:D Happy New Year dear readers and fellow writers! And a very Happy Birthday to our dear Colin Morgan!

I thought, what better way to celebrate then a brand new fic, ey? ;) Hope you will enjoy! And may our new year be filled with

COURAGE, STRENGTH and MAGIC

ever more~!

.*.*.*.

It was bright, too bright; the sun above them was shining unnaturally bright. The forest seemed to be vivid; all the colors just way too vivid to be real. He blinked a few times but it did little change. It hurt his eye; it stung right into his skull, just like the sounds, that hurt his ear. They were loud. Their steps on the forest floor, the clinging of armour; all the birds just so very loud; as if they'd all wound up inside his head somehow and were doing all their best to make as much noise as they possibly could. Everything seemed vibrant, yet dimmed in the same time, almost suffocating; and painful like the air that hurt his lungs. It was cold, just too cold to breathe in, yet his face felt burning from the sun that peeked though the leaves.

Arthur was in front of him, the knights scattered out nearby in a line.

He had to focus. He did his best to keep up. He gripped the crossbow he was holding tighter and tried to compose himself, but something just wasn't right.

"We're not going to find it." Gwaine gave a disappointed sigh still looking ahead.

Arthur puffed. Merlin knew the king wasn't happy about it, none the less agreed with his knight.

"Alright." he said after a while. "We make camp here."

Merlin wondered what was happening. Was he really this tired? It seemed like he was seeing all in front of him through an ever darkening window as the sides of his vision got blurry.

Oh no.. something really is wrong.. he thought and tried to steady himself, taking a deep breath and hands reaching out desperately to grab something. He tried to call out but no sound came or might have, but he didn't hear it.

He saw Arthur turn around and his annoyed expression quickly turned to shock as he saw him.

"Merlin!"the king's voice was so distant. Suddenly he saw the crown of the trees, and that sun so bright, then the dark quickly claimed everything in front of him.

.*.

He heard whispers, careful rustling steps on the forest ground.

"Here's the water." a low voice said, and someone moved next to him; realizing only then, that there actually was someone next to him.

Something damp was removed from his forehead, only to be replaced shortly after with it being colder then before. He hissed and flinched; he didn't expect that. Opening his eyes, he had to wait until his vision focused.

The first thing he saw was Arthur's rather concerned look.

"Art..hur?.." he asked in a cracked voice.

The king smiled.

"Welcome back." he said and removed the cloth, then reached for a cup and lifted his head so Merlin could drink.

His throat felt so dry, he avidly drank the water until he started gagging and the young man pulled the mug away.

"Easy.. easy." Arthur set the water down, then looked at his servant again.

Merlin tried to lift his head to see where he is. He saw the horses, the trees, fireplace so they still were in the forest. he figured and let his head fall back. He felt very tired.

"He's awake?" Gwaine stepped into his vision.

"Yes." the king replied and turned back to the young man, wiping his forehead once again with the wet cloth. "You gave us quite a scare. What happened?" Arthur asked and as Merlin looked up at the blonde man he could see worry in his eyes, despite the smile he wore. He was surprised. He never saw the king like that. Sure, he often expressed his concerns, despite it turning into insults and banter, but somehow the warlock was still a little surprised, a little humbled.

Arthur raised his brows a little questioningly, wondering if his manservant understood the question or is about to pass out again; Merlin realized the king was still waiting for an answer. But really.. what did happen?

"I.. I don't know." he said slowly. "One minute I was behind you, then.. nothing."

"Did you sense something?" the king asked, and Merlin looked at him frowning.

"Sense something?" he was lost as to what Arthur was referring to.

"Yes, you know.. sense something magical?"

Merlin's eyes widened and he felt his heart, his breathing his whole being pause there and then.

"WHAT?!" he sat up so abruptly he startled the king.

"Merlin, what's gotten into you?" he asked grabbing the warlock's shoulders and gently pushed him back into a laying position. "Calm down." he said reassuringly. "You're alright."

"M..magic?.." he stammered.

"Yes, Merlin. Magic." the king said with a puff, still holding the young man down. "You know, when you start babbling in different languages, hold your hands out and your eyes glow and then things happen without anyone touching anything. Magic. Did you sense something magical and that's why you passed out?!" he asked somewhat irked.

The young warlock couldn't spit and couldn't swallow; he just stared at the king with mouth agape and mind in shock.

"Suppose he knocked his head?" Gwaine cut in, worriedly running his gaze between the king and his servant.

"No! I did not!" he retorted looking at the knight. "I don't know.." he added looking back at Arthur. "Y-you.. you know about my .. magic?"

"Of course I do. Everyone does." he said with a frown and sat back. "You sure you didn't knock yourself on the head?"

Merlin felt himself getting dizzy with confusion. Maybe he did knock himself on the head. Yes, that would explain it all. Arthur can't know about his magic. Neither can Gwaine. They just can't.

He felt a wave of panic wash over him and he suddenly was trying to get up again, little grateful that Arthur let him this time.

"Maybe you shouldn't.." the knight said but the young man was standing before he even finished. Sure, he had a supporting hand on a tree but least he was on his feet again. He looked over himself but didn't see or feel any injuries, then ran his hand over his head but didn't feel any bumps or sore spots.

"I'm not injured." he mumbled to himself.

"You just passed out." Gwaine said. "Are you sure you didn't sense anything?"

"No.." The young man carefully shook his head, giving the king a tense glance.

"Merlin, my friend!" a man cheered, stepping out from behind a tree and as soon as he let the firewood he was carrying fall to the ground he stepped closer to the warlock. "We were quite worried, I'm glad you are awake."

The young warlock's eyes widened again looking at the knight in front of him and he staggered backwards.

"No… it can't be.."

The world became very shaky again, very much lacking air.

"..catch him…!" he heard Arthur, before once again all the lights went out in front of him.

.*.

"I don't know.."

"Perhaps something he ate?"

"We all had the same thing, and we are all fine."

"We should head back nonetheless."

"He is running a little fever." a hand pressed against his forehead. The whispers were not so quiet now, obvious worry in their tones as the knights tried to figure out what to do next.

What was that?.. a dream? Merlin wondered why a dream would play such a trick on him, and if that was indeed just a dream, what happened to him? How did he get unconscious? Last he recalled he was in a forest.

There were birdsongs. Yes, he still is in a forest.

But Arthur knowing about his magic.. and Lancelot being alive.. No, that can't be possible. Lancelot.. he died. Died. Years ago. So it must have been a dream.

"Should one of us ride forth?" a familiar voice asked and Merlin felt his stomach tense. Still dreaming ey..he thought to himself when he heard Lancelot speak.

"No.. I don't think that will be necessary. But we can't wait till morning. We leave now." and without any warning the warlock felt being scooped up off the ground.

"No..!" he groaned and flinched and showed he was very much awake, so Percival let him down to stand on his own. They can't take him back to Camelot! They know of his magic!He pulled back still wobbling. However, they didn't seem hostile or angry about it.. but.. but.. still..

"No… I'm not going back to Camelot..! I don't want to be burnt alive..!" he said with a pang and running out of air, while he held his hand up nervously eyeing the men surrounding him.

"Merlin.. What? None is going to burn you.." Arthur blurted out with utter confusion on his face looking at his servant incredulously.

"Calm down, Merlin.." a knight said.

"You...!" he pointed a threatening finger at Lancelot, and the knight returned a surprised look "You are supposed to be dead!"

"Well, apparently I am not.." he said plainly, finding the statement a little humorous.

"It's alright, mate.." Gwaine stepped closer to him, his hands in the air to show he means no harm. "You must have knocked yourself on the head."

"No! Stay back!" the manservant yelled back when he saw the others closing in on him as well. He really didn't want to use magic on them to keep them back, but..

Percival grabbed him from behind before he could ponder more and held him firm by wrapping his arms around him; a little too firm as he could barely manage to squeeze some air passed his grip into his lungs.

"NO! Let me go!" he screamed in a hoarse voice, panic really starting to take over him. "LET ME GO!" his struggle an obvious waste of effort as Percival held him still like iron bars.

"Merlin, please.. Calm down.." suddenly Arthur was in front of him and held his face between his palms and looked into those startled wide eyes "Please calm down.." he said pleadingly. His stomach sank to see the warlock's eyes moist from the obvious dread. "You're safe, Merlin. None is going to.. burn you alive.." the king said, uttering the horrible thing with disgust, and was taken aback how his friend could say such a thing. "It's alright.. You're safe."

Merlin panted but kept quiet, looking at Arthur long and hard.

Those blue eyes looked real enough. - So it was either a vivid dream, or it was something else, and he was yet to figure out what it was.

He glanced over to Lancelot. - The man looked real enough as well.

He looked at Arthur again and after a few moment of silence Merlin nodded.

Percival slowly let him go and the warlock sank to the ground, burying his face in his palms. What the hell was going on?

Arthur crouched down in front of him, his hand not leaving his servant's shoulder and Merlin could hear him giving orders to the knights in gestures and whispers.

He couldn't bare to look up at them. He felt embarrassed about his hysterics, but sick to his stomach from the whole situation.

.*.

"Merlin?.." a careful voice called out and the warlock woke to see the king next to him and his hand on his shoulder. He realized he was laying on the ground on his side with his arms crossed and couldn't remember how he got there. He then spotted Lancelot looking at him from a few feet away and he sat up abruptly.

"Come on." Arthur said and stood offering his hand to the young man. Merlin looked at him, then his hand and grabbed the king's right.

He eyed the other knight, until Lancelot gave him a slight smile then took a step back and turned to grab his horse by the reins and mounted. Percival and Leon were on their horses as well; and looking around he saw the fireplace put out and everything packed up. - They were ready to leave.

Gwaine held the bridles of two horses and gave one to Arthur as the king got close and told him something. Merlin walked to his mount feeling the gaze of the others on him, and it felt uncomfortable. He kept his head down and pulled himself onto the horse. Great. Now they think he is insane.

As soon as he settled, he felt a tug behind him and before he could turn around he found Arthur to be sitting behind him.

"What are you doing?" he asked suspiciously, spotting the young man's own horse getting tied to Gwaine's mount, then the knight mounted as well next to them.

"What? You think I will let you ride alone when you are like this? Something's obviously wrong with you. I don't want you to fall off your horse or something."

Merlin just frowned.

"Why are you so .. worried about me?"

"Why are you asking so many stupid questions?" he retorted with a hint of hurt in his voice.

The warlock clammed his mouth shut and urged his horse to go. He decided not to make a sound until he gets back to Camelot and talk to Gaius and.. -He glanced at Lancelot- and figure this out somehow.

None of them said anything, and in the silence he could focus on himself again, as they strutted along the moonlit pathway.

The evening wind sent chills along his spine and he pulled his jacket tighter. It didn't help that he felt sweat run along his back. Arthur was right, something was wrong with him. Or was it just the world around him?

He eyed Lancelot a couple of times, then just watched the road as he felt his eyelids getting heavy. Riding at night was different then riding at day. The nightly sounds of the woods startled him from time to time, yet his head started to bob every now and again.

"Merlin.." - Arthur whispered behind him, the young man sure that none else heard him "It's alright if you fall asleep."

He didn't reply. He just did.

.*.

Weren't they looking for something in the forest? he wondered as he woke to the sound of horseshoes hitting stone, and as he opened his eyes he recognized the gates of Camelot as they rode into the courtyard in the dim light of the dawn.

"Good morning." he picked his head up to the king's voice. Oh right, Arthur was riding behind him. Then he noticed a blanket wrapped around him; they must've put it on him after he fell asleep.

"We're here already?" he mumbled. Last he recalled they were several days ride away from Camelot; it can't be that he slept several days however what made sense anymore? He pushed the blanket down as it felt too hot, but regretted it once the cold morning air made him shiver and realized he was drenched in sweat.

"Home at last." Gwaine said from next to them, and Merlin figured, he didn't care if they found what they were looking for or not, or they were days away from Camelot, or if he had slept for days, he was just really glad to be home.

It didn't surprise him that Arthur walked him up to the court physician's chamber, nor the fact that Gwaine came with them; - he even felt grateful, as by the time they came to the top of the stairs they had to support him. He just felt there was no strength left in his legs.

Gaius looked over them with concern as they stepped in; his sleepy gaze settling on his ward. Merlin looked pale and very sweaty, wrapped in the blanket.

"I'll be fine.." he said heading towards his room. He wanted to be left alone to be able to finally talk to Gaius and tell him all he experienced.

He heard the king talk to his guardian in a shushed voice, but all he focused on was getting to his own bed, however he was forced to stop at the stairs, when the world became too wobbling in front of his eyes again, and he let himself be led to the cot in the main room, by the hands that gripped his shoulders.

"Gaius, can you give him something?" he heard Arthur and he felt the elderly physician get on to examine him; his warm palm on his forehead, his other hand grabbing his wrist to check his pulse.

"What happened?" the old man asked

"We don't know." Gwaine said. "He just passed out."

"He's burning up, and his heart is beating very fast." Merlin heard the old man and he just closed his eyes. Whatever's wrong, he's in good hands now, and if the knight and the king will just go away he can talk to the old man. Can't they just go away already?!

He figured he might have fallen asleep as the next time he opened his eyes it was just him and his guardian in the room.

"Gaius.." he whispered peering at the door as he gripped the old man's sleeve and urged him to lean close, to which the physician did so. "They know of my magic.."

The old man lifted his eyebrows and stared at him in surprise, and Merlin waited for him so say something and expected him to say what they should do. However he didn't expect what he came out of his guardians' mouth next.

"Merlin.. Of course they know. Everyone knows."

The young warlock felt the world turn upside down with him.

.*.

o.O My apologies in advance for any typos.. I think I might have had a bit too much booze xD; but hey.. I'm sure Gwaine would be proud!