A/N This was the chapter were slash came into play so I've had to edit it :)
Disclaimer: don't own Merlin-bbc does although one can dream

Merlin woke up confused. Last night he had done his usual routine of, once being dismissed, hiding behind something with a clear view of Morgana's chambers, then following her to wherever she was sneaking off to. Last night though, she hadn't. In fact, at dinner she had been the same Morgana that he had first met, that he was friends with.

Also, when she looked at Arthur and especially Uther, she looked, dare he say it -guilty. Could this have something to do with the chat her and Arthur had last night? Oh. He almost forgot one of the most important details. She smiled at him. The Lady Morgana had smiled at Merlin. Yes it was awkward but it was with kindness behind it and definitely guilt. Merlin really needs to speak with Arthur about that chat he'd had with Morgana. Pronto!

When Arthur was eating his breakfast Merlin had asked Arthur about what he and Morgana had talked about.

"Why do you want to know?" Arthur asked, frustrated.

"She seemed different towards me. I can't explain how, she just did. Was it me you were talking about? Is it the reason why you have been distancing yourself from me? I won't stop asking until you tell me!" with that, Merlin sat down next to Arthur and crossed his arms in a likeliness to the Prince, it was unnerving.

Sighing, the Prince in question got up and started to pace.

"Merlin." he started looking at the warlock. "I don't know how to tell you this. So I'll answer your questions first. No, not exactly. She didn't know it was about you but it was about you." when Merlin looked ready to breath fire, the blonde haired warrior held his hand up. "Let me finish! Yes it is about the reason why I'm distancing myself but I don't mean to. I'm just…nervous."

"About what? Why are talking about me?" Merlin exploded.

"Please just listen to me." Arthur pleaded which was so out of character that he listened. Taking a deep breath which was meant to calm his nerves but did nothing, Arthur finally admitted to Merlin what he knows. "I know you're a sorcerer."

"What…that…that's impossible! Me, sorcerer? As if…I mean come on. What?" Merlin spluttered, terrified.

"Merlin I won't tell anyone. I promise. You're my closest friend I've ever had. I wouldn't risk losing that." A faint blush found his golden cheeks and settled there.

Merlin did nothing but stare at him. It was too much. Arthur knew. He knew about his magic yet he isn't telling anyone. He said Merlin is his closest friend. I mean, Merlin had thought of Arthur as a friend but Arthur has never admitted it and would remind Merlin reguraly that masters and servants could not be friends. He came here wondering what he said to Morgana…wait! Arthur told Morgana this but he didn't say it was Merlin?

"Merlin?" Arthur's voice ran through his head snapping him out of his thoughts. Looking at the warrior in front of him, Merlin couldn't help but realise how nervous he looked. The most powerful person in all of Albion looks worried because he told Merlin he knows his secret. Surely it should be Merlin the most worried? He is the warlock after all! Either way, Merlin couldn't help but feel slightly superior at the sight.

"Merlin please say something?" Arthur pleaded.

"How long?" Merlin finally managed to choke out.

"When I was knocked out a fortnight ago. I could still hear everything and I heard you use your magic."

"What! You've known for two weeks! Yet you didn't tell me!"

Two weeks he has known and didn't tell him. Merlin has no idea why it bothered him. It just did. Saying that had made Arthur lose his temper though.

"You're shouting at me because I didn't tell you I knew! What about you not telling ME! Three and a half years Merlin! I found out by chance!"

"Do you blame me?" Merlin was now on his feet. "I think it should be pretty obvious why I couldn't tell you. You're the son of the ultimate magic-hater, Uther Pendragon! You would've killed me!" this stopped Arthur.

How could he not have known. Merlin had been scared. Once Arthur knew him though, he would never have dreamed of killing Merlin. Surely he knew that, shouldn't he?

"Merlin. I might have killed you the first few months that I knew you but I didn't know you properly then. Once I did, I would've, and still will, protect you with my life. I thought you knew that." Arthur said it with hurt tracing his words.

Merlin was shocked at his friend's words and the vulnerability he was showing. He also felt slightly guilty at hearing the hurt in his tone.

"Of course I know. It's just, you would've had to choose between your father or me and I thought why would you choose me? I mean, I'm just an idiotic servant." they both laughed at the use of words he used at the end.

"You are much more then that. You are my idiotic servant!" Arthur put emphasis on the word my and Merlin couldn't help but shiver, not in fright but because the possessiveness that laced the word meant he really was Arthur's friend.

Smiling he nodded. "Yours." he agreed.

Arthur smiled back. "I should be going to a council meeting soon." he said.

"Hmmm." was the reply.

Arthur gave him a quick but dazzling smile and murmured "Come on." Merlin sighed and moved against his own will. He would much rather stay and talk about his magic.

While he helped get Arthur ready and presentable for the meeting Merlin asked "Will we be talking about my magic more?"

"Yes. I have a few questions. Don't worry. I know you won't hurt anyone. I'm just curious." he gave Merlin a reassuring smile. Merlin smiled back.

"Thank you. For being so good about this, I mean. It really means a lot."

"It's no problem. Although you do have to something for me. Nothing bad though."

"What is it?" Merlin asked slightly wary and rightly so as Arthur told him what he needed to do; clean out my horses, tidy my chambers, the usual.

"I thought you said one thing and nothing bad!" the servant exclaimed.

"It is one thing. Your job! Well I suppose from your point of view it is bad." with a mischievous smile, he strode out of the room.

"Stupid royal prat! Stupid royal prat who happens to be my best friend!" he thought. "Stupid royal prat who happens to think of me as his and knows my secret but won't kill me."

Merlin started to smile like a lunatic. It was only then that he realised he still doesn't know why Arthur talked to Morgana. They're talking tonight so he'll ask again then. With that, the Prince's servant set off to do his endless list of chores.

()()()()()

It was now dusk and the Lady Morgana was sneaking off to meet with Morgause. To say she was nervous was the understatement of the century. All day Morgana had been fretting over this moment and what to say. She decided on the whole truth no matter what the consequences. Morgana arrived but Morgause was not yet there.

It was a nerve-wracking five minutes before Morgana heard the unmistakable noise of horses hooves, breaking twigs and the scurrying of animals. She took a deep breath before turning around coming face to face with her sister.

"Morgana! It's good to see you. I was so worried about you last night sister." Morgause said rushing to Morgana, concern covering every feature of her face and in her actions.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You don't look it. You're paler then usual. Why didn't you come last night sister?"

"I talked with Arthur yesterday." Morgana started apprehensively.

"Go on." Morgause was worried now.

"There was a lot of things said and…I want to be by his side. I want him as King. I believe in him. I hate the person I've turned out to be. I want Uther, my father, to be King and die of old age. I vow to protect them until death takes me. They are my family!" her confidence grew while speaking but faltered under the look of pure betrayal and hatred etched on Morgause's face.

"You what?" she snarled out.

Morgana stood her ground. After all, she is a Pendragon.

"You heard me. I want no more to do with you."

"How can you do this to me? I'm your sister -"

"And Arthur, my brother and Uther my father! They were long before you turned up!" Morgana was losing her temper now.

A short temper seems to be a common trait in the Pendragon family. Morgause on the other hand had a murderous glare directed at Morgana.

"And! They'd kill you if they knew what you really are!"

"Arthur wouldn't! That's what we talked about, magic. He believes differently! Also, with the reason I have fore my father's hatred of magic, I would be the exact same!" the seer spat out.

Morgause was outraged.

"You're a sorceress! You belong with me! You'd turn your back on your own kin? Who are you because you are not my sister!"

"Yes I would turn my back if it meant standing by my family and no I am not! I am Lady Morgana who loves her real family. When you arrived, my life went to ruins! I don't like the person I became. It was a double of you!"

"You'd be dead if it wasn't for me! You were poisoned and I saved you!" the evil sorceress reminded her.

"It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't know you." Morgana countered. "Merlin was torn by doing it but he needed to save Camelot and I applaud him for that amount of loyalty." and she meant it.

Thinking about how much Merlin resents her brought tears to her eyes. It was the final straw for Morgause though.

"Very well! Go back to your family. Your brother and your father who, might I add, will kill you if he knew you properly without batting an eyelid. Go back to the interfering servant. Mark my words Morgana. This isn't the last time you will see me. I will destroy Camelot and you along with it!" With that final promise, the blonde sorceress straddled her horse and started heading the way she came. She looked over her shoulder to where Morgana was still standing.

"We are sisters no more."

It was a few minutes more until Morgana could move. While walking back to Camelot she only had two thoughts; I need to tell Arthur and Merlin and when will Morgause strike? By the time she got to her chambers, she was too exhausted, mentally as well as physically. She crawled under the covers and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the feathery pillow. The last thought she had was that she needs to tell Arthur everything tomorrow and hopefully her and Merlin could start trying to repair their broken friendship. She will do whatever it takes for that to happen.

()()()()()

While the two sisters were having their argument, another discussion was going on. True to his word, Arthur let Merlin discuss his magic.

"Soooo, what do you want to know?"

Merlin felt as though he should be nervous as that's what he's like whenever he's imagined this but he was quite the opposite. He was sprawled out on the Princes bed while the Prince was sat facing him leaning against the headboard. "Well I know and understand why you didn't tell me but I was wondering if anyone else knew?" Arthur was trying to get the questions that had been bugging him ever since he found out, answered.

"Just three. My mother, obviously, Gauis, he's the reason I came in the first place. My mother and him are old friends and she thought he could help guide me. Lancelot -"

"LANCELOT! Why does he know?"

Jealousy made itself known to the Prince for the very first time at the mention of the former Knight's name. He thought he was Merlin's best friend!

"Yes he knows because he saw me use magic. I thought he couldn't see me but I was wrong. It was when he defeated the Griffin as magic could only destroy it."

Merlin felt quite happy knowing that Arthur was jealous.

It was then he realised he'd missed someone out. "Oh. Will knew." his happiness faded a little at the memory of his dead friend.

Arthur must have sensed it as he pulled him into a friendly embrace.

"Do you feel guilty because he took the blame?" Merlin did nothing but nod against his shoulder. Arthur rubbed his arm trying to comfort him. "It's not your fault. He was dying and his final action was that of a Knight's. He protected you to the end and Will had a good heart. You should be happy you knew him and I am honoured to have met him once." Arthur spoke with such sincerity that Merlin smiled.

"Anymore questions?" The warlock asked after a few moments of silence. Arthur pondered this for a minute. "Not at the moment. Have you?"

"A couple. Why did you go to Morgana to talk? That confuses me."

"I just wanted to know what she thought of magic that's all." Arthur explained.

"But…why?" Merlin was still slightly confused and a small part of him was screaming he doesn't trust you, he doesn't trust you! As if he could hear, Arthur reassured Merlin.

"I do trust you. One hundred percent I just wanted to know I wasn't alone in my beliefs."

"I believe you." he smiled at his master before putting his head back on his shoulder. It was remarkably comfy. Arthur didn't think so though as he shrugged him off. He had no need to comfort him anymore. Merlin pouted but announced that he had another question.

"Anything you ask, I'll answer."

"Aren't you scared?"

Arthur leaned back so he could look into Merlin's eyes.

"Why would I be?" Arthur asked but then it dawned on him. "Wait a minute... How powerful are you?" How Arthur failed to think of that question is a mystery. Maybe because Merlin is a clumsy idiot. He thought to himself.

"I'm the most powerful warlock to ever live. I could move objects before I could talk. I could take down Camelot with one word if I wanted to. As well as that, I am also a dragonlord. Balinor is my father. The dragon is still alive by the way. He's on strict orders to not attack Camelot so you needn't worry yourself."

Merlin smired at the shock that is written all over Arthur's face.

"Merlin."

"Hmmm."

"Remind me to never make you angry." Merlin chuckled.

"Then I'm afraid you ahve to change your personality completely." Merlin gave Arthur his most serious look that covered his teasing tone.

The ever-brave Prince gulped under the intense gaze. It was only when Merlin yawned that they realised how late it was.

"We should sleep." Without waiting for a reply from Arthur, Merlin whispered a couple of words of the Old Religion and the candles went out just as the fire grew larger so it wouldn't burn out over night.

"If you need anything during the night you know where to find me. Please don't need anything." The younger male gave the elder one a gloare for emphasis.

"Don't worry. Night Merlin." the blonde murmured still shocked at how powerful Merlin revealed he is and the display of magic. "Night Arthur." Merlin said before giving the room a once over to make surre every was fine and leaving to his own chambers. Arthur finally managed to quiet his thoughts enough to sleep. Both boys slept, not knowing what events tomorrow had planned for them.

A/N It was harder then i thought to edit but hopefully it will be alright. Please let me know what you think. I didn't change much from the original version just not slash :P