It's been a while *sheepish grin*. Did you miss me?

Here is the long awaited sequel/continuation of The Solemnity of Merlin. I still haven't really figured out where I'm going with this, but I figured I'd kept you waiting long enough.

I'm starting Uni this year, so I can't make any promises on updates, but I'll try my best. For those of you still awaiting the sequel to Revenge, I apologise and I'll get right on that as soon as I figure out what to do with it...

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or any of its characters. Nor do I own anything else copyrighted. So yeah...

Getting Arthur acquainted with the modern world was one of the hardest and most tiring things Merlin had ever had to do. And he had a lot of things to compare it to. Merlin had been there each time a new discovery had been released to the public; he had been able to adapt to the changes over time, like the rest of the population. He found that he didn't really need to know how things worked, simply accepting that they did. And, he had to admit, some of these new inventions were incredibly convenient. Imagine how much simpler his Camelot life would have been if they'd had vacuum cleaners or cars. He'd have been able to get to all those places that had taken days of travel in a matter of hours.

Unfortunately, Arthur wasn't given this period of adaption. He didn't even get to have it explained to him over a number of years without anything to compare the changes to, like children did. No, he had it dumped on him all at once. To say he was confused was an understatement. With every piece of technology he was introduced to whose workings he couldn't explain he blamed on magic.

Merlin was getting frustrated.

For both Arthur's safety and Merlin's already deteriorated mental health, Arthur had been placed under house arrest until he no longer jumped when the light turned on when he opened the fridge, or when water came gushing out of the tap preheated.

Thankfully, Merlin didn't have much in the way of technology; he preferred to live in the comforts of centuries passed. His room was more like a study with a bed than a bedroom. He had shelves lined with books of varying ages, although the magic book Gaius had given him was still his favourite. As the years passed and the book began showing signs of wearing and damage, he had used magic to cast protective spells over it and to repair it. He cast the same charm over the other books when he had announced that Arthur would be using his room until he could organise another one. It was unlikely that Arthur would take interest in his collection, but he felt he should take the precaution anyway. Arthur wasn't exactly known for being gentle.

Aithusa seemed to be the only one that found the whole integration process remotely funny. She took great pleasure in seeing Arthur survive a dozen or so near-heart attacks each day. Although, Merlin though he caught a glimpse of Kilgharrah smiling in amusement on more than one occasion.

For Merlin it was frustrating. For Arthur it was a nightmare.

"Merlin!"

Merlin sighed for the umpteenth time that morning and turned away from the book he had been reading. Arthur was watching him from his seat on the couch with an expression of utmost irritation.

"Yes, Arthur?" he asked, although he had a pretty good idea of what Arthur was going to say. After all, he'd been saying it at every chance he got over the last few days.

"Can't I go outside? You've locked me up in here for days!" Arthur grumbled.

"You sound like a five year old," Merlin returned his gaze to the book. "Have you gotten over your fear of the radio yet?"

"I'm not scared of it, Merlin… I just wasn't expecting it to start talking."

"Right," Merlin didn't believe it for a second. "Well, until you adjust to the meager technology here, I'm not letting you out. You'll end up getting yourself run over or arrested or something."

"Arrested? I'm the king!"

"Not anymore, you're not." That seemed to be the hardest thing for Arthur to come to terms with. He no longer had any authority. Whatsoever. Merlin was starting to feel more like a babysitter than a manservant. Which he probably was.

Arthur sighed and looked out the window behind him. He had tried to sneak out one time when Merlin had fallen asleep, only to find the door had been locked with magic. Damn sorcerer, he mentally cursed. Then Merlin had gone off and disappeared for hours, saying he was going to get 'necessities' for him. Arthur saw this as the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air… only to be stopped by two small dragons who had been 'left in charge'. It was insulting! He was the king, for God's sake! Dragons couldn't tell him what to do! Although, they were very persuasive, what with those sharp teeth and claws. He hadn't seen either of them breathe fire yet, but he wouldn't put it past them. Not to mention Merlin's seeming belief that he could order him around. Merlin was a servant (*cough*friend*cough*). And not a very good one, either. But he had magic, and now that Arthur knew about it, Merlin hadn't hesitated to use it around him. Another persuasive technique.

But the thought of sitting around doing nothing for one more day made him persevere. Couldn't Merlin see he was going crazy?

"What if we just go to the lake or something? We don't have to go anywhere populated. I just need to get out of this house for a while."

Merlin gave an expression of mock hurt. "What, you don't like my house?"

"No, actually. It's too small."

"You'd better get used to it, cause I have no intention of moving."

A scratching at the door caught both of their attentions.

"Meeeeerliiiiiin," a female voice called in a sing-song tone. "Let us iiiiiiiin!"

With barely a glance, the door swung open slightly and two small dragons wandered in. As soon as the two were inside, the door closed itself with a barely audible 'click'.

"How come they get to go outside but I'm stuck in here?" Arthur complained. "Surely two dragons would be more noticeable than me."

"Kilgharrah and Aithusa know not to go near other people and have enough sense not to get themselves lost or killed."

"Are you calling me stupid?"

"You said it, not me," Merlin grinned.

Arthur grabbed the nearest thing within his reach (which happened to be a pillow) and launched it at Merlin. Being more comfortable using magic around him now, Merlin was fully prepared to stop the 'weapon' in mid air and send it back to Arthur, but was beaten to the chase by Aithusa, who jumped up and grabbed the pillow in her jaws.

"Aithusa, you are not a dog," Kilgharrah sighed.

Aithusa appeared to think differently as she began munching away on the pillow.

"Aithusa, if you destroy that pillow, I'll stuff you as a replacement," Merlin said seriously.

Although Aithusa knew that he was unlikely to make good on that threat due to being one of the last of her kind, she wouldn't put it past him to magically transform her into a living pillow, at least for a little while, and promptly dropped the pillow with a sheepish smile.

Kilgharrah sighed again in exasperation. The things he had to put up with.

"Alright," Merlin announced after a few minutes of silence, in which Arthur continued to bore a hole into his skull with his gaze. "You win! I'll take you into town. But you have to promise to listen to everything I say. I don't want to have to use my magic to get you out of trouble."

"What's wrong with using magic in public? Surely by now the ban has been lifted?" Arthur asked, confusion overriding his sense of victory.

"It's not like it's illegal," Merlin said slowly, thinking of the best way to explain this. "More like it doesn't really exist; at least, people don't think it does. If I go around magically doing everything, people will get scared and there is no way I'm going to an insane asylum or being tested on."

That didn't really seem fair to Arthur, not that he'd ever admit he felt bad on Merlin's behalf. Why should Merlin have to continue to hide a part of himself after everything he's done, everything he's been through?

"Can I come?" Aithusa piped up.

"What was that you said about dragons having sense?" Arthur asked mockingly. If looks could kill, he would be dead three times over.

"If you like," Merlin replied to Aithusa. "Do you want to come, too, Kilgharrah?"

"As much as I hate that form, I fear that you'd cause too many problems without me," the golden dragon directed the last part to Arthur, who had sense enough not to reply.

Merlin smiled. "You have my permission to bite him if you feel it's necessary."

"Hey!"

"I am not putting any part of him in my mouth."

He wasn't sure why, but Arthur felt slightly insulted by that.

"Who wants to go first?" Merlin stood, closing his book.

"First?" Arthur frowned.

"Ooh! Me! Me!" Aithusa jumped up on her back legs a few times in excitement.

Kilgharrah shook his head. She was still young, but she had the mind of an ancient. Why couldn't she act like one?

Merlin found only amusement in her excitement and knelt down to her height. Aithusa grew still (a remarkable achievement) as Merlin placed a hand on her forehead and murmured a few words in the language of the Old Religion, eyes flashing gold briefly. Arthur watched in fascination as Aithusa's body began to morph and change until her form was unrecognizable. Standing before Merlin now, instead of a dragon, was a pure white dog. Aithusa's much shorter tail wagged happily as she admired her new form.

"Your turn, Kilgharrah," Merlin turned to the small Great Dragon who looked anything but pleased. Nevertheless, he came forward and allowed Merlin to repeat the process on him.

Arthur concluded that they looked much less menacing as dogs than as dragons.

Merlin got up and opened a drawer in a small table-cabinet near the door, pulling out two leads and collars. Both dragons (dogs?) visibly deflated at their appearance.

"As if this form wasn't embarrassing enough," Kilgharrah muttered.

"Do we have to wear those?" Aithusa whined.

"Sorry, but you know what those people are like; they probably think you're going to run off and attack someone. It's for their sake, not yours."

"Fine." Aithusa allowed the collar to be placed around her neck but quickly jumped away when Merlin attempted to connect the lead.

"Aithusa," Merlin reprimanded.

"Oh, come on! I promise I won't walk off on my own! And I won't attack anybody! Even if they do have roasted chickens."

Arthur got the distinct impression that there was a specific incident behind that last comment.

Merlin sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Okay. Okay. But the second you misbehave, the leash goes on."

Aithusa grinned and happily trotted over to the door, waiting for them to go.

Kilgharrah grumbled as his own collar was put on, but like Aithusa, he went without the leash. He was more than sensible enough not to steal peoples' shopping or attack other dogs.

And, without further ado, the four of them headed out of the house, heading towards the town.

I'm going soft, Merlin thought as the door shut behind him.