Well hello again! I'm not making promises for chapters anymore...I can't find the outline for this story, so I'm just kinda winging it now.

I can't believe it is taking so long for me to write, but it is what it is I suppose. I seem to get my inspiration when I find out someone is actually reading these.

The song for this chapter is Secrets by State Champs

enjoy~!

Merlin awoke slightly dazed as he looked up at the sky. Fluffy clouds floated over him as he lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the sun. The sun? "Oh no."

Merlin quickly got up and put his jacked back on. "Arthur is going to kill me." he mumbled to himself as he made his way down the tower and headed towards the kitchen.

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Merlin fumbled his way to Arthur's chambers with the breakfast try, being extra careful not to drop anything.

As soon as he opened the door he saw Arthur standing, fully dressed, arms crossed, with an angry expression. "Why the hell are you so late Merlin? I mean it's bad enough that you left early last night, but now I had to prepare myself for the day on my own! What good is having a servent if they aren't around to serve?"

"I know Arthur, I'm sorry." Merlin mumbled, keeping his head down as he set the tray on the table. "I guess I just slept in."

"Stayed out too late with Gwaine I suppose." Arthur spat the name out with some poorly hidden disgust.

"Actually I turned in pretty early." Merlin said sheepishly. "Must have just been extra tired." Merlin lifted a hand to rub the back of his neck.

"It is still unacceptable Merlin. Being late is a habit that I thought you had finally broken. But maybe I was wro-" suddenly something caught Arthur's eye. He roughly grabbed Merlin's arm to look at his jacket. "Is that blood?"

"Shite." Merlin grumbled. In his haste he had forgotten to clean up his mess. "Um, yeah...I...uh" His mind blanked.

"Did this happen at the tavern?" Arthur started pulling off Merlin's jacket to look at the wound. "Why didn't Gwaine protect you? I'll kill him!"

"NO!" Merlin shouted, snatching his arm away. "It didn't happen at the tavern. I fell on my way here this morning. That's all." Merlin stared at the ground, unable to meet the Prince's eyes as he lied, something that Arthur did not miss.

"Look at me Merlin."

Merlin looked up to meet Arthur's eyes. "I'm fine." he said firmly. "Eat your breakfast, and I'll head down to get Gaius to patch me up, then I will be in the armory to get you ready for training."

Before Arthur could say anything, Merlin turned on his heel and quickly left the room.

He moved quickly through the halls, avoiding eye contact with everyone until he found a shadowed alcove to magic the wound and blood away. "That was too close." he whispered to himself. "Arthur can never find out."

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Arthur sat at his table eating his breakfast and worrying about Merlin. The man was way too defensive for it to have just been a fall. And it had been way too much blood.

"What his he hiding from me?" Arthur slammed his fist on the table, frustration running through him.

Arthur angrily got up from his table and started down the hall towards Gauis's chambers. He wanted to find out the truth.

The Prince slammed open the door to Gauis's rooms. "Merlin, we need to talk."

Gauis looked up in curiosity. "Can I help you sire?" he asked politely.

"I was just looking for Merlin." Arthur said confused. "He said he was coming back here."

"I have not seen Merlin since he left yesterday. I was actually a bit concerned when he didn't come home last night, but I assumed he just had too much fun at the tavern." Gauis said with a slight twinkle in his eye. "Why would Merlin becoming back here at this time of day?"

"He had blood on his jacket. All he said was that he fell on his way to my chambers this morning, and he was headed to you to get patched up."

Arthur watched as concern briefly flitted through Gauis's eyes. "Merlin is very capable of patching himself up."

"I suppose he would be since he is studying to be your apprentice." Arthur said thoughtfully.

"My apprentice?" Gaius sounded surprised.

"He told me he had been studying, and when I asked about it, he said it was to be your apprentice. Is that not correct?" Arthur asked, his suspicions rising.

Gaius raised an eyebrow. "Of course he is studying with me."

Arthur shook his head. "Well if he isn't here getting patched up, where is he?"

"Possibly out in the woods gathering herbs for infection? He should be back soon. Just go on with your day. I'm sure he will find you once he is done." Gaius said in a confident voice, but worry clouded his eyes.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." replied Arthur, already headed out the door. "I guess I'll just head to training then."

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Merlin was already pulling the armor out and prepping it when Arthur entered the armory. "Took you long enough to finish your breakfast." Merlin said with a lighthearted chuckle.

"Well I went to check on you with Gaius." Arthur said, crossing his arms.

Merlin tensed. "I-uh...was able to bandage it myself. Didn't feel like, um..bothering Gaius."

"And you're alright now? That was a good amount of blood on your jacket."

"I'm fine Arthur. Look, I even got the blood off the jacket!" replied Merlin, showing the other man where the blood used to be.

"Right." said Arthur, still not completely believing him. "Just help me get my armor on for training."

Merlin dressed Arthur in the armor quickly, still not meeting the prince's eyes.

"Are you hiding something from me Merlin?"

If you only knew. "No Arthur, I'm not." Merlin sighed as he finished with the armor and passed his sword.

Arthur eyed him, but said nothing before headed out to the training field.

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As soon as Merlin had finished cleaning up Arthur's chambers, he headed down to the field to watch the knights and Arthur train.

He went and stood on the sidelines near Gwen, and flashed her one of his patented goofy grins. "Hey Gwen! How's it going?"

She gave him a gentle smile in return. "It's going really well. Arthur is always so impressive."

"Yeah." Merlin replied a bit dreamily. "I mean...um, they all are."

Arthur swung his sword, connecting a powerful blow to the knight he was sparring with, sending the knight to the ground. He looked up and winked at Gwen with a cocky smile.

Gwen smiled back with a small wave, Merlin looked at the ground.

"Merlin!" Gwaine shouted from across the field with a friendly wave.

Merlin waved back, Arthur glared at the knight and started walking towards him. "Gwaine, we should spar now." Arthur said with a smirk.

"I suppose we can switch." Gwaine replied somewhat confused.

Both men got into position and began sword fighting. Arthur hitting harder than he needed until he caught Gwaine by the shoulder, sending him rolling on the ground with a loud groan.

"Damnit Arthur that actually hurt." Gwaine yelled.

Arthur glanced back where Gwen and Merlin were sitting, before smirking back at Gwaine. "Well, maybe you should spend less time in the tavern, and more time training."

"Y-yeah..." Gwaine replied as Merlin ran over to help him up.

"Are you OK Gwaine?" the servant called, his voice laced with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine Merlin" Gwaine smiled softly as he rolled his sore shoulder.

Gwen came running up behind them, "That was amazing!"

Arthurs eyes never left Merlin as the younger man talked with Gwaine, his eyes lighting up with laughter. "Thank you Gwen."

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Late that night, Gwaine and Merlin sat in the tavern at a table in the back. Gwaine on his second drink, Merlin on his third. Merlin rubbed Gwaine's shoulder. "Arthur really got you good, huh."

"Yeah, looked like the Princess had a bit of a bone to pick with me." Gwaine chuckled sarcastically. "Said I needed to spend less time in the tavern."

"That's so unlike him." Merlin said, chugging the rest of his drink and waving down the waitress for another.

"And this is unlike you Merlin. You normally don't drink like this. Is something wrong?"

"Everything is wrong Gwaine." Merlin was starting to slur as he took a big gulp of his new drink. "I...I just-" Merlin laid his head on the table.

"Merlin just talk to me." Gwaine wrapped his arm around Merlin and gently rubbed his back.

Merlin's head shot up with the contact, his arm flailing out and knocking over the drink. "Whoa!" Merlin shouted, his eyes glowing gold briefly as the drink steadied, the mug still full.

Oh no! What's going to happen? Hopefully I can crank out the next chapter soon so we can find out!

See ya next time.