A/N: Hi there! This story is actually a sequel of a story called "Overheard" by the user Hujwernoo. Their story can be found in my favorites list on my profile. I highly recommend reading it before this, but you don't neccessarily have to.

This story will be updated on Fridays, though I may have to put it on hiatus when school starts again.

The characters may be a bit OOC, but anyway, enjoy chapter 1!

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All was normal in the palace. Arthur and Merlin were back to their usual routine of banter, the occasional "idiot" or "dollophead" thrown back and forth, and the knights were training in the courtyard.

And, of course, a new threat to the throne had arisen. After all, what's Camelot without a threat to King Arthur?

Merlin was already set on eradicating this threat before it could even enter Camelot. He knew that since his friends (because they were his friends, even if the royal prat wouldn't acknowledge it out loud) knew about all he'd done (sans magic) they'd be watching him obsessively if the assassin reached Camelot. So Merlin decided he simply couldn't allow that to happen. A simple run of the mill assassin was no match for his powers, which he could use if the knights and Arthur weren't around. He was magic incarnate, after all.

So later that night, after being sure the royal prat was done with him and the knights were busy (Gwaine had invited them to the tavern, of course), Merlin set out for the woods west of the citadel, where guards had last seen the culprit.

What Merlin didn't know was that Arthur couldn't sleep and saw him as he left. "Idiot," Arthur muttered under his breath, and immediately dragged the round table knights from the tavern and went after him.

"What do you mean, Merlin's gone after him?" Gwaine so eloquently asked.

"What do you think?" replied Arthur harshly, growing frustrated that his knights couldn't put two and two together. They'd only been at the tavern for a half hour, for goodness sake! "Merlin went after the assassin the guards spotted in the woods today because he thinks it's his mission alone to protect me. The idiot!"

Meanwhile, Merlin was none the wiser to his friends following close behind him. He stepped into a clearing confidantly and saw the assassin. "Hello!" he said cheerfully, careful not to let on his intentions.

The assassin turned quickly, knife raised, and said, "What do you want?"

"Oh, nothing. I was passing by and saw your fire, is all. I'm Merlin, by the way!" Merlin needed to find out all he could about why this man was after Arthur. For all he knew, Morgana could be behind this.

"Name's Meldrick. What're you doing in the woods, Merlin?"

"Well, I could ask you the same, but I suppose you're on the way to Camelot. I live there, but I've never seen you before. What brings you to this great city?" Merlin asked, hoping to get Meldrick to let his guard down.

His hope was well placed as Meldrick responded, "A job. A lady of the land sent me here on an errand, the details of which I cannot tell."

Merlin knew just how to get the information he needed. "A lady? Speaking of, I remember when the Lady Morgana still lived in Camelot. Perhaps your lady knew her. Well, now anyone who still knows her is an enemy of Camelot. How times change, yes?

"Yes," Meldrick responded slowly, "I suppose I am an enemy of yours, boy. Its Morgana I work for, to kill your king! But first I'll kill you so you don't go tell the guards!" Meldrick yelled, suddenly threw his knife right towards Merlin's heart.

Now, what you must understand is Meldrick is a practiced killer. He didn't let his guard down, but instead never expected a scrawny subject of King Arthur of all people to be a powerful sorcerer! So, really, he couldn't be blamed for being shocked as Merlin's eyes flashed gold and his knife disintegrated half-way to his target.

Merlin smirked at Meldrick's reaction, saying, "We need to talk. You're not getting anywhere near Arthur."

Meanwhile, Arthur and the knights had approached the clearing when they saw a knife disappear...