Yes, yet another chapter in the same day. It's becoming a bad habit of mine.

Enjoy!

"You want to tell me what happened after he left?" Gwaine asked as he caught up to Merlin, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Nothing important. What are you doing here anyway? I thought you'd be in a tavern getting beaten to death."

"I was, until Arthur turned up." He glanced back at the Prince who was following silently, his gaze fixed on the floating ball of light and his hand resting on his sword. Never a relaxing moment with that one. "Why'd you make this light thing? We could have used this night to rest."

"I'm not tired."

"You look like you haven't slept in days."

"I haven't."

"Everyone needs sleep Merlin."

"I'll rest so-" Gwaine grasped his arm and pulled him to a stop, turning to face Arthur in the process.

"We should stop for a while. Take it in turns to take watch. I volunteer myself to go first." He even went so far to drag Merlin onto the ground so they were both sat. Merlin clearly needed sleep and he wasn't going to do it unless forced.

"Typical," Arthur muttered and took a seat on the ground. He leant back against a tree and still kept his gaze on the ball.

"It won't hurt you Arthur, stop staring at it." Merlin said from where he sat.

"Merlin, sleep. You can bicker later," Gwaine shoved him by his shoulder and happened to catch a look from Arthur. Like any touch with Merlin was a great offense to him. Testing the theory Gwaine shrugged off his jacket and gently draped it across the boy, causing the Prince to scowl. "Something wrong Arthur?"

"No."

Yet the scowl remained even when the Prince drifted off to sleep where he sat a few minutes later.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Arthur opened his eyes at some point during the night, the morning still yet to come. Glancing around he saw Gwaine lying by a small fire someone had made, Merlin on the other hand was nowhere to be seen. Feeling a sense of worry wash over him, he got to his feet and tried to spot him in the surrounding area. When it didn't become obvious, Arthur took off in a general direction of Camelot and stumbled every so often when his foot caught on a root. Where was that damn ball of light when you needed it?

"Arthur, what are you doing?" Merlin's voice came from nearby and Arthur swung around to see him leaning against a tree a few meters away.

"Looking for you, aren't you meant to be sleeping?"

"Gwaine got tired so I took over. It's what friends do you see."

"Oh come on Merlin, stop holding a grudge, I said I was sorry."

"No you didn't," he spat back.

"Yes I did. Back at the cliff I said the words you just had to hear to be convinced that I meant what I was saying," now it was his turn to look annoyed. "You're the one who betrayed me. You're a sorcerer, why didn't you tell me?"

"Why do you think?"

"Stop answering my questions with questions, you always do that, even when …" Arthur drifted off as the memories of their time together surfaced. Everyone was right, Merlin had been nothing but a good friend to him and in the end Arthur had shattered whatever friendship they had had with one move.

"Come with me," Merlin said and started to walk off through the trees. "I've left a guard around Gwaine. He'll be safe whilst we're gone." Not like Arthur had thought about that. He was more concerned for his own safety. Merlin wouldn't hurt him, at least he hoped not, that didn't mean what he said wouldn't hurt. "Don't make me fore you to come."

"Could you?"

"As easily as you wield a sword, now come on."

Arthur glanced back in the direction of camp and then sighed, his feet carrying him forward. If he wanted Merlin to forgive him he had to do what he wanted.

"You took your time," Merlin commented as Arthur emerged and a small gasp left his lips. Out in front of him was a huge lake, one that sparkled in the moonlight and spread out as far as the eye could see. It was something he had always seen from the top of the castle, now he was this close, he could barely believe it.

"Why have you brought me here?"

"Because I want to tell you why I never told you who I really am, if you're prepared to listen without judging me. For once."

"Well I can't-" Merlin glared at him and Arthur stopped saying what he was going too. "Okay."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Merlin turned towards the lake and crossed his arms. He hadn't planned to tell Arthur, he would return back to Camelot and help Arthur with whatever was going on. Then he'd leave. It was what would happen anyway, he couldn't stay there anymore, unless he wanted to be killed.

"There used to be a lake near where I lived. I used to go out on a clear night like tonight and stare out across the water, wondering whether I would ever truly be accepted by anyone. Only my mother knew about my gift and it terrified her every time I showed a sign of using it. When I was little I didn't understand, I just thought she wanted me behave, when I grew up I understood. She wished I was normal. Like everyone else. I was too different and the more I used magic, the more she got scared I would be found out.

Going to the lake that was nearby, I at least knew I wouldn't be judged by whatever was there, I could be myself. At the time, I didn't know spells, it was all instinct. The most I could do was move things and that worried my mother. She didn't understand magic. Never knew how I knew how to do the things I did without learning a single thing. Somedays I sensed she even feared who I was.

Do you know what it's like Arthur, to have your own parent fear you?" He looked over at the Prince who remained quiet like Merlin had requested.

"Eventually she sent me to Camelot. She told me it was because she wanted me safe, that Gaius would protect me better, but I knew the truth. My own mother couldn't look at me without being scared. She didn't understand her own Son-"

"Stop there," Arthur stated and moved to stand beside Merlin. "I know I said I'd stay quiet but you're wrong. Your mother didn't fear you. She loved you like any mother would. When we went back to your home village, I saw the love in her eyes, was jealous of the fact she looked at you with such affection. My father has never looked at me like that. Even after I do everything he says."

"Your father loves you Arthur. Everyone knows that."

"He loves me because he has to love me. Your mother loves you because she does love you."

Silence followed and both stared out at the water.

"Don't you wonder why I stayed with you when I could do anything I wanted?"

"It may have crossed my mind."

"I stayed because it's my destiny to protect you," he stated and looked over at the man who he thought was his friend. "But it was also because I wanted too. You may have been my master and I your servant, but we treated each other as equals. Most of the time. You looked to me for guidance and protected me even when I didn't need it. That day when you told that man who had captured Freya that you trusted me … it meant more to me than you'll even know."

"Who's Freya?"

"She's one of the many things you never knew about," Merlin smirked. "You may be the Prince but you weren't that observant."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

"What happened to you Merlin? Did those bandits take you? Did you escape? Or did you kill them all?" Arthur asked and faced him. "Have you killed people Merlin?"

"What do you think?"

"I think that the Merlin I know wouldn't harm a fly but a lot has changed recently."

"I'm still the same person."

"How can I know that? It feels like yesterday we were back at Camelot and you were grinning like an idiot when we held a banquet, now … I don't know what to expect from you. I trust you with my life Merlin, but can I trust you with my home? Can I know that it'll be safe if we go back together?"

"Why would I try to destroy Camelot?"

"My Father has people murdered for the possibility that they have magic. Doesn't that make you angry?"

"You know what makes me angry Arthur," Merlin now turned to face him. "When my closest friend leaves me to die. I left my home so my mother could be safe, I put my life on the line to keep you safe and in the one moment you could have kept me safe, you didn't. I have magic, so what? That doesn't mean you walk away when I'm being surrounded. I could have died thinking you'd never come back."

"You didn't need protecting Merlin, you can keep yourself safe. Besides how was I meant to 'save' you? You destroyed the bridge."

"It's the idea of you wanting to save me would have been enough. You could have yelled at me to run away, told the bandits to back off, anything! You're such an idiot! Just because I can protect myself doesn't mean I should have too and you know what, you can protect yourself from now on. I'm sick of doing it." Merlin started to storm off.

"Emrys," Arthur said and Merlin came to a stop. The name hanging in the air as both stood in silence.