A/N: May I present… the next chapter! Sorry, there is another cliffhanger. I couldn't help myself. It's an addiction. I blame my over-active muse for this, so you should blame her too! DON'T KILL ME…! Please?

Disclaimer: The BBC owns Merlin.

Legs growing limp, Merlin stumbled back into the room, Gaius standing near the window. "Well?" he asked softly.

"A-Arthur, he," the warlock swallowed hard, "he sacked me."

The man sighed, relieved. "At least he didn't banish you from the city."

Merlin shook his head. "But, how am I supposed to protect him if I can't even speak to him about threats and magic and… and…" He collapsed into a chair. Merlin knew that this day would come, but he always thought Arthur would kick him out of Camelot for the time being, but never sack him and tell Merlin never to talk to him!

"Well, you're going to have to talk to him," Gaius reasoned.

"No, Arthur said if I talk to him then he will tell his father about me." Merlin's words were blunt and dry. He was in too much shock to show any more emotion. Even after Arthur had heard that Emrys protected him, the prat goes and dismisses the warlock! Arthur was willing to help Emrys, but not Merlin. Apparently, the two were not one in the same.

Getting up from his chair, Merlin headed towards the door. "Where are you going?" Gaius called to his ward, but received no answer.

Weaving through the abandoned halls and avoiding more guards, the warlock made his way outside the gates of Camelot, not knowing a certain knight who happened to be walking around after the great search for Emrys, was following him.

~(o)~

Gwaine woke with a start from behind a pillar when the loud sound of someone running echoed on the stone floor. The knight grabbed for his sword, but removed his hand from its hilt when he saw that it was just Merlin…

Merlin.

Quickly, he got to his feet, wondering where on earth the boy could be going at this time of night. Deciding to go after Merlin, Gwaine raced after him but kept his distance. He didn't want to alert the warlock of his presents. No matter how curious he was as to what happened after the chase, he could wait. For now, he was going to finally see what Merlin does when no one knows.

Merlin ran and never stopped so neither did Gwaine. He ran straight out of the city walls, right up to the edge of the forest, but didn't stop there. The race continued through the trees and around bushes. Poor Gwaine had to keep pushing branches out of his way and didn't understand how Merlin could be so agile when the man could trip on air.

Suddenly, Gwaine lost track of his friend completely. He was nowhere to be seen, and definitely couldn't be heard. He sighed, wishing he had a jug of ale to calm his nerves. Figuring Merlin couldn't be too far ahead of him, Gwaine kept walking, this time with his sword out.

He could faintly see a clearing in the distance and began making his way towards it. When he reached the opening, he hid himself behind a tree. Merlin was standing in the middle of the clearing, looking up at the sky. His face was hard and the man barely moved.

"Dragon! Blesio , d ata! 'ch chynghora gofynnir fel gwna brys" he called to the night sky. For a second, Gwaine was curious if Merlin was trying to make it daytime or something. After shouting the spell, however, Merlin simply paced back and forth as if waiting.

Gwaine was about to give up and yell at his friend but didn't have the chance, for a great wind picked up. The knight looked to the dark sky to see a mighty creature – could that really be a dragon? – swoop down and land with an earth-shaking thud. Gwaine's mouth hung open. "Holy maker of ale," he muttered upon seeing the dragon's fierce gold eyes.

"What is it now, young warlock? You're lucky I was near," it sneered at Merlin, yet the boy seemed unshaken.

"I've failed," Merlin explained, looking down at his feet before facing the beast. "I've failed in my destiny."

The dragon shook his giant head. "You've come to me in the past with the same problem, yet that was never the case."

"It's different this time."

"Oh?"

Merlin sighed, shutting his eyes. "Arthur found out about my magic, and… he hates me." If Gwaine wasn't in shock before, he definitely was now. He always marveled at how Arthur overlooked things, but thought that deep down the prince already knew. "He's sacked me and ordered me to never speak to him again. I'm sorry," he finished. The dragon chuckled darkly. "Why are you laughing?"

"Oh, young warlock, as I have told you, one cannot hate what makes it whole."

It was obvious to Gwaine that Merlin was losing his temper. "Listen, Kilgharrah, I don't how our destiny is going to be fulfilled if the prat won't let me protect him. Now, he'll know when I save him!" he shouted, exasperated. "Arthur will turn me into Uther, or save the trouble and kill me himself."

Without knowing, Gwaine stepped closer as curiosity was getting better of him.

"Well, well, well," the dragon snapped, but not at Merlin. Gwaine froze. "If it isn't Strength." The knight stared hard at the dragon; hand on his sword's hilt. The creature shook his head. "That is not necessary, bold Gwaine. Your weapons do not harm me."

Merlin spun around to see his friend. "Gwaine, how did…?"

"I followed you," he answered simply. "But I never thought you'd be sneaking out to see a dragon." He grimaced at the beast. "Nice to meet you, just don't breathe on me."

The warlock grinned slightly. "Don't worry, he won't."

Gwaine raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?" Merlin bit his lower lip, glancing up at Kilgharrah. "Don't tell me," the knight sighed, folding his arms over his chest. "You're a Dragonlord as well?" he asked, knowing the answer.

The dragon spoke gruffly. "You don't seem surprised."

He shrugged. "With Merlin, there's always the unexpected." The knight patted his warlock friend on the back, and Merlin smile at him with sad eyes. "Don't worry, mate. I'm sure the princess will come 'round."

"Let's hope sooner rather than later," Merlin muttered, and Gwaine gave the warlock a one-armed hug. "Thanks, Gwaine."

The knight nodded once and then sighed. "I just have one question," he said, but turned to Kilgharrah. "Please tell me I'm not going to be known as Strength throughout history."

~(o)~

Arthur slammed his door shut, throwing his sword forcefully on the table. Going over to the fireplace, he placed his hands on the mantel and gazed at the fire. It licked at the wood eagerly, eating up the chucks of bark that hung off the log.

It wasn't real. None of this could be real. Merlin had magic, which would make him evil. Merlin was the man who always was at Arthur's side, never abandoning him when situations got tough or impossible. Merlin was evil. At the same time, he was Emrys. Emrys wasn't evil, or so the Prophets had said. That warlock was supposed to be good, to help Arthur become king and save Camelot. Most people with magic sought to destroy the kingdom, but not Emrys.

Merlin had been in Camelot for almost five years and had plenty of chances to get rid of both the king and the prince. He always hid a secret behind that annoying smile, Arthur knew that, but never had he imagined it was magic.

He wasn't sure how much time passed as he just stood there. Time seemed insignificant at the moment. All Arthur wanted to do was wake up in the morning to a too chipper servant who opened the curtains saying, "Good morning, Arthur!" It would have been like nothing happened. Merlin still wouldn't have magic in Arthur's mind.

Something hit him. Lancelot and Gwaine were smiling when Merlin got away. Arthur smashed his fist against the stone, ignoring the pain. They already knew about Merlin's magic. They already knew Merlin was Emrys. Did everyone know but Arthur?

It was times like these when Morgana would come in to counsel him. Lately, it had been Gwen. Other times it was Merlin. This occasion, however, Arthur was alone.

Or so he thought.

"You just want to prove Merlin right don't you?" a gruff voice asked, walking into the prince's chambers without caring to knock.

Sighing, Arthur said, "What are you talking about, Gwaine?"

The knight sat down in a chair, putting his feet on Arthur's table. "You are a prat."

The prince rolled his eyes. "Sorry, but I'm not in the mood for drunken company," he snapped. That was low, Arthur, he thought to himself.

But the knight seemed unfazed. "I'm not drunk… for once." Gwaine grinned. "See I just came back from talking with Merlin and his… friend," he frowned at the word, "and he tells me you've sacked him." Gwaine lifted an eyebrow, folding his arms.

"You knew!" Arthur spat.

The knight nodded once. "What's it to you?"

Sighing, his voice lowered. "You committed treason by not reporting that to me."

"My Lord," Gwaine snorted and Arthur rolled his eyes. "Merlin has magic. Did I mention he's also Emrys and a Dra-" but he stopped short acting like he hadn't even said the latter and grinned. "There, it's been reported," Gwaine finished, satisfied with himself.

"Why thank you, Gwaine," Arthur said, sarcasm oozing from every word. "Wait. What were you about to say, there at the end?"

The knight sat up straight. "You going deaf? I said Merlin is also Emrys." Arthur could tell he wasn't going to get the answer out of Gwaine. Suddenly, the man got serious and got to his feet, patting the prince on the back. "He'll tell you. Well, he might not tell you," he said, on second thought.

The blond prince's eyes narrowed. "Why wouldn't he tell me?"

Gwaine shrugged, the door's handle now in his strong grip. "You have forbidden him from talking to you, so for Merlin to… well, I should just go," he said, seeing Arthur's glare.

"Gwaine," he called out unexpectedly. He turned around to face Arthur. "How is it you're so calm about Merlin having magic?"

He shrugged again. "It's Merlin. He's not exactly threatening. 'Sides, I've suspected it for a while; I've just never thought anything of it really." Gwaine sighed. "But, what do I know? I'm just some commoner who you knighted." He shook his hands in a forget-it-type motion. "Whatever it is you choose to do about You-Know-Who – can we say his name? – well, that's up to you, Arty!"

The knight left, not allowing Arthur to have a comeback, which was probably a good thing. He didn't have a retort to that. Running a hand over his exhausted face, the prince crawled into bed. He kicked his boots, discarding them to the floor.

His blond head hit the pillow, but he was already asleep. Arthur's subconscious mind wandered, and for a moment, the prince thought he was seeing the future. He was on the balcony wearing the crown. Arthur was king. The kingdom was his to rule. Below, there was a pyre. Someone was standing tied to the pole. The condemned man held his head high, staring at the sad crowd. Many people in the square were glaring up at their king, their hearts filled with hate.

"This man, Merlin," Arthur yelled and the people cringed, "has been convicted of using magic in Camelot. This is treason according to our laws. The only punishment that's fair is death. Merlin, you will pay with your life for your crimes. Do you have last words?" he asked, barely glancing at his old friend.

Merlin looked up at the Once and Future King, his eyes dark. "You're just like your father; a ruthless tyrant who kills friends! I'm sorry I ever saved your royal ass! Goodbye, Pendragon!" The warlock continued to glare, and didn't even look away when Arthur gestured for the pyre to be lit.

Arthur could tell Merlin felt the flames burning his feet, but the traitor didn't show any emotion until the blaze reached his torso. Then he opened his mouth, a blood-curdling scream came out, and Arthur was forced to look away.

Abruptly the scene changed to the forest. According to the position of the sun, it was early morning. The prince looked down at his hands. A sword was being gripped tightly, and was pointed at Merlin. The boy was scared, gripping a tree trunk as if it were his lifeline.

"P-please, Arthur! Don't kill me!" he begged earnestly.

But Arthur ignored him. His teeth were snapped together in anger. Arthur fumed and panted in his rage and, only two words were going through his mind; evil sorcerer evil sorcerer evil sorcerer evil sorcerer evil sorcerer evil…

Without a second thought, Arthur lunged forward. The sword was inserted cleanly into Merlin's stomach. The warlock lurched over in pain, eyes shut tight, but Arthur felt nothing. He ripped the weapon out of the sorcerer, and Merlin fell over. The warlock removed his hand from his fatal wound to reveal blood gushing out onto the forest floor. As he tried to stabilize himself, his bloody hand got soiled with dirt and fallen leaves.

He looked up at Arthur with blue eyes filled with… betrayal? Merlin lasted two more seconds before collapsing on the floor, never to breath, or smile, or call Arthur a prat ever again. Merlin's life was done, and his blood was on Arthur's hands.

Arthur had murdered Merlin.

Once again, the area around him changed. This time, however, Arthur had full control over his actions. He was standing in an empty meadow looking around for Merlin, but no one was there. Getting slightly nervous, he called, "Merlin?" but still, no one showed up. "Merlin! Merlin!"

Just then, a dark figure stepped out from behind the trees. "It's been a while," it said, but Arthur knew that voice and smiled.

"Has it?" he asked, letting his arms fall to his sides.

Merlin shook his head and chuckled darkly. "Oh, yes, Arthur. It's been ten years!" Arthur couldn't help it. He stumbled back a step. "It's been ten years since you banished me from the kingdom. Ten years since I've step foot in Camelot. Ten years for me to realize that I made a mistake by helping you and your arrogant father!"

Arthur's eyebrows shot up. "I b-banished you?"

The warlock nodded once, eyes cold. "Returning would be punishable by death," he said darkly. That's what Merlin now was. Dark. That innocent servant had been turned into this evil, vengeful warlock. And Arthur had been the one to change his friend into this. It was his fault.

Merlin's eyes flashed gold, and Arthur went flying back. He landed hard on his back. The warlock was standing over him in three seconds. "Wh-what are you doing?" Arthur managed to spit out.

"I'll make you suffer the way you made me suffer. I thought I could trust you, but I was deeply mistaken." With another flash of gold, every bone in the prince's body ached. It was as if he was burning from the inside. His heart rate picked up and let out a cry for help. "No one will help you, Arthur," Merlin laughed. "You were the one who wanted so much to believe that I was evil. Now you have what you want."

A/N: After I wrote the dream, I couldn't help but think of Ghost of Magic's Past, Present, and Future for some reason… Weird. Anyway, review?