Arthur's POV

"Arthur will be the greatest king who has and ever will live, and you want to destroy that?" After seeing Merlin using magic I was frozen in shock, unable to leave the bush where I was hiding to confront him. I could only watch as the scene unfolded, and Merlin and Morgause passed out. Now I had Merlin's words to Morgause bouncing around in my skull, like so many overactive children, making me both weary and proud at the same time. He could have just said it so you wouldn't execute him. One part of me argued. He didn't know you were there. The other side said. He has magic. He has betrayed you. I squeezed my eyes shut and started to pace. He has always been loyal to you. He could have turned on you by now, but he hasn't.

For some reason, Morgana having magic didn't seem so much of a shock. She had grown up having dreams that would come true; although I would never tell father that. I did what I could to protect her from him. She was like a sister to me. She is your sister. My sister. My sister has magic, but I couldn't find it in myself to hate her, or hurt her. Nor could I hate Merlin, but I knew that he was breaking the law, and he betrayed me on purpose. He knew how to control his magic and to use it when he wanted to which Morgana didn't, judging from her nightmares. But Merlin had also protected me with his magic. What was right?

"Ah!" I screamed and picked up a half-filled goblet from the table and launch it full force at the wall. It made a tremendous bang. The guards stayed wisely outside. The red wine slowly dripped down the wall, like the blood of so many executed at my father's hand. Suddenly I was imagining it as Merlin's blood, leaving him at my hand because he has magic. A sharp pain went through me as I collapsed to my knees on the cold stone ground. The world started to shake and I wondered if it was an earthquake, and then realized it was me. My shoulder's trembled violently and tears poured down my face in torrents.

"Why?" I whispered to myself, my voice trembling like the rest of me. Merlin's voice entered my head again.

"He is tolerant and destined to bring about a world that is free from magic users and otherwise." Of course. I always thought he was my friend, no matter how much I denied it, but he was only so loyal to me because he believed I would free his kind. He has defended your father too, although if he was in your position, Merlin would be dead right now. I wanted to deny it, but I knew it was the truth.

"Arthur is not Uther" Merlin was right about that too. I always tried to copy my father's example, always seen him as strong, but I was never able to be as cold as him, even if it benefit the kingdom.

"He has torn my family apart! He has killed hundreds of my kind, and you expect me to follow him?" I was surprised to realize that Morgause's words were affecting me too, even though they were talking about my father too. I couldn't help but sympathize with her as she let out all her anger and pain, and knowing that there were many others that felt the same.

"Kill me Merlin. Protect your precious prince" Morgause's mocking but defeated tone stung me, although I had no reason to feel any sympathy for her. But Merlin couldn't kill her. It just wasn't in his nature. Or was it? I remembered all the times Merlin had disappeared and come back looking haunted and vulnerable, but at the same time, his eyes seemed older and wearier. I could never work out what made him so distant, but what if that was it? What if he had killed people while trying to protect me? I remember all the times that problems had just disappeared without a reason, and no one had come forward to claim credit for it. And what about the times mysterious things happened when we were in a tight spot, like when the girth strap on a bandits horse came undone or that chandelier fell on that witch when Merlin first came to Camelot? It was Merlin. It's always been Merlin. He has only ever protected you.

And that was when I realized.

I would be dead without Merlin.