IMPORTANT: real Arthur will not be in this one, BUT he will have seen it as shown in the next chapter, just wanted to clear up any confusion that there may be. In the dream, dream Arthur will just be referred to as Arthur. same for Merlin. Also; Arthur's a King in this dream.

-TRAGIC REVEAL-

Arthur gave his incredibly idiotic manservant a disbelieving look and shouted over to where he was.

"Merlin, you idiot! We're being attacked! Will you stop roaring strange words at the sky?"

As he expected, he was taken no notice of. Merlin continued roaring with all the force he could manage, and then eventually the winds changed. All of a sudden, a great sound was carried through the air-almost like wings beating-and Arthur found himself ducking for cover as the Great Dragon surged straight towards him. When the sound of wings were what he judged to be close enough, he started waving around his sword in a futile attempt to kill the beast.

"Arthur, put that stick down" came the infuriatingly patronizing voice of his servant, who seemed to be a few feet higher than Arthur in the air.

Arthur, not knowing know what to feel exactly, lifted his head, and turned it left and right to look at the dead bandits lying on the ground. Feeling a little foolish he gazed up at Merlin.

Grinning like an idiot, though his eyes held a hint of worry; Merlin eyes flashed gold one more time to kill off the last bandit. He then gently descended, looking his master straight in the eyes, almost pleading for him to understand. He ordered more than asked "Hop on", and Arthur did, probably because he had no idea what else he was supposed to do. His brain was buzzingwith a million different questions, and the only thing he could think was... Dragon lord. And then...Magic. He wanted answers for those questions, but Merlin's face told him that they would all be answered in a short while. And that is how, a few hours later, he came to be in a cave, puzzling over all that he now knew, and all that he never wanted to know. Questions had led to answers, and answers had led to more questions, his head spinning as he tried to take it all in. But he knew what he had to do.

"I'm going to make you Court Sorcerer" the big smile on his features as he made that statement was immediately returned by one of Merlin's ultra-huge grins, the elation written all over the servant's face.

"Thank you, thank you Arthur! You will never know what this means to me. You are truly the greatest friend I've ever had" Merlin's words were sincere and grateful, as he stared in awe at what he knew to be a great King.

"Glad to hear it" said the prince. Then he added "Now go and collect the firewood, it looked like we're staying here for tonight. After all," he teased "You're not Court Sorcerer yet, you know".

Muttering an affectionate "Prat", Merlin breezed out of the cave, his movements free and easy now that the weight of his huge secret had been lifted. Arthur watched him go, his eyes following him carefully.

Merlin hummed as he gathered all the firewood he had collected in his arms, thinking about how lucky he was. And to think, he'd been worried that Arthur would kill him or something! How foolish...his grin wavered for a moment, thinking back on Gaius' warning against him revealing himself to Arthur. Then he shook his head, and chided himself for worrying about trivial things on what was the best day of his life. He let the noises of the birds, the swishing of the trees, the whooshing of the wind, the sound of magic, woven into nature fill him, and in that moment he thought his heart would burst with pride and joy as his long, gruesome journey came to an end. He had finally done it; he had completed his destiny.

Those sounds were interrupted by the harsh swing of a sword, and the squelch that followed as it pierced his heart. Falling to the ground, the firewood scattered in front of him, a harsh, bitter voice behind him spoke.

"Looks like you've been stabbed in the back. Guess you know what it feels like now".