A/N- To proactively answer some questions that might crop up -

There are warlocks, sorcerers, mages, enchanters and enchantresses, witches, high priests and priestesses, dragon lords and druids, and all of these titles of magic users have different definitions - some of which don't always agree. For this story I have chosen to use the terms that the BBC uses in the show and the definitions of those terms as I have gleaned from watching it. This may be strictly incorrect, but for the purposes of this being a story based in the world of the BBC's Merlin that is the route I have chosen to go. Thanks I hope you enjoy the chapter and as always thanks for your reviews.

Chapter Ten

Barach smiled at the fact that Arthur had just uttered almost the exact same words that Emrys had. The bond between them was indeed as strong as Nelora had described. Barach had never doubted the healer and that is why he knew that Arthur would never have actually faced the flames. He was only waiting to hear from Jaylen who was watching Emrys for a sign that he was waking, and he would have doused the flames himself. He had not expected Emrys to emerge from his comatose state with enough force to knock out Jaylen and rescue Arthur himself.

'What shall we do, Barach?' one of his men asked through their telepathic link.

Before Barach answered Arthur addressed him. "Just let us go, and I give you my word that Camelot will not seek retribution."

Barach sent out a mental instruction to his men telling them to take Arthur's sword and place it in the scabbard on his saddle but not to hinder him in any other way. As he thought this he whispered "Forhanbban," freezing Arthur in place again.

As soon as Arthur felt the enchantment immobilize him again he screamed at Barach. "No! Don't do this, Barach. I gave you my word!"

Barach ignored Arthur as he stepped around him and knelt down next to Merlin. One of the druid men walked up to Arthur and took his sword from his hands. Arthur's hardly noticed this as he tried to see behind him at what Barach was doing to Merlin.

"Leave him alone, Barach. He's done nothing to you."

The magical restraint dissappeared and Arthur staggered as he suddenly had control of his body again. He spun around and watched as the druid who had taken his sword replaced it in his scabbard and said something causing the sword hilt to glow slightly before once again looking perfectly normal. Arthur pushed past the man and tried to remove the sword, only to find that it wouldn't slide out of the scabbard. It was now frozen in place just as he had been.

He abandoned his attempts to retrieve a weapon assuming that all of his weapons would have suffered the same fate as his sword. He purposly walked past the gathered men who did nothing to try and stop him and walked up behind Barach who was turning Merlin over to his back.

"I said leave him alone!" Arthur shouted. He reached down to pull the druid leader away from his friend, but he could not get within a foot of the man. He seemed to hit some sort of invisable barrier surrounding him.

"To be able to harness such power at this age is remarkable. He is completely untrained and yet he commands the ancient magic as though it were a mere extension of himself." Barach turned his head and looked up at Arthur. "You have no idea who your friend is, and yet you would die for him and he for you. That is almost as remarkable as the unfathomable power housed within him."

Barach gathered Merlin in his arms and stood. He nodded to his men who all turned away from Arthur and walked back to the camp with Barach carrying Merlin. Arthur was hesitant for only a moment and then he followed the group wondering at the peculiar turn of events. These same people who were hell bent on killing him only a few minutes ago now paid him no attention at all. Even as he walked through the encampment no one seemed to pay him any heed. These were the same faces that he had seen gathered around to watch him burn to death, and now they didn't even acknowledge his prescence among them.

Barach took Merlin back to Nelora's tent and lay him gently on the bed he had once occupied. On the other bed lay a man Arthur didn't recognise except that he was clearly one of the druid people. He wondered briefly what had happened to him, but his focus was drawn back to Merlin as Nelora stepped into the tent. She had a strange expression on her face that Arthur couldn't quite figure out, but it was clear to him that she was not happy with Barach. To his astonishment she walked up to him and touched the side of his face. Her eyes held tenderness and compassion.

"I am most pleased to see you unharmed, Prince Arthur." She turned her head in the direction of Barach and said "Not every memeber of this community agreed with the decision reached by the council." Then she turned back to Arthur and said to him in a voice that carried to every man in the tent and most likely beyond. "This is my tent, and my home; while you are within these walls you are safe from any harm. I am granting you sanctuary here, Arthur Pendragon, and no one here would dare challange that covenant."

Arthur raised his eyebrows at what she said but felt much better. Nelora had obviously not wanted to see him executed, but what was confusing him was the fact that neither Barach nor this council of elders seemed interested in their 'decision' anymore either. All of the focus was on Merlin. Just as he was pondering this unexpected turn of events Barach stood up and addressed Nelora.

"Nelora, please listen." he said, and then he didn't say anything else as he stared into her eyes. After a moment Nelora nodded stiffly and stepped over to the bed where Merlin lay.

Barach turned to Arthur addressing him directly. "Arthur Pendragon, please understand you have nothing to fear from us now. I am very sorry that you had to suffer the way you did, but you must be made to understand that it was necessary. I give you my promise that no one will try to harm you. If you would be willing, please come with me to the council chambers so that what happened here today can be explained."

Arthur was not inclined to trust Barach after almost being burned alive and he turned to Nelora. The healer looked back at him and nodded her head. Arthur crossed his arms over his chest and studied Barach for a moment. "I want my sword returned to me before I set foot outside this tent with you, Barach."

Barach nodded his head toward one of the men who had followed him into the tent and the man quickly left. "That seems only fair considering what you must be feeling at the moment, but I do give you my word that no harm will befall you."

"Forgive me for not believing you, Barach. Nearly being executed has that kind of effect on my trust." Arthur replied, sarcastically.

A moment later the druid who had left re-entered the tent and handed Arthur's sword to him. It was the sword he usually carried on his person, the one they took from him when they first tried to arrest him, and not the one frozen in its scabbard on his saddle. Arthur pulled the sword out and checked it for damage; satisfied, he slipped it back into its scabbard and belted it around his waist. Only then did he willingly walk toward the tent opening, but before he left he turned back to Nelora.

"Thank you for taking care of him, and for trying to protect me, Nelora."

She nodded in reply and went back to cleaning the mud from Merlin's face and arms. "Barach, leave someone to help me with Emrys." she commanded. Arthur was surprised to see the leader immediately comply with what was clearly an order given by this healer.

As Arthur and Barach walked through the settlement the men who had accompianied the leader moved off in different directions. Fires were being lit outside the tents and within the more permanant wooden structures. He distinctly smelled food cooking and realized that it was past sundown and dinner time. Eating was the last thing on Arthur's mind.

Barach led him to the council chamber, such that it was, and stepped through the wide opening. A fire had been lit in the fireplace and several candles were placed on plated spits around the room giving it adequate light. Before him sat a dozen people, most of whom were elderly, but he did spy a couple that were closer to his father in age.

Barach indicated a pair of benches placed in front of the gathered council, but rather than sitting down like some sort of accused criminal, Arthur took up a spot behind the farther bench standing to face the council.

There was silence in the room as Arthur glared at each face in turn. He was still soaked through from the drenching rain that Merlin had created to save him and yet he could still feel the heat from the flames. The fact that these people no longer seemed to want to kill him made no difference in his mind. They were clearly fearful of Merlin. Arthur had to admit that he also felt some trepidation. The fact that his servant; no, he corrected himself, his friend; could command the weather itself was beyond frightening to the young prince. With that kind of power at his disposal Arthur couldn't fathom why Merlin worked for him as a servant, but none of that mattered at the moment.

An elderly man sitting near the back stood up and wove his way through the assembled benches until he was standing in front of the council and facing Arthur. "My name is Araben. You should know that we would not have allowed the flames to actually harm you, Arthur Pendragon. Your future is tied to Emrys' future."

Arthur didn't really know what to expect from these people. The events of the last two hours had been so alien to him that he was utterly confounded, but this ancient man was telling him that he was never meant to die today sounded a lie to him.

"Then why in the hell did you tie me to a stake and set the pyre alight? If it wasn't for Merlin I would be dead, so forgive me if I don't believe you! I think that you were as shocked as I was when Merlin staggered out of that tent. I think you are all afraid of him, and that is why you won't try to kill me now."

Araben didn't flinch at all as Arthur shouted at him. He simply waited patiently until Arthur finished. "It was for Emrys that we did this to you. When Nelora came to us and told us that Emrys was dying we were fearful of the future. He has a powerful bond with you and we knew that if you faced a mortal danger he would come back from the brink of death to save you. You must understand who Emrys is to understand what we did and why."

Arthur dropped his arms to his sides as his mouth opened in utter stunned amazement. "Are you people insane? You nearly killed me so that Merlin would wake up? What the hell would have happened if he didn't wake up?"

Arthur was torn between wanting to laugh at the ridiculous stunt these people had pulled and being absolutely furious with them for doing it.

"I understand your mistrust as it was you who had to suffer the consequences of this decision, but it did work; better than we hoped it would. Nelora was right about Emrys' feelings for you. His faith in you is absolute. I had some doubts about that, but no longer."

Arthur shook his head completely lost. "What are you talking about?"

"This may take some time to explain, please sit down." Araben asked, as he stepped forward and sat on the bench next to the one Arthur was initially led to.

Arthur stood where he was for a moment longer then relented and sat down turning halfway so that he was facing both Araben as well as the rest of the gathered council. Before these people could fill his head with a load of information that he knew he might not understand or even believe he wanted some questions of his own answered.

"You all keep calling Merlin, Emrys. Barach said that is your name for him, but that he is not a druid. If Merlin isn't a druid, then why do you have a name for him? I know for a fact that Merlin grew up in a small farming village. I've been there; I know his mother. Now I find out he is a sorcerer, how is that even possible and more to the point, how is it that you knew? None of you seemed the least bit surprised when he preformed magic, so I can only assume you knew he had magic. Has he visited you before? Did you teach him the magic he knows? How long has he been a sorcerer?"

Araben waited patiently for Arthur to finish shooting questions at him before saying anything. "Emrys is not a sorcerer; he is a warlock."

Arthur blinked and shook his head. He wasn't sure he had heard the old man correctly. "Warlock? What is the difference?"

"The distinction is subtle and not really well understood by many. Emrys never chose to study the mysteries of magic or the ways of the old religion. He did not choose to learn or to even know magic. Emrys is magic. What he did today to save you from the fire was a manifestation of power than is so far beyond his years that I can scarcely believe he was able to do it. Changing the natural balance of the earth itself is a frighteningly powerful magic and it is not something he learned to do. It would have been far easier and simpler to simply extinguish the flame, but he didn't do that, I assume because he has never been taught how to. Emrys' magic is instinctual. You were about to be engulfed in flame, the first instinct was to douse the flames with water and so he called forth the rain. As you said, he is a boy who was raised in a small farming village, but try to understand that magic flows through his veins; it is his very life's blood. Magic is as much a part of his physical being as his hair or eyes or the color of his skin."

Arthur's head was reeling. This flew in the face of everything he had ever been taught, and even more so it was contrary to everything he had ever known of magic. "What do you mean?"

"Emrys could no more deny his magic than he could deny being a man." Araben answered, simply.

"That's not possible, is it? I have been taught from the time I was old enough to remember that magic is evil, that it corrupts the soul. Merlin isn't evil, his soul is no more corrupt than a child's, and now you are telling me he has been like this since he was a child?"

Araben shook his head sadly. He looked up at Arthur and the young prince couldn't help but feel compelled to believe the wisdom emanating from the ancient eyes, which seemed to stare into his very soul. "Magic is neither good nor evil, it simply is. Magic, like anything else, can be corrupted by those who wield it. It is pain and suffering; anger and hate; greed and jealousy that warps magic into something that is evil. The same things that corrupt men can and do corrupt magic."

Arthur wanted desperately to believe what this man was telling him. The rest of the council didn't interrupt, but all of them kept nodding their heads in confirmation of what Araben was saying. "So you are saying it's the person who wields it that determines what kind of magic it is?"

"Yes and no. You must try to understand that the world has a balance. There is dark magic and evil in this world; a fact that you have seen firsthand, but for everything there is a balance. Emrys is the white magic that balances the dark. His heart is pure. His magic is not learned, it is natural, for he is a product of nature. He is like a child in this respect. You told Barach that when he was injured he was petting a deer - that the animal was not afraid of him; it never would be. All things are connected and the deer knew that Emrys would not hurt it. His magic runs as deep as the earth itself and can be as beautiful and as terrifying as nature can be."

Arthur remembered the deer and how watching Merlin with it was so astounding. It really was like looking at the world through the eyes of a child. "You said that to understand what you did to me I would need to understand who Merlin - who Emrys is. What did you mean by that?"

Araben turned toward the council but nothing was said. Arthur felt very disconcerted by this when they did it, which seemed to be fairly often. "What is it that you are doing right now," he asked?

Barach answered for Araben since he was still conversing with the council. "We do not all need words to communicate with each other. Sometimes it is easier and safer to communicate this way."

Arthur wondered what was being discussed. It had not escaped his attention that they were obviously discussing something they didn't want him to know about.

"You were not meant to know about Emrys' magic; not yet. His coming has been foretold for generations." Araben said.

"What, you mean like in a prophecy?" Arthur asked, his head reeling with everything he was learning about his friend.

"That is exactly what I mean. He has a powerful destiny to fulfill."

"Merlin? ..... Merlin is the subject of some ancient prophecy? Merlin? Are you sure you have the right man? You are maintaining that he has magic and is this unbelievably powerful warlock, when he can scarcely walk down a hallway without tripping over his own feet? I know Merlin, he is true and loyal and has a good heart, but he is utterly hopeless. He's awkward, he can't lie to save his life..." Arthur stopped for a moment realizing that Merlin lied everyday to save his life.

"Your preconceived notions of your servant have served him well. It has allowed him to live in anonymity, and silently begin to fulfill his destiny. He has used the veil of foolishness to mask his power," Araben said, with a slight smirk.

"Now I know you are talking about someone else. Merlin acting like an idiot isn't an act. I know him better than anyone – well, all right, I didn't know he had magic or is magic or whatever, but I know Merlin. He isn't deceitful. He is as honest as the day is long. He has my complete trust even now that I know his secret. Any lies he may have told me were only to keep his magic secret and that I can understand, but he doesn't just lie, he doesn't use me or my preconceived notions to hide behind. He's a good man!" Arthur was on his feet now, and angry.

Barach stood also and stepped forward. He held his hands up in a gesture of supplication. "Yes, Emrys is a good man and Araben did not mean to imply that he wasn't, but think about it. If he is viewed by Uther as a fool, then when magic - even magic that saves his son or himself - is evident, he will not look to Emrys as its wielder."

Arthur had to admit that made a whole lot of sense, and it was actually quite true. How many times had Merlin been blamed for magic only to have it laughed off as ridiculous?

"Okay so let me see if I have this straight. You have known for hundreds of years that Merlin was coming. So when did you realize that he had arrived?"

Once again the elders seemed to silently confer deciding how much they were willing to tell Arthur. Araben turned back to him and said, "The moment he entered this world a ripple was felt through the veil of magic that encompasses all living things. His arrival was announced by his birth to all who knew how to interpret the sign."

Arthur didn't say anything for a moment as he digested that information. Could it be possible? "Are you saying he was born this way; that he was born with magic?"

Araben nodded his head at Arthur.

"That's just not possible. How many people have been born this way? How many people have been put to death for something they couldn't change if they wanted to?"

Araben seemed to understand why this was so hard for Arthur to grasp. "Emrys is unique. As far as we know he is the only one who has ever been born this way. He was able to use magic before he could walk or talk. Imagine an infant who could will whatever he desired to his hands with a mere thought."

Arthur couldn't help smirking at the mental picture forming in his mind's eye. "I see how that would be a problem. I can't believe Hunith was able to raise him all by herself. How do you know all of this about him, anyway? Were you there when he was born?"

Araben shook his head. "No, I was not there for Emrys' birth. I know; we all know, about Emrys because of the prophecy. It would have been a formidable task indeed, raising Emrys, one fraught with pain and hardship, but as difficult as it was for Emrys' mother that is nothing compared with the difficulty that Emrys faces everyday living his life and fulfilling his destiny."

Arthur sat back a little. "What do you mean?"

"Emrys has faced more hardship and grief than most men twice his age, yet has had no outlet to vent his emotions or confidant to talk to. He has lost those he loves dearly and could not grieve for them; he has had to hide his true identity from the entire world so completely that he risks losing himself in the facade. He has a will to fulfill his destiny, but it comes at a very high personal cost."

Arthur dropped his head. He knew that everything Araben had just said was true. Everything that Merlin was trying to say to him the other night in his ante-chamber suddenly made sense. "He should have told me; I could have been that confidant he needed, I will be. I could be there for him when he needs to grieve, he would do as much for me – he would do more for me and has."

Araben stared hard at Arthur, his face grave. "This is a very dangerous juncture for Emrys and for you, Arthur Pendragon. The fact that you even know of the prophecy puts that destiny at risk."

Arthur didn't understand at all. "So why did you tell me about it?"

"We agreed to tell you because it is imperative that you understand why you must keep everything you have learned of Emrys, his magic, the prophecy, everything secret from everyone, including Emrys."

"What? No, you cannot ask that of me. If you had any idea what he has gone through... What he needs is a friend who understands him, who can be that confidant you spoke of. Merlin needs that now more than ever, especially after Freya." Arthur felt guilt rip through him at the mention of Freya. He had not forgotten that he was the one who took her from Merlin.

Araben shook his head sadly. "I know, we all do; we know what it is that Emrys suffers, but those are the trials that he must endure to become the man he is meant to be. Without these experiences he will not have the opportunity to make the decisions that will ultimately lead him to the destiny that he must fulfill; a destiny that you are tied to. That is also at risk, but not nearly as much. Emrys can never know that he and you were here, or that he revealed his magic to you, or it will alter the course of both of your futures."

Arthur got up and started pacing. This was not something he was going to just accept on faith. It was too important. "Hasn't that future already been changed? We are here, I know about Merlin, but what's more, he knows. He'll remember what happened. How could he not?"

Barach stood up and stepped forward addressing not only Arthur but the others as well.

"Emrys will remember nothing of his time here. Nelora will take care of that. She will by now have given him a draft that will not only fog his memory, but keep him asleep until Arthur can reach Camelot with him. He need never know of this encounter." Barach turned to face Arthur directly. "Everything now rests on your shoulders. The prophecy is on the brink of dying before it can be fulfilled. It has now fallen to you to keep that from happening."

"Now just hold on one moment. I don't even know what this prophecy is all about, how am I supposed to make sure it is fulfilled?"

Araben stood up slowly and stepped over to Arthur placing a hand on his shoulder. "You already know more than you should, we cannot tell you anymore. Only know that the future of all Albion depends on this prophecy being fulfilled. You are destined to be the greatest king this land has ever seen, Arthur Pendragon. That journey begins here and now, with the task appointed to you."

TBC

A/N - I'm still figuring out chapter 11. It is a pivotal chapter in the story because rather than write a sequel I have decided to combine both parts of this story in one, so I now have to figure out the best way to incorporate that. Thank you so much for your reviews and your alerts. I am so pleased that this story is going over so well. I guess I didn't really expect that considering it started out as a one shot.