A/N: Sorry this chapter is so short, guys! But like I said in the last one, I'll be gone for a while after this, so I wanted to make sure that I got one last update out for you before I leave, even if that meant it wasn't a very long one. This is the first hint of what's to come in the rest of this fic, though, so I hope you like it!

...

It doesn't take long for Merlin to reclaim the purpose that he had lost for so long. Arthur has been unofficially living with him for about a week when Merlin brings up the topic of wanting to push forward towards their destiny. Arthur, on the other hand, is not so eager.

"I can't exactly just claim the throne all of a sudden, now can I, Merlin?" Arthur says, running a hand through his hair in frustration. They've been arguing for quite a while now, Merlin trying to convince him that he's still destined to be the greatest king the land has ever seen and Arthur trying to convince him that the whole thing is utterly ridiculous and best left in the past. They're both near their wits' end.

Merlin sighs. He falls silent for a few minutes while he thinks, then eventually says, "Well… The Great Dragon also said that part of—" He stumbles over the words for a moment because, although he's heard and even said them many times before, he's never said them to Arthur. "Part of our destiny is to bring magic back to Albion. Maybe that's the first step. I mean, bringing magic back to the land would be huge. That would have to make you worthy of reclaiming the throne, wouldn't it?"

"I don't think you understand how a monarchy works, Merlin," Arthur scoffs, but he doesn't dwell on it for long, because there are much more important things gnawing at him now. Disbelievingly, he asks, "Wait, I'm destined to bring back magic? Even after… after all that my father and I have done?"

"You are not your father, Arthur," Merlin says seriously, "and you cannot help the prejudices you were raised to believe or anything you did in the past because of them. What you can do is recognize your mistakes, move on, and change the future."

Arthur stares at him in awe for a long moment. "How do you still have such faith in me?"

"I have always believed in you, Arthur, and that will never change. You are a great man, with a great destiny, and I am honored just to be by your side while you fulfill it."

Arthur is still looking at him like he can't quite believe Merlin's real, but he laughs. "You're a terrible listener, aren't you, Merlin?"

"Excuse me?" he asks, brow furrowed in confusion.

"You say you're honored to watch me fulfill 'my great destiny,' but didn't you say it was our destiny? From what you've told me, the dragon said we're two sides of a coin—neither one without the other, right? Besides, as much as I hate to admit it, you're obviously the one with the power here, especially after having so long to master it."

"No, I—" Merlin stutters, flushing a bit. "I'm only meant to help you on your path!"

Arthur shakes his head, chuckling. "I would've thought you'd be glad to take some credit, now that everything's out in the open. I've been thinking about it a lot and… Now I know that you saved me. Many times."

"I—yes," he admits, staring determinedly at a knot in the wooden table.

"And you never received any of the credit for the things you did…" Arthur says thoughtfully. "You shouldn't have been content to remain as my manservant. You could obviously do so much more."

"I didn't want to do anything else!" Merlin exclaims indignantly, eyes jumping up to meet Arthur's again. "All I have ever wanted is to help you become the person you're meant to be!"

"Don't you see, Merlin? You could have done that and have so much more at the same time! If you'd only—only—"

"Only told you about my magic?" Merlin finishes with a sad smile. "You know I couldn't have done that, Arthur. I wanted to, so badly that I can't even begin to explain it, but if I had… I wouldn't have been able to stay by your side. You know that."

Arthur falls silent, eyes dropping to his plate. "I'm sorry," he says quietly after a minute. "I know it's far too late, but I am."

"I know. It's okay."

"It's not okay. I knew that you were loyal and trustworthy, and yet I still acted like an ass. I should have given you a chance to explain, instead of taking my fear and anger out on you. I'm sorry."

"You were raised to hate and fear magic, and I betrayed your trust by keeping it hidden from you. I can't really blame you for reacting the way you did."

"You could blame me. You should," Arthur corrects himself.

Merlin just continues to watch him with that same small smile. "You know I can't."

"…Yeah."