You all asked for it, so here it is. Thank you all so much for reviewing! Waking up with twenty odd reviews in my inbox actually made my day, no kidding! (and I had a crap day after that, so just imagine what I would have been like without all you lovely people leaving your reviews! Bleak right?)

A message from my friend and beta - 'I had a wonderful day with the people of the interwebs giving her a 23-1, good on you LittleMissUnPerfect, lead on me'.

Thank you again. So much. I truly cannot thank you enough right now

The Sun by John Drinkwater
I told the sun that I was glad,
I'm sure I don't know why;
Somehow the pleasant way he had
Of shining in the sky,
Just put a notion in my head
That wouldn't it be fun.
If, walking on the hill, I said
"I'm happy" to the sun.

oxo…oxo

The moon, with all of its magical power and beauty, was no comparison to the sun.

The sun was adored. Always seen by others, content to watch over the people, keep them alive. The sun was worshiped. The sun spent all of its time basking in the glory of those who loved it.

Merlin loved the sun. Loved the way it shone in the sky, the way it helped the grass grow and the flowers live. The sun was dependable, always there when needed.

But the moon, the moon was hidden in shadow. Seen by no-one. It could only watch as the people slept, never seen but always there. In the day it was hidden by the sun, at night by the shadows and sleep. People didn't see the moon as they saw the sun.

The sun was never alone. The moon was lonely.

The moon wanted to be noticed, wanted to be seen. But it was impossible. All of its beauty, all of its secrets, hidden by the night. Unseen by the oblivious people while the sun was worshiped. Yet the moon held no hatred of the sun. No jealousy. It just continued to help the sun with its jobs, responsibilities. Content enough to do its job of looking over the people from the shadows.

Or, that was what Merlin thought.

He felt a small smile tugging at his lips as he sent the last of the prince's clothes into his wardrobe with an impressive swish of his hand. He loved using his magic, and did so whenever he could. He felt a sort of thrill about him when he did, one that was not just to do with the adrenaline of doing that which was illegal.

Arthur had told him to clear the place up before going off to do who knows what, who knew where. Merlin didn't expect him back before he left. Not if he used his magic to speed up his job. He felt no fear at what he was doing.

That was, until the prince walked through the door, his eyes dark; hatred pouring through them. It was enough to make him flinch. The hate and anger in his master's eyes burned him, and he knew that it was most defiantly aimed at him.

His heart sped up, beating a hundred miles an hour. He gulped slightly before taking a small step backwards, his eyes wide and fearful.

"Arthur?" he asked quietly, unsure what he had done to make the prince this angry with him. The prince didn't answer, instead drawing his sword from his belt and pointing it at the young warlock, a sneer of disgust on his face.

"I know what you are, sorcerer."

The words caused Merlin's blood to freeze. Arthur knew. Arthur knew. And it didn't look like he was taking it very well.

"W-what do you mean?" he asked, his voice breaking as he attempted to get the words out. Arthur let out a barked laugh, full of hate and devoid of humour or amusement.

"You know what I mean. I saw you. I saw you performing magic. In my chambers as well! You liar! Traitor! I can't believe I trusted you!"

The words hit the warlock like a knife, punching holes through his heart. He could feel his mind breaking, his body breaking with it. But he had to try. Needed totry.

"Please Arthur! I can explain-"

"Explain!" Arthur cut through angrily, taking a step forwards and resting his sword tip against Merlin's throat before spitting out, "You don't deserve to explain," in a low and threatening voice.

xxx…xxx

The moon was gazing at him again.

He loved it; the moon. Loved the way it lit the castle, the way its beams of light shone of the white walls of stone.

But he hadn't the time to watch, hadn't the time to gaze up at the moon's surreal beauty. He needed to get away from here. Needed to find the man who looked like him.

Needed to save Merlin.

He didn't know what this man had against him…or Merlin for that matter. What was his motive? Why would he do this? It wasn't really important right now, he decided. He needed to get free.

He couldn't move his body, and he was useless sat as he was on the top of a castle spire. It was as if some invisible ropes were holding him; tied tightly around every little bit of him. It was…disconcerting. And annoying. And very, very, infuriating.

He could hardly breathe, and each time he struggled it was as if the ropes only tightened. This was magic he detested. Magic when it was used to hurt him, or keep him from those who needed him. He wasn't sure exactly what the man was to do, but the basics were pretty clear. The destruction of his friend was imminent.

He needed to get down there.

He wiggled slightly, or tried to, but the ropes bit back, cutting off his breathing for a moment before giving it back a couple of seconds later. A warning. He cursed under his breath, his voice low and gravely as he struggled for air. Looking up at the moon, he frowned.

The moon was magical, could it not help him? He shook his head slightly (the only part of his body he could move), cursing his stupidity. Of course it couldn't help him. But the moon…it was so like Merlin.

The thought startled him, and he gaped up at the moon again. He had never realised it before, but whet he had thought was right. Merlin was surrounded by people who loved and trusted him. Gaius, his mother, Gwen, Arthur, the knights. Even half the servants liked and knew Merlin. There was just something about the boy that made people trust him. He was almost like the centre of Camelot, and that people revolved around him.

Like the moon and the stars.

The thought spread a smile across his face, and a sense of hope and determination surged through him. He fought, fought against the enchantment that kept him still as a statue. Even as he felt his air supply being cut off, he fought. He could feel himself beginning to move, slowly at first before building up.

Then he seemed to burst, and air rushed down his throat as a blessed relief. Sprawled on his side, he gulped down oxygen before getting up clumsily; hurriedly. Grabbing his sword from where it had been left beside him, he began to sprint towards the steps, slowing slightly when he almost collided with the wall. He trotted as fast as he dared down the stairs, running flat out in the corridors when he had gotten his co-ordination back.

He arrived to his rooms just to hear his own voice snarl, with deadly intent, "You don't deserve to explain,"

It echoed around the corridor along with the sound of his own footsteps. As he reached the closed doors, Merlin's voice almost made his heart break.

"Arthur…I'm sorry,"

He sounded so broken, so insecure and damaged. He never wanted to hear his manservant, his friend speak that way again. It was heart wrenching and he hated it.

Throwing himself against the door, he cursed. The damned bastard had locked it.

"Sorry just doesn't cut it!" he heard himself hiss. He hoped his voice would never sound like that again. He hoped he would never have reason to…especially when it came to Merlin. He could imagine the servant's face, and it wasn't pretty. His words weren't pretty either. There was nothing unusual about the words themselves, it was the way they were said that almost tore Arthur apart.

"What are you going to do with me?"

He sounded resigned, broken. Arthur wanted nothing more to slam his fist into the face of the man who was doing this to his friend, all the while knowing that, technically, it was himself. He just hoped Merlin would understand.

Pushing hard on the door he heard the answer, an answer that made his blood boil and run cold at the exact same time.

"You don't deserve to live,"

With a roar of fury, Arthur kicked down his own door, his eyes ablaze as he took in the scene before him. Merlin was standing in front of the man who wasn't him, a sword pointed and ready to strike his neck. His eyes narrowed as the man turned, Merlin's eyes going wide as he took in the heaving Arthur who had just broken through the door.

oxo…oxo

Dear readers,

I was only going to continue this into a two-shot, but when it became almost twice the size of the first chapter and I wasn't even finished, I decided it might be better to cut it in half and make it into three. So that's what I have done. Thank you all for your support, and I hope you like this and review and tell me so (all the while continuing to prove my friend wrong as you do so ;D).
Animeloveramy

Ok, so this is now a three shot. I admit I was wrong and chapter 2 was better than one. However that's no reason to not review, in fact please review, cos just outta interest I wanna see how many versions of idiot/fool (yes I'm letting them borrow your word Amy ^_^) I can be called in reviews, some of them really make me smile
AnimeAiedail