"Is something the matter my lady?" Gwen asks with a whisper, peering around Morgana as she looks out from behind a pillar.

"Shh, be quiet. He'll hear us!" Morgana says with a hiss at her new maid before turning her attention back onto the prince at the other end of the hall.

Gwen raises an eyebrow, lowering her voice further before inquiring again innocently. "Why are you staring at his highness? Do you like him?"

Morgana turns around abruptly, face twisted in disgust at the mere thought of the boy. "Ew, of course not. Who would like that jerk of a prince?"

Gwen shrugs as she peers out from behind the pillar again. "He's kinda cute."

Morgana gives a disapproving look before gently flicking the younger girl's forehead, eliciting a muffled 'ow' from the maid. She turns her attention back to Arthur who has just started rummaging through the closet where the maids store the wash basins. "I'm telling you this because I like you, Gwen, Arthur is a stupid jerk. You're too good for him."

Gwen giggles, blushing slightly at the compliment. "Thank you. But then why are you staring at him?"

"Because isn't he acting suspicious? I've seen him doing this in lots of places already. I want to know why."

Gwen watches for a few minutes. "Maybe he lost something?"

"Arthur doesn't have anything precious."

"You don't think very highly of him."

"Of course not. He never admits I'm better than him in sword fighting even though I've beaten him countless times already. He's arrogant, selfish, and an idiot. Oh no, he's coming!" Morgana quickly shoves Gwen back against the pillar as Arthur walks past. Thankfully, he doesn't see them.

She frowns at his back, making a split second decision, then jumps out from her hiding spot. "Arthur!" she shouts, arms crossed as she walks up to him.

The prince jumps at the sound of her voice and turns, expression immediately morphing to one of annoyance as he sees Morgana standing behind him. "What do you want? I'm busy!" he says angrily.

"What were you doing over there?" she asks.

"I don't need to tell you."

"Then I'll tell Uther."

Arthur's eyes narrow, "you wouldn't."

She just smirks, knowing she's won. "You know I will."

Arthur grumbles under his breath before glaring at her. "I'm looking for something."

"Looking for what?"

"That's not your business. You wouldn't understand." He turns and starts walking down the hall.

Morgana seethes at the answer. This is why she hated the stupid prince, acting all arrogant as though he knew everything. Knew things that she didn't know. But before she's able to interrogate him some more Arthur has already turned the corner and disappeared down the hall. She fumes, then grabs her maid's hand and pulls her along as they search for the prince again.

-----

It's a week later before she finds him snooping around again and this time in one of the more secluded areas of the castle. She stares from around the corner, Gwen right behind her, and watches carefully as he enters another closet. This time though, he shuts the door behind him.

Morgana waits, and waits, and waits. Yet, he never comes back out. By now both Morgana and Gwen are sitting on the floor, staring at the door and waiting for a prince they don't know will even return. "What's taking him so long?" Gwen complains, tugging at Morgana's sleeve.

"I don't know," she says truthfully, before coming out of her hiding spot, "maybe we should check."

She walks to the door and before she even reaches the handle she hears... voices. Two of them. One is distinctly Arthur's. She could recognize that voice anywhere by now. But the other... the other she can't put a name too. As far as she knows she's never heard it before.

Slowly, she opens the door. Just a crack. Just enough for her to see inside. She looks into the room and is surprised to see Arthur with a wide smile on his face as he sits against the wall, talking to what appears to be nothing. There's no one else there.

"Who's he talking to?" Gwen whispers, trying to look as well and managing to squeeze under Morgana thanks to her small stature.

"I can't tell..." she says before suddenly the other voice speaks again. Another boy.

"She's so annoying!' Arthur complains, crossing his arms. "Why can't she leave me alone?"

"Well," the other voice replies, "she might just be worried about you."

"I don't need her to worry about me! I can take care of myself," the prince says proudly, turning to look at a grate beside him.

"Do I need to remind you that you hurt yourself with a boot before?" the other voice says with a chuckle.

Arthur's face turns red before he bends down to peer into the grate. "Shut up, Merlin. I was only nine at the time!"

"And now you're eleven. Not much of a difference."

Arthur's about to say more when suddenly the hinges creak. He freezes and before Morgana can even pull back he turns towards the door, eyes widening when he sees who's there. "Morgana? Gwen? What are you doing here? Get out!" he shouts, already trying to close the door on them.

Morgana though pushes back harder and, being two against one, manages to force the door back open. "That's my question! What are you doing here?"

Before Arthur can shout back another voice cuts in. "Is this the girl you were talking about? Morgana? Hello! I'm Merlin! Nice to meet-"

"Merlin, shut up! Now isn't the time!" Arthur shouts at the grate.

The other boy, Merlin, doesn't seem fazed at the tone. "But I want to meet your other friends!"

"She's not my friend!" Arthur says with annoyance before he turns back on Morgana and Gwen. "Please, leave."

Morgana glances towards the grate then crosses her arms over her chest. "Who's down there? I knew you were crazy but I didn't think you would be crazy enough to lock someone up!"

Arthur just rolls his eyes. "I didn't lock someone up."

"Tell me who he is!"

Arthur crosses his arms as well and turns his back on her. "No."

"Then I'm telling Uther!"

Immediately, he tenses and again she thinks she has won, but instead he looks to her, eyes dangerous and for once Morgana can see exactly why Arthur is Uther's son. "You say one word-"

"And you'll what?" she mocks, hiding her fear, "you'll hurt me? You'll kill me? I know you can't do it." Before she's even finished her sentence she can see in his eyes that this time... this time perhaps she's gone too far with her nosiness. She swallows as Arthur backs her up against the wall, eyes piercing.

"Um... please stop fighting," Gwen says helplessly, trying to separate the two to no avail. 

"Leave. Both of you."

Then, without any physical contact Arthur is yanked away, as though pulled by an invisible force. He falls flat against his back, groaning as he sits up and turns to the grate again. "Merlin! Why did you do that!" he shouts.

"I don't want anyone to get hurt," Merlin replies, "I'm happy you care but don't hurt someone because of me."

Arthur's gaze softens almost instantly. "I'm sorry."

"Shouldn't you say that to your friend? Mor-Morgana?"

Arthur turns rather grudgingly towards the girl before muttering a quiet 'sorry' under his breath. The first thought that Morgana has is that whoever this Merlin boy is; she likes him. Anyone that can get the childish prince to say the words 'I'm sorry' is someone she wants to keep around, but that thought is soon overshadowed by the realization that Arthur's friend had just used magic.

Magic.

Arthur's. Friend. Used. Magic. And he didn't care. 

Now those were four words she never thought she would ever use together. She glances towards Gwen, who seems to have come to the same conclusion and is now hiding behind her in slight fear of the grate. Morgana though, not being one to run and hide, confronts the prince. "Arthur, you do realize what your father is going to say if he finds out about this."

Arthur stiffens and quickly sends a glance towards the grate before grabbing Morgana and Gwen by their wrists and pulling them out into the hall. He shuts the door behind them, looking slightly worried before he turns back to face the two girls. "I know. And that's why he doesn't have to find out."

"But he's a sorcerer," Gwen squeaks worriedly, "doesn't that mean he's... b-bad?"

Arthur frowns at the words. "No, Merlin isn't like that. He's good."

Morgana puts her hands on her hips. "You know you need to tell Uther. This is dangerous!"

Arthur turns on her and scowls. "I'm not telling father!" he yells, a little too loud.

"If you aren't going to tell him then I will!" she declares, shooting him her fiercest gaze.

Arthur's expression drops, suddenly turning desperate and for the first time she sees the mighty prince beg. "Please, Morgana. Please, don't tell father. I'll do anything you want just do this one favour for me."

Morgana takes a step back, hesitant on what to do. She's never seen Arthur acting like this before. Never seen that boy who's always seated on his high horse suddenly tumble down and resort to begging. And begging for what? A sorcerer of all things? This scenario is probably the last thing she ever would have dreamed of seeing Arthur in.

She glances towards the closed door, imaging the grate that's on the other side and the boy that's waiting down there. Not realizing that his fate was in her hands. Does she have that right? Does she have that right to toy with a person's life in such a way? Hasn't she seen Uther do this countless times through her bedroom window. Seen him strip away the life and dignity of a sorcerer as he burns them at the stake. How many times has she run towards Gaius, asking him for sleeping draughts to rid the nightmares that plague her night after night of those horrendous deeds? So what gives her the right to do the same?

She looks to Arthur, seeing the pleading look on his face. The sadness in his eyes. The terror that she'll take away the only person she's ever seen him truly care about. As much as she hates to admit it, she cares for the stupid prince and she knows that he'll never speak to her again if she goes through with her threat. And surprisingly that's something she never wants to happen. 

"Arthur, what is it that you don't wish to tell me?"

All three of the children stiffen at the sound of the voice. Morgana turns slowly, only to find the king of Camelot towering over them, a questioning look on his face. "Arthur," he says, "what were you yelling about earlier?"

Arthur hangs his head as he fidgets with the hem of his shirt, trying to find the words. To find an excuse. "Um... that's... uh..."

Uther sighs then turns to Morgana. "What were you two talking about? What is Arthur hiding from me?"

Morgana hesitates and risks a glance towards Arthur. She can see the hope leave his eyes, see the desperation in his expression as he tries to find a way out of the situation. He doesn't trust her. He thinks she'll tell him and she doesn't blame him for it.

"Arthur accidentally broke one of the swords when he was training," Morgana says, sending the prince a quick wink and a smirk before continuing, "he wasn't going to tell you because he thinks you won't think he's a good knight."

Uther stares for a moment before letting out a laugh then pats his son on the head, ruffling his hair a little. "Was that all? That's nothing to worry about. We can always get a new one. Now you three better hurry. It's almost time for bed."

With that Uther turns and walks away, heading in the direction of his office to work. When Morgana turns back to Arthur she's tackled by a hug. "Thank you," he says, "thank you so much."

Morgana looks to Gwen, unsure of what to do. The maid only snickers and mimics hugging him back so, following her advice, she wraps her arms around the boy and gently pats him on the back. "You owe me," she mutters.

-----

When the next day finally arrives Arthur wakes to find himself still alive and with no call from his father to go and see him. He gives himself a pinch, wondering if the entire thing had been a dream, but sure enough he's still awake. Morgana really didn't sell him out to his father. 

The prince climbs out of bed cheerfully, a gentle skip in his step as he heads off to practise. He knows his happiness is clearly showing on his face as quite a few of the other squires give him strange looks whenever he passes, but for once he doesn't care about his image. He's happy. Happy that Merlin won't be taken away from him as every other friend he's ever found has. 

He really should do something for Morgana in thanks. She saved Merlin's life, and probably his own as well, so the least he can do is repay her in one way or another. Perhaps he should buy something for her. A new dress or necklace maybe? Girls like those sorts of things right?

By the time he's able to visit Merlin it's already late in the day. He's rather excited, giddy to tell Merlin that perhaps Morgana isn't as bad as he thought she was. He reaches the closet and is just about to open the door when he hears voices on the other side. Girls. Giggling girls. 

"Arthur did that?" one of the girls, clearly Morgana, asks with a laugh.

"Yup, tripped and got himself stuck in that barrel. I could hardly pull him out even with magic!" Another voice, clearly Merlin's, says.

"Does he come here everyday?" This time it's Gwen that asks the question.

"Yeah, keeps me company," Merlin replies and that's when Arthur throws open the door. "Is that Arthur?" he hears Merlin ask, "welcome back!"

"Why are you two here?" he demands, pointing a finger at both Morgana and her maid. 

Gwen shuffles to hide behind Morgana, still rather afraid of the prince, but Morgana simply sends him her usual smirk. "Visiting Merlin. Do you have a problem with that?"

Yes, yes he did have a problem with it. A very big problem at that. Merlin's his best friend and he does not want him to be taken away. "Of course there is! He's my friend!" he shouts, stamping his feet. 

"Aw, well I'm sorry Merlin but the big bad prince won't less us talk with you," she says with a fake pout as she gets up, bringing Gwen with her. "I suppose we won't be able to see each other anymore."

"Arthur!" Merlin says, a hint of annoyance in his voice, "why can't they stay? They're nice!"

Now it's Arthur's turn to put on a pout, "because..."

"Because what?"

The blond looks around and can catch the gaze of everyone in the room on him. Gwen's staring at him curiously while Morgana gives him the smirk that seems to always make him irritated. What does he say? Because is all honesty he can't exactly give a reason himself. Why doesn't he want Morgana and Gwen to be here? Shouldn't he be happy? Happy that Merlin has managed to find more friends? Yet no matter how much he tries all he can feel is a deep pit of... something in his chest. Something that tells him he doesn't want Morgana, Gwen, or anyone else for that matter in here but him. This is his spot. His and Merlin's alone. But he can't exactly say that. Not without being laughed at and seeming like a selfish prat. 

Morgana though can apparently see right through him. "Oh, don't worry too much about it Merlin," she says before sending Arthur a wink, "His royal highness is just jealous."

Gwen giggles behind her, apparently having caught on as well, while Morgana walks out of the room with a smile on her face as she watches the prince's face flush a bright red. Gwen walks up beside him, whispering a quiet good luck before dashing out of the room after her master. 

Arthur stands still, staring at the closed door with a dumbfounded expression on his face. His heart is racing in his chest and his cheeks are still red from either embarrassment or something else. He is not in love. There is no way. Morgana is just playing with him. He's not jealous. 

"Arthur?" Merlin calls, instantly shaking him from his thoughts, "are you still there?"

The prince walks over to his usual spot by the grate then crouches down, looking through the bars to see the boy still down there, staring up at him. The second their eyes lock a smile spreads across Merlin's face and again the prince's heart skips a beat. 

Maybe. Just maybe. He is a little bit, a tiny bit, in love.