A/N: Hello! How are you lot? I need to stop that, I'm not British oops. This story is going much better than I thought it was, so I want to thank everyone for reading it and for the kind reviews. THEY MAKE ME SMILE LIKE AN IDIOT. :)

Let the fic commence!

Goodbye, Arthur. His words resonated in his ears like the cringe worthy noise of metal grinding against metal. His cold farewell burned in his throat. He felt the finality of it, the way it had felt like it had been the last goodbye he would give. Seeing Arthur again might get him killed, but he wanted to apologize. He needed to explain his reasoning that kept him from telling his friend his deepest, darkest secret. When it had been accidentally revealed, he had hoped he would understand. Arthur had been warming up to magic hadn't he? Gwen had been cured with magic after being in the dark tower, so he assumed the king would have finally understood. Merlin had often explained that magic was a weapon, it wasn't good or evil. Evil lies in the hearts of men.

He had been wrong about Arthur's heart. He had been foolish to think he was safe to perform magic in that field without getting caught.

It was too late now.

He left the home he had known for ten years with a hug from Gaius and a bag of food. Stepping out the door, he expected to just walk out the city without a problem. Of course, that did not go as planned. Not even ten seconds after leaving, he ran into none other than Gwaine.

"Hello Merlin, where are you off to?" Gwaine asked with a bright smile, addressing his best friend. It just made Merlin hurt even worse knowing he was leaving it behind. Another wave of anger and sadness flooded over him. Gwaine being Gwaine, picked up on his dark mood. "What's wrong, mate?"

Merlin thought about asking Gwaine to come with him. He would. Gwaine was protective and would take any chance to leave his responsibilities no matter how much privilege he got from them. But he couldn't make himself ask him to leave his new life. So he simply said with a forced smile, "Nothing."

Before Gwaine could further question, and he really wanted to, Gaius opened his door with a loud dramatic bang. Both Merlin and Gwaine spun to face the physician, slightly startled.

"Merlin, why haven't you left yet? I need those herbs, my boy. Gwaine, do you possibly think you could help me lift this sack of potatoes? It's quite heavy and it's in the way of my work."

Merlin looked to Gwaine, hoping Gaius' request would send Gwaine away from him. With a very visible jaw clench, Gwaine looked at Merlin. He didn't want to leave him in this state, but he took his cue and followed Gaius back into the room he had just came from. The smile dropped from Merlin's face and he exited the castle. Not one guard stopped him on the way out. He never came across another knight. But at the edge of the forest, he paused. Where was he going to go?

He couldn't go to Ealdor and endanger his mother. There wasn't anywhere else he was familiar with.

So he just started walking.

Merlin shouldered his bag of provisions and trekked on throughout the woods, travelling past the clearing he had left Arthur in. He paused, questioning if he should go and talk to him for the last time. Should he have just let Arthur go?

No. He was going to arrest me. Burn me alive, he thought to himself. He looked to the field, sighed, and continued on down the path. It was too risky.

As he grew further and further away from Camelot, he felt wrong. Each step felt wrong. It probably had something to do with the fact he was running away from his destiny to help Arthur build a prosperous kingdom with magic. The universe was fighting against him. At the moment, he didn't particularly care. His legs protested against their master's will, making him want to turn back with each labored step, but Merlin was more persistent. Arthur Assdragon could deal without him. He probably wouldn't even want Merlin back anyway.

His thoughts pounded in his head and grew louder and louder until he had had enough. Merlin stopped walking and threw his bag on the ground in anger. He hadn't realized, but his breathing had grown heavy as he grew tired and angry. He had traveled on foot for only half a day, but he still found himself exhausted. He collapsed onto his knees in frustration and defeat. The last light left the sky and Merlin gazed up at the stars beginning to shine in the darkness. A wet warmth collected on his chin, but Merlin didn't care. His heart hurt thinking of the strong friendship that had been extinguished earlier that morning. He didn't know it, but a few miles away the king had been released in the clearing and was crying like Merlin was, down on his knees gazing at the stars wishing he could right his wrongs.

Both thought the other despised them. But of course, a half cannot truly hate what makes it whole.

"Lady Morgana! I bring news," a small dark messenger croaked, running into the throne room of the traitor that had built her new kingdom from the dust. She looked upon him with disgust, but anyone who brought her helpful reports were rewarded and she found them very useful.

"Go on, Narcys," Morgana said, slightly bored. She hardly ever got any interesting news anymore. Peasants would make up lies or tell her unimportant facts to get money from her. That had recently ceased when she started to send the liars to her cells. She certainly wasn't bored when she had a few prisoners to torture and keep her entertained.

"It concerns Camelot's king and his servant Merlin." Morgana nodded to him, pursing her lips at the mention of her brother who she looked upon with even more disgust than the man in front of her. He continued, "I spotted them in a field outside of Camelot and they were fighting. Proper fighting!"

Morgana looked up. That was new information. That idiot of a servant would never go against his king. This could be just what she needed. So many ideas flooded through her mind but she stopped herself, needing more information to form a proper plan. She asked the messenger, "Is that all?"

"Oh no, my lady. I've saved the best for last. The boy, his servant, was using magic! He bound the king in roots and left him. I'm not sure where he's gotten off to now, but- "

Merlin had magic. Well, that's definitely interesting. Morgana's blood ran cold and hot at the same time, slight fear fighting her anger. The memory of Merlin's lies were like a fresh wound. He had told her that she didn't have magic. He had made her feel ridiculous for thinking it. He had magic the entire time.

"And they were fighting over magic?"

"Yes and-"

"Leave," Morgana harshly commanded. Narcys quickly scrambled to leave, careful not to be the target of her wrath. The guards gave him a small bag of coins, and he left Morgana's sight. He left her to brew in her rage and admiration for the man's ability to keep his magic hidden for so long.

She couldn't deny that she was extremely impressed. He had become the personal manservant to one of the few kings in the realm that outlawed magic. And he had magic. She still couldn't wrap her head around the fact, but it did explain a lot. Especially how she had constantly been thwarted at every opportunity. If he was angry with Arthur, she may have just found a new ally. Unless he was still loyal, just pissed off. It may be worth it to have a little chat with the newly discovered sorcerer. He could be just what she needed to take over Camelot and finally take the crown.

Morgana rose from her seat at the throne and left, heading for the room next to her chambers. It was where she performed her larger spells that required more of her power and concentration and where she went for privacy when her guards annoyed her. No one, except her, was allowed in the room. She kept all of her magical items, books, and ingredients in there, as well. The walls were covered by floor to ceiling shelves that housed plants of every shape and variety. The very room smelled of magic, if that were even possible.

Her hand ran along her bookshelf, stroking the spines as she looked for the one she wanted. She saw titles in other languages, in languages that had long died out, and languages known only to a select. They contained information and instructions that would be helpful at one time or another. A large brown book jutted out from the others and she picked it up, dusting it off. She discovered what she had been looking for: the spell that would take her to whomever she desired. She had once thought it would be useful in attacking Camelot, but she would have to go in alone or with one single warrior, since she could only take one other person with her. That was an impractical plan that she knew would surely fail, so she attacked Camelot the old fashion way... more or less.

She thought of Merlin, and how he might react, but she was hopeful. She could use Merlin's magic with hers. They could be invincible. But she still needed to convince him of her cause.

Morgana smirked and stepped back, the book on the table in front of her. Taking a deep breath, she focused her magic. She muttered a few words of the Old Religion, her eyes turning gold, and vanished from her castle in a torrent of wind.

The morning sun had begun to rise, birds chirping and signalling that the day was going to be beautiful. But when Merlin awoke with raw eyes and a sore body, he knew that the birds were bloody liars. He didn't remember when, but he had fallen asleep on the side of the road. He obviously hadn't cared who came by or who attacked him. He was done. There was nothing left for him, no one he could go to. He was truly alone. Not alone like he had always been, this was new for him. His body ached from laying on the cold, hard ground and his stomach growled. Sitting up, he grabbed his bag and rifled through it for an apple. After his first bite, he sensed a magical presence approaching.

But before he could turn around, a chill went down his spine as a familiar voice warmly said, "Hello, Merlin."