AN:

The two previous chapters seemed to have gotten to some of you which, to me, is a huge compliment.

Seeing Reason

The next morning Gwen rudely woke the young manservant by closing the door of his room with a bang
"Arthur!" He cursed as he sat upright but quickly saw it was Gwen that woke him and she wasn't happy.
"What happened last night?" Already her words were making his conscience acting up.
"It's complicated."
"I know it might be scary but-" Gwen began but Merlin was not a chicken.
"It's not that." He almost sneered."It's got nothing to do with that."
"What is it then?"
"I'm afraid I'll end up hurting her." Technically speaking that wasn't true, Uther would, but it was what it felt like to him.
"You're a good person, Merlin." Gwen assured him.
"No! It's... " It was frustrating for him not having someone who understood, ironically Morgana always did. "I can't tell you." He said, defeat clear in his voice.
"You don't have to tell me but can't you tell her?" Gwen desperately wanted him to see reason.
Could he? He never did know who's magic it was that made the vase tumble, had it even been magic?
"It might make things even worse." He said.
"Worse? Have you seen her?" Gwen was shouting. Merlin knew Morgana wouldn't take it lightly and already figured it had been so bad she couldn't prevent Gwen from finding out.
"She knows you love her and it's tearing her apart. She has a right to know." Gwen argued. He knew what that felt like, to be small, empty, alone and surrounded by the darkness.
"Can you keep Arthur occupied?" He caved. Gwen's anger lessened by the fact Merlin seemed to have a plan already and nodded.
"Tell Morgana to meet me at the grove." He said.
"What grove? And why can't you just go to her room?" she asked confused.
"She knows what grove and I have my reasons. Now get out, I have to dress." He said.
"Fine, just don't stand her up." Merlin shot Gwen a look, of course I won't, and got dressed as soon as Gwen had left.

Merlin stood in the grove waiting for Morgana. It was time to man up and face his mistakes, the ones that led to Morgana's sorrow. He was thinking about what he should say when he heard a horse and someone dismounting. Gwen hadn't exaggerated, Morgana seemed paler than ever. She looked as though someone had died. It was nearing noon and still he could see the circles around her eyes from the tears she had cried. Had she slept at all? He could see her pain by the way she walked, so fragile, so afraid, what part of her hadn't he broken? He wanted to run to her, to embrace her, to save her, but his final fear kept him nailed to the ground. This was his last stand and it would be the crossroad between love and hate.
"Gwen said you wanted to explain?" Her words were cold, she was trying to hide her feelings, but her voice was shaky.
"Yes," He said hoarsely. "because I'm not scared of us getting caught." Morgana had felt that he hadn't spoken truth the day before because it made no sense, none whatsoever, and she was proven right. Merlin thought it must've sounded stupid but at least he wasn't hiding anymore and would speak his heart and mind.
"There's something about me you don't know, even from Arthur and Gwen don't, and the thought of people finding out terrifies me." He said. Morgana wasn't sure what to think of that. Merlin kept secrets, that she knew, but what secrets were there besides the ones he kept for the three of them? Somewhere deep inside she felt afraid he might've belonged to someone else and not gotten over it, or that he was promised to someone still. He didn't already have a child somewhere, did he? Futher thoughts were cut off by Merlin's words.
"If we're to be together then this is one secret you need to know. I wanted to hide it from you but it's your choice. You would understand more than anyone." She frowned at that, why would she understand more than anyone? He had said discovery was his worst nightmare but what was so dark he had to hide it and yet she would understand most? As for the choice, her mind was made up before the day had even begun.
"I'm not giving up." She said. Nodding he took a few deep breaths. It both was and wasn't what he wanted. Already Morgana understood he was going to spill it.
"Morgana, I..." This was it, the first time he would reveal his magic willingly. She had put her life on the line for his kind, she deserved to know more than anyone, she would understand more than anyone. When the words would pass his lips, would there be light at the end of the tunnel or would the darkness haunt him for the rest of his life? He had lied to her from the start, hiding his true nature from everyone but Gaius. Would it upset her enough to hate him, to be the woman scorned? Kilgharrah had said she would become his enemy and he should never tell her of his magic. "...have..." Was it destiny or choice? His mind clawed inside to find a way out, and there was. Kilgharrah had told him to kill Mordred because he was destined to kill Arthur. If that were true then why did Kilgharrah tell him to kill the boy? Could destiny be altered? But now he had to face his fears and hoped that in future he wouldn't have to do it alone, that she would stand beside him, that he could share his dreams with her and the nightmares fade away like a distant memory. "...magic." He finished and all was said and done.

No wonder he wanted to tell in the grove. Here they were far from Camelot, outside the walls of Uther's reign and in a place where they were free of ridiculous laws and prying eyes. She was alone with a sorcerer in a grove few people knew and now he had told her his greatest secret. For a moment she was scared but he seemed so much more afraid. This was him at his most vulnerable, entrusting her with the secret that could be his death sentence. She moved closer to him, thoughts, memories and emotions going through her mind. He had been living under their very noses for so long. She had fought for his kind, those with magic, for so long and none of them had given anything in return, all the did was try and kill the king. But now there was Merlin and he was everything she was fighting for and more. Different eyes looked at him, ones of admiration, wondering how much magic he had cast in the shadows of their darkest moments. He always seemed the lanky, clumsy manservant but underneath it all he was the knight in shining armour, just without the armour.
"It's alright." She whispered. He slowly brought his head down to hers believing that although she might not be scared of him didn't mean she still loved him. Their lips joined and although the kiss itself wasn't special, it's meaning was far greater. This was the first time he kissed her and it was the start of something more. She broke the kiss before losing herself in it completely, she still needed to know.
"So we're together?" She asked. His answer would bend the rules, his actions would break them and the sound of it would echo "Forever."

The End

AN:

And Gwen saved the day, sometimes all you need is a good friend.
Also, I'm an absolute sucker for happy endings.
Next chapter are Author Notes (credits, thanks and goodbyes).