Hey guys this chapter was hard to write because of all the emotions and things that I felt had to be put into it that is why it took me a few days to get it out so I hope you enjoy and please review and let me know how I did and what you thought. and thank you all who have reviewed and favorite, and followed this story so far and anyone who has just been reading it, It means a lot to me. Well that is enough of my babble please enjoy the chapter and let the show begin.

Chapter 4

Arthur rode for almost ten minutes before he spotted some tracks and he immediately knew that they were Merlin's "Good at least he did not erase his tracks." "Yah!" he yelled at his horse as he drove his heals into her sides pushing her into a full gallop. Arthur followed Merlin's tracks for a good half an hour before he heard something up ahead of him.

He slowed his mare to a halt and listened and when he did he heard sobbing coming from up ahead and he recognized them even though he had only heard them twice before but he would know them anywhere. Merlin was only just through the trees. Arthur dismounted and tethered his horse to a tree, he had his sword strapped to the saddle so that when he went to Merlin he would have no weapons on him because he had left the dagger he usually had in his boot back in his room. He knew that Merlin would see it as a threat if he had weapons on him when Arthur revealed what he knew.

Once his horse was secure Arthur started towards the sounds of Merlin's sobs but after a few feet the stopped and everything turned silent Arthur was only a few feet away from where he needed to be for Merlin to see him but Merlin should not have heard him coming "He must have some sort of magical defense in place that will tell him if someone is close to the area." Just as the thought entered his head he heard Merlin call out "I know your there so show yourself." Arthur walked out into the open with his arms up in a gesture of surrender. "How did you find me Arthur?" Merlin's voice was cold and full of hurt and anger which Arthur could understand and he knew he had to get Merlin to trust him again.

"Gaius told me where you were but not how to get here I followed your tracks. I am not here to hurt you if I was I would at least have my sword on me. But my sword is back on my horse and my dagger that I usually keep in my boot is back in my room at home. I have no weapons on me, I have nothing to defend myself with. I knew you would see it as a threat when I came to talk to you knowing what I know. I just want to talk that is all." Arthur replied "What do you know, what did you find out?" Merlin asked with the same coldness but there was a hint of fear in his voice now that Arthur did not like. Merlin should have never have had to fear him and he never would again. "I figured it out on my own, and I asked Gaius about it. He told me a bit of what you have done for me over the last three years. I see now that the king is just a blind tyrant, and I also see how blind I was to believe his lies. I know of your magic Merlin, I admit I had doubts about Magic and if it could be used for good but those doubts are now long gone because of you. If you have magic and have only ever used it to help me and protect me and Camelot and only used it to hurt other in self defense or defense of others how could it be evil. How could magic be evil if you have it and you don't have an evil bone in your body? How many innocent people has the king killed just because they have magic, how many people have I helped him kill because I was blinded by his lies? I promise you that my eyes have been opened and I promise you have nothing to fear from me and you never will. Just please don't leave because I don't want to lose you." Arthur finished but his last sentence set Merlin off and it shocked Arthur to the core with how much Merlin had held in for so long.

"No, it not me you don't want to lose, you don't want to lose the brother you never had!" Arthur cut in before he could go any further "No, Merlin. I knew I never wanted to lose you long before I knew you were my twin. That just gives me even more reason to not want you to leave. You were the first true friend I ever had Merlin. You were the first person who had the gall to stand up to me, put me in my place. You were the first person to see me not my title or anything else just me. I don't have to have a mask around you I can just be me. I can't even do that with my own father yet I can do that with you. You are everything to me, my friend, my confidant, my unofficial advisor, my protector from what I have heard, and as we just found out my twin. I don't want to lose any of that. I trust you with my life and everything I am, and I still do even though I know you have magic. I understand your scared but you don't have to afraid of me." "Oh really, how do I know this isn't a trick to get me to come back so I can be put to the flames or have my head cut off! You cannot ever understand how it feels to have to hide all your life and be afraid of what you are and what you can do because you know if anyone found out it could be a death sentence! You will never understand what I have sacrificed for you! Do you know how many scars I have and that all of them I received because I was protecting you! I have more scars than you probably ever will and am bound to get more with how many times I save your ass every other day! That is just the scars that you can see, I have emotional scars as well! You could never understand that Arthur how I have feared for my life since the day I could understand what having my gifts could cost me! You'll never understand how hard it is for me to know that my own father would have me killed if he knew what I was and what I could do! How can I even trust you with the things you have said before! How can I trust that you won't turn on me one day even if it is not now! How do you think I feel knowing that my real family would kill me for what I am! Tell me that! Tell me how I could ever trust you, give me one good reason!" Merlin had tears streaming down his face and his breathing was ragged Arthur knew there was only one way he would ever believe him and that was for Merlin to know that he was telling the truth without a doubt.

"Merlin, if there is a spell that you can do that will tell you if am lying or telling the truth that I want you to use it so you can see for yourself that everything I am about to say is the absolute truth. I want you to use it everything that is said and done here will not leave here. So before I say anything more if you know any spells that will help you know that I am telling the truth then cast it because I want you to know what I am saying it true. Just please do it." Arthur said waiting. Merlin looked a little apprehensive but nodded and muttered a few words under his breath then his eyes glowed gold and stayed that way. Arthur knew the spell was in place Merlin would detect any lie if it was said and Arthur knew it.

"I know you can detect if anything I say is a lie now but promise you, you will find none. I still trust you Merlin, I meant everything I have said today. I make you a promise right here and now, I promise you that I will never turn on you, I will always stand by you even again our father. I will do my best to keep your magic secret and if our father ever finds out and wants to kill you then he will have no choice but to kill me too. If it comes right down to it I will take him down without a second thought because I will never let him harm you. Any other magic user who is caught and actually is innocent and was helping someone then I will help you get them out before our father can hurt them. But if they are guilty of hurting someone with their magic then I won't do anything because I even know that magic should not be used to hurt people just like my sword should be used to help those in need not harm them. And when I am king I will lift the ban on magic. No one will have to fear for what they are anymore. That is my promise and will keep it from now until my dying day. You can tell me anything no more lies no more secrets. You can be yourself with me you don't have to hide. But I am not going to force you to stay the choice is now yours. If you stay I will protect you in every way I can. If you do decide to leave though I will not follow you, I will not contact you. I will never forget you but I will let you go and if you ever decide to return you will be welcomed back with open arms. The choice is yours I will go now I will wait in a cave not far from here if you are not there by sunrise in two days I will know you have left and I will go home and still try and help other magic users escape our father. But if you do come to before then, then everything I said still stands whichever way you choose my promise will remain the same. I will leave now and let you think on what you want to do." Arthur finished what he was saying hoping that Merlin would come back with him but would also understand if he chose not to. With that Arthur turned and left, got back on his horse and rode to the cave that was not five minutes from where he had left Merlin.

Meanwhile Merlin was thinking to himself "He didn't lie that much is true he meant every word he said. I can trust him. I just don't know if that is enough for me to go back. If I went back that would mean I would have to see Uther and accept him as my father even if in just name because to me he will never be my father. And everything I would have to learn and do I don't know if I could do it. I guess I would have Arthur. It might work I just need time to think. I just need time and Arthur is ready to give me that." Merlin sat down staring out at the river going over all the things that had been revealed today and the promises made. It took a while it a long after night fell when Merlin finally made his decision.