didn't really want to admit that he was condoning use of illegal magic in Merlin's chores, so he made a non-committal 'humph' and turned back to his original dilemma - breakfast. The prince examined the eggs closely, pushing them around his plate and poking them experimentally with a fork. He sniffed them and poked them around a bit more.

"You're absolutely certain I can eat these?" He finally asked, still suspicious. After all, a lifetime of believing all magic was evil tended to make one hesitant to have anything to do with magic in any form.

"Yes sire."

"And no harm will come of it?"

"No sire."

"And the magic won't, I dunno, rub off on me or anything?"

"Of course not sire."

Arthur took a small bite. They did taste good. And he was hungry. He looked up at Merlin who nervously chewing his bottom lip and waiting for Arthur's verdict. The poor servant looked so nervous Arthur thought he might actually faint from lack of breath. He realised that for the first time since he'd known Merlin, the young servant was actually afraid of the prince. Part of Arthur wanted nothing more than to reassure his friend that he could trust him, but then he remembered said friend was a sorcerer and had been lying to him for years. And with a sinking feeling Arthur remembered that he wasn't sure that he could trust Merlin. But he could try.

"Well I suppose I'll just have to take your word for it then." He turned back towards his plate and started eating, despite the knot in his stomach. He could hear Merlin's sigh of relief but ignored it as he resolutely ate the entire meal. They'd just have to take it one step at a time. And although he'd never tell Merlin, he had to admit privately that magically heated eggs were even tastier than regular eggs.