Hi there lovely awesome readers and my lovely followers and to all the Merlin fans. This chapter is slash for all you fans out there that love the thought of Merlin and Arthur together. It's the same as the last one but different. So with love.

Realizations and secrets revealed.

No, this just can't be, this just can't be. Arthur's brain immediately went to denial, he refuses to believe it, he can't believe it, he didn't want to believe it, And the denying thing worked, until he saw Merlin's eyes flash gold, and then the dungeon door open.

For a brief second he couldn't move, it was as if he was frozen in place, he just stared at his manservant, not wanting to believe the truth, not wanting to believe any of this.

But it was right there, the truth was staring him right in the face, and he felt like a fool, his mind burned with questions that he couldn't find the strength to ask aloud. 'How could i not have known? How could i not see it? How could i be so blind? Why didn't i see it sooner? Why was I so blind to the obvious? Why didn't he tell me?!'

Suddenly there was a red hot bubbling anger that settled in the pit of his stomach.

Merlin! Someone he thought as a friend didn't tell him of this secret, 'he should have told me' he thought angrily. 'Why didn't he tell me?! Why would he choose now of all times to tell me?! What am I going to do?!'

Arthur forced himself to meet Merlin's gaze. But what he saw made him feel like he was just kicked in the gut.

Merlin's eyes flashed with the emotions of hurt, disappointment, worry and fear. It made Arthur feel guilty, but the feeling of anger was stronger.

He wanted to demand the answers from his friend, his manservant, from the sorcerer. All at once it hit him, and he knew he could no longer deny the truth that was staring him right in the face. Merlin was a sorcerer, Merlin had been practicing Magic, his friend was a sorcerer.

And the thought that he didn't tell him any of this infuriated him, and it scared him.

Merlin, the man he thought as a friend had been practicing magic this entire time, and he didn't tell him! It felt like a betrayal from someone he trusted most.

Merlin must have saw the anger in his eyes, because his entire look changed from one of worry to fear.

"Arthur" he said so quietly it was almost difficult to hear him "we don't have time for this"

Arthur knew he was right, he hated it, but he was right. He nodded slowly, not trusting his voice to talk.

He followed Merlin out of the dungeons, and watched as the sorcerer used his magic to get them out of there. When they came across a guard, or whoever else saw them, Merlin whispered a enchantment making them fall asleep, then they moved on quickly.

Arthur wonders if he had done this sort of thing before?

As they made their way to safety his mind burned with questions, questions that he could not yet find the strength to ask. Arthur felt betrayed, he was betrayed.

Magic was evil, and Merlin, his friend- someone he thought as a friend practices it. How could he?

Arthur expected it to go wrong, but to his surprise they got out of the castle unscathed, without being seen just us the bells started to ring alerting of their escape.

They wasted no time is they ran to the forest. They must have been running for a half an hour before they finally stopped.

Arthur leaned against the tree for support. His whole body protested, his legs burned, his heart was pounding, his hair clung to his sweaty forehead.

He looked at Merlin who was sitting on the ground with his head in his hands, looking defeated.

Merlin was no fool, he knew the laws against Magic, and so did Arthur.

Then suddenly the interwar began, his mind and heart at war.

Yes, magic was evil, he had experienced it at first hand, but was Merlin? He could have used it to enchant him and even kill him ages ago, but he chose not to, even in the dungeons he chose to save him revealing his secret knowing what it could cost him.

Arthur frowned. 'Why would he do that for me, even knowing the cost?' He thought.

Then a new question came to mind. Why would he be by his side knowing his father's views on magic?

Then at once everything clicked into place. All those times that he walked away without a single injury, all those times that Camelot was in danger but they were somehow victorious, all this time, was it Merlin who had been protecting him in the people of Camelot, his father included?

But magic was evil, but Merlin wasn't, was he? No, yes, Arthur doesn't know. He thought he knew Merlin, it appears that he had been wrong.

oOo

'Stupid stupid stupid' Merlin thought bitterly. 'what was I thinking? Why would I ever think that he would act any differently?'

It wasn't Arthur's fault, he doesn't blame him, he was taught from an early age that magic was evil, and he had only seen the dark side of it, but Merlin hoped one day that he would be the one to show him the light side of magic, and how wonderful and beautiful it could be.

But now he'll never get that chance.

Merlin couldn't look at the prince, because if he did he knew what he would see, he knew that he would see discuss, disappointment and hatred In those eyes, and he just simply couldn't bear it, he couldn't there that would be the last image he would see.

He heard movement, and prepared himself for the worst.

"I should go"

Merlin lifted his head from his hands to look at Arthur, who was looking in the opposite direction they came.

"I should go back to Camelot" Arthur wasn't looking at him, he was taking great lengths not to.

"Arthur-"

"Do as you will" he then turned his back on him and began walking. After a moment Merlin followed.

From then on they mainly traveled in silence, both lost in their thoughts.

Merlin was beginning to think perhaps it was a mistake telling Arthur, if he stopped and thought about it there could have been another way to get them out of there, but he didn't think.

This wasn't the first time his 'magic has been revealed' but Arthur didn't believe it then.

Three days past, and Arthur still hadn't said a word or looked at him.

Merlin expected it. That's why he was surprised on the 4th day he asked him the question that he so desperately didn't want to answer.

He and Arthur camped down for the night, Camelot wasn't far, in fact they were probably be there tomorrow.

Merlin got the fire started, as Arthur sat there watching the dancing flames as soon as they came to life.

"How long?"

Merlin didn't need him to clarify, he knew what that question was about.

He took a moment to settle his pounding heart before he answered. "All my life, I was born with it"

Arthur looked at him for the first time in almost five days."You what?"

Merlin sighed heavily "I was born with magic, and so was Morgana"

Arthur's eyes went wide at this "what's Morgana have to do with this?"

Merlin decided if he was going to die he was going to tell him everything, their destinies, the dragon attacking Camelot, Morgana, his father, he told him everything.

"You poisoned Morgana?"

Merlin looked at him a moment "that's what you chose to think about. Believe me I didn't want to, I had no choice. And it's one of my deepest regrets"

"One side of the coin?"

"Yes"

"The Once and Future King?"

"Again, yes"

"A dragon lord?"

"How many times am i going to have to say yes?"

Merlin much preferred when they weren't talking.

They fell silent. Arthur seemed to be lost in thought, and Merlin decided to leave it that way.

He looked at the fire, and whispered a spell. A dragon formed from the flames then vanished. He looked at Arthur, who didn't look startled as he first thought he would be. In fact he almost looked curious.

"Did you mean what you said back at the dungeons?"

"Yes"

"Have you been protecting me this entire time?" Asked Arthur.

"Yes" he replied immediately without hesitation "it is my destiny and duty to protect you, even more than that I want to" he smirked "even though you can be a royal ass at times, and extremely stubborn. But it doesn't change the fact that you are my friend, it doesn't matter how you see me, I will protect you and serve you until my dying day"

"Why?"

He met Arthur's eyes. "Because, you're my friend, and my Future King"

"And if I decide to turn you into my father?"

Merlin shook his head "it wouldn't matter"

"Why?"

"Because, then I wouldn't have to wash your socks ever again"

Arthur chuckled "I see."

They were silent for a while "why didn't you tell me?" Asked Arthur.

"How could I? I couldn't let the conflict come between you and your father, that's why I kept quiet"

"That's your reason?"

"Yes"

"Did you want to tell me?"

"Yes"

"All this time, and you never once asked anything out of it"

He looked at Arthur "that's not why I do it"

"So, then, are you still an idiot, or was that another lie?"

"It depends, are you still a prat?"

"I am you're friend" Arthur said so quietly that he highly doubt it he was meant to hear it, he decided to pretend he didn't.

The next morning they arrived back in Camelot. Merlin was nervous because he was still unsure what Arthur was going to do about him.

He followed Arthur to the meeting room, where Uthur was waiting for a explanation. And Arthur told him everything, to Merlin's surprise he left his magic out of it, for now.

After the screaming match was said and done, Uthur looked at Arthur, who still remained where he was.

"Anything else?" Asked the king. And Merlin held his breath.

Arthur looked at him for a moment, then shook his head "there is nothing else"

"Then go!"

Arthur left, with Merlin close behind.

He was caught up in his own thoughts that he barely noticed what direction they were headed. Merlin had expected Arthur to tell his father about him, but to his surprise he didn't.

Merlin had to blink to break him out of his own thoughts, then he realized where they were.

He looked at Arthur "Why?" He Asked when Arthur closed the doors to his Chambers. "Why didn't you tell you're father about me?"

"I still might"

But somehow Merlin knew that he wouldn't.

"You have saved my life countless times, giving you to my father be a poor way of repaying you"

Merlin flashed him a cheeky grin "does that mean I have a day off?"

"Not on you're life. Look at the state of my Chambers"

And just like that everything had gone back to normal, in away.

After Arthur excused Merlin, he went to Gaius and told him what happened, and just as he expected, Gaius was angry but more worried then he would ever let on.

"You can't stay in Camelot" Said Gaius after moment.

Merlin expected as much. "I think it's going to be okay"

"You told Arthur you have magic boy! How is that okay?"

"Arthur didn't tell Uthur, and he could have"

"Not yet! Did he give his word that he would keep your secret?"

Merlin thought back realizing that Arthur never said that he would "no"

"You stupid boy!" The older man exclaimed.

"I had no choice Gaius!"

"So, Gaius does know then"

They turned to see Arthur standing there with a amused look on his face, his arms folded across his chest.

"Gaius, give us a moment" he said quietly

Gaius through a worried look at Merlin, before leaving the two boys alone.

For the next few moments was the most terrifying moments of Merlin's life.

oOo

Arthur realized a few things, most important, Merlin wasn't at all evil, and he was born with magic.

This bothered him, if Merlin and Morgana was born with magic how many others were? How many innocent people did his father sentenced to death just because of something that they couldn't control?

It was something he had to come to terms with, and he will, in due time.

But this realization came with a dissolve, when he becomes king he will make sure innocent people won't suffer for something that they cannot control.

And another thing he realized was something that he had been pretending that he didn't know, but now overhearing Merlin and Gaius made him realize it.

Merlin was his friend, no, more then that, and was no enemy to Camelot, he knew that now, It just took him five- six actually, days to realize it.

Though at the moment he was quite amused how the younger boy skormed underneath his gaze.

He allowed this to continue a few more moments before deciding to spare the poor boy. he sighed "you have my word Merlin, your secret is safe with me, until the day I become king"

Merlin's grin was brighter than the sun. it was as if a large weight had been lifted off his shoulders

"But I'm not so quickly to forget that you lied to me about your memory, or your. . magic" he whispered the last word.

Merlin's grin didn't falter "thank you, sire"

Arthur rolled his eyes "and lie to me again and I'll make you clean the whole castle" he smirked "without the use of your. . skill"

"Right"

"And one other thing" he walked to stand in front of Merlin, and before his nerves got the best of him, he leaned forward and kissed Merlin's lips softly.

It came as a surprise when he finally realized what this feeling was, and he was no longer afraid of it.

Merlin returned the kiss after a moment. When he pulled back, he smirked "and that's not all"

"No?" Asked Merlin, frowning slightly, but then smiled.

"Because you lied to me, I have some errands for you"

Merlin's smile faded into a look of horror when he handed him the list that he graciously thought of for his manservant the moment they got back to Camelot.

The list fell to the floor when he unfolded it. "I can't do all of this in one day" exclaimed Merlin.

"I'm sure that you would think of something. And Merlin" he leaned forward to whisper in his ear "no using magic, and believe me I would know if you do"

Arthur kissed him again before he could protest, he then turned and walked out of the room, leaving a sputtering Merlin behind, and passing a very confused but yet relieved looking Gaius Gwen and Gwaine on the way, all the while smirking at himself.

This may not be as bad as he first thought, he mused as he walked down the corridor.

Meriln fan: yes I do write original stories as Fall Storm on fictionpress. And I love Arthur's Mysterious Reappearing Shirt Pause For Thought Love Conquers All and the The Secret Kingdom and more.

With love to you all, and until next time.