Arthur stared at his servant while he waited for his reply. He tried to look intimidating, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring down at Merlin with cold eyes. Anger still bubbled inside of him and as he looked at Merlin he only felt it continue to grow. How dare his... servant, friend, whatever he was, look like that? He was some sort of powerful warlock! He should look powerful and, and evil!

But instead he looked like Merlin. Arthur could tell that despite being under Gaius' care for a week, he was still unhealthy, though Arthur thought that he should have recovered by now. He was starting to get a little meat on his bones and his cheeks weren't as hollow as they had been before, but despite the sleep that the King knew he was getting Arthur noticed he still had bags under his eyes and there was this weariness he carried around. Arthur had seen it before, in the look of older knights and recently whenever he looked in the mirror. The look that he had seen too much.

Arthur was jerked out of his thoughts by Merlin's stuttering as the boy paled so much he looked white. "W-What do you mean?" he tried to play it off casually, but the King could see the fear in his eyes.

Arthur scowled. "I know about your... magic." He spat, his eyes narrowing. When he said the cursed word, Merlin flinched as if Arthur had physically hit him and lowered his gaze.

Merlin did not speak, so Arthur continued. "Gaius... he told me. Well, more like he had no choice after I saw what you did..."

Arthur remembered the incident very clearly. Merlin had only been in Gaius chambers for a few hours and Arthur was worried sick, not that he would admit it. The King had been sitting next to Merlin's bed and keeping a cold cloth over his forehead when suddenly it happened. Merlin's eyes shot open and he screamed something in some language Arthur didn't understand, but it made chills run down his spine. Arthur almost fell out of his chair and his eyes had widened with fear and horror. Merlin's eyes were glowing gold and he was shooting gold power from his hand at the ceiling and Arthur felt the room shake.

After a few moments it had stopped and Merlin had gone back to sleep, but Arthur was already on his feet, backing away from his friend.

He spun around and saw Gaius sitting at his table, staring at Arthur with fear and pleading in his eyes. "Sire, I can explain!"

He had tried, Arthur had to give him credit. Twisted his words to make it sound like Merlin had done nothing but help him. Arthur had run out of the room and gone straight to knight training to work off his anger. Merlin had betrayed him. Lied to him. Magic corrupted. Magic was evil. That was what he was told.

But what if it isn't? A voice whispered in the back of his head that sounded strangely like Merlin.

Arthur ignored the voice for a long time. If he wanted to argue with Merlin then he would do it with Merlin, not some voice in his head that sounded like Merlin.

Merlin finally looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Please, Arthur. I have only ever used my magic for good." He swallowed, and Arthur watched his Adam's apple bob. "I use it for you, Arthur. Only you."

Arthur clenched his fists and asked the question that had been bothering him, his words heated by the servant for so many years. "Why?"

Merlin looked taken aback at the question. Arthur assumed he thought he would be yelled at. Oh, I will yell. He promised bitterly.

"Because it is my destiny." He gazed up at Arthur eagerly. Perhaps he assumed Arthur was changing his mind. Right now the King felt like doing anything but that. Magic had caused too much pain in his life. It had killed his mother, his father, and corrupted his sister... He almost died by the hands of sorcerers daily and it was a miracle he survived.

Or Merlin, he thought with a scowl.

Merlin was looking earnest, and this glint appeared in his eyes, the same glint the was present whenever he said something that, as much as Arthur hated to admit it, had been wise advice.

"You are the Once and Future King, Arthur." Merlin began, getting some color back to his face but Arthur could see the lingering fear in his eyes. "And I am destined to be at your side to help you build the kingdom of Albion."

Arthur stared at him like he thought he was crazy. "Once and Future King? Albion? Really, Merlin, now is not the time for joking around."

Merlin narrowed his eyes at Arthur and scowled at him. Arthur almost took a step back as he noticed the fire of passion in his eyes. Eyes are windows to the soul... he mused. "I am not joking, Arthur. You will unite the lands of Albion and be the greatest King in history. It is your destiny. And it is my destiny to help you get there. That is what I have been doing, Arthur," his voice took on a pleading tone. "I have been protecting you all these years."

Arthur was silent as he listened to Merlin, slowly sinking into a chair on the other side of the room. He supposed Merlin was telling the truth... He was still alive after all. But still... "But you have magic." He struggled to wrap his head around the concept. His best friend was an evil warlock. But Merlin wasn't evil.

"Yes, Arthur. I was born with it I had no choice when it came to magic." Merlin said quietly, staring down at the floor.

Arthur's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible. You can't have been born with-that's impossible!"

Merlin simply shrugged and raised his eyes so blue met blue. "Having magic is as much a part of me as you being royal is a part of you. Your royal status was something you were born into, just as I was born with magic."

Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose. He was starting to feel a headache coming on. "So... you are not an idiot. That's another lie."

Merlin managed a smile as he replied cheekily, "Nope, just a part of my charm."

Arthur almost smiled then reminded himself who he was with. Merlin. Though he may not be evil like Arthur initially believed... he still lied and betrayed him.

Finally Arthur decided to hold off his judgment and hear the entire story from Merlin. That is what a fair and just King would do, he reminded him. He would not be his father and execute him. Especially if Merlin is telling the truth and he truly had no choice in having magic.

"Tell me." Arthur demanded, looking up at Merlin with a hard stare. "From the beginning. Don't leave out a single detail."

Merlin looked surprised but consented to Arthur's demand and he began talking. Arthur knew by the end of the night, one way or another, he would know what to do with Merlin.

So I am kind of happy with how this chapter turned out :) Let me know what you guys think in the reviews! I hope you like it!