A/N: Just my take on what's been happening in the last few episodes. Let it be said that I am currently shipping Arthur/Mithia so bad right now. Sigh. Stupid Gwen. Oh, this is not necessarily Gwen-Bashing, but it's not exactly Gwen friendly...Anyway, on with the show!

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin. Duh.

Merlin lay there on his meager bed, contemplating the events of the past few days. Arthur was obviously stressed, over what though, Merlin could only hazard a guess. He was a wizard, but he certainly wasn't psychic.

All he knew, was that Arthur had grown quite fond of threatening Merlin, or any member of the castle, with exile as a punishment. Indeed, since Gwen's departure, 4 more had been banished.

Two manservants for allegedly stealing-no proof found mind you. Arthur simply wanted to send a message.

"Theft will not be tolerated in this kingdom. If my father were here, you would be executed."

Then, an elderly woman who had served in the kitchens had been banished for stealing food. Her children were sick and her husband had fallen on hard times. This time, at the insistence of his uncle, Arthur carried out his sentence.

"Though I sympathize with your plight madame, I cannot feed everyone in the kingdom with the castle's kitchens. You must find a way to make it on your own. Please take your family and leave."

Finally, just last week, Elyan had been banished. This, above all else, incensed Merlin. Arthur claimed he was a risk. After all, Arthur had just banished his sister, ended an opportunity for Elyan to be more closely related to the throne.

Especially following the Druid shrine debacle, Arthur found himself convinced Elyan purposefully disrupted the shrine in the hopes harm would come to Arthur.

When Merlin had learned of Arthur's plans to banish the loyal knight, Merlin used every manner of persuasion in his possession to stop such a thing from happening.

"Arthur, please, you know Elyan would never hurt or betray you. He is most loyal to you and to Camelot. See reason."

Arthur had not seen reason. Instead, he had taken offense to the tone of voice his manservant used.

"Merlin. Believe it or not, I am the king of Camelot. If I desire to take precautions against potential traitors and treason, I will do so. The next time I hear you question my judgement again, you will be the one in exile. Trust me, you wouldn't last, so just fetch me my dinner and be on your way."

There it was again, that ever present threat of exile. Before, Merlin would have laughed it off and continued with his moral ways. However, Merlin was growing more and more concerned that Arthur might actually place him in exile.

Quite frankly, Merlin found the whole relationship rather complicated.

There were many times when the King claimed that he valued Merlin's opinion above all else. That he trusted Merlin above all people.

But then he pledged that same trust in Gwen. And then he threatened to exile Merlin or put him in the stocks whenever Merlin did voice his opinion.

The vicious whiplash Merlin was getting from the young King's moods was starting to put a strain on their relationship.

Merlin found himself getting more and more agitated. Why couldn't the stupid idiot just see that Merlin knew best?

He had thought, for a moment, that the arrival of Princess Mithian would bring about a change in Arthur.

When she arrived, Merlin had seen such a change in his King.

Loathe though he was to admit it, it had been endearing to see somebody other than himself cheering up the King. It had been so long since Arthur had laughed and enjoyed the ritual of courtship.

Gwen seemed to just appear in Arthur's life through happy coincidences, already completed besotted with him. Arthur didn't have to turn on the charm and impress her.

With Mithia, Arthur stumbled his way through conversation and attraction. He had no clue how to deal with someone as assertive and comfortable as Mithia.

He wouldn't admit it, but Merlin had been hoping Arthur would see how happy he could be with a Princess like Mithia. The benefits of their marriage far outweighing a marriage to Gwen-united kingdoms, a true partnership, peace throughout the lands.

Alas, Arthur was never one to let things go unfinished, and things were certainly unfinished with Gwen.

Perhaps after Arthur had found closure with Gwen, Mithia could be revisited...

Shaking himself from his hopes, Merlin still had to think of an adequate solution to his problem.

Arthur was not dealing with his newfound throne well at all. He was leaning heavily on his uncle's every word and piece of advice, throwing people into exile left and right.

Merlin himself had been threatened with exile no less than 10 times in the span of a month. At this point, the threat was just loosing it's potency.

Was exile the new stocks?

Well, Merlin was a man who was well accustomed to dealing with an inappropriately emotional king.

He would simply do his wise manservant routine and convince the king to step up and take care of business.

With a half formed argument, Merlin shrugged on his jacket, and with a hurried "See you!" to Gaius, he scampered out the door and headed for his King's chambers.

A/N2: Thoughts? Please review, already have chapter 2 in the works. Also have a crack fic in the works which should be out in the next few hours maybe? It's that kind of night. Reviews make me type faster!