The Beginning of the End

A/N: I know, the title rocks. It the beginning of a totally different end though. We all knew this was coming, and here it is. The first part of a two-shot that finish the pre-series stuff. Warning: Swearing. Well, slightly. Nothing too bad. And a cliffhanger! :O How terrible of me. Enjoy and don't forget to review!

It was his fault. That he knew for certain. He'd started the argument to begin with – on a wisp of a feeling fuelled by hormones – and he'd renewed it with his thoughtlessness and his ignorance. Will blamed himself. That was why he didn't try to speak to Merlin again for a while. That was why he didn't look at him, or smile to him or even think about him. He knew he was hurting Merlin and his consciousness couldn't take it.

Yet, why was it he found himself watching the said warlock? Because he loved him. As much as he feared the truth, there was no point avoiding it anymore. What was the point? It was true. He loved Merlin. Whether he was in love with Merlin was a different story. It didn't matter whether he was or not; all that mattered was that Merlin meant more to him then gold to the poor. Then medicine to the sick. Then life to the dead.

He watched as Merlin came out of his house, axe in hand, and made a bee line for the woods that surrounded the village. Will watched as Merlin's eyes stayed to the ground in fear they would glance at the red head. He watched as Merlin disappeared behind the wall of trees. Scaring himself, Will hauled himself from his shelter and followed Merlin.

Yet another of those mistakes that changed Will's life.

Merlin wandered idly through the trees til he found a fallen sapling, newly joined to the undergrowth. He was barely on the fringe of the forest, still visible to all the village. Just as he brought the axe down for the fist time with a gruesome thump, Will startled him by breaking an invisible silence,

"We both know you don't need an axe to get firewood, Merlin". Turning and staring at him with sapphire eyes of accusation, Merlin replied,

"It seems magic can solve a lot of my daily problems. If this carries on, I'll be free of chores". The red head grinned,

"You've got a gift, why not use it?"

"I don't think I was given magic so I could collect firewood quicker or clean up effortlessly after people". Merlin was annoyed. Really annoyed. He wasn't up for playing any games.

It was happening again. Will came strutting back, thinking he could just step back into Merlin's life and everything would be forgotten. Well, it wouldn't. And he wouldn't either. It only cause more pain…for the both of them…it had to stop.

"You never know," Will smiled that breath-taking smile and something snapped in Merlin. It had to stop.

"You know what, Will? Hmm?" he dropped the axe and threw out his arms, willingly allowing Will to pound him, shoot him down, shatter him and do whatever the hell he wished. Merlin wouldn't fight back, "You're an attention-seeking pig! You come waltzing back and think it'll all go away but it won't. You don't really care, do you? You're a complete dick! All you want is the attention!"

Will faltered, unprepared by the harsh words. His first reaction was one he couldn't avoid. Anger. His eyes solidified and Merlin ignited his fury, forcing the words to form without Will's consent.

"You didn't seem to object, did you?" He spat, cold with pain. He was bearing his soul, "No. You gave me the attention. And you loved it!"

Silence.

Merlin just stared at him and Will just stared back. There was no true hate. No true fear. No true anger. Just pain – undying in all it's glory. Like losing a limb, a twin and a lover all in one. Like losing your mind, soul and heart. There was nothing but that in those eyes. Nothing but that passing along that connection. Not anymore. Just bitter pain. After everything, all that was left was the fighting and the regret. The silent forgiveness and the guilt.

"Come on, Merlin!" Will retorted, getting darker, "Fight back!" Will wanted life to just go back to the way it was before his mistakes. But it wouldn't. He wanted to fight with the space between them and not Merlin. He had no choice; Merlin was as close as he was going to get, "Oh, right. Of course. You won't fight back! All those years without a father have stripped you of your backbone! Ever wondered if you'll turn out like him? Huh?"

Nerves were struck and scars were reopened yet still Merlin did not reply. Just stared. Daring Will to hold his gaze. Merlin would never fight; it wasn't in his nature.

"Come on! Don't be such a mummy's boy!" Will shouted, gaining the attention of a few villagers on the edge of the village. Those strange neighbours were witnesses to the boys' broken love. All those years long, they'd been witnesses.

Still there was no reaction. Merlin became a statue; solid with nothingness. His reply was forced and so low, it actually scared Will,

"At least I have a mother…" A pause and a shocked reply,

"What?"

"Thanks the heavens I had a father who wanted to kill me because that meant I could still sit with you every night and hold your hand while you cried over your dead parents!" Merlin screamed louder, "It's a good job I was there for you! Because God knows who else would have been if I wasn't! Thanks the heavens I had you for a burden!" Sarcasm laced his words.

It took a moment for Will to reply, so he covered his reaction by clapping his hands in mock enthusiasm and replying sarcastically,

"Well done! Great comeback!" Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. At least there was still humour between them. Will's head created something he knew would cripple Merlin – as well as himself – and would as low as he could go, yet he went there anyway. His mind didn't think about this til after he said it, however. Raising his eyebrows, he finished, "If you're that good with insults, I would love to hear you talk dirty!"

That was when the tree fell.

You see, the magic was best fuelled by anger. The magic was tearing through Merlin, rippling through his blood and shredding his soul. It demanded to be free to act on impulse. Merlin had caged it up, refusing to allow such a thing to happen. Yet, that comment sparked his anger to dangerous levels and Merlin couldn't control it anymore.

It tore from its cage and aimed for Will. As his eyes burned amber, the only thing Merlin could do was redirect the magic so it would miss the obnoxious red head and hit the forest wall behind him instead.

As a result, one of the towering oaks cracked right down the centre, causing the old tree to come tumbling down to the ground. Falling sideways with a deafening groan, the tree was soon drowned out by a terrified squeal. Will and Merlin could only watch in horror as the lifeless wooden being fell down on Isaac. Big dark eyes were wide with fear.

………………………………………………..

Isaac played with his pretend armour set contentedly, swinging his piece of broken stick around as if it were a real sword. With a wooden bowl on his hair, barely able to keep a hold from the various auburn curls and a piece of yellow cloth tied around his neck, he fooled everyone into thinking he was a real soldier for the army of king Cendred.

He paused only when he noticed Merlin come out of his house, carrying a real axe. Isaac's eyes went wide with excitement as he decided Merlin must want to play with him. The warlock often played with him - they were best friends he said. Following eagerly, Isaac dragged his stick behind him as he stumbled after Merlin, who had his eyes to the ground.

That other boy with the red hair that Isaac vaguely knew joined their game of follow the leader, jumping in front of Isaac and making the little boy grumble in annoyance. He didn't want to play with that boy, only Merlin. As they reached the forest, Isaac grinned. He wasn't allowed in the forest; his mummy said it was a bad place. But if he was with Merlin, he could go in right? As the other boy and Merlin started talking, Isaac went in search of a bigger sword – distracted so easily like a child can be.

He wasn't really paying attention as their voice got louder and the boys were arguing, not talking. Pushing away the leaves that were tinted bronze with decay and moss wet with the sweat of the wood, he grasped the thick branch and struggled to pull it to the surface of the undergrowth. Just as he did and grinned with victory – his helmet bouncing on his forehead – his heart pounded against his chest with sudden shock. A deafening crack close by him made him jump and as he snapped his head up, he gasped.

A vast tree gave way, whining as it went, and came towards his with rapid speed as gravity took a hold. Fear lapsed over Isaac with the speed it only had over a child. He shrieked in terror, paralyzed as he watched it fall towards him.

He felt a sudden warmth flow past and the tree froze, looming over Isaac like a shadow of death. He whimpered, scrambling away before a pair of strong arms picked up his curled form and cradled Isaac to a chest. The little boy looked up into eyes of amber – strong, terrifying amber – on a face they shouldn't be. Merlin smiled down at the boy, caring and comforting, his face still shaking with panic Isaac buried his face in Merlin's scarf.

He was safe. That Isaac knew. He was safe.

The little boy heard as Merlin forced the tree to move in the opposite direction, falling out of the forest. It landed with another blood-chilling crash, sending splinters of wood in all directions. There was an enraged cry of panic and one of the farmers shouted,

"Oi! Watch which trees you're lobbing down! Leave the big trees and only get the saplings, you trouble maker!" his voice was full of fury, shouting from fright, "That one almost hit me!"

"Sorry!" Merlin replied, "Are you okay?" He got a grunt as a reply. Merlin sighed in relief, sapphire flooding back into his eyes. Isaac didn't realize he'd discovered Merlin's secret that day. But, he never forgot what happened. What he saw. Children aren't as opaque as people make the out to be.

……………………………………..

Will could only watch in shock as Merlin saved the little boy and redeemed his mistake. Will hadn't realised Merlin's magic could be so out of control. He'd forgotten how dangerous it was…The magic had only ever saved him. Never hurt him. Now Will felt fear for an unearthly element of his life – for Merlin.

Rogue terror bleached his cerulean eyes as he met Merlin's stare. There was only guilt in Merlin now. No anger.

You see, throughout every moment of their separation, Merlin blamed himself. He'd led Will on. He'd began the quarrel. He'd caused Will pain. And Merlin truly couldn't bear that on his mind. So, the warlock wouldn't let himself fall back into Will's life to cause more pain. Merlin was trying to protect Will all along.

Both boys stared at each other, a sobbing Isaac in Merlin's arms.

"Are you alright?" Merlin asked Will, breaking the silence. Will nodded, his face softening. Merlin finished, "You shouldn't get me so wound up. That old fool almost found out".

It was only then did Will's gaze set behind Merlin, horror-stricken. As Merlin followed the gaze, his eyes widened in shock. Staring at them both, lost for words, was Hunith.

She'd seen everything.