"Are you alright? Arthur?"

The prince's face hardened in a way Merlin did not like.

"Fetch the horses; we're returning to Camelot."

The servant did as instructed, remaining silent as he struggled with his own dilemma. There was something strange about what had occurred – well, the whole thing was strange, but something had not felt right about the magic and Ygraine in particular.

"Arthur..."

"I'm not in the mood for chatter, Merlin."

"I- I have something important to tell you."

The royal stopped his horse, turning to stare incredulously at his friend.

"You're not going to tell me you're actually my step-brother, are you? I think I've learned enough family secrets for the day."

Merlin was glad to hear the prince still able to joke a bit, though he could tell anger would soon break through the shock. Hopefully not too soon...

"I don't think that was actually your mother."

Arthur's jaw clenched, preventing him from giving verbal response.

"I think... I think it was someone else's projection of her. What she said may be true, I don't know, but that was not your mother." Arthur's eyes were narrowing dangerously, but Merlin pushed onward. "The dead cannot be so easily recalled to this world, and if they are they seldom have their own will."

"What would you know, Merlin? How could you possibly know anything about magic!"

Oh the anger was definitely coming now. Poor timing, but who knew what would happen if he couldn't convince Arthur.

"I..." he took a shaky breath. "I was born with magic, Arthur. I've been able to use it my whole life."

The two stared at each other for an age before the prince sagged in his saddle, pushing his face into the horse's neck and gripping the reins so tightly Merlin feared his knuckles may split.

"Arthur?"

The warlock hesitantly drew his own horse alongside his master's. He wanted to physically reach out, but didn't quite dare.

"What am I supposed to do now, Merlin?"

He wasn't certain exactly what Arthur was looking for, but decided to stick to the matter of Ygraine's apparition.

"Find out the truth."

"And how am I to do that?" The muffled words held uncharacteristic defeat, the anger from earlier having been lost in uncertainty.

"I'll ask Gaius; he'll be sure to know."

Arthur turned his head just enough to glimpse his servant with one eye. He seemed to consider this course of action for a moment before righting himself, once again sitting tall in the saddle.

"I shall be the one to ask." He nudged his horse, resuming the trek home.

"Arthur... your father probably ordered Gaius not to tell anyone, least of all yourself. I think we'll have better luck if I just tell him what happened and see how he reacts."

The prince watched his friend closely for a few moments before shaking his head.

"I thought I knew you, Merlin."

And that hinted at another conversation to come, but it would wait. For now they had a truth to uncover.