"How can this be possible, Gaius?"

"It's entirely possible."

"But how?"

They stared at a letter on the table, trying to make sense of the words on the page.

"Your father is a mysterious man. It doesn't seem that shocking that the last Dragon Lord would be of noble blood."

"And me?"

"You are his son. You would inherit any birthright of his."

"What does it mean for me?"

"We cannot be certain yet."

"That's very helpful."

"I know it's frustrating."

Nearly as soon as Gaius's last word was spoken, they heard a voice outside the chamber door. "Merlin!"

"That would be my destiny calling," Merlin said, and though the statement was not that far from the truth, his voice was full of sarcasm.

Merlin followed the sound of the Prince's voice until he was close enough to say, "Yes, sire?"

"You're late."

"I'm sorry, sire."

"You can think about how sorry you are while you muck out the horses."

Later that night, Merlin returned to Gaius's chambers, where he found Gaius sitting at the table, the letter still in front of him. When Merlin closed the door, Gaius looked up.

"What did the king want?" Gaius asked.

"Nothing important. He just made me muck out the horses again."

Gaius looked visibly relieved, which annoyed Merlin.

"Why is it a good thing that I had to muck out his horses?"

"It means the royal court hasn't gotten word of this!" Gaius brandished the letter in the air.

"Why does it even matter, Gaius? So what if I'm of noble blood?"

"You have been living like a servant for years. With your father's death, you have inherited the throne of Carlain."

"And why would that matter to Arthur. He doesn't know!"

"He is going to learn of your father's death and that you are to inherit the throne. He will hear that you are going to be a king, and he will fear the retribution from how he has treated you."

"Because it's fine to treat a servant like that, but when I suddenly become a prince, he's afraid that 'my' kingdom is going to attack Camelot?"

"It is a resonable fear, Merlin."

"I'm not going to attack Camelot! I've lived here for years! Arthur is my friend!"

"Other people on the court may not see it that way."

"So what am I supposed to do? Give up the throne?"

"Tell Arthur."

"How is that going to help?"

"Hearing it from you may be able to keep the rest of the court from getting involved for a while longer, especially if you ask him not to bring it up with them."

"Should I go now?"

"Yes. Take the letter. I doubt he will take you at your word on something this important."

"Of course."

Merlin took the letter from Gaius, and within seconds, the chamber door was slamming shut behind him. He didn't stop moving until he made it to Arthur's chambers. He knocked on the door and waited until he heard Arthur's voice. "Enter."

Merlin opened the door and walked inside. "What is it, Merlin?"

"Gaius and I recieved a letter that may be of interest to you."

Arthur held out his hand, and Merlin handed him the scroll of rough parchment.

"I'll leave you to it."

Merlin turned to leave the chambers when Arthur said, "Merlin?"

"Yes?"

"I'll call you when I've finished reading it."

"Yes, sire. And I realize that it isn't my place to ask this, but could you not mention the contents of the letter to anyone else?"

"You have my word."

With that, Merlin left Arthur's chambers and returned to his own room, awaiting Arthur's call. Before Arthur did, Gaius knocked on the wooden door.

"Yes?"

"What did he say?"

"He said he would call me when he finished reading it, and he gave his word that he wouldn't mention it to anyone else."

Gaius breathed a sigh of relief and Merlin let out the breath that he hadn't realized he was holding. Gaius thought it was okay. It wasn't going to be a problem.

The relief, however, did not last long. It disappeared with the knock of a guard on Gaius's chamber door, accompanied by the words, "Merlin, the Prince would like to see you."

Merlin walked past Gaius and out the door for the second time that night, and when he arrived at Arthur's chambers, he found the prince pacing aroung the room.

"You wanted to see me?"

"I told you that I would send someone for you when I finished reading the letter. "

"I know."

Arthur didn't seem to know what to say. Eventually, it was Merlin who broke the silence. "You can talk to me, you know. I'm technically still your servant."

"But it seems you're a royal idiot now."

"And you're still a royal prat."

"Do you know who you're talking to?"

"Do you know who you're talking to?"

With Merlin's last comment, Arthur laughed. "I suppose you're right."

"I'm right more often than you might think."

Arthur shrugged. "Actually, there is something I wanted to discuss with you."

"The letter?"

Arthur nodded.

"What about it?"

"I know you've watched how the kingdom works, but I was wondering if you would like me to help you, as far as learning to be a king."

"I'm not going to pretend I know what I'm doing. I could use all the help I can get."

"Don't admit that to anyone outside this room, Merlin."

"Ri-"

Just then, a guard burst through the door and cut Merlin off mid-word. "Sire, you're needed by the court. It is a matter of urgent business."

"Of course."

As soon as the guard left, Arthur said, "Merlin, you should come with me, whatever it's for."

"Why?"

"Am I going to be the one reminding you that you're royalty?"

"But they would find out." Merlin protested, but Arthur just shook his head and opened the door.

"Well, I think they're going to find out regardless. Come on."

"Fine," Merlin said and walked out the door. Arthur smirked.

Arthur followed Merlin out the door, and they arrived in the hall, to see guards with a different seal, unknown to Camelot but known to Carlain.

"My lord," One of the guards bowed, not to Arthur, but to Merlin.

Merlin heard a voice in his ear, and it took him a moment to recognize it as Arthur's.

"You don't have to say anything. They're here to talk to me. They didn't even know you would be here."

Merlin stayed silent, but nodded toward the guard.

The guard spoke again, this time to Arthur.

"We're here because of a matter that you seem to be aware of."

"Only recently."

"Of course, we realize that, which is why a member of our council has come to arrange transport for the young prince. While we're here, we could discuss terms of a peace treaty."

"Of course. I will have someone arrange for guest chambers for you and your men."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

With that, the guards left the room, and Camelot's guards remained. Merlin stood next to Arthur.

"We both know that I'm not ready for this."

"We still have a few days. It will take at least that long to negotiate a peace treaty. I intend to teach you as much as I can in that time."