It was late that evening when Arthur heard the soft knock on his door.

It had been a frustrating day. He had wanted to rage and shout and break things, but after his struggles against the guards, some of the wounds on his back had reopened and he was forced to simply sit and watch the fire.

His father hadn't listened to their pleading, going as far as to threaten Morgana with the same fate as Merlin.

It was Morgana who entered, looking pale and worn. Arthur shifted in his chair, giving as much of a smile as he could muster.

"Oh, Arthur, I'm sorry," she murmured, coming and sitting in the chair opposite.

"For what?" Arthur asked, trying to shrug but then stopping.

"I convinced you to use the potion on him. I shouldn't have."

"You were trying to save him," Arthur responded. "We all were. Father may have … It is possible he may have reconsidered, if I proved I wasn't enchanted. You tried, thank you for that."

Morgana brought a fist down on the arm of her chair. "Will he never see past his hatred?"

Only silence greeted her words.

"How did you know about the potion?" Arthur asked sometime later.

"You and Gaius weren't half as secretive as you thought you were," Morgana replied. "I listened behind the door, it wasn't difficult."

"But you never told Morgause or Merlin?"

Morgana looked down. "Even from the beginning I was doubting Morgause. Her way wasn't right. It wasn't just. And Merlin … I didn't tell him because I knew he'd turn on you. I've seen things night after night in my dreams, the future the two of you will bring, and I couldn't let that fall because of me."

"You still tried to stop it though," Arthur pointed out. "Accusing Gaius to get to me. Why?"

Morgana's lips tightened.

"Back when I first learned I had magic, before I even met Morgause, I was afraid, naturally. I went to Gaius because he'd always helped and … He didn't do anything. He didn't even tell me he himself had magic which I found out later."

Arthur grimaced.

"Hatred, Arthur. It eats you up until you forget who you used to be."

They both fell to silence once more.

"How did you convince father you'd been enchanted?" Arthur asked.

"Well, he saw me kill Morgause," Morgana replied, her knuckled white on the arm rests. Arthur knew this was a hurt that wouldn't heal soon. Morgause had made her place firmly in Morgana's life, through a mixture of kindness and manipulation. Arthur couldn't possibly begin to understand what it must have cost her to finally kill the witch. "But it was Gwen really. She convinced Uther that Morgause had given me a bracelet I'd been wearing. It was the truth, she gave it to me to block my dreams – dreams about your future I think, she didn't want me coming back to you – but those visions were always more powerful than Morgause's magic. Uther jumped to his own conclusions and Gaius confirmed the bracelet was of the Old Religion."

"Are you happy?" Arthur asked abruptly.

"What do you mean?"

"To be back here? Hiding who you are? Seeing Uther every day?"

Morgana dipped her head. "I can't deny that its one of my worst nightmares. But Arthur … I know one day a time of peace and freedom will come."

Arthur blew out a breath. "I don't know if that future will be coming, Morgana. I've lost Merlin."

"No." Morgana stood up. "No you haven't."

"If we free him, Uther will know. He'll hunt Merlin and anyway … I don't think that destiny is meant for us. We're too broken."

Morgana crouched in front of him, her face earnest.

"I've seen it, Arthur. Your brokenness is what makes you whole. You and him have a future, two halves of a whole, two sides of a coin. You're only broken because you're not with him."

"But I took away his magic!" Arthur protested. "He won't escape the guards."

"I spoke to Gaius," Morgana replied, almost becoming impatient now. "He said it was only temporary anyway, and Merlin is the most powerful sorcerer to ever walk the earth."

"Then he doesn't need me. He can escape himself."

Morgana slapped him.

For a moment the two looked at each other, each equally shocked, then they laughed.

"You deserved it. You're a stubborn fool, Arthur Pendragon."

"And you're here to make me see sense?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. He rubbed at his stinging cheek.

"By whatever means," Morgana smirked. She sobered a little and stood once more. "He'll be waiting for you, Arthur. He needs you."

The journey down to the dungeons took Arthur far longer than he would ever admit. Morgause's torture was still fresh and the wounds still stung but eventually he made it down, just as the guards were changing over for the night.

To his relief, it was Leon taking up his place at the entrance to the dungeons. As Arthur stepped out, Leon's hand went to his sword.

"Who's there?" he asked sharply.

"Only me," Arthur responded, raising his hands in a placating gesture.

Leon relaxed, but then he frowned.

"What are you doing down here Arthur?"

Arthur straightened, trying to be the prince he had been trained to be.

"I'm visiting the prisoner."

Leon had known Arthur throughout his childhood, and saw through the act immediately. He looked sympathetic, but didn't move.

"I can't allow it, Arthur."

"Leon."

"I'm sorry, by order of the king."

"Leon. Please. Five minutes." Arthur didn't want to beg, but he would go to such measures if he needed to. However, he knew Leon just as well as Leon knew him. He knew how far he had to push.

"Alright. Five minutes."

"Thank you."

The cell where Merlin was was dark and Arthur grimaced as his torch lit up rotting straw and a rat scurrying away from the light. The next moment, however, he was dropping to his knees, coming up close to the bars and reaching for Merlin.

"I didn't think you'd come," Merlin said quietly, shuffling so he and Arthur could hold hands. His wrists were chained though, and they couldn't reach any further.

"How are you?" Arthur asked, checking Merlin over for any further signs of physical injury.

"Fine."

"Merlin, I'm so sorry. I should never have done that to you. Morgana was just trying to help and if I didn't go through with it-" Arthur's voice rose in distress.

"Arthur, Arthur shhh. It's ok. My magic was blocked, but not for long. It's back now."

"But … then why are you still here?" Arthur's grasp tightened on Merlin's hands.

"It's over for me, Arthur. You need to leave." Merlin's voice was soft, aching with years of regret.

"Did you expect me to just leave you down here, Merlin? I'm getting you out!"

Merlin gave a soft laugh.

"I saw it right from the beginning. I knew you'd never give up. But you don't have a choice now. You need to leave before someone catches you here."

"I've got us a few minutes, and anyway, don't you dare be self sacrificing Merlin. I'm not going to let you die." Arthur squeezed Merlin's hand trying to emphasise his point.

"And what? You free me, and then what? Uther would know it was you and he'd imprison you for it. And what future would it be with one of us on the run and the other locked up? I want you to be happy, Arthur. You won't be happy in a cell." Merlin tugged his hands out of Arthur's grip.

"I will never be happy without you, Merlin!" Arthur insisted. "I made you a promise, remember? I won't let you die."

"No, Arthur. This is my choice. My story is over, but you can still have a future."

"It won't be a future without you!" Arthur shouted, his frustration and worry flowing over. "We've got a destiny to fulfil, Merlin. Something to live for." He quietened, aware of Leon shifting at the end of the passage. "I love you. I can't lose you." He said, his words no louder than a whisper.

Merlin looked up, his eyes filled with tears. "Arthur …"

"No. Merlin, listen to me. You can escape, go on the run. I'll have Morgana confirm I was in my chambers all evening. Then when you're ready, when we're ready … you can come back."

In the dark, Arthur saw Merlin's eyes gleam gold as his chains fell away. A moment later Merlin was up against the other side of the bars, his forehead pressed against Arthur's.

"Say it again," he murmured.

"What?"

"You know what."

"I love you. I love you, Merlin."

"I love you too," Merlin replied.

The kiss was chaste, but it meant something. It was a promise.

"I'll come back," Merlin promised.

"I'll be waiting."

"Go, Arthur. Go now."

Back at the end of the corridor, Arthur passed Leon. He knew he couldn't ask the man to lie for him and was just preparing to walk past in silence when Leon stopped him.

"I know you to be a good and just man, Arthur. So … I didn't see you here tonight. Whatever might happen, I never saw you here."

Arthur nodded his thanks. "You're a good man too, Leon."

Leon bowed his head.

"Goodnight, sire."