Chapter 6

Merlin was beyond shock. The Uther Pendragon, the proud King who never bows front of anyone, is kneeling down front of him? Then when he heard the King saying "I'm sorry my son." The moment he heard the word 'my son', he understood that the man who is sitting front of him is not the King, but a father. A father who never got to know his son, a father who lost his son because of his and his physician's decision, and a father who didn't knew that his lost son has been living in the same castle with him for over two years.

Uther looked at Merlin and continued "I'm sorry that you had to go through so much pain and sorrow. When Gaius told me that I have another son, I was so happy and I couldn't wait to see him. Then he said that he couldn't tell me the whereabouts of yours because he was trying to protect you from me." He paused and sighed. It was hard for him to confess his feeling as he always had problem expressing his emotions to others. However he understood that today he need to speak, so he continued.

"It was my decision and I was the one who went to Nimueh. She did warn me of the price, about the balance that the old religion requires however I was so selfish and blind with the want of an heir that I didn't care that someone might die, and I never thought that it would be my love who would die. Igraine was everything to me. After I lost her, I couldn't think straight, I couldn't believe that I have lost the person who meant the world to me." He paused again as it was hard for him to talk about Igraine.

"I feel so ashamed that Gaius have to take my own son away because of my actions and my own blood has to grow up in a small village as a peasant as well as has to work as a servant in my own castle for his brother. I hope you can forgive me and we can be a family." He finished with a small smile. Arthur smiled at his father but he was shocked. He has never seen his father like this, talking about the past. He always avoided the topic. Like him, his father also has a problems of expressing emotions to others.

Merlin smiled at Uther and said "I understand what you are trying to say however as all this has been a lot for me to take in, I need time to accept everything and get passed through it. But I do kind of understand how you felt when you lost the love of your life, because I have lost mine too."

Everyone except Gaius was shocked, especially Arthur. He was stunned. Merlin? He had a lover? Whom he had already lost? When in the world did this happen and why Merlin never said anything to him. He turned his head toward his knights and mouthed them silently "Did any of you knew?" All the knights shook their head and he can see they were surprised too. Uther was shock as well as sad because his son already know the pain of losing their love at such a young age.

"What? When did this happen? What was her name? Why you never told me? Is she from Ealdor?" Arthur asked one question after another. Merlin was quiet for a few minutes and then answered "No, I met her last year in Camelot."

"What?" Arthur asked outraged. "You never said anything to me. You met her in Camelot. Why wouldn't you…" Arthur trailed off when he heard a growling noise. It seemed it came from Merlin. Everyone looked at Merlin who in return blushed and looked down. Gaius shook his head and asked him "Merlin, when was the last time you ate something?"

Merlin gave him a sheepish smile and answer "Umm… last night." This time it was Uther who yelled "What? Last night? What about today's breakfast and lunch? Why did you skipped it?"

Merlin rubbed his neck and said "Because I woke up late and Arthur always yell at me for bringing his breakfast late. So as I was in a hurry, I didn't have time to eat breakfast and as for lunch I was trying to finish my chores." Uther glared at Arthur who in return started to defend himself "But… but I never told him to skip his meal."

"Never mind." Uther said, "Now we will go and have dinner. It has been a long and tiring day. We all must be tired and hungry. Let us all retire for the night." With that he stood up. Merlin and Arthur stood up following Uther, however Merlin lost his balance as everything became blurry front of his eyes. Thankfully Uther and Arthur was around him and when they notice this, they both immediately put their arms around him to hold him upright.

"Are you okay?" asked Uther worriedly.

"I am fine. Things just got blurry front of my eyes for a second." replied Merlin in a weak voice.

"Gaius, what's wrong with him?" asked Arthur who understood Merlin was trying to act strong but failing miserably.

"I think it's his magic. As he unintentionally used a lot of magic, it consumed maximum energy from his body. He was already tired and hungry. Using magic in an empty stomach and a weak body is bad. Magic consumes energy especially his magic as it's instinctual" Gaius explained. In return both Uther and Arthur nod their head at the new knowledge to indicate that they understood it. At that moment they realized that the storm has calmed down and everything which was floating around Gaius room, they already have been put down. Arthur started to walk out of the door by supporting Merlin. However Merlin stopped him and asked "Where are you taking me? My room is the other way. Did you forgot that, you prat?"

"No Merlin, I did not forgot that. However from now on you are going to have a different room as you are a Prince now. But tonight you will stay at my room." answered Arthur.

"But?' Merlin tried to say but Arthur stopped him. "No, buts. We are going to my chamber and there at first we are going to have dinner and then we will sleep."

Merlin was too tired to argue so he agreed and Arthur took him to his room and made him sit at one of his chairs. Then Arthur poked his head out of the door and ordered one of his guard to go and tell a servant to get them dinner. When Arthur returned back to the table, he saw Merlin dozing off. He went and shook his brother's shoulder and stated "Merlin, don't you dare doze off now. You need to eat. Your body need nourishment. After you have your dinner, then feel free to sleep but before that don't sleep."

"Clotpole." said Merlin with a glare at Arthur.

"Idiot", said Arthur.

"Dollophead", replied Merlin.

"Fool", said Arthur shaking his head and then continued "While we are waiting for our dinner to arrive, let's finish our conversation."

"Which conversation", Merlin asked confused.

"The conversation which was rudely interrupted by your growling stomach." Arthur said it with a smirked and Merlin gave him an evil eye stating "I was hungry you cabbage-head".

"OK. Let's not get distracted again. I want to hear about the girl that you met in Camelot and never told me anything." said Arthur.

Merlin frowned and bowed his head. "Can't we just drop this topic? I don't feel like talking about it now. Please, Arthur. I will tell you everything later but not tonight." Even Arthur was dying to hear about the girl, which he will never admit. However after hearing his brother say "please" and looking at his sad expression, he nodded his head and said "Yeah. Fine, but we will talk about this later." At that Merlin sadly nodded his head.

"Merlin, why don't you want to tell me? I am not talking about now, but by just looking at you I can understand you don't want to tell me the story. But why? What more badly can it be?" Arthur inquired. Just then there was a knock on the door and two servants entered carrying trays of varieties of food like bread, fruits, chicken, puddings and finally a jug full of wine. Merlin looked at the food with a raised eyebrow. Arthur looked at the food and turned his head and stated, "See Merlin, this is how royals are served food." Merlin snorted and said "We have to keep you in shape. Now we can't have you gobble down all of this food and become chubby."

"Shut up, Merlin. I am fighting fit." said Arthur.

Without answering, Merlin started eating. He was starving and the food taste heavenly. Arthur looked at his brother affectionately, smiled and shook his head. Then he himself started eating. He didn't realize how hungry he was, but now he was devouring the food. None of them talked, they were busy eating. The food and the wine tasted so good after such a long day, especially the wine relaxed the body.

"Ah, I am stuffed. It was a good meal", Arthur said with a satisfied smile. Merlin agreed by nodding his head. He was feeling really tired now as he used so much magic today. He is still having a hard time accepting that his biological mother has been Igraine and Uther, the man whom he have ever liked, is his father. Tomorrow is going to be a hard day too, especially when Morgana is going to know about his magic. Even if Uther said he wanted to be a family but there is a very important matter they need to talk about and it's his magic. If Uther cannot accept his magic then it means his father cannot accept him too. He knows Arthur will support him, may be Morgana too, Gaius and Lancelot will, may be Gwaine too, however he is hesitant about Leon, Kay, Elyan, Gwen and Percival. Leon has been a knight of Camelot for such a long time, he has been drilled with the believe that magic is evil. Then there is another matter, telling Arthur about all their adventures and also about Freya. He knew the moment he will tell Arthur about how Freya died, Arthur will always blame himself. Merlin have never blamed Arthur, he was a Prince and he was protecting his kingdom. But it doesn't lessen the pain. The only girl he has ever loved died and he couldn't save her even with all his power. he is known as the powerful warlock ever walk on this earth but what is the use of all the power if he can't use it to save the people the people that means so much to him, Freya, Will and Balinor. Even Balinor is not his father but that time he knew it was his father. He didn't know how long he has been sitting there and thinking but suddenly he felt someone squeeze his hand. He looked at the person and saw it was Arthur who was looking at him with a pained and worried expression.

After finishing his dinner, he leaned back at his chair, closed his eyes and relaxed. It has been such a long and tiring day. So many secrets came out, him knowing he has a brother who was taken away from his after their birth, apparently his brother has magic and then he found out that his brother is Merlin who has been living with him over two years and serving him. When he woke up today in the morning, if anyone would have told him all this, either he would have laughed at their face and called that person made or put him/her in the dungeon. He was lost in his thoughts but then he felt a pain in his heart. He opened his eyes, looked at Merlin but what he saw worried him. Merlin, his brother was crying. He could see Merlin was lost in his thoughts, so many emotion was passing upon his face from disbelieve, to anger to hurt. He squeezed his brother hand hoping it will bring him away from whatever painful memory he is reliving. Now he could see that Merlin carried so much burden like him however their burdens are different. He will share his brother's burden, he won't let him carry it alone anymore.

"Merlin," Arthur called him. Merlin looked at Arthur. Arthur continued slowly, "Why are you crying, brother? Please tell me. I am here for you." At first he thought that Merlin won't say anything to him but then out of nowhere Merlin jumped and hugged Arthur and started crying. Arthur was shocked but tried his best to console his brother who looked so broken. While Merlin was hugging and crying, Arthur moved them towards the bed, and keep on soothing him as much as he can as he was never good with emotions. However tonight his brother and best friend need him and he will be there. He knows one thing, he will always be there for his brother no matter what. This is a promise he made to himself, he will look after his brother and support him till the day he die. He realized his brother fall asleep while crying, so he gently laid Merlin's down on the bed, took of his shoes and covered him with the blanket. He then got up from the bed, took his night dress out of the closet and changed into them behind the screen. He decided he will leave the dishes on the table for the night. He doesn't want to call the servants to take the dishes as the sound might wake his brother, which he doesn't want. So he left the dishes on the table, dimmed the candles, stoke the fire and laid down beside Merlin on the bed. He hugged his brother and before he knew, he fall asleep with a smile on his face.

Author's note: Sorry for the late update. I have been busy recently so didn't get time to either write or update. However I will try to update the next chapter soon. I hope you like this one. J