Wow, you guys are AWESOME! I'm a bit overwhelmed by all those praising reviews, the alerts, 'favorite' story stuff and so on. So I hope I do your expectations justice. Enjoy!

AN: Same as the first.

"Arthur! You're supposed to be resting!" Merlin exclaimed trying to lower his voice so he didn't wake up Edmund. It was rather a shock, finding his friend on the floor, three corridors down from the room where everyone was under the impression he was recovering.

"I am, see? I'm sitting still and everything." Arthur defended annoyed, patting the stones.

"What are you doing here?" Merlin asked, looking hastily across his shoulder as if someone was coming.

"I never miss story time if I'm able to come."

"Arthur, you have a hole in your side."

"I disagree, Gaius stitched it up rather nicely, it's his best work yet."

"You shouldn't joke about it." Merlin reprimanded, rolling his eyes. Arthur was just unbelievable! It wasn't his misfortune to attract trouble that would get him killed in the end, oh no, Merlin was certain it would be that damn stubbornness of his. "Well, you should get back to your room."

"Yeah, I should." Arthur concurred, but remained seated on the floor.

"Well?"

"I could use a little help to get me back." The king confessed reluctantly, earning another disapproving look.

"Come here." Merlin said pulling Arthur up gently and patiently waiting for his friend to regain his balance. He sounded angry, but Arthur knew better; he was just worried.

"You didn't check up on me." Arthur reproached after they rounded the corner. Merlin was walking on Arthur's good side so the wounded man could grasp his shoulder if needed without causing too much pain to himself.

"I just stayed away until you where feeling better, believe me you don't want to have Gaius lecture you twice about vexing one of his patients." Merlin explained.

"Yeah, about that- Wait." Arthur started suddenly pulling Merlin into an empty room and pushing him against the wall. In the hallway Merlin heard footsteps approaching. He looked at his friend next to him. Arthur was holding his breath and listening intently. The footsteps slowed down and stopped.

"Ah, Merlin." It was Gaius. "How was the young prince? What are you doing in there?" The old physician wondered and was about to step in the room.

"I was looking for some more sheets." Merlin quickly lied and went into the hallway again. Actually Arthur pushed. "We're planning to built a camp tomorrow, one big enough for Arthur's bed to fit in."

"Sweet boy."

"Yeah, takes after his mother." Merlin agreed. "He asked if it would make his dad better. I think it will. That is okay, right?" He continued a bit louder to smoother Arthur's mumbled protest.

"Absolutely, as long as Arthur doesn't move around. Well, good night, Merlin."

"Good night, Gaius." Merlin waved a bit silly.

"Coast's clear." Merlin said popping his head back in the room, when Gaius was out of sight. Arthur carefully shuffle out into the hallway.

"Thanks, well, as I was saying," Arthur started again as they made their way in the final corridor, "I'm sorry I yelled at you the other day, calling you utterly useless and other things."

"You were in pain and grieving, I understood." Merlin answered, he understood a lot of things now.

Arthur hissed suddenly and stopped, leaning heavily on Merlin's bony shoulder.

"Gwen will be so furious when she finds out about this." Merlin said after they had started moving again. He kept glancing over his shoulder.

"Well, you're not going to tell her."

"Merlin? Are you going to tell her?" Arthur swallowed nervously and stopped, when Merlin didn't answer immediately.

"No, I'll cover for you as I always have."

"She won't send you to the stocks."

"I'm not sure, if she knew I helped you pull those stitches..." Merlin shuddered. "I think I would prefer the stocks."

"As do I."

"Edmund told me the Quest to the Perilous Lands is his favorite story." Merlin said, finally starting the conversation he wanted to have. Arthur sighed as Merlin guided him to his bed. He knew Merlin had waited until they were in a closed room before broaching this…sensitive topic.

"Yeah, he also loves the story with the unicorn and the vanishing sorcerer." Arthur answered with a satisfied smile and leaned back against his pillow.

"He doesn't think too highly of the prince." Merlin remarked amused as he sat down on the chair next to Arthur's bed.

"Yeah, I was a bit of a oblivious prat back then."

"Lift your shirt up, will you? I'll check the state of those stitches." Merlin asked out of the blue.

"And? What's the verdict?" Arthur enquired anxiously after Merlin bandaged his wound again.

"You'll life, Gaius and Gwen will be no wiser of your evening strolls."

"So Edmund is making a camp here tomorrow?" They were both really good at avoiding the next step.

"He said a castle needed a king and a prince. Who am I to argue with a child's logic? It's supposed to be a surprise, though."

"Don't worry, I can play-act."

"So you know." Merlin finally stated the obvious while nervously fidgeting with his neckerchief.

"Merlin, you may have become more powerful over the years, but your excuses remained rather pitiful. I, on the other hand, did grew wiser." Merlin opened his mouth to argue, but Arthur kept on talking.

"I mean 'he probably had a twin brother' is a pretty poor explanation." Arthur continued, referring to the sighting of the Great Dragon two years ago. "Or what about that time you conveniently lost your way on a mission, giving old Emrys time to save the day?"

"It's not that farfetched, I do get lost sometimes!" Merlin defended.

"We were in the Ealdor, Merlin."

"Well, that's… I mean you bought those excuses!"

"I pretended, big difference. And Gwaine tells me you're never in the tavern, though he covers for you repeatedly."

"Gwaine knows?"

"Everybody knows." Arthur answered amused. "Think about it, when was the last time Gaius urged you to tell me about your magic?"

Well now Merlin thought about it, that was years ago. Probably around the time the ban on magic was lifted, but that meant…

"And why do you think we all suddenly trusted old Dragoon? Who actually is Emrys according to a very frightened Morgana?"

"We even hold clandestine Round Table meetings, called 'Merlin's Secret Hour', where we talk about the real events, what old Emrys – otherwise known as my foolish manservant – is up to and try to find ways to keep you save."

"Really?"

"No, although Gwaine suggested it on numerous occasions. Speaking of him, I can't wait to tell him about your story. 'Dwaine', seriously? Your improvisation skills are pathetic sometimes." Arthur grinned.

"So how long have you know? Four years?" Merlin asked guessing it was about the same time Arthur legalized magic.

"Six, I've known for six years."

"You've been king for six years."

"I know."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Merlin asked upset and got up, starting to pace. He felt betrayed, he could have stopped pretending years ago!

"You're the one asking me that question?" Arthur wondered watching his friend as Merlin let these revelations sink in. Merlin realized it was rather ironic. He at least had the decency to look uncomfortable, Arthur thought as he took a deep breath, when Merlin sat down again.

"You really are a complete idiot. Fine, I'll explain. I can't really tell you exactly when I found out, I don't know it myself." Arthur started, staring at his friend. "I wondered sometimes if you had magic, then discarding it again when you did something stupid. But slowly I convinced myself of the truth and when I finally saw proof I was angry, but mostly I was hurt. You didn't trust me." Arthur confessed sadly.

"So I decided to legalize magic, under the impression this would be the perfect time for you to tell me. But you didn't. And I was about to confront you when I realized something. I may be ready to know the truth, but you weren't ready to tell me." Arthur paused. "Merlin, you're my best friend, so I respected your silence."

"Besides I suspect you rather like being the hidden hero. I bet you love the crazy confusing situations you always get yourself into." Arthur stopped talking and closed his eyes. The walk had tired him, but not as much as this conversation. He had known this was bound to happen ever since Merlin high jacked story time. He watched his friend ponder his words as he blinked heavily, trying to stay awake.

Merlin had listened to every word. It would mean a big change now everyone knew…that everyone knew. He sighed relieved, maybe Arthur had grown wiser. He was afraid to tell the truth at first. But then his life just became a habit, one he didn't want to quit. Arthur was right up to a certain level.

The rush of being caught kept him on edge, even when magic was legal again. And he really did like being old Emrys, scaring Morgana out of Albion to lick her wounds. He also took great pleasure in mocking the knights, even mocking Arthur. Merlin grinned at the fond memories, before realizing again that they had all known. He tiredly rubbed his temples, Camelot really is the most crazy city to live in…

"So what's next?"

"I'll let you share story time with me." Arthur mumbled and fell asleep.

Merlin smiled as he pulled the blankets up some more and tiptoed out the room. They really were father and son. Now he just had to conjure up a dozen sheets for tomorrow, Merlin thought as he walked down the corridors. He stopped all of a sudden, grinning mischievously.

Think about what kind of 'castles' I could built using magic.

The end. So, what do you think?