Well yes, there are about hundredths of drabbles out there, and yes I would like to contribute to them until a plot bunny attacks and I can actually write a plotty fic. Ah, if only... Anyway, first Merlin fic ever! So I hope I'm not that awful, huh.

Warning: Merlin being a careless idiot (does that really count as a warning?), also slightly OOC Uther.

Summary: Merlin saves Arthur once more with his magic; Uther just hits him for good measure.

By the way, English is not my first language, so if you see any spelling/grammar mistake please feel free to comment on it (:

The only (questionable) exception

Uther pulled out his sword from the limp bandits' body with a skill forged from years and years of fights and training, and turned to protect one of his injured knights. It was a good thing that the bandits had been dim-witted enough to camp near the doors of Camelot, or Uther might have not been there in time.

That same morning the patrolling squad informed him that the bandits that had been causing misfortune to travelers and his townspeople for the last couple of weeks had finally been spotted near Camelot. Arthur lost no time on informing his knights that they were to leave within the hour to where the bandits were last seen. Uther nodded approvingly, knowing that his son would complete this task in no time and hopefully, with no causalities.

But an hour after Arthur left, one of his knights returned to the castle looking disheveled and slightly injured. Uther's body tensed with worry once the knight informed him that there were more bandits than anticipated, and that they were outnumbered 3 to 1. In no time, the king and some of his knights were out to help Arthur and the rest.

Things were going well on Arthur's side, the knights of Camelot were able to stand their ground and had casted their own set of injuries to the bandits, so when Uther and his knights arrived everything started to run smoothly.

The bandits' moves grew frantic once they realized they were being overpowered, and Uther would never admit that he was having quite a good time—because really, being inside the castle without having anything more exciting than the occasional flu was rather boring. He finished with the last bandit of his side and helped his injured knight up. A small smile made its way to his features once he realized that most of the bandits were running away, and hopefully would think twice before stepping near his lands once more.

Suddenly, his blood grew cold.

Arthur was fighting—winning, actually—against a rather large bandit, unaware of his surroundings, when out of nowhere a scrawny looking man crept his way behind Arthur, his sword ready to kill.

"Arthur!" gasped Uther. He was too far away; he would never be able to stop that man before he attacked. He stared in horror as the man lifted his sword, but suddenly realized that Arthur's manservant was near them, and that he had realized that Arthur was in trouble, too. Uther watched Merlin's eyes; he saw them turn a fiery gold—just as every other time he had witnessed the boy's golden eyes whenever he casted a spell to save his son's life, and sighed in relief when the scrawny bandit was pushed backwards by an invisible force and stamped viciously against the nearest tree, loosing consciousness.

Arthur managed to overpower his opponent without noticing the danger his manservant had just spared him from (But really, how come he never notice? Uther thought), and the king brought a hand to his hair in relief. He watched as Arthur walked over to his manservant and gave him a head nuggie in such a close fashion not deemed for both their status that had he not been oh so tired with relief, he would have frowned upon.

Yet, he sighed.

Magic was evil; it corrupted people's hearts and brought chaos among the peaceful ones. But that boy, that clumsy, good-for-nothing manservant had saved his son's life more times that he could remember. Ever since the first time he saw him use magic to save Arthur's life, when he made Merlin his son's manservant, there was this little voice in the back of his head that told him not to kill the boy. Maybe he was just so simple minded that he had managed to be the exception to the rule. He would keep quiet; keeping the boy's secret with him for as long as Merlin continued to protect Arthur from all evil, even if that meant breaking one of his own laws.

He saw the last of the bandits flee from the battlefield, and suddenly Arthur and Merlin were walking towards him, muttering and stifling small laughs in the way. "Father," said Arthur, once again composed, "I'm glad you managed to arrive in time to help us."

"But of course, you were badly misinformed on the number of bandits around the zone, I'm just glad everything turned out for the best."

Arthur smiled before bowing slightly to his father, "Merlin," he said, "help me with the injured ones so we can take them back to Gaius."

"Of course," said Merlin. He walked with Arthur and kneeled before an injured knight that was just a couple of steps behind Uther to see for any broken limbs.

"My Lord," Uther turned around to greet the knight he had saved earlier; he seemed okay, save for a couple of bruises. "Just now, Prince Arthur was about to be attacked from the back, was he not?"

Uther nodded slowly, he didn't like were this was going.

The knight frowned, his eyes turning to the black haired boy bickering with the Prince behind them. "Just before the bandit was thrown to that tree, his servant's eyes turned gold, like a sorcerer's," he gulped before addressing the king once more in hushed whispers. "He was using magic."

"Nonsense," Uther scoffed.

"But, my Lord—"

"It was just the light, you must've been mistaken."

"No, but—"

"Aren't you supposed to be helping with the injured ones?"

The knight stiffened at the venom-like tone from Uther's words. He nodded hastily, mumbling apologies under his breath before dashing over to his injured comrades.

Uther groaned in exasperation, he could feel a headache coming in already.

He walked over to an oblivious Merlin who was currently unpacking some medical supplies from a horse. He glared at the back of his head, and in three long, swift paces he managed to stand right behind him. So he lifted his right hand and slapped the back of Merlin's head mercilessly.

"Ouch! What the hell is—oh," Merlin stared with a dumbfounded expression at the angry king before him, rubbing absentmindedly the sore spot on his head. "Wait... what?"

"You careless imbecile," Uther groaned. He slapped Merlin across the head once more for good measure—he was kinder this time, he wouldn't like the boy to lose any more neurons—and walked back towards his horse, leaving a confused warlock behind.

Honestly, to have the king worrying about a careless manservant... as soon as they were back in Camelot that boy was going to the stocks.

Good!Uther! Not that that would ever happen, but I like that idea. Hah, one can dream. Besides, I really can't see Uther as a bad guy ever since I saw the bloopers of Merlin, so...

Also, I would like to update this story every Sunday (unless I really can't what with school and stuff)! See how I bolded that, it makes it look important and stuff!

Anyway, remember to click that pretty review button and tell me what you think about the story! Or about whatever you want, really, (:

-MustacheOn