Merlin toppled over a stone and hit his shin so hard, a sharp pain stung beyond his limbs and tickled his ears. He grabbed his shins and turned. He felt the tip of a blade poke his neck and looked up in disbelief. What now?

"Get up and don't try anything." Arthur commanded Merlin, carefully looking at him in his eyes as Merlin slowly stood up with his hands raised.

"Arthur?"

"Who are you?" Arthur asked nervously, sword still up.

"I'm Merlin, are you Arthur or Morgause?"

"I'm Arthur…" Arthur said. He quickly caught himself. "Or Morgause! Tell me who you are first!"

"I just said I'm Merlin!"

Merlin guessed it was really Arthur if Arthur suspected he was Alvarr. His heart pounded with relief. He couldn't really believe how happy he was to see Arthur. It felt like years.

"How do I know you aren't Alvarr!" Arthur asked nervously.

"Arthur- It's me ... REALLY." Merlin said smiling, just happy to see Arthur well. "Alvarr had died …Arthur, listen, your father is alive and we need to go back!"

"He is?" Arthur asked lowering his sword slightly. He then lifted it quickly "Wait, how do I know you are telling me the truth!"

"Ok, umm you are in love with Gwen!"

"Merlin could have told Alvarr this information!"

"You sleep with Julius, your stuffed bear!"

"What!"

"And you've kissed Jul-"

"SHUT UP! I DID NOT!"

Merlin grinned.

Arthur lowered the sword and observed Merlin.

There the two were, Merlin standing with bags under his eyes, skin pale as a dish rags, watching Arthur. Arthurs eyes were puffy and bloodshot, his face clammy abd drained from blood, his hair sweaty and stuck to his skull. A cool wind hit against their bodies as they bonded that moment appreciating each others signs of pain.

"It's really you Merlin?" Arthur said quietly, in intrigued wonder, as he came closer to inspect Merlins face.

"Yes!" Merlin nodded with a grin. "Arthur, I am so glad that you're okay!"

"I thought you died." Arthur said with a sad tone to his voice. "I thought my father died - you said he was alive?" Arthur said, sweat trickling down his hair.

"Yeah, it was pretty bad actually, but lucki-"

"Why did Morgause think my father died?"

"She poisoned him." Merlin breathed. "But she was unsuccessful. Gaius, Gwen, and-"

"Gaius… Gaius is always there for my father." Arthur said, looking down almost with disappointment.

"Yeah Gaius, Gwen an-"

"Gwen? How is she doing?" Arthur asked looking up.

"She's fine." Merlin said scratching his neck wondering when he could inject credit to himself. "So yeah, it wasn't just them, I helped as a matter of fact."

"Well yeah, I'd hope so. You are Gaius's assistant." Arthur nodded, still staring at Merlin.

"So how did you escape?" Merlin asked resigning from his efforts, as the night's breeze cooled his face.

"Morgause let me go. She said she did her job and had no qualms about me."

Merlin smirked. He was wondering why Arthur wasn't asking too many questions about what happened in Camelot, but kept quiet.

"We need to head out soon before your father wakes up. If he knew you were gone he'd freak!" Merlin said, looking around for a boat or ship. Merlin didn't want to suggest they use the necklace, a tool of magic to quickly get them back to Camelot, especially after Arthur suffered by magic users.

Arthur sighed and looked to the side, blinking.

"I don't know if I want to go back to Camelot, Merlin." he said blankly.

"… What do you mean?" Merlin chuckled unbelievingly. Merlin felt very tired and all he craved at this point was to bring Arthur home safe and crawl into his own bed and sleep for a week.

"I just don't want to go right now, Merlin." Arthur said looking at the sea. He inhaled the air silently and closed his eyes.

"Well… what do you want to do?" Merlin asked trying to contain his annoyance.

"I don't know Merlin." Arthur simply stated, shaking his head. He remained silent as she imagined his mother, his uncle, and his sisters pain. He seemed to be the cause of all the pain they all suffered, because he had to fulfil this destiny.

"Look Arthur, I don't know about you, but I've had a long day." Merlin heart flickered when Arthur turned to him in shock. "Uh, I mean, uhhh heh heh! I mean it'd be a good for you to get some rest." Merlin grinned nervously.

Arthur shook his head and looked at Merlin in concern.

"You are looking scrawny Merlin..."

"Thanks?"Merlin said following Arthur going towards the shoreline. Arthur kept walking and found a quiet spot near the sea and sat down. Merlin sat down next to him, feeling the sand beneath him, absolutely bewildered. What were they supposed to do sitting in the sand past midnight? Why was Arthur so quiet? The cool breeze blasted on Merlin's face making him feel terribly sleepy. He looked at Arthur, moonlight shining on him, who was facing down in deep thought.

"Arthur, you are going to have to tell me what's bothering you. I know something is."

"You wouldn't understand Merlin." Arthur said still looking down.

"What wouldn't I understand?" Merlin scoffed, obviously finding it humourous Arthur had something to be upset about.

"You have no idea what I just went through Merlin!" Arthur said slightly raising his voice, facing Merlin. He shook his head in frustration and returned looking below. Merlin was shocked by Arthur's outburst felt a bit irritated.

"You went through? What about me! I only saved your father's life and discarded Morgause from Camelot! What could you have possibly gone through that was so horrible? Did Morgana bore you with stories about her bad hair days?"

Arthur plucked a blade of grass growing through the sandy shore and threw it. Merlin was surprised Arthur didn't get angry, and was beginning to regret it.

"I learned about my father Merlin…"

Merlin shook his head impatiently trying to understand.

"What do you mean?"

"Merlin…Do you ever feel like your whole life, you've been lied to? That- that the only reason you were born… is to fulfill this… this destiny determine by someone who you've never even heard of?"

Merlin's heart beat hard when hearing every word coming from Arthur's mouth. Arthur went on.

"That- that the only reason, the sole reason for your life, is to, is to play this ONE role that is so big and so burdensome? And that so many people depend on you to play that role right? That – that SO MANY people are expecting so many great things from you?"

Merlin watched Arthur shaking his head as another breeze rustled his hair. His heart beat boldly against his chest, while his body trembled feeling almost numb with disbelief. For the first time, he realized Arthur's pain was something he could relate to. He knew exactly how Arthur felt for he too was expected to be this great wizard that had this great destiny, that the only reason he was alive was to fulfill this destiny he began to despise so much.

"Merlin, If I tell you something, you promise to me you will not judge me or tell anyone else." Arthur asked turning to Merlin.

Merlin looked at Arthur, heart pounding hard. He nodded. "I wouldn't tell anyone Arthur, you know that." He breathed in wonder.

Arthur looked back down.

"Merlin, I –" Arthur clenched his jaw and shook his head while closing his eyes. "I was born from magic. My father asked Nimueh to grant him a son, and... and she used magic to make it happen. All that Morgause had shown us the day we first met her was all true."

Merlin looked at Arthur for a few seconds and noticed Arthur glancing at Merlin from the side. Arthur just divulged something that he felt he would be judged with, and Merlin didn't care.

"Arthur, it doesn't matters to me. I don't see you any different. You are still the same old pratty Arthur I know and appreciate." Merlin genuinely said reassuringly, looking into Arthurs eyes and nodding.

Arthur chuckled and shook his head.

"I was born from magic Merlin. I'm born from something my father has taught me is wrong. Don't you think I'm vile?" he chuckled, plucking another blade of grass.

Merlin's heart felt jabbed a bit. Was Arthur worried about having some association with magic?

"I'd never think that. Arthur, you can't help that you were born from magic, just like those with magic can't help being born with magic. Magic doesn't mean a person is evil Arthur. It's just how one uses it."

Arthur shook his head and threw the blade of grass.

Merlin gazed at the sea and watched the waves crashing in.

"Do you think you have magic?" Merlin asked solemnly, still staring at the waves. Merlin knew he didn't but he wanted Arthur to answer this question

"What? No... no I was just born from magic."

"What if you did?" Merlin said turning to Arthur seriously. Arthur looked at Merlin in deep thought.

"I don't." Arthur smiled.

"But what if you did..?" Merlin asked again.

"Merlin, if you think I'm lying to you-"

"What do you think about those with magic Arthur?" Merlin asked softly, still staring into Arthurs eyes.

Arthur looked back at Merlin for a while and looked down.

"My mother worked with the magical community of Bossiney. She wanted to live side by side with those with magic peacefully. Because of my father, the relationship went the other way…"

Merlin stared at Arthur, wanting to probe him more but held back.

"My father made a lot of mistakes Merlin. Sometimes I don't know whether I can forgive him, or care to see him again."
Merlin watched Arthur, trying to comprehend what Arthur was talking about.

"When I look at my father Merlin, I've realize one thing."

"What is it?"

"My father didn't have a friend, someone he could go to whenever he had a problem or dilemma." Arthur said looking at Merlin. "He had no one to tell him that what he was doing was wrong, or right; he had no one to confide to. Sometimes I wonder about myself. I wonder if... "Arthur looked away from Merlin. "I wonder if I didn't have... a friend… what would I really be like."

Merlin smiled softly.

"Are you saying you are glad to have me as a friend?"

Arthur cringed.

"Merlin?"

"Yes..?"

"Don't."

Merlin couldn't shake off his appreciation for Arthur, and turned back to the sea grinning. The two boys went through so much pain and torture these past few days. They were attacked at and suffered through horrible things. An now they were sitting in the sands under the cool dark night completely worn out. They not only shared the pain of what they went through the past few days, but shared the same burden of fulfilling this damned destiny. He so wished he could confide in Arthur that he knew exactly how he felt, but decided against it. Merlin stared at the sea realizing the sky was becoming slightly lighter. It was close to dawn, causing Merlin to shift to his side uncomfortably.

"Arthur, I know you want to stay here in Carmarthen, but, if your father knows you aren't in the kingdom-"

Arthur took a deep breath and thought for a moment.

"I know Merlin." Arthur resigned getting up to his feet. " I don't think I want my father reacting brashly. We should leave." he added bitterly.

Merlin got up too and looked to the sea.

"So… we should try to find out when the passengers ship comes so that we can get back to Camelot."

"What are you talking about..?" Arthur asked shaking his head a little.

"Well.. I mean the only other option is this necklace." Merlin innocently suggested, eyes open for Arthurs reaction.

"We're going to use the necklace." Arthur said firmly, nodding his head, and walking to the side.

"But it has magic.." Merlin tested, watching Arthur.

"Yeah, a little magic here and there can't hurt. It will come useful whenever I want some lamb from the tavern here." Arthur said with a look in his eye, as he walked on.

Merlin smiled to himself in awe and took the necklace out. He somehow felt a little less worried about revealing his true self to Arthur whenever time had to come. Merlin walked to Arthur, grabbed Arthurs arm and held onto the necklace firmly.

"To Camelot."