I slowly set out Arthur's armor onto the table, admiring my work. Nothing from the Battle for Camelot remained. I sat down slowly, pulling out a leather necklace from under my neckerchief. I studied the ring on the end, the way the seal curved and shaped itself. I opened my mind, and let my thoughts wander.

I am not nervous.
No-
because I trust in your destiny.

To be able to be that honest, honestly helped me.

It's not funny Merlin.
No. No no, Arthur is a donkey, what's funny about that?

I let out a small laugh. Arthur really was an ass. He's changed, though. He's changed for the better.

You know what you need after a hard days hunt?
Sleep.
A nice cold tankard of mead.

I'm glad I didn't protest more. I could have lost so much without knowing it. I smiled as Gwaine entered my mind for a moment.

You wouldn't understand, Merlin. You have no idea what it's like to have a destiny... you can't escape.
Destinies are troublesome things. You feel trapped? Like your whole life has been planned out for you and you've got no control over anything and sometimes you don't even know if what destiny has decided is really the best thing at all.

That sparked a memory in Arthur, I know. It wasn't the right one to release the barriers, though.

Because I don't understand how anyone would want to hurt their friends.
No, you just poison them. You'd do well, Merlin, to stay out of things that do not concern you.
Oh, but they do concern me, because they're my friends too, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect them.
I would expect nothing less.

She noticed, then. How much you did, even if she didn't know the specifics.

What was that?
A pheasant.
A pheasant?
A very big one.

Another laugh escaped my lips. I suppose I'm a pheasant-lord along with a dragon-lord, then.

Oh, cheer up will you?
How is punching me in the arm meant to cheer me up?
It works with the knights.
Well, they're thick, aren't they?
I'm a knight!
There you go then.

Arthur needed that banter as much as I did, I suppose, looking back on it.

You know, Merlin, you couldn't keep a secret if your life depended on it!
You'd be surprised!
What's that supposed to mean?
Nothing.

He'll know in time, again. Then wasn't the time. I'm not that much of an idiot.

It's lonely to be more powerful than anyone man you know and have to live like a shadow. To be special and have to pretend that you're a fool. I know how it feels. I understand.

I sigh. I miss when Arthur knew.

Back in the arena, I had you bang to rights, did I not?
That was just a game.
Oh, a game? Right. I won that game, did I not?
No, you didn't. One more minute...
One more minute and you both would have been dead! Neither of you won. Your plan was a half-baked disaster and if it was not for that fire, we would all be pushing up daisies.

That felt good. To be able to say it and not fear the consequences.

You know Merlin, You're the one Arthur should Knight. You're the bravest of them all and he doesn't even know it.

I looked up as there was a knock on the door. It opened to reveal Gwaine and Lancelot, both smiling.

"Merlin, come with us." Gwaine's tone was jokingly serious.

I paused. "Why?"

"You need to see this. Now."

I stood up quickly, and followed them. They led me to a balcony overlooking the courtyard. There, crossing said courtyard was Percival, with Arthur thrown over his shoulder. Arthur was struggling, and Elyan was following behind, talking to the frustrated prince.

I almost fell off the balcony at the sight.