A/N: WOW! Guys thank you so much for this fantastic feedback I received. This is my first fanfic and I never dreamed of this many people liking the story on just the first chapter. That means a lot to me. To all those who reviewed/followed/favorite this story: The world is a better place with you in it. I got this chapter up quick just for you guys.

This chapter: I'm not completely sure how I feel about this chapter. There are some parts I like and some I don't. By the way, Merlin may be a bit OOC in this chapter. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Maybe someday I will own Merlin...oh, who am I kidding I do not own Merlin and never will.

Emrys Revealed

Everything else around Arthur faded until all he could see was that rundown throne and the skinny boy, the person he trusted most in the world, sitting in it. Arthur was pretty sure he said something brilliant like "Huh?", but it was drowned out by Morgana's yell of outrage.

"What! This must be some trick! Merlin could not be Emrys! That's completely impossible, that's-" but she stopped, seeing the look on Merlin's face.

He had cocked his head to the side, looking at her sympathetically. "Aw, poor Morgana. Always so close to the truth, yet so far."

Morgana looked stunned for a minute, apparently seeing the servant she once thought was a persistant idiot act like this shocked her beyond belief, but she composed herself. "I will deal with you later. Right now I have to adjust to a little change in plans." She gripped the hilt of her knife and advanced toward Arthur, who was so stunned at what was happening that he couldn't move. "I think I will kill your precious prince right now."

"Oh I don't think you will." Merlin said and before Morgana could even react, he flicked his hand and the knife slipped out of her grasp and skidded across the floor.

"You see Morgana," Merlin continued, still sitting at ease in the throne, "my job is already hard as is. I have to protect King Arthur, protect Camelot, protect the dragons, and protect the balance of life and death. You can see why some people call me the Protector. I do not need you, with your hate and your blindness to all things good and your dark magic," Merlin's voice was getting louder now, he was yelling at her, "to mess everything up, everything I've been working for!"

"Everything you've been working for?!" Morgana screamed as she whirled around to stare at him, her green eyes more full of madness and hate than ever before. "And what is that exactly? Don't you see what you've done? You have been protecting people who would kill you if they knew what you were. They are the reason we live in fear! They have killed thousands of innocent men, women, and children who were our kin! Do you honestly believe you can change all that? All any of them will be able to see is the darkness in magic; they'll never believe anything you say. All I've been working for is to help magic become free again and you have been stopping me over and over. You are a disgrace to those who practice the Old Religion!"

He was sitting up straight in the throne now, looking Morgana in the eye. "I'm a disgrace? I'm a disgrace!? Do you really think that all this killing and kidnapping and war that you've been doing will really help people see the good in magic!? Really!? Is that what you're thinking!? Because if it is then I'm sorry Morgana but I really don't follow your madness. Where do you think any of that will get you? All I've ever done is tried to use magic for good, to help people, to protect people."

"And those people you protect will chop your head off, now that they know the truth. Do you really think that my dear brother will care about how you use your magic? All that matters is the fact that you have it, and people will hate you for it. People will hate your magic; they will believe you are a monster. No one in Camelot will agree to welcome magic back. That's why we should rid the world of those beasts, the ones that kill innocents."

"I don't try to kill every person I come across that doesn't agree with me, like you do! I try to help them, to make them see the good in the world. Honestly Morgana? I don't think there's any hope left for you. All you use your magic for is evil! You are a disgrace to those you practice the Old Religion!"

Merlin stood up now; livid. "And for your information, yes, I am Emrys. I'm not some stupid servant that you can stomp all over, you understand me!?"

Suddenly something caught Arthur's eye. He had been so focused on Merlin's rant and the fact that Merlin was even here, that he hadn't noticed a man that was sneaking up behind Merlin. The man had his sword out and looked as if he was going to plunge it into Merlin's side while he was distracted by yelling at Morgana.

Should I warn him? Arthur thought to himself. Yes, you should he's your friend, one part of him said. But he's a traitor, the other part said. Just when you thought he was the only person you trusted who had never betrayed you, he goes and does this.

Suddenly Arthur was filled with such venom at his friend that he started to shake with rage. How could he! Arthur thought. After all we've done together, after all we've been through, how could he betray me like that! I thought he was my friend, but I guess he's really not!

But does he deserve to die? A small voice in the back of his head said.

The man was now right behind Merlin, about to plunge his sword into the warlock's body as Merlin continued to talk. "I blame myself for what happened to you but this has gone on too lo- Don't even think about it!" Merlin suddenly yelled, holding his hand up in a stop signal to the man with the sword. The man's eyes filled with fear and he scuttled away, dropping his sword in the process.

I guess there was no need for me to warn him then, Arthur thought bitterly. Apparently he already knows everything.

"Morgana, I want to end this." Merlin said, seemingly unfazed by the murder attempt. He had now stopped yelling and was fighting to keep his voice calm. He started walking down the stairs that elevated the throne. "You and me, right here. No swords, no knives, no secrets, just magic. This could end with me dead, or end with you dead, or end with both of us dead, or end with both of us walking away, but however it ends, it ends tonight."

"It ends now Emrys." Morgana said, agreeing. "But I can tell you this." She took a step closer to Merlin. "I have been thwarted by you time and time again but this time, I will not allow you to be my doom. And I am sure of one thing: This will not end with both of us walking away; I will make sure of that."

Merlin nodded solemnly. "I wanted to try and help you Morgana but if this is the only way things can be between us, then so be it."

Throughout this entire time, Merlin never once looked at Arthur. But now his friend's eyes flicked towards him, full of pain and sadness and regret. "Go Arthur." He said. It was an order, plain and simple. If this was any other time, any other day, any other circumstance, Arthur might have said something about not taking orders from his servant, but right now he couldn't seem to get his mouth to work. He just nodded and looked at his men.

They were staring, stunned at Merlin and what he was, but at Merlin's order and Arthur's look, they got up and started heading out the door. They all left and Arthur started to follow them, but stopped to look back at the man he once thought to be his friend.

Merlin looked straight into his eyes and Arthur could see all the feelings that Merlin was hiding behind his impassive face. Pain, anger, regret, sorrow, fear, and even a small bit of hope. Hope that Arthur might somehow forgive him. Arthur just shook his head; he didn't think he could ever forgive him. Not after this. He saw the last of the hope leave Merlin's eyes. "Goodbye Arthur." Merlin said. "And I'm sorry. I truly am."

Arthur just turned back around without saying a word and left the room. As he walked down the corridor toward the front gate he heard Morgana laugh and say "You honestly thought he'd forgive you, after you betrayed him like that?"

Arthur headed out of the castle and toward the forest where his knights stood, Morgana's cruel laugh echoing in his ears.

A/N: Man I need to have some choice words with Arthur Pendragon.

I wrote him this way because everyone he really trusted betrayed him and with Merlin I don't think he would be so quick to forgive. I know everyone wants to see Arthur's reaction to Merlin using epic magic, so will Arthur forgive in time? The epic magic battle between Merlin and Morgana may happen in the next chapter or the one after but don't get me wrong, it will happen!

Review and let me know you if you have any thoughts, comments, questions, concerns, random outbursts :)