Disclaimer: I do not own nada; the characters and rights belong to the bbc. I merely borrow them for your entertainment.


Merlin was torn and quite frankly - heartbroken. He saw no easy path, all he wanted to do was protect Arthur. He had so many choices before him and none of them easy. Should he let Mordred die? He was a good man from what he'd seen, but magic told him that he was Arthur's bane. Could he tell Arthur that magic shouldn't exist in Camelot and deny his very existence? Or was now the right time to tell Arthur the truth about magic?

It would be so easy to tell Arthur the truth. His eyes were tearing as all of these thought were awash in his mind. He tried to look straight into the fire - to help clear his mind. It didn't. If anything it mocked him because it helped make Arthur's voice that bit clearer. He felt one stray tear fall down his cheek.

Arthur was still thinking aloud, "In my time I only have to look at the evil Morgana has caused."

Merlin made a decision, for the sake of his lord. He would deny himself, it would kill a little bit of him but it would keep Arthur safe. It was a small price to pay. He meant to utter the words, "There can be no place for magic in Camelot."

It was honestly what he was going to say, he'd weighed up the pros and cons and this was the result. All signs led to Mordred needing to die. Yet he couldn't say it, it was wrong and he needed to say something. He didn't think that there ever would be a better time than now for this to be said.

"You're wrong you know. Magic is not evil. It is a tool." Merlin said sounding so old. Far older than he actually was it was as if all the secrets he'd kept; they were starting to crush in on him all at the same time.

Arthur froze, he'd seen bouts of great wisdom but this was so unlike Merlin. He was so sure of himself. Arthur frowned, seeing his servant clearly warring with himself - to the point he was crying. It was rare for Merlin to cry. In fact the last time had been when he'd killed the Great Dragon.

"How can you be so sure?" Arthur asked, surprised that he had asked rationally rather than with anger. It showed that he was growing at least he hoped he was. he could admit that the idea of being judged had unsettled him rather a lot.

Merlin couldn't look directly at Arthur not yet, if he was to unburden himself he looked at the fire, "I am magic Arthur ... Yes, Morgana has tried to kill you with magic but I have saved you using the same tools."

Arthur understood, Merlin had disappeared in the action with Odin but appeared when needed. He stuttered in disbelief, "You created the tremor."

Merlin looked a little rueful, "Morgana actually fears my druid name and the hunt for me has kept her mostly distracted, so I was low on options."

Arthur was overloaded, there was too much to process. He was sure that he'd be angry but he instinctively knew that wasn't the case with Merlin. If Merlin was a sorcerer, which he had freely admitted then he couldn't be evil. After all, Merlin had had numerous chances to kill him and hadn't.

He chuckled thinking of several things that finally added up. How Merlin had survived the Dorocha, as no mortal could survive their attack. And wasn't that a sobering thought for the young king. He would never doubt Merlin's loyalty - it would be stupid he'd demonstrated it time after time, but if he wasn't mortal then he was immortal. If that were true and it was the only logical solution then what had he done to deserve such loyalty.

Arthur had to ask, he looked Merlin's chin up so he could look into his eyes. "What have I ever done to earn a sorcerers protection?"

Merlin laughed but it came out choked, "You have a destiny as the once and future king. You are meant to restore magic to the land of Albion... Oh I'm not a sorcerer, I'm a warlock."

Arthur frowned, "What is the difference?"

"I was born with magic - I didn't choose to study it; it was never a choice for me sire." Merlin let it all out in one breath - relief settling for finally having told the truth whatever the consequence.

Arthur was amazed, "So when earlier you said that you could feel the land you meant it literally."

Merlin nodded and then he could have smacked his head. He was being the very idiot that Arthur accused him of being. Yes he was to protect the King, but what real right did Merlin have to decide Arthur's fate. Granted their fate was entwined but it should be faced together.

"Arthur you need to know something and I'll be honest I'm not sure what advice to give." Merlin was unsure and maybe together they could find a path that they could both live with. The old adage rang true in that moment; a problem shared is a problem halved.

"There is a problem Arthur, In one future, the magic's foresee Mordred as your doom. My hearts says save the young lad, but my head is telling me that he must die to protect you."

Arthur was confused, he had much to ruminate on what Merlin had said. He had so many questions, and Merlin was definitely going to be answering them now for him.


By morning the friends were agreed, they couldn't in good conscience condemn a man for what might be. They walked into the cave, Arthur once again mindful of Merlin's advice unsheathing his sword walked into the cave.

The Disir stood there still so proud, they really did set Merlin's teeth on edge, and he owed them one for the spear. He did like the look of shock on the one Disir's face when he'd stopped the spear. It was obviously one thing that she hadn't seen.

The Disir hissed, "You want to save the boy even after Emrys has told you that he could be your doom?"

Arthur let Merlin answer for him; after all, if he was to become his counsellor then he would need the practice. Merlin was also less likely to put a foot wrong when it comes to eminent magic beings. "We both do not feel right passing judgement on a boy for what might be."

The Disir would not get their judgement today the Goddess was proven wrong. Oh that fate had not disappeared but there was now a chance. Thank the goddess that the young warlock had found his tongue. This was as much a test for Merlin as it was for him.

"The Goddess has passed judgement and returned to Camelot."

The pair returned to Camelot, and for once they travelled on in silence. It was necessary to assimilate all of the things that they had learned, and there had been so many. At the ridge to Camelot though broke the silence, "We will make it right Merlin, but you know if my bitch of a sister returns..."

"Yes Sire."

"Feel free to fry her Merlin. Nothing of my sister remains." He finished.

"Oh it will be my happy duty. I owe her one anyway." Merlin said grinning, ruefully scratching his head.

It was a stark reminder of how much Merlin's loyalty had cost him. Arthur doubted he'd gotten the full picture but he would. When Merlin attended him at night he'd ask as many questions as it took. It was quite sad really. Arthur had lauded loyalty and bravery and had always encouraged and celebrated it's acts. However Merlin who was perhaps the bravest of them all, had had to go by receiving no gratitude or thanks.

Merlin chuckled, "Don't worry Sire, the mere thought that I won't have to deny myself is gift enough."

He tested out the range of his telepathy, remembering how strong the gift was for Mordred. He got a sense of resounding happiness back. He heard the heartfelt, "Thank you."

Merlin knew that there would be a heart-warming return for both of them. However even though they weren't in the castle yet he couldn't wait to tell Mordred. he out of nearly all of them deserved to hear the news. "I told you that it wouldn't always be the way."

He could hear the shock and the hope filter through Mordred's voice. "What did you do Emrys?"

Merlin chuckled and felt that he reserved the right to be mysterious, "I'll tell you soon enough. You should go and be appropriately grateful when we return."

Mordred was grateful, and his return to health was celebrated with a tournament, which was great really. Apart from the small fact that Arthur had decreed that all of his mail was to be cleaned by hand - no magic. It was Arthur's big punishment, for keeping all his secrets. In the next week he was going to be overloaded with chores, the more menial the better. Merlin had sworn his life and magic into Arthur's service, so unless it was a life and death situation Merlin would not use his magic.

The scream of frustration from Morgana was projected for miles and heard by both Merlin and Mordred. The curse that followed even if biologically impossible even with magic was particularly creative. The two young men with magic shared a look and started laughing. It was almost certain that Morgana would cause trouble, but that was tomorrow's problem.


Authors note: Okay so it is literally an hour and half since the programme aired and this was the result. I loved the programme but was I the only one who was screaming at the TV for him to say something?

So this is a one-shot for now but given the teasers for next week with Morgana it has the potential for a second chapter Let me know what you think!