I cannot believe I'm starting a new story - I have like a MILLION updates to read, another million fics to update/finish and A LOAD of schoolwork as well - I still haven't started the Easter Holiday crap our teachers decided to drop on us.

Oh well, this is the first chapter of a fic that's a kind of sequel to something I'd read, I don't know how long ago, where Arthur finds out and sends Merlin away, in exchange for saving his life (again). I might write my own version of the prequel, but probably after finishing The Reincarnations. Weekly updates again!

And I've seriously got to stop with the present tense! I keep slipping into it!

Title: Debt of Life (likely to be renamed)
Summary: Arthur sent Merlin away. And then he finds out the true story.
Title (chapter): Debt of Life
Word count (chapter): 699
Universe: Future!Fic

The ride back to Camelot was silent and grieving, for the party was returning two men less than when it left. Sure the bandits were defeated now, but said defeat had come at a price that weighed down on all of them.

Most heavily on Arthur. With reason.

The others tried to convince him it wasn't his fault that Kay died; he wasn't to know the criminals would ambush with a bigger group. Nor was it his fault, they continued, that Merlin ran after him, despite being ordered not to.

Arthur didn't listen to either arguments. Debatably the first was his fault, but he had long since learnt to save mourning for deaths during the night, and not the day when action is required.

The second however - Merlin's lack of return - was most definitely his fault.

He didn't tell them that though. He wouldn't tell anyone that, for it would put Merlin's life in jeopardy; exactly what he was trying to avoid, for he wouldn't break his word.

The silence continued.

Treason.

He had only just realised the meaning of the word, and what it conveyed. The weight on your back that came with betraying your King's, your father's beliefs.

He realised that Merlin was right in not telling him; the only way he would have let the warlock go was through debt of life. And not his own.

Their arrival was not special - this was something that had happened many times, when vagabonds of the countryside took that further step into a criminal life. But Arthur was guiltily avoiding the eyes of Kay's wife, left grieving to try and raise a household with a son barely of age.

And he was also avoiding his father's eyes, feeling traitorous as well as betrayed.

He wondered where Merlin was now - nowhere near Camelot, hopefully.

He entered Gaius' chambers with a heavy heart, because, while he no longer had care for Merlin's well being he despised any suffering on the kindly physician's part.

"Arthur!" he greeted with a warm smile on his face. "You're back. Where's Mer-" He stopped as he realised the grave expression on Arthur's face.

"Sire?" he questioned. Arthur paused for a minute, swallowing bile, then began telling his lie.

"I'm afraid to inform you, Gaius," he made sure to keep his face in the same expression when all he wanted to do was frown in disgust at the lie that lasted years. "That Merlin was killed on our mission."

Gaius' face was disbelieving, and Arthur thought for a second that he had been caught out, but then Gaius fell down onto a bench in an unconscious action that Arthur had seen before, when people had been told someone dear to them had been murdered.

Dear. A false emotion of course.

"How could he let this happen..." Gaius muttered to himself. And then Arthur realised, just as he was about to leave.

He spun around. "You knew didn't you?" he demanded.

"Knew, sire?" And Gaius' look was enough, but he still elaborated.

"You knew that he was a sorcerer and that he's been lying to us all for god knows how long! Well, not all, obviously," he adds bitterly.

"That doesn't make a difference! That foolish boy is dead now-"

"Well you'll be pleased to know he isn't. I sent that lying filth away!" Arthur bit out, and was just about to storm away when Gaius' words stopped him.

"How could you?" he asked in a dangerous tone, standing up again in his fury. "He gave you so much, risked his life for you, and Camelot, and even your father, just for you to send him away the minute you find out!" His voice had risen to a shout. On the contrary, Arthur's was a whisper when he asked:

"What do you mean?"

"You have no idea do you?" Gaius said incredulously. "You didn't even give him a chance to explain! The things he did for your destiny, for you."

"What do you mean?" Arthur repeated uncertainly. He hoped Gaius didn't mean what he thought he meant.

"Sit down," Gaius said with a sigh as he followed his own words. "Sit down, and I'll tell you everything."