I literally have no decent excuse as to why it's been months. Sorry. On h plus side, I've worked out the entire plot so things might be back on track. Also next chapter is just gonna be Mergana fluff and love as a gist to those who are putting up with me. :)

The Prince was bored.

Gaius had condemned him to bed rest for at least one day so his shoulder could heal properly. Unfortunately, Arthur wasn't used to sitting still all day and it was driving him mad. The knock on the door was on its way to becoming the most interesting aspect of the day.

'Only enter if you have good news. Like maybe the name and whereabouts of my attacker,' Arthur said, delighting in the idea of revenge. Whoever was responsible for his current predicament deserved nothing more than the vengeful rage of the Prince.

'Sorry Sire, not yet. But I do have food,' Merlin crept around the corner and brought the steaming bowl of stew to the bed. Arthur propped himself up against the headboard and said, 'Well, food is better than nothing,' before burning his mouth ramming in a ridiculously heaped spoonful of piping hot stew.

For once, Merlin hadn't jumped at the chance to mock the Prince. Arthur twisted his vision towards the unnaturally quiet servant and realised something was off. Merlin was paler than usual and his hands trembled the simplest of tasks.

'Merlin, are you sick? Look, just this once I'll give you a day off if you are. I'd rather not catch anything from you, to be honest,' Arthur joked.

'I'm fine Sire. All done here. | must go check your horse. Oh, and Morgana needs to talk to you,' Merlin mumbled as he cleared away the Prince's lunch before hastily darting out the door.

'Send her in then if you catch her!' Arthur shouted, hoping Merlin would hear. Whether he denied it or not, something was going on with that dark-haired mystery!

'Finally, some decent company!' Arthur joked.

Morgana rolled her eyes and laughed at the thought of how awkward his previous visitor must have been. Poor Merlin was so nervous that he'd found Arthur too intimidating, even in his current situation. Now was the time to test him.

'So, I hear you need to talk to me. Pull up a chair over here,' Arthur gestured his hand by the side of the bed. Morgana dragged the chair across the room, creating an ear-splitting noise of wood on wood that made them both wince.

There was no way to sugar-coat it, no way to soften the undeniable truth. Morgana took a deep breath and braced herself to just out the facts. 'Merlin-,'

'Oh, wow. Please don't tell me Merlin is too afraid to tell me something. That he's sent you to do his dirty work!'Arthur interrupted.

'No, but Merlin and I-,'

Again, Arthur felt a need to intercept Morgana. 'You and Merlin what? Come on, did he really have to send you instead? How bad can it be? It's not like he's seeing the King's ward behind his back or something ridiculous!"

All the colour fled Morgana's face when he uttered those last words. She couldn't stop twiddling her fingers as her mind raced with the possible consequences of the disaster that was unfolding. Merlin imprisoned, Merlin exiled, Merlin executed…Morgana had let her guard down. Arthur had read her face.

'You cannot be serious! You and him! I'm gonna kill that scrawny piece of-,' Arthur was absolutely furious. He threw off the sheets and lept off the bed, sabotaging his chambers in a maddened attempt to uncover some sort of weapon. Satisfied with a training sword, he shot out the door, chasing down the halls.

'Gwen!' Morgana cried, her voice squeaking in panic. Arthur and Merlin were both dear to her and she feared what might become of them if word got out. Arthur was weak, not yet recovered enough to be running about waving a sword without causing further damage. But even so, he'd be strong enough to inflict substantial damage upon Merlin, especially with a blow to the head.

Gwen ran into the Prince's room to be confronted by a traumatised-looking Morgana who couldn't even string together enough words to explain what was going on. 'Arthur knows...went after Merlin...has a sword,' was all Gwen could pick out, but it didn't take a genius to put it together.

After several minutes of chasing around the castle, Morgana and Gwen found Arthur cornering Merlin in the armoury, his sword high in the air, as if it might come crashing down at any moment.

Without either of them thinking rationally, Morgana ran to Merlin, using herself as the only effective method of protecting him she could think of while Gwen threw her arms around Arthur's and tried to lower the sword.

'Arthur, please!' Morgana begged, desperately trying to appeal to his better nature. 'Merlin's done nothing wrong! For goodness sake, just calm down!'

Gwen slipped the sword from his hand threw it in the floor behind them. She whispered something in his ear too faint for either Merlin or Morgana to hear, but a smile cracked across the Prince's face, drawing a musical giggle from Gwen. After an exchange of several hushed arguments, Arthur sighed in resignation.

I'm sorry for my blatant over reaction. Just know this, Merlin: you hurt her and I'll use you for moving target practise. Morgana's like a sister to me. Besides, I have to admit, it's hardly like you to are the only ones guilty of hiding a romance,' Arthur sneaked his hand round and clasped Gwen's.

'I honestly can't believe you! You can't go beating me when you're just as bad! Prat!' Merlin looked quite ready to slap the prince right across the face. Unfortunately, Morgana had gotten there first. What a satisfying noise it was, Merlin thought.

That's gotta be my longest chapter yet! What do you think? I had to find a way to shove Gwen/Arthur in there too cause they're sweet (plus I have plans for them!) Virtual hugs for reviews! :) PS. Thanks to those who review every chapter and follow the progress of this blob. It means a lot to me :) xx