Normally, Arthur wouldn't have dreamed of going into the woods without Merlin. He needed someone to carry his gear, to carry the prize home again if they were going hunting, and someone to talk to and annoy along the way. Not that he'd ever admit to the last part, or that somehow, it was only Merlin he wanted with him, but it didn't make it any less true.

But the fact remained that it was Merlin's day off, and according to Gaius, he had set off into the forest and first light and was, at present, nowhere to be found.

And his father had been cold at the council this morning and for some reason nothing Arthur did was right or good enough, and without the ignorant manservant he just couldn't see the funny side of it.

So now Arthur walked, in the middle of the woods, wandering without a clue as to where he was going, enjoying being alone. In Camelot there was always a servant, or a knight, or a commoner, or his father, till he felt he couldn't breathe or move for people who needed something from him.

The sunlight glowed through the leaves, dappling the path with golden flecks that glinted off his sword as he held it up. For a moment he just stood, admiring the patterns that shifted as the wind blew, and he smiled to himself.

He stopped when he came to a clearing ringed by dark pines. There was nothing remarkable about this rest stop or the clearing, he'd been walking for hours and was tired. Apart from the fact that in the middle of this particular clearing sat Merlin, facing him with a slight smile and a gaze that was far away. But this wasn't remarkable either; the thing that was remarkable was the azure flames the manservant held cradled gently in his hand, casting a deep, mysterious light on his face.

It wasn't a remarkable face. It was Merlin's face, a face Arthur had seen hundreds, thousands of times in every conceivable expression, and yet...

In the light it was different. It was ancient and wise and filled with secrets, secrets he could never hope to understand. They danced in his deep blue gaze and in the palm of his hand. And they were beautiful.

And part of his mind was screaming, He's a sorcerer, he's a sorcerer, he's a liar, and evil and...

...And Merlin. Because this was Merlin, there was no doubt about it, but it was a side he had never seen.

No, that wasn't quite right. He had seen this side of him before, three times, when he spoke of destiny and courage, when the bumbling servant would slip and the real Merlin shone through, a Merlin that was strangely... wise.

Something drew him slowly forwards. There was a peace here, a calm, a comforting silence, but Merlin's gaze whipped around at the snapping of a twig.

Eyes met, blue on blue, one strangely calm, the others suddenly filled with fear, weaving a spell without magic that trapped them both. Slowly, Arthur moved forwards till he stood before the terrified sorcerer, who sat, frozen in terror, unable to move or even look away.

Merlin watched him kneel, a thousand emotions flickering in his eyes as Arthur held out a hand in front of the flames.

"May I?"

Without breaking his gaze, Merlin held out his hands, depositing the flames in Arthur's waiting palm. A tingle ran up his arm and warmth pervaded his body, easing his muscles, and he relaxed, curling his fingers around the flickering magic. Almost protectively.

"It's... it's like a little heartbeat." He whispered, smiling slightly at his manservant. "I never expected that."

Merlin didn't reply, his eyes glowed briefly gold and another flame sprang up, a soft deep red that wrapped around the blue.

"Is it always like this?" he asked, and Merlin shook his head, knowing without being told what he meant.

"Not always." His voice was dry, but some of the fear had left his face. "Sometimes it's terrible. You... you feel like you might burst because you're holding so much inside you, like you might tear apart from the pressure of it." He paused, considering his words. "That's why I come here. I can let it all out and no one will see."

"And yet you come back." Where you live in fear.

Merlin nodded.

"Why do you stay?" he asked, not looking at him. Somehow he was scared of the answer, scared that he would say because it's my job, or because Gaius needs me to help him.

"Because you need me." The answer was soft but adamant, and Arthur knew it was true. How many times had Merlin saved his life, and he'd never known...

"Will you tell?" The sound was soft, a tiny rush of breath filled with fear.

Arthur looked up into the warlocks face, wonder in his gaze. "And destroy something this beautiful?" He shook his head slowly. "Never."

The flames went out as he pulled Merlin to his feet, but he could still feel the warmth as Merlin's hand brushed his.

They walked back to the castle in silence, content with each other's thoughts.