Hi guys, sorry it's been ages since I've posted new chapters. I'm sorry. School started back up, and it's been taking up a lot of time. Plus, I was going to post this last week, but there was a family emergency, but now everything's fine so here we go! Let's do this thing!

The next morning in Camelot had almost been peaceful, almost. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, the young warlock was beaming, and the young king was in a rather pleasant mood. Merlin was on his way to the water pump with a bucket so that he could wash Arthur's floor when ran into Cai.

"Good morning, my princess," he greeted her. Cai blushed as he kissed her hand. They were both busy with work, so this was their entire exchange. It was very brief, but not quite brief enough to pass Gwaine's observation. He grinned and decided to keep uncharacteristically quiet.

Merlin's day appeared to be going so well that he didn't even notice the slender, black snake that had slithered out of the water pipe and into the bucket when he pumped the water. He obliviously carried the bucket and its contents back to the palace.

When he returned to Arthur's bedchambers, he set the bucket on the floor.

"Watch out, Merlin!" Arthur shouted as the snake lunged out of its wooden containment at Merlin. Just before its fangs were about to sink into the young warlock's pale skin, Arthur had drawn his sword and sliced the malicious creature's head clear off. Merlin panted frightened as the black head dropped to the floor.

"Are you alright?" Arthur asked him. He nodded as Arthur whacked him on the back of his head.

"Ow! What was that for?!" Merlin cried. "What kind of a fool doesn't notice when a deadly snake drops into his water basin?!" Arthur shrieked. Merlin made a mental note to be more careful next time.

"I'll go alert the guards to keep a look out for any suspicious behavior. You go fetch me a new bucket of water," Arthur ordered. "Yes sire. Actually sire, this water was just going to be used to mop the floor, does it really matter whether or not a venomous snake was swimming around in it?" Merlin asked. Arthur narrowed his eyes in response. Merlin rushed to his feet and out the door before Arthur could say another word.

Gossip of Merlin's dangerous exchange with the snake spread quickly. He was hearing all sorts of stories: that the snake had bitten him and he had to be rushed to Gaius, that Arthur had taken his shirt off and dueled with the snake, and one even saying that Merlin was dead. The people who had spread that rumor had had quite a scare when Merlin waved hello to them later that day.

Once the work day had ended, Cai yanked Merlin around a corner while he was walking down the hall. She motioned for him to be quiet.

"What happened?!" She whispered with both fear and annoyance that it had taken her so long to track him down. Merlin couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm sorry, Cai, I'm fine; don't worry. It appears there was a snake in the water pipe, which happens every once in a while. When you get water, though, check your basin and be extra careful." He replied. Cai's face softened as her worry faded a little bit. "Merlin, this doesn't add up. That snake, from what I've heard, sounds like a forest snake. I can't think of why it would go up the water pipes. I think someone is singling you out. That's why the blackberry bushes attacked you."

Merlin pondered this. The first name that popped into his head was "Morgana," but he didn't want to worry Cai further by explaining his and Morgana's history, so he told her that no one came to mind. He would have to investigate and take care of it himself.

The two exchanged a quick peck of kiss before saying goodnight and departing. Merlin realized something as he lay awake in his bed that night; the blackberry bushes hadn't attacked Cai. Surely if Morgana was behind it, she would try attacking Cai; that was the kind of evil person she was.

A part of Merlin pitied Morgana. She had had so much opportunity when she had lived in Camelot. She could've helped integrate magic back into society, but instead she was proving the naysayers of magic right by using magic for evil. She was just giving people another excuse to hate magic. Whatever she was planning, Merlin took it upon himself to stop her at all costs.

Thank you guys so much for reading and being awesome fans. I will finish this story, but it might be a slow development. You guys rock!